Gratitude & Thankfulness: It’s a way of life!

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Happy Thanksgiving, Boulder Families! On this day we think about what we are grateful for and share our blessings with others [If we are lucky and not just trying to get through the day because there are so many things to do and get ready]. I want to share with Boulder Families one of my favorite parenting guides/supports–The Daily Groove. This brilliant nugget of wisdom shows up magically in my In-Box every day. I read it–most days. I connect to it. I love the daily reminders to trust myself, listen to my instincts, relax, enjoy parenting, and honor my relationships. I will leave you today with a Daily Groove.

For a practical way of increasing gratitude check out my post on Thankfulness Trees.

:: A Post-Modern Thanksgiving ::

Transforming your life experience (including
parenting) from a *grind* to a *groove* leads
to a peculiar realization:

It’s all GOOD… even the “bad” stuff!

There are hidden blessings in *every* situation.
You may not see some of those blessings for quite
some time — perhaps years — but who’s to say you
can’t enjoy them before you know what they are?
Don’t you enjoy receiving a gift even before you’ve
unwrapped it? 🙂

So if you’re celebrating Thanksgiving today, try
giving thanks for things that don’t normally
garner your gratitude:

* Your child’s crying, whining, aggression, etc.

* The person who judged or criticized your
parenting.

* That thing you said or did to your child
that you promised you never would.

Allow yourself to appreciate that LIFE IS GOOD…
*all* of it! Acknowledge the gift of *shadows*,
without which the Light would have no depth.

Have fun!

http://dailygroove.net/thanksgiving

BVSD Open Enrollment Time Is Here!

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Open Enrollment. These two words bring strong emotions to the parents of Boulder. For some who chose to enroll their kids in their neighborhood school, open enrollment in the Boulder Valley School District [BVSD] is not a big deal. Phew! For the 40% of us who do open enroll our children it can be stressful.

So what is open enrollment in BVSD? Any child can go to any school based on availability by entering their child into the lottery system called, Open Enrollment. All families in BVSD can look at all schools to see which one seems to meet their child[ren]’s needs best. There are many choices [charter schools, focus schools, and neighborhood schools] and each has it’s benefits and drawbacks. But ultimately many of us choose to open enroll our children to try and find the best fit. For more details on open enrollment click here.

There are two main types of BVSD schools:

1. Neighborhood Schools: These are the schools that are designated for your neighborhood. Your child can always get into these schools if you live within the boundaries. You DO NOT need to open enroll to these schools if you are in the neighborhood, but you CAN if you want your child to go to the school, but you are not in the designated boundary.

2. Focus/Charter Schools: These are open enrollment schools that serve ALL of BVSD. There are NO designated neighborhood boundaries for Focus and Charter schools. You MUST open enroll to these schools. 

To help you visualize the open enrollment process here is the BVDS open enrollment flow chart:

For Boulder Families with younger children there are a few schools that have open enrollment options for preschool, such as Community Montessori. For these schools, open enrolling at preschool age is the best way to secure a slot for your child. So even if your child is too young for elementary schools, taking a look at the open enrollment process can be really helpful.

Open enrollment happens for a limited time. You MUST apply to open enroll your child between November 26, 2012 and January 18, 2013. For more details on the dates click here. To get an open enrollment application head to the BVSD website starting November 26, 2012. Good luck to everyone open enrolling a child this year!

Boulder Family Events: November 16 to November 22, 2012

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Special Events This Week: FREE Days at Denver Zoo & Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Downtown Boulder Ice Rink Opens, Pearl Street Stampede, Children’s Film Series at the Dairy Center, Family Dance Planet, and Switch on the Lights Downtown

Friday, November 16

Saturday, November 17

  • Butterfly Pavilion $5 admission day
  • Best of the NY International Children’s Film Festival at The Dairy Center. Short subjects selected as the best in kids movies not cooked in the cauldron of Hollywood’s big studios. Kid Flix Mix (60 min) is ideal for ages 4-8. Party Mix (68 min) is for ages 8-18, entertaining while highlighting the diversity, yet commonality of the human family. 1:00pm Kid Flix Mix – 2:30pm Party Mix
  • Family Dance Planet. Join other Boulder families to dance and explore movement at this ongoing event. Every 3rd Saturday. Costs. All ages. Avalon Ballroom. 10 to Noon.
  • French/English Storytime. Join this great bilingual reading. Free. 10:15 to 11:00am
  • Boulder Farmer’s Market. 8:00 to 2:00pm. 13th Street between Arapahoe & Canyon Blvd. Great opportunity for families to purchase locally grown produce, eat delicious food, listen to live music and so much more! A Boulder kids’ favorite.
  • Boulder Museum of Contemporary Arts [BMOCA] Check out Art Stop which provides FREE guided art activities for kids on Saturdays during the Farmer’s Market. I have heard that they have a space where you can throw a cup at the wall. Kids love it! 8:00am to 2:00pm. All ages

Sunday, November 18

  • Switch on the Holidays 5:00pm 1300 block of Pearl Street. Downtown Boulder.
  • Nature For Kids & Parents: Gobble, Gobble. Join OSMP to play a game of “Follow the Turkey Leader”. Learn the many terrific facts about wild turkeys and how they are different than domesticated turkeys! Make wild turkey hats, play games, learn a song and strut in the woods. Chautauqua Ranger Cottage. Ages 6+. Free. 1 to 3pm.
  • Go Club for Kids & Teens at the Main Boulder Library. 2:00 to 5:30pm. Ages 5 and up. Free. “Learn to play the ancient and mysterious game of Go.”

Monday, November 19

Tuesday, November 20

Wednesday, November 21

Thursday, November 22

Upcoming Family Events:
November 23: St. Nick on the Bricks 11:00am to 2:00pm at 1301 Pearl Street
December 1:
  • Lights of December Parade 6:00pm Downtown Boulder

  • CU Wizards: Bio Chem for Kids! 9:30am on campus

December 5: Boulder Children’s Author Kerry MacLean will read Pigs Over Boulder 2 at the Boulder Bookstore

Please let me know of any upcoming events that should be listed here. I am happy to include your free, low cost or unusual event in Boulder Family listing of weekly events. You can reach me at Boulder4Families@gmail.com or visit us on Facebook.
#families #free #Boulder #events #boulderfamilies #getoutside #October #November

Thankful Tree: A Simple Way to Help Our Families Experience Gratitude

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My friend offered a suggestion of how to increase gratitude in our families. I love it so much I need to share with all you Boulder Families! I posted recently about a lecture I attended on the Friends’ School Year Long Gratitude Project, but here I am again coming back to the concept. Maybe it is just that it is November and Thanksgiving is just around the corner. But it could just be that I so need the reminder to have gratitude. With all the amazing things in my life I still get overwhelmed and feel like the world is a heavy burden instead of seeing the joy in my life.  Here is a simple way to increase our gratitude on a regular basis: Create a Thankful Tree!

To create your Thankful/Grateful/Gratitude Tree you simply need to find a location in your home where you can put it up. This needs to be a sold vertical space. You need to find some brown paper [could be grocery bags, stuffing from a package, etc…], and twist it into a tree shape with branches and all. Then you cut out some leaves in whatever colors you like. My friend used the same colors, but varied the shapes. This is your creative process!

Then every evening the whole family can add something they are grateful for. In the beginning smaller children will have a tough time coming up with anything. Plan to do some role modeling until they get it. For small children they can draw instead of write or you can be their scribe. It does not matter how it gets on the leaves, it’s the gratitude that matters most.

Another friend took her kids [my son too] one morning to buy breakfast sandwiches and hand them out to the homeless people at the Boulder Public Library. It was a cool morning and at first the kids were nervous, but then they started in their own way to take part in sharing their bounty with others. They were able to see how a small act of kindness can go a long way. They were also able in the smallest way to see how much they have to be grateful for.

I would love to hear how your families offer gratitude and build it in as a value in your lives. It seems so important and yet at times tough to slow down enough to really feel gratitude deeply.

Boulder Family Events: November 9 to November 15, 2012

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A Little Lending Library

Special Events This Week: Fossil Family Day, CU Wizards, Bach for Kids, FamilySong Storytime at the library, Bilingual English/Spanish and English/French Storytime @ the Boulder Library

Friday, November 9

Saturday, November 10

  • CU Museum of Natural History; Fossil Family Day: My What Big Teeth You Have!
  • CU Wizards Whispers and Bangs!
  • Bach for Kids at the WOW Museum. An engaging program for kids of all ages and the whole family features a Boulder Bach Festival trio consisting of violin, flute, and cello performing Bach’s music to illustrate harmony, melody, and polyphony. The audience participates in the program. Free. All ages. 11:00am.
  • Saturday Storytime at the Main Boulder Library. Free. 10:15am.
  • FamilySong Storytime at George Reynolds Branch library [11:00am] and Meadows Branch Library [3:00pm]. Free. All ages.
  • Boulder Farmer’s Market.  8:00 to 2:00pm. 13th Street between Arapahoe & Canyon Blvd. Great opportunity for families to purchase locally grown produce, eat delicious food, listen to live music and so much more! A Boulder kids’ favorite.
  • Boulder Museum of Contemporary Arts [BMOCA] Check out Art Stop which provides FREE guided art activities for kids on Saturdays during the Farmer’s Market. I have heard that they have a space where you can throw a cup at the wall. Kids love it! 8:00am to 2:00pm. All ages

Sunday, November 11

  • Go Club for Kids & Teens at the Main Boulder Library. 2:00 to 5:30pm. Ages 5 and up. Free. “Learn to play the ancient and mysterious game of Go.”

Monday, November 12

Tuesday, November 13

Wednesday, November 14

Thursday, November 15

  • Musical Storytime with Alice and Melanie. Head to the Main Boulder Library for an interactive music and story experience. Free. All ages. 10:15am
  • Storytime at the Main Boulder Library. Free. 10:15 to 11:30am.
  • Toddler Time @ Main Boulder Library. Toddlers (18-36 months) and caregivers explore language and books in a fun and intimate setting. Programs include rhymes, songs and books as well as time for free play and informal discussion of early childhood development. Attendance limited to toddlers up to 36 months of age; no older children please. Free. 10:15 to 11:30am.
  • Parents with Infants Support Group at Parenting Place. Free. Newborn to 9 mos. 10:30 to Noon.
  • Girls Night Out to benefit Parenting Place. Get a group of your girlfriends together to shop and eat for a great cause. Purchase ticket ahead of time by clicking here.
Upcoming Family Events:
November 16:
November 17: $5 admission day at the Butterfly Pavillion
November 18: Switch on the Holidays 5:00pm 1300 block of Pearl Street
November 19: FREE Day at the Denver Zoo
November 23: St. Nick on the Bricks 11:00am to 2:00pm at 1301 Pearl Street
December 1: Lights of December Parade 6:00pm Downtown Boulder
Please let me know of any upcoming events that should be listed here. I am happy to include your free, low cost or unusual event in Boulder Family listing of weekly events. You can reach me at Boulder4Families@gmail.com or visit us on Facebook.
#families #free #Boulder #events #boulderfamilies #getoutside #November 

Small Business Saturday: Check out this promotion and save big!

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American Express is holding their annual Small Business Saturday on November 24, 2012. Why should Boulder Families care? This is a really great opportunity to support local businesses, but it is also a fantastic way for families to save a lot! On November 24th when you spend at least $25 at participating local businesses using your American Express card you will get a $25 statement credit. This rocks!

There are a few things you need to do to get ready for this money saving event:

1. Register your Amex card[s] on November 18th. They say their is limited registration so I would actually get online and register as early on the 18th as possible. Don’t forget to register ALL of your cards with unique numbers because you can get the credit for each of these. For the registration site click here.

2. Research your favorite local stores to see if they will be participating. To do your research you can click here to see their Shop Small Map. You can search by city OR you can search by name. The name search may give you more than the general search.

3. Shop on 11/24. The best part is you support those stores because they keep the revenue, yet you get a credit. You have to spend at least $25. Consider spending on both of your cards to maximize your statement credit. Think of holiday gifts for teachers, family, friends, kids, neighbors or whomever you usually purchase gifts for. Also think about places you usually spend money for your family’s regular purchases. Maybe you can buy a gift card to this store for future purchases. Get creative. You get the idea!

The Mommy Points blog has a lot of detail on this promotion. I am telling you about it because I believe it is a great way to support small businesses AND earn some cash for your family at the same time.

Boulder Family Events: November 2 to November 8, 2012

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Special Events This Week: LEGO Club, Pearl Street Stampede, FREE DAYS at the Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver Zoo, Boulder History Museum + Denver Art Museum, Nutcracker Storytime @ the Boulder Bookstore, Bilingual English/Spanish and English/French Storytime @ the Boulder Library, 

Friday, November 2

Saturday, November 3

  • FREE Day at the Denver Art Museum
  • Nutcracker Storytime with the Boulder Balletat the Boulder Bookstore. Join the ballerinas of the Boulder Ballet for a great storytime. Free. All ages. 11:00am.
  • French/English Storytime. Join this great bilingual reading. Free. 10:15 to 11:00am
  • Saturday Storytime at the Main Boulder Library. Free. 10:15am.
  • Boulder Farmer’s Market.  8:00 to 2:00pm. 13th Street between Arapahoe & Canyon Blvd. Great opportunity for families to purchase locally grown produce, eat delicious food, listen to live music and so much more! A Boulder kids’ favorite.
  • Boulder Museum of Contemporary Arts [BMOCA] Check out Art Stop which provides FREE guided art activities for kids on Saturdays during the Farmer’s Market. I have heard that they have a space where you can throw a cup at the wall. Kids love it! 8:00am to 2:00pm. All ages

Sunday, November 4

Monday, November 5

Tuesday, November 6

Wednesday, November 7

Thursday, November 8

  • LEGO Club at the George Reynolds Branch Library. Do you like LEGOs? Do you like stories? Then you’ll love LEGO club at the George Reynolds Branch Library! Join us the 2nd Thursday of every month for a LEGOextravaganza. If you’re a great LEGO builder, or a first timer, this is the place for you. Free. 4:00 to 5:30pm.
  • Storytime at the Main Boulder Library. Free. 10:15 to 11:30am.
  • Toddler Time @ Main Boulder Library. Toddlers (18-36 months) and caregivers explore language and books in a fun and intimate setting. Programs include rhymes, songs and books as well as time for free play and informal discussion of early childhood development. Attendance limited to toddlers up to 36 months of age; no older children please. Free. 10:15 to 11:30am.
  • Parents with Infants Support Group at Parenting Place. Free. Newborn to 9 mos. 10:30 to Noon.
Upcoming Family Events:
November 10:
November 17: $5 admission day at the Butterfly Pavillion
Please let me know of any upcoming events that should be listed here. I am happy to include your free, low cost or unusual event in Boulder Family listing of weekly events. You can reach me at Boulder4Families@gmail.com or visit us on Facebook.
#families #free #Boulder #events #boulderfamilies #getoutside #October #November

Developmental Assets for Kids: What they are + how to develop them in your children

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What are the assets our kids need to be happy and successful in life, school, work, relationships, etc…? The Search Institute has identified lists of building blocks of healthy development—known as Developmental Assets—that help young children grow up healthy, caring, and responsible. Below you will find a list of those developmental assets that are important for children at different ages. They carefully describe both children’s internal and external assets and give examples of how to develop these assets in our children.

Here is an example of the Support list for children ages 8 to 12. It includes both suggestions of important assets and how to take action to develop these skills/assets. They break them into categories of Support, Empowerment, Boundaries and Expectations, Constructive Use of Time, Commitment to Learning, Positive Values, Social Competencies, Positive Identity.

Site: Search Institute – Creators of The 40 Developmental Assets: Resources, trainings, downloads, etc. http://www.search-institute.org/

Boulder Family Events: October 26 to November 1, 2012

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Thinking Halloween? Info on Halloween Events & Pumpkin Patches around Boulder click here. 

Special Events This Week: Halloween Bash, Super Science Saturday at NCAR, Magic Wand Making Workshop, Trick or Treat Train, Apple Tasting and Pumpkin Decorating at WOW!, Monster Bash at Grandrabbits, & the Munchkin Masquerade.

Friday, October 26

Saturday, October 27

  • Super Science Saturday at NCAR. This is super fun for the whole family!
  • Magic Wand Making Workshop at the Boulder Arts & Crafts Gallery. This sounds really sweet! Free for the first 60 kids. 12:00 to 3:00pm.
  • Trick or Treat Train at the Colorado Train Museum
  • Apple Tasting with Chef Ann Cooper at the WOW! Museum. Join the Food, Family, Farming Foundation’s School Food Project and Chef Ann Cooper for a fun and interactive food program! Celebrate the Fall season, learn about healthy food and fall produce, and sample a variety of apples! Free with museum admission. All ages. 2:00 to 3:00pm.
  • Pumpkin Decorating at WOW! Museum. Decorate a pie pumpkin with paints and glitter. Pumpkins generously donated by Whole Foods Marketing in Superior. Pumpkins available while supplies last. Free with museum admission. All ages. 11:00 to 2:00pm.
  • Saturday Storytime at the Main Boulder Library. Free. 10:15am.
  • Boulder Farmer’s Market.  8:00 to 2:00pm. 13th Street between Arapahoe & Canyon Blvd. Great opportunity for families to purchase locally grown produce, eat delicious food, listen to live music and so much more! A Boulder kids’ favorite.
  • Boulder Museum of Contemporary Arts [BMOCA] Check out Art Stop which provides FREE guided art activities for kids on Saturdays during the Farmer’s Market. I have heard that they have a space where you can throw a cup at the wall. Kids love it! 8:00am to 2:00pm. All ages

Sunday, October 28

  • Monster Bash at Grandrabbit’s Toy Shoppe. Free. 11:00 to 1:00.
  • Trick of Treat Train at the Colorado Train Museum
  • 7th Annual Kappa Halloween House. This is a family friendly Halloween event with face painting, crafts, cupcake walk, storytelling, trick-or-treating, and much more. 12:00 to 4:00pm. 1134 University, Boulder. $5/child. For more information click here.
  • Go Club for Kids & Teens at the Main Boulder Library. 2:00 to 5:30pm. Ages 5 and up. Free. “Learn to play the ancient and mysterious game of Go.”

Monday, October 29

Tuesday, October 30

  • Jeepers Creepers!!! Join naturalist Jennelle Freeston for a short evening hike for kids ages 4 and up, to explore a few critters and creatures like spiders, snakes, and bats that give people the willies. Bring a flashlight and dress up in costume if you like. Location information will be given at registration. Follow this link to register online.  6:00 to 7:15 pm

Wednesday, October 31

Thursday, November 1

  • Storytime at the Main Boulder Library. Free. 10:15 to 11:30am.
  • Toddler Time @ Main Boulder Library. Toddlers (18-36 months) and caregivers explore language and books in a fun and intimate setting. Programs include rhymes, songs and books as well as time for free play and informal discussion of early childhood development. Attendance limited to toddlers up to 36 months of age; no older children please. Free. 10:15 to 11:30am.
  • Parents with Infants Support Group at Parenting Place. Free. Newborn to 9 mos. 10:30 to Noon.
Upcoming Family Events:
November 2: FREE Day at the Denver Botanic Gardens
November 3: FREE Day at the Denver Art Museum
November 5: FREE Day at the Denver Zoo
November 17: $5 admission day at the Butterfly Pavillion
Please let me know of any upcoming events that should be listed here. I am happy to include your free, low cost or unusual event in Boulder Family listing of weekly events. You can reach me at Boulder4Families@gmail.com or visit us on Facebook.
#families #free #Boulder #events #boulderfamilies #getoutside #October #November

Raising Happiness: It’s easier than we think!

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Friends’ School Photo

I have to let you know about a project a local private school, Friends’ School, has undertaken called, The Gratitude Project. They are spending the year learning about how gratitude impacts learning. I love this! On 10/18 they brought in well known speaker Christine Carter to speak about a topic near and dear to her heart, Raising Happiness. She literally talked about how we could raise happier children. I was excited! I needed the 411 on this badly!

Her first take home message was quit equating success with happiness! Success does not lead to happiness. We all know the very successful people who are NOT happy. Instead she proposes that happiness leads to success. Do what you love and the success will follow. At this point I took a deep breath and relaxed. I know this to be true. I know in my heart that this is the case yet I was always taught that success lead to happiness. I now know to help instill this in my children: Happiness Leads To Success!

Dr. Carter outlined the individual qualities that lead to success in life and school:

  • Social Intelligence [I think this is similar to Emotional Intelligence]
  • Gratitude
  • Optimism
  • Curiosity
  • Grit [also known as resilience]
  • Self-control
  • Zest

Can we help ourselves and our children embody these qualities? Yes, we can! It take practice, but as we increase gratitude by noticing and then expressing this value it will increase our sense of self-worth and happiness.

A few ideas of how to foster gratitude:

  • At the dinner table ask each family member to say one thing they are grateful for. Role model this one for best success. Even the smallest members of the family can participate.
  • Ask about kindness. What is one kind thing someone did for you today? What is one kind thing you did for someone today?
  • Help others. Sign up to help at a soup kitchen or bring food to the homeless. A call to the homeless shelter or EFAA can help you make plans to help others.

Maybe you have some additional ideas of practices in your family that help each of us to embody the values of gratitude & happiness. Let us know!