I wanted to write about why I really do enjoy spending time with our kids because it doesn't matter if I am lying down with them or just baking something in the kitchen- the time with them is important.Being a parent is hard. I am not saying that it is easy. I think that being a parent is a ...
YourModernFamily
Kids not listening? Zoning out while you talk?
Do you feel like your kids are not listening? Are your kids zoning out when you talk? When they just don't listen or they start to ignore you, try these tips. They will help to get past that problem.What do you do when you feel like your kids are not listening to you. Are they acting ...
Pumpkin Pie Play Dough (DIY)
This Pumpkin Play Dough smells so good! I decided that I had to experiment at home to find a non-stick slime or a play dough recipe for this for our kids to play with at home... and I made one that works!I wanted to share this with you because we made it together and all of the kids loved ...
Pay off Mortgage in half the time
How to Pay off Your Mortgage in 1/2 The time Thanks to Eave for sponsoring this post. Mickey and I knew that we had one goal when we bought our home: Pay our mortgage off in half the time. We came up with a plan to pay it off 20 years sooner than we had predicted (so actually less than half the ...
Skinny Ice Cream Sandwiches – 1 weight watcher point!
When I was in college, my roommate (Julia) and I would try to find as many "skinny" recipes as possible. We would run to McDonalds for their ice cream cones (3 points). We would eat fat-free Reddi Wip & Cool Whip by the spoonful, until we reach a point. We made "skinny" brownies, ...
Ways to Stay Involved in Your Child’s Education
Ways to Stay Involved in Your Child's Education After having taught in the classroom for many years, I know that there's a hesitancy for parents to get involved. They worry that they'll get roped into running the PTA or suddenly be in charge of planning the Halloween party. While both of those ...
How you can Interact with your smoke and carbon monoxide alarm daily.
This post is sponsored by First AlertHave you ever heard of a fire alarm and Carbon Monoxide alarm that also plays music? What about one that works with Alexa or Siri? What about an alarm that sends an alert to your cell phone if there is a fire or CO emergency? Today I'm going to share it ...
5 Tips for the First Day of School
This post is sponsored by Tom’s of Maine and all opinions are my own.The first day of school for 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 ...
Chocolate Covered Pringles – football chips
"Time for practice!" I hear Mickey yell out to Jack, who is frantically searching for his practice jersey that he swears he thew in the laundry room two days ago. Yep... football has started in the Mansfield house and football snacks are a must! Between Mickey and our three boys, there is a lot ...
5 signs your child NEEDS one on one time
There are certain times when your kids need one on one time. Most of you know that we do our one on one time every month for our special nights, but there are other times when I will turn to Mickey and say “He needs some time with just one of us.”We can see it in the way that they act, in the ...
STOP doing that for your kids!
STOP DOING THAT FOR YOUR KIDS: I wrote this a few years ago, but I was reading it today and wanted to share it again. It is always a good reminder. ENJOY... We want to do so much for our kids, but today I want to tell you to STOP doing that for your kids because you are doing more harm ...
Popsicles for Breakfast: Strawberry Kiwi Yogurt Popsicles
Thanks to Danze by Gerber for sponsoring this recipe post today. It's a favorite of ours!Our kids favorite breakfast meal? Easy -->> These Strawberry Kiwi Yogurt Popsicles! They also work great as a mid-day pick me up or after dinner treat!We like it for breakfast because they ...
Learn letters and sounds in a week
When our two-year old started walking towards the store, he looked up at me and said: "T, tttttt, A aaaaaaaa, R rrrrrrrr, G gggggggg, E ehehehehe, T ttttttt" I knew that we were onto something good. He knew his letters and their sounds, and he had learned them in just one week... less than ...
How to Prepare the Kids for their Future
This post is in partnership with Sylvan Learning.Have you ever done a time capsule? The kind that you put away until your children are older? When I was a little girl, my friend and I buried our own time capsule and I remember how much I looked forward to it.Now that I have four ...
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: your ...
25 Tips to Prepare for School
25 Tips to Prepare for School As summer ends, many of us are now thinking about how we can prepare for school. The back to school sales are everywhere and your home will soon be overwhelmed with papers (that you can easily control!) As you prepare for school, find some extra helpful tips ...
Gift Guide: Best STEAM & STEM Toys for kids
Everyone knows that I value experiences over toys, but I am a play therapist and I was a teacher... I also see the value of a good toy! Our son, Beau, could build all day long - give him a set of blocks and he will spend the day creating. Give him something to create a fort and he'll be in his ...
Cocoa Tortoni
This Cream Tortini recipe not only tastes great, but it looks fantastic, too!Thanks to Post for sponsoring this post & recipe. This recipe is a fun spin on the traditional tortoni. It's more of a "Frozen Cocoa-Ice-Cream-Cupcake"... in other words: it's delicious!It has all of ...
How to Get Your Child Ready for Kindergarten
Kindergarten is a big step in a child's life and being prepared for Kindergarten is key. Not only is it important to prepare your child academically, it's also important to make sure that he or she is prepared emotionally and mentally. If you're getting ready to send your little one off to school ...
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), ...