current Cardyologies Newsletter

Why Take Time to Play?

Does it seem impossible to have time to play games?
Here are reasons why you should take time to play!

- Playing a game is a wonderful escape from real-life troubles
and worries! During that amount of time, you'll forget about your
daily problems with people or money - even if you're playing
Monopoly.

- It's a fun way to bond and have fun with other generations!
Most games can be enjoyed by multiple generations at once and
you'll feel good about the time you spend with your kids, parents
or grandparents!

- You just might laugh - and laughing is very good for you!
The health benefits of laughter are a whole other article, but
they include many physical and mental benefits.

- It's great social interaction. If you spend too much time at the
computer (like I do) a game is a refreshing change!

- Games can be good ice-breakers. If there is a new in-law in
the family, a new friend-of-a-friend coming over, or if you've had
a "tiff" with someone in your house, games can really get the
communication going in a fun, positive way.

- It's good exercise for your mind, and we can all use that!
You'll use your math and vocabulary skills in many games.

- Depending on the game, you might get a little physical
exercise, too!

- If you play with kids, they will love you for it. They don't feel
guilty about it taking time to play - it's their job.

- Games teach children many things, such as numbers,
colors, words, sportsmanship, taking turns, discovery, strategy,
imagination, etc.

- It's fairly inexpensive entertainment. You could get many,
many hours of enjoyment out of a game that might cost as much
going out to dinner and a movie.

- Games give you a block of time to simply enjoy.

- When you go back to what you were doing before, you'll do it
better because you will have relaxed & refreshed your mind.

Need another reason? It's fun! Time is yours, so take time to
play!

Click here and let me know what your favorite games are, then
check out my clocks I've made from old games! They are fun
reminders to take time to play and they may spark great
memories, too.

What Part Do You Play?
(This Month's Happy Marriage Tip)

Do you and your spouse play the parts you are supposed to play,
determined by society's views of male/female roles? Or do you
play the parts you are meant to play, determined by your
personal strengths and weaknesses?

My wonderful husband, Ty, cooks and washes the dishes. Should I
be doing that since I'm the woman? Not really.

If I had to make the meals, we'd starve because I can't cook. I can
even mess up Macaroni & Cheese! And because of my mild case of
OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder),when I wash dishes, I scrub
and scrub each spoon and bowl until I'm sweaty and exhausted with
only a few clean dishes to show for it.

Instead of kitchen duties, I take care of other things - like keeping
track of the bills and two very small businesses (our greeting card
line and digitizing for embroidery.) Is Ty supposed to keep track of
the bills? Not around here. We'd have every utility cut off in no time.

If possible, each person should do what they are better at, as long
as the work is fairly even in the end.

If your spouse is what John Heffron (from Last Comic Standing)
calls "clutterblind," don't give them the job of "picking up" the
house. They may not even "see" what needs to be picked up.
Maybe they need to vacuum instead.

Important happy marriage tip: If you decide that the other person
has it easier, you have these two options:

1. You can mention it as soon as you realize the duties seem
uneven, then discuss it and agree on a solution to try.

2. Or you can hold it in, keep thinking you do more work around the
house, become resentful and finally blow up about it.

I'd recommend #1. If you missed it, you can read the happy
marriage tip in last month's newsletter about communication and
what happens when you hold stuff in. (It isn't pretty.)

When your duties are done, reward yourselves by playing your
favorite board game together and have fun!

Don't Let Back to School Germs
Keep Your Kids from Playing!

Does it seem like your kids are always sick, especially when they go
back to school? They have new friends, homework, activities and
billions of germs! How exciting.

How can you help keep your kids from getting sick - so they can be
well enough to play and go to school?

The main thing you and your kids can do to keep from getting sick
is wash your hands!

What are kids to do when it's time for lunch and there's no
convenient way to wash their hands? It's simple - use alcohol-based
hand sanitizer!

Just make sure you and your kids have a little bottle of Purel or
Germ-X in your purse or pocket and teach them to use it - at least
before they eat so they don't get all those germs on their food and
in their mouths.

If your kids can't actually wash their hands with soap and water,
using hand sanitiser could save you the time, money and horrors
of sickness!

"Car Seat" Driver

We all know a back seat driver - or we are one. When you have
a toddler commenting on your driving skills, they are called a "car
seat driver." (I just decided that.)

Since Lexy was 19 months old, she would yell, "Stop!" and "Go!"
when she saw a red or green traffic light. (It sounded more like
top and doe.)

Now she also tells us which way to turn, but last week she was
very opinionated -

While my Mom was running errands with Lexy (3 1/2) and my Stad
(Step-dad), she made several quick turns on a bumpy road and
Lexy yelled, "Grandma, do you have your drivers's license?"

Behind the Scenes of "Stopping Traffic"

Speaking of driving, let's look behind the scenes of our "Stopping
Traffic" greeting card (shown above). This was one of the more difficult
ones, but so cute.

The blue car was mine (Kelly's) when I was little. Last year my Dad had it
restored for Lexy as a surprise. The tag on the front says "Lexy 2003"
and the tag on the back says, "Kelly 1975."

At the age of 2, Lexy had already learned how to drive like a woman -
multi-tasking! At one point she was putting on her makeup, talking on
her cell phone and driving at the same time! Look out on the streets in
13 years!