I don’t know about you but I love to love to spoil my family and friends for Valentine’s Day.
If you’re looking for ideas on how you can show your loved ones some appreciation. This list is for you!
For the kids: some stickers, fun socks, a cute shirt or dress. Of course there’s candy but the new food pyramid guidelines say ZERO sugar for kids under four! Check the press release here.
I love these stickers because they are easy for the kids to use and easy for me to take off!
I also love springs to give to classmates. I usually pick these up at the dollar store. Print up some valentines and have the kids decorate and send to school. But you can find them here and avoid the store.
Another great class treat that’s not a sweet is pencils š I love these.
Here’s a great combo with stickers and a pencil if you’re really wanting to spoil them.
These bracelets
Just a few ideas to get you thinking!
Hope you have a lovely Valentines Day and know that you are so loved by your creator, even if you don’t get a valentine š
If you have kids you know life does not stop. There are still holidays and birthdays and your children should be able to enjoy life with you.
When you’re having people over for dinner there’s a few things I’ve learned to help make it a successful event!
Prep kids before guests arrive. Let them know who is coming, what will happen and if they’re bringing something. Leave room in case things don’t go as planned. Don’t promise gifts or a particular food. Use “I think” or “sometimes” and “not always” to soften the expectation that things are not always the same. (We know pickups don’t always get everything in the bag.)
Give them space. The kids should know what space is for them to play in and they should be comfortable bringing a guest to their space to play with them, if they’re up for it! Also, it’s ok to just close the bedroom door and deal with the mess later. Your guests will understand!
Be a good host. Offer drinks upon arrival. Make sure your bathroom door is open, is stocked with paper, fresh towels and have a candle lit or spray out.
Timing is key. If your kids are starving and someone is running behind, that is a recipe for disaster. Give them a late snack or bigger snack so they are not hangry when guests arrive, whether a few minutes late or on time.
Food they like. This should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway. There should be at least a couple things your kids like available to them. *Bonus if there’s something they are excited to eat. *Also don’t fuss if they do not eat much, they’ll make up for it at the next meal.
Make clean up easy. There will be a time for pulling out the fancy china, if you’ve got it. But when you have small children, nobody will think less of you for using paper plates. Unless someone is offering to do the dishes, make less work for everyone and use disposable. There are plenty of cute themed or seasonal plates if you want to feel fancy.
Put fresh toys out. The kids should have a play space not overly crowded with toys. There should be a handful of toys that can keep them occupied on their own while you are hosting. I find when I rotate out toys regularly they are more likely to be entertained longer and when there is less available, they can thoroughly enjoy what IS out.
Expect a mess. Don’t get upset if there’s a spill or toys out or food on the floor. That is just part of life. Not saying encourage the mess, but don’t get worked up when it happens. Be gracious if guests don’t clean up and grateful if they do offer.
Send a note of thanks! Even just a quick text to say “thanks for coming, it was great to have you” can mean a lot and make your guests feel welcomed to come again.
Do you have a tip that ensures your parties are a success with kids? Please share it!
In the age of the downswing from the strict spanking generation we are surrounded by”gentle” parents and kids that have more freedom.
Where do we want to land?
I don’t know about you but the gentle parenting thing, doesn’t work for me. I feel overly permissive, my kids walk all over me until I’m so frustrated I explode š«£
The idea is that we want to love our kids the way God loves us. Not with strictness but with compassion, mercy and firm love.
He’s not flaky, inconsistent – happy and rested today and exhausted and edgy tomorrow.
He is full of grace and makes good of everything.
It is our job as parents to connect our kids with God. Show our kids his love, tell of his goodness, share how he is the giver of every good thing. Not to forget that he hates when we do wrong, does not align with evil and has a jealous love for us.
We can be loving and firm.
Have clear boundaries and discipline with grace.
If you haven’t already get yourself in the position to re-parent yourself.
As humans we are all flawed. We do the best we can to the best of our ability and we need to trust that God will fill in the gaps.
God is the perfect father, and while perfection on our part is impossible, we are called to excellence.
A great resource for dealing with your own wounds is inner healing prayer. One I can recommend is called Mining the Truth.
If you’ve ever been to therapy, think of this as 10 years of therapy in 2 hours.
Since God is the counselor, he can touch and heal things that would take a regular therapist years to help “process”.
The Intercessor will guide you through prayers and connect you to God to deal with your issues, relating to any topic.
Work on healing yourself so you don’t cause the same trauma to your kids that you’re working through.
Because often times whatever your kid does to trigger you is often due to your own issue, not because they’re trying to frustrate you.
Give yourself grace. Take some times to breath and think about the type of parent you want to be. Surround yourself with other like minded people to support you on your journey.
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Having babies is expensive! And so are diapers. Let me share how I saved a few.
Did you know that babies instinctively don’t want to soil themselves?
Think about it…
š¤ØDoes your baby cry when they’re wet or dirty?
š³Do they like to pee as soon as you take off the diaper?
šOr poop as soon as you put on a fresh one?
That’s because they don’t WANT to soil themselves. I know, you’re thinking so what?
When your baby cries, they’re trying to tell you something.
Well ever heard of baby signs? My 2 month old baby has started signing back to me.
It’s true!
I’ve been signing to her milk and potty. And let me tell you my life has gotten so much easier now that I don’t have to guess what my baby wants.
She makes a “t” sign with her hand telling me she’s either wet or dirty or has a full tank ready to go.
She opens and shuts her hand signaling milk when she’s hungry!
It’s truly amazing what our babies are capable of!! Here’s my challenge to you.
Sign to your baby! See if you can tell when they are hungry or need a diaper change.
I started Elimination Communication with my first baby and saved hundreds of dollars by anticipating when he needed to go and offering him a potty during diaper changes or when I could tell he needed to poop.
You can check out this site to learn more about Elimination Communication.
Seriously, you know when your baby is pooping… why would you just let him finish when you can help him put it where it belongs.
I assure you not only will it save you diapers (and wipes) but also time and laundry!
I can count on one hand how many blow outs I’ve seen in my THREE babies!
Even if they start going in their diaper I can say wait and bring them to the bathroom or toilet and let them finish there.
You can see Andrea’s full book for all the info on EC.
Start with a baby potty and offer it during diaper changes, after feeding and upon waking. (we naturally don’t release pee thanks to hormones while we’re sleeping)
You can even just hold baby over the toilet or sink in the bathroom.
Pair this with cloth diapers for extra motivation to catch those poops. But don’t worry babies have poo is easy to clean when they are still drinking milk or formula.
Once they start solids it starts to really stink and you’ll need to get the most of it into the toilet but this diaper sprayer will help and doubles as a bidet once your little one is getting all the poops in the potty.
Did I mention my baby was completely out of diapers by 18 months?
Yes, even for naps and overnight.
And you can do it too! Save hundreds of dollars on diapers and get a closer bond plus build strong communication skills from the cradle š„°
As a new preschool teacher, the value of learning through play is becoming a reality. My two year olds donāt have the attention span to sit for a lesson, but they love to play games.
The best way I am finding for them to gain knowledge and grow their vocabulary is playful learning. So we play simon says as they discover their body. At recess they climb on everything, curious as to just what they are capable of.
It is amazing to see how these tiny humans experience things for the first time and make evaluations of the big world around them.
Itās the natural consequences that is natureās instruction to us on how to live. The more we accept the natural consequences of life and grow through them, the wiser we become.
Part of my training to teach these little babies was reading the book Boundaries for Kids which I highly recommend for anyone with kids or working with kids.
This book talks about teaching children how to take responsibility for themselves. And also NOT keeping children from learning from lifeās teachable moments.
When we protect our kids from consequences, we keep them from learning valuable lessons. As kids, these actions have reactions that are minimally harmful, but will save them from very negative results as adults.
If a 10 year old has a science project that is assigned, given a couple weeks to do it, but fails to start it until the night before itās due, this is a teachable moment. There are a couple options for the parent in this scenario:
Stay up all night and help the child complete the project or do it for them.
Ask them if their teacher assigned this yesterday, or why they had not told you or started it sooner. Then tell them, it is unfortunate that there is not more time for you to help them before bed.
Now this may seem like a very harsh and almost mean thing to do. And Iām certainly not encouraging you to abandon your child. But sticking to the rule (or boundary) of bed time means that they have a limited amount of time with which they can work on their assignment.
The reality is that saving the child from the consequence of getting a poor grade on the assignment will teach them that they can slide by doing minimal work and that others will take care of things for them.
It means they have not accepted the responsibility of their assignment. Their assignment is still shared with mom and dad. When they need to learn that the assignment is their responsibility and you need to teach them HOW to be responsible.
When the child has to go to school and explain to their teacher that they did not complete their assignment, maybe they can ask for an extension or turn in something that is below expectations. They may get a bad grade or have to experience the embarrassment of failing to meet expectations, but they will learn that when assignments are given, they need to be started and completed soon.
Today I want to share with you why it is so important to have boundaries as a female and why they should be taught as young as possible. To be clear, everyone needs to have and learn to respect boundaries, but the focus here is specific to girls.
The age that we live in is highly sexualised. It is every where from tv shows, to billboards, movies and in the media.
If you havenāt noticed there is also an epidemic of people being exploited, especially women and children. I would love to see and end to this. And learning how to establish and respect boundaries is essential in order to stop it.
Sandy* grew up in a home that didnāt have healthy boundaries. Her father drank more than he should, and grandma did crack. They actually allowed people to sexually assault this young girl in exchange for money and drugs.
Needless to say, Sandy has had a difficult life. As an adult she worked at a strip club, prostituting and giving all of her earnings to her pimp. It breaks my heart to know the trauma she has experienced.
If only someone had taught her how to have boundaries. Even what boundaries were.
Boundaries identify where one person ends and another begins. It encompasses the responsibility of one person and separates it from the expectations and emotions of another.
A boundary says this is who I am. It is knowing what you want and expressing your needs. It is allowing yourself to be you and to be known in a relationship. A boundary says how you will allow others to treat you and how you will take care of yourself.
It is the responsibility of the parents to establish healthy boundaries with their kids and to teach them how to respect others.
In actuality, it may be time to incorporate this into our school as a social skill. Every person needs to know these truths.
You matter.
Your voice matters.
You have a choice.
Boundaries make us feel safe. When our boundaries are respected, we feel loved, treasured and valued.
If you need some help setting boundaries, you can send me a message as I always have support groups happening to help establish healthy boundaries and self care routines.
Please subscribe to my monthly newsletter if you want more resources and encouragement about self-care, parenting tips and building personal confidence.
Being a mom has been a life goal of mine since I was a child. Once I finally got pregnant, I set out to be the best mom I could be! For me this meant doing the most for my kid in his best interest.
Cloth diapers was not always something I thought I would do, but as I researched I found that it was definitely something I wanted to pursue so I did a LOT of scouring the web and found my best practice and I wanted to share it with you!
This post contains affiliate links that I may earn a commission from. All opinions are fully my own.
I started with Thirsties diaper covers which pair with an insert that can be dried and reused until baby makes a poo. These are paired with a prefold diaper for quick changes. If you want to hear more about my homemade diapers, check out my other post!
For me, I like pocket diapers. I found Alva Baby to be the most economical. Great price for a pack of six and comes with everything you need.
They come with twice as many liners so you can put one in the pocket and set another inside the diaper for extra absorbency. Personally I use just the pocket because I find it keeps the wetness off my babyās skin.
I also find that I can just swap out the liner as long as thereās no poop. Which brings me to Elimination Communication.
Elimination communication is a way of communicating with your baby to help them relieve themselves in a potty instead of in the diaper.
I know it sounds like a lot, but itās actually very common in other countries where keeping a child in diapers for 2-3 years is not an option. See my post on Elimination communication for a more in depth discussion.
You can also get the Go Diaper Free book by Andrea Olson to learn how to do it for yourself!
Night Time Cloth Diaper
There are SO many options for night time, but wool was not something that I wanted to take on. And I really hated buying overnight diapers since they seemed to irritate my babyās skin.
For a while the Alva Baby diapers with an extra insert worked great, especially when he was waking up frequently for night feedings and changes. But as he started sleeping longer and sleeping in different positions, we started to have leaks.
My baby started sleeping on his side, so I had to find a solution. What worked for me is using a flat diaper, I use Nickyās Bamboo flats.
I use the kite fold for my boy to hold extra liquid. And am able to wrap it around his waist and secure with the Alva Baby diaper to get 360 protection.
So happy to say that he is sleeping 10-12 hours a night with NO LEAKS! I do rinse and wring out the flats to help start the cleaning and make sure the urine smell gets out of the diapers.
Washing and Drying
Caring for cloth diapers does take more effort than just tossing or emptying the diaper genie. But itās not completely overwhelming! Just a cycle every day or two, depending on how many diapers you have. I recommend at least 12-24 for full time cloth.
We use a wet bag, one in the bathroom for potty changes and bath time and another in the nursery by the changing table. I have these smaller ones for my diaper bag. I donāt recommend leaving these in the dryer for the full time or the zipper may be damaged.
For the first six months, when baby is on a liquid diet poo is water soluable. This means there is no extra step for washing the diapers! Just put them in the washer first rinse and run on deep water setting.
DO NOT DRY ON HIGH HEAT!
If you dry your diapers anything above low, it will damage the PUL and they will no longer be effectively water proof. That means when baby has a very wet diaper you will feel it on the outside!
Weāve managed to continue using ours after they were accidentally dried on high, we just use them at home only (and when we are offering regular potty time).
Alva Baby recommended to hang dry diapers, which is great if you have the time and the weather permits, but I usually dry them on low heat. Do not use any fabric softener.
We have marked the new set so I know which diapers to use overnight or when I wonāt be able to change him as frequently.
Starting Solids
Once baby starts eating real food, there will be an extra step to cleaning poopy diapers. The solid waste needs to be removed before throwing in the wash. There are several options for helping with this task.
I was able to easily install this diaper sprayer which has been a huge help plus it can be used as a bidet as well!
This was just one reasons that I waited the full six months to start giving my baby solids. Plus they need all the extra nourishment from breast milk or formula to establish their gut and immune system.
Having trouble with supply, check out my other post to get some tips on how to produce more and why its worth the effort!
Cloth Wipes / Towels
When I started cloth diapers, I figured cloth wipes went right along with it. Do they sell those? I was asked once. They sure do!
They are super easy to MAKE. Get some cotton from your local fabric shop. Cut into squares. I do recommend finishing the edges, otherwise they will fray. But itās a simple task. Donāt forget to pick up some complementary thread.
Personally, I use a rotary cutting tool to make it quick and simple with a mat and ruler to make sure they were the same size. You can also find these at the fabric shop, I find they are cheaper through Amazon.
Additionally I used terry cloth to make strips for wiping babyās face after meals. And a different color to use for cleaning up in the bathroom when the diaper sprayer makes a mess. Save the trees!
Why is cloth diapering important to you? Iād love to hear your comments!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links, I may receive compensation at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.
In my house, we are readers. The adults love to read. And I love to collect books.
But since books are expensive and take up space, there is only so many that we can purchase!
Which is why I love to use the free resource of our public library! They have tons of books of all genres and are free to borrow, as long as you return them on time.
Well I have been wanting to make a list of my favorite books to read to my baby! Since I thought others may enjoy them as well, plus maybe Iāll buy a few here and there or recheck the ones that we love!
Currently our library has a fun Tails and Tales summer reading program. They are encouraging reading 20 minutes a day and are giving away prizes for doing so! This helps with early literacy and growing the love of reading in little ones. Check to see what programs your library has.
Reading to your baby is helpful to connect and get your baby hearing your language and many words!
I also did a LOT of personal research on parenting and have found these books to be super helpful! I LOVE audible to listen to books, but if your a physical book, you can get them through the links below.
Favorite books for mommy:
Wonder Weeks by Frans X. Plooij, Hetty van de Rijt and Xaviera Plas-Plooij
*Disclaimer – this post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you!
Looking for a way to connect with friends and grow personally? Ever thought of joining or starting a book club?
Reading books that can make an impact on your life and help make it better is a wonderful ambition. But if youāre like me, it may be hard to finish it when youāre doing it alone. My bookshelf is full of books with bookmarks a few chapters in. Honestly I have a lot of books that I have never even read! I know itās terrible!! š³
Regardless, I love reading and wanted to share the books that I have found awesome and canāt NOT talk about it!
But I have started a self-care routine that involves me reading and growing relationships with Safe People. Currently working through this study. Love this book by Dr Henry Cloud and Dr John Townsend and workbook!
Ever go to a party and feel like the odd man out. Awkared in conversations or anxious about if you will have something to talk about? This book is for you!! The Art of Mingling is a great investment if you want to feel more confident at parties and get together.
I had aspirations of having a wonderful library of valuable books. One of my favorite things to do is discover a treasure at the Half Price Book Store. To find a sweet deal on a book that can feed my soul is so fulfilling! If only I could finish what I started.
Turns out I have several friends that feel the same way about finishing books! We love to read books to better ourselves and shift our perspective, but after a few chapters or half the book, it becomes difficult to continue. We think, ok Iāve got the just of it….
Unfortunately, when we donāt finish the book we miss some of the best information that was saved for the end!
This is why I LOVE group books! It gives you the accountability to finish it to the end! Plus by discussing it with others, its more likely to stick.
So here are some great books that I have found and study with friends. Some of them are regular books, that we read and discuss chapter by chapter.
For rewiring your brain and getting rid of toxic thoughts this one is great! Get Out of Your Head
Ready to Say Yes to God? Then this one will inspire you. Love Skip Jump
Does the idea of picking through books on your own sound intimidating? Then you will prefer one of these group studies that come with a leader guide and structured week by week sessions.
I used to have such bad anxiety that it would keep me up at night. Not only that, but it gave me stomach problems as well. It was awful. I had to figure out how to let things go and let God deal with them.
Want some help getting rid of your anxiety? This is a one by Max Lucado that can help you!Anxious For Nothing. There is also a study guide here.
When writing for self, you can do it however you like. But if you want other people to enjoy and come back to your writing, it needs to grab their attention, give them something and be relatable.
Here are some tips to get better at writing!
Incorporate story telling. Share your story in your own words. Make up plausible stories that are relative to your topic.
Humanize the context with stories that make dry facts and information sound more interesting.
Use tools such as the The Emotional Thesaurus to help use more colorful words to get your point across. There is an entire series that can fit your specific writing topic.
Instead of using phrases like āan individual could be…ā give a narrative of an example of the event.
Incorporate heart and head issues into the story to tie together themes that give the readers understanding and empathy for the topic.
Introduce yourself as an author. Who are you now? Where have you been and how have you overcome your obstacles? This will give the readers a quick connection and help them to see your heart in sharing on the topic.
Expand on universal, relatable topics, for example overcoming shame.
Make it practical with examples.
Give a check list for observations to self assess:
Are you feeling… Do you experience… Then this may be happening to you.
Take breaks to bring encouragement. Provide uplifting testimony to share the promise of victory.
Join a Critique Group! Get feedback from other writers. This will help immensely to get a new perspective while seeing your work with new eyes.
Get your tools together! Do you like to write on paper with ink? Or do you prefer to type? Be sure to have plenty of supplies on hand to get you started and good luck!
Just Confident 