This post is written by me on behalf of Tyson Foods, Inc. All opinions are entirely my own. This shop has been compensated by Acorn Influence, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. Our kids grow up fast! It seems a nanosecond between the first day of Kindergarten and the last day of high school. It is still hard to believe I have a child starting college this year. As parents, we spend years preparing our chicks to leave the nest. But the prepare yourself when the day comes is difficult. It is hard to let them go! You want to be sure they are ready for the real world! You have to figure out how to know your kid is ready for college.
Before Caitlin head off to college, I wanted to be sure she had some basic life skills under her belt. To be honest, we have sheltered her a bit. Were we leading the sheep to the wolves? Our focus has been on her school work and not having a job. Kids who have jobs are more prepared for adulting than kids who haven’t. Here are the top five things we wanted Caitlin to know before leaving for school.
- Have They Been Away From Home: This seems silly, but it is a good indicator how they will adjust to living on campus. Caitlin has been to many sleep away camps, church lock-ins and sleepovers. When we dropped her off, she ran off, giving us not a second thought! She handled this one like a champ.
- How Do They Handle Responsibility: I have to hound Caitlin has to do her chores. She does take showers, brush her teeth and do her homework without my prompting her. She is ready for school when it is time to leave. This means she will be on time for class. Kids who live in dorms with roommates have to navigate living with another person. They will figure out their rules with one another.
- Can They Cook: Caitlin has been helping me in the kitchen for years. I have no doubt she can cook simple meals for herself. If she couldn’t cook, she does know how to microwave. To be sure she is getting a balanced microwave meal, I would make sure she stocked up on the new Jimmy Dean 9oz Bowls at Target.
- Can They Handle Money: We have had issues with this. Caitlin went on a 4-day class trip with $150. She spent almost $100 on a team hoodie. She had to learn how to make that $50 stretch for food for 3 days. She learned a valuable lesson on that trip! I have no doubt she can balance her money on campus.
In our house, we can eat breakfast any time of the day. It can be for a meal or a snack. We are down for it. It was exciting when we found the Jimmy Dean 9oz Bowls, available in the frozen aisle at Target. They are a total meal solution! You don’t have to add a thing to them. You pop them in the microwave and you are good to go!
We tried the Jimmy Dean Loaded Potato first. It is cheesy, filled with eggs, potatoes, sausage and bursting with flavor! Caitlin, my husband and I all wanted to try it. We shared it, but it was a struggle not to grab it and run. It is perfect for any meal of the day! Then we tried the Jimmy Dean Ranchero Steak and Eggs.
Seriously? How can something this easy to make be so good? I would keep this one reserved for my breakfast. Steak and eggs are a traditional breakfast fare in our house!
I know I have talked about Caitlin making a quick but wholesome meal. But that goes for all of us. There are days I have more to do than I have hours in the day. I want a meal that is filling and tasty that I don’t have to cook all day. I love that Jimmy Dean offer convenient meals with premium ingredients. I don’t have to settle when my schedule is packed.
Each of the new Jimmy Dean 9 oz bowls has between 21-23 grams of protein. This means I will stay fuller longer and not get that carb crash after a few hours. This also gives me peace of mind that a Jimmy Dean 9 oz bowl gives Caitlin a quality meal on the run.
She can make it in less than 5 minutes, eat it and be on time for class. And she won’t get hungry before her next meal. How perfect is that? So, to keep your families bellies happy, head to Target and get your Jimmy Dean 9 oz bowls pronto!
If you have or would have a kid going to college, what life skill would you most want them to have? Please share in the comments below!
