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hvparent.com n Hudson Valley Parent 29 "Don't be afraid to ask for help from other parents," says Traver. "We're all in the same boat so parents can be the best source of help to each other." De-stress the kids Believe it or not, your kids are just as likely to get stressed about their busy schedules as you are. "I try to limit the amount of activities that they are involved in," says Lang. "Everyone has some extra activity, but we are choosy. If something isn't working for us, we stop." When your kids are young, the constant flow from one thing to the next can be stressful on it's own, especially when the activities are appointments and errands. But that doesn't mean you can't incorporate fun activities to keep them interested! "We have a thing with them on Fridays," says Ramos, describing her techniques to entertain her toddler daughters. "We go to Starbucks and I get them their favorite cake pops! That's the best thing on my calendar every week." Make time for your spouse Do you feel like all you do with your spouse these days is balance children and schedules? "It's difficult with a family," says Traver. "Sometimes your spouse gets put on the back burner. Sometimes he doesn't even make it onto the stove! That's not fair to either partner." So how do other moms do it? "We try to have at least a few nights a week where we connect and spend time together," says Lang. "We also occasionally get out on a date night thanks to helpful family members." And if you do find yourself kid free for a moment, take advantage! "When both my sons went to overnight camp through scouting, my husband and I had a full week to ourselves," says Traver. "It was like when we were first married." Maintain flexibility Overbooking in fear of missing (Continued on Page 30) Specializing in children from infancy to teens Children with special needs welcome Sedation Dentistry available Child friendly environment with video games, Netflix TV and playhouse Most insurances accepted as full or partial payment. fostercare.com 845-331-1815 Serving the Hudson Valley © 2017 KidsPeace. We respect our clients' privacy. The model(s) represented in this publication is (are) for illustrative purposes only and in no way represent or endorse KidsPeace. Foster Strength As a KidsPeace foster father, you can make all the di-erence in the life of a child.