June Love Drop

Hey guys!  The Love Drop team is at it again! Last month they gave over $9,200 worth of cash, goods and services to their recipient, the Stalnaker family, who had been going through a financially hard time due to the effects of the BP oil spill on the Louisiana economy. The family was in need of a car and the Love Drop team was able to surprise them with one, making it one of the most exciting Love Drops ever. You can watch how it all went down here.

This month they rally behind the Aubins – a Michigan mother and her three children who  are mourning the death of Keith, husband and father, after his lengthy battle with multiple health problems.  Our goal is to raise at least $3,600 to pay the family’s rent for three months, which will allow them to focus on what they need to during this time, without fear of losing their home. Additionally, since Keith was an organ donor, he leaves a powerful legacy and the Love Drop team hopes to raise awareness of organ donation this month to honor Keith’s memory. Help us make this month special for the Aubins!

Want to help?  Here are three ways you can participate:

Give $25 towards rent <– Click this link to contribute $25 towards their rent for the next three months – it will relieve so much stress for them.
Give a gift or service – Gift cards are always helpful. Places like Target, Wal-mart, restaurants, etc would definitely help them out. Services too – especially those you can offer yourselves, or from your company.
Organ donation  - We’re giving the Aubin’s the gift of knowing that the people on our team are organ donors. If you are one now, or pledge to be soon, please tell us so, and we’ll relay the total number as a gift at the Drop.
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Thanks everyone! We’ll let you know how it goes!

I really love this organization. Each month Love Drop sets out on a mission to help a family in need and the results have been impressive to say the least. The stories themselves are sometimes heartbreaking like this months….

Here’s what Nate has to say:

I just wanted to let you guys know that we’re about 75% to goal on paying three months of rent for the family we’re helping through Love Drop this month! A bunch of us are pitching in just a little bit each, and we’ve got $2,700 of the $3,600 we need. Hopefully we can get the rest in the next 10 days before we present it to them. (Their story is below, in case you don’t know it.)

This month the Love Drop team is helping out a family in Detroit whose husband/father just passed away last month. There are three teenage kids in the home, and money is really tight, so what we want to do is pay for three months’ rent for them, so they don’t have to worry about it during this tough time right now. Their dad was paralyzed, but he donated his legs after he passed so that others can walk. It’s a touching story, and you can check it out here: http://LoveDrop.us

Wordless Wednesday (late but worth it)

Out to lunch! That smile warms my heart!

LeBella had a great day today! The best day she’s had in months actually. We got all her lessons done early so I took her out to lunch and we went to the dollar theater. We watched the first 1/2 of Harry Potter and that was enough for her!

 

 

Bipolar Tuesday: Planning Prevents Pandemonium

Most adults need a little routine. In general children thrive when there is structure. In my reality pandemonium ensues when there is no routine and structure. This is a rule without exception. For a long time I convinced myself I was the Queen of Winging It. And anyone who knows me IRL will tell you I can run crisis control like a mofo. Why? Simple: Practice makes perfect.
As LeBella’s IEP began coming together I realized I needed to be doing more at home. I decided to start with myself, so I could lead by example. After only a few creative Google searches (“How to be a Good Mom” “Supermom” “How to be a Housewife” “Being Organized” “How not to end up in an Insane Asylum”) I came across FlyLady and I was instantly hooked! (But that’s a post for another day!) I began pulling myself together, and then I focused on everyone else.
I came up with a chore chart for the kids. I took the 6 simplest chores and set it up so they each did 2 a day. The chores rotate daily so every does every chore at least twice during the week. They kids actually loved this! That was about 4 years ago. We still have the very same chore chart up on the fridge but the kids know the rotation by heart.
I also began setting up a weekly plan. We always run errands and go to doctor’s appointments on Mondays, for instance. We do groceries on Sunday afternoons. I try to avoid “running around” everyday. It makes LeBella very anxious.
We have set daily schedules. Meal time, homework time, outside play; everything is planned and everyone knows what to expect. I worried that we were living too structured, but even our daily schedule has “down time” included. When we deviate from our set routines EVERYbody notices.
LeBella has her own “Princess Planner” which is an adaptation of FlyLady’s Control Journal that I prettied up with some clip art and scrap booking materials. Inside her pretty 3-ring binder she has all her routines in page protectors so she can mark them of with a dry erase marker as she goes through the day.
We also meal plan every week and place meals (and any other important info) on our large dry erase calendar. It sounds like a lot when you break it down but really, we’re talking minutes of planning that prevents hours of chaos!

If you are raising a child like LeBella I cannot stress the importance of having set routines. You will find yourself with fewer battles to pick from and your will be building your child’s independence and self-esteem in a natural way. You are also teaching your child time management. A very important Life Skill. And the bonus? You will be less stressed. At times your house will feel like it runs itself.
Routines create a sense of security in your home. When children can predict what’s happening next they are less anxious and more compliant. Have a set routine for children to follow boost their sense of independence and raises self-esteem. I want our home to be an oasis, a safe place to escape from the craziness of the world. Behind these doors my family is safe and secure, and that’s how they should feel.

For more ideas on creating your own routines visit:
www.flylady.net
www.homeroutines.com

http://organizedhome.com/household-notebook/

http://www.totallytogetherjournal.com/the-daily-7-for-a-highly-successful-household/

http://www.habithacker.com

*Interested in a custom planner for your child(ren)? Email me for more information: mommylebron@yahoo.com

Here’s where all the hoppin’ is happenin’ (if you’d like to follow me via GFC there’s a link to the right *pointing->*)

Posted with love by Mommylebron

Jealous of Mrs. Jones? I’m not…

Jealousy, envy, the green eyed monster, keepin’ up with the Jones’. Now matter how you word it, the meaning is the same. “I don’t have it, they do, I want it. Oh, and I hate them for having it.”
Now, I won’t go so far as to say I don’t want anything (I’d be lying, there are tons of things I’d love to have. Like, if you want to send me a Kindle, that’d be stellar!). However, I don’t feel like my existence is less substantial because I don’t have the latest whatever. And I definitely don’t begrudge Mrs. Jones for her totally awesome thing that I don’t have. My sentiments were reaffirmed today as I held a yard sale in my, well, yard (duh). I think I’m addicted. I’d rather get rid of crap than collect more! And the pocket change it brought in ($70 woohoo) is a bonus! I may possibly be addicted. I think I will hold garage sales every weekend until we move. Or run out of stuff. Whatever. (Anyone want a couch? ) On thay note; I give 5 things that will never bring out the green in me, followed by 5 that might (I admit this begrudgingly…)

I’ll Never Cry Over These:

1. A Coach Handbag/Purse. Am I anti purse? No. Would I turn one of these down were it offered to me for free? No. However, I would never scour the stores or the internet looking for the *perfect* one because quite frankly, a purse is a purse to me. (Can we still be friends?) And all that mullah? I’d rather buy books. I mean toys for my kids…..

2. Brand new car. Two words: Car Payment. And there would be no eating, drinking, clothes changing (don’t ask) in this car, so basically the munchkins would be forced to walk. On second thought…..

3. Supermom with the perfect hair, nails, clothes, matching shoes & purse, color coordinated makeup, matching poodle……Who has that much time? I have kids to feed, lessons to write, books to read, blog posts to schedule, etc. I do not have time to play Barbie. Unless it’s with LeBella. And actually involves plastic dolls.

4. Those big, flat, hang-me-on-the-wall TV’s. We are not TV people. We have never had cable (I kid you not). I have been home all summer, and never got sucked into daytime TV. At the most I watch movies in the evening with the Hubs. Even then I get sidetracked *ahem* like now.

5. A vacation home. I’m sorry, did you say I have to clean TWO houses? Riiight, that is so not happening. Hello Hotel with Maid Service!

Jealousy Checklist

1. Supermom with the angelic crew of children in tow. In the grocery store. During any major holiday. I can admit this will never be me. If you happen to see me with angelic children in tow; either there is chocolate involved, or they’re not mine. Probably the latter.

2. SAHM’s. And, I’m not a working mom who thinks its all bonbons and Soap Operas. I have been home with my kids all summer (for the first time EVER!) and it was more work than, well, work! And that’s saying a lot considering I’m a preschool teacher. But to be able to devote that much time to my family and our home? To have time to pursue my hobbies? Have time to be more June Cleaver and less…me? Priceless.

Ok, that’s all I got! I promised 5, but as long as I have my Hubs and the munchkins (and my Blackberry) I’m good!!

Posted with love by Mommylebron

From Teen Mom to Mom of Teen

Tomorrow is a momentous day for the LeFam! LeScholar will be 13! Thirteen! I remember the beginning of this journey. I was a 17 year old girl. Wise beyond my years, madly in love, but a girl no less. I took my love of knowledge and directed it to every baby book I could find. (LeDaddy never complained while carrying my stacks of books in and out of the library) I always wanted to be a mom. By his due date, I was ready! Him? Not so much. Two weeks later I was 100% convinced that I would be the woman to stay pregnant FOREVER. I considered submitting my name to Guinesses. Then, the magic day came! July 22, 1997. And it was magic! His birth was quick and easy (which is amazing considering he was 8.9 and 21.5!). And I was in love! Not a single one of those books prepared me for the amount of love that swelled my heart! I vowed right then I would be the best mom I could and he would always be my first priority. I have done everything in my power to keep my promises. I am so very proud of the young man he is becoming. An honor student, a compassionate heart, a creative mind, a gentle soul. He’s already setting goals for his life. I can count on him. I can trust him. He “gets” me and vice versa. While 90% of my pride is in him, I reserve a little for me because being a teen mom is hard and scary and people judge you and have doubts about your ability to raise a child. All the best things in life are worth working for and let me tell you, my kids are the best!
Happy Birthday Jiovanni! I love you!

Posted with love by Mommylebron