Do you have a kid? Do they have a phone? This is a resource for you.

Everyone should have a friend like Christine Carter. Oddly, since Christine and I became acquainted through blogging, we've never met in person (yet). That doesn't dilute my opening statement -- everyone should have a friend like Christine Carter. She's full of life and wildly encouraging. She's left comments on my blog that are so complimentary I've wanted to tattoo them on myself. 

In a nutshell, Chris Carter is for people -- when you read her writing (she publishes broadly and blogs at The Mom Cafe) or interact with her online, you feel like you have a personal cheerleader in life. In fact, the only thing I can find wrong with the woman is that she's an Ohio State fan. (Being that my home team is Penn State, that's a doozy, but Christine is so incredible I can even overlook her misguided college football allegiance.)

Last month Christine, released her second book titled Follow Jesus: A Christian Teen's Guide to Navigating the Online World.  If you have a kid, and your kid has a phone, this is a resource you'll want.

 

Structured as a workbook, Follow Jesus invites teens to think about their online habits in light of eight distinct values: love, grace, humility, compassion, truth, wisdom, integrity, and faithfulness.  Each section provides practical tips (ex: "always pause and pray for God's guidance before you post any response to bad behavior you see online"), applicable memory verses, checklist questions that invite personal introspection, and action-oriented prompts that challenge readers to take concrete steps to ensure their online habits are safe, reflect their Christian values, and ultimately, give glory to God.

As a person who's grappled with my own online presence and habits -- and as a mother who's raising a young teen and rising tweens who are dipping their toes into the online world -- I found the checklist questions and action-oriented prompts to be most useful.  While I can envision teens using the workbooks personally or in the context of a youth group, I also imagine that parents will benefit from using the resource to prompt healthy discussions that go deeper than the default, "you've-been-on-your-phone-all-afternoon-get-off-of-it" comment, which hits more on the quantity of time our kids spend on devices, rather than the quality of the content they're viewing and interactions they're having.

Follow Jesus hits on those "quality" aspects of the online world -- areas like knowing how to respond kindly (or even walking away) when you encounter inflammatory comments, not using social media to boast, not linking self-worth with the number of likes you receive, learning how to tune into the needs of others as they share online, ferreting out truth in a crowded environment that easily disseminates lies, and interacting online in ways that preserve our personal integrity.

Daresay, these reminders are good for adults to read, too.

I'll be honest: I've felt skiddish and inept as I've mulled over how and when my kids should have access to the online world.  I'm not sure I've always made the right choices.  When should they have a phone? How long should they be permitted to be on their phone each day? How do we best monitor this largely private device?  I want to bubble-wrap my kids and protect them from the corners of the the online world that are trashy and unhealthy.  At the same time, I want them to be able to connect with their friends and have access to online resources and platforms that are productive and entertaining.

Therein lies the rub: as parents, we can't just hand over a device that lets a young person explore EVERYTHING -- good and bad, helpful and harmful, edifying and destructive -- without also arming them with guidance on how to best handle that device.  That's the goal of Follow Jesus: to provide a lifeline of wise biblical guidance so our teens can swim, not sink, and engage online in a healthy, thoughtful, and God-honoring fashion.

And THAT is something I can get behind.

Get your copy of Follow Jesus: A Christian Teen's Guide to Navigating the Online World on Amazon. And while you're at it, visit Christine Carter to hear more of her wit and wisdom at The Mom Cafe!

0

Your closet is no match for these three spring cleaning tips.

I once read a piece of advice that stuck with me: If you're indecisive about something (say, the purchase of a new shirt), rank it on a scale of 1-10.  If it's ranked at 8, 9, or 10, then consider the purchase further. If it registers as 7 or below, though, then automatically treat it as if it were a 1.  Don't internally deliberate or waffle.  If it isn't at least an 8, then it fundamentally doesn't make the cut.

I love the clarity of this practice.  It frees you from that painfully nebulous kinda, sorta, I'm-not-really-sure decision-making range that's fraught with second-guessing, unnecessary mental space, or even buyer's remorse.  If you don't love the shirt, don't buy the shirt.  Simple as pie.  (And for me, pie is almost always at least an 8, especially if it's cherry, so yes, please to a slice of pie.)

This advice can be applied to a multitude of contexts, both large and small, like what paint color to choose or which applicant to hire or recommend.  This past weekend, I applied the principle to my closets.

Oh, yes, friends, it's spring cleaning time!  (Central Pennsylvania currently has no outdoor indicators that spring will ever be springing, so cleaner closets will have to suffice as a seasonal marker.)  I've always found that the process of weeding out clutter, reinstating order, and making space to be therapeutic.  Everything feels lighter.  I get verklempt just thinking about it, but then again, I'm slightly weird when it comes to organization.

Here are three spring cleaning tips I regularly apply that make the process efficient:

1) The 8-9-10 practice can be used on items that you already own.  When I rank the clothes already in my closet, it expedites the process of deciding whether an item should stay or go.  Plus, it clues me into whether I've become blind to items simply because they're so familiar.  I loved these pants a long time ago, but if I were encountering them for the first time right now, would they still be an 8, 9, or 10? 

If yes, there's a strong case for keeping them.  If they've dropped to 7 or below, they don't make the spring cleaning cut.  It's so simple, yet it removes a surprising amount of ambiguity.

2) Quality items pass the test of time.  As an avid garage-saler and thrifter, I'm always on the hunt for a good deal, but "good deals" are only actually good if the product lasts.  On more than one occasion I've bought a cheap piece of clothing that I've had to toss because the fabric quickly pilled, or the zipper stuck, or the shape lost its shapeliness.  In other words, there's something to be said for investing in quality pieces from which you'll get ample mileage.

This has proven true with a recent opportunity I was given.  Tommy John, a high-quality men's clothing and undergarment company, contacted me and asked if my husband would like to sample one of their Go Anywhere products in exchange for an honest review.  Of course!  While their line is more expensive than we'd normally invest, the quality of the product -- in this case, a pair of their Go Anywhere Lounge Jogger pants -- speaks for itself.  They're remarkably soft, they drape well, and my husband reports that they're extremely comfortable.

For the sake of full disclosure, I should note that these are not my husband's legs, although he insists that his legs could be substituted for any male model's.  He also added that Tommy John's Go Anywhere Lounge Joggers definitely meet the 8, 9, or 10 criteria, so we have no doubt that they'll remain in our closet -- and in his rotation of regular use -- for years to come.

Quality pays off.

3) Don't let bad logic stop you from letting go of items that you no longer use.  I own things that I don't use regularly, but for some reason, I'm hesitant to part with them.  When I ferret out my rationalization, it's pretty illogical.  Even though I'm not using a pair of boots, for example, I assume that they're still useful (and therefore, still valuable) while forgetting that they're a sunk cost.

I mean, I've already bought the boots.  They've already been paid for.  I just illogically assume that I'd be losing money by getting rid of them, but the truth is that the money already has been spent.  Holding onto a pair of boots that I don't wear isn't saving me any money; it's just taking up space.

So, if the items in your closet aren't being used and enjoyed, let go of the faulty logic and accept that they're sunk costs.  Even better, whenever possible, give them a new life by donating or selling them, no guilt attached.

Spring still feels a long way off, but at least my closet is lighter and brighter than it was before.  Plus, as I continue to apply the 8-9-10 rule with future purchases, I'm more likely to keep it in good order.

Do you have any useful spring cleaning or organizational tips?  Have you ever used the 8-9-10 rule? Drop me a comment below to let me know!

(And, on behalf of my husband, thanks to Tommy John for the opportunity to review the Go Anywhere Lounge Joggers.  If you're ever looking for a male leg model, you know where to turn.)

0

Need New Eyeglasses? This post is for you.

While I try to be a disciplined person by principle, I've been known to procrastinate on tasks that I expect to be tiresome.  (Pile of assignments to grade, I'm looking at you.)  But sometimes I also procrastinate on tasks that aren't hard or unpleasant in any fashion, but ones that simply don't make the short list of must-do activities that demand my attention.

Repetitive chores -- cleaning, washing, folding, feeding, and the like -- are part of my daily routines.  Sure, they can be pesky, but most days I'm capable of forging ahead and getting them done.  But the rogue extra task (like me remembering to schedule an appointment to get new eyeglasses) can easily fall to the bottom of the list, where it languishes, week after week, maybe month after month, until I finally give myself a serious pep talk.

Self, it is time to be an adult and DO THE THING.  

(The inherent irony is that, almost always, the doing of the thing is rarely as troubling or time-consuming as the procrastination that leads up to the doing of the thing.  But that's another story.) 

As for me, I recently had the opportunity to partner with GlassesShop.com and order eyeglasses online to review in a post on Robin Kramer Writes.  The process was simple.  I browsed frames on the website, narrowed down the selection to several contenders, and then I virtually tried on frames by uploading a picture of myself. (Prescription sunglasses are available, as well as regular glasses.)  Next, I polled my husband and a few friends about whether they liked me better in the black/blue frames or the tortoise shell.

The black/blue frames (pictured on the left) won the popular vote, so I uploaded my prescription and my pupillary distance, which were two measurements that I had on file from my most recent visit to the eye doctor.  Then, within days after sending my order, I received a package with my new eyeglasses in the mail.

Simple as that.  It hadn't been troubling or time consuming at all.  The glasses fit comfortably, and the prescription is spot-on. 

Even better, GlassesShop.com is offering a special coupon code (GSHOT50) for readers of Robin Kramer Writes, which means that you, my dear readers, can have 50% off eyeglasses and sunglasses with free lenses, sale frames excluded, if you visit their website.

So, by chance, if updating your eyeglasses is a task that's dangling on the lower end of one of your mental to-do lists, then I encourage you to DO THE THING, which feels infinitely better than just thinking about it.  Your eyes, and your to-do list, will thank you.

0

Help and Hope While You're Healing

Earlier this week I submitted final grades for the four classes I teach.  It's been an excellent semester, yet the end is always coupled with exhaustion and, too often, an immune system collapse.  Somehow, blessedly, my body holds out for fifteen straight weeks during the semester as students cough on me and hand me papers while announcing that they have bronchitis, and pink eye, and might be coming down with mono. 

But then we reach finals week and, traditionally, my body says, "Enough.  You've done enough.  I'll be shutting down now."  This year has been no different.  For the past several days I've slumped around my house wearing sweats, wrapped in a blanket, carrying a box of Kleenex, evaluating final projects, and warily checking my email in case any students are distressed over final grades.

I'd much rather be healthy.  I'd much rather be preparing for Christmas or proactively working on my spring syllabi.  I'd much rather have clarity of mind and the ability to breathe through my nose.

But, in another way, my current state is also perfect to write about what I want to share today, which is a book written by Christine Carter, my online friend, called Help and Hope While You're Healing.

Although I've never met Christine in person, we connected several years ago through blogging.  I've always been struck by how her writing, whether a personal email message or a comment on Facebook, exudes enthusiasm and encouragement.  Simply put, Christine Carter is someone you want in your corner, and her book, Help and Hope While You're Healing, is specifically written to be in your corner when you're going through the hardest of times.

While I wish this weren't the case, Christine was able to write this book with such credibility because her own health resume is marked with multiple challenges, among them a lumpectomy of a parotid tumor, a double mastectomy, and multiple painful foot and ankle surgeries.  In spite of it all, Chris retains her larger-than-life humor and positive outlook.

As a person who's muttered a bit about my bad cold this week (and, if I'm being entirely forthright, on more than one past occasion, I've been convinced that I was dying while in the throes of the stomach flu, that Jesus was seriously coming for me), I've been intrigued with Christine's graceful way of coping with circumstances that aren't graceful at all, circumstances that could bring out the worst, not the best, in someone.

And that's what Help and Hope While You're Healing does.  In its brief format with personal examples and practical strategies, this book offers perhaps the biggest encouragement that anyone who's suffering most needs to cling to: you're going to get through this.  She writes, "Some things need to be broken, opened, and taken apart to let light in."

If you know any woman who feel like their health has been broken, opened, and taken apart (or if this speaks to your own circumstances), I hope you'll consider having Christine's words shine some light and hope into that void.

Check out Christine's book on Amazon or visit her blog The Mom Cafe.  Above all, be well!

4

Allan Scott's New Release: "Be My All"

I love the creative process.  You start with an idea -- a concept, a string of words, a picture in your mind, a fragment of a melody -- and then, over days, weeks, months, or years, you take that idea, focus it, pound it into shape, revise it, massage it, get excited about it, start to love it, grow tired of it, begin to dislike it, worry what others will think of it, periodically give up on it, revisit it afresh, grow reinvigorated, invest even more of your heart and soul and talent, and then, after all that work and struggle, hopefully, you love it even more than before.

It's at this point -- when the creative process has produced an actual product -- the creator has to step back, let go, and release it to the world.  And just like that, it's out there.

This is what happened today for our friend, Allan Scott, with the release of his newest song, "Be My All," and I'm so glad that it did.

My husband and I have known Allan and his wife for years, and we've heard him play live on many occasions.  I love both his music and message.  Over the years, his songs have made my playlists and served as soundtracks for my life, always offering truth and hope.  Because of this, I invite you to check out "Be My All" on iTunes or Google Play and then soak it in, like a prayer asking God to be our strength when we are weak, our eyes when we can't see.  Essentially, to be our all, our everything.

Want to hear a sample of the song?  Follow the links above, and then join Allan on Facebook to learn his story and upcoming events!

0

A Mighty Winner!

Thanks to everyone who participated in the recent Might Mug give-away courtesy of Robin Kramer Writes.  We have a winner!  CONGRATULATIONS to Hali Jiang. A $30 gift card to order your own Mighty Mug is on its way!

0

It's Mighty. It's a Mug. It's a Give-Away.

During my five-year tenure as a blogger, I've received a steady stream of requests from companies asking me to review their product on my website.  I've never felt enticed by these offers -- until now.  Earlier this month, the nice folks from Mighty Mug offered me a free mug (and a free mug for one of you, dear readers!) in exchange for an honest review.

Since I incidentally had been on the hunt for a water bottle, the offer's timing seemed fortuitous.  You'd like a review?  Well, I'd like a mug.  This looks like the start of a beautiful friendship.

Already favorably inclined, my intrigue rose when I watched the Mighty Mug video.  A mug that won't fall over?  Where has this product been my whole life? 

I've been using my mug for two weeks now, and I'm highly pleased.  It's attractive and BPA-free.  It seals tightly and is dishwasher safe, which is a major selling point for me.

You might be wondering if it actually works.  Can you actually try to knock a Mighty Mug over without knocking it over?  Well, if you aggressively karate chop it with upward torque (as I demonstrated in front of one of my classes), you might discover, like I did, that you're mightier than a Mighty Mug.  However, run of the mill bumps and taps are no match for the Mighty Mug; it'll hold its ground admirably.

Essentially, I like my Mighty Mug so much that I gave it a high five, and true to form, it wobbled and stayed put like a good Mighty Mug should.

So, whether you're a coffee aficionado, tea sipper, or just a person who likes the idea of klutz-proof hydration, today is your day.  Enter here for a chance to win a $30 Mighty Mug gift card to order your mug of choice courtesy of Robin Kramer Writes!  The contest will be open until the end of the day on Tuesday, September 29, 2015.

Be Mighty, my friends, and good luck!  I'll announce the winner next week.

This contest is now closed.  Congratulations to our winner: Hali Jiang!

1

Book Review: Mother of All Meltdowns

It's called a meltdown because you can actually watch your kids melt.  They start out upright and solid, then something happens (like juice in the wrong color cup) and they melt; sometimes in slow motion, until they are a puddle on the floor.  All wet from screaming and crying, totally immovable.

- MOAM introduction

If you're a mother, you've seen this happen to your kids -- the unfurling process where once normal children become entirely unglued and morph into irrational feral creatures, leaving everyone in their wake to pick up the broken pieces, figuratively and literally.

If you're an honest mother, you'll probably realize that meltdowns aren't just child's play.  We moms can melt, too -- all wet from screaming and crying, unfolding in slow motion and epic proportions -- and, just like our kids, we face our own assortment of broken pieces in the aftermath. 

The Mother of All Meltdowns, a newly-released compilation of essays from 30 diverse mom bloggers, holds this as its key premise: moms (good moms!) all have breaking points. Sometimes that breaking point is when you discover that your daughter has cut off her own bangs, or when a stranger asks when you're due to have your baby three months after you've delivered that baby, or when you suspect that your toddler has flushed your wedding ring down the toilet, or when your entire family succumbs to the stomach flu the night before Christmas. 

Through the transparent presentation of these authors' worst moments -- the outburst, the tears, the self-doubts, the botched attempt at moving a child's finished Lego construction -- we, as readers, are quietly invited to recall our own rough patches where we behaved less-than-ideally.  Most importantly, we're reminded that we're not alone.

The book's forward notes that each contributor brings her own writing style, acknowledging that "if you're a word nerd, the grammar police, or anything in between, a good dose of Prozak might be in order for you to read this book."  Instead, the preface explains that the book's focus is honesty, not perfection.  In other words, drop the red pens and grab a relaxing cup of coffee or tea instead.

Typical of compiled anthologies, I gravitated toward a few entries more strongly than others due to the individual writer's way with words or how her experiences and perspectives dovetailed with my own, which is to be expected. 

Overall, I finished the book with affirmation that I'm not the only mom who's been there, done that, regretted it, moved on, and -- here's the best part -- lived to mother another day.  And what mom couldn't use a bit of that?

The Mother of All Meltdowns is available in both Kindle and paperback editions.

27

Girls that My Girls Can Look Up To

The last date that I went on was with my eight-year-old daughter.  Days before the school year began, I treated her to dinner at her favorite restaurant and then spent the rest of evening with her at the Secret Keeper Girl Crazy Hair Tour, an event that helps to connect moms and daughters and teaches girls about healthy self-image and the value that God has invested in her.

Have you ever noticed that when another respected adult speaks into the life of your child -- even if this other adult is saying exactly what you normally say -- that your child sometimes can hear this outside voice more clearly?

Despite the fact that this might make you want to slap your forehead in parental dismay, it's true.  Something clicks when kids hear their parents' messages reinforced from outside sources.  (Especially if that outside source happens to have streamers and music and skits and giant glowing beach balls and prizes launched from a stage with an over-sized slingshot, as was the case with the SKG Tour.)

One of my daughter's favorite parts of the event -- and mine, too -- was a live performance by 1 Girl Nation.  Yes, we met the girls and bought their CD at the end of the night. Yes, we've rocked out to the CD while driving around town in our minivan.  Yes, my girls have hosted dance parties with various neighborhood children who sing along and jump on our couch while the lights are turned off and a toy disco ball spins in our basement.

And yes, if you must know, I've joined them.  I've got serious moves, and I'm almost always up for a good dance party.

It's safe to say that my oldest daughter has now added "rock star" to her list of prospective careers.

What I love most about 1 Girl Nation is not just their energetic performance or catchy sound, but rather their message, which hinges on avoiding regrets and living for Jesus while you're young.  Our younger generation needs to hear this message more.  When it comes from five vibrant, friendly, and talented young women -- all of whom have some notable vocal chops -- it's a bonus.

Let's face it, if our kids look for less desirable examples and messages in pop culture, they'll find them in spades.  (Ahem, a certain recent "twerking" debacle.)  This doesn't have to be.  There are girls in the entertainment industry who our girls can look up to.

If you're a mom with young daughters, would you check if the SKG Tour will be visiting a location near you? 

It might turn out to be the best date you go on this month.
_____________________________________________________
Image used with permission: www.1girlnation.com

Enjoy Then I Became a Mother: humor, hope, and encouragement for moms!  Available in both Kindle and paperback editions.

6

100 Pound Loser

I lose things on a daily basis: my car keys, my cell phone, my train of thought, you name it.  But, I'd like to introduce you to someone who's lost something vastly more significant.  Meet Jessica Heights, the author of the newly-released 100 Pound Loser.

Yes, this woman -- a mother of four little ones -- has lost and kept off 100 pounds.  Impressive, no?

A bite-sized missive for busy women, this pithy e-Book recounts Jessica's personal journey of coming to grips with her weight and her emotional attachment to food.  With humor and candor, 100 Pound Loser provides practical tips and a necessary perspective that women are more than what we weigh.  Best of all, it provides a story of how an ordinary person -- one who succumbs to ice-cream cravings like the rest of us -- took small daily steps to achieve such a large goal.

I love success stories, and 100 Pound Loser is a great example of one.

Jessica's words cheer on her readers, encouraging us that we can reach our goals.  Whether you're looking to lose 10 or 100 pounds, check out 100 Pound Loser: How I Ate What I Wanted, Had Four Babies, and Finally Took Control of My Weight on Amazon or as a PDF.

Please also feel free to visit Jessica at her lovely blog, Muthering Heights.

1

Book Review: The Happy Mommy Handbook

Katie Norris is a MacGyver of mothers.  Of course, she's not making bombs with a stick of chewing gum or diffusing missiles with a bent paperclip, but she is teaching her two young children to entertain themselves and learn from playing with everyday household objects.

Rumor has it that she once scored thirty minutes of gloriously uninterrupted household silence with just a muffin pan and multicolored buttons.

In the book, The Happy Mommy Handbook (co-authored by Norris and Susan Case), these types of activities and tips are outlined for parents of young children.  The premise?  Children behave better when they're exposed to stimulating, age-appropriate tasks that encourage exploration and hands-on learning. 

Some of the book's suggested activities are ones that we already practice in our household regularly.  Even so, when I reflect on my daily parenting, I still have room to implement more.

For example, I've never had my children hone their fine motor skills by setting up a station at the kitchen table where they can pour sand through funnels and between bowls.  Nor have I ever created simple sorting games to help my daughters learn categorization and practice independent play.

If you're looking for ideas but don't know where to start or what products to buy, check out The Happy Mommy Handbook on Amazon.

Also, stop by Katie's blog, Mommy with a Selective Memory, to learn even more craft and project ideas.

On those days when you feel like you're children are out of hand, you don't need a stick of chewing gum to blow down a wall so you can escape.  Instead, turn to some simple and straightforward projects, and you'll find your way out of many tight parenting binds.

0

Introducing Allan Scott

Whenever I witness someone living his or her dream, I get emotional.  The road to success rarely is an easy one to travel, and those who walk it have sacrificed and dealt with setbacks that would cause those with less determination to buckle.

So, when our friend and talented musician, Allan Scott, and his band launched their first nationwide single "Perfect Love" last week, I was overjoyed.  Allan Scott Band will be releasing their debut album Blameless and Free on May 15, and "Perfect Love" already can be bought on iTunes and previewed in its entirety on the band's website.

Allan Scott Band: Hayden Miller, Caleb Bush, Ray Ceglar, and Allan Scott

You could argue that I'm biased (because I am), but let me say this: they're excellent.  I've listened to "Perfect Love" on repeat, never tiring of the passionate vocals, subtly edgy melody, and powerful message.  It's the type of song that you want to get stuck in your head. 

Read more about Allan (he's got quite a story!) and the band here.  It's not every day that you get to witness people live out their dreams -- or get to hear your friend on the radio -- and I'm entirely enjoying watching this unfold.


Image used with permission from allanscottband.com

1

Blogger Behave

Over the last several posts I've been writing about priorities, and I wanted to share a book with you by an author who does just that -- manages her priorities -- with a grace that's tangible.

Meet Laura Booz:



Laura recently wrote Blogger Behave, a refreshingly smart guide on how to manage blogging so that it benefits, rather than burdens, your life.  By providing useful guidelines on how to engage readers authentically, involve your family, and allocate blogging time, Laura gives any blogger -- whether new or seasoned -- some healthy perspective on what blogging can (and ideally should) look like.

Laura teaches bloggers how to craft a mission statement for their blogs, a practice that has benefited my blogging greatly.

(Want to know the mission statement for Pink Dryer Lint?  It's to help mothers find pleasure, contentment, and encouragement in their daily parenting by sharing life moments that are underpinned with humor, characterized by transparency, and grounded in faith.)

When pondering what to write about, I'm not tossed like an anchorless ship.  I can hold my ideas up to the litmus test of my mission statement.  If my idea supports my overarching blogging goals, then it'll become a post.  If it doesn't align with my purposes, then the idea is cut.  Its brilliance is in its simplicity, really, and Laura's insight shines.

If you're a blogger -- and especially if blogging is getting the best of you -- then I highly recommend that you check out Blogger Behave.  While you're at it, visit Laura at her personal blog, 10 Million Miles and check out this post by her, which is one of my favorites.  Her writing is packed with wisdom and is so genuine that you can't help but enjoy.

Now, behave, bloggers!

5