(PHS) Week In Review!

How are you this week?

Parenting Wisdom

“…It’s weird, I know, but I find cleaning cathartic.“ -Rachel Nichols

Random thoughts on a Sunday morning:

•Well this seems to be the tournament for upsets! I love the St. Peter’s team -since they are still in it, and my bracket is blown to bits -I am 100% for them!?

•I am headed to Dallas this week for spring break and being with my best friends from college for a wedding next weekend. So excited!??‍♀️

•This week I have a life skill for your teen, pep talks from kindergardeners, scholarship tips, and so much more!

This week’s challenges, scholarships and helpful resources!

*This post may contain affiliate links. My full disclosure policy is here.

Connection Corner:

A couple of years back I did a series in my emails about life skills. I talked about cooking, laundry and cleaning. I am going to repeat that series and update it in the next couple of emails since most of you have come along since my early days of writing emails! With that being said, we will start with cleaning this week.

Your teen really needs to know the basics of cleaning.

There are so many ways that we could approach this skill, that it may take a couple of rounds.  So, let’s get started…

We will take cleaning by skills. 

You know how to do all of these things as a mom, but here are ways to help your teen learn how to do each skill.

How to dust–when I was growing up, I had to do this once a week.  Now, when I can draw my name in it is about when it gets done!  But, still a good thing to know:)

How to mop-the basics everyone should know.

How to clean a toilet-the basics because there will always be a toilet!

How to clean a stainless steel sink –there will be a kitchen sink and bathroom sink wherever they live. This should be done regularly!

How to clean a white sink -same as above…

The main thing to remind your kids is that the best way to keep a clean house is to do a little each day.  

Surprisingly, many dorms require that the kids clean their own bathrooms, so that is definitely something that they need to be able to do well before leaving home!

The other skills will be necessary when they move into their first apartments, so the earlier the better for teaching these skills.  Practice makes perfect!

Scholarship of the Week:

I listened to part of a podcast by Dave Ramsey the other day.

According to him, the number one factor leading to student loan debt is school choice.  So, this means that we should be having many conversations with our kids about where they want to go to college or even if they should!

We need to present them with the facts about the cost and how much money is actually available versus how much will need to be taken out in loans.

Just because our teens think that they know where they want to go, it may not be the best choice for them.  We are the parents and can manage, (it may take awhile), the direction this conversation takes. (It took us a few years with our oldest to help him see that we could not afford his first choice, and that he would hate us by age 30 if we let him go where he wanted and take the required loans out!)

Scholarships do help, but your teen has to apply to even have a chance of getting them! The more they apply, the more success.

Rover Scholarship

Award amount: $2500

Due date: May 1st, 2022

Eligibility:

• You need to be a resident of the United States.
• You must be a graduating high school senior or currently a freshman, sophomore, or junior in college in pursuit of an associates degree, bachelor’s degree, or master’s degree. We reserve the right to verify date of high school graduation and/or university enrollment.
• If you’re a graduating high school senior, your GPA must be 3.0 or above.
• If you’re in college, your GPA must be 3.0 or above. If you’re in graduate school, you must either have a 3.0 GPA or above or a “Pass” in a Pass/Fail grading system.
• You can’t be related to anyone on the Rover staff, but you can be related to someone who’s a pet sitter or dog walker on Rover.

Requirements:

400-500 word essay on the following topic, “How did growing up with a pet in your life (could be a friend’s or family member’s) impact the person you are today?”

More information is on their website.

Support My Work:

There is now a safe, quick, and easy way for you to support my work! “Buy me a coffee”

This is such a small thing ($5), but it would help so much as I continue to research and write helpful information for you…?☕️

Thank you so much for thinking of me! And, thank you so much to those who have supported me already! My plan is put 5% of all donations toward a yearly scholarship for seniors in high school. I am in the process of writing it up and creating a plan for how it will work. I will keep you posted!

Helpful Links:

•***My son, Will, has started an online fitness program. He is NASM certified, and the workouts only use dumbbells and your own body weight. Talk about great total body workouts in just 20-30 minutes! Check out his Facebook page. He has me doing these workouts, and I will have to say, I am definitely feeling it! He is cute and funny as bonuses.?

•Are you looking for some graduation announcements? Here are some great templates to use!

•Have you heard about the number you can call for a pep talk from kindergarteners? I had heard, but had not called until this week. It is so cute!

When you call, you are given choices to listen in Spanish or English. Then you are given three more choices of what you need or want to hear. Once you have heard your choice, you are given the option to choose again. I love the sound of little voices, so that alone was enough to bring a smile to my face! Try it! 1-707-998-8410.

•14 reasons that you need brown craft paper in your house…

•I was just on this amazing podcast -here is the link on Spotify, The DH Effect. Here is the link to our episode -all about connecting with your teen!

•Our teens are never too old for bunny cinnamon rolls! My boys always smile when they see these. 

•Easter baskets are still fun for teenagers. They love the tradition and the love that it shows! Here are some ideas for your teen’s Easter basket. Here is my stocking stuffer list -great for those small gifts to put into a basket.?

And, if they are too far away to get home, here are a couple of fun Easter care package ideas – get started now so that they receive it by the date!

•Speaking of Easter, here is a fun post about how to decoupage eggs -they are so cute and easy.

•Up to 60% off home decor at Belk -I love this store!

•Really great deals on beauty products at Macy’s

•Up to 20% off of already marked down items at Adidas! Use the code EXTRA20 while supplies last.

•See more links below the video!

YouTube Video -another life skill -RESILIENCE

•What I’m reading… Just finished When The Apricots Bloom by Wilkinson. I really liked this book! It was set in Iraq during the regime of Saddam Hussein, and it tells about the relationship of three women, two Iraqi and one Australian -or is she?? The tension is high, and the safety of two children is at stake. I could not put it down.

I didn’t get too far into Songs of America since I am trying to get organized for my trip to Dallas, and packing up this house… It’s a hard back book, so I won’t be taking it with my on the plane for spring break. But, I am excited to get back into it when I get back.

Just started No Exit by Adams. Literally opened it last night, so I will keep you posted! Here is  the blurb…

Darby Thorne is a college student stranded by a blizzard at a highway rest stop in the middle of nowhere. She’s on the way home to see her sick mother. She’ll have to spend the night in the rest stop with four complete strangers. Then she stumbles across a little girl locked inside one of their parked cars.

There is no cell phone reception, no telephone, no way out because of the snow, and she doesn’t know which one of the other travelers is the kidnapper.

Who is the little girl? Why has she been taken? And how can Darby save her?

•Count down to finals starts now. Get ready with these ideas to support your teen when the time comes.

Thanks so much for being a part of my life, I am such a fan of parents of teens -we need to stick together!

Have a great week!

❤️

Mel

(PHS) Week In Review!

How are you this week?

Parenting Wisdom

“Needing to have things perfect is the surest way to immobilize yourself with frustration.”-Wayne Dyer

*This post may contain affiliate links. My full disclosure policy is here.

Random thoughts on a Sunday morning in March:

•Do you and your family follow March Madness?? Our family is in a larger family bracket with the most fun conversations and comedy! We are all in, and watching basketball non-stop. This is such a fun family event for us. I’m sad Baylor lost yesterday, but what a game!

My son’s girlfriend is in our family competition this year, and she is darling! When he helped her fill out her bracket, she wanted the Chiefs to win!? I have a feeling by next year, she will have learned a lot… 

•Have I mentioned that #2 son and aforesaid girlfriend are going to make me a grandma this summer? We are so excited. He is saving for a ring, and it is fun to listen in to all of their wonderful plans. It’s a BOY!?

Aren’t they the cutest??

This week’s challenges, scholarships and helpful resources!

Connection Corner:

•Share a frustration with your teen.

Our kids need to know that we have frustrations and that things are not all perfect in our world. The more recent the better. Go for a walk together and have a frustration scream off. It can be a bad day at work, an annoying coworker, a bad grade, a game lost, the possibilities are endless! 

I did this with one of my boys recently and we got to laughing hysterically. We waited until no one was around to do our screaming…

Scholarship of the Week:

Be Bold Scholarship! -learn more on their website!

$25,000

March 31, 2022

The $25,000 “Be Bold” Scholarship is a no-essay scholarship that will be awarded to the applicant with the boldest profile. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider’s website.

Support My Work:

There is now a safe, quick, and easy way for you to support my work! “Buy me a coffee”

This is such a small thing, but it would help so much as I continue to research and write helpful information for you…?☕️

Thank you so much for thinking of me! And, thank you so much to those who have supported me already!

My plan is put 5% of all donations toward a yearly scholarship for seniors in high school. I am in the process of writing it up and creating a plan for how it will work. I will keep you posted!

Helpful Links:

•Do you have a graduating high school senior, a junior anxiously awaiting their senior year, a current college student, or know a parent of any high school student? My friend, Christen, over at Hive College Buzz will curate a list of 20+ scholarships that you meet the requirements for. 

Once you apply, in a few days, she will email over your hand selected and personally vetted scholarships in a digital scholarship organizer that includes the websites, deadlines, award amounts, as well as any additional information needed to submit with the application (think resume, transcript, essay, letter of recommendation, etc.)

•Don’t forget that Easter is right around the corner! It seems weird to think about it, but we need to remember that our teens need us to think of them. To make things fun for a day. They also need to help make plans. Here is an older post I wrote for Easter and have updated for today’s times.

Easter Fun For Teens

And, here are some fun small gift ideas if you’re brain-dead like I have been lately! It’s written for stocking stuffers, but small gifts are small gifts!

Easter Basket Stuffers

•Mother’s Day is right around the corner. Here are some great gift ideas for you, your own mother or mother-in-law.

•Father’s Day gifts that teens can afford…

•My friend Jessyka Coulter has decided to host a free replay weekend of her Love to Learn series. So many parents missed out on a chance to listen my interview and the other 40 speakers. If that’s you, be sure to go to this link and sign up for the replay happening this weekend, going until Sunday, March 20 at 8 pm CST. 

•How cool is this invention by a mom in Nigeria?!

•One of my favorite things in my kitchen is my side-by-side step trash cans -one for trash and the other for recycling. Here is one that is a 2-compartment set up for your trash and whatever you want in the other!

•Old Navy is having a 40% off sale through midnight tonight.

•Here are some great spring/Easter garlands to use for the season!

•Ulta is having a sale: 50% on so many things through April 2

•And, 40% off of eyewear at Diffeyewear! Some great sunglasses just in time for summer, and I like that this company gives back to those in need…?

•See”what I read this week”  below the video!

YouTube Video -Easter Ideas for Teens

•What I am reading… I just finished Lincoln Highway by Towles, and I loved it! I told you guys that I was nerveous because I never could get into A Gentleman From Moscow by the same author. Many people loved that one, but for some reason not me. Did you read it? What did you think??

Here’s the blurb about Lincoln Highway:

In June, 1954, eighteen-year-old Emmett Watson is driven home to Nebraska by the warden of the juvenile work farm where he has just served fifteen months for involuntary manslaughter. His mother long gone, his father recently deceased, and the family farm foreclosed upon by the bank, Emmett’s intention is to pick up his eight-year-old brother, Billy, and head to California where they can start their lives anew.

But when the warden drives away, Emmett discovers that two friends from the work farm have hidden themselves in the trunk of the warden’s car. Together, they have hatched an altogether different plan for Emmett’s future, one that will take them all on a fateful journey in the opposite direction—to the City of New York.

I just started When The Apricots Bloom by Wilkinsin. Here’s its blurb:

At night, in Huda’s fragrant garden, a breeze sweeps in from the desert encircling Baghdad, rustling the leaves of her apricot trees and carrying warning of visitors at her gate. Huda, a secretary at the Australian embassy, lives in fear of the mukhabarat—the secret police who watch and listen for any scrap of information that can be used against America and its allies. They have ordered her to befriend Ally Wilson, the deputy ambassador’s wife. Huda has no wish to be an informant, but fears for her teenaged son, who may be forced to join a deadly militia. Nor does she know that Ally has dangerous secrets of her own.
 
Huda’s former friend, Rania, enjoyed a privileged upbringing as the daughter of a sheikh. Now her family’s wealth is gone, and Rania too is battling to keep her child safe and a roof over their heads. As the women’s lives intersect, their hidden pasts spill into the present. Facing possible betrayal at every turn, all three must trust in a fragile, newfound loyalty, even as they discover how much they are willing to sacrifice to protect their families. 

For non-fiction, instead of self-help this time, I chose history -which I LOVE! My mom loaned me the book, Songs of America by Jon Meacham and Tim McGraw. I love all the pictures and vignettes. Not far into this one either, so I will keep you posted! This in one you might want to actually have a physical copy to look at all the pictures, etc. This would be a great gift for anyone who loves history and/or music…

Here’s the blurb:

From “The Star-Spangled Banner” to “Born in the U.S.A.,” Jon Meacham and Tim McGraw take readers on a moving and insightful journey through eras in American history and the songs and performers that inspired us. Meacham chronicles our history, exploring the stories behind the songs, and Tim McGraw reflects on them as an artist and performer. Their perspectives combine to create a unique view of the role music has played in uniting and shaping a nation.

Beginning with the battle hymns of the revolution, and taking us through songs from the defining events of the Civil War, the fight for women’s suffrage, the two world wars, the Great Depression, the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, and into the twenty-first century, Meacham and McGraw explore the songs that defined generations, and the cultural and political climates that produced them. Readers will discover the power of music in the lives of figures such as Harriet Tubman, Franklin Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Martin Luther King, Jr., and will learn more about some of our most beloved musicians and performers, including Marian Anderson, Elvis Presley, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Duke Ellington, Carole King, Bruce Springsteen, and more.

Thanks so much for being a part of my life, I am such a fan of parents of teens -we need to stick together!

Have a great week!

❤️

Mel

PS Have you read my book? 14 conversations that will help your teen with so many things as they leave the nest for college or wherever they are going!

PPS Have you checked out my parenting course? It’s all about creating connection with your tween or teen. Simple steps to a better relationship!

(PHS) Week In Review!

How are you this week?

Parenting Wisdom

“Encourage and support your kids because children are apt to live up to what you believe of them.“ –Lady Bird Johnson

Random thoughts on a cold Saturday morning in March:

•Are you an introvert or extrovert? You might be surprised to know that some behaviors of your teen can indicate which personality type they are. I am an introvert, and boy do I wish I had known this growing up. If you knew me then, you might not have known this about me, but it explains so many things as I have learned more lately. I just thought that I was weird.

I link to a couple of really interesting posts below so that you can find out more about this. Sometimes the anxious behavior of our teens can indicate that they are an introvert, and that is okay. There are some easy ways for them to deal with their feelings!

•Have you watched The Adam Project yet? It’s on Netflix, and my youngest son and I took advantage of our snow day Friday to watch it. It was so fun to sit down and enjoy this with him! The cast is amazing! Ryan Reynolds, Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, and more! It’s sci-fi and fast moving! Great for a movie night…

•I am not a lover of this time change. I am always draggy for at least a week. Any tips for us? Please share in the comments below!

•Read on for more great info on scholarships, parenting challenge, and lots of other helpful links!

This week’s challenges, scholarships and helpful resources!

Connection Corner:

Here’s a fun one. Go to the Dollar Store and each of you spend $3-5 on each other. You can provide the money or not.

OR, create some kind of challenge (or have your teen create one) where you have to find certain items in a certain amount of time while at the store.

OR both!

Have fun!

Maybe don’t do this…

Scholarship of the Week:

Ayn Rand Essay contest

Open to all juniors and seniors in high school.

Eligibility: 8-12 grade

Awards: $25-$2000

Essay due April 28, 2022

Support My Work:

There is now a safe, quick, and easy way for you to support my work! “Buy me a coffee”

This is such a small thing, but it would help so much as I continue to research and write helpful information for you…?☕️

Thank you so much for thinking of me, and thank you so much for those who have done this!

Helpful Links:

*This post may contain affiliate links. My full disclosure policy is here.

•One of our favorite holidays is St. Patrick’s Day around here. It is mostly because of the food. I cook all green things! A pasta dish with green noodles (we aren’t fans of corned beef), green salad, and a green dessert that we call Triple Treat Pie. Because you are on my email list, I am sharing the recipe here!

•It’s time to think about summer jobs and internships for your teen. They need to get to applying. Here are more than 30 ideas for your teens.

•I have friends who love Lululemon, but I don’t love their prices. This however, is one thing that I do love from them, and it’s just the perfect size to hold all your stuff on the go!

•Rugs are not cheap, but Rugs USA is having a sale: up to 80% off, and some of their lamps are marked down as well!

•Here are some good deals on laptops: remember that your student will need a laptop for college, but check with their college to make sure that you know what is required…

•Are you an introvert or extrovert? Find out more here and here.

•Have you seen these souper cubes? They are awesome for soup or casserole leftovers. You can choose your size, I like the 1-cup for a great lunch the next day! Since they are silicone, you can just pop out your portion easily! 

•Do any of you have a kid with asthma? One of our boys had severe asthma as a small child, and then he outgrew it, only to have it recur with exercise. Here is a great article of hope for treating asthma!

•What am I reading this week? I am about halfway through Lincoln Highway by Towles. I am liking it. I love the relationship of the brothers in the story, and they are on quite an adventure…

In June, 1954, eighteen-year-old Emmett Watson is driven home to Nebraska by the warden of the juvenile work farm where he has just served fifteen months for involuntary manslaughter. His mother long gone, his father recently deceased, and the family farm foreclosed upon by the bank, Emmett’s intention is to pick up his eight-year-old brother, Billy, and head to California where they can start their lives anew. But when the warden drives away, Emmett discovers that two friends from the work farm have hidden themselves in the trunk of the warden’s car. Together, they have hatched an altogether different plan for Emmett’s future, one that will take them all on a fateful journey in the opposite direction—to the City of New York.

I have put down Atomic Habits for now. I have learned a lot, but am just too busy to get through the rest right now. Am looking for my next non-fiction book as we speak!

One I recently read and enjoyed was All My Friends Have Issues by Anderson. Amanda Anderson spoke at our latest Next Phase Parenting summit this past January, and gave such wise advice for friendships in mid-life! I will be doing a review of this book soon on YouTube.?

“…the wise and witty answers, giving practical advice and sharing personal stories to guide us toward the kinds of friendships we long for. Blending faith-based insights and psychological truths, All My Friends Have Issues is a liberating guide to finding and becoming an authentic and encouraging friend.”

•See more links below the video!

YouTube Video “Finding a part time job for teens”

•A post that gets hundreds of hits a month is this one –do you have an 18 year old?

•A couple of spring posts to read…

Gifts for your teen’s Easter basket

Dorm room or bedroom decor for spring

Timely tips for parents in March

Thanks so much for being a part of my life, I am such a fan of parents of teens -we need to stick together!

Have a great week!

❤️

Mel

PS Have you read my book? 14 conversations that will help your teen with so many things as they leave the nest for college or wherever they are going!

PPS Have you checked out my parenting course? It’s all about creating connection with your tween or teen. Simple steps to a better relationship!

(PHS) Week In Review!

How are you this week?

Parenting Wisdom

“Walking is good for solving problems -it’s like the feet are little psychiatrists.”-Terri Guillemets

Random thoughts on a cold Saturday morning in March:

•I try to keep things lighthearted and helpful here each week… However, as the war in Ukraine is entering its third week, let’s pray for all those in any wartorn country, and be careful when sending help -I have seen so many scams on the news…

•It’s the 76th anniversary of the Iron Curtain speech that Winston Churchill gave right down the road from me at Westminster College in Fulton, MO. Have you ever listened to it?

•Do you have plans for Spring Break? I am headed south to Dallas to stay with a college roommate, and I cannot wait!

This week’s challenges, scholarships and helpful resources!

Connection Corner:

Take a walk. If you have a dog, use that as an excuse if you need to. A walk can be a great way to talk with your teen. Since you can both be looking ahead, there is no need for eye contact except occasionally. This helps your teen to open up a little more. 

Plus, getting out into the fresh air and getting a little bit of exercise is good for us all! *This post may contain affiliate links. My full disclosure policy is here.

Scholarship of the Week:

Key Thinkers Award -Due March 31

Particulars:

• $1000 award
• Offered twice a year
• Open to full-time students at a post-secondary institution (An accredited college, university, or trade school, in the United States.)
• College-bound high school seniors may also apply
• Students must be at least 18
• G.P.A. requirement is 3.0 and above
• Open to students in all majors
• NO financial need requirement
• NO letters of recommendation required

Support My Work:

There is now a safe, quick, and easy way for you to support my work! “Buy me a  coffee” This is such a small thing, but it would help so much as I continue to research and write helpful information for you…?☕️

Thank you so much for thinking of me!

Helpful Links:

•Special Alert!

I wanted to share this awesome training with you. It’s from my friend Jocelyn Paonita who secured over $126,000 in scholarships and has had her students secure over $3.5 million in scholarships. Crazy, right?

How has she helped students do the same thing? By teaching them her 6-step process called The Scholarship System.

She is holding a FREE webinar training on the 6-steps in her process so I thought I would share it with you. If you have a child that is in high school or college, you won’t want to miss it. It could be worth tens of thousands of dollars for your family.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

•Does your teen like to freshen their bedroom seasonally? I wrote this post for a dorm room in spring, but it would work for a bedroom as well!

•What I’m reading… I flew through One Night Gone by Laskowski! It was creepy, but I was still able to sleep at night, so the perfect balance. 

It was the perfect place to disappear…

One sultry summer, Maureen Haddaway arrives in the wealthy town of Opal Beach to start her life anew—to achieve her destiny. There, she finds herself lured by the promise of friendship, love, starry skies, and wild parties. But Maureen’s new life just might be too good to be true, and before the summer is up, she vanishes.

Decades later, when Allison Simpson is offered the opportunity to house-sit in Opal Beach during the off-season, it seems like the perfect chance to begin fresh after a messy divorce. But when she becomes drawn into the mysterious disappearance of a girl thirty years before, Allison realizes the gorgeous homes of Opal Beach hide dark secrets. And the truth of that long-ago summer is not even the most shocking part of all..

I’m getting close to finishing Atomic Habits…

I have just started Lincoln Highway by Towles. I am cautiously optimistic… I did not like A Gentleman From Moscow also by Towles, which everyone raved about, so I am hoping I like this book better. Here is a quick synopsis of Lincoln Highway.

In June, 1954, eighteen-year-old Emmett Watson is driven home to Nebraska by the warden of the juvenile work farm where he has just served fifteen months for involuntary manslaughter. His mother long gone, his father recently deceased, and the family farm foreclosed upon by the bank, Emmett’s intention is to pick up his eight-year-old brother, Billy, and head to California where they can start their lives anew.

But when the warden drives away, Emmett discovers that two friends from the work farm have hidden themselves in the trunk of the warden’s car. Together, they have hatched an altogether different plan for Emmett’s future, one that will take them all on a fateful journey in the opposite direction—to the City of New York.

•How in the world did this teen do this on a pogo stick??

•These homeopathic patches are formulated with micro-doses of diluted essences from plants, minerals, and natural ingredients—and are made in the USA. GoPatch, offers a money-back guarantee if it doesn’t work. But, the testimonials from customers speak loudly that there is something at work here. I mentioned the patch for menstrual cramps last week. There are so many more, including one for stress relief!

•Have you seen these two minutes on Wheel of Fortune? As a former teacher of language arts, it was very painful for me to watch…

•I love these muted-colored hoodies for St. Pat’s!

•Here are the cutest little charcuterie sticks for a get-together or even a “snacky dinner” as my boys used to say when I threw crackers, cheese and cut-up fruit at them after a long day…

•Minted is having a spring sale: 15% off Site wide (excluding Fine Art) with code SPRING22

•DSW has great deals for up to 40% off until March 6

•Adidas is 50% off accessories for a limited time

•Backcountry is up to 60% off winter clearance-its a great time to stock up!

•See more links below the video!

YouTube video all about Demonstrated Interest -this will help with college applications!

•Do you have a senior? Here are some posts that will be helpful…

The Best Books to Give At Graduation: 29 Great Choices

Inquiring Minds Want to Know: “What Are the Best High School Graduation Gifts”

Do you have an 18 year old? What you need to know legally…

15 Bible Verses to Encourage High School Seniors

•Does your teen have grit? This is such an important life skill!

Thanks so much for being a part of my life, I am such a fan of parents of teens -we need to stick together!

Have a great week!

❤️

Mel

(PHS) Week In Review!

How are you this week?

Parenting Wisdom

“The memories we make with our family is everything.” –Candace Cameron Bure

What have you done lately as a family to make a memory? I know that I get caught up in my stuff, and forget to intentionally plan something. Even a meal with a fun dessert counts if you let everyone know, and they can all be there!

I sort of dropped the ball on Valentine’s Day, but we had a great 5 day weekend a couple of weeks ago because of bad weather, and we just had another 5 day weekend because of storms again.

We binged a couple of shows, and the boys had requested taco soup for dinner when it snowed -which they got!

Random thoughts on a cold Sunday morning in February:

•We had an unexpected snow day this week on top of a four day weekend for President’s Day. The snow was beautiful, but came after a pretty thick layer of sleet and ice, so we stayed in. Have you read The Giver? My son had to read it for class, so then we watched the movie. It was a fun afternoon activity with popcorn!

•Remember that if you have a high school junior, this semester is the last one they will be able to use for their cumulative GPA on college applications. They can update their application over their senior holiday break, and then again at graduation time. But, for the original application process, the end-of-year junior GPA is what is used…

•My son goes for his Eagle Board of Review this Tuesday night! Please send good vibes his way. We are so proud of him!?

•Read on for more great info on scholarships, parenting challenge, and lots of other helpful links!

This week’s challenges, scholarships and helpful resources!

*This post may contain affiliate links. My full disclosure policy is here.

Connection Corner:

A favorite blog post that I have written is How Schitt’s Creek Saved My Family During the Days of Covid. This was a fun post to write because my boys helped me with all of it. We had so much fun! I give a list of other possible programs -in the blog post -that might be a great bonding experience as well. 

Find a show that your family can enjoy together at least one night a week. This can be a lot of fun! Make some popcorn, and enjoy your teen!

Scholarship of the Week:

$$$ Isn’t Everything Scholarship 

Due date: February 28, 2022

Award amount: $550

You will need to set up an application profile. There may be other information needed.

**There are lots of other scholarships on this website, so check it out!

Support My Work:

There is now a safe, quick, and easy way for you to support my work! “Buy me an ice cream”

This is such a small thing, but it would help so much as I continue to research and write helpful information for you…??

Thank you so much for thinking of me!

Helpful Links:

•I will be speaking in an upcoming online summit, Love to Learn for parents of teens. This free summit will help parents of teens understand why their teens aren’t enjoying learning. More than 25 speakers will come together with winning solutions to help with this problem, as well as other school issues!

Sign up here for the FREE Love To Learn Online Summit!

•Here are this year’s Common App Essay Prompts! Get started now crafting an amazing essay! For younger students, these would be good to practice on for scholarship essays!?

•Are you struggling with your teen? Here are 5 communication tips to try!

•Do you ever cook sheetpan meals? Here are 14 easy recipes to try! Hint: these are a great things for teens to learn how to do.

•Is your teen looking for a job? Here are 41 online opportunities vetted by a gal that I follow with online job opportunities for anyone in various fields: online delivery, reward sites, Fiverr, and so many more! Check out her post here.

•Okay, this Baby Yoda toothpaste dispenser cracked my son up! It popped up in my feed, and I showed him because we love The Mandalorian! I love Baby Yoda!

•What I’m reading… I just finished The Rules of Magic, and I enjoyed it just as much as Magic Lessons . Love a random snow day to read! I just started Beyond the Crashing Waves by Mirren, and it sucked me right in, so I will keep you posted..

One book that I have been reading in my car that I just finished and loved is Sour Dough by Sloan -here is the description: Lois is no baker, but she could use a roommate, even if it is a needy colony of microorganisms. Soon, not only is she eating her own homemade bread, she’s providing loaves to the General Dexterity cafeteria every day. Then the company chef urges her to take her product to the farmer’s market―and a whole new world opens up.

And, of course, I am still reading Atomic Habits by Clear. I really do like it, but I prefer fiction, so I am only reading this in bits and pieces -it’s so interesting!

•Do you have a teen who is a junior in high school? Have they spoken with their history teacher about Boy’s or Girl’s State? This is an awesome program available in all states except Hawaii, and is an amazing opportunity for young leaders. This is a great addition to a student’s resume!

Many times, all it takes is a conversation or a question to their teacher to get a recommendation… ( I know the application is due March 1 for Missouri, so check soon!)

•Love these shackets! Great colors! Take an EXTRA 20% off the sale price with code LOVEYOU…

•Upcoming FREE online summit for parents to end homework hassle with your student! I read this gal’s book How To Do It Now, and it was wonderful! It’s geared towards ADHD students, but all info is applicable… March 8

•Midterms are probably looming for your students in high school and college! This post is geared towards finals, but would also work for midterms, chock full of fun ways to support your kiddo.?

•Have you watched Sweet Magnolias on Netflix? Season 2 just started, and I am going to binge watch over the weekend because I loved season 1! Here is a link to the trailer.

•See more links below the video!

YouTube Video -where and how to look for scholarships… It’s easier than you think!

•A post that gets hundreds of hits a month is this one –do you have an 18 year old?

•Are you starting to think about outfitting a new kitchen for your college student? Here are some things to think about.

Thanks so much for being a part of my life, I am such a fan of parents of teens -we need to stick together!

Have a great week!

❤️

Mel