“I participated in an Influencer Activation Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for BGCA. I received a promotional item to thank me for participating.”

I have been using a computer since I was probably about 10 years old and have been using the internet since I was a teen. Luckily I haven’t had any bad experiences online but I know there are many things to be aware of. I have read about them, heard about them and have had friends share their stories of people they have met online or talked to online.

Since my business is “online” we have an internet connection at my house which all of my children enjoy using. My two youngest that are 6 and 9 get to use the internet on the family computer that is in the living room. Since you never know what you are going to find when searching online, I like to know what my kids are doing when online. My two oldest teens have laptops, cell phones, iPods, etc that they access the internet from.

Talking to your kids about online safety is important for kids of any age. Even those that have already been using the internet. Since being a #CyberSafe parent isn’t always easy there are resources out there to help! The Boys & Girls Clubs of America has partnered with Sprint and assembled their CyberTribe of expert teens that help to answer YOUR questions about different issues your children are facing online. You can submit a question online and have it answered by the #CyberTribe. You can also read other questions that other worried parents have asked in an effort to become more #CyberSafe.

On the BGCA’s Cyber Safe Site not only can you ask the CyberTribe questions, you will also find lots of valuable resources. You may not know it but many children are being victims of cyberbullying and we don’t even know it. If you think your child might be a victim you can find great tips on this site along with discussion cards that you can print and use to talk with your child. You can also learn about mobile device safety, online privacy, social networks and even personal data sharing.

I took the Cyber Smart Parent Quiz on the site and I am pleased to say that I am a CyberSurvivor!

I would LOVE for you to take the quiz and see what your results are. I also encourage you to ask the #CyberTribe a question too!

Now that it is summer my kids are officially on Summer Vacation. They have been out of school a week now and want to get out of the house. I love doing things outdoors and have planned some fun things for the kids this summer. Below are different ideas of things I want to do:

• Visit the beach to collect shells & other treasures – If you live near a beach, take your children on a little outdoor adventure and see what shells you can find.  While you are there, be sure to build a sandcastle and take a picture with it.
• Take a trip to your local zoo – If you happen to have a zoo near, take your children to the zoo for a few hours of fun. Children love animals so even if you have been to the zoo a dozen times, they still are going to enjoy seeing all the different animals.
• Camp in your backyard – If you don’t want to go far, put up a tent in your backyard and have a campout. Be sure and don’t forget the S’mores.
• Pack a picnic and head to the park – A picnic can be fun for all ages. Get creative and pack a fun themed lunch and enjoy your meal at the park and enjoy nature.
• Plant a garden – Make your own garden with the kids and let them plant their own veggies and herbs. This can be a fun ongoing project for the whole summer.
• Visit a fish hatchery – If you have a local fish hatchery you can visit, children can learn about the different stages of fish reproduction.
• Visit a fire station – Most firehouses enjoy showing off their trucks and equipment with the kids.
• Go on a nature hike – Get outdoors and take a nature hike.
• Shop at the thrift stores – If you have a little one that likes to shop, take them to the thrift store and let them pick out a few things.
• Experience geocaching – For those that like to find treasures, geocaching is a ton of fun for both kids and the adults.

When you take your kids outdoors you always need to be prepared for when they need to go potty. If you are a parent you have probably experienced a time when your child had to go to the bathroom and  there was either no place to go or the place where you can go has no toilet paper or doesn’t seem so appealing.

Be prepared and bring some necessary essentials! For those that like to spend outdoors, Cottonelle has you covered!

When you are traveling outdoors you will want to be prepared by making your own little travel fresh kit.

1. Grab a large ziplop bag and add some of the Cottonelle CleanCare toilet paper sheets. You don’t have to take the whole role. Just fold up enough sheets for how many you are bringing along.
2. Next be sure to add one of the Cottonelle Fresh Care Flushable Cleansing Cloths On-The-Go Soft Packs. These wipes are available in both a container and travel packs. They are septic safe and contain NO alcohol, NO oil, NO soap but do contain mild skin cleansers and emollients
3. Put the ziplog bag in your purse, diaper bag, backpack or even your car to have with you for you in case of emergencies.

Don’t just wipe … wash with Cottonelle Fresh Care* Flushable Cleansing Cloths, and experience a more confident clean.

What outdoor ideas do you have for kids? What essentials do you bring when doing things outdoors?

“I participated in an Ambassador Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Anheuser-Busch’s Family Talk About Drinking program. I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.”

This school year has definitely went by too fast. For my kids the last day of school is next week and I have already been thinking of things to keep  them busy. With my two oldest daughters that are teens, keeping them busy is a whole different story. They aren’t for the arts and crafts and trips to the zoo like my youngest two enjoy. They want to hang out with their friends and keep mom and dad on their toes.

We made it through prom this year with no problems. My daughter had talked about the parties that were happening after but didn’t even ask to go. Next school year is going to be a whole different story. My oldest daughter will be a senior in high school and will also turn 18. I remember when I turned 18, I thought it was my time to be my own boss. Luckily we have been successful on keeping her on the right track. We are always keeping it real, especially with our teens about what can happen when you do things that you shouldn’t like drinking alcohol! It is not a subject that you only talk about once, you have to keep following up with your child and keep up in the loop on what is going on in your child’s life.

Following up is important for several reasons:

• They help create accountability.
• They show you have a genuine concern for the end result.
• They create new opportunities for communication.
• They are another way to check in and stay connected with our kids – especially teens.

This month my teen’s school did something real cool when it comes to teaching teens about drinking. Their school participated in the “Every 15 Minutes” program that offers real-life experiences without the real-life risks. This program has been designed to dramatically instill our teens with the potentially dangerous consequences of drinking alcohol and texting while driving. They have a person dressed up as a grim reaper go into random classes to pull children to reenact what happens when you drink and drive. During the event they had a helicopter fly into the school’s football field, had cars that were wrecked and had the students portray that they were injured or dead from driving while under the influence. This program had a huge impact on the students and I think its something that should be done at every high school.

For those of you with teens, Anheuser-Busch offers the The Family Talk About Drinking Parent Guide to help with talking to your teens about the dangers of drinking alcohol. This is a very helpful guide and best of all it is FREE!

• https://www.facebook.com/ABFamilyTalk
• https://anheuser-busch.com/index.php/our-responsibility/

“I participated in an Ambassador Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Anheuser-Busch’s Family Talk About Drinking program. I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.”

When you become a parent you just never know what challenges you are in for. That day you become a parent is the day you also become a teacher.  Our job as parents are to teach our children what is right, what is wrong and steer them in the right path to make good decisions and choices in life.

When your children become teenagers the challenges in parenting tend to get a little harder. Our children start wanting to go to parties, hang out with kids we might be unsure of and might be put in situations that they must be prepared for. We as parents are the biggest influences in our teens’ decisions to drink alcohol. We need to ask open-ended questions that get our teens thinking about what they would do if they are offered a drink. Even though our teensthink they might know it all, it is our job to BE REAL when it comes to talking to our kids.

Be R-E-A-L:

Realize our children need to have a connection with us.

Examine our own assumptions and prejudices.

Always be aware of the other influences in our kids’ lives.

Listen, because all kids (especially teens!) have a deep need to be heard

I have been pretty lucky and have a really good relationship with my teens. While some parents might have to pull a sneak attack on their teens and ask questions in the car on the way home from school, I feel I can ask my kids anything at anytime and they won’t be afraid to answer. When you want to connect with your teens you have to listen to them and what they have to say. Best of all, respect their opinions!

MJ Corcoran has worked with parents for the past 20 years and has created a powerful parenting program that will help you make the changes to create more cooperation, connection, mutual respect and fun in your family. In 2011, MJ collaborated with Anheuser-Busch to refresh and expand the Family Talk About Drinking guide to become a program that parents can turn to throughout the parenting process, no matter how old their kids may be.

Below is Q&A session with MJ Corcoran that I want to share:

Q: Do you find that more active teens are less likely to drink than teens that are not involved in extra-curricular activities or the opposite?

Overall, that would be the logical assumption. In my experience being active in a sport or an activity keeps children engaged. Although, parents are the number one influence on their children’s decisions about drinking alcohol, youth engagement plays an important role as well because active teens have to practice responsibility, balance and discipline more than teens not involved.

Q: How should you address questions regarding what you did in your youth?

Being honest and open with your children may enable them to return that transparency and trust. How much to share with your children about your youth is a personal decision that parents should determine with their spouses. The important thing is to begin the dialog, listen to your children’s concerns and coach them in making smart decisions about avoiding alcohol.

Q: How do you get kids to even listen or pay attention to you on these topics?

It starts with listening to them first. Then look for those windows of opportunity to bring up the topic. In between those opportunities build your relationship with your child. Just because you don’t think they are listening, doesn’t mean your kids don’t hear you. Continue reaching out to them, asking open-ended questions and providing guidance on ways they can avoid alcohol. Research shows that parents are the No. 1 influence in their children’s decisions about drinking alcohol.

The Family Talk About Drinking Parent Guide provides some questions to help you get the conversation started like “If there is drinking at a party, what will you do?” or “If your friends wanted to drink, how would you handle it?”

Q: Do you think a parent drinking at home has any influence on whether their children will drink?

Alcohol is for adults 21 and older who choose to drink. As a parent, we serve as an example for our children. If you choose to drink, as an adult, do so responsibly. Be sure your actions match what you’re telling them, for instance use a designated driver.

Q: How much should you share about your personal history & experience (hint, I really don’t want to share much).

This is a personal decision and the focus is on their decisions and choices. Being honest and open with your children may enable them to return that transparency and trust. How much to share with your children about your youth is a personal decision that parents should determine with their spouses. The important thing is to begin the dialog, listen to your children’s concerns and coach them in making smart decisions about avoiding alcohol.

Q: We’re doing college orientation soon with our daughter, what should we be asking the staff & resident dorm advisors about drinking?

College orientation is a perfect time to become familiar with the University’s policies for underage drinking. Ask the staff and resident advisors what consequences the student will face if they are drinking underage. What process does the university take and who all is involved? (faculty, parents, etc.)

$25 Visa e-gift Card Giveaway

Would you like an extra $25 to spend to connect with your teen? Maybe take them out to lunch or a movie? One lucky Mom’s Blog reader is going to WIN a $25 Visa e-gift card. To enter for your chance to WIN use the Rafflecopter below:

• https://www.facebook.com/ABFamilyTalk
• https://anheuser-busch.com/index.php/our-responsibility/…

“I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for State Farm. I received a promotional item to thank me for participating.”

Did you know that each year State Farm donates millions of dollars to worthy causes in the US and Canada? There are so many communities that need help and I think it’s great that there is support out there. Last year State Farm launched the State Farm Neighborhood Assist program to create a positive impact across the nation where communities got to submit their worthy causes for a chance to receive money to fund their cause.

When I have helped in my community, it made me feel good. I remember when I was in high school we had to seek volunteer work. I didn’t want to just find any work, I wanted it to have meaning. I found the perfect opportunity. I volunteered for a program called Ride To Walk that enhances the lives of children and young adults with neurological disabilities by providing therapeutic horseback riding activities that are recreational in nature and adapted to the individual’s needs and abilities. Even though I knew I wasn’t going to be payed for my work it was rewarding seeing the smiles on the children’s faces while they were on the horses. This is the type of worthy cause I would like to see get extra funding.

This year there were 4,000 causes submitted for State Farm’s Neighborhood Assist. The top 200 causes have been selected and your “assist” is needed to help vote  them into the top 40. From April 28 through May 16 you can vote 10 times DAILY for your favorite causes to help them get into the Top 40 and receive $25,000!

To view the Top 200 State Farm Neighborhood Assist causes that have been submitted and to vote, visit: https://apps.facebook.com/sf_neighbor_assist/
.