Melissa | March 11, 2010
Not green like reduce, reuse, recycle. Green like St. Patrick’s Day. Seeing as almost half of our family is named Patrick, St. Patrick’s Day gets a lot of attention at our house. We started last week with a GREEN scavenger hunt. Both little kids have a Vtech – Kidizoom Digital Camera (which I highly recommend especially [...]
Melissa | February 9, 2010
As I perused the January issue of Parents Magazine*, I came across an interesting article that explored the differences in American versus French parenting styles. The author describes her emergence from an over-protective, gear-laden America to a laid back, parent-centered France. While I’m not sure I would send my preschooler on an overnight, teacher-chaperoned, trip across [...]
Melissa | January 26, 2010
Whoever would’ve thought that my biggest decisions as a mom with kids in tow would be stuff like…
*Should I wake up the sleeping child so he’ll have plenty of time to get ready but be cranky OR let him get up on his own so he’s well-rested but I’m cranky because we’re running late.
*What should I [...]
Melissa | January 9, 2010
If you know me well (or have been following this blog long enough), you know I like simple, inexpensive, pragmatic solutions for life. I get even more excited if said solution gets my kids involved.
So without further ado, let me introduce to the only wrapping paper you’ll ever need.
For gifts from the kids, I wrap the gift [...]
Melissa | December 9, 2009
We made a conscious decision when we started having children that I would be their full-time caretaker. I truly think it’s the best thing for my kids and I love having them in tow for most of their waking hours. But sometimes…
…when I have to listen to screaming, crying, and whining at 8AM all the [...]
Melissa | December 5, 2009
UPDATE: Apprently Our Daily Bread is thinking about this topic, too. Read Presents or Presence?.
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Original post follows…
My kids: Mom, why don’t we decorate like that? (Pointing to a beautifully lighted house complete with candles in the windows, wreaths on the doors, and an inflatable Santa rocking on horse…yes, it was actually rocking back and forth.)
Mom: Kids, [...]
Melissa | December 1, 2009
Today marks the first day of our annual Christmas chain.
Every year since PJ was 3, we’ve created an old-fashioned, red and green, Christmas-countdown-chain. Actually, it’s an old-fashioned, red and green, Christmas-countdown-prayer-chain. On every link we list friends and family in our life. Every night, the kids take down a link and we pray for the named [...]
Melissa | November 27, 2009
So I guess, the Christmas shopping season is “officially” underway. I don’t personally have an “official” start and have been known to pick up Christmas presents as early as April. But don’t let that fool you, I usually am still shopping the week before Christmas.
I think my biggest gift giving quirk is that I love [...]
Melissa | October 13, 2009
Two years ago, I listened to a presentation by Renee Swope on Mining for Gold in the Heart of Your Child at a Hearts At Home conference. It was all about focusing less on our children’s faults and more on the “gold” in their hearts, lives, days, etc.
Although I have acknowledged the larger nuggets in [...]
Melissa | September 28, 2009
Disclaimer: This is not a list of the MOST IMPORTANT, so do not feel like you must list the highest priority or the obvious, which will end up having the same thing repeated by everyone over and over. Try to be specific and creative. This your three items with a sentence or two explanation.
1. Every [...]
