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Archive for the ‘Family’ Category

Snowed-In With Kids? Create an Idea Basket to Prevent Boredom

Friday, February 5th, 2010

bored-girl-xsmWe’ve been getting more snow than usual in the DC metro area (a little too reminiscent of my Boston days!). And while snow creates new opportunities for outdoor fun, there’s only so long one can stay outside before the wetness and cold seep in. After replacing soggy outerwear with comfy dry clothes and snowballs with hot chocolate, what are kids to do?

During that last big snow storm, when boredom set in, I gathered the kiddies for a little brainstorming session and we created an idea basket.

Huh? Well, we had to call it something, and that seemed to fit. Simply put, it’s a basket full of ideas and options … things to do when it seems like there’s absolutely nothing in the world of interest to do (and it’s a life-safer when you’re home-bound with the kids – for any reason!)

What You’ll Need

  • Index or note cards
  • Small envelopes
  • Pens, markers or crayons
  • Healthy dose of creativity

Getting Started

For me, there were two triggers:

  1. My seven year old declaring that there was absolutely nothing to do amidst a sea of options
  2. Discovering a plastic bin full of card and other small games that we’d completely forgotten

I mean, how could there be nothing to do with shelves and bins full of games, toys, activity kits, puzzles. But, to my daughter, except for a few choice things, they’d just become part of the furnishings.

So we came up with a creative way to find fun things to do on the fly … We wrote the name of each game on a card and stuck it in it’s own envelope, wrote the word ‘Games’ on each one and that got the basket started.

Then we started talking about random things we’d like to do … someday, like make hula skirts with newspaper, make sun catchers with the kit from last Christmas, create a time capsule, etc. (We keep a notebook in the kitchen to capture random ideas like this, so we pulled a bunch from there.) We put each of those ideas on a card and put each in it’s own envelope with the word ‘Activities’ on it.

We did the same for crafts: make bean bags, oobleck, play dough, crochet shoelaces, etc. Then we sorted the envelopes by category and put a clip around each category.

Now, when the kids are looking for something fun to do, we grab the idea basket. If they’re in the mood for crafts, we take the clip off the craft envelopes, spread them in the basket and then someone gets to pick an envelop. Same with games and activities.

The Payoff

The kids love the anticipation and the element of surprise. And, because they participated in the whole process, they get really excited about drawing an idea from the basket. The envelopes really add to the mystery and drama! Drawing from the basket also reduces spats around who gets to choose the game/activity/craft because selection is random. Now to decide who gets to draw the envelope …

Got a great tip for how to spend home-bound days? Please add yours in the comments section below.

Apply Within Expanding Offerings & Reach

Sunday, January 17th, 2010

woman_clockIn 2009 I wasn’t an active blogger in this space, though I’ve been active on my blog for The Enterprising Moms and elsewhere. The year 2009 was one that brought lots of opportunities and challenges in all areas of my life and certainly impacted how and where I spent my time. My coaching business and this blog were two places where I chose to step back a bit and embrace opportunities available to me through my other ventures and to become more actively involved with my childrens’ schools.

The Enterprising Moms, the organization I founded for women who are ‘growing businesses while growing families’ grew immensely over the past year and got lots of traction. Our membership grew greatly, much of it by word-of-mouth referrals. We began offering networking and educational programs and workshops and held our first holiday Biz-aar last year. So many new opportunities and so many firsts! A truly rewarding year!

At my son’s preschool, where I’m a part-time co-director, I was able to put skills from past work experience and that with The Enterprising Moms to work in new and creative ways. At times, especially when I realized that this work was taking up more time that I had anticipated, it was overwhelming. But, because doing this work and having an impact on this wonderful non-profit holistic pre-school was important to me, I analyzed my time and developed new ways structure things to make it workable.

One of my favorite words is evolution, ‘a process of continuous change from a lower, simpler, or worse to a higher, more complex, or better state.’

I think of my life, and everything and everyone in it as evolving and by doing so, I’ve learned to embrace the fact that what works today, tomorrow and this month, may not be what works six months from now. Committing to a path based on what I know today, does not mean I have to commit to that path forever. Change is part of the process of life.  We can hold steadfast as the world, our circumstances, or children, etc. all change around us or we can accept and embrace change and integrate how we deal with change and transitions into the  way we live our lives.

There is tremendous freedom in giving ones self permission to explore, be flexible, be creative and to adapt as life changes – to evolve. It’s through is way of thinking that I have greater sense of flow in my life and all of it’s dimensions. It’s this sense of flow that helps me to address that feeling of stuckness that sometimes shows up and it enables me to reconnect with my essence.

And it’s this sense of flow and the process of evolution that’s breathed new life and opportunities into Apply Within and this space. In 2010 I’m expanding my offerings to including consulting and coaching services. I’m excited to work with moms (and dads) in a new ways and meet them where they are and offer different approaches to helping them get to where they want to be. You can learn more about my offerings and approach on my web site. In the meantime, please subscribe to this blog, ‘Living in Choice‘ and to ‘The Enterprising Blog‘ for more insights and updates and ponder the following:

  • Where do you get stuck?
  • What gets you unstuck?
  • How do you keep the flow in your life?

Sanity Saver: Outsourcing the House

Saturday, July 5th, 2008

A few months ago, my husband and I had a shift in our finances — an unexpected decrease in expenses, which led to an increase in funds available. There were lots of potential places into which the newly found funds could be directed. But, for me, the choice was crystal clear — we absolutely had to get a house cleaning service.

I must first confess that until just a couple of years ago, I’d never ‘believed’ in hiring anyone to clean our house. (There were certain kinds of people who had cleaning services — extremely busy people out doing urgently important things or people with money dripping from their fingertips; not regular everyday people, or so I thought).

My husband didn’t believe in the concept either. In fact, he was pretty confident in our ability to do it ourselves. He felt like we should be able to make it work — a concept I’d put to rest long ago. Eventually, he came around and we both accepted that it wasn’t about ability or even our desire to do it (or not) — it was about time. While we generally kept the house tidy, finding the time to really clean it was a growing challenge. We simply didn’t have the time, as many working families can attest.

We’re a family with two working parents and three kids all under the age of six living in a modest house. More and more, household chores were eating away at time that could be spent with our children and doing other, far more enriching things.

At the same time, the ‘outsource the house’ movement was taking hold. Families from all walks of life were taking back their time by outsourcing many of the chores that were eating up family time — everything from housecleaning to laundry to lawn care. It was all starting to make sense. It took a while to get here, but now, I think I’d sooner give up chocolate than the house cleaning service.

What we pay out to have the house cleaned every two weeks, we gain in:

  • reduced stress about what cleaning needs to be done and when
  • less mental energy spent trying to figure out how to get it all done
  • more time spent on things we want to do
  • that hour or two where everything is just so, until …

So, when you think about work/life balance, time management, and such, what’s one thing that, if outsourced, would have a positive impact on your quality of life?

And, if you’re already outsourcing, what have you outsourced in your house and what has been the pay-off?

Goodbye Kindergarten. Hello New Rituals!

Thursday, June 19th, 2008

school_bus.jpg

Yesterday was the big day. The last day of kindergarten! Pee-ba was pretty excited from the start of the day — especially since I promised a special outing for just the two of us.

It started with a special hand-made card signed by mom, dad, JoJo (little sister) and Loosh (little brother) that was decorated with stickers galore. We slipped it into her lunch box for a special mid-morning surprise. Next we did a special hair-do with fancy trimmings. And then, just as on the first day of school, the whole family swept her off to meet the bus. I couldn’t resist taking a few pictures to mark the occasion.

Several hours later, she bound off the bus anticipating our outing, which she continually referred to as our ‘out,’ with the excitement of the five year old she is! Her first question was, “can we go to the pool?” But, since we weren’t quite ready for swimming season yet (didn’t have all of our gear), and it was a tad cool for me, we’d have to take a pass. After some initial disappointment, she recalled our planned ‘out’ and the excitement and anticipation returned.

We started with some shopping to find a new bathing suit for her and found success at our first store (along with a new smaller handbag for mom!). Next, it was off to Target for some noodles for the pool. I might as well have just invented chocolate, she was so happy. We topped our afternoon off with an ice cream, which she savored slowly as we sat at under the cool cover of an umbrella at a sidewalk table and enjoyed the scenery. We topped it off with her favorites for dinner and games with Dad and her siblings before trotting off to bed with her noodle.

The day was so fulfilling, especially the one-on-one time with Pee-ba — and it was clear that she appreciated it as well. As a working mom of three, creating that one-on-one time for each child can be a challenge, but the pay-off is so immediate and so rich. In the span of an afternoon, Pee-ba and I established a new set of rituals for celebrating the last day of school that’ll we’ll repeat next year and adapt as she grows. And, this will serve as inspiration for special school-time rituals with her younger siblings as they grow into the school system. These rituals enrich our time together and serve as inspiration for creating the space for even more one-on-one time with each of little one.

How do you make the most of one-on-one time with you child/ren? And what role do rituals play?

Last Day of Kindergarten

Wednesday, June 18th, 2008

Tomorrow’s a pretty big day for me and my oldest child, Pee-ba (as her little brother calls her). It’s her last day of Kindergarten. It’s hard to fathom that an entire school year has passed. She has grown immensely. Truly. She’s learned so much in what seems like such a short time … She carries on conversations that I just can’t imagine I was capable of having at her age.

From her first days of school, I felt her tether stretch as she sailed out into her new world and returned with new thoughts, ideas, experiences, things; and then she would sail out again and return with even more. She formed real friendships with people that aren’t connected with me or her dad. I’ve come to know them partially from the time spent in the classroom, but much of what I know about them shows up in Priya — in the new dance moves I see her showing her little sister, the songs she sings in the car while we’re driving, in the things she asks for when we’re at a store and the little gifts she brings home.

All year long she’s said how much she loves Kindergarten and wants to stay there forever, if only. How innocent! How sweet! And now, she says she’s ready for it to be over. She doesn’t anticipate missing much about school, aside from friends. I’ve come to realize in recent days that it’s more about what she’s looking forward to (summer fun) than wanting school to end.

In some ways, the feeling is reminiscent of weaning. I’ve watched her grow so tall, so articulate, so curious and confident. She doesn’t cling as tightly as she used to. She has original thoughts and ideas and is persistent about expressing them. She’s really growing up. And, it’s bittersweet. I know all of the things that are beautiful, powerful and empowering about it; and I also know where this path leads. But, instead of borrowing from the future and focusing on what someday will no longer be, I’ll celebrate this milestone in a special way.

Stay tuned …

Happy Father’s Day!

Sunday, June 15th, 2008

I hope that all of you dads out there were able to enjoy a special day with loved ones doing the things that matter to you most. The kids and I celebrated the Dad in our house with a day of fun in the sun, including a waterfront picnic and a round of pig-pile on freshly cut grass. The giggles were priceless!

This Father’s Day also felt a bit somber as we morned the loss of Tim Russert. Although I didn’t know him personally, he definitely has impacted my life.

To me, he personified passion, in work and in life. As a young person, I was disinterested in politics. Perhaps it was the endless hours of talk radio that I was subjected to in the car with my dad. As he would listen so intently on AM radio, I would marvel at how he could take in any of it, given all of the static. As I grew into adulthood, my dad would often joke about my seeming distain for politics. It just wasn’t quite my cup of tea. But, as I matured, I eventually tuned in, and Tim Russert was one major reason.

His passionate and intense approach to the issues inspired me to sit up a little straighter while viewing. I always felt a little smarter after viewing Meet The Press. Prior to having kids, it was regular viewing in our house. With kids came more complicated schedules that conflicted with the Sunday morning ritual, but I looked forward to catching up with the replay on the local cable news network. Whenever there was something brewing in the political realm, I always tuned in to NBC hear Tim’s perspective. I cannot imagine this election season without him.

Above and beyond his enormous societal contributions, Tim Russert had a significant impact on my own relationship with my Dad. Like so many others, my Dad was also a fan of Tim Russert and Meet the Press. I was able to connect with my Dad on the hot political issues of the day, thanks to Tim and Meet the Press. An investment of an hour of my time would reconnect me with the important issues and challenges facing our nation and the people involved. I always feel a little closer to my Dad when I share his knowledge and interest in political issues. It creates a special bond between us, especially since we moved to this political Mecca that is Washington, DC.

On this Father’s Day, I’m fortunate that I was able to call my Dad in Massachusetts first thing this morning to let him know that he is loved. I am sad that Tim’s family was unable to do the same.

Coping with Stress

Wednesday, June 11th, 2008

Feeling a little stressed these days? The tight economy, unstable job and housing markets, escalating fuel prices and the ripple effects of each can leave one feeling anxious and uneasy.

On Tuesday, June 10th, I was featured in a segment on NBC4 Evening News entitled “Experts Offer Advice On Reducing Financial Stress.” It’s the second in a four-part series on managing stress during these tough economic times. In the piece, I offer tips and strategies for dealing with the stress and uncertainty that can come with an economic climate like the one we’re facing. In addition to the video, you can access a transcript online.

What are you doing to manage stress? Share your tips and tools here.

Sanity Savers

Thursday, June 5th, 2008

A new feature of this blog, Sanity Savers will offer tips, tools and resources to help retain sanity while addressing the challenges of managing work and life.

I’ve just discovered the SNAPWARE® Snap ‘N Stackâ„¢ Craft Organizer and I’m in love! With three arts-and-crafts-loving kids in the house, the array of tools and supplies quickly get out of control. So, when I saw this nifty looking set at Costco, similar to the large 3-layer square version here, I had to give it a try. (The Costco version is a 17-piece set that includes six smaller containers that are also stackable.)

After school today, the kids and I sat down and emptied their numerous containers of crayons, pens, pencils, markers, stickers, colored paper, drawing pads, stencils, beads, scissors, glue and glue sticks, paints and brushes, etc. My oldest enjoyed designating which container would hold what and then collecting the appropriate content.

Long after the kids had grown bored with the project, I was putting the finishing touches on our newly organized collection and it felt wonderful! Everything had a home and we even had extra space for small puzzles, games and miscellaneous odds and ends. In the process, we were able to toss lots of dried up markers, paint, play dough and other stuff that had lost its usefulness. The result … these beautiful towers of creativity that take up a fraction of the space, and look a whole lot better.

Snap ‘N Stack in Use

(I wish I had taken a before shot!)

To top it all off, this stackable system is expandable, so I’ll probably be returning to Costco for another set (not available online). Now there’s a tool that parents can use!

Have a great Sanity Saver? Tell us about it here!

Transitions in Work-Life Integration

Friday, May 30th, 2008

I’ve been absent from my blog for several weeks! Earlier this spring I was offered a wonderful opportunity to be the business and operations manager (part-time) of the childcare center that my two younger children attend. I’ve long been very fond of the school and had been working with the founder and manager as a parent volunteer. This opportunity would enable me to have an even greater impact on the non-profit school and be in the presence of and have access to my kids, even while working.

It would also create another stream of income while providing a whopping discount on full-time child care for two kids. I’m entrepreneur with two active ventures (Apply Within and The Enterprising Moms) and a mom who chose to develop a portfolio career with multiple streams of income as a way of achieving better work-life integration. Because I made these decisions, in part, to have more time with the kids, I initially struggled with decision to enroll them in childcare full-time.

Finding the ideal childcare situation is one of the greater challenges that working parents face. I’m fortunate to have a place where I’m thrilled to send my kids and one that’s so philosophically aligned that I’d consider working there as well. This made considering full-time enrollment a bit easier. As a pondered my options, I realized that in this situation, full-time care is just that — an option. It’s there if I need it. I can use it or not depending on my work flow — the ultimate in childcare flexibility.

This flexibility would also give me some space to focus increased attention on my other ventures. It would enable me to have more dedicated time with the kids and with work while being fully present for each. It would also provide a more consistent rich, stimulating and educational environment for my kids. And so, I took the plunge!

It’s been a couple of months since I started and there have been some challenges, which is why I’ve been away. As with any transition, there’s a learning curve and lots of adjustments to make in many areas of our lives. New schedules and routines; new time constraints and logistics to consider. The dinner time crunch has been exactly that. I’m still working on figuring out that piece!

So that’s where I’ve been. I’m still fully dedicated to Apply Within and The Enterprising Moms and look forward to continued growth both businesses. This new opportunity has just added an additional dimension to my career and I’m honing some key skills that are useful in all arenas.

I haven’t quite worked out the right mix of work and play just yet, but the picture is getting clearer each day. Being highly flexible and adaptable is key in navigating this transition as things evolve.

Stay tuned …

Getting Things Done: Time Stamp

Friday, March 21st, 2008

As a business-owner mom with three little ones, time is precious. I’m constantly seeking ways to do routine things a little quicker and smarter so that I can spend my time where it really counts. I often find that tips and tricks that are effective in my work life translate to my home life with pleasing results.

One of the tips from Getting Things Done (which I’ve blogged about previously) that has really proven it’s worth to me recently is about ‘dating’ things. David Allen, the author, recommends putting a date on everything that goes into your in-box. I’ve taken it a step or two further and put a date on just about anything that I or someone else will need to refer back to. This includes notes from a meeting or conversation (pretty obvious, but I would often forget), brainstorming scribbles, to do lists, etc.

One place this has really come in handy is in the kitchen. I’ve started dating things like the package of lunch meat I just opened, the unfinished jar of pasta sauce, the bag of flour that’s still half full. I’ve added dates to the quick notes jotted on the white board, the shopping list on the bulletin board, and the bag slow-moving veggie chips in the pantry.

When I went to clean out the fridge this weekend, I spared myself the awful taste and smell tests I usually do to determine what’s still edible, or not. The whole process took a fraction of what it used to because I was quickly able to decide that the turkey meat from 2/29, had been hanging around for a little too long.

It seems like a really small thing, and it is — and that’s the point. When you add up all the small things, the amount of time and effort you save can be significant. Rather than trying to recall when something was bought, opened, or cooked and then determine whether or not it’s still good, I simply put a date on. By dating an item on the front end (when it goes in the fridge or pantry or on a list or white board), it doesn’t require extra time or thought later, when I need to decide if it stays or goes.

What’s a way that you take back your time from routine and repetitive tasks?