A friend recently told me "It seems that you love children's books as much as I love chocolate!" And it is true - my love for children's books is close to an addiction. Every time I walk into a children's bookstore, I can't walk out empty-handed and I certainly can't walk the aisles without peeking at every new cover.

So when I recently picked up a copy of Feeding Penny Pig, I was hooked on the concept and knew that I wanted a copy for my own daughter. Filled with beautiful illustrations and bright, crispy pages, Feeding Penny Pig is the story of a little girl, Laney, who learns about the importance of responsibility and earning money. Laney receives a very special piggy bank as a gift from her grandmother, and she learns that her piggy bank is very hungry for coins. Through taking care of the piggy bank, doing chores and earning money, Laney begins to understand the concept of responsibility at a young age.

The book is ideal for children three years and older who are ready to learn about money, doing chores and earning an allowance.

I contacted the author, Jeannine Fox (or "Mimi" as her grandchildren call her) to inquire about her inspiration for the story.

Annie: What inspired you to write about a book about understanding money and its related responsibilities for young children?

Jeannine: One of the first things I bought for my first grandchild when she was born was a $5 piggy bank. It sat on her dresser for three years hoping people would put coins in it. The book just came to me one day as I was thinking about Laney's fourth birthday coming up. I wrote it in 30 minutes and there has been very little changed. It seems to have taken on a life of its own and I realize now that, even though my life has seemed to push me into finance, my heart has always been to be a mother, and now a grandmother which is so much more fun. I'm hoping to do other books, all focusing on responsibility - it can be fun!

I feel like I'm being given the opportunity to do what I was born to do: Teach kids about being good, responsible citizens. Part of that is learning how to handle money.

Today, the future for our kids doesn't look as bright as it did for my kids.

We can't do a lot about what has happened to the finances of our country, but we can prepare our children to accept responsibility for their own lives and prepare for their futures. The JumpStart Coalition is working on high school students, and even Warren Buffett has indicated that he intends to do some things there. However, while I think that's great and needs to be done, habits which are started when a child is in preschool and elementary school seem to last and be easier to instill. That's what I'm hoping to do.

Annie: What is your best piece of advice for give parents raising young children?

Jeannine: Best piece of advice: This is more as a grandmother - When your grandchildren are around, don't plan anything else. Play with them - puzzles, games, tea parties, etc. As a mother: Forgive yourself for not being perfect, love your kids unconditionally and listen more than you talk (my biggest challenge).

To purchase this fabulous book or Mimi's other educational products, visit her website. In addition to stocking Mimi's book, the site is chock full of adorable piggy banks, educational DVDs, puzzles, books, games, toys and responsibility charts. It also has a very creative sections on fun food recipes to make with kids!

I hope you enjoy Mimi's books and activities as much as we have!

And just to let readers know, this will be my final post for the Tranquil Parent. I recently started a private practice in Denver, CO, and I am busier than I ever imagined, so I will be spending more time with my blossoming practice! I have really enjoyed blogging for the website and interacting with my readers, so thank you so much for your support and interest.

Are you a normal human being? If so, you probably procrastinate in some areas of your life. Putting off stuff you just don’t want to do, stalling when you feel blocked, letting things stack up because you feel overwhelmed. Which of these sounds familiar?

The good news is that procrastination is just a strategy and one that can be easily shifted. And most of the time, the tasks that seem so daunting are much easier once you stop resisting them. But, you have to want to change the resistance pattern before you can really make progress.

As a parent, you have so little time anyway. The things you put off are likely to never get done. My good friend and professional organizer Krista Colvin says: "Now is the new later."

Here are five simple steps to shifting out of procrastination and into action:

1. How does procrastination affect your life? You are not going to be willing to change until become aware of how procrastinating is impacting your life. When you put things off, you tend to get even more overwhelmed. Sometimes relationships are challenged because your friends and family feel frustrated when you don’t follow through. You also have trouble reaching your goals when you are constantly resisting move forward. And resisting something often takes more energy than just doing it anyway! The truth is that procrastination keeps you stuck and hampers your success.


2. What do you really want? Often the things you are putting off are the things you don’t want to be doing anyway? Do the bills sit in piles and don’t get paid on time? Set up an on-line bill pay service. Are you always late for work? Time to rethink how you feel about your job. Putting off calling that friend back? Perhaps it is time to have the real conversation you have been avoiding, like changing the relationship. Procrastination can be a wonderful sign that it is either time to let something go or get some outside help.


3. Who can help you? Sometimes the projects and tasks we are avoiding are the ones that are most challenging for us. Getting some outside help or information can really make a difference! If cleaning out the garage is daunting, ask a friend who is really great at organizing to come and help you. Haven’t filed your taxes? Hire an accountant; it is worth every penny they will save you in penalties.


4. Make a plan: Make a list (right now, don’t put it off!) of all the things you have been putting off. Decide which ones you can let go of, which ones you can delegate and which ones you really want to do accomplish. Now, visit our previous post about goal setting and create your plan of action.


5. Celebrate your success! We bet you feel really great now that you have some things checked off your list! Remember to notice what is different in your life now that you are moving forward rather than stuck in gear. Reflecting on the positive change that happens when you get stuff accomplished will inspire you the next time you feel stuck in a procrastination cycle.

So, go ahead and tell us: What have you been putting off that you are now ready to complete? (I had been putting off writing this post and whew, I feel great now that it is done!)

Is the sun peeking through your windows casting light on all the dust balls? Is it time to go through the kid’s clothes and sort through your outgrown winter wardrobe? Ready to dig out the camping gear that’s piled behind boxes in the garage?

There is something about the energy of spring that inspires people to clean and organize. After the dark of winter, huddling in our caves, we are ready to lighten our loads!

But, you are also a busy parent and the thought of a spring clean can be overwhelming, right? I know it is for me. So, I am going to challenge you to a Six-week Spring Clean Plan!

If you follow the rules below, I promise this can work for you! At my house, last week we did the fridge, this week we worked on the yard and next week we are sorting out all the outgrown baby clothes.

The Rules

1. Make a list of all the areas in your home that you would love to clean or organize.


2. Pick your top six areas. If you can get your family enrolled in the challenge, let them help you pick the top areas. That gets more buy-in for help.


3. Break your top choices into tasks that can be done in less than one hour. Keep it reasonable for the amount of time you have. Set yourself up to succeed!


4. Choose at least one task per week for the next six weeks. This will have you complete by the time summer rolls around.


5. Pick a time that you know will work for you and put it on the calendar. When you work on your task, set a timer or watch the clock. Commit to being done in one hour - or less!

Quick cleaning ideas

Here are some suggestions of Spring Clean ideas that can be done in less than one hour:

• Clean out the fridge – for real. You know, with a sponge, cleaner, etc.


• Sort and organize the kid’s clothes. Sell unwanted items on Craigslist!


• Wipe down the baseboards in your home. No fun, but they’ll look great.


• Clean the windows in the main room of your house. Do another area the next time.


• Rake the yard, pull some weeds, organize the kid's outdoor toys.


• Go through and sell books, CDs or DVDs you don't need.


• Move the furniture in the common rooms and mop/sweep/vacuum under it.


• Clean out your email box and computer desktop. Then back up all your files.

Making it work

Answering some basic questions about your needs and habits can make the difference in a challenge like this. Here are some to ask yourself:

Who can help you? Get your family on board to enjoying a cleaner, more organized space. Or invite a friend to trade time with you. You go help organize your friend’s garage and she/he will do the same with you.

How can you make it fun and easy? Pick some great music or listen to a podcast while you work. Bribe yourself (and family members) with a yummy treat when you finish. One client shared with me that she cracked a beer and cleaned out the fridge on a Friday night while her husband played with their toddler. And, she said: “It was satisfying...as satisfying as a bubble bath and a glass of wine, believe it or not!”

When is the very best time to do it? Probably when the kids are more needy or fussy is not ideal. Neither is a time when you are feeling tired or scattered. Perhaps mid-morning on a weekend day before everyone gets their activities started.

How can you involve the kids? For older kids, keep it fun and don’t pressure them to participate. You might be surprised when they volunteer. And with younger kids, find a special way to help them feel a part of the activity. They are at an age where “helping” is fun! We started in our yard yesterday and my toddler had a blast picking up pinecones. Remember, your kids feed off your energy and mood. If you have a positive attitude about what you are doing, they are more likely to participate.

Be SMART about it! Revisit our post about making goals work for you.

So, what can you do this week to help spring clean your home? Leave a comment and share your plans. In a few weeks we can chat again to see what we've all accomplished!

I’m feeling better already!