Cinco de Mayo means fifth of May. It is important for one area of Mexico, and has become a fun American tradition to celebrate. Here is information about the holiday and many ways we can celebrate Cinco de Mayo with teens.
What is Cinco de Mayo?
History
Originally celebrated for the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla, this holiday is celebrated in parts of Mexico and the United States in honor of a military victory in 1862 over the French forces of Napoleon III. It started in Puebla where this unlikely victory occurred, and has spread as a fun excuse to celebrate with parades, food and drinks.
The reason for the attack was Mexico was having trouble paying back war debts to European countries, and France had come to Mexico to collect that debt. France, at that time, was the largest military force, and they were looking to build up their empire, since they had just sold a huge portion of it to Thomas Jefferson in the Louisiana Purchase. Napoleon also wanted to have this base for Confederate soldiers during the Civil War-this might have resulted in a different outcome for the south had it not taken so long to win this war in Mexico.
France lost this particular battle, but eventually won the war after a few years. For five years, this area was until French control.
Read on for fun ideas around this holiday!
Things to know about Cinco de Mayo
It’s actually not celebrated that much in Mexico except for in the state of Puebla. A couple of things to remember when and if celebrating this holiday are: be aware of the historical significance and don’t use Spanish vocabulary inappropriately, (ie. Cinco de drinko.)
This holiday actually has been celebrated in the US since the 1860s. It started in southern California when Mexican immigrant citizens used the holiday as a way to celebrate their heritage. *This post may contain affiliate links. My full disclosure policy ishere.
Your teen can help to plan and cook
This is a fun holiday to celebrate with teens because who doesn’t love Mexican food and drinks? And, what better way to get your teen into the kitchen than food and drink for a party! So, plan a fun party for Cinco de Mayo with teens now!
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Here are some fun ideas for ways to celebrate this Cinco de Mayo with teens!
Make sure to visit myFacebook page, and follow me onPinterestandYouTube where I share lots of helpful info for parents of tweens and teens! And, finally, if you feel like this post was helpful, please share it on your favorite social media platform! Thank you so much!❤️
Here is the best gift guide for high school graduation gifts that I put together with some help from recent grads!
Are you wondering what to give to the graduate in your life? Whether you are searching for graduation gifts for college or graduation gifts for high school, there are so many great ideas.
I asked my two older sons who graduated from high school within the past few years which of their graduation gifts they appreciated the most and/or have used the most. I asked my nieces who have all graduated in the recent past as well. And, I asked 12 other recent high school graduates and college, both guys and girls.
Here is what I found out with direct quotes about their favorites to make the best guide for high school graduation gifts…🎁
I love graduation time -do you? These kids are so excited, and eager to fly… I remember heading off to college with my monogrammed towels, and empty scrapbook to fill with memories! Those were my two favorite gifts from high school graduation. That seems like so long ago, and also like yesterday!
Have fun picking out the perfect gift for the graduate in your life!
1. Money or gift cards to fast food chains or local eateries- “Who doesn’t love free money and food?!“
2. College hat – “Great to already have when I got to school.“
3. Shower caddy filled with supplies- “I liked having a caddy already filled so I didn’t have to think about it.” This would take a little research to find out their favorite brands to fill it with, but such a useful gift!
4. MacBook— “My mom got this for me. I have used it every single day for college and jobs.” A bit more of an expensive gift, but all students will need some sort of computer.
5. Headphones– “I wish that I had asked for these when I graduated. I had to buy them myself later.”
6. Microwave– “Have used everyday in my dorm and then my rental house because it didn’t have one.“
7. Reading pillow– “I didn’t think that I would use this thing, but I did, and my friends all wanted one once they saw mine!“
8. Amazon Prime for students– “This has been great for ordering books and watching movies when I probably should have been studying. But, my grades have been good, so I guess it’s okay.“
9. Slammo game– “My brothers gave me this game. It’s been fun out on our campus lawn. Taking to my frat next year.“
10. External battery charger– “This thing is great. I always have it in my backpack. Been a couple of times that I was really glad I had it!“
11. Magic Bullet –“I still use mine, and I graduated from college 2 years ago!”
2. Keurig– “Can’t. Live. Without!” Great for coffee of course, but also hot chocolate, hot tea, soup…
3. Toolbox with little handy items such as: hammer, screwdriver, tape, different sizes of batteries… “I didn’t think that this was a good gift, but almost every week either I have used this or a friend has!” Since this is a soft-sided bag, lot’s of other little things could be added like batteries, tape, string, Command hooks, even a deck of cards!
4.Monogrammed towels– “I love my pretty towels. I got them in my school colors, and I still use them.” This takes a little time to get the towels and find someone to do the embroidery, but I know even my son loves his!
5. Overnight/gym bag– “I had a bag already, so this was great because I could dedicate one for the gym, and then I had one to pack real quick to go away for a weekend!” Bags are great because they can always use them for extra storage in small dorm rooms or apartments as well.
6. Lap desk– “I never had one of these before, and I always wanted one. I use it all the time although not always for studying. I do my nails and even eat on it when we order food.“
7. Water bottle– “I got 3 of these, and I use them all the time. When one is dirty, I grab another!“
8. Toiletry bag– “I love that it lies flat, but then scoops up all of my stuff. It’s great to grab for running to my friend’s for the night or a weekend trip.“
9. Pretty jewelry– “My grandma got me a pretty bracelet that said, ‘Love you to the moon and back’. I wear it all the time.” You can never go wrong with jewelry!
10. Catch-all dish– “My sister got a great little dish for her room that is great for keys, glasses etc. I wanted one, too, so I ordered one myself for my dresser. I can’t wait to take it to college.“
Great books to give as high school graduation gifts:
Research for high school graduation gifts done for you!
I hope my list of high school graduation gifts helps with these next few weeks full of high school and college-ending events. It’s an exciting time for our kids, and the graduation gifts on this list will give them a head start with their new life!
Good luck shopping, and let me know if you have any other good ideas.
P.S. My son got the best little book for graduation, and I had to share the link with you all! It’s called Assume the Worst The Graduation Speech You Will Never Hear by Carl Hiaason and illustrated by Roz Chast. It is really great! It cuts through to the heart of what kids really need to hear about life in a hilarious way, and the pics are great. Grab one for your favorite graduate:)
One more thing to know about high school graduation…
There are a couple of things that you should be sure to take of whether they go far away or not. If they leave your state for college or a job, be sure to check that they are protected in that state as well!
Make sure to visit myFacebook page, and follow me onPinterestandYouTube where I share lots of helpful info for parents of tweens and teens! And, finally, if you feel like this post was helpful, please share it on your favorite social media platform! Thank you so much!❤️
When it comes to loving on your teen, you wouldn’t think that talking would be a good way to do this, but it really can be great! Communicating with teenagers is key to your relationship with them.
But, in order for it to be a loving act, there are a few things to think about.
As a mom, I know that I have so many things spinning in my head that I want to talk to my boys about. I can overwhelm them if I’m not careful. Here are some tips to help you as you parent your teens.
Here is one of my YouTube videos discussing how to get a conversation started with your teen:)
First, keep in mind that there are better times than others to talk with your teens. This means that you need to do some homework as a parent. Pay attention to when your teen is at their best, or at least better than most times.
Watch to see if your teen prefers mornings for a chat or is your teen a late-night owl?
After school is a usually a terrible time. They have been talked to all day long. They are tired, and probably need some time to decompress. However, it can be a good time, after they have had a snack, and some time to just hang out.
Think about yourself, and remember that there are times that you prefer company, and other times that you would rather be left alone! Let these tips help improve communicating with your teenagers.
Now what?
Once you have decided when is best to have a conversation with your teen, here are some ways to keep the lines of communication open. This can lead to improved relationships for your family, and you can get creative with other ways to show your teen some love!
*This post may contain affiliate links. My full disclosure policy is here.
5 Easy Ways To Improve Communicating with Teenagers
Keep it short.
Our teens dread big talks with parents. That truth might hurt, but it’s a good one to remember. There are a couple of ways to help them not to dread these times. One is to make sure that you keep the time short, no more than about 30 minutes-no matter what! Sometimes, a quick check-in is even better. Let them know you’re thinking of them, remind them of maybe one topic that has been a concern, and be done.
Realize that teens won’t “get it” right away.
In other words, what you are saying may not be what they want to hear right now. Some discussions need to occur in increments depending on your teen and/or the topic. Some examples would be: money management, future plans like college or next year’s schedule, or even the evolution of different rules as they get older.
Many topics are too massive to think that one conversation is enough… So, again, don’t overwhelm. This is why you can’t give up. Communicating with teenagers might be the biggest challenge that we face as parents, so DON’T give up!
Listen more than you talk!
One thing that many teens complain about is that their parents just don’t listen. They feel like they are lectured to, yelled at, and otherwise talked at more than they are listened to. If you want your kids to talk to you, then you have to listen.
Start by asking open-ended questions. Discuss a a game that you both recently watched. Talk about their friends and find out what has been happening. Give them time to think and talk. Sometimes being quiet together is really nice. Remember that when communicating with teenagers, it definitely needs to be a 2-way street.
I know that I am guilty of questioning my boys to death, and I have to remind myself to just wait for their answers and be okay with some non-answers–super hard for me!!
Remember that silence is golden, sometimes they just need to vent and move on. Let them.
Choose 2-3 topics, no more!
This goes along with listening. Don’t overwhelm your teen with too many topics, another thing that I am so guilty of! Choose just a couple of the most important topics to address, then put the rest on hold. Sometimes one topic will lead to another, but don’t force the issue.
Let your teen know that there are other concerns or topics to cover, but not today. They will appreciate this, and together you can schedule another conversation based on the urgency of what needs to be discussed.
Sometimes, like their senior year, there will be many conversations! Warn them ahead of time, that this will be happening, so they will be expecting it. This will be true no matter whether they are headed to college or into a job because there is just so much!
Other times, there are not so many things to talk about, but always stay in conversation with your teen. Communicating with teenagers is a balancing game, so try not to tip that balance.
Know that our teens’ lives are complicated.
This cannot be forgotten. We have no idea about their lives. We know how are our teenage years were, but their lives are even more complicated by all the social media. We cannot understand because even if our teenage years were difficult, (and whose were easy?), we didn’t have that to deal with!
Empathy and staying in communication with our teens is the best way to help them through. Don’t be pushy about this. But, don’t let them push you away either. If they aren’t in the mood to talk, tell them it’s all right for a bit, but before the day is over, you want to check in and talk even for just five minutes.
This will give them space, but also know that there is a deadline for their solitude. Start this when they are a younger teen, so that they get used to the fact that they cannot shut us out indefinitely. There will be ups and downs throughout these teen years, but going for more than a few hours should be unacceptable.
Grab a cute poster to download and print off for girls here. And, here’s a link to a poster of encouragement for anyone!
Parenting is not for the faint of heart.
If you have a teen, then you need to know that these years are long and short. Long because the teenage years last for seven years. Short because they will fly by so quickly! As a parent, you will have so many opportunities to mentor and guide your teen.
Don’t give up. If a conversation goes south, apologize if needed, and move on. Try again later. Communicating with teenagers is THE key to your relationship!
Your teen needs privacy, but don’t let that prevent a relationship from thriving. Your teen needs you now more than ever! Don’t let their moods dictate the state of your family-forgive and forget. You got this!
One more thing, get yourself a support group. Friends, family, co-workers. People that can listen to you vent, cry, complain. People who can give you advice and be a sounding board. I have found that for me, it’s been great to have someone with kids just a little older who have been through whatever stage already before.
And, finally, give yourself grace. You will mess up. You will make mistakes. Own it, and move on!
RESET YOUR RELATIONSHIP is a course I developed for parents of tweens and teens. It will provide you with tools you need to reconnect with your teen. Simple and easy-to-implement strategies that will get you back on the right track with your teen. It is natural for your teen to want some privacy and to start pulling away. You can put limits on that and still stay in a close relationship! Try it out here!
Make sure to visit myFacebook page, and follow me onPinterestandYouTube where I share lots of helpful info for parents of tweens and teens! And, finally, if you feel like this post was helpful, please share it on your favorite social media platform! Thank you so much!❤️
Is your senior pulling away from you this year? I hear this from so many moms, and I feel ya! Every year it happens. I’ve had this happen to me two times already and I’m dreading my senior pulling away from me when it happens the third time😭
Some, if not most of this process is natural. But, you may be contributing to the speed at which this is happening. Here are some ways to be aware and make sure that you can preserve your last few precious moments with you senior.
Pulling away from us can take a lot of forms and it is really sad and it is awful and it is natural.
During this year your seniors are going to be pulling away from you. It can be it can be bad attitude. It can be the fact that they just don’t want to talk to us. it can be them being not niceto us and to their siblings. *This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. My full disclosure policy ishere.
Don’t feel like if your teen is doing any of these things that they’re the only one. because i can assure you that they’re not. What can we do? Be sure to read the tips below after you watch the video all about when your senior pulls away from you.
Let them know that things will change, prepare them!
This is so important, and yet we forget to give our teens a heads up about how traumatic senior year can be. We get caught up in all the fun and exciting things, that we forget all the angst.
There are so many decisions that our teens need to make. College? If college, then where? What is needed for all the applications? Is there enough money? What will they need to know? Do they know enough? Are they smart enough for college? Are their grades good enough to even get in? Will they even like it once they are there?
I am exhausted just thinking about all of these worries, and this is just if college is in the works!
Not college? Trade school? Military? Gap year? Where will they live? What will people say? What will my parents think if I don’t want to go to college? Etc…
So… let your child know that you are there for them no matter what their decision –even if you don’t like the decision. This is HARD. Be supportive. Listen. Encourage them to make a pros/cons list to make decisions.
Don’t assume that you know what they are thinking
Seniors have to pull away from us as their parents. They’re also pulling away from friends their friendships groups might be changing they this is a big year of transition for teens. They have one million things going through their heads as I mention above. Sometimes just sitting together and not talking is okay too.,
Talk about what they are interested in
It’s not about you. Write your teen a note and ask if they need anything from you. If they want to ask any questions. If they have any concerns. Be available. Listen more than you talk. Give encouragement.
Balance giving freedom and still have control
This is a year that you really need to start letting them have more freedom. It will not be easy, but they are ready, and even if you are not, they need to start to have experiences that will test their problem solving skills. They need to learn to be in situations that will provide learning.
This is a time for talking about things that they might encounter in their future at college or wherever they might end up. Help your teen to think through and talk through different scenarios. Let them know you have faith in them. Give them opportunities leading up to their departure that will build up their confidence.
Before they are gone, let them go
This means in your heart, you need to accept that they will be gone soon. This is the saddest feeling. It is so hard to do, but you need to start getting used to them being gone more and more.
They will have been gradually becoming more and more independent over the years. There will be decisions that they make that you may not agree with in addition to those that will you will be proud of. It will be a wild emotional ride…
What do do when my senior is pulling away…
We need to be patient with our seniors, and it is so hard because it hurts. The feels are just non-stop! Not only is it an exciting time because of all the things… Even during Covid, there are things that our seniors are looking forward to: their senior picture, prom, graduation, all night party…
So, if you have a friend who says to you, “My senior is pulling away from me,” give her the biggest hug! She needs it so badly, and I will be there with her in a couple more years😭
I am passionate about reading. Books take you places. Teach you things. Create memories. This booklist is by no means complete. However, as I thought about the best books to read as a young adult, I thought about the things I wish that I had known more about -the subjects that my husband and I tried to at least introduce to our boys.
I split the list into four categories and an additional list. This is one time that I don’t recommend for your teen to read all of them. Check out each list, read the synopsis of each, and then choose one from each. You know your teen better than anyone, so base the choice around that knowledge. These also lend themselves to being read aloud, and then have multiple conversations. *This post may contain affiliate links. My full disclosure policy ishere.
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Self-help books
-the use of one’s own efforts and resources to achieve things without relying on others-the use of one’s own efforts and resources to achieve things without relying on others
This has been a fun topic to research. I hope that these books help in your parenting journey!😀 Please check out the posts below, especially the one about your teen turning 18- there are so many things to know legally.
Visit myFacebook page, and follow me onPinterestandYouTube! I look forward to seeing you again! And, finally, if you feel like this post was helpful, please share it on your favorite social media platform! Thank you so much!❤️
It was such a lifesaver during the pandemic! So, when my son asked, “Is Schitt’s Creek over?” as we came to the end of the final season, we decided to just start it again! We don’t watch it with quite the same dedication, but when one of us sees that an episode is on t.v., we will call everyone in to watch it for a fun family break.
All of a sudden, back in March, 2020, the world as we knew it stopped. We were all home. No school. No games. No travel. No social life. No nothing! If you lived with teens, like me, then you had even more to deal with.
With nothing on our schedules, we were all floundering for a while. At first, we embraced it. Lots of puzzles, games both board and online, grilling out… But, then boredom set in. Everyone was on each other’s nerves. Territory in the house had to be staked out for learning and work. School seemed never ending, and there was no structure anywhere for anything.
Then we stumbled upon the show, Schitt’s Creek.
Of course, we had all seen episodes and memes over the years, but our youngest was finally old enough to watch this. We realized over the last year, that many movies that we had watched with his older brothers, he could now watch. We generated a list of old favorites, and started checking them off one at a time.
But, Schitt’s Creek was the tie that bound us all together. If anyone was feeling down or frustrated or if we didn’t know WHAT to do at any particular moment, then we watched a Schitt’s Creek episode!
Here was a show that had a family going through a crisis together.They were stuck in two rooms of a po-dunk hotel, nothing to do, and having to figure out life’s curveballs as they came. This was such a close parallel to our lives that this show really struck a chord with us!
Schitt’s Creek helped my family!
I want to share with you how Schitt’s Creek helped my family bond, and I hope that if this isn’t the show for your family, that you find one that works because it can be such a fun experience! {Some shows to try are: The Mandalorian (Disney+), Merlin (Netflix), A Series of Unfortunate Events (Netflix), Heartland (Netflix), Glee (Netflix), and Lost (Hulu) to name a few -we have watched all of or part of all of these, and can highly recommend them all!}
In this post, I break down the characters, great Schitt’s Creek quotes, and lessons learned throughout the series.
Be sure to check out the great gift ideas at the bottom of the post!
*This post may contain affiliate links. My full disclosure policy ishere.
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Here is the Schitt’s Creek trailer in case you have missed this show!
I want to say that the show is definitely for older teens, maybe 15+. With that being said, there are many reasons why this show is so great which are covered below! Schitt’s Creek helped our family through the pandemic, and it will continue to be a favorite in the years to come!
What is there to love about Schitt’s Creek characters?
Johnny Rose -debonair dad who has lost it all, but doesn’t give up on life, work, family or anything worth trying for which makes him very lovable.
Moira Rose -the queen of wonderfully original comebacks in her unique accent and wigs (I recently found out that these were 2 things that she asked for when she joined the show!) She puts off a prickly exterior, but has a tender-hearted core.
David Rose -What to say? David is the perfect person in this show, in my opinion. He is quirky, loving, self-effacing, and perfectly imperfect. His smirky, half-grin kills me every time! How did they keep straight faces doing this show??
Alexis Rose -”Ew”, she starts the show as an empty-headed, poor little rich girl. As the show evolves, she becomes so much more!
Stevie -She is the lonely, sarcastic hotel manager/co-owner with Johnny, and eventual best friend to David. She is soooo funny!
Twyla -Twyla seems like a minor character, but if you think about it, she is the player who witnesses most of the big conversations and decisions made by the Roses over the years. She is the perfect innocent foil to all of their shenanigans as the sweet, hometown waitress.
Jocelyn and Roland Schitt -the wife and mayor of Schitt’s Creek -no way to describe them except adorably and awful “white trash”
Mutt, Ted, and Patrick -These are the wonderful love interests of Alexis and David who are each great people in their own right.
Is Schitt’s Creek over-say it isn’t so?
We started with season 1, episode 1, and have nearly worked our way through all of the seasons. We will be so sad for it to end. In fact, we have all said more than once that we will just start it all over again!
There are many memories of 2020, but some, if not most, of my good memories stem from Schitt’s Creek. Watching the show, sending memes and GIFs, and quoting lines from many different episodes.
Here are some categories for these great quotes from the show even if these weren’t originally about the following subjects. The great thing about Schitt’s Creek quotes is that so many of these are applicable in so many circumstances! This is another way that Schitt’s Creek helped my family to deal with different situations -now we have a quote for almost every circumstance.
Schitt’s Creek quotes…
Having a bad day? Moira says, “Oh, I’d kill for a good coma right now,” or “I just want a bathtub and a long extension cord, please.” Or, “Pick up a hammer and nail this coffin shut!”
Needing to socially distance yourself?“I’m trying very hard not to connect with people right now,” this from David. And this, “Very uninterested in that opinion.” Alexis sums up our unsocial year by saying, “I miss being surrounded by loose acquaintances who think I’m funny and smart and charming.”
Life throwing you for a curve….2020 “You must prepare for life, and whatever it will throw at you,” from Moira again. Or, from David, “It’s just one long string of really bad luck and I don’t know what kind of carnage I inflicted in my past life to deserve it. I must have been Dracula or a spin instructor or something.”
Friendship! According to Johnny, “I don’t think we could have gotten through without you all.” Moira says, “Gossip is the devil’s telephone. Best to just hang up.” “When one of us shines, we all shine,” again from Moira.
Dealing with someone that you don’t care for,“I’m incapable of faking sincerity,” is Stevie’s advice. Or, “Fall off a bridge, please,” from David.
Are you super busy? “I’m positively bedeviled with meetings et cetera,” great quote by Moira, and another by her, “I would be pleased to RSVP as pending.”
Dating advice from Alexis, “So this is weird. Today marks the longest relationship I’ve ever voluntarily had with someone. Yeah, the actual longest relationship was a three-month affair with a Saudi prince, but for the last two months of that I was trapped in his palace trying to get to an embassy.”
Or, “Well, you know, when it comes to matters of the heart, we can’t tell our kids who to love.” And, this one, “I went on a blind date to Bali with Leo, so I’m pretty sure it’ll be fine.” David says, “I’m starting to feel like I’m trapped in an Avril Lavigne lyric here.”
I love this one by Patrick because it’s so true! “David, you have to stop watching Notting Hill. It’s not helpful for our relationship.”
Good parenting from Moira, “If airplane safety videos have taught me anything, David, it’s that a mother puts her own mask on first.” Also, “David, stop acting like a disgruntled penguin.” Johnny asks, “Are You In Danger? Blink If You’re In Danger.“
On the job advice, “If there is anyone at this fabulous little confab who knows how to work a room of fragile egos, it’s me. I once hosted the non-televised portion of the People Choice Awards.” Alexis interviews with this wonderful line, “I don’t want to brag, but Us Weekly once described me as ‘up for anything.”
Working in the kitchen? David tells us, “Let’s not ruin a meal by talking about the process.” Moira says, “Oh good, now I see bubbles. David! What does burning smell like?” Or, “A heavy salad might as well be a casserole.”
There is so much to love about Schitt’s Creek besides the quotes!
As of the writing of this post, Schitt’s Creek awards are 176 nominations for the show and 64 wins! This is an amazing number considering the fact that they were only around for 6 seasons.
There are so many life lessons in Schitt’s Creek!
Acceptance, growing up, making mistakes and learning from them, true friendship, the importance of family… to name just a few! What we have loved about this program as parents is that this show has been the springboard for so many really deep conversations regarding these lessons and so many more.
As the show progresses, and you get to know the characters, they all learn lessons about resilience, adapting to new situations, not giving up, choosing the positive, and again, I could go on and on! Mostly this show is about love, and in this day and age, we could all use a lot more of that! If you know a lover of this show, here are some great gifts that someone might like!
Schitt’s Creek helped my family, and I hope that this show or some other one can help your family bonds grow stronger!
Your parental rights change the day your child turns 18. Learn what you need to take to know for HIPAA, FERPA, POAs, and all the other changes that occur when your child becomes an "adult."
Do You Want the Secret to Communicating With Your Teen?
Graduation gifts for daughter (or son):
and, 
