The older and busier my kids get, the more difficult sitting down to family dinner has become. I have read all the research about the importance of having dinner together as a family, and I want to make sure that my children are reaping all of those wonderful benefits, but man, when one kid needs…
In January, I purchased a Circle With Disney device to help me monitor and limit the screen time in our household. I was frustrated with how much energy it was taking to get my kids to follow the household rules regarding electronic devices. I have already written about our experience with the device here: How…
Let this amazing device enforce screen limits for you so you can see the benefits of limiting screen time for your kids without being the bad guy! I don’t know about you, but screens and electronic devices are one of the most difficult things for me to deal with as a mom. How much screen…
“Your youngest daughter is sure a little spitfire!” That is what one of the leaders in our church told me after our first or second Sunday living here in Michigan. Sophia was newly three years old and “spitfire” was a word that described her well. This is a child who craves her independence so vigorously…
How to make your kid’s school morning routine easier. Getting kids off to school in the morning can be one of the most stressful things you do all day. Download the nightly checklist at the end of this post and make your school mornings easier! THE BUS IS HERE!!! Chloe frantically tied her shoes and…
As a busy mom, I sometimes feel I don’t have enough time to really talk to my kids. And sometimes, when I try to talk to them, I am met with girls who don’t actually want to talk to me. While the conversation starters I have tried recently work really well (my youngest daughter in…
When Chloe was in the first grade, she got the lead part in her class Thanksgiving play. She was SO excited! They performed it during the school day at the local retirement home, and I couldn’t wait to see her. The morning of the play, I remembered. I reminded The Maestro about it. And then…
(Like my planner? Me too! You can get one here: Mom on the Go Planner.) Keeping track of a family’s schedule is difficult, but even harder is staying on top of the coordination of a family schedule. And it’s not just the schedule, either. It’s the fees the kids need for school or their activities,…
It’s amazing how entitled my kids can be sometimes. Shocking, really. I’m sure I acted that way as a kid, too, but I’m still surprised every time the entitlement rears its ugly head at my house. Don’t get me wrong, my kids aren’t demanding every new gadget and throwing kicking and screaming temper tantrums whenever…
I love giving my children gifts, I really do. There’s something about seeing the excitement they have as they open their present to see what it is and knowing you chose just the right thing for them. It’s a little bit addicting, actually! I’m the first to admit that I tend to go a little…
This morning The Maestro and I dragged ourselves out of bed really, really early—like, before 6:00 am early—to give our newly minted 15-year-old breakfast in bed. She leaves to early morning seminary by 6:25 every morning, and we wanted to be sure her birthday celebrations started early! This post contains affiliate links. On our way…
The other morning Sophia was having an emotional meltdown before school. In fact, I could probably write that sentence on any given day because on most mornings Sophia has an emotional meltdown before school. Usually it’s because she is feeling rushed (the bus comes awfully early), and she doesn’t like The Maestro and me nagging…