Last week I noted a number of stressors that moms encounter regularly. I also noted that it is perfectly normal for moms to feel stress because challenging tasks, including parenting, increase the demands put on our bodies and minds (stress is our physiological and psychological response to these demands). We’re not at our best as … [Read more...] about Managing the Stress of Motherhood
The Best Baby Toys for Developmentally Appropriate Play
One of my most popular printables is a guide to developmentally appropriate play for babies (you can see the original version here and an updated one here). This guide describes what types of activities foster a baby’s development at ages birth-1 month, 2-3 months, 4-6 months, and so on. This guide describes many activities and mentions … [Read more...] about The Best Baby Toys for Developmentally Appropriate Play
Why Are Moms So Stressed Out?
Every mom I know feels stressed out. Like me, these moms love their kids and are so grateful to be moms, but they’re stressed. Researchers have found that adults who are parents often derive more purpose and meaning in life than adults who aren’t parents; however, they’ve also found that stress from a number of common stressors often … [Read more...] about Why Are Moms So Stressed Out?
Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo Spaghetti Squash Casserole
This is another recipe I’ve tried in my ongoing saga to get my kids to eat more vegetables. Alfredo sauce is a huge hit in my house and, surprisingly, all of my girls will eat broccoli. Thus, I figured I’d try to mix these two items with another veggie. The result was this casserole. I actually hesitate to call it a casserole because … [Read more...] about Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo Spaghetti Squash Casserole
High Fiber Foods that Kids (and Adults) Actually Like
As I noted last week, kids are at risk for developing constipation if they don’t have sufficient fiber intake. This is also true for adults. Not surprisingly, there are a number of additional benefits associated with consuming the right amount of fiber (source): Heart and circulatory health. Soluble fiber lowers total blood cholesterol … [Read more...] about High Fiber Foods that Kids (and Adults) Actually Like
Play Guide for Baby’s First Year
As I noted last month, I’m going through some of my old posts and making updates to them. One of my favorite posts from about four years ago is about developmentally appropriate play for babies. Everything in that post is still relevant, but I’ve never been particularly fond of the appearance of the printable guide I shared there. When I … [Read more...] about Play Guide for Baby’s First Year
Alleviating Constipation in Children
When I first began writing this blog, I wouldn’t have believed you if you would have told me that I’d someday be writing about the topic of constipation. However, here I am, writing a post on kids’ bowel habits. Motherhood sure makes you talk about a number of topics that once seemed inappropriate to discuss with strangers! I’d be … [Read more...] about Alleviating Constipation in Children
How Budgeting Reveals More About Your Heart Than Your Wallet
My husband and I have really pared down our budget in recent months. Since we got married, our goal has been to live completely free of debt (though we are comfortable having a mortgage). Thus far this has remained beyond our reach. We did pretty well during the early years of our marriage. At that time, we had two incomes and no … [Read more...] about How Budgeting Reveals More About Your Heart Than Your Wallet
