We recently returned from a two-week trip to visit family. My husband was on the road for the two weeks before we left, and returned with only one day at home between his business trip and the departure for our family trip. All that to say, the planning and packing largely fell on my shoulders.
While I spent some time the week before we departed preparing myself for the trip, I didn’t worry about packing. … Continue reading
Each week we give our boys an allowance. We don’t tie receiving this money to anything in particular. We consider doing chores and helping around the house to simply be part of living within our household; it is not reason for payment. I think it’s important for kids to have their own money to spend, and I think the time to start an allowance is whenever they begin to realize the purpose and power of money.… Continue reading
Do you want to encourage your children to engage in imaginative play? In that case, I’m generally of the theory that less is more.
Kids do not need fancy costumes or toys in order to pretend. While this picture shows my son thoroughly decked out in a costume, kids can have just as much fun without such things. Dirt, sticks, rocks, and anything else they find outside are generally enough. … Continue reading
Last week my 4-year-old decided to build a block tower. He wanted to build a tower that went “way above [his] head.”
First, he asked if I could build the tower with him. However, I was busy cooking. I told my son that he would have to wait until I finished or he could do it on his own.
Then he went to ask his big brother’s assistance. … Continue reading
As a child there always seemed to be something magical about sleeping outside. There are different sounds. The light is different. There are different smells. The air feels different. When we’re outside, particularly during the night, our sense attune to all of these things that are mitigated or filtered out entirely by sleeping inside a building.
You can, of course, get this feeling by heading out on a camping trip. … Continue reading
After over 9 years of attending library story time every Monday morning (unless we were out of town, of course), our weekly routine is changing. As we prepared to leave for story time last week, my youngest son declared, “Mama, I think I’ve outgrown story time. I’d rather read our own books.” It’s a big shift.
I started bringing my oldest son to story time when he was a tiny infant. … Continue reading
My boys are huge fans of tree climbing, and I am a big proponent of letting them climb. Over the years they both grown in their proficiency and daring as climbers. While I often find need to remind myself not to let my own worries – unless there’s a genuine safety issue, of course – get in the way of their learning, I remain a big advocate of letting them climb.… Continue reading
“The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.” –Henry Miller
As we were walking down the street, my 4-year-old suddenly stopped. “Look, Mama!” he exclaimed, “The flowers are so beautiful. They fill up my eyes with beauty.” So we stopped, and looked, and soaked in their loveliness.… Continue reading
Last week I was writing an appointment in my calendar (yes, I still keep a paper calendar; you can read about it HERE) when I saw something move on our deck out of the corner of my eye. I turned to look and saw this fox. He was sitting there watching me. And he watched long enough that I was able to observe him a bit, then decide to set down my calendar, retrieve my phone, and take a picture. … Continue reading
Last week my 4-year-old discovered he could put together puzzles. Not the wooden puzzles we had around while he was a toddler, but more complex puzzles aimed at older kids.
His growth and development have made many big leaps recently, but this is one that he’s latched onto himself as being proud of. (His better sleeping skills are the one my sweetie and I are most delighted with.) … Continue reading