TheMorrisonFamilyBlog

 Any big change in life is inherently stressful. Changing jobs. Getting married or divorced. A big swing in your financial situation. They all take adjustment. But one of the most stressful changes can be a large, long distance move. Let's be honest, moving is a nightmare , and your kids can be especially affected. They're leaving behind the home you've all created together, which could very well be the only home they know. They're changing schools, having to meet new friends, and maybe even adapting to much different weather. Your kids may approach the move with excitement, apprehension or sadness, but whatever their feeling about things, there's a lot you can do as their parent to help them adjust. Here are a few ideas to keep in mind as you're preparing for, and recovering from a big move . First off, try to situated in your new neighborhood before your move if at all possible. There will be so much that's unfamiliar to your child when you get there, and ...

The  Tykoon  website and/or app is helping my children learn about money and responsibility. It's an important lesson and one so many people missed out on considering the average American’s amount of debt is $10,000 ( Money Talks News ).  Tykoon is a fun way to teach about money and goes beyond How Much Allowance Money Should I Give My Child . The user simply logs in to the website and sets up an account. From there, you add any or all of your children and set up an allowance for them, or set up how your child's earnings will be allocated. Like the book Three Cups , Tykoon helps teach children about saving, giving, and spending, and the user determines the percentage of earning to go to each of those three categories. My kiddos loved the wish-list area where they were able to goal-set for more significant items or drop hints about what they wanted to earn. It stirred some great conversation. My eight-year-old wanted concert tickets to see Katy Perry, who is only...

 So, your teenager wants to have a party at your house. First of all, if your teenager wants to actually bring a pack of their friends over, you should be flattered. That means you have a bit more of the "cool factor" than they've probably been giving you credit for. However, before you say "Sure!" too quickly, there are some things that you should keep in mind. There has been more than one (or 20) teen parties in the past that have gotten out of hand and resulted in parents being held legally liable for what has transpired as a direct result. For this reason, alone, more parents should be cautious about allowing their kids to have a party without them being present (even if "out of sight" means the parents are in their bedroom). That said, if you're wondering about just what your liability is when it comes to hosting a party for your teen, you've come to the right (preventative reading) place. Be Careful About Being the Social Hostest with the...

 My fifteen-year-old is always "after" me about living "GREEN". I'm proud of him for encouraging me. While I support Mother Earth and want her to be safe and happy, I have a problem with being "GREEN." Bash me if you must, but here's my "life" experience on this subject. Back in the 1990s, I was absolutely Green...I used cloth diapers, and I boycotted the companies that were harming "Mother Earth" by cutting down the rainforest and doing all those "mean" things to Planet Earth. I used glass bottles. I cleaned with vinegar, eliminated bleach, carried refillable water bottles, and mended the same pair of jeans until there was nothing "original" about them. I followed the kiddos and hubby around, turning off the lights; we walked as often as possible. We used the reusable cloth bags when shopping. I volunteered to clean up highways. When my mother called and said we weren't using shampoo with polypropylene ...

 I'm always amazed at how rapidly Cabin Fever sets in after a few delectable days of Spring are followed by the falling of fluffy white misery. This morning we awoke to SNOW! It's Spring Break, and there were moans from my five and 3-year-olds who had thought playing outside with friends was on the agenda. As they sat, moping in slumps of sadness, staring out the window. I suggested they suit up and head outside to build a snowman and collect snow for some snow cream . Immediately, my five-year-old set in on how "hard" it was, and she "always falls." I remembered reading about the Block Building exercise on the Fishful Thinking website and immediately said, "I will help you, and if you promise to put forth the effort, I know you can help make an amazing snowman." We suited up and went outside. It was cold, but we were a team on a mission to build a snowman. I packed three snowballs and showed each one how to roll and pack their ball. After a few mi...

 Being a mom. Gosh, the more I experience mommy-dom, the more I find I love it. This past month we celebrated a birthday. The Princess is the mighty SIX! She was a beauty queen for the day. She went to the beauty parlor for an "Up-DO", then Charlotte the Great added a splash of "Princess" with a sequined baby blue dress. She wore a crown and enjoyed a pinata and barbecue with her family . My little man when asked "Are you a big boy?" replied, "Like Daddy." Then after a moment of thought raised his arms above his head and announced, "I huge!" Indeed, he is. My other little beauty queen tells me she loves me "infinity squared" and I'm her "best mom". My oldest, my first graduate , has followed through on getting a "grown-up" job and doing well. He tells me he's had "no attendance issues". Whew! The actor is busy enjoying summer and making friends as he prepares to enter HIGH SCHOOL! There...