Since Chicago Public schools changed their food provider to Aramark about 4 years ago, I've been packing school lunch for my kids at home every single school day. Their school food is not only unhealthy but also unappetizing due to the fact that their school doesn't have its own kitchen so the food is prepared and heated up at another school's … [Read more...]
Tips to get students remember to turn in homework
Towards the end of last year, my son started to have problems with his homework. The issue was not the assignment themselves. He would complete the assignments on time, but then he would frequently forget to turn them in, which would result in reduced grades. As a parent, this was more frustrating to us than not doing the assignment itself. We … [Read more...]
Morning and bedtime madness overhaul
If you dread waking up on a school day to face the morning madness and nagging to get to the school on time, this solution will ease your pain if not completely restore your sanity. We started the school year, like any family in the country, lacking sleep and time to get ready for the school. As days passed by, the amount of the phrases used … [Read more...]
Volunteers build a new playground with KaBOOM!
I have been volunteering with one of the parent organizations at my children's school, whose purpose is to raise funds for school's needs. For the last three years, we have been focusing on getting a playground for the elementary school where more than eight hundred students attend. Especially after the school hours were extended in Chicago two … [Read more...]
Packing hot school lunches and keeping them warm
I try to pack school lunches for kids as much as I can. However, recently I've given up, having to throw away so many untouched foods, half eaten or even barely eaten sandwiches. I let the kids eat school’s cafeteria lunch instead of spending all that time to think, prepare and see all that wasted food. The school cafeteria lunch menu this year, … [Read more...]
Simple tip to make your morning routine to school a breeze
As a parent, you learn early on that sleep cycle doesn't work as logical with babies and kids, as it does in adults. The biggest advice for early risers is to put them in bed earlier. Also the less day-sleep they get, the less they sleep at night. It goes pretty much the same for the morning routine. I have been waking my son up as late as … [Read more...]
How to find the right preschool – Part 2 – Trial and Decision
At all the schools, after my first screening visit they said,"you can come and check it out with your son again". They told me to bring him in for a trial session and observe. I called the preschool near us and asked for an appointment for such a trial. They told me to bring him along, but pointed out that when they see their parents, the children … [Read more...]
How to find the right preschool – Part 1 – Screening
This post is about my observations, thoughts and decision process while I was searching for a preschool for my son. I'll start with what I wanted and expected in a preschool for my son. Because I am a stay-at-home mom at this time, I am not looking for a daycare/preschool to send my son while I work. What matters to me is that he learns … [Read more...]
Preschool scene
Recently there has been crying and fussing when I'm dropping my son off at his preschool in the mornings. It's been almost 3 months since he started and I wasn't expecting this. I thought we could be on a routine by now; get in, get out. No scene, no issues. But my day is always full of surprises. It's not my son who's fussing, it's my daughter. … [Read more...]
First Day of School
This is my son's first day at school. He started his preschool today. I have been getting him ready for a week or so, telling him, he would play with his friends and toys, and singing songs and playing outside. He mostly listened to me quietly but he commented, once in a while, "Mom's coming along, right?". I explained him, "Yes, I will. Then I am … [Read more...]