My Son Called Me Mean

By Meg Hodson

You hear people say it often...."I want my kids to like me....". Well, the obvious answer to this is "yes", of course you want your children to like you. But then they freak out, they spill their milk, they write on the wall, they do something crazy that makes you INSANE. You, as a parent, are put in a position to discipline, reprimand, instruct. Sometimes this is an easy process, sometimes not. 

If your kids listen and respond quickly, great; guidance given and you move on. But we all know in reality that happens about 2% of the time. The other 98% involves varying levels of loudness and tone in your voice, intensifying levels of you pulling your hair, all possibly leading to you, as a parent, losing it. 

If you're a parent, ANY parent, you've been there, done that. We raise our voices, we yell, we stomp our feet. Well, this was me recently with my youngest son, age 7. He's a boy, he has an older brother, and they often end in knock down throw downs or some other sort of mischief. They are boys. I get that. But sometimes it is taken too far and intervention is necessary. 

I had to resort to raising my voice recently. It's not that I wanted to, in my heart of hearts I felt I needed to. And then my youngest, my sweet boy who still snuggles with me every night (not all night mind you, just a few hours) uttered these words--you're mean. I hated hearing it. You're mean. It wasn't like him at all. He is constantly giving me hugs and is polite and says "thank you" for everything. But in this moment, he even stormed off for a bit. I wasn't feeling guilty, yet I still felt off. 

And that feeling has stuck with me the two months or so it has taken me to write this post. I was compelled to finish this post tonight. One thing I have learned as a parent is that kids thrive on structure---whether that is sleeping in the same bed every night, sticking to a schedule, or having boundaries, structure is healthy. So, I viewed this reprimanding as part of that structure. Although my son stormed off and we might have both hated that moment in time, we are better for it now. 

How do I know? He still comes in and snuggles every night and tells me how much he loves me.

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Sharing Super Moments With Del Monte Fruit Fusions

By Meg Hodson

I was compensated for this post in exchange for sampling Del Monte Fusions and providing my feedback. All opinions remain 100% my own.

Back-to-school is one of my favorite times of years with my children. They are excited to get back. I love to meet their new teachers and see what excitement is on the horizon for them in the coming year. 

I also love the structure that school brings. I thrive on juggling school, lunch boxes, and after school activities. And the kids thrive, too. Being more active, I think, makes them sleep better. 

These are special moments. I cherish them. I work out of the home now so a simple activity like walking my children to school is monumental; it truly is a super moment. 

Although our family has a very full schedule, it is extremely important to me that my children are eating as healthy as they can. Good, clean, real food. That can be a challenge when organizing three school lunches. 

While I don't like to rely on convenience food too much, there are some healthy choices out there that can make a balanced school lunch easier. I am loving the new Del Monte Fruit Fusions. They are actually a blend of vegetables and fruit in convenient cups that are perfect for school lunches and snack time. Each cup offers a combined 1 serving of fruit and vegetables. They are a quick and easy way for your kids to get the nourishment they need.

Even better, Del Monte is hosting a great sweepstakes where they are inviting their fans to #ShareTheSuper on Twitter and Instagram. Capture a great #ShareTheSuper moment with your kids for a chance at some great prizes. Hey, who couldn't use $2000? Or a limited edition backpack? A year supply of Del Monte Fruit Fusions? Click here for more details.

Let me know in the comments below how you #ShareTheSuper with your kids!

If you like what you're reading, I invite you to follow my blog.  Cheers!

A Message To My Girl: Anything Is Possible

By Meg Hodson

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Green Works and Collectively. All opinions and writing are 100% my own.

Raising a girl is no small task. Heck, raising ANY child is darn right a small miracle. I don't know if it's because I am one strong willed girl who was brought up believing I could accomplish anything. But I feel a huge responsibility to make sure my daughter has every opportunity she could ever desire. 

I do feel like girls take some extra attention when it comes to opportunities. My daughter plays at the club soccer level. She got a little burned out this past year. Tryouts came up this past Spring and she was considering not trying out. I decided to take her out to lunch and have a nice heart to heart. 

While she is only 11, I couldn't help but look into the future and think about high school and potential college scholarships she could be privy to with her level of soccer. I did eventually convince her to continue. She made the team and the season is off to a good start in late summer. 

I was part of an eye-opening Twitter party a few weeks ago hosted by Green Works in partnership with AAUW. The hot topic:  STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math). When it comes to science, men still significantly outnumber the women. Although this might be a far cry from soccer, the emphasis on girls reaching their full potential is definitely related.

Here are some of the highlights of what I learned during the party.

• Only 1 in every 1000 girls will become a scientist
• Toys can promote STEM because girls learn fun through hands-on experience, and critical thinking
• Science National Honor Society is a great high school organization that pushes kids to be involved and talk to scientists
• It's an extremely enriching career, personally and intellectually, you will never be bored!
• AAUW is one of the largest funding sources for girls in graduate school
• Allow for creativity when building. It encourages thinking, design, problem solving
• Great discoveries take inquisitive people, hard work, and luck.
• It’s important to set role models for next gen girls. Girls will gain more confidence
• Encourage girls to be curious, try things that might not work, test assumptions, and learn from their mistakes
• It's important for girls to identify with scientists. Females in STEM help them to see themselves in the future.
• It isn't enough to just be a female scientist, you must actively engage and encourage girls
• Only 14 percent of girl students drew a female scientist when prompted in this video: http://bit.ly/1Ma4YTw

Thanks to Green Works, we are encouraged to let girls know that they do have the opportunity to become a scientist. Let them know where math can take them.

If you like what you're reading, I invite you to follow my blog.  Cheers!

Whole Foods Ready For Action Bag + Giveaway

By Meg Hodson

Good things come in small packages right? And when that "small package" is from one of my favorite stores, Whole Foods, then it's got to be good!

Each year, Whole Foods kicks off it's "Ready For Action Week". The week is celebrated June 24 through June 30th. It's a way to focus on healthy lifestyles and good, balanced nutrition. Whole Foods wants to emphasize that physical fitness can be fun, even when it's an everyday activity like walking or biking. 

Their Ready For Action bag commemorates the week-long event. Beginning June 27th, customers can buy this bag (a $50 retail) for just $12! So what do you get in the bag?

• Boiron Arnicare Gel (0.5 oz.). I have used this product myself. It is great for bumps and bruises and even minor muscle soreness.
• Goddess Garden Organics Everyday Natural OR Kids Sunscreen SPF 30. You can feel good about putting this sunscreen on your littles this summer; it's free of paraben and harsh chemicals.
• Aubrey Pure Aloe Vera (4 oz.). I always like to have pure aloe on hand for skin abrasions and rashes.
• Amazing Grass Amazing Meal in Vanilla Chai (0.88 oz.). I can't wait to put this in my smoothies!
• Garden of Life Perfect Food Raw Organic Green Super Food in Chocolate Cacao (0.34 oz.). I added this to one of my morning smoothies for an extra nutritional boost. 
• Spectrum Essentials Seed Blends (0.5 to 0.7 oz.).  Perfect to sprinkle in pancakes and smoothies, especially for my kids.
• Nuun Active Natural Electrolyte Enhanced Drink Tabs (10 tabs). Think of this as a healthy answer to sports drinks. Just add to water for a boost. 
• Toms of Maine Long Lasting Deodorant (2.25 oz.). One of my all-time favorite deodorants. You can't go wrong with this! And it's a full size container that you get with the bag!
• Spectrum Essential recipe book and three coupons (Amazing Grass, Aubrey and Cal Naturale Svelte.). Bonus!

I am definitely picking up a few of these to keep on hand for gift giving. What an amazing gift for $12, right?

I've also got one up for grabs here on the blog! Enter below for your chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Finding Balance With Together Counts™ and Girl Scouts

By Meg Hodson

This is a sponsored post for Together Counts™ and  Girl Scouts Nation's Capital. While I am being compensated for this article, all opinions and statements remain 100% my own. #HealthyHabits

Finding balance and creating healthy habits for my children seems like a daily goal and albeit, sometimes a struggle. Whether it's monitoring screen time, being active, or devoting time to reading, as a parent, I find myself constantly trying to find the balance for them. With the summer months upon us, finding an even amount of activity, play, and educational time can be tough.

I recently discovered the new Girl Scouts campaign, Together Counts™. It's a nationwide campaign, organized by the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation and Girl Scouts Nation's Capital to inspire active and healthy living via physical activity and nutrition, a fundamental underpinning of efforts to reduce obesity. 

The principle behind the program is called Energy Balance. It's an easy concept to understand, but one that is sometimes hard to execute. Basically, it emphasized that what goes into your body must be balanced by activity (what is going out of your body). It's a simple concept, yet one that we find hard to follow sometimes. 

So, the Girl Scouts themselves partnered with the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation to help create booklets that would help in this whole concept.

o Between Earth and Sky with Healthy Habits - girls learn about the many plants,

and animals that flourish in nature, and also build important leadership skills.

o WOW! Wonders of Water with Healthy Habits - girls discover the many forms and 

paths that water takes and how to protect it. They also learn how to engage in teamwork, 

speak effectively to convey a message, and inspire others

o Get Moving! with Healthy Habits - girls learn how to use their energy to protect Earth’s 

energy and build important leadership skills.

What I really like about this program is that it is empowering Girl Scouts and Girl Scout volunteers to all work together. Adults can empower girls. Girls can set good examples for each other. And it's all done in a fun, productive way. 

Camping is essential to a Girl Scouts mission. I fondly remember a Girl Scouts camp I attended when I was in grade school. It is about the outdoors, and developing a deep appreciation for nature. Girls enjoy camping with their troop or attending a Girl Scout day and evening or resident sleep-away camp. From high adventure with kayaking, archery and rock climbing to traditional camps with crafts, singing, hiking and cooking over an open fire, Girl Scout camps give girls an opportunity to grow, explore, and have fun under the guidance of caring, trained adults. 

To locate the council nearest you, see the Girl Scout Council.

What are your best practices for keeping the young girls in your life healthy and active?

If you like what you're reading, I invite you to follow my blog.  Cheers!