Grand Travel

Traveling with the Grandchildren
When I was a kid, I spent a lot of time with each of my grandparents.  Some of my fondest memories of them are the trips and outings we took together.  I remember one time my paternal grandparents took my brother and I to Washington D.C.  We drove from Ohio to the D.C. area and then took a bus tour of the city. 

My maternal grandparents spent most of their free time camping, and they would often take us with them for the weekend.  It was special time to spend with each of them (without our parents) on these little trips.

Of course, that was over 30-something years ago.  Nowadays, grandparents traveling with their grandkids (with or without the parents) has become so popular that it’s earned a new term—multigenerational travel or grand travel. My own kids have traveled with my parents to such places as Ohio Caverns, to festivals, horseback-riding stables, historic sites and even to Guatemala.

Amir Eylon, State Tourism Director for Ohio says that this kind of travel is a trend that has been growing both nationally and in Ohio over the past decade.  “There are a few reasons why this is happening,” he explained. “First of all, parents are working longer and the grandparents have more discretionary income (pre current recession) and the flexibility of time to travel. Also, today’s grandparents are more mobile than any generation of grandparents before them, so they have a thirst to show their grandchildren the world if they can. And lastly, travel is an easy way for generations to connect, as they rely on active shared experiences versus passive activities.”

Sometimes grandparents want to expose their grandchildren to new cultures and experiences.  Seniors today are more travel savvy and may enjoy taking their grandkids on a foreign adventure. This type of travel works best with grandchildren at least eight years old.
Christina Woycitzky, travel specialist with Barefoot Travel says she is seeing more resorts catering to multigenerational travel. “We see more families traveling together (grandparents, parents and grandkids) and the travel industry is recognizing that,” she said. “Many resort hotels and cruise ships are converting their rooms into suites so that there is room for these larger groups traveling together. The big parks like Disney even offer multigenerational travel programs called ‘grand gatherings’ so that the grandparents and their grandchildren can experience the fun together.”
Tips for a Successful Grand Travel Experience.

Whether it’s a day trip or a weeklong adventure, here are a few tips to help create a memorable experience:
1. Plan carefully, considering your own limitations and the child’s age, energy level and interests.
2. Include the grandkids in the planning process. Show them pictures of where you plan to go and explain what the travel will be like (plane, car, train, etc.).
3. Have an emergency plan in the case of a lost child and take along a parent’s notarized authorization for medical care.
4. Pack children’s acetaminophen and cold medicine, ointment for bug bites and wounds, bug repellant, sunscreen, and a first aid kit.
5. Take their favorite snacks, games, toys, books and music.
6. Resist the urge to do too much. Try to have some down time and be flexible.
7. Start out with a short day trip before embarking on an extended trip.
8. Discuss rules in advance such as spending limits or how much time they are allowed on their DS or on their cell phone.
9. Include recreation time for the children.
10. Build memories by working together on journals and taking photos.

Invite Kids Into the Kitchen

 

Have you ever wondered how to get your kids or grandkids to help you more in the kitchen? Teaching my kids to cook and letting them help me in the kitchen has always been a high priority of mine. It usually takes a lot longer and makes more mess, but the skills they acquire and the memories you share are well worth it.   

When I was growing up, both of my grandmothers would let me help them cook. It was such a treat to get to do something grownups did and to feel useful. I know my own kids have felt the same way, especially when they were very young. I remember one time when my son, Maxx was about four-years-old and we were making cookies. He looked up at me and said, “This is fun, Mommy, especially since I’m making cookies with you.”   

I’m sure he would never admit that now (at age 16) but it’s definitely a cherished memory of mine.   

One of my favorite blessings is having my daughter, Maggie, age 11, and my son, both helping me fix dinner. There is a bonding that occurs as you all work together toward a common goal—a delicious dinner. Everyone wants to puts their unique, tasty mark on the meal. What a joy! And they are learning valuable skills along the way. At least I am pretty certain that when they leave home they will at least know how to fix their own healthy meals.   

Everyday Family Meals   

A friend of mine, Brenda, has four young daughters and she involves them all in preparing homemade dinners. She and her husband are both physicians. She finds that by having her girls help prepare the healthy meals, they are more likely to try and enjoy the food.   

Brenda feels it’s a good idea to get kids interested in cooking and eating healthy meals at home when they are young, instead of falling into the trap of eating so much fast food. She says that hitting the drive through instead of preparing a healthy meal at home is one reason why our society has such a problem with childhood obesity.   

 

They try to have at least one sit down dinner together as a family each day. In our own household, we try to do that, too, but it can be tough when our lives are so busy. But sitting down together to a meal allows us to show how to set the table, share about our day, and model appropriate table manners.
    

    

    

Kitchen as Classroom   

I have always told my kids, “When you know how to read, you can learn how to do anything!” And that is exactly what happens in the kitchen. Cooking with a recipe teaches kids how to: 
• Follow Directions
• Read
• Use Measurements
• Learn About Fractions
• Chemical Reactions
• Builds Confidence and Self-Esteem   

Steps for Success:   

Your kids can make their own loaf of bread.

Some great recipes for you and your kids to attempt:  

 

• Cookies (drop cookies are a good choice for starters) We make a lot of Chocolate Chip Oatmeal cookies using whole wheat flour for more nutrition.
• Salads – let kids tear up lettuce and (if old enough) cut up vegetables.
• Homemade Bread – kids love to knead the dough and it’s good exercise, too. They can even make their own little loaf.
• Homemade Pizza – We often have ‘make you own’ pizza night. Each person gets their own piece of pizza dough, flattens it out and then tops with their own choice of toppings.
• Meatballs – or anything kids can roll – they love to roll things. Just be sure to have them wash their hands thoroughly after working with raw meat.
• Quesadillas – Flour tortillas (or Multi-grain ones) make great pizzas or quesadillas. Have your kids butter one side of a flour tortilla. It is then placed on griddle and they can top with their choice of cheese or other toppings. Then place another buttered tortilla on top.   

What cooking successes have you had with your kids?
Send in your ideas and we’ll post them for others!   

Invisible Roots

Have you ever wondered why have are afraid of certain things such as bridges or heights –or in my case – snakes? Especially if you’ve never had a bad experience in that area?
Have you ever thought about why you might instantly dislike someone that you just met? Or adored someone you just met?
Do you ever have unexpected and unexplained physical symptoms that doctors can’t diagnose?

I went to hear a speaker recently at our public library. I wasn’t sure what to expect. A friend of mine who works at the library mentioned to me that she thought I would enjoy the speaker.
Dr. Barbara Stone was truly one of the  most fascinating speakers I have heard for a long while. I also purchased her newest book, Invisible Roots, which I devoured in a few days.  Dr. Stone is a psychotherapist who studied at the C. G. Jung Institute in Zurich, Switzerland. She also holds a PhD in clinical psychology. 

The book shares examples of how Dr. Stone has aided many of her clients who could not shake phobias, addictions, depression, pain and other physical symptoms no matter what they tried.  As she explains in her talks and in her book, she began to discover deeper realms that were causing the symptoms her clients were experiencing.  This was not something she was interested in pursuing, but as it kept surfacing, she felt compelled to explore further. She discovered that through various methods of energy psychology, she was able to uncover and release the effects of  traumatic past lives and earthbound spirits affecting her clients.

At her talk, she shared many of the concepts detailed in her book, and I felt that I have finally found out why my life is the way it is.  I feel fortunate to have discovered her and the kind of energy psychology work she is doing. My own degree is in psychology and I now feel drawn to look into energy psychology.  I’ll let you know how that goes.

 To find out more about Dr. Barbara Stone check out her book, Invisible Roots, or go to her website at http://www.souldetective.net.

Total Money Makeover

My husband and I recently attended a Dave Ramsey Total Money Makeover seminar. If you haven’t ever taken the time to truly focus on your money, then I would highly recommend a class or course such as the ones by Dave Ramsey. Many communities offer his Financial Peace University classes. It is a 13-week course that focuses on eliminating debt and building wealth.

There is also a program he offers for teens. I have just started teaching that class for the teen Sunday School class at my church. This Dave Ramsey course entitled is called Generation Change. I am very excited about teaching this. As I go through this material, I am reminded of how my own generation grew up as the era of credit was beginning. These teens I am working with, have never known anything different. They (and many of us brainwashed adults) feel it is normal to charge everything in our lives. My grandparents and parents paid for everything in cash. Nowadays, that seem like a foreign idea. But it is the smartest thing you can do.

Hopefully, we are beginning to wake up and take our lives back from the creditors! I challenge you to become part of the Generation of Change. Find a financial class to get you on track. Read a book. Do something to get your financial life back on track. When your money is out of control–so is the rest of your life. Find a Dave Ramsey class and the Sunday School material I mentioned at his website daveramsey.com.

Start a Neighborhood Watch

A few years ago, I felt very discouraged that our small community was experiencing many more crimes such as burglaries, auto thefts, illegal drug activity and vandalism.  I wanted to do something to help.  I contacted our local Sheriff’s Office to see about starting a Neighborhood Watch program in the county.  With the help of our local Emergency Management Agency, we were able to secure grant funding to pay for signage and materials. Then we began to put the word out throughout the community (both the city and the county) to let folks know about the program. If they were interested in getting their neighborhood involved, they contacted us and we would help them get started, get the signage installed and help them identify the key issues they wanted to address in their area.

If you feel your neighborhood could benefit from a neighborhood watch, I encourage you to take these steps to get one started.

1. Check with your neighbors to see if anyone else is interested in working with you.

2. Contact your local law enforcement agency. See if they have a program in place in your community. If not – start your own. (The Neighborhood Watch Program is sponsored by the National Sheriff’s Association. There are other programs. See what your law enforcement recommends.)

3. Organize a meeting with your neighbors and have a Law Enforcement officer attend to answer questions.

4. Check out these resources USA on Watch and the National Sheriffs Association for information to  get a Neighborhood Watch started.  There are numerous free resources available for download at these sites.

5. Contact your local Emergency Management Agency to see if any funding might be available for the signs and materials.  They may know of another source in your area if they are unable to assist you.  Ask your Law Enforcement Agency if they know of funding sources.  Some communities divide the cost of the signs among the neighbors.

6. Meet regularly with your neighbors. Plan a block party or simple get - togethers throughout the year so you can all get to know each other and help look out for one another.

 Check out this article I wrote on Rural Crime Prevention for Country Living magazine.

For more inspiration check out:

Highlands Nature Sancturary

I recently visited Highlands Nature Sanctuary and Appalachian Forest Museum near Bainbridge, Ohio with my daughter and our cousins.  The Garmin GPS flawlessly guided us there, even though the road the sanctuary is located on becomes little more than a path before arriving at your destination.  Our cousins are city girls, but enjoy hiking in the great outdoors, so the adventure of exploring this site that was formerly operated as 7 Caves for over 80 years, was a treat for all of us.

The caves are no longer open to the public as the management of the site works to bring them back to their original, pre-visitor state. The hiking trails through the Rocky Fork Gorge offer breathtaking views of cliff overhangs, streams, huge Beech trees, wildflowers and rock formations.  This land is now a part of the Arc of Appalachia Preserve System, a charitable non-profit, stewarding over 3,000 acres of native Eastern Forest throughout southern Ohio. 

We especially enjoyed the Valley of the Ancients Trail, hiking
single file among the coolness of the huge rocks that line much of the path with my youngest cousin, age seven, singing (rather loudly) Just a Spoonful of Sugar which reverberated throughout the gorge. Something the abundant wildlife in the area probably hadn’t ever experienced before! It was truly a delightful, peaceful time shared with my family of which we will always have fond memories.

Experiencing the outdoors in this way can be a transforming experience.  When you can walk among dense nature, you begin to notice and appreciate even the tiniest creatures and plants.  Your stress and worries slip away and you experience inner peace. Hopefully, you can find a special place to visit this week and with each step along the path, you can let go of your worries and truly know that All Is Well.

Healing Your Emotions

Healing painful emotions from your past can lead to emotional, spiritual and physical healing. It is not surprising that emotional pain is the major cause of human unhappiness and depression.  However, it is surprising how difficult it can be to rid yourself of these negative emotions such as anger, anxiety, fear, hurt, bitterness, grief, and other painful memories.  We often do not even realize these emotions are lurking inside of us. They may have been such a part of our lives that we don’t know we can feel differently.

Emotional pain has a life of its own beyond our conscious mental control. It is almost like being processed. No matter how we try to shake it off, it clings to us like glue. Unhealed emotional pain can express itself as anxiety, fear, stress, anger or depression. It can even distort your energy field and can eventually lead to physical diseases and conditions that are resistant to both conventional and alternative medical care.

Dr. Walter Weston has worked with hundreds of people over the past thirty years to help rid them of these painful emotions.  His simple process is called Emotional Release Therapy (ERT). “Remove your emotional pain and your body tends to heal itself,” states Weston. “You can use Emotional Release Therapy to free yourself of negative emotions and begin reversing the course of your medical condition.”

Over the past several years, Dr. Weston has practiced ERT with more than 700 people and has written several books on the topic of ERT.  He has used his experience as the basis for teaching more than 8,000 people throughout the world through ERT workshops.

I met Dr. Weston in 1999 when I attended one of his workshops. Since then I have found numerous instances for using these simple techniques either on myself or with my children and other family and friends.  Releasing the painful emotions brings such a feeling of peace very quickly. It is easy to learn and simple to use.

Dr. Weston isn’t teaching many workshops now since he is retired.  But his ERT methods are explained in his book, Healing Yourself, which is now available as an e-book.   ERT involves simple prayer, visualizing and a releasing of emotional pain without having to share what the memory is. It can be practiced on yourself or with another person.  Dr. Weston also includes beautiful prayers in his book that can be used during the healing session and tailored to each individual and situation.  The prayers themselves are a blessing.

Some emotions to uncover and release include anger, anxiety, fear, grief, sadness, jealousy, depression, shyness, stress, worry, performance anxieties, negativity, envy, pessimism and failure.  Often you are able to release unknown emotional fixations that have been blocking your growth and best efforts without your knowledge.  Releasing these hidden emotions can be the key that unlocks the door to numerous possibilities in your life and others. Visit Dr. Weston’s website for more information on Emotional Release Therapy.

Build Fairy Houses

A great activity to inspire kids to get outside and use their imagination is fairy house building.

Build them from all natural materials such as pinecones, sticks, leaves, flower petals, stones, seashells, feathers, acorns and gourds.  Construct fairy houses in backyards, in flowerbeds, in wooded areas or even on a balcony.  Many public parks and gardens allow fairy house building and create special events around the activity. Ask your local parks about it.  Some great books to get you inspired are those written by author/illustrator Tracy Kane including Kristin’s Fairy House and Fairy Houses Everywhere.

We had Tracy Kane come to our community a couple of years ago for a weekend of fairy house building workshops at Clary Gardens, a local public garden and at the Pomerene Center for the Arts.  It was great fun and inspired Clary Gardens to continue holding similar events over the years.  A fairy house village was created throughout their wooded sections that is enjoyed by kids and adults alike.

Here’s how to get started in your own backyard

1. Find a suitable spot.  The kids in your life will lead you to the perfect place.
2. Talk about what the fairies might like in their house. Let the child’s imagination run with this.
3. Gather some items from the yard that might work. Use only natural materials (no plastic or metal – keep this a non-littering activity.)
4. Have fun building the fairy house. Children may want to do this all themselves, and that’s OK. Just watch and enjoy the process. Trial and error is what makes the process fun.
5. Have the child talk about the various parts of the structure and what they are used for.   For example, a large stone could be the couch, a big leaf could be a slide, and an acorn top could be a bowl.
6. Add accessories such as small berries in the bowls, flower decorations, or a bit of moss or feathers on the beds.
7. This can become an addicting hobby. You and your child will now always be on the lookout for the perfect spot for a fairy house and will spy the ideal materials when taking walks. 
8. This is a perfect activity for boys and girls. If the boys don’t like the idea of fairies, they can build their houses for sprites or the boy fairies.  Surprisingly, when we had our big fairy house building workshop at Clary Gardens, there were just as many boys with their dads there as there were girls.  Pretty neat!  Have fun and enjoy spending time outdoors.

Family Time Outside

If you’re like many parents of young children, you may have noticed that your kids aren’t spending much time playing outside.  Many factors are contributing to this trend including large amounts of time daily spent on TV, video and computer games, overscheduled lives and the loss of safe outdoor play areas.

It’s not just kids who benefit from spending time outdoors. Spending time in nature is a great stress reliever and spiritual up lifter.  There is also a special bonding that can take place when kids and parents step out of the noisy distractions of life and head to a park, woods or even the backyard.

There are many books available at your local library filled with creative ideas for spending time outside. You will find the book, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv, to be inspiring. 

So have fun outside with your kids. I have found that often you can simply follow the child’s lead.  They are fascinated by the tiny bugs they find crawling in the grass or by the way the clouds take on designs in the sky. Try pretending you are different animals in the wild and interact with each other, or see how many different kinds of birds you can count. 

Sometimes you don’t have to ‘do’ anything. Just ‘be’ in nature. Spread out a blanket outside or sit on a fallen tree and just be quiet for a few minutes. The length of time will be dictated by your child’s age and attention span. But most likely, each time you go outside you’ll be able to sit quietly for a bit longer.  This is the basis of meditating and sharing this quiet practice with children is a wonderful gift.  Besides clearing your mind, you will also be able to truly tune in to the nature around you.  You’ll be amazed at what you will discover!

Make an effort to spend some transformative time in nature this week.

Why Would Anyone Want to go to Guatemala?