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Encouraging Your Child’s Strengths

By on September 1, 2011

What happens if your child isn’t gifted in the academic world? How do you handle it as a parent?

I wrote an essay, “Listen for the Pounding” that is currently in Portland Family magazine that talks about what I’ve learned and needed to be reminded of as a parent when my kids are struggling to learn a new subject or topic.

Kids who are bright in the traditional academic way shine well in school for 12 years.

12 years.

And kids that have different abilities who struggle in school…well…they struggle and struggle. So what can you do as a parent?

With my five kidlets, I have a mixture. And I’ve learned to be upfront with the ones that have a hard time with reading, for instance, that I know it’s difficult and that they’ll have to work at it. When they compare themselves to another sibling, I remind them that sibling X may not be as good as they are at making friends. Sibling Y may not have a natural ability to fix things.

Moms, we need to be patient and find ways to help our kid’s learn the way they learn. Keep asking for help at school and ask other moms. Help them learn to rephrase “I hate math” to “I have to work hard at math” or “Math doesn’t come easily to me.”

Applaud their successes. I don’t care if my kid comes home with a C+ if they worked at it. Don’t compare your kids – we all do it. Set up incremental steps that they will succeed with.

12 years is a long time.

Do you have any tips to share to help other parents’ with struggling students?

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And the winner is…

By on August 21, 2011

AM! You won a free copy of Math for Grownups. I’ll be in contact with you soon.

Thank you all for participating. And thank you Laura Laing for being such a great host author and answering everyone’s questions.

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Get the Anxiety Out of Math – Math for Grownups Book giveaway

By on August 15, 2011

Today I’d like to welcome Laura Laing, author of the new book Math For Grownups to Imp3rfect Mom. She has some important insight about math anxiety and our kids.

by Laura Laing

Things that make many kids anxious: a new school, big dogs, the deep end of the swimming pool, bees, strangers, nightmares, math.

Did you notice something there?  For many children, math and bees are equally frightening or at least nerve-wracking.

Not all kids have math anxiety, but it’s not uncommon for elementary, middle or high school students to express nervousness about learning math or taking math tests.  At the same time, these students may also feel less confident in their math skills or even say that they hate math.

This is not a good thing.

As a parent, you may not be able to convince your child that they love math, but you can help them tolerate the subject and—better yet—ease their anxiety.  And since we parents may well have helped instill that sense of math anxiety, we probably ought to do something about it.

Allow your kids to fail  Kids aren’t given enough opportunities to try out math without looking for the so-called “right” answer.  In school, they’re being graded almost all the time, so why not introduce them to some low-stakes math problems at home.  Get them involved with cooking (and let them screw up a recipe).  Have them put their measuring and conversion skills to work in the sewing room (and let them see how small an 1/8” seam really is).  Allow your kids to focus on the process, not the outcome.

Show your kids’ your mistakes  Even with a math degree, I’ve made some pretty outrageous math mess-ups—and I’m guessing you have, too.  (I once ordered way too much lumber for a simple backyard project, because I miscalculated what I would need.  The extra is still lying under the now-completed deck.)  No parent wants to look like a total screw-up, but being open with your math mistakes is critical for reducing your kids’ anxiety.  Bottom line: Our math mistakes aren’t generally life-or-death; our kids need to see that first hand.

Talk about their anxiety  Reassure your kids that their anxiety is normal—but that they can and should get over it.  Talk to them about what they’re thinking and help them verbalize their fears.  Older kids can rationalize their illogical thoughts.  Younger kids may do well with simple relaxation techniques like deep breathing.

Be careful of the messages you send  Think you’re bad at math?  Keep that sentiment to yourself.  Kids internalize these messages quickly.  (Which is why that Barbie that said “Math is hard!” was such a dumb toy.)  Even if they don’t act like it, our children do want to be like us—but math anxiety is not something you want them to emulate, right?  Also be careful of over-emphasizing grades.  Instead, remind your kids that they’ll be reviewing the same math concepts over and over again.  If they’re not successful the first time, they’ll have another chance to learn it.

Talk to your child’s teacher  All kids are different at school than they are at home, and it’s entirely possible that Ms. Bloom is not aware of your child’s math anxiety.  She may have some great tricks to help ease her students’ minds.  But be aware that some teachers may have math anxiety themselves.  If you feel that the teacher is not being proactive, you need to advocate for your child in different ways.

Laura Laing is the author of Math for Grownups, a funny and accessible look at how adults use math in their everyday lives.  She blogs at www.mathforgrownups.com.

Wouldn’t this be a great book to share with your kids when they ask, “why do I need to learn this?” So if you’d like to enter to win a free copy of Math for Grownups, you can have four entries to win:

1. Leave a comment: What do you do as a mom to help your kid’s math anxiety? Or do you have a question for Laura about Math anxiety? I’ll see if I can ask her to check back and answer any Math anxiety questions. 

2. Please tweet this post and COME BACK and leave another comment.

3. Facebook about this contest and leave another comment.

4. Like Math for Grownups Facebook and leave your 4th entry. 🙂

The winner of this contest will be selected after Thursday, noon, PST.

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And the winner is…

By on August 10, 2011

Nikki V.!

You just won The I Love Trader Joes College Cookbook by Andrea Lynn. I’ll send your name and address to Andrea. Congratulations.

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The I Love Trader Joe’s College Cookbook Giveaway

By on August 8, 2011

Today I’d like to welcome Andrea Lynn to Imp3rfect Mom. She has written a fun cookbook for college kids and/or anyone who loves Trader Joes. Here’s her interview:

Why did you write the book?
When you work in the cooking field as I do, so many people feel the need to bare their culinary souls, mainly to give  me the many excuses on why they don’t cook (I don’t ask, I swear!). But here’s the thing… cooking can be simple. The idea behind this cookbook is that anyone, primarily a college student, can create delicious meals with minimal effort…and some Trader Joe’s ingredients, of course.

Why do college kids need a cookbook?
The earlier you can get someone to start cooking for themselves, the better off they will be in the long run. Sure, college is about junk food, pizza, etc., but why can’t that also be combined with experimentation in the kitchen? This has a huge impact on someone’s life. Once they see how easy it can be and learn a few staple recipes, this skill will continue throughout their life.
I’ve cooked since I was a child, but a majority of the people I know weren’t encouraged in the kitchen. To this day, they still don’t cook. People don’t just wake up deciding to cook—they need to be nudged in that direction at a young age.

What surprising thing did you discover while writing the cookbook?
I’m not so much of a microwave person, so I think one of the most surprising things I discovered from this cookbook was the amount of low-effort, good-quality meals you can make, only equipped with a microwave and a Trader Joe’s nearby.

What recipes do you recommend a beginner to try?
Start with pastas. By just boiling some spaghetti and adding in marinara sauce and Trader Joe’s meatballs, there’s a meal equivalent to a dish mama would make. But pasta, in general, is fabulous for a beginner cook to start with. Angel hair pasta plus butter and Parmesan cheese is simple yet delightful to eat. From there, as a cook advances, add to to the dish sautéed broccoli, shrimp and lemon zest. Make it whatever you desire. Also, start with hot sandwiches. They’re a good bridge to start cooking without being  so overwhelming. Examples are the Buffalo Chicken Wraps with Blue Cheese and Carrots and the Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Slaw

What are your favorite recipes in the cookbook?
Sloppy Joe’s have always been one of my favorite foods. For an appetizer, I took Trader Joe’s Bolognese sauce, and added a few ingredients to transform it into Sloppy Joe’s. This is poured over chips and topped with cheese for Sloppy Joe Nachos¸ a creation I can never stop eating.
Also, I’m a sucker for deviled eggs, and the Thai Red Curry Deviled Eggs are fabulous. And Trader Joe’s has hard-boiled eggs ready to go, so it couldn’t be simpler. Another favorite is flopping down pizza dough into a dish and adding tapenade to create a quick and simple focaccia. And the French toast/ sausage sandwich is something I eat a few times each week (speaking of another super simple hot sandwich!).

What’s your favorite part of the book?
One chapter I enjoy (and think is rather unique) is the Brain-Boosters Quick and Hearty Brain Food For Finals. I’ve done several articles on brain foods—foods that have been scientifically proven  to boost brain power after eaten. The meals in this chapter all revolve around these ingredients like blueberries, eggs and spinach to create meals that are both easy and good for a stressed brain. (I love this chapter, too. Jan)

What do like about Trader Joes?
First, it’s such a friendly store with a wonderful vibe. Secondly, it’s so affordable. I can stock my cart with whole grains, meat and nuts—luxuries at other stores—and not faint away at the cash register when it’s tallied up. Last, Trader Joe’s is stocked with unique items that you won’t find at the typical grocery stores—one example would be the chocolate-covered edamame, which I am addicted to because I love that salty-sweet combo.

What is your next book and when will it be out?
My next cookbook, The I Love Whole Foods Market Cookbook, will be out in the fall. The concept behind the cookbook is how to incorporate Whole Foods’ ingredients into your recipe repertoire without spending a fortune.

Doesn’t this cookbook sound yummy? So once again, you can have four entries to win a copy of The I Love Trader Joe’s College Cookbook:

1. What was one of your first recipes that you made as a college student or young adult?

2. Tweet about this post and COME back and leave me a comment.

3. Like I Love Trader Joes College Cookbook fan page and come back and leave a comment.

4. Share this post on your FB and leave me a comment that you did. 😀

The cookbook winner will be announced after Wednesday, 5 PM, PST.

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Are You Stumbling Along?

By on August 5, 2011

So how is your summer going?

Mine has been rather unproductive because there is no such thing as a schedule in the summer. I remember when my kids would wake up before me. Now I’m lucky if they’re up at 11 AM. And my two big ones have different hours every day at their jobs. But I love the quiet hours between 6 AM – 11 AM.

So I’m just not motivated to do anything.

Anything.

I know school is just around the corner. Life will get ramped right back up and I’ll long for the slower days.

I’m not good about sharing when I’m floundering. Even though my blog is called Imp3rfect Mom, I still want to “look like” I have it all toooogether! :0

Anybody else out there feeling directionless? Do you see it as down time or does it drive you crazy?

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And the winner is…

By on August 4, 2011

I had one of my daughters press the random org button because I had so many special people enter this contest.

And the winner is Kate@Teaching What Is Good.

Congratulations, Kate.

J

 

 

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Signs of Maturing

By on August 2, 2011

Yesterday I had a fabulous giveaway and very few comments. Now the number of comments had nothing to do with the great ebook I featured but it had more to do with the fact I haven’t blogged for a long time and I think I’ve lost a few of my dear readers. 🙁

So I sit here thinking about what past reaction I would’ve had? I would have felt stupid foolish and chastised myself for not blogging. I would have felt embarrassed for the author, etc. etc. And I would have worried about it all day long feeling like I was not measuring up. Drama queen…

However, instead…I tweeted a few more times and dropped a note to a few friends that might be interested in this amazing giveaway. I told myself I guess I’ll make it a game to get my numbers back up. And then I let it go.

Did I just say that?

Now, I don’t share this to applaud myself but to remind myself that as I’m learning how to react a little more maturely, my kids are learning the same thing. I don’t know about your house but I have two young adults, two teenagers and one almost junior higher. There’s a lot of emotion and hormones going on here. And some nights I crawl under the covers and put a pillow over my head ’cause I feel like the “failure mother” with a bunch of  self centered kidlets.

Yet,…heavy sigh…

they are growing and learning and testing the waters.

When they don’t react appropriately, then I, as the parent, can remind them what they could have done differently NEXT time. I need to chill a bit more and love on them instead of bringing down the hammer. I want to extend the grace, His grace to them as they mature just like I want more grace in my life.  Another deep breath.

What about your house? Do you have to remind yourself that kids are kids and they are not adults?

 

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How to Market and Sell Your eBook Review and Giveaway

By on August 1, 2011

If you’ve ever thought about writing an ebook, you need to check out Sarah Mae’s How to Market and Sell Your eBook. Sarah blogs over at Like a Warm Cup of Coffee and has written three ebooks. In this marketing ebook, Sarah shares about her second ebook, 31 Days to Clean which sold 11,000 copies in two months.  She knows what’s she talking about!

Sarah covers everything from content, formatting, social media, platform, building the buzz, the launch party and much more. Everything is in this little book. (77 pages crammed full of inspiring information) I’m a detail person and this ebook shares all kinds of those details that can make a difference.

And I have to share that I didn’t have any thoughts about writing an ebook until HTMASYE. Her enthusiasm is contagious and her writing is warm and inviting.  I actually had to put down the ebook a few times because I got so excited about trying this adventure that my heart  was racing. Step away from the book.

And if you don’t win this fabulous ebook, you can purchase it for $4.99 at How To Market and Sell Your eBook. Come on people, that’s a large coffee.

Oh yeah, I got so excited about this book I forgot I’m having a giveaway.  You can get three entries:

1. Please leave a comment about an ebook you’d like to write. Even if you haven’t thought about one, dream for a few seconds and share with me about the title and the contents.

2. Tweet this post AND come back and leave a comment.

3. Follow Imp3rfect Mom or follow me on Twitter. If you’re already a cherished follower, leave me a comment on what you’d like to see on my blog; subjects you’d like me to talk about etc. I love reader’s feedback: good or bad. I will select the winner by Thursday, noon PST. 

Disclaimer: I was given a free copy to review but what an honor it is to write this one. Truly. 

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Set the Timer and Begin

By on July 11, 2011

Have you ever needed to get something done and you just can’t start? Maybe it’s a bill you have to pay or a pile you need to sort through?

Or it’s a blog post you can’t seem to write?

It’s the whole fear thing going on in your head or “I don’t want to face finances right now?” Yet, it’s easy as soon as you get started. It’s the momentum that helps you continue on and complete the task.

It’s hard to get started. To begin.

Instead of reading this post today, go set the timer and work for 15 mins. Just 15 mins.

And come back and share with me what did you do? I’ll do the same and leave my results in the comments.

Now. Go. Do one thing.

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