Yippee!!!
This is the week leading up to Mother's Day!!!
And we're celebrating all of you hard-working moms with a giveaway from "This Thing Called Family" EVERY DAY this week!
Starting TODAY!
SEVEN giveaways! One winner every day!
Today's giveaway is this piece of wall art from our new mom rules: "Try New Things!"
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| measures 9x16, made from wood composite and canvas |
Trying new things is always a bit of a challenge for 2 out of 3 of my boys (if we're talking about food.) My most adventurous eater is strangely enough the one most likely to be nervous or hesitant when it comes to new experiences. Sometimes you never can tell who's going to do what or what new thing will be an issue, kids are notoriously surprising like that! Recently it was our 5 year old who struggled with a new thing: he started soccer (which he LOVED and seriously rocked at last year) and was super pumped all the first day right up until he got into the van and then it was tears all the way there and "I don't want to play soccerrrrr!!!" But we carried onward, quickly realizing we were not even going to keep talking about it. We weren't going to get an answer as to why (we never did figure it out and sometimes there is no reason why!) Once he got there he dried his tears, jumped right in and was back to loving it again, just as we knew (ok, hoped) he would! He even got picked up and spun around by a little teammate when he scored a goal!
TO ENTER:
*Tell us about a time when you had your kids try something new.
OR
Tell us about a time YOU tried something new! (We think it's good for everybody to try new things once in awhile, don't you?!)
*Share this giveaway via facebook, twitter or pinterest.
*One entry per person, please.
*Be sure to leave a way to contact you, or we'll have to choose a different winner!
*Winner will be chosen randomly by the random number generator.
*Winner will be chosen at 10pm TONIGHT!
*A new giveaway will start tomorrow! So come back in the morning!
When my oldest was about 5 years old, we took a trip to Orlando. We were in a restaurant in the WDW Hollywood Studios theme park. His meal came with green beans as a side dish. He had always refused to try them at home. The waitress kept on and on with asking him to try them. He crossed his arms and flatly refused. As we finished the meal, the waitress announced that dessert came with our meals and began taking orders for it. My son quickly pushed the beans aside and asked for an ice cream sunday. The waitress told him that he would need to at least try the beans. He took a nibble that wasn't even noticeable on the bean and then pushed the plate to her. She didn't say another word and removed his plate from the table. He was quite relieved until she returned with dessert for everyone else. His was the last to come out of the kitchen and when it did, it was an ice cream sundae complete with chocolate syrup, whipped cream and a few green beans on top. It was hilarious. He was so stinking mad! He is now almost 14 and although he will not eat the green part of the bean , he picks the bean out of the middle and eats them!
ReplyDeleteWe have a rule with our older son that he must try a (real-sized) bite of whatever we're having. After that, he can say no thank you but he must try it!
ReplyDeleteMy two older boys had no desire to play baseball, but I pushed and pushed and now they both love it!! They both were so happy that I stuck with the encouragement!
ReplyDeleteMy kids are so young (and subsequently addicted to chicken nuggets and PBJ), that I just try to get them to try new foods! Lookin' forward to the week of giveaways!
ReplyDeleteI shared my love of hiking in Yosemite with my son...then 13... big lesson learned was whining is not good thing.
ReplyDeleteMy email is tammywar2000@comcast.net...i also shared.
ReplyDeleteI went skydiving! It was right before I got pregnant with my first child. It was awesome! I was mostly scared that I'd land on my ankle or something and break it, but it was a great landing. I'm glad I tried it when I did, because even though I loved it I would not have the guts to do it again.
ReplyDeleteessingtonjen@gmail.com
We just tried a new cauliflower au gratin side dish the other night. I made a big deal about it with the boys, since we're kind of in a vegetable rut, and I thought it might be good to get another side dish into the rotation. The boys tolerated it; I went on and on about how GREAT it was. And it was great - the first night. BUT it made a 9x13 size pan, and we had half left over for the next day. The next day, it smelled and tasted AWFUL. The cauliflower was dried out and chewy, and the 'au gratin' part had curdled. I can't get the smell out of my memory, and I don't think I can ever make it again knowing how badly the leftovers taste. And smell. Did I mention how badly it smelled??
ReplyDeleteI took my sisters and I on a hot air balloon ride. We are all afraid of heights, and we all loved it!
ReplyDeleteWhile on an internship in Midland, Michigan during my MBA journey, I went skydiving. When I think back on it I still can't believe I did it. I remember being in the little plane getting ready to jump out and thinking, "what am I doing?! I can't do this, I can't do this." I look back at the instructor and he's like are you ready? I said, I guess so!!! The rest was thrilling and exciting. I still wondering what in the world got into me to even try that but it makes a great story.
ReplyDeleteDara Hickman = MsDondeshay
Deletedara-hickman@uiowa.edu
For some reason I can't come up with a specific example...at least not one that seems blogworthy. Seems like as a mom I'm always trying new things (any advice you have for a 5, 3 and 1 year old I will take and try). I thought of one!!! Haven't actually tried it yet but I just signed up yesterday for a 4 week fitness class that meets at 5:30 AM three times a week. Now that is trying something new :)
ReplyDeleteThis year our boys entered the world of organized team sports - something they both said they wanted but they have struggled each in their own way but are growing & improving and can't wait to go each week! :) (aligibbons589@gmail.com)
ReplyDeleteWe really like to try new foods at our house. Our rule is two bites before you decide to like it or not like it.
ReplyDeleteThat's our rule, too. :)
DeleteA few weeks ago, I made "taco lasagna" for my family so we could all sit down for the entire meal together, rather than having somebody constantly getting up from the table for toppings, etc. (It's just tortilla shells layered with taco meat, tomatoes, cheese, etc and then baked in the oven- just like lasagna) So I told the kids we were having "taco lasagna" (two things they like very much), and immediately they told me they didn't like it (because they had never heard of it before). I made them try it anyway... and guess what? They liked it! -Katie Doucette katie@shopwhatitis.com
ReplyDeleteMy daughter decided to be a vegan and so my husband and I have been trying vegan foods lately so we can all eat together
ReplyDeleteI remember trying sushi on a date once....needless to say I no longer am with that guy ;)
ReplyDeleteAnd I think you know how to contact me but just in case--cynthianodland@yahoo.com :)
DeleteOk, a bit embarrassing but the first one that came to my mind. My girl scout troop was taking horsebaking riding lessons and I am a bit nervous around horses. All my friends loved them, but not me. My mom encouraged me to go because everyone in the troop was going and I kinda loved getting the badges.... and a horseback riding badge... how cool. So i went, the horse was nice but half way around the trail he bucked me off and sat on me ( or almost ... i think he sat on my shoe ) - i just remember feeling so embarrassed and all the girls laughed. My mom, when i got home just told me she was proud of me for trying something new. Gotta love our mamas.... mine will be coming to visit me this weekend. So excited!!!
ReplyDeleteoops.... contact for Lindsay Ostrom
ReplyDeletelindsayostrom@yahoo.com
Let's see... I remember talking my youngest son in to going on the Tower of Terror at Disney when he was 7. Not such a success- he was scared to death. We made it up to him by riding Space Mountain about a dozen times in a row because it was his favorite ride. He is 18 now and LOVES roller coasters, so no long term damage was done!
ReplyDeleteOne time I made taco bake for dinner - none of the kids liked it AT ALL they even made up a song about me never making it again :) hee hee
ReplyDeleteI didn't try brussels sprouts until about year and a half ago. My lovely english grams boils them and I've been haunted by the smell my whole life. Finally learned how to cook them correctly and they're delish!! :) Shared on pinterest also!
ReplyDeleteI really started last year to try eating healthy and to loose weight and i lost over 40lbs and was really healthy and am so glad i i did!
ReplyDeleteOne night my son tried sauerkraut and now he can't get enough of it! I love when trying new things leads to loving something you'd least expect!
ReplyDeleteOh good, I thought I was too late.....my latest "try new things" thing has been creating...trying to use up as much of all my art supplies as possible...trying to be thrifty, but also trying to stretch my creativity...I have so much stuff just sitting around so it only makes sense to use it...all that expensive paper I had to use for my drawing classes in college is getting cut up and repurposed into new art journals....it's actually kinda therapeutic letting go of all of it and making new :)
ReplyDelete