Gifts for Moms 'Mommy Friends'

Is one of the moms doing more than her fair share? Has she covered your duties as classroom volunteer or picked up your child to host play dates at her home with regularity? 

A busy mom appreciates the other mothers who step up, fill in and don't seem to keep score. A token of appreciation from you would probably be appreciated, and few mothers would take offense at receiving an herb garden in a planter. You can give a living herb garden, or make up a kit if you have a friend with a green thumb.

There are a lot of attractive herb garden containers to choose from. A plain container in a basket, a personally decorated planter (especially if it can be decorated by grandkids), or my favorite, the strawberry planter, all make good container gardens for herbs.

If you’re making an herb garden kit, be sure to add enough sterile potting soil mix to fill the container. Put it in a plastic baggie and wrap it up in burlap. To make the soil look all earthy and natural, decorate it by tying it off with raffia.

Add packets of quality seeds, and don’t forget a marker for each kind of herb included. Darling markers can be purchased at most dollar stores if you don’t want to make your own.

Add enough gravel to cover the bottom of the planting container. Wrap it up in burlap and tie with raffia like you did with the potting soil. Make sure you mark what it is. Tuck the gravel kit into a small watering can and stick it in the container.

To finish off the herb garden kit, add a soil scoop, snipers, fertilizer and gloves.

If you’re planning to meet your helpful mom friend, go ahead and plant the seeds now so you can present mom with a living herb garden as a gift. You might want to make two. Use one for a gift and keep one for your own kitchen. Use it as a quick and easy source for cooking herbs and teas, scented greenery for the window sill, or with a little creativity with plant container decoration, the tiny herb garden will make a beautiful centerpiece for the kitchen table.

Organize all those Art Masterpieces

As the school year winds down the teachers will be returning the projects they've made in class throughout the year. You know that art projects will soon be making their way from the classroom to the home. Although some of these beautiful examples of artistic talent will immediately gain prominent display on the refrigerator or family communications cork board, there are just too many pieces of creativity to be displayed.

Packing them away in boxes just invites damage, a thought the proud parent of an artist can't bear to contemplate.

Idea

Save the cardboard tubes from paper towel, aluminum foil and plastic wraps used in the kitchen. Roll up the childhood memory and tuck it in the tube. Label the tube with the child’s name, date and the subject matter and the treasured can be stored without worry of accidental damage. Decorating the tubes can be a fun rainy day activity for the kids.

Sooner or later the accumulation of drawings makes it necessary to be a bit more discriminatory when determining what to choose to save and take up valuable household storage. Even the artwork that is not chosen to be vaulted away forever can be given new life.

Idea

Consider giving the drawings another use as wrapping paper for small gifts.Not only will the kids get a lesson in recycling,  grandmothers and other close relatives may find just as much enjoyment from the artful wrapping as they do of the gift inside.

And, speaking of school art projects, many art programs are always in need of material remnants, buttons, scraps of wrapping paper and ribbon for art projects. Before tossing the scraps that have accumulated in your work basket, speak to the kindergarten teacher to see if there is a use for them at the local school. If not, contact activity directors at nursing centers and senior groups.

Like everything else, even school art projects fit into the category of use it up, then find another use for it.

Natural Ways to Ease Colic Pain

I usually don't like to recommend herbal remedies for children. It has nothing to do with the safety of the herb. I hesitate because I don't want my suggestion of a remedy to cause a parent to diagnose the condition and possibly mask symptoms that prevent the child from receiving professional care. 

I only offer the following information because Pediatrics reviewed 15 clinical trials on infantile colic and recently released the results of the study. They have determined what we already knew. Herbs can help ease the symptoms of colic.

Fennel extract seems to be the most effective herbal remedy for the baby showing symptoms of colic. Fennel seeds are a natural aid to digestion. They help to expel gas as they relax the muscle lining of the digestive tract.

German chamomile and lemon balm also showed effectiveness is the clinical trials. These herbs are often recommended for teas to give a calming effect to the drinker.

A tea made with a combination of fennel, balm mint, licorice and chamomile was also studied for their effects on infants and found effective.

After a sleepless night spent trying to sooth a crying baby, both mom and her child could benefit from the soothing tea. Mom can brew a double batch and enjoy her cup, diluting some and letting it cool before letting the baby join her relaxing tea moment.

There were no recommendations made during the study of the strength of the concoction for the colicky infant. Like all herbal remedies, introduce the new herbal remedy in small doses to make sure that the substance is well tolerated.

Let the herbal tea cool before giving it the baby.

Herbal remedies are never meant to substitute for medical care or treatments that are suggested by your health team. They are offered as a temporary way to ease the occasional problem. If the problem persists, call the doctor.

All written content ©2011 Patrice Campbell unless otherwise noted.