Please check with your local Red Cross or United Way office for ways to volunteer your time and to find out what donations and other resources are needed.

Stop by this week to visit.  And shoot me your questions – I’ll pick one for Q&A Friday.  I’ll work the others into Manner Monday posts in the coming weeks.

Here’s the link to todays topic:  Constructive Criticism

I saw this sign at our grocery store,

which reminded me… there are many women in the world who are not ‘biological’ mothers; maybe by choice, maybe not.   There are also many women who act as role models and mentors, leaving an indelible mark and positive influence to those whose paths they cross and who are treated like a member of the family.

Here’s to hoping everyone has a great ‘Mother’s Day’, no matter how you are connected to your ‘family’.

Happy Mother’s day mom!!!  Thanks for all of the love and support you’ve showed us over the years!

Here is the list we came up with:

Lipstick / Chapstick

A mirror – in case spinach gets stuck in your teeth

Id (so the good Samaritan who finds your purse if it’s lost can return it to you)

Advil

Mints

Floss sticks

Kleenex

A ‘hankie’ (an old fashioned handkerchief mentioned a few times)

Wallet / Coin Purse

Cash (always have some cash on hand for emergencies)

Emery board

Personal toiletry items

Band-Aids

Pen

Small notepad

Miniature Swiss Army knife (but not at school)

Pepper Spray

Brush or comb

Hair tie

Stamps

Hand lotion

Trial size of your favorite perfume

Hand sanitizer

Small mending kit with a few safety pins

I suggested checking the local drug store for small, travel size, portions of toiletry items so the purse doesn’t get loaded down with too much stuff!

Ladies, what are you ‘must have’ items to include on the list?  Did we miss anything?  If so, hop over to my Facebook page to share your thoughts.  We want to make sure we have this young lady setup and ready to go!

Before heading out to the office with your son or daughter in tow, slow down, and spend some time with your child; prepare him or her, and explain what is expected for the day and what ‘exactly’ do you consider appropriate behavior.  Look them in the eye when you speak to them and explain how you expect them to treat your workplace and your co-workers with respect.  Just like the library, there are rules.  If they don’t know the rules going into the situation beforehand, they can’t be expected to behave accordingly.

As a co-worker, you may be tempted to offer candy or snacks to children visiting the office for the day.  Please check with the parent first… you never know how Junior reacts to sugar, things could get ugly – fast.

Manners and etiquette – it all boils down to making people feel comfortable.  By doing your due diligence to prepare your child for appropriate behavior in your workplace:  you will help to make him or her feel comfortable, and you will hopefully help to make your co-workers feel more comfortable as well.

Some are saying that Distracted Parenting is having a direct correlation on the rise in injuries and emergency room visits for small children.  An article that I recently found is full of information about how our technology devices really do “distract” us.

I know how I often think I’m capable of “multitasking”.  After reading this article – I’m not so certain.

Here are some interesting excerpts.

Ira Hyman, a professor at Western Washington University who specializes in human memory and cognition, contends that mobile devices are more distracting for parents than radio, conversation and other outside-the-home diversions of yesteryear. Scientists aren’t exactly sure why, he says, but when a person is using a device, “you can have something pass directly in front of you and your eyes may see it but it doesn’t really enter your awareness.”

Psychologist Kathy Hirsh-Pasek of Temple University recently had students observe 30 parents and their children in public places. In almost every case, she says, the parent interrupted an activity with the child to use a device. “In one case a parent let go of her kid’s hand in the middle of a big street in Philadelphia in order to check a text message,” she says.

This article is another great reminder of the importance (and safety) of good-old-fashioned “face-time”.

Click here for the full article.

Photo Credit:  The Online Mom

How many of you are going to try something like this at your next gathering?

How can you modify this idea to fit your situation?

I would love to hear your ideas.  Jump over to my Facebook page to share you thoughts.

Photo courtesy of: Southern Living Magazine

If you like to get into the spirit of the day and you’re busy scheming and planning the perfect prank,  ask yourself  “how would I feel if this joke were played on me?”  Also, keep in mind the timing of your prank.  It may be April Fool’s Day on the calendar, but if you’re timing is wrong and if your prank is unprofessional – you may end up being the Fool.

How do you get your family to the table?

Here is a post from the archives that I thought you might enjoy:

I know I get caught up in “getting things done”.  So much so, that I often forget how important it is to stop and take a few short minutes to write a note.  I’ve added to my calendar every Monday, to “start my week off on the write note” and actually put the pen to the paper and send an old-fashioned note to someone.  I’ve also tried to be more aware of little pockets of time when I can take advantage of the opportunity to write a note.

One such opportunity presented itself the other day.

I cannot remember the last time this actually happened.  So instead of waking him when we arrived at the store, I let him sleep a bit longer.  I turned off the car, turned off the radio and reached for my handy dandy “repurposed” day-timer and was able to get caught up on some long overdue correspondence.

Needless to say, when the Cub awoke from his nap, he was refreshed and ready to go… and believe it or not, the time spent writing the notes was a just as relaxing for me.

I encourage you to take a minute during Spring Break this week and write an old-fashioned note to someone.  If you are traveling and didn’t take stationery, check with your hotel, or look for a stationery store.  Let me know how it goes!

Click here to read more about how you can “repurpose” your old day-timer.