You May Also Like: 50 Questions To Ask Your Kids Instead of Asking “How Was Your Day”
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You May Also Like: 50 Questions To Ask Your Kids Instead of Asking “How Was Your Day”
Dream big—as parents, educators, professionals, and leaders we say those words a lot. We encourage kids not to settle, to reach for the stars. We want them to believe they are capable of doing and becoming anyone or anything their hearts desire. Oftentimes, the dream big idea encourages the idea of leaving where you are and where you’re from. RELATED: God Has Filled Your Heart With Dreams, Beautiful Girl—Chase Them With Wild Abandon I distinctly remember giving a presentation to a group and one of the final things I said to them was, “It’s OK to live in a small...
I gazed back at her as she sat in the dentist’s chair. I watched as her feet swayed back and forth. As the dentist started her exam, I remember thinking, “Eight years old. How did we get here?” Suddenly the dentist turned to me and asked with a warm smile, “Do you remember how old she was when she got her first tooth?” I froze for a moment, unable to hold back the surprised look that had taken over my face. RELATED: To My Mom: I Get It Now “Her first tooth?” I repeated the question thinking it would somehow...
I spend a lot of time with my kids. An OBSCENE amount of time with my kids. I help my kids with their schoolwork. I take my kids grocery shopping. My kids and I go to church together. We have meals together. They’re there when I watch TV. They’re there when I’m sorting the laundry. They’re there any time I’m watering the plants, and smuggling a snack, and going to the bathroom, and brushing my teeth, and blinking my eyes, and taking a breath. Understand that I do not exaggerate: My kids and I are ALWAYS together. (And, of course,...
Nobody asked what you thought of the idea. Oh, there were a few polite questions, “How would you like a baby brother or sister?” But by the time those were asked, the outcome was already a given. And just when you were getting used to the idea, came the news that there were going to be two brothers. Granted, you weren’t nearly as surprised by the news as your mom and dad, but you were kind of new to the whole baby thing. It got kind of crazy there for a while. Lots of shopping for another crib, another stroller,...
“I was raised ________ and I turned out just fine.” No. No, you didn’t. You are broken. I am broken. We are all broken. We are a generation of adults who began our lives learning to “self-soothe” in our cradles. Our first, most natural, and basic need for comfort was denied. We learned that in times of crisis, no one is coming for us. So we became insecure and untrusting. We are a generation of adults who were raised in homes where sparing the rod meant spoiling the child. We were punished with physical violence. Some of us were beaten,...
Medical mamas are a unique breed. We complete medical care every day. We advocate for our babies, learn dozens of medical terms, and are on the front lines of our children’s care. And here’s what that medical mama friend of yours wants you to know . . . Quit Watering Down Her Worries Nothing is quite as frustrating as leaving an appointment discouraged, only to be slapped in the face with a list of reasons one should be thankful. Worry is worry and the worry of a mother is exceptionally heavy. Never Say “At Least” The phrase “at least” minimizes...
For roughly the first 18 months of my son’s life, I utilized naptime as a means to put the house back together. It was two times per day that I had 30 to 45 minutes to play catch up. My husband joked once that he would record me so he could see how absolutely frazzled and crazy I was being during the nap stints. I was moving at high speeds frantic to get the dishwasher emptied, bottles washed, laundry done, floors swept, toilets scrubbed, bills paid, and house tidied up. RELATED: Being a Parent is Exhausting Even If Your Child...
I couldn’t wait to catch up with my daughter’s coach after my girl was taking forever to get off the bus after her game. My eyes welled up with tears when I saw my kid get off the bus with a big sack of trash. A couple of her friends close behind with their own bags. RELATED: Dear Youth Sports Parents: The Only Words Your Child Needs to Hear From You Are, “I Love Watching You Play” Let me be honest. I’m a competitive person and so are my kids. I’m the embarrassingly loud mother cheering for a win, good...
Here’s to telling our kids no and not now. I consider myself a very hands-on mom. I love to play outside with them, to be silly with them, and to kiss their little cheeks as much as they will let me. But sometimes, mommy needs to cook dinner. To do laundry. To be an adult. Recently, my 4-year old asked me to play cards with her. I was preparing for an upcoming trip, and there were things I had to do. When I told her “not right now,” I could tell she was disappointed. RELATED: My Anxiety Makes Me Feel...
Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten season leading to Easter. Our 3-year-old has been talking about the Easter bunny since January, when he finally understood that Christmas was over. While I’m happy he’s excited for the upcoming holiday, I really want to find some good, concrete ways to help him learn that this time of year is not only about bunnies and candy in eggs. So, I’ve decided to come up with 40 ways to spend the 40 days of Lent with kids. Some of these will work better with older children, while others are great for...