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Point System Grounding Hack

Point System Grounding Hack

Danielle Sexton
January 20, 2025

"I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took any excuse."

- Florence Nightingale

Rise and shine, Mama CEO! It’s Monday, and the house is somehow already a mess. But before we spiral, let’s talk parenting hacks, carbs, and a little self-care (because we deserve it).

Today’s Mommy scoop:

🏆 Point System Grounding
🥗 Tangy Tortellini Pasta Salad
💆‍♀️ DIY Body Scrub

Mom Hack

Productive Grounding System

Mom Hack

Replace traditional grounding with a point-based system.

Assign household tasks for points that allow your child to 'earn' their way out of being grounded.

Dusting their room = 75 points.

Cleaning the bathroom = 100 points.

etc.

Mom's Mic: This Week’s Poll 🎤

Where do you most often seek parenting advice?

-> Vote to reveal what other moms think

Poll Results From 1/17

What's your stance on children using technology for learning?

⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Highly beneficial (6%)

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Good in moderation (66%)

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Prefer traditional learning methods (21%)

⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Avoid as much as possible (7%)

Featured Response 💬

“My son is very small still but loves Ms Rachel on YouTube and will follow along and interact with her videos. I think it's great for helping him understand basic play and social situations as well as boosting his vocabulary and pronunciation. Sometimes when he needs help getting wiggles out, we will put on Elmo songs and he will dance along with Elmo and friends. I have a friend with older kids who uses educational apps on a locked down iPad to help her kids learn math and spelling, and she says it's been really helpful for them as well. Obviously nobody wants their kids glued to screens when they need to be playing and moving their bodies, but 30-60 minutes here and there of actual helpful content can be really beneficial.”

- Community Mom

That sounds like a great balance! Ms. Rachel is a lifesaver for little ones learning language, and I love how you’re using screen time intentionally—wiggle breaks with Elmo sound like so much fun! -Danielle 😊

Mom’s Menu

Tangy Tortellini Pasta Salad

superhealthykids.com

Ready to jazz up your meal routine with a refreshing and oh-so-tasty dish?

This Tangy Tortellini Pasta Salad is a delight, brimming with cheesy pasta, fresh veggies, crispy bacon, savory chicken, and a delightful surprise – sweet mandarin oranges, all tossed in a mouth-watering homemade dressing.

❤️ Why You'll Love It

🧀 Cheesy tortellini goodness – Soft, pillowy pasta that kids and adults will love.
🥗 Make-ahead friendly – Serve it warm or chilled for a no-stress meal.

📝 Ingredients

For the Salad:

1 lb refrigerated tortellini
6 slices bacon
2 large chicken breasts
1 (15 oz) can mandarin oranges in 100% juice
6 oz bag baby spinach, roughly chopped
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 medium cucumber, quartered

For the Dressing:

½ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup red wine vinegar
¼ cup avocado or olive oil
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp paprika
½ tsp oregano

👩‍🍳 Instructions

Cook the Tortellini: Boil according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water.
Cook the Chicken: Season with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook for 4-5 minutes per side. Let rest for 5 minutes, then dice into bite-sized pieces.
Cook the Bacon: In the same pan, cook bacon until crispy. Let cool, then chop into small pieces.
Prepare the Veggies & Oranges: Drain the mandarin oranges. Chop spinach, halve the cherry tomatoes, and quarter the cucumber.
Make the Dressing: In a small saucepan, bring sugar and vinegar to a boil. Reduce heat and whisk until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and stir in oil, salt, paprika, and oregano.
Assemble the Salad: In a large serving bowl, combine tortellini, chicken, bacon, oranges, spinach, tomatoes, and cucumber. Pour dressing over the salad and toss to coat.
Chill & Serve: Let sit for at least 30 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

📌 Notes

Make-Ahead Friendly: This salad tastes just as amazing chilled! Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2-3 days.
Quick Swap: Use rotisserie chicken instead of cooking fresh chicken to save time.
Vegetarian Option: Skip the chicken and bacon for a delicious meat-free version.

Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving, and voila!

Your refreshing, tangy Tortellini Pasta Salad is ready to steal the show at any gathering or weekday dinner.

Keep reading here.

Daily DIY (Mom Side Hustle)

Best Homemade Body Scrub

boxwoodavenue

Create a luxurious Coco Rose Body Scrub with…

Unrefined sugar
Himalayan pink salt
Liquid coconut oil
Essential oils

Mix salt and sugar, add coconut oil, then blend in rose geranium and ylang-ylang oils for fragrance and skin benefits.

Store the scrub in an airtight glass container for a smooth, exfoliating body treatment.

Perfect to give as a gift or sell on Etsy!

The tutorial is here.

Mom’s Choice

Perfect for moms on the move.

Whether you're running after the kids or needing a hands-free moment, this tumbler’s easy-carry handle and durable design make staying hydrated a breeze.

Plus, it's dishwasher safe - one less thing to worry about!