Anger is a problem in many families. One of the ways you can address it is by having some honest and even fun conversations about anger in family life. Here’s an activity that can launch your family into an interesting discussion. Who knows where the interaction will lead you. You might have this discussion around the dinner table or part of an evening devotion time.

Begin with this statement:  Let’s all share some pet peeves that we each have. A pet peeve is something that others do that makes you mad or easily irritated. Other people may not be bothered at all but you have a hard time whenever this thing happens.

One mom said, “Here are some of mine. I don’t like to see towels on the floor in the bathroom or bedrooms. I get angry when I lose my keys, or when the car gas tank is on E after Dad drives it.”

Dad said, “That’s interesting. I didn’t know that was one of your pet peeves. You know, one of mine is when my tools aren’t returned to the toolbox or when you drive my car and don’t put the seat back in place.”

The kids smiled as they saw their parents expressing pet peeves and were able to think of some themselves, borrowed toys, irritating noises or touching, and being interrupted while on the computer.

Then you might talk about being tolerant and thoughtful of each other. This discussion can be very practical and lead to many helpful thoughts and ideas about anger in daily family life.

This parenting tip is taken from the book, Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes, In You and Your Kids by Dr Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN,BSN.

For church going folk…it can be a day of receiving their spiritual food for the week and fellowshipping with their like-minded peers.

For families with children, this is often a morning of mayhem and chaos.

I would know. As a mom of four kids who attends church without a spouse, getting ready for church with kids is not always a spiritual endeavor.  Well, I guess it is if you count slamming doors and yelling for items such as a misplaced shoe or my sanity.

After years of practice, I have found these tips to help ease the Sunday morning chaos and develop a morning of somewhat peaceful enjoyment. Follow these simple rules to ensure a chaotic- free Sunday morning which will leave you and your family in a great frame of mind to attend your place of worship.

1. Give your kids a bath the night before church.
2. Pick out your clothes and their clothes the night before and lay them out so they know what they are wearing (and can even dress themselves, if they are old enough). This includes socks, shoes and hair bows. I’m not kidding about the socks. Make sure they match. Boys under the age of fourteen tend to be colorblind.

3. If you allow your kids to color, draw or read at church, have an activity bag ready with all the supplies. Hang it on the doorknob of the door you will be leaving from in the morning.

4. If you have a baby restock the diaper bag the night before church. It’s no fun to have a Baby Blowout Diaper situation and realize you have zero diapers and zero wipes in the bag.
5. Wake up early enough to get everyone ready. It’s tempting to sleep in on Sundays, but make sure you are up early enough to have some “Mommy Time” before waking everyone up.

6. Make an easy breakfast that is fast and clean-up is easy such as cereal, toast, fruit, oatmeal, etc.
7. Make sure everyone has their teeth and hair brushed and that they are all dressed.

8. Make sure everything from the activity bag, diaper bag, purse, Church materials are by the front door and ready to go when you are.

~Jaime Kay Chase

Richelle Killian

I know how limited and valuable time can be, after all, I am the mom of two very busy little boys. It seems the first thing to fall by the wayside when kids enter the picture is the level in which we were accustomed to caring for ourselves. Regular haircuts, pedicures, manicures and facials all seem like a distant memory and we are lucky to have a day that our hair is semi-styled, we have a tiny bit of make-up on and our clothes are clean, matching and spit up free.

It’s taken me a few years to get it down but I have a few suggestions and time saving tips to help you feel and look great everyday. To start with, the basis of great skin is great skin care. You need to cleanse, tone and moisturize everyday and ideally twice a day. The products you choose matter as well, try to find something that doesn’t have alcohol in it as it is incredibly drying and will sap the life right out of your skin. There are a lot more ingredients to avoid but that will be a whole column in itself.

For make up it’s best to keep it under five products and five minutes. On freshly moisturized skin apply some under eye concealer with your finger using a light dabbing motion, Apply to it both the upper and lower lid. Next using either a blush or light bronzer, smile and apply it to the apple of your cheeks in an upward sweeping motion. Apply a little more to your brow bone to highlight your eyes. To finish it off use a lash curler and with little squeezes work from the inner to outer lash. Top it off with a quick coat of mascara or for more time savings get your lashes tinted. It only takes 15 minutes and lasts for about six weeks!

Clean polished hair should be easy as well. You can brush it and spritz it with a light shine spray, then pull it back into a low ponytail and your done, easy as that!

Clothing doesn’t have to be complicated either. A nice fitting pair of jeans, a couple cute tops and ballet flats (or cute winter boots for that matter!) can go a long way. Having a mix and match wardrobe is ideal because you can grab anything in a hurry and always look pulled together without much fuss. If you feel up to it you can throw in a few accessories but they certainly are not needed.

With as busy as we mothers are, it helps our mental well being if we can feel a little better about the way we look. When the world is whirling around us, the kids are screaming and the house looks like a tornado whipped through it, we can rest in knowing at least when we walk by the mirror, we look like we have it all together.

Richelle Killian is a mother of two wonderful boys and has been licensed in aesthetics since 2003. She owns Essential Esthetics by Richelle and currently researches new and exciting developments in the skin care and beauty industry. Visit her website to learn more about Essential Esthetics by Richelle.