TALKING TO YOUR PRE TEEN!!!

With Spring in the air and the snow beginning to melt, I'm looking forward to spending the afternoon outside.

So lets look at what your teenager might be trying to tell you.  Often those who are parents of teenagers will find that their young adults will come home from school and act one of two ways.  Not talk to you because you just don't understand / or they may be filled with information about the day.  So when the information or topic is about a negative situation at school or with friends,  what do you do as a parent? 
1.  Keep cool, This will teach your teenager to think and problem solve vs react out of haste. (besides
     if they are asking you must be doing something right)
2.  Prior to offering your opinion try to figure out if they are seeking your input or only venting.
3.  If they are looking for help, try to problem solve.  Don't give answers on what you would do,  
     however ask your child in return open ended questions to help keep the conversation going.
     Note:  The more you allow your child to talk and discuss the issue the more they will likely be
     able to make a decision on how to proceed.  You can also use door openers if you feel your   
    child would like to share something but is holding back, Door openers sound like this:
     "I'd like to hear more",  "Tell me more", "Go on" .

4.  Once your child has developed a plan or an awareness of the situation, complement them on being
     able to work it through.

Keep in mind that as a parent you would like your children to learn the necessary skills to one day be on their own and come to a decision on their own in similar situations.  Helping to problem solve will only ensure that they will be able to succeed.

Enjoy your weekend.
Todd

If you haven't already click below to sign up for my next parenting workshop.  Hurry because space is limited and it is filling up fast.

http://threestepparenting.blogspot.com/p/parenting-from-theinside-out-take.html

Academic Effort Rating Guide

Recently, I was struggling trying to explain the difference between time and work effort.  I found myself repeating the same thing with little results.  Trying to explain that looking at your notes for 10 minutes is not studying.  After finding little on the web about academic effort I decided to create my own rating sheet to help children and adults realize how much effort they may or may not be putting in.  Since creating this Academic sheet, I have noticed a positive change in numerous students.  Please feel free to share this.  It can also easily be modified to discuss efforts within sports as well as employment standards.

Academic Effort Rating Guide:

This rating is based on a scale from 0-10.  0 being no effort and 10 is going above and beyond what is expected.

Sample ranges of scores and what the score looks like.

0-3    Somebody who does little to no work.  Only a little bit of effort is put into an assignment, test or project.   For example, if an assignment should take an hour to complete. This student would finish in about 20 minutes, with only a portion completed.  (Out of the 20 minutes of work 10 is spent setting up, goofing off or trying to find the assignment) Typical grade achieved would be failure.

3-5    In this range a little bit more effort is put into the work. There is about 40 to 50 percent effort.  On an hour assignment there is about 30 minutes of work completed.  Students will sit down and begin to focus a little quicker.   Typical grade is a D to C-

6-7    This is where you begin to see some interest and effort put into an assignment.  A student would spend up to 50 minutes on an hour project.  The focus and attention on their assignments is greater and typically there is an investment in not only completing an assignment but a willingness to learn the material and lesson as well.  There is a lot less procrastination in starting the assignment and less fidgeting throughout.  (time wasters).  Typical grade range for this effort would be B- to C. 

8-9. My hope is that this is the minimum stage all children strive to meet. The effort put into an assignment is much greater and is on par with the teachers expectations of the assignment.  There is some pride in their sense of accomplishment.  On an hour assignment there is a full hour of effort put into the work.  The work is neat and organized.  This student is usually prepared with all the proper material needed to complete the assignment and is typically  There is no to very little loss of focus throughout the assignment.  The effort on this assignment matches the outcome.  Typical grade range for this effort is A to B quality work.  This Student is usually self motivated and driven

10.     Here is your over achiever.   Not only are they focused and into the assignment, but they go above and beyond what is expected.  The work is neat, organized and presented in a timely manner.  Work is usually double checked for accuracy.  Assignments with this effort are usually in a grade range of A to A. 

Special Note:  It is important to recognize that time and effort go hand in hand.   Just because you spend an hour of time does not mean that your grade will be good.  The effort you put into the time being spent is more important than time being spent.

What do say!!!

After being in a lock down situation for over 36 hours why they look for a killer at large.   Finding his car less than 3 miles from our house, the question is what do we tell our children on what is going on?   Our approach,  honesty in the the rigtht tone of voice seems to be the best approach.  Are you being honest with your child as times get tough.   Remember, you may have the first 18 to 25 years, however are you preparing your child for life in the long haul or just for the now???  
Remember sometimes, Think long term not the immediate now.

For more on what to do when creating routine purcahase my book on three step parenting.  Purchase at toddaugust.com.  

Ps.  Enjoy your weekend more with your children when they are behaving.

Tips from Todd

I recently introduced a 6 six old boy into a residential program.  After getting to know him for three days, it was apparent that he had very little structure or routine in his life.  It also appeared that every time he was asked to perform a task that he was not interested in he would scream and shout at the top of his lungs.  This is the advice that I gave the adults in lives and within a day their was improvement.  Within two days the struggles had gone from 20-30 minutes to less than 2.  By the third day he had gone from about 6 or 7 protest a day down to 1 or 2.   The results have been great.  Please use any or all of these tips to help you raise great, independent children.

Strategies to keep in mind when interacting with difficult behavior:

1.     Remember that he is six and you are the adult.  Despite his yelling no!!  He needs to know that you are in charge and in control.

2.     I like to greet him with a smile and high five or fist bump each and every time I see him.  I find this helps in establishing trust

3.     Always stick with giving him two choices and then waiting for him to make a decision.  If he tries to derail from the two choices, refocus him and remind him of the choices until he makes a decision.  When he makes a decision praise him and quickly move on.  Don’t over exaggerate the praise.

4.     Less is best.  Once you give him choices don’t try to rationalize with him or engage in at length dialogue.  This will only confuse him and reinforce negative behavior.

5.     Routine is key.  Even with prompting you may still need to show him the way.

 

6.     Use TCI for yourself and Yohannes.  Especially the Behavior Support Techniques.  Which includes from least invasive to most invasive.

a.     Managing the environment, prompting, caring gesture, hurdle help, redirection and distractions, proximity, directive statements and time away.

7.     If you find yourself overly frustrated walk away.

 

PS:   Please share with all your friends.   As parents, we can always use reminders.

Todd

Red Cross Certified Baby Sitters Course

Great News!!!

It's Here!!!!   If you have a child between 11 and 15 who is either a big brother or sister or interested in making some mula baby sitting this summer, then this is a must take course.  During the short 7 hour course over two weekends participants can expect to learn how to care for children to infants, perform basic child-care skills, handle bedtime and discipline issues, care for common injuries and emergencies such as choking, burns, cuts and bee stings as well as communicate effectively with parents. 

Don't delay, click on the link below now for more info and to sign up.  Class space is limited!!!!
redcrossbabysittercourse.com


PS:   If you are on the fence here is another reason to sign up now.
SIGN UP TODAY AND SAVE $25.  

Baby Sittting Classes

Calling all locals to Garrison!!!
My colleague and I will be running a Red Cross Babysitting certification class late in June right here in Garrison NY.  As of now it looks like June 22nd.   If you or somebody you know is interested please pass on.  I will be posting more information on this soon.  The class is not only great and necessary to those who are interested in babysitting, but offers an abundance of information for those older siblings who may be expecting a new brother or sister or those responsible for siblings while parents enjoy some much needed alone time.

Look for more information soon.
Todd

Summer Camp

With a much needed rainy  then sunny day here in Garrison, Its that time of year to start thinking about summer camps and if your child is lucky enough to go to a sleep away camp see below for some great ideas on packing.

5 Ways to Save Space and Money Packing for Summer Camp

Summer camp can already be very expensive, so finding ways to reduce packing costs is important to many parents.  Fortunately there are many techniques that can make packing easier on your mind and wallet.  These tips may help you save space, money and time, while still allowing your kid to bring everything they need to have an amazing time at summer camp.

1.        Kids Robes

Towels are often one of the bulkiest things that kids need to bring to camp.  Kids robes  http://www.funkidspajamas.com/bath-robes.html) can be a great alternative to towels.  Not only can they be used to dry your child off, but they also will cover them up on trips back from the shower.  Another benefit of robes is that if your child needs to make a late night trip to the bathroom, they can just throw on the robe.  This way they won’t be fumbling around looking for clothes and waking up their cabin mates.  On nights where the temperature drops, the robes can also double as a blanket. To save even more space when packing, use the soft robe to wrap and protect any delicate objects you are bringing along. 

2.       Consider shipping their luggage

If your child is flying to summer camp or if you are driving them and running out of space in your car, shipping their luggage can give you more room and help you save money.  Bulk shipping rates may be more than the baggage fees at airlines, however shipping has many advantages.  For example, you have someone else lugging and tugging everything around for you with door to door delivery, and your baggage is less likely to get lost.

3.        Shop online

Shopping for summer camp supplies online can make comparing prices and getting the best deals easier, while also saving you the gas and time it would take to go to stores.  Since anything you buy online will need to be shipped, you may as well send it straight to camp.  This way you can save space in their duffel bags to pack more things they may need.  This works great for bulky items, like bedding sets, or things that are awkward to pack, like a fishing rod.

4.       Zip-off shorts

These may be some of the best summer camp clothes that exist.  Not only does each pair of zip-offs give your child two outfits, it also saves you from buying and packing an extra pair of shorts.  If your kid is going on a backpacking or camping trip where they cannot carry much, zip off shorts are a great way for them to keep comfortable without weighing themselves down.

5.       Consider upgrading to first class

If your child is flying to summer camp, chances are they will need to pay baggage fees.  If they have two or more bags, these fees can add up to huge amounts.  If your child is going to bring multiple bags, carefully check the airlines bag policies.  On many airlines, you can bring two bags for free by flying first class.  While buying a first class ticket may be expensive, upgrading from coach is sometimes very reasonably priced.  If the baggage fees are more than the upgrade, you may even be able to save money by having your child fly in style.

Summer camp is a great opportunity for kids to get out and enjoy nature while making new friends.  Parents often enjoy it too because they get a little more freedom in their day and a chance to catch up on their work or personal lives.  Tips like these can help your kid gets what they need for camp, without breaking the bank.

 

Hope this offers a great start to preparing for camp.

Enjoy

Todd

 

Holiday Cheer / Last Minute Gifts

It's a wet nasty day here in the Hudson Valley, but that's not going to bring me down.  After a quick run in the rain, I'm ready to deliver for you.  Now that the holidays are here we often get busier than ever.  Running from school event to school event, The infamous work party to friends parties, to shopping and getting our nails, hair done to look our best for those we love. (ok, not me)  With all this madness, don't let the holidays pass you by without remembering the reason you decided to start a family.  Allow yourself to go back to the roots of your relationship.  Spending time with loved ones, visiting family and friends that you have not seen in awhile, partaking in special fun activities with your children to carrying on traditions or starting new ones. Whatever your cup of cheer is just do it with your family.  

As my oldest is now 11 it really hits home to how fast the years are flying by.  I have loved them all and hope you do as well.
Happy Holidays
Todd

PS:  Looking for that last minute gift to give to a loved one.  If so then don't miss out on giving the gift that will give back day after day.  And to think it will cost you less than a cup of coffee at Starbucks.  SO STOP READING and click below for your copy of Three Step Parenting. located on the right hand side of the page.  Only $2.99 during the time of giving.

http://threestepparenting.blogspot.com/

Are you still reading, go now and enjoy your holidays that much more.

http://threestepparenting.blogspot.com/

It's Friday!! Friday!!

Gotta get down on Friday!!

It's a beautiful Friday here in the Hudson Valley and after just finishing a feel great trail run, I'm ready to get down to business.

Today is all about not beating yourself up as a parent. 
For example:   You wake up and start preparing for the day.  You have outfits laid out, breakfast on the stove, your prompting your children to get ready, they are responding well  and then it happens.  Your youngest spills juice all over the breakfast table,  If that's not bad enough, the juice spills on 2 of your children ruining their outfit for the day.  Back to the closets to find new outfits, the bathroom to wash off the sticky and now you are running behind to get your children to school, you to work and your day is now beginning to feel like a rush.  At the worst times we all know that feeling all to well.
The moral of the story is sometimes you can do everything right and the end result is just not what you were expecting or hoping.   This type of scenario happens to parents all the time.  Don't beat yourself up over it.  Children are always learning and following examples of their parents, teachers etc.  By not sweating the small stuff your child will learn and pick up on that message as well.  Twenty years from now are you going to remember being late to drop them off at school that one time or is your boss going to remember you were 10 minutes late to work.  Probably not. 
Be patient and enjoy the time you have being a parent.  The end result will be much more rewarding to all parties involved.

To a beautiful weekend coming up.
Todd

Tips from Todd

It is a sunny Fall day here in New York and I'm ready to deliver some great advice. 

Do you often find yourself repeating commands at your children.  Do this!! Do that!! with no response at all.  Asking five times within 5 minutes.   If so try this Nifty little tip.  1. Make sure you have your child's full attention.  2.  Make eye contact. 3.  Verbalize your directions on what it is you need your child to do.   4. Set the kitchen timer or any timer available for 3 to 5 minutes.  5.  Do nothing until the timer goes off.

Children as well as adults often need a time period to process the information  delivered to them.  This technique will take the pressure off of you harping and put success or failure on your child.  Practice this when you have enough time to discuss what it is you are doing.  Never practice when you are already in a rush.  After 8 to 10 times of practice and delivering you will find success.

Todd

Good Morning

GOOD MORNING!!!
Finally, a great sun shiny day here in New York, With another action packed weekend with fun I will make this tip short and sweet. 

This may sound like an easy tip, but not always so. With that being said today's tip is to Wake Up With A Positive Attitude.

Greet each member of your family as they wake up with a smile, a hug and a GOOD MORNING Greeting!

This may not always be easy to do when your child comes in your room each morning at 6am, when you would much rather have a 6:30 wake up call!

I realized this the hard way as my very happy, eager to start his day son would constantly come in our room so happy to see his parents and was greeted by cranky, miserable parents. After much discussion between us we really felt awful about greeting (or lack of), our son this way - was this really how we wanted our son to feel first thing in the morning? We have compromised by allowing our son to come cuddle with us for a couple minutes before we head downstairs to start the day and we all feel much better about beginning the day!

Keep Smiling

Todd

School's in

With school back in session, what are you teaching your children. Children learn by example so what are you you saying with your daily living.  Do you show your children that reading is important by reading yourself? Do you show the importance of being prepared, by being prepared yourself?  Do you follow a routine and structure that sets you up for success?  If you answered yes, than great you are doing great!!  If not, it is never too late to start something new.  We are always asking our children to try new things, (like new foods, new activities, etc) so why not lead by example. 
Hoping all have a terrific school year.
Todd

PS:  please share comments, things that are working etc.  It takes a village to raise children.

TRY TO IGNORE THIS!

Good morning,  After deciding to extend our trip a day, I'm writing from Cape Cod where the weather has been terrific. 

One of the biggest mistakes I see parents make is not addressing  problems as they arise.  They know these problems exist and that they are issues that are building, then they as parents will discuss these problems to other parents and then after all that, they will dismiss the issue as "my child is just going through something or they will grow out of it".    If this is you then keep reading.

My experience tells me that all issues should be addressed.  If you are dismissing the issues because you are worried of making a mistake or giving bad advice, stop worrying and start addressing.  Think about this.  If you are not giving your child advice on how to deal with problems or behavior then who is? 
Their friends? Television shows?  Reality TV?  Come on, you know that these places of getting advice are not as good as what you are able to give and teach.  Jump in there and start talking to your children. 

Problems can not be ignored and must be addressed.  The sooner you address it, the smaller that problem will be. The longer you wait, you are only digging a bigger hole.

So, if you have been putting something off, today is the day to tackle that issues.

To a great week ahead,
Todd

PS:  Love to hear your comments on this subject. Post away.

Last Day!!

After seeing the cutest performance from my son as a cowboy this morning and looking forward to a great 4th grade concert tonight I will make this short. 

In my position as the director of a residential program so many people are amazed at how quickly I am able to form a bond and gain control of children who have been out of control for so long.
My secret!!!  Consistency.  By the end of two weeks, children know exactly where they stand and that what I say is fair and consistent.  I'm not talking about the type of leadership that is my way or the highway, but when it comes to rules and what's right sticking to them.  While their is always wiggle room within rules, those exceptions should not be often. 

The second part is that I always try  take the time (when necessary) to explain why things are the way they are.  We as parents must remember that if we want our children to turn out great then we must lead by being great.  Role modeling goes a long way.

Happy Role Modeling.
Todd

PS:  Today is the last day to sign up for summer parenting at the discounted price.  Tomorrow the price goes up.

Click here to register.
http://threestepparenting.blogspot.com/p/parenting-from-theinside-out-take.html

Rainy Monday

After a great Mothers Day Weekend with the wife and kids back to a rainy Monday here in Garrison. 

Summer like holidays can bring on challenging behavior for you as a parent and your children. What are the expectations, how to prevent boredom, who will be involved in what, how are we going to fill those empty days? etc. etc. I'm sure it is safe to assume that this info is not new to you as a parent,So the question is What is that you would like to do in the summer with your children? and how are you going to deal with your children on an around the clock basis?   So if you have had rough summers in the past, what is going to change for you this summer?

While every family is different on how they approach the summer and what you as parents would like to see your children do and learn this summer can vary, one thing I can tell you for sure is that you need to have some kind of routine and consistency within your days.  The earlier you start planning the more enjoyable your summer will be.

If planning is not your strong point be sure to attend my summer parenting workshop May 24th.  Click below to sign up now.  Tomorrow is the last day for our promotion of sign up and your spouse attends for free.  Hurry before the price goes up.
http://threestepparenting.blogspot.com/p/parenting-from-theinside-out-take.html


For more on routine and consistency check out below
http://threestepparenting.blogspot.com/p/three-step-plan.html

Enjoy,
Todd

To Quit or Not to Quit??

With a rainy day here in Garrison I was able to spend some time with my youngest at the gym and prepare for my sons communion this weekend.  Have to Love rainy days.

With the spring in full swing and children so committed to team sports their is often the battle or controversy of not enjoying oneself.  If you find yourself in this situation their are some steps you can take to try to avoid a battle. 

Find out why they want to quit…really why.

Is your child no longer having fun? Do they want to quit because they don’t know anyone on the team? Do they not like the coach? Do they want to try a different sport? Would they rather be doing another extracurricular activity? Do they feel like they aren’t good enough for the team? If you can find out the real reason they want to quit their youth sports team you might be able to come up with a solution.

Talk to the coach.

The coach might be able to help you better understand your child’s role on the team. Does he/she notice that your child is having a hard time keeping up with the level of play? Are they distracted at practice? How well do they interact with the other players? It always helps to get another point of view so you can better understand why your child might no longer be interested in youth sports. You also want to make sure the coach isn’t caught by surprise if your child stops coming to practice one day midway through the season. A lot of coaches blame themselves if a player quits the team, and if it isn’t their fault (maybe your child would just rather learn an instrument than play lacrosse) you don’t want them to be stuck with the guilt.

Decide if it’s worth the battle.

If the season hasn’t started yet, quitting youth sports is relatively simple. However, if you’re a month in with two months to go you are stuck between a rock and a hard place. You might decide that since your child is a part of a youth sports team, they have a responsibility to that team and need to finish out the season. Explain that they don’t have to play next year, but since they made a commitment they have to stick it out. One of the valuable life lessons youth sports teaches kids is to honor their obligations and see something through to the end.

Let them quit.

It might sound crazy, but sometimes letting your child quit sports is the right thing to do. You never want to pressure your child into playing youth sports, especially when they are miserable every step of the way. If their health or school work seems to be negatively affected by belonging to a youth sports team, it’s probably not worth sticking around for much longer.

I hope this helps if you are ever faced with the situation of quitting.

Good luck and keep belonging.
Todd

PS:  Copies of Three Step Parenting are selling quick,  See what people are saying about the book and  pick up your copy now by clicking the link below. 

http://threestepparenting.blogspot.com/p/three-step-plan.html

Mother!!

With so many things happening all week long, I wanted to get this out early.

Today is more of a reminder than a message.
With less than 5 days until one of the greatest days of the year what are you doing to be prepared.
Of course! I'm talking about Mothers Day.  So pass this along to your husband, kids etc so they now.
Some great ideas for your children and you to spoil the one you love.
1. Breakfast in Bed or even better let her sleep in.
2. SPA day, Let your lady be pampered the way she deserves.
3. Sit poolside and relax with a mimosa in the morning.
4. Shower her with great homemade cards and treats.  Nothing says I love you like time and effort.
5. Not romantic or exciting but your mom would love it!! On Saturday knock out all the laundry that 
    has piled up.  Nothing like going into mothers day with no chores needed to be complete.
6. Make Her that special dish for dinner that she loves so much.
7. Great gift idea to enjoy later in the day: A bottle of red wine labeled Mommy Time Out!  lol
    Yes, it is a real brand and a great way to wrap up the day.

Hope this helps. 

Todd

PS:  If you have not signed up yet, go there now and sign up for the parenting workshop for May 24th.
For less than $20 you can't go wrong.  Spots are filling up quick so go now.
click below.

http://threestepparenting.blogspot.com/p/parenting-from-theinside-out-take.html

What do you want from me???

With the sun shining and a full weekend of coaching and cheering ahead of me, I am excited to start the weekend. I hope you are too.

So lets look at what your teenager might be trying to tell you.  Often those who are parents of teenagers will find that their young adults will come home from school and act one of two ways.  Not talk to you because you just don't understand / or they may be filled with information about the day.  So when the information or topic is about a negative situation at school or with friends,  what do you do as a parent? 
1.  Keep cool, This will teach your teenager to think and problem solve vs react out of haste. (besides
     if they are asking you must be doing something right)
2.  Prior to offering your opinion try to figure out if they are seeking your input or only venting.
3.  If they are looking for help, try to problem solve.  Don't give answers on what you would do,  
     however ask your child in return open ended questions to help keep the conversation going.
     Note:  The more you allow your child to talk and discuss the issue the more they will likely be
     able to make a decision on how to proceed.  You can also use door openers if you feel your   
    child would like to share something but is holding back, Door openers sound like this:
     "I'd like to hear more",  "Tell me more", "Go on" .

4.  Once your child has developed a plan or an awareness of the situation, complement them on being
     able to work it through.

Keep in mind that as a parent you would like your children to learn the necessary skills to one day be on their own and come to a decision on their own in similar situations.  Helping to problem solve will only ensure that they will be able to succeed.

Enjoy your weekend.
Todd

If you haven't already click below to sign up for my next parenting workshop.  Hurry because space is limited and it is filling up fast.

http://threestepparenting.blogspot.com/p/parenting-from-theinside-out-take.html




 

SIMPLIFIED = TIME

With kindergarten orientation this morning for my third child, It is really hitting me how fast time does fly. 
Everything  I do in my life is about trying to simplify my life.  In my case it is to save time in order to be able to spend more time doing things that I like to do.  (spend time with my family and those that know me, mountain bike).  My viewpoint to parents and children alike is to work smarter / not harder.  Granted this does not mean be lazy and do nothing.  Just make the best use of your time.

So if you are facing a challenging situation in your home / career / family life / recreation life anywhere try to get to the bottom of it and figure out how to move beyond. 

So for example if you are having difficulties with your child helping around the house / doing homework etc create a solution and implement that solution. 

Life can really be that simple.  Sometimes we are so scared of change that we allow ourselves to accept mediocre behavior.  Today is that day that you are going to take a leap of faith and put yourself out there a little bit.  While it may not be easy:  as long as you are acting in the best interest of all involved and not selfishly than you will prevail in the long run. 

It really is easy as 1 - 2 - 3. 
Step 1.  Figure out the problem:
Step 2.   Create a solution:
Step 3.  Implement that solution.

For those that are able to figure out the problem and are having a difficult time creating a solution pick up a copy of Three Step Parenting.  It simplifies almost any problem you may be having with your children.  Saving you time from battling headaches. 

Click below to grab your copy.  Only 2.99.
http://threestepparenting.blogspot.com/p/three-step-plan.html

Enjoy your day. 
Todd

WELL RESTED

After a great week celebrating my wife's 40th in Antigua, I'm back and well rested.

Let's dive right into it with summer planning.  With school ending in less than 8 weeks will you be ready to take on the challenges of having your children around full time.  Summer can be a stressful time , however if you plan properly (now) than your days will be filled with happiness and sunshine. 
Whether you are a stay at home parent, a full time working parent, a grandparent or a Nanny than you are going to need to plan out your summer. 

For you do it your-self-ers than start to cruise the Internet and research what you would like your summer to look like. 

Be sure to include your children in this process,  the more say and decision power they have the smoother the transition into summer will be. 

You will also want to take a look at your house rules and see if they may need some modifying for the summer.  Make sure that everyone knows the expectations of each other and success will be yours.

For those of you who just don't have the time or resources, be sure to sign up now for my SUMMER PARENTING workshop on the 24th of May. Thier will be plenty of great local programming as well as Grande ideas. 

For less money and time than dinner out you will have two months worth of quality family time ahead of you.

Sign up by clicking the link below. 
http://threestepparenting.blogspot.com/p/parenting-from-theinside-out-take.html

Enjoy the day,
Todd