Homemade Pizza "Lunchables"

Z is still a little young for these, but they are always a hit with my little sisters and the children at my mom's daycare. A few Ritz crackers, some spaghetti sauce, and you can use either shredded cheese or a couple of cheese slices. To take it "to go" put the sauce in a condiment-sized Tupperware container and the cheese and crackers in a larger container or baggies. I like to pop mine in the microwave for a few seconds so that the cheese is good and melty!

Healthy In, Healthy Out

Parenting is tricky. You not only have to figure out how to raise a human being, but sometimes you have to raise yourself too. Previously you lived your life how you want, without much regard to how much your actions may mold others (at least I did) and then suddenly there's a brand new person who looks to you for every single queue.

Now things that used to seem to be a personal matter are a household matter. Take weight loss or healthy eating, for example. I've realized that being frustrated with my body and making poor eating decisions will effect someone other than me. The negativity that I spout may someday form bad thoughts in my child's head. This saddens me and is more motivation than ever to change my ways. I've brought this before God and I've formed a new motto for myself:

"Healthy in, healthy out."

I will strive to only put healthy things into my mouth and only let healthy, productive words out of my mouth. Hopefully I can remember this when I want to curse at someone in traffic while being tempted to stop for a fried chicken sandwich.

Natural Sharing

At what age is it appropriate to teach children how to share? I think it happens naturally when they first encounter a situation where it applies or is an issue. But there's some small things that I feel like parents may overlook. It's in those little moments that even I learn something about sharing and giving.

Zane sat on my lap with his little plate of scrambled eggs next to mine. I helped him wi his first couple of bites then ate my breakfast. He saw my plate was empty and tried to feed me a bite. I did what most parents do, I acted like I ate it but didn't. He refused to eat his food. So I ended up eating the mushed up scrambled egg out of his slobbery little fingers and the smile on his face melted my heart. He said "good!" much like when we feed him and he is doing a good job. Zane then. Proceeded to finish his eggs, happy that he had shared when mommy had no food. I was proud of my boy for being so caring but I also had another thought: how often do our kids do this and we tell them "no" because, quite frankly, M&M's with half the coating melted off are gross? How often do we stifle their nurturing or caring spirit, only to create an artificial environment on which to teach them to share?