Parenting Tips

Rachel Simmons Addresses Back to School and Dealing with Friend Drama During the Be You! The Real Girl Tour

cammie@momsmaterial.com — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 17:10:53 GMT

School has started and if you have a daughter, chances are, she will have to deal with friend drama. She may be the one creating it, on the receiving end or in the middle of it.

Is your daughter prepared to deal with the drama that comes with friendship? Does she have a plan or strategy that will help her deal with friendship issues? Will she have the confidence to express herself in a healthy way? If not, she will have a difficult time staying out of the drama and maintaining friendships.

Let’s face, most of us need a plan when it comes to communicating effectively. For most of us, it doesn’t come naturally. We had to learn effective communication strategies in order to express our feelings and work out our differences or issues.

Thank goodness, Rachel Simmons comes to the rescue with a fun, interactive workshop that teaches girls powerful strategies on dealing with friendships.

Rachel Simmons is the author of Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls, which is the basis for the Odd Girl Out Lifetime Movie, now available on DVD. She has also written Odd Girl Speaks Out: Girls Write About Bullying, Cliques, Popularity and Jealousy and The Curse of the Good Girl: Raising Authentic Girls with Courage and Confidence.

The Tour will take place in several cities, check out the Be You! Real Girl Tour link to find the cities that are included.

About the Be You! Real Girl Tour

Adults & girls (8+) are invited to join bestselling author and Girls Leadership Institute co-founder Rachel Simmons for a fun, interactive back-to-school workshop on getting the most out of friendships and staying true to yourself. Rachel will teach girls powerful strategies to express themselves with authenticity and confidence, deal with friend drama effectively, and make healthy decisions in relationships. Adults will learn tools to support girls on the journey. Find out more at rachelsimmons.com.

Be You! Real Girl Tour is coming to Houston on Thursday, September 30th. I highly recommend bringing your daughter (8+) to St. Agnes Academy, the workshop begins at 7:00 p.m. and ends at 8:30 p.m. The cost is $15 and includes one copy of The Curse of the Good Girl. Tickets for the Houston event will be available at Blue Willow Booksellers, call 281-497-8675 to order or to find out more information.

Check out Rachel’s recent interview on The Early Show.

About Rachel Simmons

Rachel Simmons is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls, and The Curse of the Good Girl: Raising Authentic Girls with Courage and Confidence. As an educator and coach, Rachel works internationally to develop strategies to address bullying and empower girls.

The founder of the Girls Leadership Institute, Rachel currently serves as a consultant to schools and organizations around the world.

Rachel was the host of the recent PBS television special, “A Girl’s Life,” and writes an advice blog for girls at TeenVogue.com.

Rachel has appeared on Oprah, is a frequent contributor to the Today Show, and appears regularly in the national media. Odd Girl Out was adapted into a highly acclaimed Lifetime television movie. Rachel lives in western Massachusetts with her West Highland Terrier, Rosie, who is currently taking private workshops with Rachel to learn how to stop bullying other dogs.

MomsMaterial’s tween reporter will be interviewing Rachel Simmons, don’t forget to check it out. We will add the link as soon as it is posted.

Girl World Tour 2010 Comes to Houston

Cammie Moise

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Daddy Time – There’s No Such Thing As Quality Time by Bruce Sallan

cammie@momsmaterial.com — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 22:00:42 GMT

A few weeks ago, I introduced a new series called “Daddy Time” that adds a different perspective on parenting from some of my favorite “Daddy Bloggers”. Prior to the name “Daddy Time” that plan was to call the series “A Dad’s Point of View”. Before I sent out the first post of the series, I found out this title was already taken. I wasn’t surprised, but the good news is it lead me to another great Daddy Blogger, Bruce Sallan.

There’s No Such Thing As Quality Time by Bruce Sallan

I keep learning this great lesson. It’s something I know, but seem to have to experience repeatedly for it to sink into my stubborn head. With kids, there’s no such thing as quality time, only quantity time.

Some people actually believe they can schedule quality time with their kids—moments when their kids will open up, reveal what’s really going on, and share. They want to schedule this time the way they schedule a business lunch. But, kids don’t work on these kinds of schedules. They open up when they’re good and ready, and it’s usually when you least expect it. This happened one weekend a couple of years ago with my younger son.

I bribed him to come skiing with me. Yeah, it’s hard to believe, but he wasn’t interested. My older son was, but my younger one got cold the first time we tried and has been against it ever since. My younger one wanted to quit early, as he was tired. Instead of berating him as I’d done in the past or just displayed my impatience, I supported him and told him he was doing great. I didn’t push him. The upshot was, both he and his brother were tired after a couple of hours.

The same thing happened the second day. Again, I supported them. Each day, as a result, we were off the slopes and back in the condo early. It was hard for me, as I so wanted my boys to enjoy winter sports.

So, how does all this relate to the quality-time question? Simple. I hung with my boys all weekend. I let them set the pace. I was there for them. I didn’t make it about my pleasure this time, as there are other times I can look out for myself. I’m not a martyr parent, which I believe can be quite destructive, but that is another subject altogether.

The bribe for my younger son was a Lego set he really wanted. When we returned home from our trip, he stayed up till after midnight working on it. At 12:30, he came into my room, sobbing because he’d broken it. I knew he was just running on fumes and desire. So I coaxed him back into bed and he fell asleep within moments.

The next morning, he arose and immediately went back to the Legos. After a while, he came to me asking for my help to fix the broken Lego. I was about to say, “Later,” as I was intent on what I was doing. But, I realized this could be a breakthrough, since he is the kind of kid who doesn’t reach out and ask for help. So, I said, “Sure,” and we worked on it together until we finally figured out the problem. He was ecstatic, and then didn’t want me to leave as he continued to put it together. This is the quantity time thing; staying there, being there. It was a special moment and I’ll cherish it.

It’s these moments that matter most in our lives—the little ones, like building Legos with your 8-year-old and figuring out where the mistake was. I hope I never say “later” to my kids again.

This theme was hammered home on a more recent ski trip I took with that same son, who’s now 12. Ironically, he actually sort of enjoys skiing now, while his older brother has given it up to pursue his rock star dreams. My younger son, being more of a pleaser, has just gone along, or so I thought. It wasn’t clear if he was skiing out of a genuine interest or a desire to please me.

But I do know I wasn’t helping the cause by my impatience with his general slow movements, even to the simple things like putting on his boots. I’m Mr. Let’s Go Now while he’s Let’s Take It Easy. Another reminder that he is not me. It always seemed, on previous trips, that all my efforts to help him with tips were in vain. By the time we’d get to the slopes my energy was negative and he felt it. This trip was different. First, we both suffered from bad altitude headaches on arrival. Taking care of him, mothering him so to speak, allowed me to further recognize he’s still a child.

Thankfully, the next morning he and I felt just fine. I made a commitment to go at his pace, be patient, no matter what, and that the goal of this day of skiing was just to be with him. The result: we had our best skiing day together by far. I could see that he fed off my supportive energy, and we communicated and enjoyed the day fully. I went slowly, he listened to my tips, and we laughed and had a great time. And his skiing improved more in that one day than in all our previous outings combined.

What a lesson in attitude for this Dad. What a lesson for all relationships! When you show up with an open heart, an open mind, and focus on your child instead of yourself, you have every opportunity to win, to bond. This is the quality time we all strive for, though it was the quantity of time together that allowed the quality time to surface.

Once again, one of my mantras came true: the only thing good about getting older is the possibility of getting better.

Please listen to “The Bruce Sallan Show - A Dad’s Point-of-View” Thursdays at 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., PST on KZSB AM1290 in Santa Barbara or on the Internet via a live stream. For that link and all information about the show and Bruce, visit his web-site: http://brucesallan.com. Bruce’s column, “A Dad’s Point-of-View,” is available in over 75 newspapers and web-sites worldwide.

Find Bruce on Facebook by joining his “A Dad’s Point-of-View” fan page: http://www.facebook.com/aDadsPointOfView. You can also follow Bruce at Twitter: http://twitter.com/BruceSallan.

Thank you, Bruce!

Other MomsMaterial Posts You Might Like:

Daddy Time - 10 Signs Your Children Are Brats by Mocha Dad

Top 10 Rules to Teach Your Child

Top 3 Things to Teach a Toddler

What Does Your Online Behavior Teach Your Kids

Parenting Coach Barbara Desmarais Asks How PRESENT Are You?

Cammie Moise

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Be sure to “Like” MomsMaterial on Facebook and follow MomsMaterial on Twitter @MomsMaterial.

And don’t forget to check out our sister site, CyberSafeFamily!

Daddy Time - 10 Signs Your Children are Brats by Mocha Dad

cammie@momsmaterial.com — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 22:41:04 GMT

This week I decided MomsMaterial needed something different and new. Therefore, I decided to add a new series, called Daddy Time.

During my social media networking I have found some great articles written by Dads. Some bring a different perspective to the table and others are laugh out loud funny. At the moment, I am not sure how often we will feature Daddy Time, but I hope to make it a regular part of MomsMaterial.

My first Daddy Time guest blogger can be found over at Mocha Dad – The Musings of a Harried Dad In His Quest to Raise Three Kids.

10 Signs Your Children Are Brats
by MochaDad

No child is born a brat, but they are prone to bratty behavior. Even my kids regress into brats periodically. For those parents who are unsure if your children are brats, here are 10 signs to look for:

They resort to crying or yelling when they want something.
They throw themselves on floor and won’t get up.
They constantly throw tantrums or even hit you when you punish them.
They ignore you when you ask a question.
They are rude to other adults and even to other children.
They refuse to share with other children.
They are show-offs and are constantly trying to one-up their peers to be the center of attention.
They always want whatever everyone else has. Once they have it, they want something new.
They keep a messy room and never help out around the house despite your pleas for them to do so.
They refuse to go to bed.

If your kids exhibit any or all of these behaviors, they might be brats. Don’t fret because there is hope for their bratty behavior and it starts with you.

Here are a few tips from my personal experience that will help curb brattiness:

Firmly discipline children when they show disrespect – It is important to teach your children that disrespect will not be tolerated. They should be punished immediately and firmly when they disrespect you or other adults.
Develop consistent routines – Children desire order in their lives and they look to their parents to establish this order. Parents must set strict schedules for bedtime, homework, etc. and stick to them.
Teach them to be grateful and humble – Brattiness is a symptom of selfishness. When kids learn the importance of serving others, they are more likely to be thankful for the things they have and understand that the world exists beyond themselves.
Resist the urge to indulge their every whim – As parents, we want to give our children nice things, but does your 8-year old really need an iPhone? Don’t buy them everything they want. Make them earn some things.
Spend quality time with your children – Sometimes bratty behavior is a cry for attention. Show your children that they are important by giving them your time.
Compliment your child when he/she does the right thing – Praise works wonders with children. Make sure the praise is sincere, though. Children know when they are being patronized.

If you apply these suggestions, your brats will become angels in no time.

Stay Strong,

About Mocha Dad

My name is Frederick. Some people call me Fred, but you know me as Mocha Dad.

I am a Texan – born and raised and I have the cowboy boots to prove it. However, Texas has not been my only home. I have lived in several southeastern states – some of them I liked, some of them I didn’t, none of them can compare to Texas. My quest is to visit all fifty states. I have made it to 37 so far.

I graduated from Howard University in Washington, D.C. Because I was the first person in my family to graduate from college, I am extremely proud of this accomplishment. But the best thing about my years at Howard was my meeting my wife, KayEm.

I have worked as a mover, controls manager, quality manager, construction project manager, and safety manager. I have also run several businesses: an online collectible toy shop, a wedding and portrait photography studio, and freelance writing and editing company.

In 2008, I started Mocha Dad to chronicle his life as a father and to counter the negative stereotypes regarding black fatherhood. I wanted people to get a first hand account of a black father who is intimately involved in his children’s lives. Now I use to blog to not only capture my experiences as a father, but also to help motivate other fathers to be more actively engaged and involved with their children.

I enjoy music, reading, photography, and surfing the web. But my greatest joy comes from spending time with my wife and three kids.

You can find Mocha Dad on Facebook and Twitter. In addition, he and his wife started a blog together called Making it Last Forever.

Be sure to let me know in the comments below what you think about Daddy Time. If you know any daddy bloggers that should be featured here, please let me know.

Other MomsMaterial Posts You Might Like:

Top 10 Rules to Teach Your Child

Top 3 Things to Teach a Toddler

What Does Your Online Behavior Teach Your Kids

Parenting Coach Barbara Desmarais Asks How PRESENT Are You?

Cammie Moise

Be sure to “Like” MomsMaterial on Facebook and follow MomsMaterial on Twitter @MomsMaterial.

Mom… Mom… Mom

cammie@momsmaterial.com — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 20:38:30 GMT

Ever have those days when your kids are a little needy? Every time you are trying to get something done, you hear, “Mom… Mom… Mom!” This happens a lot at our house and when I saw the video below from my friend, Jenny (aka – JennyOnTheSpot), I had to share it with you. I know that all moms will relate to it and it actually reminds me of myself as a child (my poor Mom).

My mom was a teacher and I knew if I wanted to drive her CRAZY, I knew just what to do. I would wait until she was grading papers and I would stand by her, begin tapping her on her shoulder and say, “Ms. Ward, Ms. Ward, Ms. Ward!” I loved doing that to her even though it would drive her CRAZY!

As a mom of two, I finally understand what she felt like. Sometimes, it is just nice to know that you aren’t the only one. Thanks, Jenny!

I totally LOVE this video!

This video is actually funnier the second time around. So, go ahead, try it… watch it again. Then share this post with your friends. They’ll be glad you did because it always makes you feel better when you know you’re not the only one whose kids can drive you crazy (in a good way, of course).

I am trying to savor these moments because I know soon, they won’t be running to me; they will be running away from me. That is when I will remember these moments and run towards them screaming their names!

Moms (or Dads) how do you cope when your kids do this to you?

About Jenny on the Spot

Jenny is a wife, mother, blogger and glitter fanatic. She began blogging in April 2004 and… the rest is history…

Her journey through life in da ‘burbs as mother, wife, friend, errand runner, “athlete”, and social media ~~maven~~ obsessive has created a monster… her ~~lucky~~ poor husband often observes, “WHAT ON EARTH DID I MARRY?”

Life with Jenny is kind of like that one childhood game — where a kid with a blindfold gets spun round and round… and then the kid is set free to “unspin”. It is still unclear whether Jenny is the Spinner or the Spinnee, but either way… it’s… it’s… somethin’

Jenny is also a bit, shall we say… narcissistic? Perfect. A narcissistic blogger (surprise) who discovered the power of YouTube:

You can find Jenny here… Jenny on the Spot, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

Confetti Launcher Makes a Great 4th of July Craft!

cammie@momsmaterial.com — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 09:05:37 GMT

I found this great confetti launcher craft (just in time for the 4th of July) at MommaFindings and wanted to share it with you. We will be trying this out over the weekend. The thing I love about it, is that you can use it again and again!

Craft Idea: Confetti Launchers for 4th of July Fun

by Sara at MommaFindings

Every Summer, I write about 50 posts about how much I love 4th of July. It's one of my favorite Holidays because it brings everything I love together for one day: Family, Fun, Fireworks, and Funnel Cakes (not necessarily in that order)!

To add to my excitement, I usually plan out a few 4th of July themed crafts to do with the kids. I have memories of all kinds of face painting when I was younger and I want my children to remember this Summer Holiday as I did. For the next couple of weeks, I'll bring you all kinds of 4th of July Crafts you can enjoy with you family. What kind of fun can you have with confetti? Today, I bring you the Ultimate Confetti Launcher for Patriotic Pizazz!

4th of July Confetti Launcher

Fireworks happen only after dark, but this craft creates a pop of color any time of day. Kids pull back on the string to release a shower of tissue paper confetti, then gather it up and refill the launcher again … and again … and again.

Materials:

Craft knife
2-inch-wide cardboard mailing tube, cut to 9 inches
Red or blue electrical tape
Hammer
Nail
Rubber band
2 toothpicks
2 (15-inch-long) pieces of string
5/16-inch metal nut
Plastic from a recycled container, cut into a disk slightly smaller than the tube and with two holes punched in the center, about 1/4 inch apart
red or blue star stickers
Red, white, and blue tissue paper, cut into small squares of confetti

Instructions:

1. Using a craft knife, trim 1 inch off the tube (a parent's job). Cut a 1/2-inch section out of this piece with scissors.

2. Insert the piece into the tube, about 1 inch from the top, and secure it with electrical tape.

3. Measure down 1-1/2 inches from the same end of the tube and make a hole with the hammer and nail. Rotate the nail to enlarge the hole. Make a second hole on the opposite side.

4. Push the rubber band halfway through one of the holes. Insert a toothpick through the outer rubber band loop, then secure it with electrical tape as shown. Tie both strings to the nut. Thread the rubber band through the nut, then push the rubber band through the second hole. Secure it with a toothpick and tape.

5. Thread the disk onto one string until it's 6 inches from the nut, then knot the string and trim any excess. Pull the other string out the bottom of the tube and knot it. The assembled launcher will look like the diagram. Decorate the tube with electrical tape and star stickers.

6. To load the launcher, rest the disk on top of the inner cardboard ring and fill this end of the tube with confetti. To launch, have your child hold the launcher firmly, pull the bottom string, then quickly release it. The nut will hit the plastic, sending the confetti sky-high and making a popping sound.

This craft can be found at Disney Family Fun Online, complete with pictures of each step.

MommaFindings has lots of great reviews and ideas.

Cammie Moise

10 Ideas to Help Keep Kids Safe and Occupied During the Summer Break

cammie@momsmaterial.com — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 23:13:03 GMT

Today’s Guest Blogger is Heather Wilner, Manager – Media Relations at Verizon. She blogs over at Verizon’s At Home Blog. Heather helps tell the FiOS story, focusing on content, programming and everything interactive. She also covers FiOS Internet and voice services -- all part of the FiOS triple play experience.

Preparing for Summer Break with the Kids at Home
by Heather Wilner

The school year is just about over in many parts of the country. If you’ve got school-age children, that means your house is about to become busier for the next few months, and the challenge is to find ways to keep kids occupied during the summer. There’s always the temptation of letting technology fill the void, but as we’ve learned, technology isn’t the best babysitter.

A good resource for online safety is the Verizon Parental Controls Center, with information for parents, educators and kids. And to help you prepare for summer, here are the top 10 ways to turn the situation into a win-win for everyone.

Having a clearly defined set of rules. Your kids just spent the better part of the year following a schedule and obeying rules at school, so they should be able to handle a few house rules during the summer. Maybe it’s giving them a daily allotment of time they can spend with electronics, or a daily list of chores they must complete before pushing the on button.
Talk to your children about technology. This may sound like Parenting 101, but it’s easy to get caught up in our busy lives and neglect the opportunity to have a heart to heart. Ask your children about what they do online or what they’re watching on TV. This gives you an opportunity to bond with your children and discuss issues such as inappropriate content or cyber bullying.
Install Internet filters. It’s one thing for kids to go online on a school night to do research for a homework assignment, but another for them to browse aimlessly for hours at a time. They’re likely to stumble across some inappropriate content, so make sure you have the latest net filters installed and activated. Your children should already be used to them if they’ve accessed the Internet at school.
Make sure your online security tools are up to date. Similar to filters, you need online security tools to protect children from accidentally downloading viruses, worms and other online threats. You should also determine how comprehensive your protection is. Will it protect from phishing and spyware? Does it include security for your home Wi-Fi network or a customizable firewall? Verizon, for example, offers tools that do all of this, and now is good time to try them. Customers ordering the new bundle of Verizon Internet Security Suite – powered by McAfee – and Verizon Online Backup and Sharing (see our tip #5) for the first time will qualify for three months of free service.
Keeping your files safe with online backup. When all else fails, you need to have the assurance that your important files – your photos and movies, music, documents and etc. – are safe from the sometimes inevitable accidents of life. Online backup is the key here, particularly one that works in the background so you don’t have to spend time managing it. Verizon offers a comprehensive backup service that does just that – learn more about it here.
Suggest worthwhile programming. There’s always been PBS, but TV has come a long way in this department over the past couple decades. Now there’s the History Channel, TLC or the Discovery and Travel channels, all of which feature a wide variety of educational content, giving your kids a lot of options for programming that goes beyond mindless entertainment.
Take advantage of parental controls on your TV. Again, it’s about protecting your children from inappropriate content. Most TV providers offer parental controls. For example, FiOS TV lets you block by channel and/or rating (learn how here).
"Rugged-ize” your gadgets with skins and protective covers. Let’s face it – the wear and tear from all those extra hands on your “toys” will eventually take a toll. Protect your phones, laptops and other devices with rubber skins or plastic coatings. Same goes for their gaming devices. You likely spent a considerable amount of money on them, so spend a little extra to preserve your investment.
Give kids alternatives. The old saying about idle hands is a cliché for a reason. Kids need worthwhile activities to give them a reason not to plug in all day, be they sports, dance, camp or extracurricular classes. Some children will do better with structured activities and others may prefer to be self-directed, but you should help your children find something that keeps them from sitting on the couch all day.
Don’t forget to have fun! Choose a video for a family movie night from Verizon’s selection of on-demand movies. There are selections for kids and families. It’s a good reminder that one of the most important things technology offers families is the chance to enjoy some quality time together.

Can you think of any other ways to keep things safe yet fun with technology this summer? Let us know in the comments.

Original Article can be found here.

The Story Behind My Oprah Video Audition by Mary Kay Hoal, Founder of YourSphere

cammie@momsmaterial.com — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 22:01:33 GMT

Two weeks ago if you asked me if I knew Oprah was holding a competition for a reality show to “win” your own TV show, the answer would be no. While I record all of Oprah’s shows, I usually watch them weeks later. That’s where I am now, weeks behind.

Late last week, three of us at Yoursphere were contacted via email about the show. We all thought it was strange. I went to the OWN site to see what it was all about. Finding out that Oprah was looking for people who wanted to share their passion was enough to inspire me to enter.

I already knew what my show would include if I was lucky enough to win. My plan—which I submitted on the very lengthy application—is to work directly with families, kids, teens, and schools to produce the “Joy of Online Safety.”

I’d like to have parenting-expert guests such as Dr. Michele Borba, Sue Scheff and Marjie Knudsen. I’d bring on law enforcement experts like Steve DeWarns, Jeffrey Rinek, Eric Szatkowski, and Chris Duque.

I’d want to invite other Internet safety and privacy educators like Linda Criddle, Rebecca Newton, Christopher Clark, Theresa Payton, Bill Latchford, Rebecca Herold, Cammie Moise and Dave and Bill from CyberHood Watch to join.

Technology experts and cell phone safety experts like Marsha Collier, Daniel Neal, and Dee Dee Sorg would be important to include. And there are a number of guests that I’d love to have on that could show how individuals like teen Cati from CatiCares is helping other kids with bullying. Dad Gabe and his daughter Mary Margaret are great examples of how technology is helping to make a difference in children’s lives through KidsAreHeroes.org.

Admittedly, I was intimidated by those who already had 1M+ votes due to the fact that they submitted their video submissions on the start date (May14). Here I was, June 10th and I didn’t even have a plan! That said I knew I had to participate. The idea of having my own TV show that would allow me to educate families in online safety hadn’t dawned on me before, but makes perfect sense. The opportunity was too great to pass up. After all, no one is doing this type of show despite the fact that we so desperately need it.

So I dropped everything Thursday. Watched all the “instruction” videos on the OWN site and got to writing. I didn’t have a creative team or agency, but I had a great team from work plus friends and family I knew I could call on.

I crafted the lines based on everyday conversations I’ve had with my network of friends, neighbors, kids and teens and started rehearsing. I went knocking on my neighbor’s door and asked if she and her children would consider participating. I talked my daughter and younger kids into being in the video. I was glad to find that everyone was anxious to help. I dusted off my camcorder and recruited my team at work to get it filmed and review the script.

I laughed when the team said my first draft wasn’t fun. I admitted that I wasn’t always good at “fun”, and I’d need help. We all looked at the script and decided that the obvious was in black and white: recipes and ingredients for families. We decided over a series of text messages that a ‘spin off’ of Julia Child’s “Joy of Cooking” would work. I laughed and agreed. After that, the pieces just fell into place.

Filming took place in my kitchen on a Friday. It was the first day of summer for my kids, and we had a baseball party that afternoon. The younger kids were filmed first saying: “Don’t Respond, Tell Your Mom, Make a Copy!” This of course was in response to my question: “What do you do if someone has been unkind to you online?” They were all SO cute. Special thanks to the Stoltz family. We worked for three hours and then had to stop due to the baseball team coming over.

We reconvened Sunday and spent two more hours filming. I kept fumbling over my lines. I was nervous! And thank goodness the team was patient with me. I needed a little extra help to remember my lines, so I wrote them on a large piece of paper that my daughter and Tracy held up while Angel filmed. Angel has the steadiest hand. We wrapped it up, shipped it to our creative guy, and condensed a 10 minute “audition” tape into 3 minutes. There was of course, so much more I wanted to say.

My audition was posted Tuesday June 15th, a month after the competition started. Talk about being behind. I am optimistic though that the total number of votes won’t be the deciding factor of who gets to compete. The OWN site says that every video will be viewed by an Oprah producer. I hope that the unique focus of my proposed show coupled with the importance and uniqueness of the topic will be enough to get me in.

So many people have been supportive of my efforts and have re-posted and blogged about my audition. Many have forwarded the email I sent out asking for support. I am grateful and am appreciative. Thank you. And please vote if you haven’t! All you have to do is click the link below and click on the big green button that says “Vote”.

Mary Kay Hoal's Oprah Video Audition

Thank you so much! Here’s a summary of what my show will be about if I win:
OWN Show Topic: The Joy of Online Safety

The Joy of Online Safety is dedicated to providing families with the ingredients they need to create their own family recipe for a fun and safe online experience. My video shows how l will provide families with practical and engaging ways to enjoy the Internet through education, involvement and empowerment.

My show proposal includes going directly into homes, to schools, and to work with kids and teens. I want to involve parenting experts, Internet safety experts, law enforcement and others to help me provide parents with the tools they need to create their own family recipe. Additionally I want to feature how children and families have used the power of the Internet to enrich their lives and do good things for others.

Best -

Mary Kay

Original Article was posted here "The Story Behind My Oprah Video Audition"

Thank you Mary Kay for all you do!

Cammie Moise

Teach Responsibilities Before Setting an Allowance by Sharon Lechter

cammie@momsmaterial.com — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 18:59:56 GMT

Deciding when and how much of an allowance to give your child is one of the first opportunities to teach financial habits that can continue on through adulthood. Children are usually ready to start learning about money by the age of 5, or when they can differentiate between a $1 bill and a $20 bill.

Many parents realize the importance of handling this situation with care, but many simply do not know where to start. I often receive the question from parents: How much money should I give for an allowance? But before addressing the dollar figure, consider a few other factors first. In adulthood, making money usually involves carrying out different responsibilities, whether this includes compensation or not.

There are four categories I encourage parents to think about before addressing an allowance figure: personal responsibility, family responsibility, social responsibility and entrepreneurial spirit. Sit down with your child and make sure he or she knows the differences and why each is important to fulfill.

Personal responsibility is tasks they should be doing themselves like brushing their teeth, combing their hair and picking up toys in their own room. Family responsibility is what they should do as a contributing member of their family, including setting the table, helping with dinner, completing household chores, etc. Social responsibility is doing good for others, which may include helping a neighbor in need or volunteering at a school event. Explain that personal and family responsibilities are an expectation while social responsibilities are usually completed at no cost out of the kindness of their hearts.

Entrepreneurial spirit includes everything else and is different than the other categories because it is in fact more of an opportunity rather than a responsibility. Allow your children to start thinking like an entrepreneur from an early age by helping them to come up with tasks they can do to earn their allowance that is above and beyond personal, family and social responsibility. Your child will feel empowered and creative by the chance to think of money-making opportunities and the feeling of being entitled to an allowance will be minimized. Some examples that I've seen children do is take on big tasks that fall outside of family and personal responsibilities like cleaning out the garage for a fee, or asking parents if they can organize their closet and sell unwanted items at a flea market. Encourage your child to think of a need around the house or neighborhood they could solve by charging a small fee. For parents with children who embrace entrepreneurism, giving an allowance could be a moot point; they will rely on themselves to make money!

Making these distinctions before setting an allowance will prevent them from feeling entitled and help them to understand the value of a dollar. When you sit down with your child to set a dollar amount, be sure to explain why they are receiving it and instances when the allowance could be taken away. Encourage them to budget the money and brainstorm how they can save each pay period for something they want. But overall, as long as they understand their responsibilities from the beginning, you are off to a great start.

About

Sharon Lechter is the best-selling co-author of “Three Feet from Gold” and “Rich Dad Poor Dad.” She is also the Founder and CEO of Pay Your Family First and creator of the new ThriveTime for Teens money and life reality board game. Sharon is a CPA, member of the first President’s Advisory Council on Financial Literacy and a member of the American Institute of CPAs Financial Literacy Commission. For more information on Sharon and Pay Your Family First, visit www.payyourfamilyfirst.com.

Thank you, Sharon!

Cammie Moise

My Daughter Just Informed Me That Writing a Report is so “Old School”

cammie@momsmaterial.com — Thu, 13 May 2010 04:51:34 GMT

I remember the days when your teacher assigned a project or a report and it involved a pen and paper. So, when my daughter mentioned a project that was coming up, I imagined a written report. Boy, was I wrong.

The assignment involved the students choosing to become an Activist, Writer or an Inventor. The Activist could create a PSA (Public Service Announcement), a website or a video in which they had to teach the community how and why they should use alternative energy sources. Their project had to include three real world examples.

My daughter chose the Activist because it involved making a video, and she loves to make videos. She is also very creative and an actor.

Several days after she made her decision she asked me to look over something she was working on - her script. I was very impressed, it included some humor and the necessary elements to meet the requirements.

When I think about this project I am amazed at her finished product. The only thing I did, was upload the video on to YouTube.

She was the writer, actor, videographer and editor.

One of the reasons I love technology is that it creates so many opportunities. Instead of a written report, students are able to share their knowledge many different ways. They can create a video, power point presentation, website, etc.

I am including her report, not a written report, but a video to show you what kids are doing these days.

This video is about 4 minutes, but a minute or two will give you an idea of how students are using technology for their reports or presentations.

What do you think about the technology choices kids are given to report on a subject or assignment?

Cammie Moise

How do we Teach Our Daughters a Positive Body Image in a World of Unrealistic Expectations?

cammie@momsmaterial.com — Tue, 04 May 2010 19:37:48 GMT

Our daughters are constantly bombarded with unrealistic body images from magazines and ads. When they see these women that are beautiful, thin, tall and look perfect and flawless, do they understand the process these photos go through before they make it onto a cover or in an ad?

When you look at magazine and ad photos,what do you see? Do you see the perfect faces and bodies, do you compare yourself or do you remind yourself that they are digitally altered?

Are you guilty of comparing yourself to these images? Do you start thinking if you made some changes in your diet or exercise routine, that you might achieve the look in the photo? If it is an ad, do we wonder if we would have those same results.

Guess what? That is exactly what the magazines and ads want. The cover of a magazine is designed to make you want to buy it, from the photo on the cover to the featured headlines inside. If we think that we can achieve that look, even subconsciously, we will be tempted to buy the magazine or the product in the ad. These images are marketing a product that they want you to buy.

When we understand why they alter the images and see the process of digitally altering photos, we realize the end result cannot be achieved naturally. Even if you don’t agree with this marketing strategy, it works for the majority of people.

It is important for our daughters to understand why they digitally alter these photos and it is unrealistic to expect our bodies to look this way.

Begin this discussion, by showing your daughter this article from Newsweek, “Unattainable Beauty: The Decades Biggest Airbrushing Scandals." http://www.newsweek.com/id/231629

Remind your daughters that our differences and our individuality can makes us beautiful.

Please share your comments below on how you teach your daughter about a healthy self image?

Cammie Moise