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An Open Letter To My Running Shoes

By
jennifermcgruther
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Dear ASICS GEL-Nimbus,

I know they’re sick of our PDA. They’re tired of the social media posts. I’m sure they’re over my sweaty face and hearing how far we went. I know to some extent even those that are rooting for us are done hearing about it. No one can ever really comprehend how much you mean to me.

When I think back to when you came into my life, I never thought we would still be together. I was a mom in my late 30s with three young boys, squeezing in an occasional power-walk in my cross-trainers. I’d enjoy walks with friends, but nothing really stuck. Growing up as non-athletic as you can, it was a bit of a shock to everyone when we made our commitment to one another.

Sometimes, it still is.

Remember when we began our journey with walk/run intervals, but then my BFF suggested we set a race goal and sign up to run a Halloween-themed 5K in Howell? That seemed very official. I had to be prepared. Although intimidated, I went into Running Fit and tried a few on for size; one too big, one too tight, and one just not quite right. But then, there was you. I felt like Cinderella in her glass slippers. The salesperson called you, “The Cadillac of Running Shoes.” To me, however, you were simply a perfect fit . . . a fit that gave this mom a confidence no stiletto ever would.

So we trained. And we ran.

With my BFF/cousin Theresa before my first 5K!

Then you and I trained again for a 10K in Novi, and with some more friends we trained for the Detroit Free Press Relay-Marathon, followed the next year by the Detroit Free Press International Half-Marathon. This past Spring we also ran the Martian 10K in Dearborn.

We did all of this in freezing cold temps and in the blistering sun on our own accord while Adam and the boys were sleeping, working, and at school. Somehow it happened in between grocery shopping, volunteering at school, and soccer practices. Then there was making time for you around my Dad’s chemotherapy treatments . . . then, his funeral. It was a constant challenge, but we did it. When I looked down, you were always there to lift me back up.

We’ve been slower than many, but unstoppable. For the first time ever, I’d found a way to make it stick. Regardless of the mountains I faced, I could always count on you to be there just waiting by the door at a moment’s notice. Some days I felt like we could fly, while other days my legs felt like they were fighting through cement. With your support, I also ugly-cried my way down Six Mile, because sometimes, that’s all we could do. Bottom line Asics, we’ve shared the good, the bad, and the ugly, but I’ve never regretted a moment we’ve spent together.

You see, you changed my life. You gave me hope. There’s this one story I never told you. What began as a back injury on a trampoline, became a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. Yes, it’s true. It was terrifying. I was unable to walk. Tingling and numbness slowly but steadily took over my lower half, leaving me scared and uncertain about what this meant for my potentially bleak long-term-picture. I had MRIs and other tests were done, and endured the horror of steroids, yet got back on my feet . . . more than once.

With my cousin Sarah in Detroit VERY early in the morning before my first half-marathon!

Who would have thought these same, timid (still slightly numb) feet 20 years later would eventually land in a pair of running shoes? Everything was different after you, and the others that followed suit. When placed together next to one another you could easily make a colorful Asics rainbow. This mom has learned so much from you along the way.

You made me feel strong. You taught me how to sweat. You’ve made me a more patient mother and wife. You taught me to make a plan and stick with it. You’ve allowed me to grieve. You’ve taken me further on foot than I ever thought I could go. You don’t judge. You taught me therapy doesn’t have to be on the couch. You’ve (sometimes) convinced me my body is beautiful. You’ve helped me focus in a way nothing else ever could. You taught me it’s OK to be vulnerable.

And, of course, you taught me how to run.

Oh, and my boys. When I ponder the lessons being passed on to them, I am forever grateful that I found you. When I come home, and we’re both drenched in sweat with legs like jello and their first question is, “How many miles today?,” I know it’s all worth it, because they’re worth it. No excuses boys, just get it done.

If you can dream it, you can do it. –Walt Disney

As moms, we spend our lives putting others before ourselves. In our DNA somewhere, it must be laid out that once a tiny human is placed in our arms, we just accept we are no longer first. It’s all a part of the understood package. But you Asics, you helped me to make myself a priority again. Through you, I’ve learned that I may be a mom, but I’m still a woman, and I matter.

I hope those that see us together understand a little more. I hope they, too, can find their perfect pair, or that one thing to make it all stick. Either way, I’m thankful you’re still with me. I need you. This isn’t a good-bye and we’ve-had-a-good-run letter but, rather a let’s-keep-moving-forward and thanks-for-being-faithful to me letter. You’ve really made me a better, stronger person.

Enough with the mushy stuff though, it’s crunch time. We have to finish training to run back up that Ambassador Bridge to Canada, and somehow make it through that sweaty, stinky tunnel on the way back. Yep, I’m scared! 

Just keep doing what you’re doing, and I’ll keep doing what I’m doing, and all will be good.

Let’s do this!

Sincerely,
Your Mother Runner

Lost and Finding Me

By
sarahblalock
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When I was in my late 20s, I used to know this girl. I haven’t seen her in a long time, but I have such fond memories of her. She didn’t have a care in the world – she was young, happy, and rarely stressed. She always tried hard to be a good friend, too. At the drop of a hat, she was always up to meet for drinks or a trip to Sephora, but she was just as happy to spend a night in watching trashy TV and drinking wine.

The girl I knew never forgot to call her friends back, and she always replied to text messages. She could read an entire book in one sitting (and often did), and she had a cabinet full of nail polish that she used to craft a fancy new manicure every few days. This girl loved art, politics, music, and was a sucker for online makeup tutorials.

She was happy. She was fun. She was me.

I haven’t been that girl for years. Specifically, about 5 years. With the birth of my first child came changes both big and small, cracks in my former self. I have more love but less spontaneity. More laughter but less downtime. More heart and less self. Although I’ve gained so much more love than I could ever have imagined in my life, sometimes I feel like I’m losing something. Like I’m losing myself.

I’m not talking about material things. What I’m addressing here is the overwhelming pull that children have on our hearts. The all-consuming desire to be and do everything for them. And as much reward as there is in parenting, it sometimes leaves me feeling empty. Used-up. There are days when, after tucking my children into bed, I feel that I have nothing left over. It’s as if motherhood has swallowed me whole, leaving nothing but my shoes behind.

This may be a bit of a taboo subject. As mothers, we are supposed to be serene and smiling paragons of maternal fulfillment. But while I certainly have a lot to smile about, this is tough stuff. I’m often frustrated, and sometimes the kids aren’t the only ones crying. Parenting small children is no less than an endurance sport. We do our best. I’m doing my best. But to keep running this marathon, I’m going to need more than caffeine and carb-loading. To be the best mother I can be, I need to get back to being “me.”

So I’m doing what I can to seek out that girl I used to be. Some days this is easier than others. I am forever forgetting to reply to text messages, and am rarely able to meet anyone after work for drinks. I still love to read, but these days I’m more likely to be listening to an audiobook on the way to work than to be reading on my couch for hours. My nail polish cabinet gets more attention from curious toddlers than it does from me. But I have new interests now, and new things I do for myself.

I’m trying to revive the best pieces of that girl, even though I know I’ll never quite be “her” again. I knit. I meditate. I still love a good makeup tutorial and I never leave the house without lipstick. Slowly, I’m moving toward a familiar place, but this time I’m older, wiser, and a little less rough around the edges. The girl I was has grown and changed, and I’m trying to make this motherhood thing my own.

Do you ever feel like you’ve lost your prior “self” to motherhood? What are you doing to find your way back?

My Self-Imposed “Strife”

By
daniellealexander
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Every time I pull into the driveway after work, errands, or the rare couple hours out with girlfriends, I am greeted by my waving toddler in the window who, at her very first moment of contact with me, grins and excitedly shouts, “Hi Mama!” With her arms sticking straight up into the air, she just waits for me to scoop her up.

From her perspective, at this age anyway, she sees a big smile in return, feels a tight hug, and can’t wait to play Barbies, read books, or go out on the deck to blow bubbles with Mom. What she isn’t aware of, however, is the self-inflicted stress that I’ve developed on my drive home and the ridiculous spectrum of emotions I am about to experience once I set my stuff down.

Oh, how I wish I could just see her; I yearn to be able to block it all out. But that “agonizing” image I concoct in my head while in the car always becomes a reality for me when I walk through that front door, no matter the amount of (MUCH appreciated) time and effort my husband or babysitter puts into tidying: “crooked” books on the shelf, toys in “improper” bins, milk where the orange juice is “supposed to go,” etc. I mean, I miss my daughter like crazy when I’m gone, but I just can’t seem to get myself to focus on what I do truly know to be much more important. In fact, I have actually envisioned being able to pause her, fix the house to my liking, and then hit play again. I know . . . NOT normal. Like, at all.

There are better days than others, and, typically, these occur when I don’t have any pressing writing deadlines or hours of lesson planning to do once my daughter sleeps. But, given my current part-time stay-at-home mom/part-time tutor/part-time writer career gig, these “calmer” days are, unfortunately, quite hard to come by, thus causing a significant, and, admittedly, very unhealthy, decrease in my desire to venture out alone if I don’t have to.

In a constant attempt to be the version of myself I want as the mother of my daughter (and soon-to-be son), I’ve been not only reading The Book of Joy but honestly doing my best to apply its teachings to my daily life. In the chapter concerning fear, stress, and anxiety, the Dalai Lama explains, “Stress and anxiety often come from too much expectation and too much ambition. Then when we don’t fulfill that expectation or achieve that ambition, we experience frustration.” Ha, guilty as charged! He later states, “When we have a clear picture about our own capacity, we can be realistic about our effort. Then there is a much greater chance of achieving our goals.” Although I highly doubt he was thinking of me and my nonsensical desire for “proper toddler toy arrangement . . . and then some,” it definitely does apply.

When I logically think about the pressure I put on myself to have the house neat and orderly at all times, I almost laugh. We rarely have visitors, and when we do, it’s our parents or siblings, all of whom could honestly care less. My husband, although not your typical “man slob” by any means, happily lived alone in our once-“ramshackled” home (complete with “twisted” coffee mugs in the cabinet and “misaligned” water bottles in the refrigerator) before we got married. So, who is it that I’m trying to impress? And why do I care so much? I mean, disorganized things don’t even phase me at others’ homes!

As an English major, I’ve done a lot of reading over the years, and, lately, I’m feeling like a tragic hero in my own life story. Up until I became a mother, I was always praised, and even, more often, rewarded, for my ability to be detail-oriented, precise, and consistent; lately, however, it seems to have become my biggest flaw and definitely one I need to confront soon before it becomes my tragic downfall.

What “stresses” in your life are self-inflicted? What steps have you taken to confront them?

One Sticky Kitchen Table

By
alyshaboyle
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The moment I found out that we were expecting our firstborn, my mind was a flurry of plans. Cribs, swaddles, bottles, strollers and adorable teeny tiny onesies filled my brain. Now I’m realizing that pretty much all of family life centers around one piece of furniture. One sticky, dirty, cluttered piece of furniture: my kitchen table.

IMG_2868

I did not always feel this way. In fact, it’s just recently that I intentionally changed my thinking about my sticky kitchen table. I was frustrated with the amount of time I spent in the kitchen cleaning and cooking and scrubbing that darn table only to finally sit down myself and have my elbow land in a glob of peanut butter and honey from a sandwich.  In fact, ironically, as I’m writing this my husband just sat down to the table and exclaimed, “what did I just sit in that’s cold and wet?”

When we moved into our home, my husband had the genius idea to ask some design-savvy friends to help us build our kitchen table. We knew we wanted a farmhouse table with the kid-friendly benches and we also knew we didn’t want to spend a couple thousand on something that sees so much wear and tear, so we decided to build one. When we first got it, I was constantly cleaning it and micromanaging it. Luckily for us, the awesome friends that helped build the table were also seasoned parents with two boys of their own. They steered us in the direction of wood choices and finishes that would hide the inevitable dings and scratches and watermarks that happen with kids. Now I look at my table and see the character in it. When you look closely you’ll see teeth marks on the benches from teething toddlers and permanent marker marks from my overenthusiastic preschooler.

If the kitchen is the heart of the home, then the kitchen table is the heartbeat of the home. It’s where work bags get hoisted after long days at work, where school bags and 20 million arts and crafts get carelessly tossed en route to the pantry, and where dozens of water bottles, sippy cups, and coffee mugs sit every day. The only time it’s ever clean is the 5 milliseconds it’s cleared after mealtimes for the deep scrubbing {and honestly that doesn’t happen nearly as often as it should}.

It’s where life happens. I’m sure you’ve all heard the studies about the importance of sitting down and having mealtimes together as a family, and I wholeheartedly believe those studies. As hectic as it can be to clear off the table for breakfast or dinner, it’s always so life-giving to be around that table with my husband and the little humans we created together, watching them complain about whatever is on their plates and then slowly, slowly, (OH. SO. SLOWLY.) eat. It’s life-giving to listen to their little perspectives on what is occurring in their lives and why can Curious George go to outer space and we can’t? It’s life-giving to catch your significant other’s eye during the chaos of it all and smile that this is your life.  The dog is underneath the table frantically licking up all the table droppings (and there are SO many with little kids) and you’re simultaneously thankful for the built-in canine vacuum cleaner and annoyed at all the waste.

The kitchen table is where my husband and I sit down together on Saturday mornings with a cup of coffee and catch up with what’s going on at work and things we’re excited about and plan out vacations or home renovations or weekly schedules. It’s where my toddler climbs into my lap and points to the refrigerator requesting his 20,000th snack of the day.  It’s never clean, never tidy, and you know those delightful Pinterest perfect homes with the healthy fruit bowl in the center of the table that doubles as trendy decor and a convenient snack? It’s never like that. I tried that once and the result was a bowl of apples that all had teeny tiny teeth marks in them.

My kitchen table won’t be featured in a Better Homes and Garden magazine ever, but it’s where we gather with friends for dinner or where the kids from our life group gather around with pizza-laden faces. It also doubles as a pretty cool place to build a fort, when you throw a few blankets over the top and move the snack plates to the floor (the dog is clearly a big fan of this game).  Instead of looking at it and rolling my eyes with disgust that I have to wipe it down again, I’m going to focus on all the memories that get made around the table and maybe, for a brief millisecond, be thankful instead of frustrated.  As long as I’m cleaning up something easy like milk and not peanut butter and honey, of course.

When’s your favorite time to gather around the table with your family?

How to Be Present: Implementing Every Day Mindfulness with Kids

By
kristinevazzano
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Mindfulness is a hot topic, and it seems everywhere you turn it is being highlighted as the new way to improve something in your life. Although popular, mindfulness is more than a buzzword. It truly has the goods to back up its popularity!

Growing research shows mindfulness can positively impact both physical and mental health. Mindfulness has been found to positively impact personal health and well-being, relationships and leadership.

With so much goodness to offer, it’s no surprise that schools and parents are increasingly interested in teaching mindfulness. New research shows mindfulness can improve focus and attention, coping skills, and decision-making among children.

Although the concept of mindfulness can seem abstract and elusive, mindfulness is really quite simple. Mindfulness means being present in the moment in a nonjudgmental way. It is about tapping into the present moment both with your thoughts and feelings with less judgment and more curiosity or neutrality.

The idea of being still and fully present can be difficult for most adults, much less energetic and active kids.

So how can you teach mindfulness to kids?

Rather than presenting mindfulness as this big thing to attain, talk about the idea of it. Introduce the idea of being present, letting feelings in, and experiencing the moment in casual and kid-friendly terms. For example, when my kids hit meltdown mode we take a yoga breath. When they are starting to throw a tantrum I encourage them to check in and verbalize how they are feeling. In ways big and small you can start to introduce and integrate the fundamentals of living mindfully.

Here are some possible ways to implement the practice of mindfulness at home with kids big and small.

  • Have your own mindfulness practice. This can be done anywhere and anytime! Talk to your kids about how you use mindfulness and how it can help. Let them see you doing it so it becomes a part of what they know.
  • Incorporate mindfulness at home while doing daily activities. If you are out riding bikes, take a moment to pause and notice the smell of the flowers around you. Feel the warmth of the sun. Watch the birds flying by. Ask your kids what they see, smell, hear and even taste. What can they touch?
  • Encourage them to engage their senses doing daily things such as playing, eating or even reading.
  • Teach mindfulness skills in a fun way by practicing the SpiderMan, a fun and playful way to teach kids the principles of awareness.
  • Make a sound (this can be a noise you make, ringing a bell or playing a short bar of music) and ask your kids to listen carefully until you no longer make a sound.
  • Practice taking deep breaths and sitting quietly for a few short moments. When the time is over, talk about ways to bring back awareness and what the experience felt like.
  • Read about it! Sitting Still Like A Frog: Mindfulness Exercises for Kids (and their Parents), A Handful of Quiet: Happiness in Four Pebbles, Visiting Feelings, and What Does It Mean to be Present? are all good resources.
  • Check out a kid-friendly mindfulness app such as Headspace for Kids or Smiling Mind.

Do you practice mindfulness in your home? Share your favorite strategies in the comments!

Top 5 Fall Foliage Drives in Michigan

By
taylorcapps
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Fall has officially arrived and Michigan has the perfect scenery for it. Just because summer is over doesn’t mean you have to cross day trips off the calendar. We have come up with the top 5 drives to take this fall to enjoy every aspect of fall.

  1. M-37

M-37 offers you the perfect mix of fall colors, beautiful views, wineries, and more. This 22 mile long narrow road will give you views of water both to the east and west.

Known as: Old Mission Peninsula

Location: Baldwin to Traverse City

Scenery: Fall foliage, Orchards, Wineries, and Forests

Popular Stops:

M-22 is 116 miles of scenic highway along Michigan’s northwest Lower Peninsula. From quaint towns to wineries, you’ll understand why this route is often called “The Most Beautiful Place in America”.

Known as: The Most Beautiful Place in America

Location: Northwest Lower Peninsula (Manistee to Traverse City)

Scenery: Fall foliage, Wineries, Fish Towns, Forests, and Beaches

Popular Stops:

Take a fall drive along M-119 and you are destined to be mesmerized by the autumn leaf colors in this tunnel of trees. Enjoy 20 miles along Lake Michigan as you make your way through a tunnel of trees along sharp turns and curvy roads.

Known as: The Tunnel of Trees

Location: Along the Lake Michigan shoreline – Harbor Springs to Cross Village

Scenery: Fall foliage, Tree Tunnels, Forests, Beaches,

Popular Stops:

This gorgeous “sunrise” ride has you outlining the top of the Michigan mitten. You will get to take in all of the beautiful scenery Northern Michigan has to offer. This 200 mile stretch along Lake Huron has sights, stops, and scenery that you will never forget.

Known as: Sunrise Coast

Location: 200-stretch from Standish to Mackinaw City

Scenery: Fall foliage

Popular Stops:

Who knew that there is such a scenic route so close to Detroit? Huron River Drive offers the beautiful fall scenery we dream of while staying close to home. Enjoy this route starting out in Ann Arbor.

Location: Ann Arbor to Dexter

Scenery: Fall foliage, Trails, and River

 Popular Stops:

Mom On The Road

By
Jamie Freeman
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Since having children, work travel has become somewhat of a different beast than it has been in the past for me. I mean, work travel has always been taxing, but add the element of Mommin’ in there, and things get down-right messy at times.

“Mama come back!”

If you are a mom who travels often, you probably have your own tales to tell. Take a look back with me at some of my favorite and hilarious moments of being a mom on the road:

  1. Lost Luggage While Pregnant

Flying to the middle of nowhere, while VERY pregnant, and having your luggage lost is up there on my “Top Ten Moments That Sucked” list. I had to make the executive decision to drive my rental car all over creation to attempt to find business-style maternity clothing (at five in the morning). Needless to say, the training course went well considering I’m pretty sure the bottom of my belly was hanging out at some point as I went through the six-step process of how to build trust with your employees.

  1. Breast Pump Follies

Maintaining your milk supply while out of town for business is a piece of cake . . . said no Mama EVER! I’ve poured breastmilk down a sink in a bathroom as a member of leadership walked up to wash her hands, accidentally flashed a co-worker while pumping on a bench in the ladies room, and much more. The coup de grâce if you will was recently when I threw my bag down in just a way that my manual breast pump fell right out onto the table. At this point, a male coworker picked it up and said, “This is a weird water bottle. How does it work?”

 

  1. Facetime? More Like Faceplant!

I always thought once I had kids I would video chat with them constantly while I was away on business. FAIL. Every time I call my daughter has a complete meltdown resulting in my son crying, my husband looking defeated, and me trying everything to hold back tears. In an attempt to cheer them up at a recent conference, I immediately began to sing “Rock-A-Bye Your Bear” along with full body choreography. “Everybody Clap!  (clap clap clap)” rang from my toneless mouth as I clapped and turned around to see a group of my co-workers witnessing the show. For the record, it didn’t even work. The kids were still ticked.

  1. Daddy Drama

My husband is a stay-at-home dad and does an AMAZING job. That being said, my daughter is a bit of a handful for him when she doesn’t have her boobie pacifier at her disposal. One time, about five minutes before walking into a meeting, my husband called me in complete meltdown mode after two nights of zero sleep and dramatically told me to quit my job and come home immediately because he could not take it. He’s very lucky I was working off two full nights of sleep for the first time in seven months because I was a little less of a crazy person in my response. I believe I said something along the lines of “TWO NIGHTS!!  YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT TIRED TO ME!!!” Once home, we both made the decision to never talk about that conversation again for the sake of our marriage.

  1. Team Building Time Out

Business travel with a team almost always results in some type of alcohol-fueled team building event. For the record, in my day pre-kids, I could hang with the best of them. Since having kids, I’ve realized that to maintain my status as a slightly respectable employee, it is necessary for me to give myself a “time out” MUCH sooner than in the past. Imagine my surprise when after two beers I found myself telling a male member of leadership how horrible manual removal of my malfunctioning placenta was?

  1. Whose Hotel Room Is This?

Once at a VERY nice hotel, I got my very pregnant, out-of-breath booty up to my room and huffed and puffed my way into the door to find a man doing his business . .   on the toilet . . . with the bathroom door wide open. He immediately screamed “GET OUT GET OUT!” at which point it took me approximately an hour and a half to get my things back through the door around my insanely huge belly and booty. I will say . . . I giggled all the way back down to the front desk where I was given a BEAUTIFUL suite for the stay.

7. Homesick Has New Meaning

On top of everything else that is different with work travel after having kids, the biggest difference is how badly I just want to get back home to my babies. I’m pretty sure my heart breaks every time I walk out that door. It doesn’t even begin to heal until I find myself back home with both of them throwing their selves into my arms.

Photo by Sara Demick Photography at www.sarademickphotography.com

Debunking College Savings Myths

By
Elizabeth Lewis
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We have partnered with MET to bring relevant and important information to DMB readers through this sponsored post.

If your house is anything like mine, your children are starting to get excited about going back to school – new teachers, new supplies, new and old friends, and, in some cases, a new school. For your children, another year older means another year wiser. However, back-to-school season is also a good reminder that another year older means another year closer to high school graduation and, for most students, college.

According to a 2017 Sallie Mae survey of current college students, 86 percent of families always knew their child would go to college. Unfortunately, only 39 percent of those surveyed made a plan to pay for college. It makes sense, with the rising costs of college tuition, that parents are feeling overwhelmed when it comes to college savings. I have heard every excuse in the book. I am here to put your worries to rest. College savings is within your reach.

I don’t have enough money to start saving

Plenty of flexible college savings options are available for today’s parents. For example, you can get your child started with the Michigan Education Trust (MET) Pay-As-You-Go option for just over $100. MET is Michigan’s 529 prepaid tuition plan that allows for pre-purchasing undergraduate tuition. The prepaid amount is based on today’s rates and then paid out at the future cost when the student is ready for college.

With a MET plan you have the flexibility of three purchase options: Pay-As-You-Go, monthly purchase or lump-sum payment. The Pay-As-You-Go option allows purchasers to initially pay for individual credit hours rather than semester increments. Monthly purchase contracts can be purchased in four-, seven-, 10- or even 15-year increments depending on the age of the child at the time of purchase. A number of payment options are also available with this type of contract, including coupon book, electronic transfers and payroll deductions. Lump-sum purchases are typically chosen when purchasing a full four-year contract; otherwise, it is beneficial to use the Pay-As-You-Go purchase option, since that leaves the contract open to future contributions.

MET also allows grandparents and others to prepurchase undergraduate tuition. Every year, my parents have contributed to my children’s college savings plans as a birthday gift. It may not be the big truck or the fancy doll they asked for, but they will thank them later!

I don’t know enough about investing to get started

You don’t need to be an investment wizard to understand Michigan’s 529 prepaid tuition plan. MET is meant to be a flexible college savings option open to people of all financial backgrounds. The Department of Treasury, Bureau of Investments – which has successfully managed Michigan’s $57 billion pension system for state employees – manages MET’s investments.

Another great benefit of a MET plan is that the total contract price (lump sum) or payments made in a calendar year are deductible on your state income tax return. 

My child is still young – I have plenty of time to start saving

A friend of mine welcomed her first child earlier this year, and while she was thinking about the added expenses she needed right now – diapers, wipes, formula and clothes, among others – she wasn’t yet thinking about the future costs. After all, it can be hard to think about saving for the future when you are spending so much money in the present. But when you think about the fact that students who have at least $50 in a college savings account are seven times more likely to attend college, you might consider saving for college a little earlier.

There will always be an excuse not to save – the cost of school field trips, sports teams, braces and more – but there are so many benefits to starting to save early. Saving early offers the benefit to be able to put smaller amounts away over a longer period of time. It really is never too early or too late to start saving for college. 

My child will have other financial options

You might be thinking: What if my child receives a full-ride scholarship? What if my child qualifies for more financial aid than initially expected? While scholarships and financial aid are great options to consider when thinking about college tuition costs, you cannot count on them. The same Sallie Mae survey found that while scholarships and grants are covering the largest share of tuition in over a decade, they are still accounting for only an average of 35 percent of costs. And only an average of 27 percent of tuition costs are being covered by parent/friend/relative income and savings plans. Funds for the rest of the expenses are being borrowed.

And in the case that your child is fortunate enough to receive tuition scholarships, grants or other forms of tuition assistance and not need all of the educational benefits provided under a MET contract, the institution where he or she enrolls will refund any excess amount.

Open enrollment for Michigan Education Trust continues through Sept. 30. For more information, visit MET4college.com.

Something my family and I learned from MET is that we have options. There is so much more available to families today. They are here to educate and support you as you venture into this uncharted territory known as college savings.

 

Kid-Friendly Apple Recipes

By
amandaonoro
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You did the orchard trip, ate the donuts, took the obligatory pictures, and hauled the apples home. Now what? I always end up with leftover apples and try to think of ways to enjoy them before they go bad. Here are 3 recipe ideas to try this Fall. Your littles should even be able to join in on the fun!

3 Minute Apple Pie

This recipe is quick, easy but tastes like dessert. An older child could easily help with some of these steps.

What you need:

2 apples

½ cup cream cheese

½ tsp cinnamon

½ tsp brown sugar

½ tsp white sugar

12 graham crackers

Directions:

  1. Chop up the apples into small pieces and place in a bowl.
  2. Sprinkle cinnamon and both sugars over apples.
  3. Microwave apples for 1 minute. Stir and microwave for 1 more minute.
  4. Spread cream cheese onto the graham cracker and add a scoop of apples.
  5. Enjoy!

Apple Dippers

This is a fun twist on an old classic. Apples were made to be dipped, but add in a stick and an extra topping or 2 and you have something special on your hands.

What you need:

1 apple (sliced)

8 skewers

1 cup vanilla yogurt

1 tbsp honey

½ tsp cinnamon

Directions:

  1. Add apple slices to skewers. Be careful with sharp points.
  2. Drizzle honey and sprinkle cinnamon over yogurt.
  3. Enjoy!

I went a healthier route and chose to make a simple yogurt dip, but check out this adorable “DIY Apple Dipper Bar for some more decadent ideas. I think this would be such a fun play date/party activity! http://www.laurenslatest.com/apple-dippers-bar/

Hot Cider Spice Pouch

There’s something that feels grown up about assembling your very own spice blend to add to your mug of hot cider. This would be fun on a cooler Fall day.

What you need:

apple cider

coffee filters

cinnamon sticks

cloves

ginger

orange rind

Directions:

  1. In a coffee filter, add the spices of your choice.
  2. Tie with string and steep in a hot cup of cider.

Fall is such a nostalgic time for me. I love our annual trips to pick apples, choose pumpkins to decorate, I love the whole thing! Let’s hear it, what’s your family’s favorite way to enjoy apples?

 

My Toddler: A Stage Five Clinger

By
sherenebuffa
-

It’s 6:00ish a.m. when I hear the call.

“Ma-maaa! Ma-ma. My mama. Maaa-maaa!”

If it’s a workday, chances are I am already ready. My alarm wakes me at 5:30 a.m., giving me just enough time to get myself presentable before my toddler wakes.

It never fails. She is usually in good spirits despite the wails she makes from her crib. I pick her up, take in her sweet scent and head downstairs. We have the same routine each morning: I prepare her diluted orange juice in the same sippy cup and then start to make my coffee. She takes a seat on the counter and watches me like a hawk all the while sucking down her juice.

She needs her juice almost as quickly as I need my coffee, so we always chill on the couch after my coffee is brewed. She sits on my lap, snuggles rather, sometimes into my chest in a curled position, for about the next half hour. She is ALWAYS excited about the thought of seeing her sister. She will ask repeatedly, “where is Shayla?” and I say repeatedly, “she is sleeping.” I am not sure what it is with two-year-olds but they do like to ask the same question over and over. And my response is the same each time. So I often wonder how there is any confusion.

By that time I then have to wake her sister and father.

When they come to join us on the couch, my sweet toddler makes it known that NO ONE is allowed to lay on “her mama.” I feel bad for my oldest because some days she wants to lie with us but my little one gets her diaper in a bunch if big sis tries to hug on me. My oldest eats within moments of waking so that usually keeps her occupied. My husband will lean in for a kiss on my toddler’s head and most days she lets out a screech. She will let him know when she is ready for HIS attention.

While I adore the affection she gives me, I am not sure why she hardly ever wants anything to do with her father. It is an extremely rare occurrence if she chooses him over me. Extremely rare. In fact, I think it’s only happened once. She is 2.2-years-old at the time I am writing this.

My oldest clung to me for about the first 1.5 years, then would go to her father or me. There never seemed to be a real preference. My little one is a snuggler though and it is with mommy with whom she prefers to snuggle with.

When I return from work each day she hugs and kisses on me like I was gone a week. The days I work she also sits on my lap when we eat dinner because she begs to, and how can I deny that?! I mean it is super enduring and I love the love she has for me. Her blue innocent eyes melt my heart when she says, “my mama” and starts to kiss my cheek and squeeze me tight.

My oldest was graduating Pre-K. My little one was holding onto me so tight.

We live in a colonial and our full bathroom is on the second floor. I am always showered on the days I work before she wakes but on my off days I shower when she is awake. EVERY SINGLE TIME I say, “Mama has to shower,” she says, “I come.” And of course, when I tell her she can’t she breaks into a sobbing mess. My husband tries to distract her while I make a run up the stairs. I often hear her cries from the shower. They eventually stop once she hears the water running.

When I have to go into the basement to do laundry and I tell her she cannot come . . . she cries.

If I take her sister to gymnastics and it’s her naptime and she cannot come with us . . . she cries.

If I leave the house for any reason, besides work, because she is used to that now . . . there are usually tears.

She joins me anytime I use the bathroom. She follows me every single time I leave the room she is in.

It sucks. She is a Stage Five Clinger, folks. My husband gets annoyed with it. I get annoyed with it because I hate seeing her so upset for a simple reason like, ‘letting Mama take a shower.’ I know this is a stage and it’ll pass. I know I am not the only parent to have a clingy child. I am humbled by her devotion to me. I try to enjoy it without much haste because I know there will come a time when she’ll want nothing to do with me.

And I often ask myself, how will I deal when she pushes my love away? Like those formative teenage years? Ahem.

Guess I’ll remember these days and just . . . cry.

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