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Single parents often try to be both father and mother to their children. The other parent may be out of the picture due to many reasons, such as military deployment, divorce, or death. But no matter what the reason, it’s important for single parents to learn to manage their time wisely. If you are a single parent, these five time management strategies may help you get more time for your children and for yourself.
Create a central calendar
Think about the activities you and your children are involved in that require you to be out of the home. Placing these items on a central calendar that can be viewed by everyone will help you know when you have to take the children for practices or to visit their other parent if you are divorced.
You may want to use color coding to make your calendar more functional. By assigning each person a color, everyone will be able to see when activities are planned and whether there is room to add another. Having a central calendar will also help you learn to say no when you simply can’t fit anything else in your day.
Ask for help
You’re only one person so don’t feel bad if you have to ask for help. If the ex-spouse is involved in your children’s life, be sure they are helping when necessary. You can also ask from help from the grandparents, aunts and uncles, or friends if there are two activities planned for the same time. You can’t be in two places at once, so you’ll need help if you don’t want to let one child’s activity slide.
Do your best to be organized
Besides having a central family calendar, it helps to be organized in your home so you can easily find items that are needed. If your child is always losing their homework, designate a special place for their book bag at the end of the day. Then go through their assignments to ensure they’re done and returned to the book bag before your child retires.
Having an in-box for papers you need to sign for your child will also help you be more organized. You can also immediately transfer any important dates onto the family calendar so you don’t forget about them.
Delegate to others
Your children may be without one of their parents but that doesn’t give them a free pass for helping around the house. Asking and expecting your children to help you may seem like two totally different things, but it’s important for your children to pitch in with household chores. Not only will they help you, which will make you less stressed, but they’ll also be learning life skills they’ll need when they strike out on their own.
Learn to say no
This one tip, saying “no,” may seem like an obvious time management tip you can follow as a single parent. However, many single parents have a hard time telling anyone no, especially their children. You’re not doing anyone any favors by saying “yes” to every request, though; in fact, you’re doing yourself a huge disservice. You’re allowing all of your time dictated when you need time to take care of your own needs as well.
No one doubts that single parents have a more difficult time than dual parent homes. These five time management strategies for single parents can be used with good results. Not only will you be more organized, you’ll also be able to take much-needed time to meet your own needs as well as those of your children.
Christmas is the time of traditions and crafts. From pipe cleaner candy canes to making and decorating gingerbread houses, there is no time like Christmas for crafting. Whether you have yearly holiday traditions already in place at your house or are looking for ways to start a new tradition, you’ve come to the right place.
One tradition that many households celebrate during the holidays is decorating the Christmas tree. Usually putting up decorations and adorning the tree with lights, garland and ornaments that hold special memories is an affair the entire family participates in. So, if you love to craft and your family is one that makes an entire day out of decking the halls, read on for a way to combine the two loves this year.
Crafting your Christmas tree can be done a few different ways.
1. Use crafts from years past
2. Make new crafts for the tree
3. Creating themes with crafts every year
Using Crafts from Years Gone By
One way you can craft your tree this year is to gather all the goodies your family has made in previous years. A few such times might include those made from by the kids when they were in elementary school, during rainy days that meant crafting the afternoon away or any other times when crafts were made within the family.
Make New Crafts Just for the Christmas Tree
If you don’t have crafts from year’s past, make some new ones. Take an afternoon and spend it making crafts especially for this year’s tree. You can find craft kits with Christmas themed items at your local craft or dollar store or you can make your own from every day items around the house. It doesn’t even have to be Christmas type crafts. Whatever your family wants to make, let them go for it, then decorate your tree with pride – even if it is with finger paints and paper airplanes. Let the kids choose crafts that show their interests. If your daughter likes Hannah Montana and your son likes aliens, it’s ok; this tree is all about combining the differences in family into one loving and unique tree.
Create a Yearly Theme for Your Christmas Craft Tree
Want to make crafting your tree an annual tradition that changes a bit every year so no one gets bored with the same decorations year after year? Pick a theme for your tree and make crafts that fit the theme. Here are a few examples of themes you could use:
Snowmen – Create snowmen from all kinds of things like foam, cotton balls, construction paper, etc. Make a big snowman dressed to the hilt with his broom and top hat to place on the top.
Tree of Garland – You can create garland out of almost anything. Popcorn, construction paper chains, beads, ribbons, string are all great ideas. You can even create a charm garland by taking a piece of string and attaching various crafts or trinkets from the year past.
Color Schemes – Pink & Purple, Red & Green, Blue & Silver, or Gold & Silver, whatever colors your heart desires. Choose two or three colors at most to keep from going over board. You can add bows, ribbons, or any other decoration you’d like as long as it keeps the color scheme.
Baby – Got a baby celebrating their first Christmas this year or expecting your first child? Decorate your tree with craft items that resemble baby bottles, teething rings, rattles, etc.
These are just a few of the many ways you can craft your Christmas tree this year. Get creative and think of some of your own too. Make a day out of decorating your tree this year and for years to come by making some cookies the day before and sipping on some hot chocolate throughout the day. Don’t forget the Christmas carols playing in the background. No holiday decorating is complete without your favorite songs to sing along with.
The last thing any holiday cooks want to do is walk around the kitchen and find out that they are missing a vital item they need to finish a meal in fantastic fashion. Undoubtedly it has happened to you at least once. Be sure it doesn’t happen again with this pantry staple list for the holidays.
Each holiday, most of us prepare the same things. There are favorite family dishes that must be prepared or Aunt Minnie will have a fit. That goes for desserts as well. Since you know this in advance, let’s make sure that the kitchen cupboards are stocked with the items you use the most.
The pantry list includes items for the fridge, cupboard and the freezer. Let’s begin with the cupboard:
This is just a short list. Depending on your tastes, you’ll add or detract from it depending on your tastes. Now we move on to the fridge. Some items just need to stay in there to stay fresh. To know your refrigerated pantry staples, think of things that you are always sending someone to the store for.
• Milk
• Butter (not margarine)
• Sour cream
• Eggs
• Lemon juice
• Half and half
This list is shorter because you use these items more when you cook and bake around the holidays than any other time. The broth from the other list will end up in the fridge after you open it.
Don’t forget the freezer. Most of the freezer staples come into play with baking but they can pertain to cooking the meal if you make fruit relishes, cranberry sauce from scratch and other condiment additions to your holiday table.
• Frozen fruit (berry mix, peaches)
• Frozen vegetables (to make up for any shortfall with fresh veggie side dishes)
• Fruit juices from concentrate
As you can see, there are a lot of staples that you’ll need when cooking and baking for the holidays. You don’t necessarily have to account for every family member who darkens your door. If your list includes at least these items you are well on your way to a well-stocked holiday pantry.
If you are like many other individuals, you enjoy Christmas. With Christmas comes gifts’, spending time with family, and Christmas decorations. While everyone loves to get Christmas gifts and spend time with their family, there are others who are most excited about decorating for Christmas. In a way, putting up Christmas decorations symbolizes the upcoming Christmas holiday. Perhaps, that is one of the reasons why decorating for Christmas is enjoyed by so many.
When it comes to decorating for Christmas, different individuals use different methods. Perhaps, the most popular method is buying Christmas decorations from the store and then hanging them or displaying them in the home. In addition to buying store bought decorations, there are other individuals who make their own Christmas decorations and then hang or display them. If you are preparing to decorate your home for Christmas, you may be wondering which decorating method you should use. Honestly, the decision is yours to make; however, you will find that each method has a number of advantages and disadvantages.
As previously mentioned, one of the most popular ways that most individuals choose to decorate their homes for Christmas is by purchasing store bought decorations. These store bought decorations can include items such as a Christmas tree, Christmas lights, Christmas tree ornaments, Christmas lawn decorations, and Christmas kitchenware. Perhaps, the wide variety of different decorations that can be purchased online or from a storefront retail location is the greatest benefit to buying your decorations. While it is possible to make your own Christmas lights or Christmas kitchenware, it is time consuming and you need to have special skills to do so.
In addition to the selection of Christmas decorations that you have to choose form, when buying store bought Christmas decorations, you will also find that buying pre-made Christmas decorations saves time. Shopping online is the best way to save time, when buying Christmas decorations, but you can also save time by buying your Christmas decorations from one of your local retail stores. As nice as it may be to make your own Christmas decorations, it is a time consuming task, especially if you have never made your own Christmas decorations before.
So far, it may seem as if you can benefit the most from buying store bought Christmas decorations, but it is important to note that you can also benefit from making your own decorations. Perhaps, the greatest advantage to making your own Christmas decorations is that you can make what you want. Since you know every inch of your home, you likely know what will look good in one area and what will look good in another. If you are looking for a particular Christmas decoration, such as a Christmas painting, and you are unable to find it, you may be able to make your own. While it will take some skill and time, it is almost always worth it to get exactly what you want.
Another advantage to making your own Christmas decorations is that, as previously mentioned, you can make whatever you want, however you want to. When most of us think of homemade Christmas decorations, we tend to think of decorations that were created from scratch. The reality is that you can make your own decorations with existing Christmas decorations or traditional craft items, if you want to. For instance, you can easily make your own Christmas table centerpiece by using a glass bowl or large candleholder, artificial flowers, sand, or even Christmas lights. Despite the fact that you did not make each piece of the decoration yourself, you altered it enough whereas it can be considered a homemade Christmas decoration.
The overall goal of decorating for Christmas is to bring the Christmas spirit into your home. In all reality, that is the most important thing. It really shouldn’t matter whether you choose to make your own Christmas decorations or buy them; the same goal will be accomplished.
Christmas ornaments made from ordinary pipe cleaners and inexpensive acrylic beads are very pretty and easy to make. They look quite impressive yet are easy enough for small children to make. This is a nice Christmas craft idea to use again and again. Older people and kids will enjoy making these Christmas crafts, too, which can be varied to make a number of different sparkling ornaments for your Christmas tree.
To make the bead and pipe cleaner ornaments, you need common pipe cleaners in desired colors and acrylic beads. Two types of beads are particularly effective when strung on pipe cleaners. One type are called sunburst beads, but are also known as paddlewheel beads, snowflake beads, or starburst beads. These beads have six faceted paddles spaced equally around a center that contains the hole for stringing. When several of these sunburst beads are strung consecutively, they fit against each other in an interlocking pattern.
The other type of bead that is also effective for this Christmas craft is called the tri bead or propeller bead. It has three rounded bumps arranged around the stringing hole. Like the sunburst beads, the tri beads interlock when strung consecutively. For the most sparkly and attractive Christmas ornaments, get tri beads and/or sunburst beads in translucent colors of red, green, and clear. The tri beads can also be found in metallic gold and silver which can be used in these Christmas crafts as well.
Pipe cleaners can be found in silver and gold tinsel as well as chenille of all colors. For the Christmas craft, the best colors to use are the metallics and Christmas colors. The beads cover the pipe cleaners, but the ends will need to be twisted together and made into hangers, so they show.
Anyone, even small children, can string these beads on pipe cleaners. Bend up the end of the pipe cleaner so the beads don’t fall off. The pipe cleaner works like a needle, making a needle unnecessary. For best results, show the children how to alternate colors when stringing, or start a pattern of three colors. When the beads are strung on the pipe cleaners, they can be bent into different Christmas shapes. For instance, string red and clear beads alternately, then bend down one end of the pipe cleaner for a candy cane shape. Or alternate red and green beads and form a circle for a wreath. Use red pipe cleaner to form a small bow to decorate the wreath. Form a hanger for these Christmas crafts or simply slip the circle over a branch of the tree.
If you experiment with clear beads and silver pipe cleaners, you can make some beautiful snowflake or star ornaments. Snowflake designs can be twisted of silver pipe cleaner only, without the beads for a simple but pretty decoration.
Bead and pipe cleaner ornaments are a Christmas craft you will find yourself using every year. Children and their parents will both appreciate this simple yet pretty Christmas crafts.
Instantly triple your closet space with the amazing Wonder Hanger. Sold in a set of eight, each of these fantastic Wonder Hangers holders fits five wood, metal, or plastic hangers, for a total of 40 shirts in the space of eight. Strong enough to hold five winter coats, this hanger holder is also perfect for purses and so much more.
Ultimate space saver for any size closet. Maximize and organize closet space and enjoy neat wrinkle-free clothing as a result. Wonder Hanger hangs horizontally or vertically and is strong enough to hold five winter coats of about 20 lbs. Holds wood, metal, or plastic hangers. Set of eight Wonder Hangers holds up to 40 garments. Poly hangers are approx. 9.75′ x 1′ x .25′.
