My kids go back to school in just two weeks! As we’ve been busy getting school supplies, clothes, and other necessities, I have been thinking a lot about the routines I want to set for my family as school begins again. I don’t know about you, but I feel like as my kids get older and involved in more activities, school time becomes a really busy time of year for us. The moments where we are all together at home as a family become fewer and fewer, so I want to take advantage of the time my kiddos are here with me. I came across a quote at church last week about the role of mothers, and it has really stuck with me:
“Whenever possible, be at the crossroads when your children are either coming or going—when they leave and return from school, when they leave or return from dates, when they bring friends home. Be there at the crossroads whether your children are 6 or 16.”
What a simple but powerful concept! Let’s be at the crossroads for our kids.
When they are leaving for the school, I always try to send my kids off with a hug and “I love you” (even though some mornings I’m likely to be throwing lunch in their backpack and looking for a lost shoe at the same time!) One area I would like to improve on this year is to create a meaningful moment with my boys when they come home from school. For kids, this is such an important way for them to feel loved and connected to you as they are arriving home from a long day. Here are some tips for making that time count:
1. Be the first person they see when they come through the door. When your kids come home, try to make an effort to be near the front door so they will see that you are there waiting and excited to see them. Also, give them a big smile! When a child sees their parent’s face light up at the sight of them, it does amazing things!
2. Make them feel special! I love something a friend of mine, Kristen, does with her kids. She says she likes to make them feel like a celebrity when she greets them after school. This helps your kids to know you missed them and are excited to have them back home. It also helps to build their self esteem and confidence.
3. Have a snack ready so you can have time to talk and eat together. This is a great way to get your kids to open up about their day. And having two boys in school all day, I know that they will always come home hungry and thirsty!
What are some of your favorite, go-to snacks for your kids when they’re coming or going? I try to fill them up with something healthy and refreshing first because I know that will reduce the chances of them wandering back to the snack cupboard for chips or granola bars later in the day. My kids love fruit so I try to have some fresh fruit and something else to go with it… string cheese, nuts, or something with protein. Here’s my problem though… my kids have a sweet tooth. So I am constantly trying to disguise the healthy foods as something that they like.
One of their favorite all time treats is chocolate milk. It’s pretty rare in our house and something they are constantly begging for, but I just can’t justify buying it knowing that it’s loaded with sugar. I was a little skeptical when I heard about the non-dairy milk alternatives that are actually much healthier, like almond milk. Well, I just tried a new Silk product that my entire family loves! Chocolate Silk Cashewmilk!
I love that the Silk Cashewmilk is a non-dairy alternative, but still has all the creaminess and delicious taste of chocolate milk! Just so you know, I usually like my kids to eat pretty healthy, but we do have a special tradition for the first day of school… homemade chocolate chip cookies! My mom is the best cook, and she is known for her ability to whip up a batch of chocolate chip cookies on a commercial break. Sometimes she’d surprise us with her homemade cookies after school and it has been something I want to continue as a tradition with my family.
My kids were excited to see chocolate milk in the fridge to go with the cookies, so I poured them a mug and wanted to see their true reaction to the Cashewmilk…
This one wouldn’t even put his cup down, he just gave me a thumbs up as he kept chugging his chocolate Cashewmilk!
Here’s my oldest going for seconds… and he’s the one who doesn’t like nuts! Definite mom win.
Okay, so here is my honest take on our first time trying a non-dairy milk product. It was SO much better than I expected. Honestly, I liked it better than the chocolate milk we get at our local grocery store. And my kids loved it!! I will never go back to buying them regular chocolate milk again. I also found out that there are other flavors of Cashewmilk — Original, Unsweetened, and Vanilla. We may have to try them all!
If you have family members with dietary restrictions, it is perfect for them too. The Silk products are all lactose and dairy-free, cholesterol-free, and free of gluten, casein, peanuts, egg, and MSG. Wow, that is pretty amazing. And as a budget-conscious mom, I love that it’s so affordable. A regular gallon of chocolate milk usually runs us between $5 – $6.50, and I was able to get this half gallon carton for $3.00! I will never go back!
You can find a product coupon, and delicious cashewmilk recipes here.
I am so grateful for the chance I have to be my kids’ mom, and to share in moments like this with them.
As we begin a new school year, I hope you’ll take the time to be at the crossroads for your kids. It’s so worth it.
This conversation is sponsored by Silk. The opinions and text are all mine.
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