how to get kids to pick up before getting out new toys
This year was our first year at a Monstessori preschool, and I wanted to share one of our learnings that we have incorporated at home. While Monstessori holds to a child-led educational philosophy, it is definitely far from a free-for-all. In fact, a Monstessori classroom tends to look like a very neat and structured environment. Even though kids are empowered to learn at their own pace, there is also a good deal of structure put into place. One of the most genious ways this . . .
do you really play with your kids?
I’ve written about this before, but one of the more difficult aspects of motherhood for me has been reconciling the disparity between the mother I envisioned I would be, and the mother that I really am. My husband and I had a long and bumpy road to becoming parents, so I had a long time to imagine myself as a mother. And while I’ve lived up to some of the expectations that I’ve held for myself, I’ve also been surprised by some of the aspects of motherhood that have been most challenging for . . .
boys and weapon play: what are the ground rules for toy guns and swords?
Yesterday I published a story at Huffington Post about how I’ve surrendered my convictions in regards to keeping our home free of toy guns. (You can go read it here.) I wrote this article over a year ago, and since that time my boys’ enthusiasm for toy guns, light sabers, and swords has only grown in intensity, much to the annoyance of their sisters. India and Karis are routinely finding themselves the target of whatever epic battle the boys have concocted. In fact, this video . . .
encouraging our kids when their dreams don’t match their abilities
Yesterday India woke us up by bursting into our room with an announcement about a dream she’d had. “Mommy! I had a dream that I could ride my bike without training wheels! This means I can do it now. Let’s go take them off!” I loved her enthusiasm, and the idea of her dreaming about shedding those training wheels was just too cute. But at the same time, Mark and I were stealing glances at each other because both of us were skeptical that she was really ready for . . .
the parenting paradox
When I was in high school, I went to see the musical version of the movie Big (yes – they made that Tom Hanks movie into a musical). It’s not an entirely memorable show, but one number stuck with me. It’s called “Stop, Time” and it’s a song that a mother sings about her sadness in regards to her child growing older. Even as a teenager, I was aware that this song was touching on a profound pain of the human experience, and I remember stifling loud sobs in the theater for the duration of the . . .
my kids are going to change the world. with war and chicken nuggets.
I mentioned last week that we’ve been reading questions from the TableTopics Family Cube each night at dinner. It’s provided us with some interesting perspective on our kids. Some of it is not so flattering. (Like, for example, when Jafta answered the question about whether or not he would go to school if he didn’t have to, and he replied that he would stay home and watch video games every day). Tonight’s question brought us to a new low. The question: If you could make one change . . .
the time the kids and I drank beer at Target
I’m a little bit Amish when it comes to soda and the kids. As a general rule, we don’t drink it. A couple weeks ago, we did an Eli’s Lid shoot and these adorable little vintage Coca Cola bottles were one of the props. After the shoot, we let the kids drink them. Somehow, it slipped my attention that the kids thought what they were drinking was beer. I guess they assumed so because beer is the only beverage they’ve seen Mark drink out of a glass bottle. I can see how . . .
the agony and the ecstasy of disney world (social media moms day 3 and 4)
Saturday morning we had a big family talk about trying to have a more positive day at the parks. The kids, on their own, decided they needed to have a little meditative time. Then India broke into spontaneous prayer. It was pretty cute. And it totally changed them into perfectly behaved and non-whiny children for the rest of the day. (HAHAHAHA. No it didn’t. But it made for a cute picture). I’m not sure what came over me on this trip, because I am typically the mom who . . .
disney social media moms celebration–day 1 & 2
We are having a blast here at Disney. I think my kids are still in shock about how much bigger the Disney World complex is than Disneyland in California. Our first night here, we went to a pirate party. The kids were thrilled that they got to hang with their favorite Jake and the Neverland Pirates characters. Mimi got to join us at the party. The kids were so happy to see her. The kids got to have soda. This was the highlight of their day. Our second day, . . .
if you love someone, set them free (a tale of three lizards)
One night last week, Mark and the boys were off at Boy Scouts, and I was home with the girls prepping for dinner. I went to rinse off some veggies in the sink, and as soon as the water came on, a lizard tried to scramble up the side of the sink. Being the calm and nondramatic person I am, I immediately jumped back and screamed bloody murder, which brought India and Karis running in to see what happened. They caught sight of the lizard and immediately starting screaming, too. Both of . . .
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