I swear some of my best ideas happen when I'm hunched over the toilet bowl with a scrubber. Maybe it's because I subconsciously want to be in another place? I've thought about this phenomenon (while cleaning) and wondered why for me, cleaning and creative epiphanies seem to always go together. So I did a bit of research (aka: I googled it). Why Cleaning Aids Creativity Turns out, I'm not alone! According to science, creativity and menial ...
Parenting and Kids
Loose Parts – The Ultimate Learning Toys
Am I the only one who spends hours reading toy reviews and guides at Christmas or birthday time - determined to find the ultimate toy for my kids and my pocketbook? I'm always sure I'll find that perfect toy that will engage my kid's minds and bodies and make them magically want to leave their ever calling screens behind. Lately, I've found that I don't have to go far or spend much. In fact, some of the best toys of all time both for ...
How Time In Nature Helps Me Be A Better Mom
We all want it. That deep assurance that "today I truly connected with my child". That knowing smile between mother and child; the shared experience carved deep in our hearts and minds. It can be so elusive in our distraction-filled world. But I have found a secret to making those moments happen more often - even daily. The secret is so simple, requires no money and actually very little time. The secret is simply exploring ...
Chronos and Kairos – Measuring Time When the Days are Long
From the Archives January 2012 The twins just had a birthday. Four years old now. I will spare you the "I can't believe they have grown up so fast" commentary because it has gone fast but in a lot of ways it has been slow too. Today I have been thinking about what my life has been these last four years. It's easy to sit here in my quiet studio and reflect when all of my kids are in bed and it is calm. It's easy to feel ...
How American Girl Helped My Kids Love Reading and History
Our love affair with the American Girl books started with a desire to get the twins excited about reading on their own, for fun. I wanted to find something that would keep their interest and make them want to come back for more. My cousin (who is just enough ahead of me in this parenting journey and oh so wise) told me how great the books are and what she did to encourage her girls. We tried out her advice with great success! A ...
How the Amazon Echo is Saving My Sanity
Am I really doing a whole post about this electronic device? Yes, yes I am. I am not on the Echo advertising team (although I should be...I tell everyone about this!). I just had to share. I'm always looking for ways to simplify so I can have more reserves for creativity. This little device really has helped in that department. The day "Alexa" (this is the Echo's name...kind of like Apple's "Siri") arrived, I inwardly ...
8 Ways Service Can Help Your Kids Become Awesome Adults
I'm always looking for ways to reverse the damage I'm pretty sure I'm doing on a daily basis over here :). We all know that serving others has great benefits in our lives. But, did you ever stop and think that regular, consistent service can make a huge difference in the development of kids? After a bit of research, I found some pretty incredible ways service (at home or in the community) can really help children (and their parents!) be ...
Teaching Our Children To See Goodness and to Love
In a world full of half-truths about what it means to be successful and happy; It's natural to want our children to be equipped with a deep knowledge that they have value and that they are loved. We want them to be kind and to see the needs of others. To be helpers. I think back on my own upbringing and realize that this was an outlook my parents tried to give me every day in a way that I am just now discovering. There is one memory in ...
How Community Service Changed Our Homeschool
My parents tried to teach me that service to those in my congregation and community is at the heart of a happy life. I have been lucky to have that example and habit in my life from the beginning. And although we are not always the best at it, Jeff and I are trying to do the same for our kids. We want them to have eyes to look outside of themselves, to see, and to bless others. We Don't Have To Do This Job Alone Of course part of this is that ...
Keep Little Hands Busy With This Simple Puzzle Craft
From The Archives: September 2011 We have three that are preschool age. As you can imagine, I'm always looking for something to keep those busy little hands occupied. I thought I'd share a little craft we did the other day...so simple but really brought out their creativity and kept them busy for a while. We made puzzles! Pretty easy! Just note cards taped together on the back Cats, cats and more CATS! Princesses ...
I don’t want to forget….
From The Archives: July 2010 These cheeks and those eye lashes and this beautiful mess and that smile and this face her determination and focus and those little, busy hands and that sometimes I wish I had more hands that confidence and this joy her care free love for life her sense of style how she doesn't care who's around...she WILL dance and those ...
The Days are Long – Video From Gretchen at The Happiness Project…
The Days are Long But the Years are Short. I loved this reminder from Gretchen Rubin. ...