High Maintenance Mom

As I've mentioned in the past, I often fall prey to marketing. Show me a fun placemat and I want to purchase it. However, many of the placemats I find are not exactly what I want. Plus, some of them have very thin lamination, not the nice thick style I use at work. And that's when I realized I can make my own placemats for the kids with things they like or things I want them to remember...

I was initially going to print out the alphabet for N, since it's that time of year. But instead, I realized the kids' placemats could be filled with things that make them happy and proud. Yes, I've realized that teaching them to be happy with what they have and who they are is one of the more important things I can teach them, although it's taking me a long time to figure it out myself.

N's new placemat has his name on it, printed in an easy-to-read font, and pictures of things he likes. We have been cutting pictures out of magazines, using stickers, using pictures of N and his friends, and coloring. B, who has shown some anxiety about leaving preschool and entering kindergarten, is interested in animals and their habitats. His placemat includes a zoo map and pictures of him with his friends. I'm hoping his will remind him of how easily he makes friends and some of the cool things he can already do (like climb and build with blocks). I'm also thinking of making one for myself with things I need to remember and positive encouragement for getting through the day. I figure it's better than reading cereal boxes.

After completing both sides of the placemats (use two separate sheets of paper, or four if you want one that is 11 x 17), I take them to Kinkos (FedExKinkos) and laminate them (I like the thickness of their plastic). It's about $2.60 for an 8.5 x 11 laminated sheet where I live. As a bonus, both kids like to watch the laminating process and they are very excited by their creations. We also occasionally laminate their artwork and pictures from their trips.