Newsletter

Happy New Year! It is amazing how quickly, and yet how slowly, time moves on. It seems as though it was just last New Year’s Eve and everyone was so excited for 2020 with its perfectly aligned holidays on weekends. What a shock it was in March when our “perfect year” became a perfect mess!

What will you do this year to make it memorable? What can you think of from this past year that might have been a great reset or better situation for your family due to lockdowns? All too often, we make lofty new year resolutions that are beyond our control, ability, or are unattainable. Think small and consider making resolutions for the first half of the year, and then, regroup for the remainder of the year.

Try sitting down with your family to make some family goals. Planning a family road trip, travel outside the U.S. or a trip to see family is a great way to get the whole family involved in ways that everyone wants to spend their time. Research fun things to do on your vacation and plan a budget. Older children can learn the value of money by giving them a budget for a fun item that has a cost and then making them research how to make it happen. The public library also has great resources for travel and ideas that you might not find easily on the internet.

Maybe you have the old standby of getting fit or losing weight as your resolution. Try involving the family on this one! Planning a weekly

Try involving the family on this one! Planning a weekly outing that encourages everyone to be active is an easy and attainable goal to get your personal goals jumpstarted. Children learn their habits by watching your habits. By getting fit in fun ways, you will encourage your children to lead healthier lives when they become adults. Think family bike rides, nature walks, or impromptu soccer game at the park. There are many ways to get the whole family on board.

Out of the experience of the lockdown, you may have found that less activities is better for your family. You may want to think about cutting down on your expectations for your extra curriculars and incorporate more family board game nights and time together. A fun activity could be trying a new food every week. You could either find local restaurants that make different cuisine or find a small Asian market or the like to find unique foods. Even picky eaters may try new foods if you let them pick the foods and make it a cultural experience. If you read about a country, listen to their music, see what traditional clothes look like, etcetera, you will have an immersive experience of a culture and nation without leaving your home!

No matter what you and your family decide to make of this year, remember that your family is the best gift of all. Time together is more important than things and memories together last a lifetime! Make 2021 YOUR best year and don’t worry about comparing to others.

Gradually introduce broccoli into your family meals by chopping it up in fine, small bits and mixing it in with scrambled eggs, rice, muffins, and soups. Mixing broccoli with dishes that your children already enjoy will help them grow familiar with the taste and smell of it. This technique may not work for older children who are more keen on understanding what exactly is on their plate and that’s ok. It’s recommended that older children who have difficulty wanting to eat broccoli be made part of the cooking process.

You can do so by teaching them how to prep, steam and season the vegetables. Children who help cook family meals are more likely to eat what is made and enjoy it.

The key to making sure that your children grow to love fruits and vegetables alike is to not force them to eat it. As is the case for broccoli. With the new year beginning there’s no better time to help your kids to love these little green trees.

- Jordyn Ruiz

February 2021 >