Lessons From Ramona

I recently finished reading Beverly Cleary's Ramona the Pest to Anna Caroline.  I read her my tattered copy that I have had since probably 3rd grade.  It completely fell apart as we read it, but it was really neat to share a book with her that I loved as a child.  I read all of Beverly Cleary's books as a child, and I was thrilled to see that the movie, Ramona and Beezus had been made (although I have not yet seen it). 

Reading the book as an adult, a mother, and a person who makes her living by working with children, I was able to appreciate different things about the book than when I read it as a child.  In Ramona the Pest, Ramona is entering kindergarten.  The book is written from her perspective.  Like most kindergarteners, Ramona has difficulty behaving herself.  She sticks her tongue out at a friend of her mother's when the friend asks if the cat got her tongue.  "She asked me," was Ramona's reply when her mother scolds her for sticking out her tongue to show the lady that the cat, indeed, did not have it.  Ramona gets kicked out of kindergarten because she can't leave her classmate, Susan's boingy curls alone.

The part that really struck me was when Ramona hears her mother and father talking about her behavior.  Her mother says, "Ramona has to make up her own mind she wants to behave herself."  Here is the part that follows:  "Ramona despaired.  Nobody understood.  She wanted to behave herself...Why couldn't people understand how she felt?  She had only touched Susan's hair in the first place because it was so beautiful, and the last time-well, Susan had been so bossy she deserved to have her hair pulled."

This is truly how children think sometimes - probably most of the time.  I think that at those times, it is not their intent to misbehave, they just have to touch something because they want to know how it feels, it is something they have never seen before, or like Susan's hair, it is beautiful.  Other times, they feel that they have to defend themselves.  I am not making excuses for inappropriate behavior, but I think that sometimes, we adults could use a little reminder about what it is like to be a child.  I'm glad that Ramona reminded me.

Recipe (and I found a coupon for it!)

My last post was about food and making healthy meals that everyone in the family will eat. Well, this week, I found a great recipe that I would like to share (and no, I am not being paid by Shake n Bake :)). First, a little background...I always oven fry my chicken rather than fry it - because that's how my mom did it. I usually buy the big bags of garlic rounds that you can find at Bruno's or Winn Dixie for around 99 cents (which is a great deal!). I'm assuming they make the rounds from stale french bread, but they are seasoned well and are very flavorful. I keep them in my freezer, and when I'm ready to make my chicken, I put the amount that I need in a zip top bag and use my meat hammer to crush them to a coarse crumb consistency. Then, I put the chicken in the bag and shake it, (no need to coat it with anything) just like Shake n Bake. I then place it in a preheated 400 degree oven on a baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray, bake it for about 20 minutes, and dinner is ready. This is always great, and Tremaine and the kids and I love it. Most of the time, I cut chicken breasts into strips like chicken tenders and make oven fried chicken fingers. This is especially good for the kids since they don't eat an entire chicken breast.

So, the other day, I was in the mood for something different and thought that I would get some Shake n Bake. I noticed when I was in the store that they have a new Parmesan chicken flavor. We all love parmesan chicken, and I thought I would try it. I noticed that it had a recipe on the back for Oven Baked Parmesan Chicken. I have tried to make it in the oven before, but it never turned out great. The recipe said to make the chicken as you normally do. (Coat and bake at 400 for 20 minutes or until done.) Then, take the chicken out and top each piece with spaghetti sauce and a little mozzarella cheese and bake for 5 more minutes. It also suggested to serve it over spaghetti and with broccoli as a side. Well, remember how I said that when I make something that everyone in my family will eat, that I have hit a homerun? This was a major homerun. Everyone, including Elizabeth, cleaned their plates. They loved it! It was wonderful and so quick, easy, and healthy. I used Bertolli marinara sauce which is so wonderful! Obviously, this will be one of my new go to meals!

Some of you know that I am a couponer. I have never really seen a coupon for Shake n Bake. However, tonight, I went to their website, and guess what? They have a 75 cents off coupon of any one Shake n Bake product! Yea! Here is the link: http://www.shakenbake.com/. The coupon is on the bottom left. It is a Bricks coupon. If you press the back button a few times, you can print it twice.  Also, the recipe for the Oven Baked Parmesan Chicken can be found under the Quick Fix Recipes tab. 

If you make this, let me know how you like it!

Food Fights

Finding something that everyone in the family will eat is a tough task. It is especially tough if you are the least bit concerned about nutrition in the process. With three kids, I know that I have scored a homerun when I find a meal that everyone will eat. My son, who is 8, is a real meat and potatoes kind of guy. He has a very big appetite now, and I cannot imagine what it will be when he is a teenager. He is generally a good eater, but has a few quirks when it comes to textures. For example, he almost cannot tolerate being around someone who is chewing gum. His sister knows this and takes full advantage of it! He also has issues with anything gummy (gummy worms, fruit snacks, fruit roll ups, jell-o, etc.). He also does not like whipped cream, sour cream, congealed salads, or marshmallows. I suspect that he has some sensory issues due to the fact that he was born at 26 weeks gestation. I have talked to some occupational therapist friends of mine who have said that this may be the case. It really does not interfere with his daily life or well being, and my pediatrician was not overly concerned, so I have decided just to teach him to deal with these things (and to be polite when offered something he does not like).

My daughters, 5 and 2, are both snackers with major sweet tooths (or should it be teeth?). My 5 year old is better about eating at meals. I try to limit her snacks to one in the afternoon. We also started keeping the candy on top of the refrigerator so she has to ask before she can have something. My 2 year old...is 2. Anybody who has a two year old knows what I mean! We went to the beach last week, and I don't think she ate any "real" food the entire week. She snacked and ate a bite here or there, but nothing substantial. I know that kids go through these stages, so I am not stressing.

Some of the foods that all of my children will eat include:

poppy seed chicken casserole (I usually leave off the poppy seeds for them, but they will eat them)

green beans

macaroni and cheese

chicken

french fries

spaghetti

yogurt

meat loaf

butterbeans (They love them!)

strawberries

apples

I am sure that there are more, but these are the ones that come to mind. I used to really worry when my kids did not eat or only took a few bites, but all children go through phases of eating a little or eating a lot. I have decided not to worry about it. They will eat when they are hungry. I also only fix one meal (unless it is something that none of them will eat, and this is rare) for everyone.

Food issues can certainly be frustrating, but talking to your pediatrician and other moms can be helpful.

Happy New (School) Year!

I was reading an article in a magazine yesterday that was about how we should celebrate the new year in August rather than January. The author was, of course, referring to the start of a new school year. I have to agree with her. I love new beginnings, and I always look forward to the beginning of the new school year. Sure, I have to make peace with getting back into the routine of getting up early, staying on a rigid schedule, the dreaded homework, and getting uniforms ready every single day. But, once I have done that, I remember that I do much better in a routine and my kids do, too. We have one more week until school officially starts. The week ahead is my “get organized week” (even though I really need a “get organized year”!) Then, the next Monday, school is here!




This year will be different. My daughter, Anna Caroline will join my son Trey at “big school”. It is sad and exciting for both of us. She will do fine, and I will, too. Trey, a seasoned 3rd grader is excited. It will be a big transitional year for him. His teacher gave us a planner that he has to write his assignments in daily. I’m glad that he will learn early in life how to be organized. Maybe he can teach me. Anna Caroline will love school. She wants to read so badly and pretends to read her little sister books every night. It will be just 2 year old Elizabeth and me in the afternoons after Mom’s Day Out for her (and working- for me). I am sure that she will ask, “Where’s Nana (her name for Anna Caroline)?” a million times those first few weeks. My goal for the year is to be organized and to exercise! (Who would like to hold me accountable to keeping these goals???) I have a plan, though, and a planner that goes from July to June. It must have been developed by someone like me who thinks that this is the real start of the new year!