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I don’t know about you, but I feel like my mediocre Mommy moments outweigh my memorable ones.
I’ve realized over the years that making the leap from mediocre to memorable is not as difficult as I make it out to be. One thing that helps me see this is good friends who show me by their example that a little effort goes a long way.
Last summer, my friend Lee set a goal to be a “Fun Mommy.” She tried to come up with some extra creative projects just one night a week. They tried out new cookie recipes, watched movies together, and did other things that appealed to her children.
Last fall she was in the doctor’s office and saw a magazine ad for the Jif Most Creative Peanut Butter Sandwich contest, and decided that would definitely make for a Fun Mommy activity. She asked her daughters what ingredients they might want to have on hand to create some healthy and original peanut butter sandwich recipes. That night, they each came up with a sandwich recipe, and Lee entered them into the contest.
She didn’t think much about it until she got a phone call months later that her oldest daughter Margaret’s recipe was selected as one of the ten semi-finalists! This fun night that they all enjoyed now has the opportunity to pay off with more than good memories. If Margaret’s Peanut Butter Waffle Taco gains enough online votes, she will earn $2500 in scholarship money as a semi-finalist. If she wins that spur-of-the-moment Fun Mommy moment will end up being worth $25,000, but even if she doesn’t she will enjoy a free trip to New York City to present her recipe to the judges.
You can vote for Margaret’s Peanut Butter Waffle Taco (or one of the other nine finalists) once a day between now and February 27 at jif.com.
All ten recipes are posted on the website. Maybe you could have a Fun Mommy day and make a few of them yourselves. If nothing else, hopefully this will serve as a reminder that in addition to making some memories, following through on impulses can really pay off.
And tomorrow or next week when you have an idea but think that it’s too much trouble, perhaps you’ll think of the laughter or the “remember when’s” from other times that you did make the effort.
I know for me it’s as simple as letting my daughter follow through on her impulses — not squashing that naturally creative streak within her. For example, one time we went to a friend’s house for dinner. It was a birthday dinner for the dog that her kids always liked to have to commemorate his entry into the family (that sounds like a Fun Mommy if you ask me). We had volunteered to bring some dessert, and Amanda asked if we could make a special cake for Buddy. She took a small square of the cake, frosted it and then adorned it with dry dog food and a beef jerky dog treat candle. Amanda’s not the only one who was completely delighted by the sight of beagle Buddy digging in to that cake. My friend and I still laugh about it over a year later.
What are some simple activities that have created million-dollar memories for your children?
This post was written by contributing editor Jennifer Donovan, who also blogs at Snapshot and is managing editor of 5 Minutes for Books.
Cascia says
What a wonderful post. I don’t think I know what I’ve done to create million dollar memories for my kids. I suppose our family traditions especially our holiday traditions are enough to create memories. I’ll have to visit the Jif website and vote for her recipe. Thank you for sharing!
Katrina says
Very cool. So often, I am a not-fun mommy, because I dread the mess or the time or whatever, but it’s true — when I do relax and let those moments happen, they often end up being classic memories for all of us. Thanks for the reminder.
Now, I’m off to check out the Jif contestants and place my vote. 🙂
Maria says
It’s amazing how much my kid appreciates me just taking some time to spend with him. Even if it’s just pretending to eat what he makes me in his pretend kitchen. I enjoyed this post. We should all take the time to find fun and creative things to do with our children.
Time goes by so fast and before we know it, they will be out of the house and we will be begging them to spend more time with us.
Amy Lindeman says
I too have attempted to break into the “FUN MOM” role numerous times. Last summer I attempted to make a pinata with the kids, then aged 5, 3, and 1 which turned out to be a disaster. What the heck was I thinking?? Making cookies together is messy but a lot of fun for all of us and a good tradition. Yet NOTHING beats a good ‘ol “dance party”. I’ve come to the conclusion that when things get chaotic around here and I feel my stress level rising the best thing I can do is turn up the music (Bare Naked Ladies gets all three kids grooving in an instant) and just go crazy! So long as no one gets hurt, the kids have the greatest time showing me their latest moves, getting thrown around by me and burning off some energy. The bonus is that I too get a quick, unplanned workout burning enough calories to eat a little something sweet guilt-free!
Jeanette says
I am constantly coming up with new crafts to write up a how-to in my craft blog, http://scrapfrog.blogspot.com. I make it a point to each week to involve my daughter (and sometimes my son!) in the process. She can’t wait until we have “project time” again!
Something my mom used to do with us every once in a while was have a “backwards” day. We would wear our clothes backwards, eat ice cream for breakfast, etc. It was so fun and I remember all those special times with her. Now I do it with my kiddies occasionally.
RefreshMom says
I count any activity that generates their unrestrained laughter as a rousing success. The most recent was simply pulling out a board game to play with them (Hi Ho Cherry-O). All I had to do was be engaged rather than just tolerating it and we all had a great time. They loooved when I’d land on the upset cherry basket and have to put all my cherries back on the tree. They will still giggle telling about how I ‘came in last.’
As much as it feels like an interruption to my agenda, I’m learning that I get a lot of mileage out of taking a few minutes to get down on the floor and play something from their world. Thanks for the reminder that I need to make it part of the plan.
Shanna (Sweetie) says
A moment happened this week that will forever be in my daughter and my heart….Aldi’s had a late Valentine’s dozen roses delivery…so they priced the new roses at 50 cents a dozen…my daughter asked if we could spend the $20 we had planned on another activity on the roses….I agreed….with 39 dozen roses in hand, she asked if she could give them away…and I said absolutely…we spent the hour going home finding complete strangers a bouquet and telling them God loves them…from the mall parking lot to neighbors on streets near us we don’t know….God gifted us with the greatest experience as we watched their faces…39 times! It was indeed a moment to remember!
susieshomemade says
I voted! I sure hope she wins:-)
The Gang's All Here! says
A great post for a truly mediocre mommy day here at the Gang’s house. Thanks for the encouragement – and the realization that I’m not alone in my mediocrity some days!
And thanks especially for the link to all the recipes. I’m a peanut butter junkie and I can’t wait to try some of them. I voted for your friend, too.
AmyG says
Wow, congrats to your friend, I voted for her. It looks like a yummy recipe! Bet my girls would love making this.
MommyAmy says
Such awesome ideas! I remember doing lots of fun stuff as a kid: all thanks to my Mom who was open to doing new and creative things. 🙂
Dianne Velez aka LaFlacaD says
I grapple with the issue of stifling natural tendencies and creativity in my children. Especially since I seem to have become a neat freak as I’ve aged. But yes – I recently adopted the going to have fun with my kids attitude and it really is the little things.
I want to set up a ‘game night’ of sorts with the kids but being that they’re 3 and 1 its a little soon.
Upstatemomof3 says
That is so much fun!! And I voted. We have so much fun all the time. One of my favorite memories is every year we go see Santa at Macy’s in NYC. We make a whole day of it. It is a great time and since I did it as a kid the memories are so great.
Another big thing is we bake cookies to take with us when we go to hockey games (a pretty regular event around here). Big Brother and I have so much fun. We are so full of anticipation that we are practically bouncy around while we make them.
Stefanie says
That’s great! My kids and I try to do something fun either once a week or every other day depending on what our week is like. They love to bake and love having game night and/or movie night!
Tami says
What a great idea. I think I could handle being ‘fun’ one night a week. I’m going to try that. Thank you.
And I voted for Margaret. Good luck, girl!
IE Mommy says
How I so agree that my “not great” mommy moments outweigh my good mommy moments….thanks for the post…it lifted my spirits and yes, I voted for her! Congrats and Good luck to her and her family…how exciting is this!
Tracey - Girls to Grow says
Enjoyed this post immensely! I sometimes find myself not being a “fun” mommy simply because I see the mess that will be created and the time it will take to clean up. I am trying to get better about this and am having my girls take turns each Saturday helping me make a recipe that they have selected. I’m hoping not only that this will get them excited about being in the kitchen, but also provide great memories of cooking with Mom.