Get $3 When You Sign Up for Swagbucks in March!

Want some extra boost for your budget this month?

If you haven't tried Swagbucks before, you can get a bonus $3 for signing up as my referral in March. Swagbucks is a rewards site where you earn points (called SB) for things you're probably doing online already, like searching, watching videos, discovering deals, and taking surveys. Then you take those points and exchange them for gift cards to places like Amazon, Starbucks, Walmart, Target, or PayPal cash.

When you sign up through me, you can earn an additional $3 bonus! Here's how:

1. Sign up using this link.

2. Earn 300 SB total before 4/1/18. You'll get a $3 (300 SB) bonus for it!

3. If you want even more bonuses, you'll get a $10 (1000 SB rebate) bonus for making your first shop purchase! That's in addition to the SB you earn for every dollar you spend.

That's it. It's super easy, and Swagbucks is for real. I use it myself, and I've earned hundreds of dollars in Swagbucks and have talked before about how I usually cash out in PayPal so I can use that money to sign my kids up for activities, make purchases for the household, and more!

School's Out, But Safety's Always in Session

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The alarm bell rings and kids cease to be the teacher’s problem. Once they are off the premises, it’s down to their legal guardians to pick up the slack. Moms sometimes wish they could be off the clock but they can’t because parenting is a full-time job. Even when they are in class, moms worry about their safety and how they can keep them secure. After the events of Parkland, Florida, children’s well-being is in the spotlight more than before. In fact, it’s mainly been highlighted after the 19 school shootings this year.

Out of sight, out of mind doesn’t apply which is why we can’t usher them onto the bus and switch off. As role models and guardians, it’s our job to ensure they are fit and healthy whether the school’s in or out of session. If you’re wondering how, check out the following, non-exhaustive advice.

Bus Or Car?

Because there are never enough hours in a day, moms and dads let their kids take the bus to school. As benign as it sounds, the experience can be daunting for little children. For one thing, coaches aren’t renowned for their reliability and safety certificates. Just getting on their may is a hazard for a small student. Mentally, it can be tough too because the journey to school is where bullies begin to develop. Remember that there are no invigilators and the kids are free to act how they please. The driver can get involved, but he or she isn’t going to step in because it isn’t their job. As a result, driving your son(s) or daughter(s) to class is often the best option as you’re in control physically and mentally. Be sure to drive safe and make everyone wear their seatbelts.

Internal Policies

Teachers and principals must care for their students, which is why school policies exist. In them, the authorities should detail how they and the children will react in an emergency situation. Thinking about Parkland, the advice should center on finding cover and trying to flee as quickly as possible. Shootings aren’t the only issues, however, as worsening weather has a role to play too. What happens when there is a flood or a wildfire? And, keep bullying in mind because it ranks #1 on the list of pupils’ problems. A mom has to read the policy at the start of every year and analyze what it says. Should the actions not be up to your standard, then a parent has the right to contact teachers and arrange a meeting.

External Policies

As well as the rules the school sets, there will be the ones which you have to teach your kids. Typically, they will run along the same lines, especially if you’re not an expert in a certain field. However, some may go against what you believe in, or they may not exist whatsoever. In these situations, parents have to sit their kids down and walk them through the gaps in their knowledge. Physical violence is probably the prime example for moms. The majority of parents condemns and doesn’t condone fighting, and that should be in keeping with the school’s policies. However, what the principal and the board of governors will neglect to mention is the right to self-defense. Nearly 99% of parents wouldn’t disagree with their child fighting back if another kid threw the first punch.

Job Opportunities

At some point, a mother has to trust a teacher to do their job. Kids need space while at school, which is why turning up as an assistant can be mortifying. Sometimes, your actions add fuel to the fire instead of water to the flames. The key is to be involved without suffocating your children and harming their independence. In the classroom, this is nearly impossible because your shadow will loom large. But, some jobs help to find a perfect balance. Nurses create great workplaces and study places in schools as they offer aid while keeping a watchful eye. A student with an illness or injury, no matter how serious, will look to you as the first port of call for help. By treating them, their discomfort won’t inhibit their learning. When it’s your “baby” that needs attention, the feeling is all the sweeter. Plus, being on the premises gives lets you spy while keeping your distance.

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The World Wide Web

Moms that aren’t at school won’t know what is happening, when or why. For a person who has to solve the issue ASAP, this is a distinct disadvantage. In the past, women had to use their intuition and powers of persuasion to break down barriers. Now, the internet will do it for you and relieve the pressure. Kids will inevitably disagree, but monitoring their online time is a mother’s duty. To begin with, there are predators online that prey on young children. Just as importantly, Facebook and Twitter leave the vulnerable open to cyberbullying. Thanks to social media, the torment continues way after the bell rings. Looking at their “walls” and “tweets” is a sure-fire way to pick up on problems that are happening behind the scenes. When warning signs flare, a conversation with their teacher help both parties find ways to move forward. Sitting your child down and having “the talk” is imperative too.

Emergency Details

Schools have files with contact details and addresses for guardians and next of kin. This data, however, is only as good as the people who provide it in the first place. Think about how many times you have moved house in the past two years, and then do the same with a cell phone. The odds are high that either contact info is the same now as it was when you first filled in the sheet. Apart from being an admin mishap, it creates a potentially dangerous situation. Should your child be in trouble at school, there will be no way to inform you of an update. When details change, be sure to tell the school.

What are your rules to make sure kids are safe during term time?

10 Mother’s Day Traditions to Try This Year

Ah, it’s time for my favorite holiday: Mother’s Day! I always feel relaxed and pampered on this one day of the year, and I definitely milk it and enjoy it. Some moms prefer to get a break from caring for their children on this one day, choosing to hit a day spa or go to a movie or restaurant alone. Some moms, like me, definitely would rather be around their kids the whole day, no matter what kind of chaos that brings!

In my house, Mother’s Day usually means my husband makes breakfast (but he does that every Sunday anyway; isn’t that great?), then we go to Mass as a family. This year is going to be extra great because we have moved to the country (our longtime dream!), and we also switched churches, so all our homeschooling friends are there to visit with after the service.

Do you need some ideas for Mother’s Day? Here are some ideas for traditions you might like to start in your house this year — or any year!

Shower mom with flowers. Flowers are a favorite – and very easy – way to make a mom feel special. My very favorite flower is Lily of the Valley because it reminds me of my own mother. One year, at our previous home, my husband planted some in front of our house, and they bloom every year as a reminder of what he did for me on Mother’s Day. Consider hitting the local florist for a bigger bouquet in a colorful vase.

Plant something in her honor. Maybe a tree for the yard or just a plant in a pot that she’ll walk by every day. If Mom does not have a green thumb, consider purchasing a pretty hanging basket for the deck or front porch. They are super easy to water and the flowers are amazing. A potted flowering plant or hanging basket of petunias would be low-maintenance and long-lasting.

Letter know how you feel. Moms love the handmade notes and cards from their kids on Mother’s Day. Leave some construction paper and colored pencils, crayons and glitter glue on a table and see what happens.

Eat your heart out. What’s Mother’s Day without breakfast in bed? It doesn’t have to be fancy; it can be as easy as store-bought donuts and orange juice or as extensive as biscuits and gravy with fresh fruit and coffee. The point is Mom will know she is being thought of and cared for like she cares for everyone else every other day of the year. I can tell you from personal experience that moms love a break from cooking! So why not treat her to dinner out or order in?

Pack it up. Consider packing up a meal and going on a picnic in a park. The kids get some play time and Mom can either get in on the action or relax on a blanket with a book, hopefully soaking up some sunshine!

Picture perfect. Find a fabulous photo of mother and child and buy or make a cool frame. On Mother’s Day, make sure more pictures are being taken of that special duo to be treasured always. Then, consider putting together a small scrapbook to enjoy for years to come.

Basket case! Put together a basket of her favorite things. Ideas include a favorite candy bar, a candle, a gift card, homemade coupons for special hugs and favors, the sky is the limit! Just make sure to pick things out that Mom would like.

Spend time together. I want to throttle those coaches who schedule baseball games or Team Picture Day on Mother’s Day … don’t they know who they are dealing with?! Try to boycott any activities that are not mother-child related. Even watching a favorite or new movie in the evening while snuggled up together eating popcorn is bonding time!

Think of other moms, grandmothers, aunts, friends, neighbors. Spend some time the week before with your kids making cards for other moms you know … and moms who are like mother figures but who might not have kids of their own. Doing nice things for others is what being a mom is all about … and what a great lesson for your kids!

Take the kids to the park or out to eat for a few hours (or maybe over to Grandma’s house so she can get a sweet Mother’s Day surprise as well!) so Mom can get in a lovely bath and nap or maybe read a book alone for a while.

Mother’s Day is just one day each year, and moms deserve to be showered with love and to be treated special all day long. Of all days, they should be able to take TODAY off, which means no housework! Let Mom close her eyes as she walks by the sink full of dishes, hold her nose as she strolls by the laundry hamper. In anticipation of this holiday, Mom should make sure she has paper plates and cups on hand for when her family serves her like the queen she is. The rule is they have to sit back and let themselves be celebrated!

How To Get Your Kids Interested In History

As a parent, you know that your two most important tasks are to ensure that your children have days filled with fun, love, and laughter and that they get a good education. Getting a good knowledge of math, science and English will certainly give them a great start in life, but subjects such as history can be just as important. Learning about the past gives us a greater understanding of our present and can prevent tomorrow's generation from making yesterday's mistakes. If your kids find history boring, here are three ways to raise their interest in what can be the most fascinating of subjects.

Turn History Time Into Play Time

Children today love things that are visual and dynamic, which is why they love to look at the screens on their cellphone or tablets so much. Studies show that mobile screen usage in children under eight has quadrupled since 2013, so they can quickly lose patience when confronted with history on a printed page, even if it is accompanied by lots of illustrations. It's easy to make history more exciting; all it takes is a little imagination. Encourage your children to act out famous scenes from history; they'll especially love it if they can dress up as George Washington, Julius Caesar, or Queen Cleopatra, and they will be learning at the same time as they're playing.

Discover Archive Film Footage

Increasing numbers of museums are digitizing their archive films, which means that there's now a vast array of films from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries available to view online. This is especially attractive for children, as they are, after all, the generation that turns to YouTube and similar sites as a primary source of entertainment. Children and adults can learn a great deal from these archives, from seeing early forms of motorized transport to how we used to farm, and the best thing of all is that they can be viewed for free.

Explore America's Ancient Civilizations

The continents of North and South America were home to some of the greatest civilizations in history, and with such rich and varied cultures behind them, they can be endlessly fascinating for children. The Mayan people are a particularly interesting topic, and their mysterious predictions of the end of the world often appear in the news today. The Mayans disappeared rapidly and the reason has always been a mystery, but as WallStreetOTC.com reports, the latest theory revolves around the lagoon known as 'The Blue Hole of Belize'. Other theories involve aliens, so whatever the truth, it's a story that's sure to capture the imagination of your little ones.

The key to getting your kids interested in history is to make it as exciting as possible; take a look at some of the more unusual stories from history, encourage dressing up, painting and make-believe, and encourage them to see historical figures as real people not just names in a book. A love of history gained in childhood stays with you throughout life, and that could be one of the best gifts you ever give your loved ones.

Sponsored Posts and Guest Posts on The Kerrie Show

If you are a company or a website, The Kerrie Show would love to work with you on post and link placement! (I don't have time for product reviews currently, but try me in the summertime!)

My fee for sponsored posting as of 2021 is $12. You write a high-quality post, and I provide permanent links, social media blasts, and even a graphic if you like! 

This is for indefinite placement. I only ask that the post be proofread before you send it to me and that it fits into one of the categories on my blog, which can be found down the right-hand side of the screen.

I don't have a word limit on sponsored posts.

I generally post within 24 hours of receiving a post and expect to be paid within 24 hours of placement via PayPal. 

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please feel free to contact the site owner, Kerrie McLoughlin, at mommykerrie@yahoo.com. You can also find my bio here.

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I also have other sites you might be interested in. These include:

Homeschooling Mommybot chronicles our homeschooling life and gives lots of great tips on education and products and websites. There is a book in progress to accompany this site.

The Published Parent is a site dedicated to parents trying to make money from home, with a focus on writing for family and parenting magazines. Topics also include proofreading from home, working from home while caring for children, and more. The book to accompany this site can be found here.

Kerrie the Kitchen Queen shares successes and failures in the kitchen on my journey to feed my family healthy food on a budget while also achieving moderation. Lots of recipes! There are two books to accompany this site. The Tater Tot Casserole Cookbook can be found on Amazon in ebook and print format and The Ultimate Busy Parents on the go Cookbook is currently in progress.

The Lazy Parent's Guide to Life is all about how to keep your sanity and have fun while raising great kids. You don't need to be perfect! Tips range from doing laundry the easy way to cleaning your microwave in seconds all the way to letting your kids play at the restaurant play area BEFORE they eat their meal. Stop stressing and trying to do things like everyone else and have more fun while being the kind of parent God wants you to be! There is a book in progress to accompany this site.