Tag: kids

Little Life Lessons – The Purpose of Life

When you’re a young child, life seems to be a constant bliss of playtime, food, and sleep. Before the age of five, the meaning of life wasn’t even a notion on your plate. As you grow older, so does your brain and your life experiences, and you start to pick up nuances and virtues along the way. But as we get into adulthood, sometimes the virtues we learned as a child get lost or displaced. We sometimes lose track of what it means to be a human being and more so, a decent human being.

What makes a person truly virtuous? You might see heroic or selfless acts from people all over the world. Is it an innate obligation to do right and to help others? We’ve seen people risk their lives to save another. We’ve seen someone pay for another person’s groceries. And we’ve seen people stand up to bullies. Perhaps they learned at a young age to just “do the right thing”, or they learned through hard lessons in life. But I ask this – what exactly is the right thing to do? And when is the right time to talk to our kids about virtue, honesty, and purpose?

When you’re school-aged, the importance of learning fundamental math and language arts is already part of the school curriculum. But how do you learn about your life purpose? And who do you learn it from? Our teachers can only teach what is offered in school. But sometimes you get lucky and you meet a teacher who teaches you how to succeed in life. I was fortunate to have met a few teachers who taught about humanity and compassion, and their teachings were amplified through their own kind actions.

As I nurture and teach my own child as he grows up, I hope and pray that he’ll have the necessary tools to navigate through adulthood. I wish he will grow up to be a person with values and virtues. With kindness and compassion. But I can only provide him with what I learned while living at home and through my own personal experiences.

At every opportunity possible, I try to talk to my son about his “life purpose”. And then I wonder if I start sounding like I’m forcing him to be someone he’s not, or doesn’t want to grow up to be. Oftentimes as parents, we reflect what we wish we were onto our children. Us parents might not have done all the things we wish we had done as children. Wished we had talked a certain way. Acted a certain way. Or became a different person. But I know that while he’s going through his own growing pains, I do see specks of kindness and purpose in him. He realizes what is important right now and that’s okay for me.

So when is a good time to teach children about “life’s purposes”? Experts might tell you that children don’t really grasp the meaning of life until they’re teenagers. But as soon as your child is old enough to start learning the difference between right and wrong, would be the best time to start. 

Below I’ve listed some talking points for your children depending on age. Of course everyone is different, and a child’s age doesn’t necessarily correlate with maturity and mentality. Please note that some of these questions are what I’ve come across throughout my years working with children.

Primary school age (grades 1-3):

  • Do you like school? Why/Why not?

  • Do you like your friends? Why/Why not?

  • What do you like best about school?

  • What do you like least about school?

  • What do you want to learn from your teachers?

  • What do you want your teachers to teach you?

  • Do you like animals? If so, what kind of animal?

  • What do you want to be when you grow up? Why do you want to be that?

Primary school age (grades 4-5):

  • Do you like school? Why/Why not?

  • What would you do if you meet a bully?

  • What would you do if you meet a stranger?

  • What do you want to learn from your teachers?

  • What do you want your teachers to teach you?

  • Why do you think homework is important?

  • Why do you think you should manage your hygiene?

  • What do you want to be when you grow up? Why do you want to be that?

Secondary school age (grades 6-8):

  • Do you like school? Why/Why not?

  • What would you do if you meet a bully?

  • What would you do if you find a $20 bill on the ground?

  • What would you do if you find a $5 bill on the ground?

  • Do you think you should say thank you even when you don’t need to?

  • Do you think you should help pay for your classmate’s lunch? 

  • Do you like animals? Why/Why not?

  • Do you care about your planet/environment? Why/Why not?

  • How do you think you can improve situations around you?

  • What would you do if someone fell on the floor?

  • What would you do if someone asks to copy your homework?

High school age (grades 9-12):

  • Do you like school? Why/Why not?

  • What’s most important in your life right now?

  • Why do you care about things?

  • What are your goals in high school?

  • Why are these goals important to you?

  • What would you do if your friend stops being your friend?

  • What do you think it means to be a good person?

  • What can you do to make a positive impact on the world?

  • What do you do if someone asks you to do something that isn’t right?

  • What do you hope to accomplish in 5 years? In 10 years? In 20 years?

  • How will you accomplish these goals?

As we’re approaching the holiday season, staying home and staying safe, this would be a great time to talk to your kids about these important topics. If you start asking these questions at a young age and then continue through high school, you might notice a dramatic change or very little change. But the wonderful thing about that is to see just exactly how your children changes as they get older. Oftentimes we’re afraid to ask our children the big questions. Heck, sometimes we’re even afraid to ask ourselves those same questions. But the sooner you get your children to open up about their own views of the world, the easier it is to talk to them about life’s little lessons and their own purpose in life.

For an in-depth talk with your teens, check out The Greater Good initiative: https://ggia.berkeley.edu/practice/talk_with_teens_about_purpose

 

Disclaimer: The product(s)were sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on “Happymomblogger” remain unbiased and unpaid and are the sole decision of the author. The opinions of these product(s) were not influenced in any way, shape, or form. As always, please read the ingredients carefully when trying new products.

Please read the labels and ingredients carefully and follow all manufacturer’s instructions (if any). The products selected for the giveaway were generously donated by the companies/PR to help readers learn more about their products. The winner’s choice in using/consuming these products are entirely up to the winner and will not hold the author and her family liable nor the companies/PR liable. These products are made with non-toxic ingredients but always be safe with what you use and consume.

http://www.topmommyblogs.com/blogs/in.php?id=storm

 

 

 

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We can accept your child now

Has there ever been a time where you were judged, critized, and basically blamed for every tiny infraction as a mother? Is it not enough we judge ourselves and live in perpetual self-doubt? But what happens when other people – whether they know you or not – shake their heads when they feel you are not doing something right in their heads? It’s not easy being a parent, but being a mother carries far more weight than a father would.

Most people might agree that motherhood begins when the baby in your womb starts growing. The connection is almost instant for most women and after you feel that little kick in your stomach, your entire world aligns with the stars. Which is why when others start judging and critizing how moms should raise their own children, you realize that you live in a world of blame first; accept after.

I come from a family that is pretty accepting of me. While my own parents might have pushed me to go beyond my limits as they had with my siblings – the after effects of being Asian and living the stereotype – they were still able to let me be who I wanted to be, albeit some fighting and tears throughout the years. When I got pregnant with my son, after a miscarriage and more self-doubt, I heard practically every advice thrown at me. Most of them from other moms, but mostly enough where I really doubted whether being a mother was really worth it. Now, after many years of growing pains for both my son and I, I shudder to think how I could have ever doubted myself in the beginning. It hasn’t always been an easy and smooth road, but being a mother and parent will never be a dull job.

As I watch my son grow from a toddler to a preschooler to a pre-teen, I often reflect on why I listened so intently to other people’s advice. That old adage of not judging others lest you be judged yourself can come in handy whenever someone else criticizes how you should parent your own child. Goodness forbid they criticize your child in front of you! And as I parent my child through the joys and turmoils of our lives, I’ve come to appreciate my own mom even more. They say eventually you’ll become your own parent. While that may be a blessing for those who had GREAT parents, others might not see it as a benefit.

So what should we do when others deem it their personal responsibility to judge you for your motherhood? Etiquette leaders might tell you to just smile politely and accept their criticism. The more involuntary reaction might be to instantly oppose that judgment – and you have every right to since you are the parent – not the other person. But if these criticisms are done in front of your own children then you might need to take a step back and think how your answer will affect your child. They will see and hear your reaction and quite possibly learn from it and imitate the behavior later on.

During these uncertain times with the global pandemic, the intense climate fluctuations, police brutality brought to light, and ongoing injustices, being a parent is even harder than before. And now, with most states doing online distance learning, most parents have no other choice than to stay at home and monitor their children while learning through Zoom. And even moreso when you have children in similar age ranges, the chaotic lessons and keeping track of all their teachers can leave all of us wishing school wasn’t so hard. Essentially, we are attending school with our kids, making sure they are paying attention and doing their homework. But, it is a huge learning curve and the best we can do is adjust and grow.

Throughout the years I’ve learned as a mom, an educator, and a friend with kids close to my child’s age, that you’re going to undoubtedly get judged for who you are. Not everyone will accept you or your child. Not everyone will like what your children wears, how they talk, how they act, how they play, how they breathe. But I say to those who judge critically to please leave my child be. He might be odd at times, he might be angry, or he might be shy. But he is quintessentially my child and he will surely grow through all the awkardness and the self judgement as he gets older.

So, I’ll leave you with some tips I’ve learned throughout the years to combat “mom guilt”. We all feel guilty at times, but don’t let that guilt stem from someone else who judged you for packing only chips and cookies into your child’s lunch bag. We all falter here and there, and as long as we are doing the best for our children, who are others to judge? The most important thing is to show our children that as a mom, we can overcome the injustices that will surely rise in their own years.

  • Trust your heart. Look inside yourself and see how you are raising your child. If they are inevitably joyful and peaceful, then you’re doing great.

  • Trust your own instincts. I’ve learned to be in-tuned with my mind and soul at a very young age. And later on, when I needed it the most, my instincts have brought me out of a lot of scrapes and bruises.

  • Trust professionals. If you ever have doubts or just not sure of parenting tips, find professionals who have had years of training and clinical experience. Or search online for parenting advice sites. Finding unbiased advice can help you through your difficult decisions.

  • Listen to your children. You are their parent. You don’t have to listen to your family, relatives, friends, or even strangers on the street for advice. So often we forget to listen to what our own children need and want.

  • Tune out. Yes, you probably tell your own children to never tune you out. But that’s quite different from someone who is judging you or your child for something that they dislike for themselves.

  • Use words to prevent mom guilt. Remind yourself that you held that baby inside your stomach for 9 months. And you have been raising your child for all these years using your own talents and skills.

  • And most importantly – everyone is different. The sooner we all realize that, the sooner we can all be more accepting. *If anyone ever criticizes your child or you, say this very line to them.

*Photo credits to Parents magazine and RedTricycle.com

 

Disclaimer: The product(s)were sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on “Happymomblogger” remain unbiased and unpaid and are the sole decision of the author. The opinions of these product(s) were not influenced in any way, shape, or form. As always, please read the ingredients carefully when trying new products.

Please read the labels and ingredients carefully and follow all manufacturer’s instructions (if any). The products selected for the giveaway were generously donated by the companies/PR to help readers learn more about their products. The winner’s choice in using/consuming these products are entirely up to the winner and will not hold the author and her family liable nor the companies/PR liable. These products are made with non-toxic ingredients but always be safe with what you use and consume.

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Is it okay for my child to be a vegetarian?

When I was around nine years old, I was playing in the front yard of my home when I noticed a big, fluffy dog jogging around the neighborhood. Having seen the dog for several days, I wondered if he belonged to one of the neighbors.

I remembered playing with him and giggled at his jolly demeanor and excited slobbering. I already had a loving family dog but this lone dog was a complete joy. As a young child, you don’t think much about who the dog belongs to or if they are dangerous. But I remember looking into his big brown eyes and instantly knew he wasn’t dangerous at all. In fact, his overexuberance of friendliness might have been his own downfall.

After several days, the inevitable finally came. I was once again playing outside and the adorable dog ran towards me, all excitement and carefree. However, just as he was about to reach me, a white truck pulled up beside him, parked, and the driver got out. Looking at the name on the side of the truck, I knew eventually someone from the animal shelter would come out. I had high hopes that the dog actually belonged to someone, but who could ever leave their darling dog to roam free every day?

The injustice to the both of us came when the driver came up to me while I was holding onto the dog. He asked if the dog belonged to anyone. I was faced with a difficult decision but fear at what would happen to the dog took over and I immediately nodded and said, “Yes, the dog belonged to a neighbor up the hill.” The driver looked at me for a moment and then asked if I could return him to its owner as someone had reported a stray dog matching his description. I quickly nodded again, afraid that he would think I was lying. But, perhaps he believed a young child, or perhaps not. Whatever the reasons, he got back into his car and drove off. I brought the dog back to my house, gave him some water and food, and went inside the house to tell my mom what happened.

It was moments after the incident, while my mom gave me a snack, that I suddenly realized I could no longer eat meat. Something just snapped inside me when the driver of the truck took out a stick with a loop at the end and the dog looked innocently between me and the stranger. Somewhere deep inside my heart, I couldn’t bear the thought of eating meat and thinking of the dog being captured and who knew what would happen to him. The connection was almost immediate and from that day forward, I told my mom I was going to stop eating meat. My mom related that seeing the dog almost being captured must have sparked some compassion inside me.

I was around nine when I had single-mindedly decided to just stop eating meat and become a full-time vegetarian. As loving as my parents were, they weren’t exactly sure how to handle a nine-year-old vegetarian. Was that even possible for a young child? My parents were accepting of course, though they were afraid not eating meat protein would hinder a growing child. I went back to eating chicken on the behest of my parents but after I went off to college, I reverted back to being a vegetarian.

I know many vegetarians and vegans will agree to this single reason: that they became vegetarians out of compassion for animals. It is truly a humane thing to do but it doesn’t work for everyone. I did my fair share of research and even spoke to pediatricians and doctors. Some were skeptical about any health benefits and some were encouraging. But in all honesty, you should do what is best for your own body and lifestyle.

So should children become vegetarians? Well, my nephew became a vegetarian at the age of seven. He just decided to stop eating meat out of compassion. His parents were supportive and later became full-time vegetarians too. My nephew is now fifteen years old and five-feet-nine. I think he’s doing pretty well in the growing aspect as a vegetarian.

Here are some tips if your child decides to go vegetarian. Keep in mind that vegetarians eat only plant-based food. Not seafood, and not “sometimes” a vegetarian. 

  • Determine why your child wants to be a vegetarian. Is it for humane reasons, a picky eater, or their friends are doing it?

  • Decide on the right age. A pediatrician told me that children younger than five years old should not become full-time vegetarians unless there are health reasons. Up until the age of five, most children’s bodies are fast developing and they need the full spectrum of vitamins as long as they eat a balanced diet. 

  • Vegetarians usually eat healthier. Don’t be a “junk food” vegetarian. That is, a vegetarian by name only and eats junk food instead of a healthy plant-based diet. Check out this delicious, nutritious, and easy to make pasta salad: https://wildmadesnacks.com/blogs/the-go-life/easy-pasta-salad

  • Start off slowly. The transition to full-time vegetarian is not easy. Your body will most likely go into shock at the sudden change of diet. Gradually decrease the consumption of animal meat each day up until two weeks for your body to adjust.

  • Take your child grocery shopping with you so they can see the various fruits, vegetables, and nuts available to them. The more informed they are of their food choices, the better it is for them to decide.

  • Don’t be too harsh or judgemental. Deciding not to eat animal meat when other family members do can be confusing for everyone in the household. Listen to their reasons and support them as much as possible. Remember that there is a great assortment of plant-based food available.

Regardless of the choice, it’s never too late to make an important food change out of health and compassion.

*Photo credit and original article through Red Tricycle Spoke Contributor Network.

*Photo credit through Martha Stewart Blog.

Disclaimer: The product(s)were sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on “Happymomblogger” remain unbiased and unpaid and are the sole decision of the author. The opinions of these product(s) were not influenced in any way, shape, or form. As always, please read the ingredients carefully when trying new products.

Please read the labels and ingredients carefully and follow all manufacturer’s instructions (if any). The products selected for the giveaway were generously donated by the companies/PR to help readers learn more about their products. The winner’s choice in using/consuming these products are entirely up to the winner and will not hold the author and her family liable nor the companies/PR liable. These products are made with non-toxic ingredients but always be safe with what you use and consume.

http://www.topmommyblogs.com/blogs/in.php?id=storm

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Who Do You Want to Be?

 

When I was younger, maybe around five or six years old I wanted to be one of those beautiful and graceful ballerina’s that I saw on TV. I took ballet lessons and proudly earned my Pointe shoes. Then at around ten years old I wanted to be a singer and I took music and voice lessons. I sang every chance I could and even wrote my own songs. When I reached my earlier teen years, I loved drawing and writing. I scribbled on the side of my classroom notebooks and used up every last inch of white space on any type of paper I could get my hands on. Then when I took a creative writing class my love for drawing and writing elevated to creating comic book characters and stories. Then in my later teen years I thought it would be exciting and dangerous if I could be a CIA agent or a spy. It wasn’t until later in college I realized that I needed to find a balance and to stop jumping around so much in my career choices.

Why I remember these changes in career choices helped shaped me to who I am today. And although it might have seemed like I was jumping around in my decisions, I realize now, many years later, that taking all the voice, dance, and art lessons made me see that there is so much out there in the world than what I could ever find studying in a textbook. Life can take you on many different paths and you can have many different experiences, but it is how you use those experiences that can help you grow and succeed.

When we’re young we are shaded by reality, by what the “real” world means. We don’t really see what mom and dad sees and we are protected in our home where dinner is always on the table, the carpets are always immaculate, and the clothes magically wash and fold themselves. But as we mature and go through stages in life, reality starts to sink in a bit more. Perhaps it’s seeing our parents’ tired faces after a long day at work or finding out that the family car broke down and we can’t go anywhere until it’s fixed. All the little instances in reality starts to seep into our mind and experiences until one day, hopefully, we can make wiser and smarter choices in our adulthood.

So while we are all on summer break, let’s take a moment and ask our children who they want to be when they grow up. They might answer you intellectually, “who could I be but myself?” Indeed. Because if we could all be ourselves then this world could be a lot different. But the “who” isn’t attached to a person in this instance. Rather it’s an identity of your adult self. Ask them how they see themselves when they’re grown up and what roles they want to play when they’re on their own. For some kids, they might already have a heartfelt understanding of their calling. For most others, they don’t realize what their true interests are until much later on. It could be a very confusing question to most children, and heck, even adults ask themselves this question every so often. So let’s raise the bar a little and delve more into this important life question.

In a recent conversation with a friend, we were talking about how to ask kids what they want to be when they grow up. There was an online article that my friend read, about why we shouldn’t be asking our kids what they want to be when they grow up. Rather, we should be asking kids what they hope to change in the world or hope to accomplish when they’re grown. While those are all noble and sensible questions, it could also lead to more confusion. Depending on the age, children can answer those questions based on their own life experiences. At five years old, a child might answer that they hope to change the world by making Lego a mandatory class in school. Or an eight year old could answer that they hope to accomplish building the highest tower with Lego bricks. Either way, young children and even pre-teens can only hope to accomplish within their means. I have yet to meet a child who would answer that question with an, “I hope to end world hunger”. Of course there are really no right or wrong answers (unless it’s an illegal career choice) so listening to their opinions and choices might open up a lot of opportunities for them.

In a recent article on thebalancecareers.com, a website that helps with careers, the article talks about how to help children choose a career for their future. Some useful tips include reading about different careers so your child can understand what the career entails. Or helping your children learn about themselves so that they can discover their interests, values, personalities, and aptitudes. Even as young as three years old you can see what your child’s interests are in how they play. Perhaps they like Lego over puzzles. Or can’t stop playing video games. Or even play endless games of “doctor”. Some personalities can give you a better idea of what your child likes to do so that you can slowly guide them into a right career path for them. But what age is the best to start talking about a career choice? That depends on your child and your home situation.

When my sister was five years old, she realized that she wanted to be a doctor. How she felt that calling at such a young age is beyond amazing. But she never faltered in that choice and to this day she has never regretted making that very determined decision. In an article in Money magazine, the author states that children and parents should start thinking about their career choices before entering high school. You have to consider that with college tuition getting higher and higher and jobs nowadays require more than a Bachelor’s Degree, you’d have to start saving up for college the minute your kids are born. Personally, I think guiding your child to a particular career choice as soon as possible can only help and not hinder. Of course, they might change their minds a hundred times throughout their school years and that’s okay. As long as there is some interest and inkling of what they’d like to do in the future then pushing them a bit could help them make up their mind.

US.News recently published their top 100 career choices. Here are the top ten that are most sought-after and popular throughout the United States:

1- Software Developer

2- Dentist

3- Physician Assistant

4- Nurse Practitioner

5- Orthodontist

6- Statistician

7- Pediatrician

8- Obstetrician and Gynecologist

9- Oral Surgeon

10 – Physician

As you can see, these are all pretty high goals to reach and certainly not probable for everyone. Not everyone can afford to go to college or even get a high-demand job. But if your child shows interest in something that garners a college degree then getting them to talk about it or learning more about the career at a young age is certainly recommendable.

When my son was much younger, he was determined to be a police officer. There was something magical and cool in police cars and their sirens. But he was also a Lego fanatic and wanted to work for the Lego company. Now that he’s older, his interests have changed in tune to what his life experiences have taught him. He still thinks that being a police is cool and on occasion the Lego inspiration springs up. As his mom, I’ve had several conversations with him about what he wants to do “when he’s grown up.” And I find that when he asks his dad questions about his job and shows interest in his cousins’ careers there is definitely a gleam in his eyes. And the occasional eye roll of course…

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Counting 1-2-3

I think most parents have used the innocent threat, “I’m going to count to three if you don’t (insert command).”  I know that I’ve used it plenty of times on occassions that deemed it necessary. But does it really work? Hmm, I’m not too sure. I’ve seen other parents use it on their children and their kids just looked at them skeptically and continued doing what they were reprimanded not to do. It’s frustrating when your kids don’t do what they’re supposed to do, like putting away their toys after playing with them, eating all the food on their plate, not running around and damaging everything, and so forth. I’m sure you’ve had times when you’ve counted up to 100 and they still didn’t care. Kids are constantly testing their boundaries and they really don’t know when enough is enough. So what’s a parent to do? When gentle persuasion doesn’t work, bribery, and the old reverse psychology trick flies over their heads, what other way is there for your child to do what they’re told? Military? Okay, that may be a bit rough and that’s why I’ve come to realize that the innocent threat of couting up to three may work, sometimes, at least.

As my son gets older he is constantly testing his boundaries with us. But I look at it as his intelligence is also growing. After all, your mind is thinking up a lot of ways to do things that you shouldn’t be doing just to see if you can get away with it. Fortunately, this activity is okay for children since it’s one of the ways for them to learn and grow – it’s not okay for adults to do it though. But how do you authoritatively teach your children boundaries without acting like a dictator? After all, you still want your kids to listen to you and respect you when they realize they did something wrong. Like my friends have told me – keep a tight rein on your kids when they’re young and they should grow up okay. I firmly believe in that philosophy since there are so many outside influences nowadays such as other children, television, video games, toys, and anything else that can swipe away all the hard work you’ve been doing to keep your kids in line.

There really are no right way or wrong ways to teach your kids to be good. Sometimes it’s inherent, sometimes it’s learned. As I’m sure all parents agree that all kids are different and they eventually learn at their own level. However, discipline starts at a very young age and I’m one who believes that nurture usually wins over nature. And the possibility that boys are harder to raise when they’re young but easier as they get older and girls are easier to raise when they’re young and harder when they’re older. Or at least that’s what people keep telling me. I have nieces and nephews and as I’ve watched them grow up, I think that theory is pretty true. But there’s always hope for those that wonder if their sons will ever grow out of the immaturity stage or if their daughters will stay away from the bad boys as mentioned here. If you keep a close eye on your kids and create a balance between discipline and chaos, then surely your kids will grow to be responsible, kind, and generous people. Or at least we hope so, right?

And with the holidays coming up, it’s doubly important for kids to learn about good manners and good behavior when they’re at home or visiting relatives and friends. After all, I figure if I’m going to be counting 1-2-3 or even to 100, then at least my son is learning his numbers.

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Imagination Movers – You Rock!: A concert review

I absolutely love the Imagination Movers – well, okay, maybe my son loves them a bit more. But with the both of us combined, our admiration for the Imagination Movers can fill up an entire auditorium, and in this case, the Nokia Center. If you have kids that are between the ages of 1-100, then you’ve probabaly heard of the Imagination Movers. They weren’t always big time performers, but ever since they signed a contract with Disney to have their own show, kids and adults can enjoy the lively bunch of quartet friends virtually anywhere.

Imagination Movers orginated in Louisiana and still resides there although sometimes I’ve seen photos of them in Los Angeles, San Diego, and many other places. They are after all, just regular guys who likes to do regular things and have fun. But their biggest joy of all, besides their kids (I presume), is writing music and performing. And you can definitely tell that they enjoy being the Imagination Movers through their live concert performances and on television. And we love the Imagination Movers because they are a bunch of entertaining, down-to-earth guys who truly love what they do.

The Imagination Movers consists of Rich Collins (aka Mover Rich), Scott Durbin (aka Mover Scott), Dave Poche (aka Mover Dave) and Scott “Smitty” Smith (aka Mover Smitty). On their Disney Show also with the same name, they are joined on a regular basis by Nina and Warehouse Mouse. I think their Disney show is fun even without any guests or special guests, but it does add a bit of punch to their already intoxicating repertoire of gigles and silliness. But don’t think that their show is just for frivolous entertainment. No, their show emphasizes the importance of eating healthy, living a healthy lifestyle, and preserving the planet. And in their Warehouse on the show, through their brainstorming, they dream up the best solutions to everyday problems that we may all encounter. And towards the end of the show, somehow, with the help of Nina and Warehouse Mouse, their problems don’t seem so problematic after all.

We were able to see the Imagination Movers in concert for the first time, feeling that our son was old enough to sit through a concert without getting bored. After all, we were going to see his favorite people performing LIVE! He had talked about the concert nonstop ever since we had told him we were taking him to see the Movers and then he was doubly overjoyed when he found out that Warehouse Mouse was going to be at the concert too. Warehouse Mouse is the Warehouse’s mascot, so to speak, Mover Smitty’s best pal, and their often mischievous and clever little fuzzy friend. Ofcourse he’s not a real mouse on the show, but a puppet voiced by an extremely talented actor. At the concert, Warehouse Mouse appeared larger than life and entertained us with his usual crazy love of cheese. Nina, their neighbor (who at one time had an Uncle Knit Knots with her), enchanted everyone as usual with her grace, beauty, and her mesmerizing dance moves. And personally, I think she’s much prettier in person than on TV. Other guests that appeared at the concert were Eddie the Monster (my favorite monster) and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, which I’m guessing weren’t really “surprise” guests. I can safely assume that at different venues of their concert, they all had a “surprise” guest.

Their concert at the Nokia Center opened up with Choo Choo Soul, another Disney concoction, whom I have to say, are much better live than in a video on the Disney channel. It was definitely a brilliant decision to include a female singer who actually sings well in person and a D.J. who can rap, breakdance, pop, lock, and sing as well. But the best part of the entire concert is watching the Movers, Nina, and Choo Choo Soul come down to the audience and interact with them. My son desperately wanted to go up to the Movers and hug them, but he was only able to give Mover Dave and Mover Scott a high-five as everyone crowded around us wanting to touch, hug, and give high-fives. I was actually lucky enough and giddy to have been able to shake Mover Scott’s hand. My son wanted to hug Warehouse Mouse too, but the Mouse was too busy backstage devouring his cheese.

Overall I have to say the Imagination Movers concert was the best concert I’ve ever attended. Even my husband (who’s not as inclined to watch Disney shows as I am) enjoyed it and even commented on attending another “Disney show”. Go figure. And the most heartwarming thing was that our son who was so tired from not sleeping well in anticipation of the concert, troopered up and jumped and sang throughout the entire concert. The three of us had a fantastic time and we didn’t need a “brainstorm” to tell us what a success the concert was.

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