Science says instead of giving toys... give gifts that create memories. They are valued more than toys. Outings, experiences & vacations are "valued by children, both in the moment and for long afterward in their memory,” psychologist and best-selling author Oliver James explained to The ...
Parenting
The scary truth about what’s hurting our kids
In the past week, I've read several studies that are scary to me... it's the scary truth about what's hurting our kids. We all know that what our kids hear becomes their inner voice, but it's hard to control what they hear from others, isn't it? CNN recently interviewed Dr. Jean Twenge, ...
Keep your child in their bed
Today I want to talk about how to keep your child in their own bed. Let me first take a minute to explain that your child will be healthier, do better in school, be more pleasant throughout the day, and just feel better overall, if they are getting enough sleep (no matter where that may be... ...
Why I put my kids to bed at 7
Why I put my kids to bed at 7:00 ... it is a hot topic, that's for sure! Yes, our kids are in bed around 7:00 every night and asleep by around 7:30 every night. Our older kids are in bed later (around 8:00 or 8:30, because they need less sleep, but that didn't start until they turned nine years ...
Child’s stomach hurts before school
At one point or another, each of our kid's stomachs have hurt before school. Usually it starts the night before, when they are lying in bed, thinking about school in the morning. I know that they don't realize it and would never admit it, but it boils down to one thing: anxiety. Every year ...
10 time-saving morning hacks
I am excited to share some great time-saving morning hacks with you! I love to find different ways to make our morning run smoother. Here are some time-saving morning hacks: 1- Pack a fun lunch with your kids THE NIGHT BEFORE. Moms pack approximately 180 lunches over the course of a ...
The daily schedule of a stay at home mom
I first shared this post a few years ago and since then, it has been one of my most requested posts so I wanted to re-share it with today, as it hasn't changed much over the years (it works well for us). What is the daily schedule of a stay at home mom? Well... I am a stay at home mom of four ...
5 Tips for the First Day of School
The first day of school for a little ones is a big deal for the child and for mom. As much as you know your little one is ready, there is a battle of emotions going on in your heart as you drop your child off. In order to help you prepare, here are some tips for the mom for the first day of ...
The 10 most important lessons from my mom
If I could be any kind of Mom in the world, I would be just like my mom - she is unstoppable. She is the kind of mom that I am aiming to be. She is helpful, generous, loving, kind-hearted and our children (her grandchildren) think the world of her! Here are 10 lessons ...
Stop plastering teacher notes on the internet
We say that teachers need more respect. Teachers need to be paid more. Teachers need to be treated better... but then we do things like this to take it all away. While I haven't experienced this personally, I do know that as a teacher and as a mother, it is hard to see your private ...
Stop yelling — to get your kids to listen
Did you know that you can stop yelling to get your kids to listen? They will even start telling you more and really talking to you (this is what happened to us the other day). When I was a teacher, I never yelled at my students (I wouldn't have dreamt of it, honestly!). Why? ...
The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice
Every morning, it starts over. We get a chance to shape the lives of our children. The way that we talk to our children becomes their inner voice. Think about when your kids make a poor decision... they spill milk on their homework (when they aren't supposed to be eating or drinking near it), ...
Should I redshirt my Kindergartener?
If you are asking yourself "Should I wait another year to send my child to Kindergarten?", you have come to the right place (I hope!). I have had to make this decision about Kindergarten with all of our children... and I've always had the same answer. According to ABC NEWS, "We ...
The one word you should try to avoid when you discipline your kids
My brother and I often have chats about parenting our kids and teaching our students (I am a teacher/therapist and he is a principal). We both agree that there is one word you should try to avoid using when your discipline your kids... I heard it again today. I was in the car, driving to get ice ...
Embracing the night shift
Do you ever feel like you are up all night, just embracing the night shift? I remember those moments, but don't speed past them too quickly. These are the important ones. Today I am partnering with Parent's Choice to talk about embracing the night-time feeding with your child. To ...
How to un-spoil a child
Have you ever wondered how to un-spoil a child? I know that this can be hard, because you don't even realize that it is happening and then BAM… you hear the disrespect in your child's voice and realize that you need to STOP doing that for your child! With this post in mind, I asked this ...
33 things I never want our kids to forget
It comes down to family time. Spending time with our children is so important, which is why I wanted to share these 33 things that we never want our kids to forget. As a mom, we have the power to impact our children's lives in more ways than we know. If I could be any kind of Mom in the ...
Why I love Being a Boy Mom
Are you a "Boy Mom"? I hear that term a lot now... and as a mom of boys myself, I wanted to tell you just why I love being a boy mom. Yes, I love being a mom to three boys and a girl. They're all such wonderfully unique and interesting people. However, I very quickly learned that raising boys ...
The Best Road Trip Hacks You Will Love to Use
Summer is the time when everyone seems to be taking a road trip. All of the parents know that road trips mean a lot of preparation and can be a tad intimidating. However, road trips can actually be fun and less stressful if you try some of these tips! There are affiliate links, so you can find ...
10 life lessons I want our children to learn
Every day, we get the opportunity to shape our kids, to literally change their lives. Everything that we say to them sticks with them, our words become their inner voices, our expectations become their goals. If I had to pick just 10 life lessons I want our children to learn… I would use these ...
