A lot of people these days don't really want kids at their wedding, which can feel tough as a parent. Trust me, I get it. But it can still be tough. Leaving your kids to go have fun can sometimes leave you with feelings of guilt, but it can also very much simplify things assuming you have a reliable babysitter or family member to watch them. Conversely, going to a big fun wedding with your kids can be a lot of fun, but it can also lead to a lot of tough choices and stress for you. Picking out outfits, packing distractions to make sure they don't ruin the ceremony and just generally making sure they're okay in a busy situation can all be difficult to manage while you and your partner also manage to have a little bit of fun. Here are a few ways to tackle bringing your kids with you to a wedding.
I know that in real life you aren't supposed to constantly distract your kids so that they stay calm and content, but this isn't a real life situation. During the ceremony, all you need to worry about is making sure your kids don't make too much noise or cause a scene that could put a damper on the whole event. Distractions are an excellent way to do that. Distractions can really come in the form of anything, whether it be an awesome personalized coloring book or a healthy snack. The important thing here is that you have a distraction readily available so that you can get them to your child ASAP when things start to go south. Remember, it isn't about being the perfect parent, it's about damage control.
Coming up with some creative game ideas can be a really awesome way to stave off any tantrums. The games can be as simple or complex as you want them to be, the important thing is that your kids know the rules of the game beforehand. An important part of determining the rules is making sure your kids know that whoever wins gets a reward. Make it obvious and make it known. Whether you're playing "whoever spots the most blue shirts gets an ice cream cone" or "whoever has the best dance moves gets a new toy" the actual game doesn't matter too much as long as there is a clear set of rules and a clear reward system for the winner. Check out this link for some awesome game recommendations.
Make sure your kids know exactly what you're doing and where you're going ahead of time. Remind them in the days and weeks before the wedding that you are going to Mike and Sarah's wedding on Main Street. Make sure your kids know exactly who these people are by showing them pictures and letting them know how and why you became friends with them. If possible, spend some time with the couple before their big day so the kids have some semblance of who they are and why they're important.
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It's that time of year again, the time where you have no idea what to get any of your relatives. While the holiday season can be so much fun, it can also be quite stressful for many people. Not only can it be difficult to determine what to get all the special people in your life, but once you do figure out what to get them, it can be pretty expensive! It can be just as tough to shop for little kids! Getting them clothes works, but they'll outgrow them. Getting them toys works, but they will get tired of them eventually.
Something a bit out of the box that can be a great option is books! Kids can read books over and over and let their minds create awesome pictures of the characters and insert themselves into different adventures! Giving a child the gift of literature can do so much for their long term development and short term enjoyment. We love the way books can really open up a child's mind and allows them to unlock areas of their brain that they cannot unlock with TV and video games. Books and stories are an amazing and timeless gift that kids and adults of all ages will enjoy forever.
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This whole story was inspiring to me because the guy just went after something that he wanted to do, and not many people have the courage to do that. I feel like we all of the idea that you go to school, get a job, eventually retire, and that's just how it goes, but it really does not have to be that. There is nothing wrong with going that route, but I don't know where we all got the idea that we had to do things a certain way. Our lives are all just that, ours. We can do whatever we choose with our lives, and it is always inspiring for me to hear about someone who shaped their own reality.
]]>My little cousin, who is 7 years old, spotted a shiny gold egg before they started the hunt and had his heart set on that egg. There were probably 500 other eggs, but he only wanted that one egg. So of course another kid got to that egg before he could get there and he was heartbroken. After they had pretty much wrapped up the egg hunt, he went up to the kid who got the egg, and offered to trade all of the eggs he had found for this one shiny egg. I was having a really hard time laughing quietly, and he gave me the coldest look I have ever seen, opened the shiny egg, and started jumping around cheering because there was a Reese's PB cup inside. Kids are so awesome.
]]>Now I already know how my sister is so this eloquent exclamation comes as not much of a surprise for me, but honestly. Did she really have to say that? There are things you say and things you just don't say, no matter the circumstance. Maybe she did have a terrible engagement, but guess what? Don't say that to a newly engaged couple. Like, ever. I just don't understand why she could have possibly thought that was a good thing to say. Ugh. Guess what though! We now have our whole entire wedding planned and it was not that bad. And I'm the guy, so I'm the one who is supposed to hate it. So just because you have a terrible experience with something, don't say dumb things like that. It's really not that hard.
]]>I know, I know. This is going to sound like advertising. Well, I mean, it is advertising, so that's why it sounds like that, but we really do have awesome stuff. I am getting married in September and we have about 9,000 flower girls and ring bearers (I thought there could only be one of those) and they are all getting our personalized books and coloring books as gifts for helping us out with the wedding. Would I give the kids in my wedding lame gifts (I might, but my fiancée wouldn't)? I even have my own personalized notebook (they aren't just for kids) that I use all the time and I love that it has my name on it so I can yell at anyone who touches it! We take every step when creating our products to make sure your child is at the forefront of everything we do. Our products are created right here in the USA using nothing but the highest quality materials. I know all of this because I get to see all of it go down! And don't worry, if we screw something up, we will do it over again in time for you not to get mad at us. We prefer when you don't get mad at us, it's just how we are. So come check out our site and see if there is anything that suits the little cuties in your life. I'll make sure they are awesome when you get them!
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