Is your phone full of pictures of your most prized possessions—those gorgeous kids of yours? Do you need ideas on how to manage pictures of your kids? Currently, my “All Photos” album on my iPhone has 9,618 pictures. About 96 percent of those pictures are of my two boys. Yes, I have to pay for extra storage, and I desperately need to pick my favorites and delete the duplicates. Are you like me and don’t want all those pictures to just sit there on your phone or Facebook timeline never to be seen again? Do you need a better way to manage pictures of your kids? If so, this article was written for you.
Let me start off with a warning: it won’t be easy. The job of organizing and using all the incredible pictures of your kids will take time. But those amazing shots you got of them climbing at the park, wearing an outfit they picked out, braving the waves at the beach, their firsts you don’t ever want to forget . . . first steps, first haircut, first time riding a bike, first loose tooth, first day of school etc., those pictures should be seen again and enjoyed. If you take the time to do something with them now, they will be cherished for many, many years to come. Your kids will thank you for all the pictures they have to look back on and remember favorite moments from their childhood that will one day feel like a lifetime ago.
I know your time is super limited, and you’re probably like me with thousands of photos that you need to stop ignoring. So, let’s dive into seven steps you need to start taking to manage pictures of your kids NOW!
Coziness for our Cats
Cats love to be cozy. I find our cats in interesting spots sometimes all for the sake of being cozy. Our big Maine Coon is notorious for trying to fit into small spaces. Having a comfy area where they can rest is just what they need and love!
Disclosure: I received a complimentary product to facilitate my review. Regardless, all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.
2-in-1 Tube Cat Mat and Bed
The Pets and More Tube Cat Mat and Bed unzips to convert quickly from a tube bed to a full size mat/bed. Cats can lounge or play in the tube and enjoy some comfy cozy time! It has an electrostatic plush material that attracts shedding hair to help keep floors and furniture fur-free. It has a self-heating thermal core to keep cats warm.
For our review we received the Pet Cat Tube, 2 in 1 Tube Cat Mat and Bed.
Bart, our Maine Coon, claimed the Tube Cat Mat right away. I had set it out on our table and zipped it into the Tube Mat to get a good look at it. We had to run a quick errand, and when we came home he was already snug in the Tube.
Because he’s a Maine Coon he is fairly large. He’s 15lbs, and I’m not sure of his height, but I know when he stretches up his paws easily reach the top of the kitchen counter. So he is pretty long, but he fits snugly. He loves it!
The outer material is pretty sturdy, and the inside is nice and soft. It is easy to zip up and unzip so it can be used as a nice sized mat. Then the cats can even lay on it together! They both definitely favor the Tube Bed style, though. I love that it offers options!
Overall, the Tube Cat Mat has definitely been a big hit with our cats! It offers a nice, cozy space for quiet time and sleeping as well as a bed where they can cuddle with each other! It’s soft but sturdy and easy to wash as well because it’s machine-washable!
The 2-in-1 Tube Cat Mat and Bed can be purchased on Amazon.
Why it's Important for Kids to Understand the Definition of Friend
From the time our kids are still little we emphasize the importance of knowing all about strangers. Who they are, what you should and shouldn’t do with and around strangers, etc. But what about friends? When it comes to kids understanding friends, there is often this gray area between strangers and friends, which then leads to a gray area on what is OK and not OK when it comes to those that fall in this area. This isn’t a deep, philosophical post about our adult understanding of what is a “true friend” versus an acquaintance. This is about young children. It’s about our kids understanding where that line is drawn between the gray area and friends. Why? Because it often is unclear but it really matters!
As a mom of special needs children, I try to be extra cautious when it comes to strangers, friends, etc. especially with our oldest who is on the Autism Spectrum and has a harder time with comprehending relationships. When we had a scary incident this summer with our daughter, though, who has a pretty good grasp on this (or at least we thought), I realized we’re not always so clear on what a “friend” really is.
We were at the park with a group of friends, and most of the kids were going to play T-Ball. She asked me if she could play with her friends over there and points to where they’re playing T-Ball. She is at an age where it’s OK to go and play with friends, so I say yes, of course, assuming she’s referring to our friends over there. When we were getting ready to leave and I couldn’t find her anywhere, my heart dropped. I was terrified! She was a little farther down with a group of girls I’ve never seen before. Sure they looked like they were having fun, but I was asking why in the world she wasn’t with our friends. When she explained she was with her friends, I was shocked. She just met them! What made her think they were her friends?
Her answer? They were playing on the playground, and they were nice to her.
I fear this misunderstanding was caused by something we’ve also done since our kids were young, and something I often see other parents do as well. In fact, it’s in their books and on TV shows. The message we often send is that a friend is a child they’ve met somewhere and got along with. In fact, I’d even venture to say many shows and books even refer to other children as “friends” just to encourage being nice. Why can’t we encourage our kids to be nice to others without calling them “friends?”
I look back and think of all the times I said, “Did you say bye to your new friend?” Then I wonder why they consider someone they just met their friend? Adults they just meet are strangers but kids they just met are friends? I feel like that’s the message we’ve been sending. What about their parents or whoever they may be with? We don’t know them, and they are still strangers.
We’re so blessed everything was OK, but the thoughts that ran through my head were terrifying. As a parent, it’s hard not to beat ourselves up for mistakes, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t learn from our mistakes – and even the mistake of others. It’s always hard to put ourselves out there, but if my experience will help others realize they may be making a similar mistake, it is worth sharing it.
Kids Understanding Friends
We truly need to think about it. What message are we sending? I definitely learned the hard way we’ve been sending a message that is completely unclear. There is a gray area in between strangers and friends, and it’s important that we make that very clear to our children. Call it what you prefer – acquaintance or even “buddy” (though make it clear there is a difference between a “buddy” and a “friend.”). Then set boundaries on what is OK and not OK with them.
Some healthy boundaries may include things like: It’s OK to talk and play with them while under your supervision, and It’s OK to ask us to talk to their parents about getting to know them better by getting their contact information and planning get togethers. After all, we would ultimately love if they do make new friends!
So what defines friends? Perhaps your definition may be more or less strict as ours, but some general guidelines we’ve shared with our kids are:
- You aren’t meeting them for the first time. Meeting someone for the first time automatically means they aren’t a friend. Friendships (and the trust that goes along with it) aren’t built in a day.
- You know their name (and we know their parents’ names). Our kids aren’t very good at remembering names, so this may not be applicable for most, but if our kids know their names, it means we’ve interacted with them pretty frequently, but it’s important that we know their parents as well!
- We have some way to contact them. Although I’m not a “phone person,” phone is definitely the best contact information to have. Besides, most people can text now! 😉
Whatever you decide works for your family, I can’t stress enough how important it is for kids to truly understand what a friend is and to have appropriate boundaries based on how well you know them. It may seem innocent enough for kids to call all other kids their friends, but it’s important to remember this can be confusing and ultimately unsafe. It’s important to remember – it’s not just about the kids – we really need to know their parents as well!
How do you help your children distinguish between a friend and an acquaintance?
Fun Personalized Pet Accessories
I think I’ve shared many times how much I love personalized products. I’ve also shared how much we love our pets as they are part of our family. So I was definitely excited to see the personalized pet accessories by Hot Dog Collars.
Disclosure: I received complimentary products to facilitate my review. Regardless, all opinions are my own.
Hot Dog Collars is the worldwide leader in online pet accessories including dog collars, ID Tags, Licensed Pet gear, and more. Their mission is “happy dogs and happy owners,” and it carries on through their new RUFF (Rescue Us For Freedom) program. They are partnering with charities, pet rescues and shelters, and similar groups to spread the word about these great organizations and the work they do. They reach millions of dog owners every year and expect the impact on the selected organizations to be significant.
As a former dog trainer and pet parent of rescued pets, I can really appreciate this!
For our review, we received a personalized dog collar, Dog Leash, and RubIt HEART Dog Tag Clip. We also received a couple of treats with our package!
I was really impressed by the variety of prints available for the collars and leashes. Our pup, Caprice, is a Cane Corso (Italian Mastiff) and weighs in at 125lbs. Finding cute collars in her size is always a challenge. If I don’t find something really cute and girly, everybody refers to her as “he.” So I like to make it obvious she’s a “she.” So I chose both a pretty collar and cute leash!
Of course, I also love that her name is right on the collar, so if the pretty collar isn’t a clue maybe her name will be! The Large collar is a nice size ranging from 20″ – 28″ which means it will actually fit many large breeds. It is a 1″ width and opens and closes with a quick clasp closure (also referred to as a side release clasp). It is a nice, sturdy collar. The only issue we had is because she is itching so much right now due to her allergies, the collar kept getting loose and I would have to readjust it. I have been informed this isn’t a common problem.
The RubIt HEART Dog Tag Clip is amazing. In fact, it was just what we were needing. We got a beautiful tag for her a couple months ago, and I just couldn’t put it on the collar. It was so difficult. The tag loops are so large on the bigger collars it’s hard to get those little rings on it. Now I am able to attach it to the tag clip, and it slips easily onto the collar. It’s easy to remove as well. This is one of those products I wish I had known about sooner!
I absolutely love the owls and flowers on the leash. The leashes also have various sizes, so I chose the large, of course. It is a really sturdy material with a traditional clasp. It has a loop handle and feels nice in my hand. At 5′ long, it’s a great leash for both casual walks, runs, and even training.
Overall, I am loving the Hot Dog Collars products. They are well made, look great, and there are so many great options. The variety of personalized products available is so nice. Not only can you find accessories that look nice, but they can be unique specifically for your pet!
For More Information:
Visit the Hot Dog Collars Website
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