SELF-LOVE: Date Night In Take 4: Set up a bar in your kitchen. Pretend you or your partner is the bartender. Maybe even get out of your pajamas. Pretend to pick up on the bartender. Yes, this is a bit silly, but if you are missing a night on the town as much as we are, this might actually be just the ticket.
PARENTING TIPS: Hand Washing: Though hand washing is probably part of their routine, you may also be noticing some increased resistance. Try some of our favorite tips here:Have child decorate the soap bottles with stickers. Have your child chose a favorite hand washing song from youtube to listen to while they wash. Watch this video of a song that also teachers your child all the steps by one of Patrick's teachers that he just loved! Make your own soap-allowing your child to pick out the colors, scents, and shapes of their soap! This ended all the battles (including those with my 10yr old) in our home! (See soap making tip below.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoVoSBRvPCs&feature=youtu.be
INDOOR ACTIVITY: Toddler Friendly Soap Making. Warning: this requires a few supplies and may be more of a "crafter-noon" project but after several attempts I found a way to make this toddler friendly. You wont find this information anywhere else! Purchase pour and melt soaps. They usually come in cubes with either a goat's milk or oatmeal base. Purchase soap making dyes (and essential oils if you don't have any on hand). I think you could probably use food coloring but I haven't tried that. You don't need anything else that comes in those kits. Get out your favorite cookie cutters and place in the bottom of a Tupperware container. It is very important that your child gets to chose the shape of her soap! Get a small bowl for each soap you are making. Melt a small amount of your melt and pour soap in microwave. Pour into the small bowl. Have your toddler add 3-4 drops of essential oil and 1-2 drops of colors (hint: make sure they are ones that don't equal brown!). Have your child mix with a Popsicle stick. It will start to coagulate and you'll think you've failed. Just let them mix away as long as they want. When they are finished, put it back in the microwave. It will melt again. Now you can pour into your cookie cutters that you prepared in the Tupperware. You may have to hold the cookie cutter down for a few seconds until the soap hardens. It should pop right out when it is completely dry. If not, stick in the freezer for a moment. The double melting is what makes this activity toddler proof!
OUTDOOR ACTIVITY: Try to find some nature this weekend. Whether it's all the many hidden treasures of Golden Gate Park or the Presidio, or just the outskirts of your neighborhood park, you and your family will likely greatly benefit from the reduction in stress and immunity boost of a little time in actual nature. I have found many places where my children and I can stay comfortably 6ft apart from others including sections of Ocean Beach, the Lindley Meadows and Chain of Lakes at GGP, and even Glen Park Canyon.