It is 27 degrees outside.

You are living in New Hampshire.

Not much to do, right?  Except some type of indoor activity?

WRONG!

In my town, there is this funny little annual activity.  It brings people from all over the United States.  People make reservations well in advance.  They bring their families and their friends.  They anticipate the event for months beforehand.

“What is it” you ask?

Are you ready for the answer? ……………………..

It is called FISHING DERBY WEEKEND.

You got it right folks, the word FISHING is in there.

“Fishing”?  you ask “in the winter”??

Yep.

Let me explain.

As soon as the big lake freezes over, people from all around start putting these tiny structures on the ice.  They are called bob houses.  Some bob houses are very small, and fit one or two people.  Others are like mini bachelor pads, equipped with tv’s, comfy chairs, and mini fridges.

This year, we even had:

What is the point, you ask?

Well, the main point is that The Fishing Derby is an annual event sponsored by our local Rotary Club as a fundraiser.  It has been going on for over 20 years.  The Fish & Game Department raise fish and deposit the fish in the lake just for The Fishing Derby.  The person with the biggest fish in each category wins a cash prize.

Also, there are all sorts of raffles - sometimes the Grand Prize is a small boat, sometimes the prize is a snowmobile.  This year’s Grand Prize is a bob house.  There are other smaller raffles, too.  All prizes are donated by local businesses.  These is a HUGE event that attracts anywhere from 3,000 to 5,000 people.

And of course, being locals, every year we take the kids down to see the fish board, and to walk around and see the “entertainment”.

But, like all fun, the day must end….

The End Of the Day

I always enjoy listening to a good comedian.  Mrs. Hughes started her career around the age of 50!  Can you believe that?  And, she is hilarious.  She cracks jokes about parenting, marriage, and other topics.

Like adults, no two children are alike. Therefore, children need to be treated as individuals. With four children in our family, it is difficult to find one-on-one time to talk, listen, and nurture each child’s personal needs.

We do not have a schedule in our house for spending quality time with the kids. Instead, we jump on the moment when it arrives. And sometimes it isn’t “one-on-one”… sometimes enjoying an activity with just two of the children makes a world of difference in the amount of attention I can give to them.

The truth is, children just want your attention. Children want to feel validated. Subconsciously, they are craving your time. Sometimes, that is why they act up. Misbehaving gives the child attention, but it is negative attention.

Try to find time throughout the week to give each child positive attention.

Share a Special Treat or Favorite Activity
Sitting together with cookies and milk is a wonderful opportunity to just talk to your children. You will be amazed at the conversations that take place. Conversations will also take place when you are throwing a ball together, coloring, painting… whatever activity your child enjoys.

Play Games
Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, Memory Games, and puzzles are great to play with your child. It is a great opportunity to teach being a good sport and enjoy some laughter and conversation. Another idea is to “go visit” them in their room. Hang out and become involved in what they are doing.

Baking or Cooking
Baking or cooking in the kitchen with only one or two rather than the whole bunch is less stressful for all involved.. It is easier to give instructions and to make the process fun without getting frustrated. It also allows the child to participate more in the activity.

Read Books
Rotate whose turn it is to choose the book. Or, if time allows, let each child choose a book. Read a chapter book to the older kids after the little ones go to bed. If you have a teenager, read the same book, and then discuss different points of views.

In the Car
When you are driving the kids around, turn the radio off. Don’t let them bring gameboys, ipods, or cell phones. Start up conversations about different things you see as you are driving along, and before you know it, the kids will start talking about themselves. If the child is old enough, allow him to sit in the front. I am amazed at how chatty my teenager becomes when she receives this special treat.

As the children get older, it becomes even more important to keep the lines of communication open. These strategies will help you develop a positive relationship with each child, to validate each child, and to enjoy each other.

Related Articles: Validating Your Child

Knock Knock.

Who’s There?

It’s ME!!  Asking you to participate!!  Read on:

1.  NEWSLETTER - I only have the finishing touches left and then my newsletter… my very first newsletter… will be distributed this Friday.  So, quick, sign up!  Over there to the right… in that box!  Stick your email in, and then you will receive an “opt - in” email with a link.  Sign up and give me some feedback.  What you like…. what you don’t like.  Either email me or drop me a line in “Dear Melissa”.  A few of you have already signed up, and I THANK YOU! (ps - your email address sits on a server in my secured account.  I spent many hours researching this, and you will not receive spam from subscribing to my newsletter.  I just thought a newsletter would be a fun little thing to do!)

2.  I SPY - you know the game!  “I spy something…..orange!”.  Well, I spent a good chunk of yesterday re-writing some code.  I have moved some things around, and changed how things look. (So if you signed up for RSS, and you kept getting pinged yesterday, I am very sorry.  I am a “tweaker“.  Yesterday I had 2 showing on my Feedburner, today I only have 1.  If I annoyed you, please accept my apologies!) How many changes can you spy??  Comment here or in the “Dear Melissa”.  I would like to say “The winner will receive………..” ……..but I don’t have a prize.  I have seen some blogs hold giveaways, but I am way below that.  But we can still have some fun…. and maybe I can send you some virtual chocolate!

(ps - if I can have everyone’s comments by Friday, midnight, EST, then I will will pass out the “chocolate” on Saturday!!  LOL!!)

Mondays after school are hectic.  I get TBG dressed for dance around 2:30, drive to the school to pick up Boy2 at 3:00, and then drive BOY2 to Art class, TGB to Dance class, back to the other side of town to pick BOY2 up from Art, then back over to pick TGB up.

Whew!  With me so far?…..

Some days BOY1 comes with me because TEEN has plans.  Other days BOY1 goes home and stays with TEEN.

This day, for whatever reason, TEEN wants to come.  So I have all four.  Driving around town.  Normally, winter traffic around here is minimal.  Not this day…. the natives are slow.

We arrive to Art class on time, but I am running late to dance.  TGB grabs her dance bag, and we rush inside.  BOY1 comes in, but TEEN wants to stay in the truck (and exactly why did she want to come along??) anyhow….. I lock her in the vehicle, and enter the building.

I am in the locker room, helping TBG to take off her boots… and jacket… and hat… and put on her….. DARN!  We are missing a ballet slipper!

Ahhh  :-)  … the smart mommy that I am… I have a solution.  I call TEEN and explain that I am missing a slipper.

ME:  “Can you please look around… is it on the floor?  The seat?  Or maybe in the parking lot?”

TEEN:  “oh, yah.  It is right here.”

ME:  (sighing with relief) “Can you please bring it in to me?  Just meet me in the front.”

TEEN:  “Sure.. I’ll…..”

WONK   WONK   WONK   WONK   WONK

The truck alarm goes off.

I couldn’t help but to laugh.

If you open the door a different way than the way the door was locked, the alarm goes off.  And I forgot that one small detail.

And I am inside…. listening to the alarm going off through the cellphone….

and TEEN says: “This is so embarrassing!! Mom!!  Make it stop!!”

ME:  “I’m coming, I’m coming!”

TEEN:  “Hurry!”

Click, click.  The alarm stops.

ME:  “There.  All better.”

TEEN:  rolls her eyes.

I’m still giggling inside…. shuuuush… don’t tell her.

Thank you to Sara from The Breathing Post!

Here are the Rules:
1.Put the logo on your blog or post.
2.Nominate at least 10 blogs that show attitude and/or gratitude.
3.Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4.Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on a post.
5.Nominate your favorites and link to this blog.

Since I am still new in the blog world, I don’t know ten bloggers well enough to nominate.  I do, however know five that I truly believe deserve to have this award bestowed upon them:

~ ~ ~ drum ~ ~ ~ roll ~ ~ ~

Joan from My Retirement Chronicles

Kim from Insanity and Bliss

Lynn from For Love or Funny

Trish from Preschool Playbook

Claire from A Boy with Aspergers

Congratulations, Ladies, for a job well done, and a blog worth sharing!!