Dear Mom, On occasion I hear you make self-deprecating comments about your abilities as a mom (e.g., “I know I wasn’t that great of a mom,” “She’s the mom I wish I could have been,” “I could have done so much better”). Before I became a mom, I brushed off these comments because I didn’t really understand their inaccuracy. Before I … [Read more...] about Dear Mom, I Didn’t Really Understand
Archives for 2017
7 Reasons to Choose Raised Beds for Your Garden
There are numerous approaches you can use when growing fruits and vegetables. We use raised garden beds in our yard, and we’ve found this to be a wonderful approach. There is not necessarily one best way to garden; what’s best will depend on your specific situation. However, if you are thinking about starting a garden in your yard, then … [Read more...] about 7 Reasons to Choose Raised Beds for Your Garden
Easy Handprint Bouquet Craft for Young Kids
I recently came across the idea of using a child’s handprint to make “flowers” for a bouquet. This seemed both cute and simple, so I decided to help my daughters make a variation of it to send to their grandmothers for Mother’s Day. Here’s how we made each bouquet. Supplies Construction paper in various colors Crayons and … [Read more...] about Easy Handprint Bouquet Craft for Young Kids
Manners and Common Courtesies Toddlers Should Learn
A few days ago my toddler coughed and I realized that she made no effort to cover her mouth. This may not be unusual for a toddler, but it really stood out to this mama who was a nurse and public health professional before stepping out of the workplace to be a stay-at-home mom. I can’t believe I failed to teach her this simple … [Read more...] about Manners and Common Courtesies Toddlers Should Learn
7 Ways to Honor Your Mother-in-Law
With Mother’s Day just around the corner, many of us are thinking about the moms in our lives, especially our own mothers and our mothers-in-law. While many of us know our own mothers quite well and can think of numerous ways to honor them, sometimes it’s more challenging to think of ways to honor our mothers-in-law. We definitely … [Read more...] about 7 Ways to Honor Your Mother-in-Law
A Strategy for Helping Young Kids Learn to Assemble Jigsaw Puzzles
Toddlers and preschoolers typically grasp how to assemble peg puzzles pretty quickly. This is because, in general, these puzzles have large, easy-to-grasp pieces that fit into obvious slots on a puzzle board. My toddler has grown bored with most peg puzzles because they are too easy for her. However, jigsaw puzzles are still a little too … [Read more...] about A Strategy for Helping Young Kids Learn to Assemble Jigsaw Puzzles
10 Really Cheap Foods that Are Also Really Nutritious
Keeping the grocery bill low is a challenge. It seems like this is especially true when I’m trying to purchase nutritious foods for my family. However, the reality is that healthy foods aren’t always expensive. By purchasing several unprocessed or minimally processed foods and cooking with them at home, we can save a lot of money and feed … [Read more...] about 10 Really Cheap Foods that Are Also Really Nutritious
Fostering Friendship with Your Spouse
One of the things I appreciate most about marriage is having a good friend who I see and speak with every day. Back when we first got married, my husband and I found it easy to cultivate our friendship. However, as the demands on our time and energy have increased—particularly since becoming parents—we’ve found it challenging to invest … [Read more...] about Fostering Friendship with Your Spouse
