Archive for April, 2011

Got Mud? My Seasonal Pet Peeve Disorder

According to Webster, a pet peeve by definition is a particular and often continual, annoyance; complaining, teasing and other annoying behaviors.

We all have them. Our kids tend to be the source of many of them. And I’m sure few of us would ever be the root of one for anyone else right?

Pet peeves, by their very nature, bring out the worst in people. Why do children find it so delightful to repeat what one person says over and over?

Why do they not see that pouring three cups of milk into a cereal bowl every day and wasting two cups is torture for their mother?

I decided to ask some of my favorite moms if they had seasonal pet peeve disorder and if so, what would be at the top of the list for spring pet peeves. After a lively discussion about many varied pet peeves (which I will save for a future column), I was not altogether shocked to hear that the top ranking pet peeve for the season of spring was none other than MUD being tracked through the house!

Mud gets a bad rap. Consider that many of us detest it so much we’ve named a room after it in hopes of keeping it away from all other quadrants of our home … the mud room!

Lori, a mom of three boys under 10 said she finds complete irony in the fact that the mud always seems to get tracked in right after she has washed the kitchen floors!

Alison (a mom of four kids from 12 years down to 3 and a nature enthusiast) said that she sees mud as a part of life. So since she can’t beat it, she joins it!

She said on muddy days she makes mud a fun part of the day but then insists on kids peeling off the muddy shoes in the garage and has trained her kids to do this.

Many moms ask all who enter to take off shoes, thereby establishing a routine to stave off the mud. Others had the philosophy, “kids will be kids” and felt tracking-in mud was just an age and a stage.

Also unanimous was the feeling that mud is a laundry nightmare because it just doesn’t come out! The moms who weighed in on mud agreed that, for kids, it is like a magnet.

Their only wish was that their kids were as drawn to veggies as they are to mud!

Bunny Fun

I will be the first to admit I am new to the blogging world, but couldn’t resist getting my feet wet with this cute Pita (as in the bread) Rabbit recipe to celebrate SPRING. The kids in Hooray for Books classes loved making these healthy, yet adorable treats and the best part – these bunnies require NO baking and can be made with all ages! For the lowdown on the book that accompanied these treats and the recipe…read on! If you have a child with selective listening problems…this is the book for you!

Listen Buddy by Helen Lester. Buddy is a bunny with long beautiful ears who rarely listens! When he is asked to go get some squash, he brings over the wash. When mom needs a slice of bread he brings a slice of his bed! One day, his bad habit gets him into a bit of trouble with a Scruffy Varmint. Will he make it home safely?

Pita (as in bread) the Rabbit

Ingredients (makes 6)

• 6 Pita bread rounds
• 6 Tbsp. strawberry cream cheese (or regular)
• 12 apple cinnamon puffs (Gerber finger food)

• 12 blue candies (or raisins or dried cranberries)
• Pretzel rods

Directions

1. Separate a small pita bread round into two circles using a butter knife. Place it between the layers and cut from the outer edge around the circle. One circle is for the bunny’s face and then cut the other in half for the ears.
2. Arrange the pieces on the plate, smooth side up. Spread with cream cheese.
3. Use a cinnamon puff for the nose. Add two blue candies or raisins for eyes.
4. Carefully break 3 pretzel rods in half for the whiskers and place on either side of the nose. Enjoy your yummy treat!