Everyone is Talking
About the #HobbyLobbyChallenge.
Why do I care?
It’s the latest and greatest online challenge. Your teens may have already completed it and we can’t have them being cooler than you. You should know about these things. Be hip and with it. #justsayin’
Fine, tell me more.
The Hobby Lobby challenge started with a 22-year-old photographer participating in an ugly location challenge. She chose a Hobby Lobby to shoot a series of photos in front of some faux foliage and it swept the internet. Now, as they say, ‘everybody is doing it’.
Need a new headshot? Hobby Lobby.
Need photos for your Instagram feed? Hobby Lobby.
Looking for some great shots of your kids with a sweet back drop? Hobby Lobby.
Who knew?!
In the Trenches
Kids are known for their selective hearing. From the toddler years throughout the teen years, the struggle. is. real.
The problem with our kids not listening is we parents can get frustrated, overwhelmed and overworked. This results in tension and sometimes, less-than-stellar responses to our kids and/or spouse. So, how do we make sure we can keep our cool, but get our kids to do what they’re told?
Try these 20 phrases to re-shape the tone of the ask. Some great examples?
- What do we need to remember… This can be used in place of ‘be careful’. “What do we need to remember when we cross the street?” or “What do we need to remember when riding our bikes?” It empowers kids to recall family safety rules.
- Would you like to do it on your own, or would you like help? Use this when time is short and your child isn’t quite ready to roll. It offers them the chance to do it, or you can swoop in and handle it to get out the door.
- We are on Cheetah time today and need to move fast! This gamifies the hustle to get moving and kids will sense the fun instead of the stress.
Put Your Best Foot Forward
Laundry is the beast that doesn’t go away. Simplifying and streamlining is the name of the game, so here are some hacks to get you back on track with that weekly, never-ending slog.
- Conquer the sock insanity. Bundle them up in a lingerie bag (one for each kid) for easy washing, drying and sorting. The trick is to give each kid their own sock bag to fill-up as they change them from day-to-day. Then, throw their individual sock bags into the wash and have them match up their socks once they are dry. One additional tip this blogger offers – buy socks with sizes printed on the bottom. That way, if there’s a sock mix-up, you can easily sort each child’s socks. Brilliant!
- Salad spinner + delicates = genius quick-drying. Your bra won’t lose shape and it’s dried in a jiffy.
- Sort clothes as your family takes them off. Create a sorting station in a common area near bedrooms. Here’s one we liked.
- Apparently, you are not doomed if you shrunk your clothing. Just give them a hair conditioner soak and you’re good to go. Who knew?!
- Invest in a giant pegboard to organize your laundry space – it will streamline your work flow. From S-hooks with laundry sorting bags to hanging your brooms and mops…let’s just say, we’re off to Home Depot. #weekendproject
The Kids are Alright
How was school? Good.
Did you have fun today? Yes.
What’s new? Nothing.
*sigh*
Getting your child to elaborate on their day or share their thoughts on things can be a tough one. But, bonding with our kids, making sure they are doing O.K. or that they don’t need our guidance and/or support is so important.
So, how do you get them to dish on their days?
Try these 15 questions to get conversation flowing with your child. Some of our faves:
- Were there any moments today when you felt proud of yourself?
- What are you looking forward to tomorrow?
- Is there a question you wish I’d ask you about your day?
- Tell me about a moment in class when you felt confused.
- What did you learn about yourself today?
Get to know your kids better and find out how they view the world using conversation starters that involve your memories as a child. Knowing that you’ve ‘been there’ too, may make them more comfortable sharing their own experiences, while also giving them insight into what shaped you as a person.
These 30 Heart Felt Conversation Starters from The Intentional Mom are a great way to start. Our top five from this list?
- When I was a kid my best friend was ____________. What made them my best friend was the way he/she_____________________. What do you look for in a friend?
- In one word friends would describe me as_________. How would your friends describe you?
- The best memory I have of spending time with my siblings while I was growing up was the time we________. What is one thing you would love to do with your siblings to make a memory?
- My most embarrassing moment has been when___________. What’s yours?
- When I was a kid my favorite place to be, my special place was_____________. Where is your special place?
Parting Thoughts
TGIF. It’s been a long week. #thatisall
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