Hang On and Enjoy the Ride

Guest Post by: Beth C.

Being a parent is the most rewarding yet most challenging thing in life.  There isn't a book that tells you how to raise children, so you have to live and learn, hoping that by the time they are 18 they can make wise decisions on their own.  My husband and I have three children, twin 1 year olds and a 2 ½  year old.  Needless to say, with two full time working parents and three kids under the age of three, we stay very busy! 

I would have to say that my biggest struggle is being a working mom.  Balancing family life and work life can be very difficult.  My weekdays start at 5:30AM, which is a struggle in itself, and ends around 10:30PM.  I usually get home from work around 5:00pm and fix dinner, feed kids, bathe kids and put kids to bed by 8:30PM.  I then clean up from dinner and start laundry.  With five people in our house, laundry is a daily task.  Around 9:30PM, I will usually sit down and watch tv with my husband and try to catch up on our day.  I am very blessed with a wonderful husband who helps out around the house and makes time to play with our children.

We are experiencing the terrible two’s right now and potty training.  Let me say that it is just not right for these two things to happen at the same time.  I am still learning what correction methods work with my son and which ones don’t.  I have a very strong willed/stubborn 2 year old, so the disciplines that work for him, probably won’t work with my 1 year old who is laid back and easy going.  I must be doing something right though because when my 2 year old has to sit in timeout, he always comes and gives me a hug when he gets out.  As for potty training, this has been a huge challenge for us.  I think I have tried every bribery tactic there is out there.  I have finally accepted that my child will use the potty when he is ready.  As frustrating as that is to hear from other people, I believe it to be the truth.  However, when my child went to the potty for the first time and had success, it gave me such great joy.  I was so proud of his accomplishment!  Yes, that’s right, I am one proud mommy that my kid went pee pee in the potty!  Take pride in the little things!

I would be lying if I said I wasn't exhausted 90% of the time with this crazy life I live, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.  I love being a mom.   I love when my son gets mad and crinkles his nose when he says “NO!”  I love that my kids and I have a dance party every night in our kitchen.  I love cuddling with them.  I love singing to my kids.  I love hearing them say “momma/mommy”.  I love that my kids are so close in age.  I often times get told “Bless your heart” or “You have your hands full”, when people hear that my kids are 17 months apart.  I usually respond with “Yes, I am blessed!” 

Having young children so close together can be challenging, but the love and memories I make with my children are totally worth it.  Life with small children is a constant roller coaster, so hang on and enjoy the ride!  

A Family New Year Celebration

 

Photo Courtesy

By: Angie @ Kids Matter

Once you have kids, your life is full of big decisions. Just one of those decisions is what are we going to do on New Year's Eve now? For many, the nights of going out to clubs and drinking lots of champagne are over. They choose a quieter evening at home with the kids. Just because you aren't getting all dressed up and going out to party, doesn't mean the night has to be a drag. You can still have fun, it's just a fun that the kids can participate in too!

Eat traditional New Year's foods with the kids. Some traditional foods and the beliefs associated with them:

• Greens - eat your greens as they represent spendable greens of another type
• Black eyed peas - This is a Southern thing, representing humility and invites good fortune. I believe in other regions, they choose a different type or bean.
• Noodles - signify long life and you get bonus points if you eat the noodles without breaking them.
• Rice - signifies abundance
• Grapes - eat 12 grapes, one for each month of the new year. If a grape tastes bitter, watch out for that month next year.
• Pomegranates -  with its many seeds representing prosperity.
• Pork - pigs are considered lucky animals as they root forward and they are rotund/abundant
• Fish - the scales represent money and when a fish swims in a school it represents abundance.
•  Circular foods - like a cake or cookie represents coming full circle

Kid friendly activities:

• Count down bags - get 12 paper lunch type bags and draw a clock face on the front of each bag. Each time that is reached, the child opens the bag to find small trinkets, noise makers, hats, candy and/or games to play. You can do this for each hour up to midnight if your child can stay up. Mine never makes it past 10:00pm, so we start at 10:00am opening bags.
• Fill out the same printable form each year, covering the basics of the past year. It would be so much fun to look back on these each year and see the changes in your life, your likes and your handwriting.There is a great free printable at Wonderful Joy Ahead. 
• Toast one another with special drinks. Each year, I melt chocolate and dip the rims of glasses in the chocolate and then into sprinkles. Once the chocolate hardens, I serve the glasses with milk inside alongside homemade cookies.
• There is nothing more fun than a balloon drop! Besides having to actually blow up the balloons, there is little prep and it is completely mesmerizing for kids. You can order a balloon drop kit on Amazon.

 Whatever you do for New Year's Eve, be sure to include the kids and make it memorable for them. During the time frames of waiting for the next count down bag, we usually play some of our lesser used board games and see if we can find a new favorite family game! If we still don't like it, then it goes in my donate pile and I get an early start on my resolution to get organized. Have a wonderful 2015! 

Christmas Traditions For Your Family

Photo Courtesy

By: Angie @ Kids Matter

As the holiday season gets into full swing, lets discuss traditions that families have. I personally feel it is important to have traditions, not just for holidays but throughout the year. Kids will not always remember the gifts they received each year, but they will carry your family traditions with them forever.

1) Christmas Books: Many people collect 24 different Christmas themed books and wrap them individually. Each evening, a child opens one of the books to be read together as a family.

2) Baking cookies for Santa. We love to decorate special cookies for Santa and he even has a special plate at our house.

3) Special foods served each year at the big meal. For our house, it is always scalloped oysters on one side of the family and dumplings on the other. Delicious!

4) Gingerbread houses. You can bake it from scratch, but in our house we just buy the kits. It makes my life easier and the fun is in the decorations, not the baking for this.

5) Visiting Santa. We actually see Santa twice each year. We go to see him at the mall and have a great picture taken, but our church also has Santa come to a big breakfast that they have at the beginning of December.

6) A new ornament for each child, each year. We always do this with the intention of when the kids move out, they will already have ornaments for their own tree. I try to make it personal by selecting something reflective of the past year and I prefer the ornament to be home made, whether by us or someone else.

7) Writing a letter to Santa. In our house, you can't ask Santa for more than three things. It can be hard to narrow it down, but somehow he manages to do it each year.

8) Angel Tree. Each year we select a kid to buy for. The kid is either my son's age or has the same interests as him, then we go shopping and my son picks out a gift or two for the Angel.

9) Salvation Army. Each year we participate in the red kettle campaign by spending a few hours ringing the bell with some friends. In addition, I have to keep lots of cash on me for my son to donate in each and every red kettle he sees.

10) North Pole Breakfast. The morning after we decorate the tree, we eat breakfast under the tree. It is always festive, but we just eat donuts and drink hot chocolate. Our Elf usually shows up that morning also.

11) Elf on the shelf. We participate in the Elf on the shelf, but our elf (Buddy) knows that there are some rules he has to follow too. He is not allowed to make big messes or be bad. Buddy can be silly without making a big mess and we expect him to boost spirits by pointing out nice things we do and leaving little notes to parents about some nice things.

12) Birthday party for Jesus. Our church has a birthday party with snacks and storytelling and each family brings books to be donated to foster children. In addition to this, my parents always have a cake for Jesus and the grandchildren get a lit candle to blow out in each of their slices of cake.

13) A personal Christmas tree. We replace the nightlight in my son's room with a small tabletop Christmas tree that he decorates and we keep it lit for him each evening.

14) Drive around to see Christmas lights. If it is not too cold, bonus points for the kids being in pajamas for the ride.

15) Drive Through Bethlehem. Our church puts on a live action Bethlehem and includes real animals and actors portraying scenes. We always attend this event and it is a highlight of the season for us.

16) Stockings. Each year the stocking has a piece of fruit and 4 toothbrushes, in addition to small gifts. That is because my stocking always contained those things when I was growing up and I carried the tradition over.

What are some of the traditions that your family carries with you every single year?

Bonfire and Spooky Story Season

Belinda @ Kids Matter

I stepped out the door to a nippy 60 degrees this morning. Suddenly, I was reminded of the season. I’ve always been quite fond of autumn. I look forward to the beauty of the leaves changing, the nip in the air, shorter days longer nights, and most importantly… those fabulous bonfires with the grandchildren. You haven’t truly experienced the wonder of fall until you have sat bundled in a blanket, surrounded by loved ones, with a marshmallow blazing on a stick. Oh, the great fun of the bonfire!

Fun, yes, but for a worrying Nana like myself, I spent a lot of the time creating a barrier between the children and the fire. I took into account the clumsy and tired and exerted extra effort to keep them safely from the fire. The first few bonfires with the grandkids, I have to tell you, I was a nervous wreck! I spent the majority of the time circling the fire instead of enjoying it. Escorting children back to their seats instead of teaching them. I was yelling, “blow the marshmallow out!” instead of delighting in the essence of the rich gooey toasted marshmallow. Finally, it occurred to me there was a way to bring a little peace to the Indians circling the fire preparing for war in our backyard.

Spooky stories!!! This was the answer to recapturing my sanity and inspiring great adventures in my grandchildren’s minds! They are young, so the stories can’t really be too scary. It’s the build of the story that captures their attention. The whispers, the sudden scary noises thrown in, and best of all including their names into the story, pull them into the story with intensity. It’s not so much the words of the story, but the drama you bring in telling it. Using different voices create characters that go on great adventures and pull in things your children love like a favorite doll or toy. The more creative you get with the story the closer to the edge of the seat you will have the child.

I have told many a scary story around the bonfire. Besides the marshmallows, that is the children’s favorite part of the bonfire. Before Grandpa even has the fire blazing, I hear, “Tell us a spooky story, Nana, but not real spooky and with a funny ending!” Yes, that is one of my great accomplishments… the spooky story with the funny ending. Nothing makes me happier than watching my babies faces light up as they get into the story. The look of anticipation is heartwarming. This is the kind of excitement you want to see in a child; inspiration, the desire to learn and grow. I see spooky story time as an opportunity to inspire, motivate, and encourage great adventures in growing minds.

THUMPS in the Night: A Spooky Funny Story for the Bonfire

The children were playing in the yard beneath the porch light when suddenly they heard a THUMP. After the thump, a SQUEEAAAKKK, then a SLAM! The noises repeated over and over each time growing more eerie. The porch light began to fade slowly until it was no more. The children crept around the yard holding hands… eyes wide as flashlights in search of the thump. Something swooshed by them touching them ever so slightly on the legs then vanished into the darkness. The children screamed! They clasped hands tighter and tighter as they made their trek through the jungle that was the backyard. THUMP! SQUUUEEEAAAKKK! SLAM!... THUMP! SQUUUEEEAAAKKK! SLAM! Over and over came the noises… louder and LOUDER until the children realized the noises were coming from right above their heads. THUMP!!! The children froze where they stood; too frightened to even look toward the sound. Their tiny bodies shook… their teeth rattled… their knees knocked. SQUEEEAAAAKKK!!! “Don’t move,” whispered the little girl. The little boy, slightly clumsy, fell over something leaning against the tree and made a loud crashing sound. The frightened little girl screamed, “AHHHHHHHHH!” Then the boy screamed, “AHHHHHHHHH!” Then they screamed together, “AHHHHHHHHH!” Fear crept in like a cat on the prowl on a dark, dark night in a big, dark jungle. THUMP! SQUUUEEEAAAKKK! SLAM!... THUMP! SQUUUEEEAAAKKK! SLAM! The little boy looked up toward the sound. With each squeak he saw a light. With each slam the light disappeared. The little boy looked to see what had made him fall and he saw, there in the shadows, a ladder, a very tall ladder that went all the way up to the top of the tall, tall tree. THUMP! SQUUUEEEAAAKKK! SLAM! The children stepped up the ladder… step by step they came closer and closer to the sound. Finally they could see the THUMP… it was a knock. It was a squirrel knocking on the tree. SQUUUEEEAAAAKK! It was a door opening in the top of the tall, tall tree. The squirrel raced in. SLAM! The door closed. They reached the tiny, tiny door in the top of the tall, tall tree, in the middle of the dark, dark night. They knocked on the door. The door swung open with that same familiar SQUUUEEEAAAAKK! There, standing at the little tiny door was a big… fury… grey… squirrel who screamed out in this big high pitched squeal... “Happy Birthday!!!! It’s about time you guys got here! What’s a birthday party without the guest of honor? Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday…” The squirrels sang and danced and shook their big fluffy tails. The little girl and the little boy were no longer afraid of the thumps in the night because they knew… somewhere in the yard it was somebody’s birthday party.

Make Time for Family Time

Make Time for Family Time

Julia @ Kids Matter

          It really seems like, more and more, a two income household isn’t a choice, it’s a necessity. As the cost of living increases and pay remains stagnant, more parents find the daunting reality that daycare teachers get to spend more time with their children than they do. As shocking as that sounds, most of you know what I mean. I was a preschool teacher and I can tell you that the bond between teacher and child is very strong. I’ve had parents call me at night because their children couldn’t go to bed without talking to me first. I’ve had children throw tantrums in a restaurant if they happened to see me eating there too, and I was not sitting with them. I have left a date sitting alone while I joined the child for dinner.

           Many parents have confided in me that they feel guilt about how little time they have with their children. When they broke it down, they realized that during the week they spend maybe four hours a day with their children, while the teachers get to spend ten.

           Teachers usually have a reward system in the classroom, like a sticker chart. This is a cute and awesome way to get your little ones to learn responsibility, and create opportunities for family time. Have a Sticker Chart in your home, in a location that everyone visits. Reward your child daily with stickers if they: behave, do chores, get a good report from their teacher, or any other age appropriate rules you agree on when making the chart. By the end of the week, if your child has a sticker every day they are rewarded with a treat.

              Give your child “family responsible choices” as treats, and try to avoid buying a toy as a reward. An example would be to allow them to pick between two treats like, choosing a game the family will play together, or helping to make cookies for family game night. Family responsible choices affect the whole family. This way they learn to understand how choices affect a group, and not just themselves. Allowing them to pick out a toy each week is nice, but it doesn’t really teach them how their efforts throughout the week help the family as a unit. Letting them have a toy as a reward is like your child earning a paycheck. That ‘paycheck’ really only benefits the child and not the whole family.  
         
           You can’t help your work schedule, so don’t allow that to bring you down and feel guilty. Instead, on weeknights, turn the TV or game systems off, and sit down to dinner together and talk about the day. The weekends should have the same structure as week days with bedtimes, naps, etc., but devote a lot of time to family time. Ride bikes, go to the park, see a movie, make/decorate a cake, feed the ducks, or go to a museum. The possibilities are endless when you make more time for family time.

Gone Fishing

Gone Fishing

Belinda @ Kids Matter

Just because summer is winding down, doesn’t mean that the beautiful, enchanting Kentucky state parks are closing! What if you didn’t have the opportunity to get away for a summer vacation? How about a nice relaxing weekend in one of the parks’ cabins or lodges? To find a state park near you just click on this link: Find a KY State Park. Even if you can only spare a few hours, there is plenty to explore in the parks. Maybe you just want to take a couple of hours; listen to some great music or go for a hike through the woods. There is something for everyone! Relax, kick back, and enjoy a bonfire at one of the park campgrounds. Savor those last few minutes of some smoky barbecue on the grill. Get acquainted with the creepy crawlies on the hiking trails. Are you into scrapbooking? Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park even has a scrapbooking weekend planned. Make a pledge to yourself, and your family, to go “unplugged” for a weekend! No phones or computers… hang a shingle on your life that simply reads, “Gone fishing”.

For a complete listing of all events please visit the Kentucky State Parks website. Here are some of the highlights:

·       Labor Day Celebration: Aug 29 - Sep 1, 2014 Levi Jackson Wilderness Road State Park 

·       Fraley Festival of Traditional Music: Sep 3 - Sep 6, 2014 8:00 P.M. - 11:00 P.M. Carter Caves State Resort Park

·       Summer 2014 Concert in the Park Series: Sep 05, 2014 6:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M. Rough River Dam State Resort Park

·       2nd Friday Bluegrass Jam: Sep 12, 2014 6:00 P.M. - 11:00 P.M. Rough River Dam State Resort Park 

·       Fall Camper's Yard Sale: Sep 12 - Sep 13, 2014 8:00 A.M. - 8:00 P.M. Fort Boonesborough State Park

·       Scrapbooking Weekend: Sep 12 - Sep 14, 2014 Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park

·       Monarch Butterfly Migration Mysteries: Sep 13, 2014 8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M. John James Audubon State Park

·       Jam Session: Sep 16, 2014 6:30 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park

·       Autumn Weekend: Sep 19 - Sep 21, 2014 8:00 A.M. - 8:00 P.M. Fort Boonesborough State Park 

·       Trashmaster's Classic: Sep 20, 2014 8:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M. Barren River Lake State Resort Park

·       Backyard Concert Series: Sep 20, 2014 7:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M. General Butler State Resort Park

·       Monarch Butterfly Migration Mysteries: Sep 20, 2014 8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M. John James Audubon State Park

·       Western Kentucky State Parks Race Series- Run through the Forest 5K Run/Fun Walk: Sep 20, 2014 8:00 A.M. Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park

·       Elk Viewing Tour: Sep 21, 2014 5:30 A.M. - Noon Jenny Wiley State Resort Park

·       Why I Love the Old Mulkey Meetinghouse State Historic Site: Sep 24 - Sep 28, 2014 10:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. Old Mulkey State Historic Site

·       Halloween Lights Drive Thru: Sep 26 - Oct 25, 2014 8:00 A.M. - 8:00 P.M. Fort Boonesborough State Park 

·       Great Outdoors Weekend: Sep 27, 2014 Noon - 4:00 P.M. Big Bone Lick State Historic Site

·       Tygart Gorge and Arches Hike: Sep 27, 2014 9:30 A.M. - 3:30 P.M. Carter Caves State Resort Park 

·       Trails and Trenches Preservation Day: Sep 27, 2014 9:00 A.M. - Noon Columbus-Belmont State Park

·       Natural Bridge Trail Trek Series: Sep 27, 2014 9:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M. Natural Bridge State Resort Park 

·       The 1778 Siege of Boonesborough: Sep 27 - Sep 28, 2014 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. Fort Boonesborough State Park

·       Great Outdoors Weekend: Sep 28, 2014 Noon - 4:00 P.M. Big Bone Lick State Historic Site 

Happy September to you and your wonderful families from Kids Matter!!

The Family Vacation: a Relic of the Past

The Family Vacation: a Relic of the Past

Julia @ Kids Matter

            Sadly, fewer and fewer families are going on vacations these days, and there are many contributing factors as to why. A lot of parents can’t take the time off for employment reasons, can’t afford it for financial reasons, or need to surplus any personal time for when their little ones get sick. One way to get through these road bumps is to take mini-vacations once or twice a year, then plan for a bigger vacation every three years. It may seem easier to plan around government holidays in order to save a day from your personal time pool, but hotels may be pricier around holidays, so beware.

            If you live in an area like where I live, you may have access to several places of interest within a four hour drive. Living in Louisville allows me the ability to go to cities like Cincinnati, Gatlinburg, Indianapolis, Nashville, Chicago, and St. Louis. These cities, and ones near you, have many sites for a family to enjoy! Shop the travel sites for discounts on hotels a few months before your trip or check Groupon for Bed & Breakfast deals. I used a Groupon for a B&B just outside of Cincinnati one year, and we had a whole three bedroom house to ourselves for only $100 per night!

            It is a good rule of thumb to research restaurants in your destination city and plan an eating budget. Try to avoid touristy spots and search out city websites to see where the locals go! You can view menus and pricing, which can really get your food budget down to a science! Another money saver is staying where complimentary continental breakfast is served daily.

            A BIG vacation takes a lot of time, rigorous planning, and a killer budget. Do not let that intimidate you! The sky is the limit when you give yourself a few years to plan. Take your family some place they will never forget; Disney, New York City, New Orleans, Hawaii, Ireland, Italy, or Paris! A good way to save for this kind of trip is to research the cost of hotels, transportation, food, shopping, and if overseas, the currency exchange rate.

            The 52 week money savings challenge can really help you save. If you do it for a few years in a row, you will be all set. Each week of the year, starting in January, you will place money in savings. Your money progresses along with the week’s number you are on. (Example: Week 1 you would put $1 in savings, Week 2 you would put $2 in savings, and so on.) By the end of your 52 weeks, your grand total savings will be $1378.

            Family vacations should not be a relic of the past! Spend time with your children in a new environment. Show them this great country of ours and all of her historical splendor. Showing a child the beach for the first time or looking out over New York from the Empire State building is incredible! So, pile the family into the car, pack a cooler of snacks, drinks, and lunches, and head to a new destination for your children to explore!

Happy Summer!

#LookUp!

#LookUp!

Julia @ Kids Matter

            My Facebook app just alerted me to the fact that several of my “friends” have enjoyed and liked my quick wit and Twitter constantly bleeps at me, to let me know that someone I have never met is now “following” me. I am sooo popular and loved by social media!

            WHAT AM I DOING??? What are any of us doing? Have we lost touch of who we are? Why is it that kids today can barely speak, let alone write the English language? Why do I see parents simply hand over their $700 phone to their seven year old for entertainment instead of a book? I have asked parents what their kids are looking at or playing on their phone; I always get the same responses, “It keeps him quiet,” and “… because she sees me on it and wants what I have”. That last statement really hits the bulls eye, “… because she sees me on it and wants what I have”. Recently, I ate at Red Robin and everywhere families sat in similar situations; kids jumping and screaming in the booth seats, higgledy piggledy, while their parents looked down at their phones, simply ignoring them.

The table at meal time should be a time for family conversation and recapping each other’s days. Studies have shown that children and adolescence that have at least four meals per week at the table with their family are more emotionally and socially sound than those families who don’t eat together. Also, they have a lower risk of smoking and drinking, as well as higher grades in school. Research states that the reason for these results is due to families eating meals together, at the table, without electronics as a distraction. Your family enjoying a meal and conversation together provides structure, boundaries, and a sense of belonging for your child. All these things are needed for the developmental health of your children.

            It may seem hard enough just to get your teens to the table, let alone to the table without their phones, but if you set that rule early and stick to it for yourselves and them, you will have far more socially adjusted and happy children.

            I recently saw a Youtube video. It was a young man who wrote and performed a spoken word film about unplugging ourselves from our phones. The central message is about getting back to communicating with one another, and more importantly with our kids. Put down your phones, show interest in your kid’s lives, and eat dinner at the table. Show them and teach them that your family unit is, and always will be, more important than whatever is trending.  

Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day Weekend

Belinda @ Kids Matter

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, first observed on May 30, 1868, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. While the holiday is in honor of the fallen, it is also a celebration of life for families throughout this great nation. Many families choose this weekend to kick off summer and spend great family time, bonding. May 29, 1983 was the day that started this annual weekend celebration for my family. That was the birth date of my first son. Suddenly, I wasn’t just a woman in search of a future, I was a mom. So, in addition to honoring the fallen, we opted to also celebrate family.

Each year on Memorial Weekend, our family comes together to celebrate birthdays, graduations, and life events. We spend time together eating, chatting, and letting all the grandkids just play their little hearts out. We have a cookout with big cakes and lots of picture taking to commemorate the event. Lots of friends and family are invited; games are played and presents opened. And oh, the many laughs that have filled my soul. It’s hard to imagine that this year marks the 31^st anniversary of our traditional Memorial Day weekend.

These special family times are just fleeting moments in the overall scheme of life. We take them for granted, more than we should. You never know what life event may happen and suddenly you find that one family member no longer in attendance. Suddenly, even a memory of the chaotic event, planning and organizing, can bring about a smile. Why? Because… even if it is only one event, it is still time cherished as family.

Family holidays and traditions are simple ways to keep family unity. Don’t allow times like these to slip away without even a second thought. Cherish every moment with your family… yes, even those with whom you don’t have an excellent relationship. The soldiers of this world have put their lives on the line in order to afford you the liberty of being free. Don’t we owe it to them to make the most of our family time? Slow life down for one simple weekend, to laugh and play with your family. Put away the cell phones. Hide the Xbox. Turn off the laptops and tablets. We all need to slow it down, relax, and enjoy life with our family. You don’t always know what lives you touch or what lives touch you until that life is no longer there. Remember, spend time with those who put a light in your heart as often as you can.

Happy Memorial Day from my family to yours!

Meet the Child Care Council Staff

Introducing Suzie S.

Robin @ Kids Matter

               Suzie is originally from the Central Kentucky area, but has lived across the state.   She worked in a Western Kentucky CCAP office for five years.  After moving back to Eastern Kentucky, she worked in CCAP for 11 years, before transferring to the office in Floyd County when she came to work for the Child Care Council of KY.  So, she has worked for three different agencies, doing the same job and helping many people across the state. 

Travel is a large part of Suzie’s life.  Suzie and her family have moved around quite a bit due to her husband being a minister.  She said, “In the church there is always the possibility of moving.  You have to make the best of it.  You can’t be miserable over something you can’t control… it doesn’t help.”  I love her positive attitude and adaptability!  Suzie also related an amazing travel experience to me about a trip to Israel.  The picture above, of her wading in the Mediterranean Sea, was taken at Caesarea by the Sea, Israel.  She has loved water all her life, probably partly because she grew up on Lake Cumberland and started swimming when she was three years old,  so was especially drawn to visit the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Galilee while in Israel. 

Suzie has four grown daughters and nine grandchildren, with one more due this month.  She said the most beautiful things she has ever seen are the births of three of her grandchildren.  She was able to be in with her daughters during these births, and says it was amazing.  As much as she loves her children and grandchildren, she has been accused of loving her dog more.   J  She has a three year old rescue dog.  Suzie has a great passion for working with animal shelters to help find forever families for dogs and cats in need.  Another of her passions is riding motorcycles.  When the weather is good, she and her husband are out on their bikes.   They ride with the Fellowship of Christian Riders.  It is a motorcycle group that rides not to get converts, but simply to show that you can be a Christian and ride motorcycles.  Last year they rode to Hillbilly Hotdogs, in West Virginia, on their bikes.  Hillbilly Hotdogs is a big deal.  They’ve been featured on Diner’s, Drive-ins, and Dives on the Food Network, and on Hotdog Paradise 2 on the Travel Channel.

Suzie said, “I have enjoyed the last year and a half at the CCC.  It’s a joy to work for an agency so mindful of its employees and good to work in a job where you are actually helping people.”  She said that if you have your priorities right in life everything will fall in line and work out right.

Meet the Child Care Council Staff

Introducing Mary G.

Belinda @ Kids Matter

Mary is an Eligibility Specialist for the CCC and has been in the child care assistance business for seven and a half years. She respectfully serves the counties of Ohio, Butler, and Muhlenberg. Mary is such a wonderful people person who enjoys time spent with clients. She has a smile that lights even the darkest of rooms. She is the most caring, loving, person with a delightful bubbly personality and is always there to lend a helping hand.

Mary has been married to her sweetheart, Jody, for twenty-three years and falls in love with him more each day. She refers to him as her rock saying, “He works so hard to provide and be there for each of us.” Mary and Jody have four beautiful children, two boys and two girls, and also a handsome four year old grandson. She has also taken in another child, who she loves with all her heart, just as if she were her own. They also have a Labrador who she says is, “spunky and a crazy beast.” But, the dog loves them unconditionally and that’s the best kind of love.

Mary is deeply rooted in family unity, which she attributes to her mother. She says, “Mom is the most caring, unselfish person I know. She isn’t one to just say she is there, she actually is there.” Mary carries that over into her own family. She loves her family with great passion and considers them her greatest accomplishment in life. She enjoys every minute they spend together. Her family takes fantastic vacations. She conveyed a story of one particular fun and exciting adventure at Jelly Stone Campground, near Mammoth Cave. “It was October and there was so much for the children to do such as Halloween costume contests, hayrides, campground songs, picking and painting pumpkins, trick-or-treating, decorating camp sites, and even a haunted woods.” She was very excited as she described the fun they had.  The whole family enjoyed themselves and, believe it or not, there was not one single electronic device to be found. They went unplugged the whole weekend which, Mary says, “allowed them to spend time getting to really know each other”.

Having a large family can present challenges, and she tackles them head on. She describes her idea of a perfect day as being home ALONE cleaning the house. Her motivation in everything that she does is her family. She states, “I want them to be their best and I hope someday they come to realize I did my best to raise them into bright, sincere, caring, loving, thoughtful individuals who are never afraid to go after what they want.”

When asked about advice for raising a family she said, “Surround yourself with people who have the same goals and expectations.” Those people will be the community helping to raise your child. She’s a firm believer in picking your battles and often tells her children to, “Pick one you will win”. We aren’t meant to win every argument and sometimes it’s really not worth the time spent being angry. Her greatest advice is to take time and listen to what your children are saying. “Put down the remote, iPad, cellphone, or whatever gadget you’re connected to and truly spend time listening to them.” Mary is so family oriented that even her hobbies involve spending time with her children. She is a wonderful and devoted mom whose children love her immensely.  Her time is so packed with work, children’s sports, maintaining the household, church functions, and helping everyone that needs her that, if she were granted one super-human power, she would choose, “not to sleep”. She laughs as she says, “There is not enough time in the day.”

Meet the Child Care Council Staff

Introducing Patricia W.

Melissa @ Kids Matter

I chose Patricia W for this week’s staff interview because, I’ve emailed with her a lot regarding claims she submits, yet I’ve never actually met her. She has always been sweet and accommodating in everything I’ve asked her to do.  So, I felt others could benefit from knowing more about her.

She’s been with the CCC for 11 months as an Eligibility Specialist in the North region, covering Fleming, Mason, Bracken, Robertson, and Pendleton counties. Patricia says that in addition to being paid money, her career has created value in her life because she has, “always loved working in an environment that allowed you to help others. I knew one day I would work in a government or hospital type environment. In my opinion, true people skills are not learned, you either have it, or you don’t.”

When asked what family means to her, she stated that, “Family means allowing and respecting the differences of each other while still being there for one another during both the good and bad times. It means sharing, caring and unconditionally loving each other all the time. It means get-togethers, traditions, and celebrating everything.”

I asked Patricia who the most influential person was to her as a child. She stated, “My mom is the most influential person as a child and an adult to me.” Patricia also said, “I admire my mom most because it was through watching her work hard and always putting her family first that has made me the person I am today. Family was always first and foremost for her. As a child, she would let me go to work with her and help. I thought that was the coolest thing ever. She taught me the importance of traditions and always knowing, yet never forgetting, where you came from. She taught me to take pride in your job regardless of the position you hold, but most importantly, give it 100% and you will get 100% back. It wasn't until she passed away, ten months ago, that I realized just how much we were alike.”

Patricia loves to plan parties, to bake, and to spend time with her 17 month old grandson, Anthony. He’s helped her cope with the loss of her mother and sister. The accomplishment that she’s most proud of is attaining her Bachelor’s degree while working third shift, six nights per week. She drove 45 miles to and from Morehead, and managed to do all this while raising a family. The HR rep. at her previous job was so impressed, that she uses her story to inspire other workers to go to school.

I asked Patricia if she had any interesting stories she wanted to share. She told the story of when she was 17; her first actual job was working on a military base as kitchen prep. She got to meet people from all walks of life. She was once selected to serve a four star general at the grand opening of the new dining hall on base. The story was featured in the local newspaper, which she still has. Clearly, those people skills were present at an early age in order to have been selected to serve a General. I think Patricia’s clients, and the CCC as a whole, certainly benefit from having her on staff.

Meet the Child Care Council Staff

Introducing Ruby H

Robin @ Kids Matter

Ruby is an Eligibility Specialist (ES) working in the East Region of the CCC.  As a child, Ruby often dreamed of being a receptionist.  She said that she always loved the idea of being able to work with the public and being able to help people.  So, receptionist was her chosen profession, for 20 years, until she transitioned to a role as payroll coordinator.  However, she quickly missed the interaction with the public.  When she saw the advertisement for an ES position with the CCC, she quickly applied… and the rest is history.  She came to work for the CCC in 2009, and we are glad she did.  Even though she is not currently a receptionist, Ruby still has the opportunity to help people in a very important way.

Family means a lot to Ruby.  She stated that, “family means everything; they give you what you need in life.”  Growing up, Ruby’s mother was the most influential person in her life because she taught her so much and was always there for her.  Losing her mother last year was very difficult, and is a loss that she still suffers. In the last year she has had the opportunity to help raise a very special girl, and this has helped.  The excitement in Ruby’s voice when talking about the girl was very evident.

Ruby has always lived in Knox County, but that doesn’t mean that she never leaves.  Her hobbies are traveling and shopping, and is often on the go.  Her favorite place to travel to is Sevierville Tennessee, which is a place well known for its many outlet malls.  Tennessee is her favorite place in general, as evidenced by her travels across the state. She also really loves her travels to Florida.  She said that the sun setting over the ocean is one of the most beautiful sights that she has ever seen. 

When asked if she had any advice for our readers, Ruby said, “Only to treat everyone as you want to be treated and to help others as much as you can, whenever you can!”

Meet the Child Care Council Staff

Meet the Child Care Council Staff

Introducing Kim G

Belinda @ Kids Matter

Please allow me to introduce a loving mother of two beautiful children and four treasured grandchildren, with a fifth to arrive shortly. She says being a grandmother is, “pure joy” and that, “grandchildren are delightful little beings.” Kim has been married twenty-one years to the love of her life and her hero. When I say hero, that’s exactly what I mean. While vacationing with her family, she was snorkeling off the coast of Hawaii, Kim’s mask became dislodged. Quickly she surfaced to fix the problem. She plunged back under water only to learn the mask was still not properly secured and began losing her breath. With panic looming, she quickly popped to the surface again. Suddenly, a wave overtook her and she couldn’t breathe. To say she was scared may be an understatement. Her husband sped to her side and lifted her up. In the fear of drowning, she almost took her husband out as well. He was, however, able to signal the lifeguards who rapidly raced to her rescue. Today she gives credit where due, to her husband, her hero.

Kim has been an Eligibility Specialist for CCC, serving the counties of Warren, Edmonson, and Hart, for a year and a half. Her bubbly personality and genuine desire to help others are just two of her great qualities.  Kim says that sharing an office space with two very influential people in her life is what keeps her sane. She has such a deep appreciation for her co-workers saying, “They are with me eight hours every work day. They have taught me things, and have listened to me when I needed to talk. They are lovely women, which I am proud to call my friends and blessed to have them in my life.” Though Kim loves her job, when asked if not in the childcare business, what career would she choose? Her answer, “I’d be a judge on American Idol!”

What makes Kim who she is today? She gives credit to her Mom as being the most influential person in her life and giving her that “go get it” attitude. When asked how she maintains that attitude she simply replied while laughing, “I have to pay the mortgage”. Playing a huge role in forming Kim, were the years she spent in the Army. She states, “The Army taught me all that I could withstand and all of my strengths.” She emphasizes, “I’m pretty tough if I need to be, not physically, but mentally.” She also gives credit to her grandparents who taught her to be loving, kind, and patient. All are lessons that she uses in the care of her own grandchildren.

When asked about advice for a happy, successful family, Kim says, “Instill the desire for education into your children and spend great quantities of time loving and laughing together”. She also encourages getting involved in charities. Helping others always gives the greatest of feelings and respect. Kim actively supports St. Jude’s Children Hospital, Warren County Rescue Squad, and Veteran’s organizations. With deep roots in the military, through her own contribution, her husbands, and her fathers, she has great respect for America and those who serve and support the United States. She says, “There are never enough resources to go around”, and encourages us all to give whenever, wherever we can.