In Life, Not Everyone Gets a Trophy

This weekend, we attended our very first Blue & Gold banquet. It was a Boy Scout event celebrating the Boy Scout birthday, and our pack used the opportunity to give awards for the Pinewood Derby, host a lunch, and have a cake decorating contest (which my little sister won!). Besides being massively uncomfortable in real … Continue reading →

4 Ways to Improve Communication with Children and Cut the Chaos

As a follow up to my blog yesterday about some tough discipline/emotional challenges in our home of late, I’d like to follow up with a quick guide of simple changes you can make in your home to improve the mood. Again, the resources for this page are numerous, but my Top 3 Inspirations are 5 … Continue reading →

Emotions, Exhaustion and Almost Giving Up

Ever looked at your child and thought: Who are you? Our week has been exceptionally challenging, and to be honest, I still don’t really know why. J, our 7 year old, is entering a phase I can only describe as emotional. He obsesses over schedules, has to have simple directions repeated more than what is really reasonable, and any … Continue reading →

Self Evaluation: First Grade Behavior Struggles–Understanding WHY and What to do about it.

Sometimes a starting place is the hardest thing to find, especially when kids enter a new phase and behave in ways you’ve never had to deal with before. After struggles, new systems, and lots of household tension, I think we finally have something that works.The new system has take some getting used to, but it … Continue reading →

7 Controversial Parenting Choices I Make Every Day

I am a good mom, but I am not a perfect one. Motherhood has made me a better person, but therein lies the problem–I am not innately the best person, much less a perfect one. I firmly believe that parenting is not about making the right choice, it’s about making the best choice in that moment, for … Continue reading →

A Love Letter from a Homeschooling Mom

Dearest Friend, As more news flows in about yet another school shooting, my heart goes out to you because I know your children attend the local school just down the street. I cannot imagine the heartache and  stress that so much violence has brought to you as you send your kids off every day. You … Continue reading →

Most Inconvenient Potty Training Ever.

Potty training is never easy or without stress, or so I’ve been told, but I was spoiled by my experience with J. We were both ready, and I felt very prepared. This time around, things were…less than ideal. Actually, it pretty much sucked, but by some mix of miracles, we made it. About 4 years … Continue reading →

Um…No One Has Ever Said That…Ever.

So this happened: Me: J, pick that banana up, and put it on a plate. You can’t leave bananas on the couch. J: (Moves banana to dining room table. Does not get plate.) Me: J, you have to get a plate for the banana. J: (Blank stare) Me: (Not angry, genuinely wondering what he heard) What did … Continue reading →

Christmas Race to Greed and Debt

I love the holidays. Mostly. I come from a big family with lots of traditions and events. It can get complicated and I usually resent all of the running around, but nothing replaces the feel of a packed home with lots of chatter and good food. Since becoming an adult, almost every aspect of the holidays … Continue reading →

Sometimes, there’s nothing more to say

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