Food Fun Family

Goldfish My Way – Customized Goldfish Packages for Special Occasions

Lolli — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:00:32 +0000

I received a complimentary set of Goldfish My Way customized party favors for my youngest son’s 8th birthday last month and have an ongoing compensated relationship with Goldfish Smiles, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Note: it appears that Pepperidge Farm has discontinued making Goldfish My Way packaging. I don’t know when they discontinued this product, and I apologize if you were trying to place an order and ended up here. Luckily, I’ve made FUN snack bag toppers that you can buy today and print off at home. Here’s a sneak peek of what you can get:

Find out how you can get your own treat bag toppers – with polka dots OR balloons HERE.

If I dare take my youngest son to the grocery store, he almost always begs me to buy him a box of Goldfish crackers. Whether it’s an afternoon snack or a lunch box treat, he’s always ready to eat a handful of Goldfish.

I was so excited to create a special treat for AJ’s birthday last month, and AJ was thrilled to receive it. Not only did he love getting his own supply of Goldfish in fun colors (I knew he would love blue and green Goldfish) but he was so excited to see his pictures and name on a package of one of his favorite foods ever.

When I asked him what he liked best about his special Goldfish packages, he said, “I LOVE the colors! Blue and green are so cool. And they were delicious.”

As soon as he said delicious, his 10-year-old sister piped in and reaffirmed that the blue and green Goldfish were especially yummy.

Of course, I’m also a fan of snacking on Goldfish (although the standard orange crackers are just fine with me) but I was particularly impressed with the quality of the customization. The pictures that I uploaded on the website printed beautifully on the packages, and the notes that I created for AJ made me smile every time I put one in his lunch box. I also love how easy it was to create AJ’s custom Goldfish My Way boxes.

How to create your customized Goldfish My Way package

Choose your occasion
Enter your message

Upload a picture
Choose your Goldfish colors

Pick a size and quantity
Add to cart and wait for your Goldfish to arrive!

Available customizable sizes:

Customized gift box
Customized party favor
Themed party cups

Since AJ’s birthday was in May, he received his party favor boxes in time to enjoy them with his school lunches for the last few weeks of school. But they would be perfect as party favors (and the other parents wouldn’t hate me for sending their kids home with bags full of candy and junk toys). I think AJ liked them so much that he would have had a hard time giving them away…

With 7 people at our house, we’ve got plenty of occasions to enjoy Goldfish My Way…coming up this year, we’ve got a teen getting her driver’s license, birthdays, a high school graduation, camp, scouts, piano recitals, school plays and a 19th anniversary (among many other special occasions, I’m sure!).

What occasions are perfect for Goldfish My Way?

Easter
Mother’s Day
Father’s Day
Graduation
Birthday Parties
Everyday Celebrations
Teacher Appreciation/End-of-Year Teacher Gifts
Field Day Snack-time
End-of-School Parties
Soccer or Baseball Team Snack-time
Kicking off Summer Vacation/ Road Trips
Camp Visiting Day/Camp Care Packages
Summer Celebrations, like BBQs for Memorial Day or the Fourth of July, or pool parties
First Day of School

*Please note that all customization requires 2 weeks of production time, so be sure to order them in plenty of time so they make it before your event or celebration.

What occasion would be perfect for a Goldfish My Way delivery at your house? And which colors would your kids love their Goldfish to be?

Love Goldfish? You’ll love these tips for being a happier mom from my time as a Goldfish Fishful Thinking Ambassador. I especially love number 5. And I never do enough of number 2.

Looking for customized gifts for kids? You’ll love these ideas from Amazon!

Don’t forget to check out my printable snack bag toppers!

101 Things to do Before the End of Summer

Lolli — Tue, 24 May 2011 18:36:09 +0000

Summer break starts in just a few weeks. I am in shock. My kids have attended summer camp the last few years and I’m not quite sure what I’m going to do with them all day when they are home for Summer vacation. I used to look forward to Summer and the extra time with my kids, but now that I have work responsibilities, I’m not sure how I’m going to handle entertaining children during what is supposed to be my work day. I figure that I need to start planning now so that by the time school ends in mid June I’ll be ready for (and maybe even looking forward to) the Summer break.

This month, in the Fishful Thinking newsletter, Dr. Karen Reivich challenged parents to make a list of things they want to do this Summer. I love what Dr. Reivich said:

With the school year coming to an end, my family is starting to think about summer and how to make the most of this precious time. We tend to have a lot of free time in the summer (mostly because I procrastinate signing my kids up for camps and classes), and it can be all too easy to let the summer drift away without using the time wisely.

So this summer, we’re trying something new: creating a list of 101 Things to Do Before the End of Summer. Like the movie The Bucket List and the book A Thousand Places to See Before You Die, lists like these can be a fun way to motivate you and your family to do things that might otherwise never make your “to-do” list. The beauty of these lists is that they give your family a chance to share dreams, express what they enjoy most, and encourage them to do things you all will remember for years to come.

Often when we think about goal setting, we think about “I Should” goals: I should exercise more, I should eat less candy, I should study more, etc. These goals are necessary and valuable, but the 101 Things to Do Before the End of Summer list isn’t about “I Should,” it’s about “We Want:” We want to go crabbing, we want to stargaze in our backyard, we want to eat hamburgers from 15 different places, etc.

Here is the beginning of my 101 Things to do this Summer list:

Swim in our neighborhood pool at least once a week
Watch all of the Young Indiana Jones series together
Keep up with our garden – together
Drive cross country for a reunion together
Read a novel together
Hike our favorite trail regularly
Make progress in our house (maybe keep it clean for once?)
Spend time with my sister and her kids in PA
Tour a few things in DC that we haven’t made it to before
BBQ regularly
Find ways that we can help our neighbors
Help Twizzler make progress in his Webelos Scout program
Work on family scrapbooks
Get everyone involved in collecting and sharing family history stories
Dance to music in the family room with the curtains open
Try new recipes
Sleep in at least once a week
Attend a bunch of local outdoor concerts
Participate in the Summer reading program at the library
Get my kids to write on my blog regularly

What would you add to your list of things you want to do before the end of Summer?

I am a Fishful Thinking Faculty mom and receive compensation for my time, but the thoughts and words in this post are mine. Join Fishful Thinking on Facebook for more discussion!

A Caterpillar Named Mason – PSF/GMYBS

Lolli — Fri, 13 May 2011 02:17:23 +0000

It’s Caterpillar Project season in 2nd grade. Caterpillars and chrysalis’ and mallow plants are all Reese has wanted to talk about this week. So when she brought a fuzzy caterpillar home on a stick on Tuesday, I figured it would be fun for her to observe it for a few hours. It’s our policy to always return caterpillars and other creatures to the outdoors after a short observation period.

We stuck the caterpillar in a mason jar and named him Mason.

The two youngest kids couldn’t get enough of their fuzzy friend.

Imagine their surprise when they noticed Mason spinning web inside the jar. It was pretty cool to observe.

The next morning, we woke up to a full spun chrysalis (or is it a cocoon?) on the side of the mason jar.

The excitement in our house has been palpable. Even the older kids (ok, and myself) have gotten excited about watching Mason’s progress. We’re checking out books and making predictions about when Mason will emerge…..and what he’ll look like. Will he be a butterfly or a moth? My guess is moth.

Who knew that a little caterpillar like Mason could bring a family together and create such great memories?

Anybody know anything about caterpillars, butterflies, or moths?

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

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Savoring Spring

Lolli — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 18:42:28 +0000

I’ve been thinking a lot about savoring the season – not only the Spring, which I am loving, but this season of my life….which I am not loving so much. According to this month’s Fishful Thinking newsletter message from Dr. Karen Reivich, savoring is an important part of happiness. Dr. Reivich suggests thinking about the questions below to help savor Spring:

What are the signs of spring that you notice first? How do you feel when you notice them?
What are the scents of spring? What memories do they trigger for you?
What are your family traditions or rituals around spring (e.g., taking a walk through a favorite park, replanting flowerpots, taking a trip during spring break)?
What is one thing you can do to help you and your family savor spring more fully this year?

How would you answer these questions?

For me, the daffodils shoots are some of the first signs of Spring that I notice. That and buds on the trees, despite the chill that is almost always still in the air, signal the coming of Spring. I am always so eager for Spring to start (as a California native, I admit I am not a fan of the Winter) and those visual signs make me so happy. The smells of fresh-cut grass and neighbors BBQing mean that Spring is in full-swing. I can close my eyes and remember running through the neighborhood lawns with my best friends when I was a kid.

A lot of our Spring traditions center around Spring Break and Easter. We decorate sugar cookies, dye Easter eggs, go to parks and spend evenings in the court with our neighbors. My camera comes out more often, my photography business starts up again, sandals come out for the next several months, the windows open up, and the fans turn on. I love fresh air. I love the Spring. I even look at the problems and challenges that seemed so huge during the Winter with a slightly brighter outlook.

I am savoring this time.

I am a Fishful Thinking Faculty mom and receive compensation for my time, but the thoughts and words in this post are mine.

Finding Balance and Being Present

Lolli — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 03:22:50 +0000

One of the hardest things about making the transition from dedicated-stay-at-home mom of young children to a work-at-home mom of older kids was finding a balance between getting my work done and giving my kids (and my house) the attention that they deserve. It is a constant concern for me, and one of those issues that will probably require constant maintenance. Whether it’s work or laundry or dinner to cook, there always seems to be something pressing for me to get done. As a mother, there will always be a choice – do I work on a task or tune into my children? Sometimes it’s hard to judge between two good things. Getting work done and spending time with my kids are both valuable (and even necessary) items on my plate. How do I find that balance?

(This is us enjoying some not-so-rare craaazy quality time together, inspired by Fishful Thinking)

Last week, as one of the Faculty Moms with the Fishful Thinking Positive Parenting program, I had the opportunity to participate in a webinar with Dr. Karen Reivich and fellow faculty moms. Below are a few of the key quotes from the webinar discussion between Dr. Reivich and a handful of faculty moms.

Sound-bites from the Fishful Thinking Webinar:

Intentionally schedule time to connect with your family.

Stop trying to engage your kids when you’re most tired! Diary your activity to see when it makes sense to have connections.

Be willing to have things take a little long [with kids] but like $ in the bank in time with them.

Allow yourself to just be [with your kids]. Give in!

If we are carving out times of family intimacy, that trumps the “less lovely” moments.

The sooner we get involved in an advocacy role with our kids issues, the better. Make sure kids have space to talk.

Make time to be present with your children..no matter what fits your family, it is what works for you

It may sound off to actually PLAN moments of connection with our kids, but it’s important!!

Connection is vital. Gentle touch helps children develop a deep sense of who their parents are from the very beginning.

Making sure our children know that there are adults who will keep them safe is critical.

The sooner we get involved in an advocacy role with our kids issues, the better. Make sure kids have space to talk.

Establish the kid’s roots (feelings of safe and secure) and THEN establish the branches….they’ll be more willing to branch out with strong roots.

Kids who have strong attachments with the adults in their lives THRIVE.

How do YOU make sure that you are present for your children?

Dr. Reivich also shared a few presence activities that families can do together that I thought I’d pass along. For additional activities (or for different age groups) check out the Resilience activity section on FishfulThinking.com.

Presence Activities

Family Flow Activity:

Set goal to have 20 minutes with your child without distractions (phones, computer, television, etc.) Make sure you are in a physical space that limits distractions (kitchens are not a good spot, bedrooms are better).
Ask your child to pick an activity that he or she enjoys and finds challenging (Sudoku, brain teasers, playing music, etc.)
Every time you find yourself distracted by your thoughts, remind yourself that this time is a gift to your child and refocus on him or her.

“In the Tent” activity (good for young children):

Make a tent with your child out of blankets, or sit under the dining room table.
Post a sign on the outside of the tent/table that says “Don’t disturb until XX:XX (fill in time). The sign helps your child to know that you are all hers for this period of time.
Climb inside/under with books, puzzles, crayons, paper, dolls, action figures – whatever your child most enjoys.
Every time you find yourself distracted by your thoughts, remind yourself that this time is a gift to your child and refocus on him or her.

For additional Fishful Thinking experiences, check out the Fishful Thinking category right here, read Dr. Reivich’s current newsletter, Strengths in Action, or “Like” Fishful Thinking on Facebook.

Note: As a Faculty Mom with the Pepperidge Farm Fishful Thinking program, I do receive compensation for my time, but the the opinions expressed and the thoughts shared are my own. I have been doing the Fishful Thinking activities with my kids for the last few years and we love them!

How to Create a Love List With Your Kids

Lolli — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 02:58:40 +0000

I am sitting at my desk. I am trying to start a post inspired by a fantastic conference call I was on tonight with Dr. Karen Reivich and my fellow faculty moms with the Fishful Thinking program. For an hour we shared and discussed how our families give and receive love. It’s just before 9:30 pm and the kids have been put to bed. They are far from being asleep, however. In fact, AJ just made his way into my bed, right behind my computer, as he so often does, to get away from one of the other kids who is singing in bed.

He keeps trying to talk to me. And in the middle of shushing and snapping at him to go to bed already!, he says, “Mommy, I sure love you.”

My heart melts.

How to Create a Love List With Your Kids

Dr. Reivich’s newsletter about expressing love hit home with me. In it, she challenges parents to sit down with their children and create a Love List.

What is a LOVE LIST? It’s simple – a love list (between a parent and child, at least) includes the simple ways that you can show your love for each other AND the specific things that “say” LOVE to the other person. Maybe my kids FEEL my love when I tuck them into bed at night. I might not be saying “I love you,” but they feel it. When parents and kids sit down to write a love list together, they can be more aware of those things that make them feel loved – and then remember to do those things more often.

I had some ideas of my own, but I decided to get the kids’ input. When do they feel loved? What are the things we do or say that tell them that we love each other?

On the conference call, I shared my experience at Mt Vernon last Monday. After returning home, I was worried that my kids would remember the whining and the late lunch, the cold and the rain. And Mom getting lost on the way home.

But with a little distance, even I am forgetting the tough parts of the day and remembering the things that I would hope my kids would remember, too. We spent time together. We laughed. We talked. I was with them 100%. TIME, my total attention to my children, is a way that I can express my love to them.

Here are some of the things that my kids added to our Love List:

saying “thank you”
playing games together
going out to lunch together
nice letters
hugs and kisses
making cookies together
snuggling in bed
playing with our hair
talking on the phone together
texting each other
SAYING I LOVE YOU

These are simple things, but they are so important because it is in the quiet moments of snuggling or cooking or braiding hair that my love for my kids is confirmed to them.

I also told Dr. Reivich and the FT faculty about a little tradition that our family has. When we gather before bed to read and pray together, we end with our Family Cheer. I don’t know how it evolved, but it is one of our favorite family rituals. It feels like a big family kiss, but it’s much less messy.

How do your family members show love for each other?

My Motivation

Lolli — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 18:37:05 +0000

This year, I did something I typically don’t do. I made a New Years Resolution. I usually steer clear of the ever-popular New Years Resolutions because the idea of setting goals once a year has always turned me off. I like the idea of always striving to be better and setting goals as they are needed, and not waiting til everyone else does it on January 1st.

This January 1, I knew it was time. I couldn’t wait any longer to get back in shape. The last 3 1/2 years of not having a steady income have been rough on me emotionally and physically, and I have not been taking care of myself like I should have been. I decided to set some small goals for myself so that I could reach my larger goal of losing weight and gaining energy.

I added exercise in to my routine on week one. I have been loving dancing with the wii at my friend, Safire’s, house. We have been sweating to Just Dance 2 for a few weeks now and love it. When I don’t get together with Safire, I have been doing workout DVDs at home. Not my favorite way to exercise, but it’s free. And warm.

On week 2, I vowed to add more water into my day. If trips to the bathroom are a good indicator, I have been drinking more water. Maybe not enough, but I’m definitely doing better.

Week 3 is starting today, and my newest goal is to get more sleep. I wake up every morning at 5:00am to get KitKat up so she can make it out the door for her 6:00am seminary class. Sadly, despite the early wake up time, I’ve had a bad habit of going to sleep after midnight. I know that five hours of sleep is not enough for a healthy body. So this week, I am striving to make getting to bed earlier my newest habit.

In future weeks, my goals will include eating healthier (particularly dropping the snacks) and increasing my exercise (adding muscle toning to the cardio). With the influence of my friend Leah from Bookieboo and Mamavation I’m hoping to keep on track (By the way – the new round starts this week! I’m really hoping that @katjrobertson is picked as one of the Mamavation Moms!)

As an added motivation, this month’s Fishful Thinking newsletter and message came via email last week. What perfect timing! This is what my friend and mentor, Karen Reivich, says about achieving goals:

Think about how you and your kids pursue long-term goals. Do you do whatever it takes to reach the goal, even if it means weeks, months, or years of effort? Or do you stick with your goal but lose interest, quit when it gets tough, or stop when there are roadblocks in your path?

Psychologist Dr. Angela Duckworth has studied why some persist in the pursuit of goals (for years and years), while others quit and find something else as soon as they get bored or hit obstacles. She calls this mental trait of perseverance and passion for long-term goals “grit”. Angela’s research shows that individuals with grit are more likely to persist in reaching their goals, and are more likely to succeed and outperform those with less grit. In fact, her research shows that grit is a better predictor of success—like those who make it to the final round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which West Point Cadets will make it through the grueling first summer at West Point, and even a student’s grades in school—than intelligence or self-control.

Grit requires perseverance and optimism. It also requires setting goals that align with our passions. After all, it’s going to be easier to keep a goal that intrigues and excites us—a goal that we have heart for—rather than a goal that fails to ignite our zest and enthusiasm. You can take a free test of your grit by going to https://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu and clicking on the Grit Survey link found under Engagement Questionnaires. (You will need to make a username and password – there is no charge)

Reflect on the questions below to help you think about how much grit you have:

What long-term goals have you set for yourself? What has been your progress in meeting those goals?

When working toward a long term goal, how do you respond when you encounter difficulties or challenges along the way?

What are you most passionate about? How do your goals fit with your passions (are they related or unrelated)?

How would you describe your self-control? How do you respond when you are tempted to do something that will undermine your ability to meet your goals?

How optimistic are you? How do you use your optimism to reach your goals?

The field of Positive Psychology doesn’t yet have empirically validated techniques for teaching grit. I believe, however, that if we help our children develop optimism, self-control, and perseverance, and marry those attributes to their passions, we will increase the likelihood that our children develop grit. In addition, we can teach our children that success and talent take a lot of time and effort by praising them for their efforts and the daily steps they take to reach their goal.

If all of that wasn’t motivation enough, I stumbled upon this photo of myself holding Twizzler, my third child, on a Florida beach during the Summer of 2001. Granted, I was in my late 20s then (instead of my late 30s…) and I have had two more kids since this picture was taken. But the stark difference between how I look NOW versus how I looked THEN is all the motivation I need to stick with my goals.

I hardly even recognize myself.

What motivates you to stick with your goals?

PS – I am hosting the live chat in the Coffee Talk BlogFrog community tomorrow morning at 11:00 am Eastern Time. We’re talking about photography tips (woohoo!). I hope you’ll join me there!

© 2011 – 2014, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.

Thanksgiving Daily

Lolli — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 14:03:19 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! While you’re taking a break from the holiday preparations today, here is a short video about noticing the little, ordinary things of beauty.

This weekend, while you are thinking about the things that you are thankful for, I challenge you to do one of these great Gratitude-Inspiring activities from Fishful Thinking. They have helped me live in thanksgiving daily, all year long.

Happiness Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of simple items or experiences that make you and your child laugh, smile, or that bring a sense of pleasure (petting a puppy, watching ants march in a line, swinging, etc.). Devote 30 to 60 minutes to a happiness scavenger hunt where you try to find/do several things on the list.

Inspire an Attitude of Gratitude: Leading by example is a great way to help make expressing gratitude a part of your family’s daily life. Whenever you find yourself feeling grateful—share it! It can be as simple as saying, “I feel so thankful for our wonderful family!” You can also ask simple questions that will help your kids to notice everyday blessings.

Creating Your “Enough List”: While striving towards self-improvement is an important aspect of growing as a person, it’s also necessary to take stock of what you already have. The “enough” list shouldn’t replace your “er” list of personal improvements (like getting better at the piano, eating healthier meals or keeping the bedroom neater). Instead, it will help you to stay grateful for what is already good, while you are working on improving other aspects of your life.

Make a “Grateful Sayings” Poster: Get a piece of poster board and write “For This I Am Grateful” in big letters across the top. Ask everyone in your family (and friends and neighbors, too!) to write or draw something on the poster for which they are grateful. It can be something “big” or something “small.”

What are your favorite ways to celebrate Thanksgiving daily?

© 2010, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.

Critical

Lolli — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 15:02:58 +0000

Help me win the Amazing Avocado Big Hit Grand Prize ($5000!) for my yummy Avocado recipe by voting daily for me at https://www.theamazingavocado.com/bighit/vote.php?id=8

I love my kids. They are strong, caring, beautiful children.

I love being a mom. I love that I can stay home with them, even if I am busier now than I ever was before they were all in school. I chose this job, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

So why is it that I so often crave time by myself, that I ignore them when they want something simple from me? Why am I impatient with my kids and impatient with myself?

As a mom, I’ve found that it’s so easy (too easy!) to be critical of myself. Instead of looking at the good we’re accomplishing as a family, I tend to compare myself with other moms…..The mom at church whose children are so well-behaved and sit quietly in the pew….The mom at school who wins the award for being a super volunteer….The mom across the street whose children have perfect hair and perfect outfits…..The mom across town whose house is immaculately clean and tastefully decorated.

My kids are restless in church and leave crayon peelings littered around our feet.

I volunteer, but not as much as I could.

I sometimes send my kids to school with messy hair and socks with holes in the toes.

This is the current state of my kitchen…..

I am critical.

And, frankly, it doesn’t do me any good.

This past week, in the Fishful Thinking discussion on Crowdtap, we’ve been talking about how we tend to be our own worst critics, and what situations bring out the critic in us. For me, I am most critical about my role as a mom and keeper of the house and home. I compare myself with other moms, I get down on myself for the things I’m not doing as well as I should, and I worry that I’m not doing enough.

In March, I wrote about Fishful Thinking’s 8 steps to being a happier mom. I pulled that post back up this morning as I was thinking about my critical self, and was struck by how this relevant these tips were. (I go into greater detail about each of these steps in the original post)

Admit when you’re stressed

Get enough sleep

(Re)consider your priorities

Go with the flow

Savor the moment

Take the long view

Reconnect with your spouse

Say thanks

Today I have a new tips to add.

9. Only be critical when the situation is critical.

The fact is, I’m doing ok. My kids are happy and well-adjusted. My kids and my husband know I love them, and they know I work hard for them. The important things are taken care of. The laundry piled behind me and the dishes stacked up near the sink (because of the broken dishwasher, I might add) are not critical. The hair-dos and the holes in the socks are not critical. How I am doing compared to my neighbors is not critical.

So I should not be critical of myself. I should be happy. My kids….and I….deserve it.

What triggers your inner critic, and how do you fight it?

PS–In case you didn’t hear, we won the Invisalign treatment for KitKat. Thank you to all who commented on Saturday’s post. Apparently, it payed off! I am hoping that this is just the beginning of a lucky streak, and that I will break through to the top 3 of the Avocado contest this week! I appreciate all of your daily votes!

PPS–If you’d like to join in the discussion on Crowdtap, with the chance to work with brands and earn a little money along the way, click on this invite.

PPPS–That crane up at the top of the post was made by my 9 year old….and yes, it is sitting on a penny. He has been cranking out cranes like crazy this weekend!

© 2010, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.

The Face of a Happy Child

Lolli — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 02:43:40 +0000

This is the face of a child eating a Happy Meal (she doesn’t get to eat those very often!).

This is the face of a happy child.

This is the face of a child enjoying her mama’s undivided attention. A child with an unexpected, spontaneous 3 hour mommy-daughter date.

This is the face of a child who talked and talked about her plans for the new school year, as well as the highlights of her summer. Her best memory from the summer was “staying home.” This is the face of a child who was listened to.

This is the face of a happy child.

While we were together today, shopping for new school shoes and a birthday present for Daddy, I took the time to really TALK. And of course there’s a Fishful Thinking activity for that! Here are some ideas for you to use the next time you’ve got the undivided attention of a happy child:

Positive Habits activity from Fishful Thinking

Look for opportunities to discuss positive change with your child. Any “downtime” you have with the kids—driving in the car, taking a walk to the park or even waiting in a doctor’s office—can be the perfect time.

Try using the following questions as a springboard for a family conversation about positive change:

~What are some things that you can do today that you weren’t able to do one year ago?

~How does it feel to do those things?

~What are some things you’ll likely be able to do a year from now that you can’t yet do?

~What is a positive habit that you’d like to begin (such as getting more exercise, making more time for a hobby, spending more time as a family)?

~What are three things that we can do together to help develop this positive habit?

PS–I sincerely apologize to those of you using Internet Explorer! I thought that the issue with my blog and IE was solved, but apparently it’s not. Hopefully we’ll figure it out soon!

© 2010, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.