Summer Activities with the Family

School is out and the kids are enjoying sleeping in and lazy days.  I am getting ready for the statement, "I'm bored".  As my kids get older it is harder to keep them busy in the summer months.  They have sports camps, but fewer than when they were younger.  This is a time for exploring.  They can work odd jobs and see what they like; yard work, painting, selling lemonade...  We can fish and hike and swim and kayak and maybe they will become interested in nature or preservation or photography.  We can go see outdoor theater and concerts and they may want to get on stage or just find a new interest in the arts.  Summer presents a time to discover.  I am going to sit down and plan some trips to the science museum, the beach, the mountains and allow for some down time.  What do you do with your family in the summer?  What are your greatest summer memories?

Mothers Day Tips for Helping Kids Find Balance

Kids are so busy these days with sports and other activities.  School is more demanding and just like most Mom's kids need balance.  They need time to play and ride their bikes.  They need time to do their homework and to feel supported and successful.  They need time to hang out with friends and downtime by themselves.  We all need family time at dinner, doing something fun or just being together.  So how do we help them find balance?

 1. We have a rule, one sport per season.  It is tempting to play soccer and lacrosse, but you and they will likely not have a free night or a day on the weekend to do yard work or go for a hike. When did sports become so all encompassing?  The commitment of an 11 year old to a sport including every long weekend to me is crazy.  Long weekends should be time for family, extended family and friends.  If we spent this much time and effort or academics, music or art we would have some pretty talented kids!  It is important to get the physical activity and to be part of a team, but it feels like it has gone overboard.  

2. Plan play dates or encourage your kids to call a neighbor to play.  Them let them play.  We are lucky to live in a neighborhood where the kids play wiffle ball and kick ball and they make forts in the woods.  If you don't, meet someone at a playground or a baseball field for kick ball.  Get them started and walk away, a lot of social life skills are learned in free play.

3. Once a month plan a family event.  A friend of mine used to call it "forced family fun".  When we hike my kids complain on the way to the trail, but are happy and running ahead after about 10 minutes.  Expose them to different activities, a museum, a concert, any event that seems different and interesting.  I think it is our job to help them find their interests and talents, by having all kinds of experiences we not only form bonds but they may find something they love to do.

4. Set a time and place for homework and be around to help.  My son Ryan had a 5th grade teacher that suggested that they have all of their supplies in one easy place.  She also used homework as a way to learn time management and organization.  I need to work on this one with the kids!

5. Downtime and time alone are as important as healthy nutrition.  Our kids need to know how to relax.  It is not a waste of time, it is important to let them find ways to be comfortable with quiet time.  

Happy  Mothers Day!  Follow Your Bliss, Kristan

Great art work and music

I wanted to take the time to thank Anarita Droukas for the amazing art work and photography on the Bliss CD, "Seconds in a Minute".  Our friend Adam Ezra saw it yesterday and was really impressed with the art work.  The cover is actually a photograph.  It is called painting with light.
Anarita had the camera on a tripod and left the shutter open for 30 seconds while we used Dorcy flash lights to write the letters.  It was a blast and it took a few tries to get the letters the same size and level.  For the back cover we traced our instruments using glow sticks.  Thanks again to Anarita, you can check out her work at droukas.com
Music and art go hand in hand.  Get out and go see some live music, check out a museum or go to a gallery.  Or even better get inspired and make some music, dance, sing along or get out your camera and try painting with light!  Share your art!

Live Music in the Winter Months

There is some great live music available throughout the winter.  Make plans to go out and see a favorite band or check out a new band you heard about.  Ski areas are great in the winter for apre ski and late night bands.  Bliss is playing at Mt Sunapee on February 11th for the WXRV Ski and Ride Event.  The River has some great ski deals and as always supports local up and coming artists www.wxrv.com
We are going to see Charlie and the Freaks and Truffle this weekend at the Stone Church in Newmarket.  I am looking forward to trying their new kitchen and dancing to the Truffle Groove!  I may also be going to see Railroad Earth with friends down in Boston in February and of course there is the Furthur tour in the spring to look forward to.
We think of summer as the big time to see live shows, but winter is a great time to get out and get together with friends and go see some live music, it warms the heart!
Bliss will be announcing shows at Three Chimneys and the Stone Church soon www.bliss4.net
Who are you going to go see?  Any band suggestions?

find your bliss ~follow your bliss
Kristan