Reward Site Reviews

          Over the last few months, I've been checking out some reward sites online just because. I was curious as to what you can actually earn and what it takes. So far, eh, they're not too bad. However, I can say that they are perfect for teens that like to buy little things online! I've lost track of the extra phone chargers (how she goes through them like she does is beyond me) and cases that have been bought. Her last thing was hair extensions! Yeah, this is perfect for those times when you're like "Seriously? Do you need this? Why do you need this?".

          So far, my favorite site is Swagbucks. The points are actually really easy to earn! Bonus, they have $5 Amazon cards for 450 SB. That's seriously a good deal and, again, is great for those little things on Amazon! You can download the Swagbucks TV app and let videos play while you earn points for them. Printing and using coupons can also earn you points. Shopping online is another point earner. You can't beat it!

          My next two are a tie. Paid Viewpoint and Hits4Pay are both cool! Neither send you a bunch of emails. Neither take much time or effort. Paid Viewpoint seems to really tailor their service towards you. The surveys on the site are all very short. That's the selling point with me. Hits4pay, you earn .02 for viewing all their emails, which stay on their site and don't clutter your inbox. They don't take much time to do, just a couple minutes.

The rest of the sites, I can't say I'm crazy about, but I enjoy the whole paid email thing and some sites will send out bonus emails worth more than their usual. Panda Research and Mindspay are both really great in that respect. Panda doesn't seem to do many surveys while Mindspay can offer a little more. Inbox Dollars and Send Earnings are identical. Both have offers like Swagbacks, but they go above by sending out their paid emails. They also have bonus money to earn for completing a list.

If you are into surveys, check out the survey sites in the sidebar! I've gotten into Survey Downline. They don't bombard me and the surveys are fairly painless. It doesn't seem too bad at the moment!

All this, you can do in about an hour a day, if that! It'll help give you a little extra, too. If there are sites you like that I don't have on here, feel free to comment on this!! Let's compile the good sites!

Don't Beat Yourselves Up!

          Yesterday we had another birthday in our home. My third child turned 13! I have three teenagers in my house. Holy cow! This led me to thinking about the early days of parenting versus the teen years. Does it really matter how they came into the world? Did sleeping arrangements or feeding methods affect anything?? Was it worth the stress now that they're older? Let's play a fun game called Match The Kid!

       A.   This child was the 21.5 hour labor where I received an epidural 4 hours before birth. We also had pitocin. Said child slept with us, was breastfed for 16 months, but also had formula.

       B.   Next child was a 12 hour completely natural labor and birth. Child was breastfed for three months and then put on formula. Baby slept with us most of the time.

        C.  Last child was a 6 hour completely natural labor and birth. This one was breastfed for 18 months, but given formula on occasion. Baby also slept with us.

          Now that you know those little tidbits, I'll tell you about each child.

        1.  This child is very sweet, loves their siblings, gets straight A's, listens 99% of the time. Has only ever had one health problem. Child is very respectful and helpful.

        2.  Next child can be moody, but is generally an angel. Get's B's. Is helpful towards older adults and seniors. No health issues, healthy as can be. Respectful when not moody.

         3. Next child can also be moody, but an angel as well 99% of the time. Gets straight A's. No health problems. Very helpful and respectful, also when not moody.


So, going with what mothers are told and fed about birth and trivial parenting decisions, I'm here to say it doesn't matter. Our kids will become who they become due to not only their personalities, but in how we actually raise them. What are you TEACHING them? How do you TREAT them?? That is where it all lies. If your child feels loved, accepted, and supported you're going to have an awesome kid! If you put your child down, don't show love, or treat them horribly you are going to be in for a huge rude awakening.

All of our kids are going to go through stages where they test the waters and, I believe, this also plays a part in who they turn into. Your reaction and behavior will determine the severity of these tests. We don't have to be doormats, but we also can't be doorstops. Sometimes we have to seriously lay down the law regardless, but many of the things kids do aren't really worth getting into it with them over. Have you ever heard the term "Pick your battles"? In child-rearing, this is vital.

Next time you berate yourself for not doing what the sanctimommies tell you that you should do, walk into a high school and try to pick out the children who were birthed or fed certain ways. I promise, you won't be able to tell!

School and Kids

   

     I'm in my seventh week of school and slowly questioning my sanity! It seems as though my perceptions of how my classes would go were wrong. I figured I would ace English Composition and completely fail at Pre-Algebra. English Comp has shown me that I still have quite a bit to master where writing is concerned and it's kind of tough! The math, I'm blowing that out of the water and am way past where I need to be. I'm pretty impressed with myself! I did register for some summer classes (10 credit hours, to be exact), but still need to get everything that entails squared away.

     I've noticed that trying to juggle everything has left me pretty frazzled and semi anti-social. It's not incredibly fun. I'm lucky in the fact that I do have two teens (almost three) that can help watch younger siblings when the husband isn't home. Dinner can be ready to go in the crockpot, so everyone gets fed. My kids, thank goodness, are highly intelligent and have been able to help me grasp some of the math I've had to re-learn. It's amazing what these kids are learning these days!

     I have a new found respect for parents who work and go to school. It's a lot to juggle! This also shows my children the benefits of waiting to have children until you have an education and a career. As parents, we always want better for our kids and you never want them to struggle. I want them to have it easier than we did and they know it. I guess that's one of the benefits to having older kids that are here to see and learn. It won't be an old story, it'll be our story.