Life is messy and parenting is hard. HARD! From surviving the baby and toddler years to navigating the tweens and teen years, navigate motherhood with grace. Because you (yes, YOU!) are vital to your children and your family. Your value is intrinsic, but man, parenting is exhausting, thankless, and filled with self-doubt. You aren’t alone…
This post was written in the aftermath of Uvalde, but the promises hold true of any hate-filled and divisive time. Here are 7 concrete ways you can be part of the solution to end hate, discrimination, violence, and school shootings. Change starts at home.
Looking for an easy calm down strategy for kids? Vertical coloring is in my top 5. This activity has the usual coloring benefits and includes midline crossing and a slew of other positives. It’s the perfect before-bed activity, transition, or calm down strategy.
Children don’t magically know how they’re supposed to act around presents—we need to teach them! Good manners for kids is possible. Be the mom who has polite kids. Check out this series of etiquette for kids!
The work of Christmas can be overwhelming. It’s stressful, somewhat ridiculous, materialistic, excessive and above all, self-inflicted. I see you, mama, putting all this pressure on yourself, and I see how much WORK this season is. But the magic… the magic is so short lived, and the work is so very, very worth it.
Wondering what your child’s teacher REALLY wants? Look no further… here are the most thoughtful gifts for teachers — that they actually want! — and two gifts to avoid.
Should you start Elf on the Shelf to add to the Christmas spirit? Here’s a new perspective on this emotionally exhausting but very fun tradition, with pros, cons, and a thoughtful compromise.
So your child won’t listen? If you’re frustrated, repeating yourself a million times, or have children you can’t take anywhere because your kid doesn’t listen, then this advice is for you. You can change your family dynamic and become that mom who confidently takes her well-behaved children anywhere.
The benefits of sensory play are vitally important, but sensory play is often going by the wayside in our world of constant screens. Thankfully it’s not that hard to incorporate into our daily life - check out these easy ways to up the sensory play in your home!
I didn’t read to our children every day as babies and toddlers. Those early days of mothering are long and hard, and frankly, I didn’t have the energy at the end of the day, even though I knew I was supposed to be reading to them. Here’s what I did instead to raise happy and eager readers.
Make reading fun! Tea Time is perfect for reluctant or enthusiastic readers. You gather your children around the table, serve a special treat (like cookies or hot chocolate), light a candle, and read aloud to them. Simple, but so effective!
My sweet little six year old had turned mean, angry and uncooperative. He said some horrible things to a classmate and was routinely pushing and hitting his brother and sister. What to do when your child is mean? Use a KINDNESS chart!
Know that saying-- the days are long…? Sometimes you need to break up the monotony of the day. Maybe the school break is looming large, or you’re a sahm mom who’s routine needs a shake-up, or maybe you need a virtual learning schedule break. Here are 5 easy ways to break up the monotony of the days.
Sapphire Hole was such a valuable lesson in courage, determination, risk, exhilaration, and faith. Two years later, the lessons we learned here still apply.
Etiquette for kids doesn’t have to be complicated! in fact, all it takes is TWO words… a super simple and secret reminder to your children of what you expect after meals. Your children will shine as examples of mannerly, thoughtful and grateful children, and other moms will ask you for your secret!
If you’re worried your preschooler needs more letter work, first take a deep breath and try to relax. Play is the best way to teach! Read on for ideas and tips!
If your child is feeling down or sad, you aren’t alone. Since the start of covid and lock-downs, this is something we battle often in our house, and the sadness seems to rotate through all of us. Here are 7 ways to help your child beat the blues.
Setting expectations for your children decreases your stress and sets them up for success… a win-win for everyone.
A great way to encourage and increase imaginative play is to change up the setting. When's the last time you let your children play in the woods? This ranks as one of my top "things to do with kids" and I bet it will become one of yours, too! Armed with rubber-tipped toy bows and arrows while we crashed deafeningly through the woods, the children went “hunting” for tigers and wolves in the Five Mile Woods in Lower Makefield Township, Pennsylvania.
