My sister and I were really close when we were growing up, but we also fought like cats and dogs. I’m seeing this same pattern emerge with my own kids. My three daughters are best of friends, but they sometimes feel frustrated with each other and end up fighting. Based on what I hear from other parents, this seems to be fairly typical. … [Read more...] about 7 Ways to Help Your Kids Form Close Sibling Relationships
Raising an Inheritance
How to Keep Unbelieving Kids from Ruining Santa for Kids Who Believe
My kids know who Santa is, but they don’t believe he is a real person. They enjoy him as a fictional character, just as they do fairy tale princesses and superheroes. This isn’t the case for most of our friends and family members. The children in these families believe that Santa is real, and this is an important part of their Christmas … [Read more...] about How to Keep Unbelieving Kids from Ruining Santa for Kids Who Believe
30 Questions to Ask Around the Christmas Dinner Table
Our everyday lives are so busy that I find it increasingly important that we use the time we have with our families strategically. Holidays are times that we can really slow down and enjoy being with each other. However, on Christmas, it’s not unusual for things like presents and baking to commandeer our focus away from family and … [Read more...] about 30 Questions to Ask Around the Christmas Dinner Table
Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt
One of the things my kids really enjoyed doing this past fall was going on a scavenger hunt. We used a printable that I created a couple of years ago (find it here). They had so much fun walking through our neighborhood in search of the items pictured on the printable. I’ve made a similar printable for a Christmas light scavenger hunt! … [Read more...] about Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt
Our 2019-2020 Kindergarten Curriculum
Can you believe that my oldest child is in kindergarten? It feels a bit surreal because I’m sure it was just yesterday that she was a baby! However, I’m now homeschooling a kindergartner and a preschooler while my 1-year-old keeps watch. My preschooler is using many of the same materials we used when my oldest was in preschool (see an … [Read more...] about Our 2019-2020 Kindergarten Curriculum
Printable First Day of School Sign for Photos
Many parents take photos of their kids when they are headed out the door or walking up to their classrooms on the first day of school. Recently, some families have begun having their kids hold cute signs that provide a little bit of info about themselves. I take lots of photos of my kids, but I’ve never kept up with things like baby books … [Read more...] about Printable First Day of School Sign for Photos
5 Reasons Hand-Me-Downs are Awesome
My daughters’ wardrobes are comprised primarily of used outfits. Thanks to the generosity of their grandparents, they each get a couple of brand new outfits each year. However, the vast majority of their clothes are hand-me-downs or items we’ve purchased from consignment stores. When I think of hand-me-downs, my mental images are of … [Read more...] about 5 Reasons Hand-Me-Downs are Awesome
Christmas in July: Deciding Whether or Not to Participate in the Santa Tradition
If you have little kids, then you are faced with the question of whether or not to take part in the Santa tradition (i.e., teaching kids that a jolly old man stops by to leave gifts for them to open on Christmas morning). This tradition can be fun and add excitement to the Christmas season, but it also has some drawbacks. You may be … [Read more...] about Christmas in July: Deciding Whether or Not to Participate in the Santa Tradition
