Planning your child’s birthday party can bring a lot of stress into your life and take up a lot of your much needed alone time. As the years go on, it seems children’s birthday parties are becoming more elaborate and time consuming. Not everyone can afford a petting zoo or a circus in their front yard.

Children are very imaginative and creative, which should be kept in mind. A simple card board box can transform into a rocket ship or a race car when your eyes are young. Use this to help make the process easier.

The other day was a perfect example; because of the cold weather, one of us got up to go running but decided against it. That left a whole hour to do things that needed to get done. But, that hour stretched a bit – getting to the shower and breakfast took longer than usual. All of a sudden it was time to take the kids to school and things weren’t ready. The mistake – a change in routine.  

Then you will understand when, I leave the house to attend a parent council meeting, community calling or work related idea, my husband yells out to me, “You can sit on your hands when they call for volunteers”!

It’s true, I think I am addicted to volunteering; on some level I think I can save the world if I am a part of the volunteer movement.