Mom on a Mission

Monday, May 12, 2014

Muffins with Mom – How does a mom prepare for prom? – 5 things NOT to do

It’s the morning of prom, I awake energetic and happy. It’s not my prom, but my sons that I am preparing for. I’m sure my son could get ready on his own, but being the mom that I am, it’s not going down that way. How does a mom prepare for prom? By making sure her son hasn’t forgotten anything.

Start with a few basic questions…
Do you have the corsage?
Do you have the tickets?
Do you have your wallet, your phone and your license?

“Yes, Ma,” was the response I got.

We were ready, yes I said “we”. I had my purse, my cell phone (with camera) and my car keys. I followed my son to the house where his friends were meeting. When we arrived, there were several other parents there with cameras and phones in hand, ready to capture the occasion.

As parents crowded together to take photos, I thought of things that could have gone wrong in preparation for the prom. Here’s a list of things NOT to do on your child’s prom day:

1. Don’t knock other parents out of the way while trying to get the best photo of your child and his date.

2. Don’t follow your child to the next location, and the next, trying to capture every moment.

3. Don’t lick the tip of your finger, then try to smooth your son’s eyebrows into place.

4. Don’t ask your child to call or text you throughout the night because it won’t happen and you’ll be frustrated.

5. Don’t sit up all night waiting to see if your child comes home at the time you indicated; take a nap and set your alarm instead.

One thing you SHOULD do while preparing for prom is encourage your child to enjoy the moment and the memories he/she is creating.

Prom gift keepsake - a glass mug with candy inside

Do you have suggestions for helping a mom prepare for her child’s prom? Do dad’s prepare differently?

Friday, May 9, 2014

Fun Friday - National Bicycle Month – 5 Benefits of bike riding

Photo Credit

When was the last time you went for a bike ride? For me it’s been a long, long, time. As I walked through the house into the garage, I spotted our two bikes leaning against a trash can. The kickstands don’t work properly; otherwise they’re in good condition. There would also be a layer of dust on the bikes if were not for the fact that my boys take them out for a spin pretty often.

Since May is National Bicycle Month this is a good time to take your bike out of hibernation. First you may have to get past roadblocks or excuses for not taking a bike ride. Let’s get the excuses out of the way then focus on the benefits of bike riding.

5 excuses for not taking a bike ride:

1. The tires are flat on the bike

2. The bike seat is too small or my butt is too big to fit on the seat

3. I don’t have time/too much to do

4. It’s raining or It’s too hot

5. I don’t think I remember how to ride

Now for the benefits of bike riding:

1. It’s an activity you can do for the rest of your life

2. Bike riding gives you a sense of freedom

3. Offers a chance to explore and get to know the area around you

4. Reduces stress

5. It gives you a great workout

Make bicycle month fun by including the whole family; create a set of challenges for the kids. You could have an obstacle course, a bike relay or even set up a bike safety station. If you want to make your challenge really involved, offer a reward to the family member who bikes the most miles in a week.

Now that you’re in the frame of mind of thinking about biking, how about taking a look at a few fun photos (related to biking of course).