“Life is better being a mom.”
Focus On the Good to Enjoy the Growth
What do you see in this picture? You see a baby grinning from ear to ear. You see a happy moment with a child playing in the tub. What you don't see is a baby who peed in the tub, or a baby who threw a large cup full of that gross bath water in mommy's face. Parenting is full of joyful moments and it's also full of tough ones, but we can either choose to focus on the good or allow the bad overwhelm us.
Goodbye School, Hello Summer
School is finally reaching it's end for the year. Oh what a bittersweet time this is! It's such a special season for parents as we get these few months of quality time with our kiddos. The time to sleep in and stay in jammies all day. The extra giggles we get to listen to and just a little bit of extra time watching them grow up into their unique personalties. Although we absolutely love our extra time with them, we have to admit, summer break is tough!
Thank You, Teachers
As parents everywhere send their kids into school this week with hand picked flowers, homemade treats, hand written letters, dressed up as their teacher, and other various things for teachers appreciation week, I realized this just isn't enough appreciation for all teachers do! If you're a teacher, you deserve all the love and thanks parents can give.
Parenting Doesn’t End When They Turn 18
Some of us younger parents can be pretty naive. While we are deep in moments of parenting frustrations, we can sometimes think to ourselves that we are ready for our children to hit that 18 year old mark. We are ready for them to not be quite so dependent on us for everything. We can sometimes think that once they leave the house, it is no longer be our job to parent any longer, but we have it all wrong.
Everyone Matters
People struggle with a wide variety of mental illnesses, but there is one thing alike in all of them, our inner struggle with feeling like we matter. Early this morning, every parent near the Denver area in Colorado got a phone call from their children's district. The phone call begins by informing us that school is being cancelled due to an ongoing security threat that originated in Denver. A young girl by the name of Sol Pais, who was only 18 years old, was tipped off to the cops as being infatuated by the Columbine mass shooting that happened nearly 20 years ago.
Parenting is Tough Sometimes
This morning I was awaken in the most abrupt kind of way. As I walk out of my room at 5am, hoping to get some quite time before the kids woke up, I was greeted by one of my daughters who had wet her bed a bit. She then let me know that she wasn't done and had to go more. I told her to go finish and she decided that "go" meant right then and there on the carpet. Another reason for us parents to loathe carpet. I thought to myself, okay, so today hasn't started off the greatest or cleanliest, but this can turn around. A couple of my girls came down and cuddled me. Okay, this is great! I'd be alright if there was more of this today!
For All Of the Stay At Home Mom’s
The pressure of being a stay at home mom is huge! We are responsible for many things, such as our children's safety, making sure they are always keep clear from choking hazards or injuring themselves climbing too high in a tree. We are responsible for their behavior and becoming a good person, having manors, being kind to their siblings and other people. We are responsible for their learning, both before they enter kindergarten and through high school providing help with homework. This just scratches the surface of our jobs as stay at home moms.
Women Are Uniquely Powerful
This past Friday was International Women's Day. I loved seeing all the women in the world posting pictures of the amazing things they can do! Women were created beautiful and powerful in many ways.
Surviving 10 Days Without Dad
For the last 10 days I caught just a glimpse of what life is like for single mothers as my husband went out of town to take the last class for his doctoral program. I am such a proud wife, but I knew a week and a half with our four girls and none of his help would be interesting to say the least. Here we are, 10 days later. It wasn't easy, but I survived!
The Best Parenting Advice
As a mama of four girls, I have received my fair share of parenting advice. I have gotten advice from others who are also parents, grandparents, and even from the moms who have never had children. You know, the women who have the perfect non existent children? Aren't they just well behaved?! One thing from all of them alike though is that the advice typically comes from a very loving and helpful place. But from all that advice I have received over the years, what exactly is my best piece of parenting advice for you??
Don't listen to others!