#MyGoodLife Begins With An After School Schedule And Time To Connect #Shop

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Momma Told Me: Independent doesn't mean alone.

The saying, it takes a tribe to raise a child. It's true. But it's even nicer when the child can be part of the tribe and help raise them-self. No, no, I'm not talking about leaving the eldest with your youngest and taking a weekend off to drive up to Napa; I'm talking about the accomplishment and pride that comes from watching your baby mature and grow into a responsible little human. As we steam-roll closer to the 'teens' every day, I'm always delighted to see the childlike wonder sparkle between the glimmers of a beautiful, smart, young lady Sabrina has become. And, as she prepares for middle school this year, I know that our already hectic schedules will only grow more so as she joins drama club (I can't wait to hear about those adventures) and continues to hone her afternoon skills of flute and bowling.

We have a few traditions in our family associated with back-to-school. One of them usually entails shopping a good month before the end-of-Summer rush (when the office supply aisle doesn't look like Armegeddon is imminent.) Another is to discuss the new additions to the upcoming year's chores and responsibility. This year there's been talk of opening a starter savings account, to build responsibility with money, and even instituting an allowance for taking on chores that are not exclusively hers. For example, there was a very long debate as to whether an individual should receive an incentive for making their own bed, or not. This was promptly ended with her mother asking, "So, who pays me to make my bed then?"

Unfortunately, the end of this Summer has been quite hectic, indeed. Her brand new baby brother (complete with new baby smell) was born 11 days ahead of schedule and grandma, and 13-year-old, uncle flew down to help out for the remainder of August. And, with a new puppy afoot, and uniforms to be bought, these past two weeks have flown by, and the first day of school is here. Thankfully, one of our focuses this year was helping Sabrina make choices about her afternoon snacks. Everyone knows to stay out of the way of a hungry child after school! We've even worked out a schedule.

When Sabrina gets home from school she'll have 30 minutes to make herself a snack of her choice- in this case they happen to be Ham and Cheese Hot Pockets and Juicy Juice 100% Fruit Juice. Then she heads downstairs to burn off the remaining energy from her end of day with some sort of physical activity. This helps her reset her mind and focus after a strenuous day at school. And, whether it's the hulu hoop, her favorite scooter, or roller skates, we're glad to know she's getting outdoor active time that promotes a healthy lifestyle. Then it's right back upstairs to sit down and dig into homework in a quiet room with no distractions.

Sabrina enjoys being able to pick out her favorite Hot Pocket from the 20+ varieties on hand at Walmart, but I love being able to save time and money with the 12 count value packs. We compromise and take turns choosing our favorite Nestle products- and spending time shopping for groceries as a family, and working on communication, is a priceless opportunity! I even let her try out her stirring hands in the kitchen with some creative and quick recipes found on the Nestle Flavorful Moments hub; I know they're bound to be good, because they were created by busy moms and caregivers just like me!

After homework is completed, it's time to sit down with her father and go over what was learned in school, and proof-check all of the day's assignments. Sabrina knows her dad is a big softie, so she likes to cuddle with mom and the new puppy for an adorable overload that's hard to say no to! Smart girl! Talking about the day's lessons, and reviewing homework together is just another way to take a time out to connect, and show, while we aren't still in school with her, we care about and understand what she is going through. While we may not all be able to sit down and share dinner every night at a table (though we try) we always schedule this time to connect as a family.

Having a routine that engages your child and challenges their independence really can help keep a family running smoothly and make more time for flavorful moments. #MyGoodLife is made

up of a large family of friends, and children that teach me something new everyday. As we head into a new school year I know we will face many unexpected challenges, but we will stick with our plan and make sure we have time to connect and grow, no matter what!

How do you find time to enjoy the good life moments with your family?

What Daughter Says: Let independent practices help create time for your family to connect outside of responsibilities.