Right now many of you are decluttering your children’s room as a part of our 91 Day Declutter Challenge. While we are working in our children’s spaces during this challenge, I am reminded of a topic I’ve meant to share for a long time. Sometimes, families develop patterns that can do harm in the hearts and […]
parenting
Say the Obvious. A lot. (Parenting Teens)
I’m not going to pretend that I’m an expert at parenting teens, but I’m certainly in the thick of it. Right now I’ve got three teenage daughters. I also work with teens at church, so helping teens is on my mind daily. I’ve been so worried about my teens during the last couple years of […]
7 Ways to Keep Joy in Christmas
Six years ago I wrote Why does everything have to be so special?! The post still holds up, but I’ve learned more insight from the last 6 years I want to share. I’ve really begun to understand how to find my lane, while I navigate life through depression and perfectionism, family struggles, and more. Let […]
Open Letter: To My Daughters in Middle School
A few years ago I explained some things to my girls as they entered middle school and were starting puberty. I told them the things I wish someone had told me when I was their age. I must warn you, that I don’t beat around the bush. I don’t want to speak in flowery language, […]
Continuing “the” Conversation
I’m not one of those moms who thinks I’m doing everything right. But, I am feeling good about the open connection I have with my kids. My girls tell me stuff and ask me stuff! I don’t pretend they tell me everything, I mean, they’re 13 and 11, BUT … they ask me a lot […]
Let Them Try
The picture above is of my third daughter Izzy organizing and cataloging her stuffed animals last summer. If you remember from her “help” with my living room, Izzy is often organizing and decorating differently than I would. And I’ve really learned to love it. For the declutter challenge, we’ve started into the bedrooms, which means […]
Having THE TALK. (My Book Recommendations)
I have a very important, but intimidating, task ahead of me in the next few weeks before school starts. I’ll be giving my 10-year-old the talk before she heads into the 5th grade. Even though I’ve done this before, this still won’t easy for me, though it has to be easier than the first time […]
My New Parenting Catch-phrase {And A Tip}
Recently on my personal Facebook page, I posted a picture of this empty pool and then this – Matt and I are testing out a new parent catch-phrase lately: “You’ve been scienced!” Like when the kids didn’t believe putting one end of a hose in the pool and the other by the fruit trees/garden (trying to […]
Good Moms and Sticky Floors
There is a very popular quote that is one of my biggest pet peeves. Hearing this quote spoken is the equivalent to me of nails scratching chalkboard. On Etsy, you can even buy beautifully stained wooden planks etched and painted with some version of this quote. “Good Moms have Sticky Floors, Messy Kitchens, Laundry Piles […]
Quarter Jars – Rewarding Good Behavior
I have regular kids. What I mean by that is not that they aren’t my absolute favorite kids in the whole universe, but that they have normal kid tendencies. They need to be reminded to do their routines and chores. They can sometimes fight with each other or disobey. They leave messes out and don’t […]