Halloween Party Planning–Include Boys

September 24, 2015 ~ Linda Leier Thomason ~ Leave a comment

Boys get the short stick of holiday party planning. Some say they don’t care. I beg to differ. As the mother of an only child who happens to be male I want him to experience the excitement and anticipation of all holidays too. I understand he’s not a girl, I am. I want him to bank memories of holidays and to recall the fun, festivity and even the calamity of the planning and the party itself. In addition, I want him participating in the planning. There is so much learning for kids involved in planning and hosting events-everything from envelope addressing to budgeting to handling conflict between party guests. Sit down with your child, or children, and plan a party TOGETHER. You will be doing them a favor and teaching them more than you realize.

Pre-Party To-Do List

Pick a date, time and location.
Decide who to invite-all boys, co-ed, adults?
Purchase or create invitations. Child completes Who, What, When, Where and RSVP details.
Child addresses envelopes, stamps and mails invitations 2-3 weeks before date.
Plan a menu. Traditional kid food or holiday food?
Create a grocery shopping list by menu item. What buy, what make?
Decide where to serve food-outside vs. inside-where at each location?
Make list of tableware and decorations needed.
Giving guests party favors? What? Make or buy?
Shop together. Compare prices. Decide together.
Plan activities for party. Indoor and outdoor. Inclement weather plan?
Make a time-line of actions to be done the week of the party and the day of the party. [Teaching time management skills and big picture thinking.]
Follow up with non-responding RSVP guests. (Major pet peeve!)

Week of Party Reminders

Check the forecast
Balls inflated? If any sports balls being used in activities, are they properly inflated?
Gather serving platters, trays, utensils, etc. for menu items. Clean? Ready to use?
Making party favors? Do so. Place in basket and set aside.
Can any ingredients be cut or prepared in advance? Check recipes.

Party Day

Set up serving tables, if not using kitchen or dining room table.
Prepare menu items, paying close attention to preparation times and safe storage.
Place serving trays, bowls, etc. on table.
Double check items needed for activities- all present and available?
Is bathroom ready for guest use?
Be ready for guests to arrive at least 1-hour before start time.
ENJOY the party!
Hand guests party favors as they leave and thank them for coming to your party.
Clean up.
Children, thank parents for helping you plan such a great party!

Sample Menu From Halloween Party for Pre-Teen Boys

Bloodied Fingers-twisted and baked breadsticks with food coloring added. Almonds (fingernail) pressed into bread after 5 minutes of baking.
Blood Shot Eyes on Guts-can of black beans spread on plate (guts). Deviled eggs with pimento or red pepper (blood shot) and sliced olives (eyeball).
Spider Web 7-layer dip-see photo for ingredients or use your favorite recipe. Put sour cream in bag with small hole so child can draw web on top layer.
Cheetos and black tortilla chips
Sliced red and green pepper
Punch over dried ice
Jean’s Ghost Cookies-see under “recipes.”

Sample Activities

It’s a sunny fall day and the invitees are pre-teen boys. Flag football supervised by an adult. Game of “Horse” on the basketball court-winner is first in line to eat. Age appropriate Halloween or other scary movie. At dusk-Flashlight Tag.

Party Favors

Battery operated flashlight for Flashlight Tag and a pre-packaged Rice Krispie treat covered with a ghost face decorated (Sharpie) paper towel tied on with black or orange yarn.

Aging Parents: Six Daily Reminders

September 7, 2015December 18, 2018 ~ Linda Leier Thomason ~ 4 Comments

By guest contributor -Karen (Dutt) Horan.

“I’ve become a burden,” sighed my 87-year-old father Jack from his Fargo, North Dakota hospital bed. “You’re missing work and being with your family.” He was right. I’d missed 4 days of work, sitting beside him after he was airlifted from Bismarck. And my daughter and grandson, who’d flown to Bismarck for an extended weekend, were waiting for us to get back home. But Dad was wrong about being a burden. To our family Dad always has been a shining example of how to live one’s life.
He is one of those guys from the “greatest generation” who’s always been fiercely independent and responsible. He spent his life being a good son, brother, husband, dad, grandpa and great-grandpa. He was the neighbor who minded his own business, but was always there to help. He was a loyal employee, showing up every day and working hard to provide well for his family. He continues to work part-time for the local school system, managing sporting event parking lots and taking tickets at games because he loves the energy of the student athletes and spectators. He lives independently, drives, gardens, cleans, cooks, pays his bills and, until three weeks ago, avoided going to the doctor like the plague.
In an instant an episode of dizziness and a frantic phone call changed everything. It brought me face-to-face with a father depending on me for health care assistance and decisions.

Now we’re traveling a new road, balancing dignity with care. I know more about Dad’s health than he’s comfortable with. I’m trying to help him understand medical information, procedures, plans and options, while continuing to respect him as the man who raised me. Dad doesn’t feel the need to know his blood pressure is high, but I freak out because of my Mom’s history of strokes. Dad doesn’t want to hear the arterial bleed he has can cause him to bleed out or stroke out, but I need to remind him why he can’t lift or strain in any way. Dad doesn’t want to give himself shots in the stomach, so I do it and tease him that he fusses like a girl. I don’t want to remind and check up on whether or not he’s taken his medicine twice a day, but I can’t relax until I know it’s been done. He doesn’t want to call and report to me when he’s going somewhere, but I need to know he’s safe.

To navigate this new frontier with Dad, I’ve created a list of 6 reminders for myself.

These 6 Reminders Are:

Allow Dad to experience his life and comfortable routines. His current medical situation shouldn’t change his life any more than absolutely necessary.
Slow down and process information and situations at Dad’s pace, not mine.
Include Dad in all decisions. As an only child there is no one else to include. Even if there was, he should be included.
Preserve Dad’s privacy and modesty in all situations.
Reinforce who the patient is when medical personnel talk about Dad as if he isn’t present.
Allow myself to be imperfect. Dad and Mom didn’t get everything right when they raised me and I’m not likely to get everything right in this matter with Dad’s health. Always keeping the love I have for him first, I know things will be all right.

May his soul rest in peace. (Deceased 12.17.18.)

Karen (Dutt) Horan (Mike) is an energetic Bismarck, ND professional. She is the mother of two and grandmother of two, with another grandchild expected in 2015. She is the daughter of Jack and the former Teresa (Reis) Dutt. Karen is an avid reader who enjoys gardening and spending time on the Missouri River aboard her pontoon. The most precious hours of her day are the ones she spends with her family. Karen has discovered that respect and love are the guiding forces for dealing with an aging parent’s health.