Three Reasons You Should Love Your Mother In Law

3 Reasons You Should Love Your Mother In Law

Oh, mother in laws.You know who they are. You fall in love with a man. Realize he’s the one. Then you meet his mother. You’re terrified because you know you have to impress her. You know you'll officially be in each other's lives forever and it needs to go well.Then you enter into a relationship full of ups and downs, bickering, laughter, and love. It’s easy to blame your mother in law for so many things, but that will change one day.I was recently at my friend's wedding and I melted during the mother-son dance. All I could think about was the fact that one day, I will have to give away three of my baby boys. Then we'll be transitioning into a new dynamic. It won’t just be my husband, little boys, and I anymore.

This is the first time I’ve thought about blending families from this perspective.

Now, I’m wondering who has it worse: the mother or daughter in law. The daughter in law is coming into a new family and has to navigate her way through a relationship with her mother in law. The mother in law has to step back and watch a new woman come into her baby boy’s life. Her relationship with her son changes and she has to navigate her way through both relationships.It’s easy to look at this stage in life and blame the mother in law for everything that goes sideways. That all changes the moment you look into your little boy’s eyes and he asks you if you will marry you one day.

Then you realize you will be the mother in law one day.

After my little three year old proposed to me, I had to explain to him he will fall in love with a girl one day and marry her. Do you know what he told me? He said I love you, mama, can I marry you?Yes. Yes, you can.Here are a few reasons you should remember how great your mother in law is...

She raised the man you fell in love with.

This woman raised the man you love. She taught him his first words, how to read, how to boil a pan of water, how to speak to women, and how to be a respectful man.

She handled all of the difficult years so you could reap the benefits.

She dealt with the endless teething nights, temper tantrum toddlerhood, and rebellious teenager years. Her consistency and hard work paved the way so you could have the sweet and gentle man he is today.

She trained him to treat you like a queen.

It’s because of her that he treats you so well. She taught him how to treat women by being a good example. He loved her and she taught him how to show her love by respecting her, loving her, and taking care of her.This woman is the reason you have this man you love. Take a second to realize how blessed you are to have your mother in law. You wouldn’t be where you are without her.

Share one story about you and your mother in law!

The First Lie I Ever Told My In-Laws

There were quite a few scary and intimidating moments I had encountered while dating my boyfriend at the time. I knew I was falling hard for Joel, but it was all so new to me. I was young and he was my first serious relationship. As you all know, serious relationships come with a lot of intimidating experiences.One of the scariest is meeting that family for the first time. You want them to love you right away, but instead of going into it with a cool head, your mind plays tricks on you.Would I say the right thing? What would their first impression of me be? Would they like me? Would I survive the night?Some of you have heard bits of this story before. I met my in-laws for the first time in Texas. Cali-Mama (my husband's uncle) lived there and was eager to host Thanksgiving. Their family looked forward to the holidays every year because it meant everyone would come together and soak up as much time with each other as they could.This year was special because Joel invited me along. In his mind, he figured everyone was together so what better time to introduce my girlfriend.I was excited to meet these people Joel had spent so much time talking about but secretly terrified. There are so many people in my husband's immediate family which meant I had a lot of people to convince. To convince that we were a great couple and that I was in it for the long run.Luckily, I was able to transition into the house with ease. We had arrived early so there were only a few people there. Joel's two uncles picked us up from the airport. We quickly hopped into the back seat and I noticed there was a car seat. We sat on either side of it and his uncle (granted his white uncle who is also in an interracial marriage) told me it was there on purpose to keep us apart. I started to laugh and he didn't.... I quickly learned his sense of humor and picked up on the fact that he liked teasing and messing with me. It truly helped take the edge off.The next few days, he proceeded to give me a few pointers and tell me how it was for him coming into the family almost a decade before.He and his wife had one of the first interracial marriages in their family and truly broke the mold for the rest of us. It was a bigger struggle for them because everyone was trying to figure out what it would look like.Would they follow all of the Indian traditions? Would they need to behave like an Indian couple?Luckily for us, they walked through the fire so we didn't have to. Nevertheless, hearing all of his stories made me even more nervous about meeting Joel's mom. I wanted so desperately for her to like me.I’ll never forget the night I met Joel’s mom. Joel decided to be a good son and terrible boyfriend by picking his mom up from the airport. He was a great son because what mom doesn’t want to be picked up from their son who they haven’t seen in a while. Don’t forget the terrible boyfriend part. I was about to meet his mom and what does he do?LEAVES ME ALONE. I ended up pacing the living room the entire time. An hour later, I heard the garage door open.What was I thinking? I can just leave. Walk home. Maybe they won’t notice. Or I can hide.Joel’s sister came in first and she was so sweet and calmed me down so much when she gave me a big hug. Okay, a nice sister. I can do this.Then Joel’s mom came in. She was quiet, slowly walking towards me. I’m sure she was checking me out thinking who in the world is this girl dating my son.She gave me a hug and walked into the kitchen. She then proceeded by asking me what kind of food I cooked. Apparently, Joel told her I made casseroles. Thanks, Joel. First of all, I have NEVER made him a casserole. Ever. What was I supposed to say? I was twenty and barely knew how to cook. So, I said I made casseroles.I couldn’t decide if she liked me the whole weekend! I second guessed every look and everything she said!I quickly learned Joel’s mom’s sense of humor.. She has this quiet, sarcastic humor that is hilarious. However, if you don’t know her it freaks you out because you can’t tell if she’s serious! Now, we have a great relationship.She teases me about being white and I remind her that I’m more Indian than her son. She would never tell me, but I’ve heard through the grapevine that she’s told people I’m becoming more Indian! Two points for the almost Indian wife.Maybe one day you will be reading my new blog… The INDIAN Wife.

Simple Ways To Encourage A Strong Sibling Relationship

Simple Ways To Encourage A Strong Sibling Relationship

I always knew I wanted to have multiple kids. I loved growing up in a house with siblings. You always had someone to play with and an instant team to do anything with you!Even though we were enemies half the time, I look back and remember how we were there for each other through thick and thin. We could yell at each other, but the second anyone else attempted to, we were there within seconds.I look at my little boys now and know I want the same thing for them. I want them to be best friends that can make it through anything together. I know it's going to take a lot of time and effort to build that relationship, but it's worth it.Here are a few simple things you can do with your kids to help them have a strong relationship.

Encourage Your Kids To Be Each Other's Fan Club

It's easy for siblings to start comparing themselves to each other. They see how good their sibling is at something and wish they could be better. Stop this in it's tracks by encouraging your kids to cheer each other on rather than compare.When their sibling has a big game, go out as a family and cheer them on together. Make sure your kids know how important it is to be their siblings number one fan!

Don't Make Them Do Everything Together

As parents, we want to make things as easy as possible. In doing so, we tend to lump our kids in to the same activities. While it makes it easier for mom's carpooling, it isn't necessarily better for our kids. Our kids have different strengths, passions, and desires. We need to help them to find what it is that makes them happy.When we make our kids do every thing together, it fosters an environment for comparison. By allowing our kids to do different things, we're teaching them to take pride in their unique strengths and passions.

Encourage Them To Be A Protective Unna

One of the biggest lessons we teach our kids is to be a protective unna (big brother). As an older sibling, it's their responsibility to look out for them. This may mean making sure they don't get into too much trouble, standing up for them, or even pushing them to be the best little boys they can be.It may seem like a lot of pressure, but this looks different at every age. As little kids it may just mean helping each other out. As they get older, it will look different again.

Teach Them To Ask Each Other For Help

Often times, one of the last things you want to do is ask your sibling for help. Asking their sibling for help makes them vulnerable. It's vital for your kids to feel comfortable being vulnerable in front of each other.They can be each other's biggest allies in life. If they learn to ask each other for help when they're little, they're going to continue relying on each other as they get older.

Encourage Your Kids To Be Kind

Help your kids find opportunities through out their day to be kind to their siblings. It doesn't have to be a monumental gesture, it can be simple. Teach them to find moments to be selfless and do something to help their sibling.They can find their siblings coat, help them clean up a mess they didn't make, or give them a hug when their sad.

What do you do to help your kids have a strong relationship?

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Introducing A Babysitter To My Multiracial Family

Finding a new babysitter is always tricky. You ask around and find someone that has been recommended to you, and try them out for the night. Sometimes they just click with your kids and other times... not so much.My husband and I have experienced both situations with our kids.Last year we found our favorite babysitter! She was amazing and may kids instantly fell in love with her. My four year old even said that she was his girlfriend!

Introducing A Babysitter To My Multiracial Family

Part of the reason our family clicked with her immediately was that we made sure she was comfortable with some of the unique qualities of our multiracial family. For the most part, our family is just like any other. However, there are a few customs and traditions that make us stand out.I wanted to make sure she was aware of them and also felt comfortable in our home. Here are a few things we did that you should too!

Make Sure Your Babysitter Is Aware Of Some Of The Language

While my children aren't fluent in Telugu, they do use many words throughout their conversations. It's important to let your new babysitter know a few words they're going to hear your kids say.This situation came up for us after our first experience with a babysitter. We left for the evening and found out afterward our four years old was frustrated. He had been trying to ask for milk all evening, but the babysitter couldn't understand what he was asking for. She would go to the fridge, Levi would ask for palu, and she would bring back juice.I didn't think about the fact that my kids used Telugu words throughout their conversations. Most of the things they say are milk, water, talking about a runny nose, and family member's names.From then on, we made sure to explain different words our kids use frequently. We also explain that family names sound different in Indian culture.This helps to prepare your babysitter as well as making sure there aren't going to be any language barriers while you're away.

Teach Your Babysitter About Your Family's Customs

If your babysitter doesn't know your family well, they aren't going to be aware of some of your family's customs. It's important to teach them about daily customs your family has. Most parents walk their new babysitters through their daily routine and as a multiracial family, you have to walk them through your customs as well.In our family, some of our customs are eating Indian food with our hands, referring to elders with their title (Mrs., Miss, Mr., etc), and our oldest child gets to correct our kids because he's their unna.Prepare your babysitter for the customs they're going to see and encourage them to try out a few if they're comfortable. My kids love teaching their babysitters how to eat Indian food with their hands and it becomes the sweetest bonding moment between them.

Invite Your Babysitter To Spend An Afternoon With Your Family

The best way for your babysitter to get to know your family is to invite them over for an afternoon. Go to the park together or even play in the backyard.This allows your babysitter to see your family in action and to make sure they get time to play with your kids while you're home. It makes it more comfortable for everyone all around.

Answer Any Questions They May Have

After an afternoon together, sit down with your new babysitter and ask them if they have any questions. Being introduced to a new culture can feel uncomfortable to some people. Most of that feeling is fueled by ignorance. They don't know enough about your culture to feel at ease.Make sure they know they can ask you anything. This breaks down any cultural barriers that may be there as well as making sure you're they are comfortable with your kids.

What do you do when introducing a babysitter to your multiracial family?

How To Simplify Your Children's Bedtime Routine

Simplify your children's bedtime routine with a few simple steps! Then you can spice up your evenings with a free Game Story printable!

Early on our bedtime routine was simple, but always something I looked forward to. My babies would nurse and then cuddle me in bed. I loved how something so simple could be so special. As my babies got older, our bedtime routine changed.Some nights, it was just about putting our kids to bed so my husband and I could sit down after a long day. Other nights, it lasted twice as long as normal because we were having so much fun spending quality time with them.As my husband's travel schedule is picking back up, we're trying to be intentional with a consistent bedtime routine. It's not always perfect, in fact it rarely is. However, we've been able to keep most of it the same.

Our bedtime routine.

6:30 Turn off any shows the kids may be watching and send them upstairs to get ready for bed. While the big kids are brushing teeth and getting on their jammies I start getting my  youngest ready. After he's cozy and ready I lather him up in lavender and coconut oil. I just started doing this with all of my kids before bed and it's been a game changer. It helps them all to calm down and has been helping my oldest with his bad dreams.

7:00 My youngest gets smothered in kisses, we pray, and then he goes to bed. He's the easiest to put down to sleep because he loves bed time. I kid you not, he actually loves it. All you have to do is tell him it's bed time, he gets his blankey, and starts to climb upstairs.

Then I go to my big kids room only to find my older kids not ready for bed yet. It doesn't matter that I asked them to get ready. They tend to be playing hide and seek or jumping on their beds (trying to stay away from the lava.) I remind them, for the countless time to get ready for bed. After a bit of help, they get ready and race into their room.

7:30 This is my kids favorite part of the night. Game story. We all pile into one of our kids beds and get our creative juices flowing. Everyone starts to jump in saying who gets to start the story. It usually ends up being my husband or myself.

Game story rules: Each person gets to tell a small portion of the story. After someone takes their turn, the next person will start off where they stopped.

Game story has become a family tradition in our house. We even include any houseguests we may have. 

8:00 We tuck the kids in bed, give them kisses, turn on their clock night light, and close their door.

8:02 The kids ask for a drink of water.

8:03 The kids ask for another drink of water.

Our Bedtime Routine Essentials

Blanket / Coconut Oil / Kid's Clock / Game Story Printable

What does your bed time routine look like?

The King Of The Wild Things

The King of the wild things.

Over the years, I've begun to develop an interesting relationship with birthdays. On one hand you're celebrating all the accomplishments someone has had throughout the year. It's a time to encourage that person and let them know how much you care. On the other hand it means you're getting older and as a parent it can mean your little baby is one year older.A little more independent.One year more grown up.One year closer to not needing mommy and daddy as much.Oh boy. When did I become such a sap!? I sat there staring at my little Lucas all day yesterday asking myself where the time has gone. Yes, I became that parent. I fully admit it and I know I'll be in the same mood, asking myself the same question on every birthday my kids have in the future.My husband and I have gone through so much with our little boy over this last year and look at him! You'd never guess! He is one of the bravest and strongest little two year olds I know which is why his birthday theme was easy to choose.He's my little wild thing.

Where The Wild Things Are

Every night my kids and I have the same routine. I tuck them into bed, kiss them, tell them just how much I love them, and then we have an adventure. We choose one of our favorite books and go off into a different land in our imaginations. Lately, it's been the same adventure over and over again. Not that my kids mind at all. They find new things to think about and their obsession for this book grows deeper with each page.

Where The Wild Things Are.

I loved this book when it fist came out, but as a mom it's pure gold. I have three little wild things of my own and I love reading it to them. The relationship between the mom and the little boy is beautiful. The little boy runs wild throughout the beginning of the book and ends up taking it to far with his mom. She sends him to bed without his dinner and he becomes angry.He gets so angry that his room turns into a jungle and he ventures off to the land of the wild things and he becomes their king. He gets to be as wild as his heart desires and realizes it's not enough. He gets lonely and wants to go back home. He decides he's done living with the wild things and ventures back home. When he gets back to his room he's reminded just how much his momma loves him with a warm bowl of soup.The mom was angry with her son too, but at the end of the day she couldn't let him go to bed without a full belly and she wanted to show him how loved he was.There are so many times I get frustrated with my own wild things, but at the end of the day their mine. I love their wild antics and their imaginations. Especially my little two year old's imagination. Everything is so much more unique to him. He finds something fun and beautiful about everything he sees.

Our Wild Birthday Party

Yesterday, we celebrated Lucas's 2nd birthday and turned our home into the land of the wild things!I was just as excited as my boys were to come up with fun decorations for the party and see where our imaginations could take us. The piece I was most eager about was the cake. Growing up, I remember my aunt making the most adorable cakes! She even passed her skill onto her kids. I had no idea how hard it could be until I tried making my first cake!Thankfully I've learned a few things through trial and error. I want my kids to remember my cakes as they grow up and be able to say...My mom makes the best cakes! I was up to the task for Lucas's party this week! After a lot of brainstorming and scouring Pinterest for inspiration, I came up with the perfect idea.

The cake was surprisingly easy to make! Here are a few steps if you'd like to recreate it for your own wild thing.

Chocolate Curls (Tree Bark)

Combine 1 bag of chocolate chips and 1 TBS coconut oil in a microwave safe bowl. Put the bowl in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time and stir. Continue until your chocolate is completely melted.Spread the melted chocolate on a piece of parchment paper. Make sure the chocolate is spread evenly. Then roll up your parchment paper and put it in the fridge until it's cooled. When the chocolate hardens unroll it and voila. You have chocolate curls.

Assembling The Cake

Assemble your cake and ice it with chocolate frosting. Cover the outside of the cake with your chocolate curls. When the cake is covered with chocolate curls, dust it with cocoa powder.Cover the top with graham cracker crumbs. I added a bit of green food coloring to make it look like moss.

Where The Wild Things Are Party Snacks

Add a few outdoors-ey themed party snacks and your party is complete. These little smores on a stick were my favorite.  

3 Things To Keep In Mind For Christmas With Little Ones

The Worst Part Of Family Vacations

We are officially home!We survived our flight with three little boys and they did great! They love flying and usually don't mind a day at the airport. This trip was a little different because they were so sad to leave my husband's side of the family! It's always the worst part of visiting family... The leaving part.The only way our boys were willing to leave their house was after promising we would Facetime every day. Thank God for technology! It makes it so nice when you miss family that lives far away.They're also extremely excited because we're only home for a few days and then we're off to see my family! Even more cousins, aunts, uncles, and a Harley riding grandpa to spoil them rotten!Since we only have a few days home we thought we'd relax on the couch and do nothing... If only!Now, we're racing around to get ready for baby Luke's 2nd birthday party, dealing with the poor little guy's ear infection, and packing for our next trip! Oh, and how could I forget decorating for Christmas!

Spreading Christmas Cheer!

One of my favorite things to put up this year is our fluffy fake snow! After moving to the Midwest I've developed a strange relationship with the snow. There's just so much here! It's not like the movies! You get snowed in, you do everything in your power to stay inside, and you try to stay under your blanket all day!Luckily my fluffy fake snow is cute and festive without the freezing temperatures!

Passing Down Christmas Traditions

How could I forget my new little nativity scene!Growing up, I counted down the days until my mom would bring out her nativity scene. She would lay down her fluffy snow and set up the whole village. One by one my brother and I would watch her set up each house and then she'd get to the stable. The best part of the whole village! It lit up and reminded us what the whole nativity scene was about.My husband knows how important my mom's nativity scene has always been to my siblings and I, but we've been worried about the kids. Nativity scenes can be pricey and I've never liked to stress about decorations. I'd rather enjoy the season than worry about my kid's touching everything.This is exactly why our tree is filled with felt ornaments, all of our decorations can be played with, and it's all about fun rather than "off limits."Then I found this! I was walking up and down the festive Target aisles, like I would do every day if I could, and found this gem! It's the perfect nativity scene for this stage in our family. The kids can play with it and we can talk about the message rather than telling them they can't play with it.I'd show you the rest of our decorations, but we just got home from vacation and the house is less than impressive!

3 Things To Keep In Mind For Christmas With Little Ones

Having three little boys under 6 has definitely taught me something. Over the years we've figured out a few things that have helped us to enjoy our holidays more!

Avoid The Breakables.

As your kids get older you can upgrade your decorations. While they're little, stick to non-breakables when you can. Look for felt ornaments and decorations that won't break if they're dropped or knocked over. It's going to relieve some of your stress and the kids won't have to worry about what they can and can't touch.

How Can The Kids Get Involved?

One of the reasons kids start touching everything is that it's all novel! They don't see these things every day and just want to play and have fun! One thing we've done over the years is get the kid's their own decorations. We have a little box and it's full of their Christmas decorations! They love it because we let them decorate however they choose. They even have their own little tree!Create your own kid's Christmas box this year! Take the kids to the store and let them pick and choose what to put inside. You can add to it each year!

Enjoy The Christmas Season!

Christmas is about so much more than the stress that can come along with it. To quote a very inspirational person..."The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear."Don't put too much on your plate and try to remember to have fun! Take time to just walk around your neighborhood with hot cocoa in hand and look at the Christmas lights. Find simple ways your family can enjoy the holiday season without all the stress.A few of our favorites are holiday movie nights, decorating pre-made sugar cookies, and listening to Christmas music all day!

What's your favorite Christmas tradition with your family?

#AD Surviving Winter With A Winter Toolkit

I have received information and materials from Johnson & Johnson Consumer, Inc., McNeil Consumer Healthcare Division. The opinions stated are my own. This is a sponsored post. This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #WinOverWinter #CollectiveBias)

Stand Up Against Winter This Year

Growing up, I hardly got sick. When I did it was always kind of nice. I'd get one of those down in bed colds and my mom would take care of me all day. She would make me hot soup, tea, and watch Gilmore Girls all day.

Seriously, what could be better than a sick day at home in your own bed!

Now that I'm a mom and have kids of my own I'm realizing it's a whole different ball game! A sick child in my own home is a different story all together. It means trying to do everything in my momma powers to prevent my other kids from catching their siblings illness, but knowing they'll just pass it around anyways.

As a parent, having a sick child can be exhausting! You end up awake in the middle of the night taking care of them, doing everything for them, and it can take a toll on your body.

Stand Up To Winter With Our Winter Toolkit And A Few Family Tips

If you're not careful, the winter season can be taken over by illnesses, aches, and pains! Don't let it ruin your winter plans and be sure to follow our family tips!

Rest

The winter season can end up getting extremely busy. It's full of vacations, family visits, the Holidays, and so much more. One big reason families end up down during the holidays is a lack of rest. When you're not sleeping well, your immune system isn't as strong as it needs to be to fight everything around. Not to mention your body starts feeling all the little aches and pains! Be sure to rest up over the holidays!

Wash Your Hands Frequently

Hand washing is a good routine to have all year long, but make sure your family amps it up over the winter season. Have everyone wash their hands after they get home, before they eat, and anytime they touch your mouth. It will help to prevent anyone from sharing germs and hopefully prevent them from getting sick!

Build Your Own Winter Toolkit

Every year we build a winter toolkit. It has changed over the years to fit our families needs, much like yours will. It's helped us so much because we always have the essentials on hand. Whether you're trying to make sure you're ready to take care of any family members that fall under the weather or for loved ones that come and visit over the holidays.This year our winter toolkit contains tissues with essential oils, disinfectant wipes, immunity tablets, epson salt, tea, and Ultra Strength BENGAY®. Our winter toolkit helps prevent winter illnesses as well as takes care of any aches and pains mom and dad may have.My husband and I have already broken into the Ultra Strength BENGAY® this year. Whether it be from a long day of yard work or a busy day with the kids Ultra Strength BENGAY® always hits the spot. It gets down into the muscles and gets rid of those aches and pains! It gives mom and dad a little pampering at the end of the day just like they need!

Make Your Own Winter Toolkit Today

Make your own winter toolkit today by heading to Target and pick up everything you may need! Don't forget to add in Ultra Strength BENGAY®. It helps with any aches and pains you may have due to taking care of sick kids or staying up all night wrapping presents! It will end up being your favorite thing in your winter toolkit!

What are you going to add into your winter toolkit this year?

How To Stay Sane Over The Holidays

 

The holiday season has always been a busy time for families. Last year our family learned just how crazy it could get. Between the months of October and December we have 2 birthdays and 3 major holidays. It may not seem like too much, but keep in mind all five of these events require planning, some of them mean traveling, making elaborate meals, and parties.I feel like we're planning and hosting a part every other week! 

10 Ways To Stay Sane Over The Holidays

This year my husband and I have decided to keep things simple. We want to let go of all the holiday stress and just enjoy it.

Give Group Gifts

When you're giving presents to different families, you can end up getting dozens of gifts for all the family members. Try to think bigger this year and give group gifts rather than all individual ones.

Don't Overextend Yourself

It's easy to overcommit to way too much over the holidays. You want everything to be perfect and take it all on yourself. Be sure to think about what your taking on. Is it possible with your schedule? Write it all out and decide on which tasks you can do yourself and what you can hand off to someone else.

Make A Holiday Budget

This is the perfect time to make a holiday budget. Think about any meals you may be hosting, if you have family planning to visit, presents, travel, etc. Make a realistic budget that you can try and stick to over the holidays.

Remember What It's All About

Sometimes we lose sight of what the holidays are about. We give in to the craziness and stress and forget. This year make sure you remember why you're doing it all.

Be Sure To Rest

The only way you will be able to get everything on your to do list accomplished is by taking care of yourself first. If you're only focusing on those around you and forget to rest you'll end up getting sick. Be your best this year by resting when you can.

Buy Presents Early

Plan out your gifts and purchase them early this year! If your kids are anything like mine, they already have their Christmas lists going. Take a look at the lists and buy something from it every pay check. This helps to spread it out and means you're not doing it all last minute!

Be Thankful

Take time every day to think about what you're thankful for this year. It's going to help you prioritize because you'll be thinking about what actually matters.

Take Time For Yourself

In addition to resting, take time for yourself this busy season. Find time to go out with a friend or go and get a delicious pumpkin spiced latte. Don't get so busy that you only think about those around you for the next few months.

Stay In The Moment

During the holidays a lot of us think about what's next. Instead of just focusing on the holiday at hand, we get lost in planning for the next one. Stay in the moment this year and relish in the holiday traditions, your kids, your family, and you'll be making memories that last.

Take A Deep Breath

At the end of the day, things will get crazy. Things may not go the way you planned, but it's ok. Take a deep breath and remember that no one is looking for a perfect holiday. They just want time with the people they love.

Incredibundles Is Just What You Need To Simplify The Holidays

Today I'm partnering with Incredibundles to make your holidays a little easier. They've done so much of the work for you and just want to help you find the best gifts for the littles ones in your life.Whether you're looking for a group gift for a family, a gift for a new dad in your life, or you're prepping for your holiday gifts early Incredibundles is for you!We got our first bundle last week and our kids loved it! We created our own and included age appropriate gifts for all of them! I love how many options they! They have year long subscriptions, one time bundles, essentials, and so much more!

What Does Incredibundles Offer?

First Time Daddy BundleOne Year Subscriptions (Books, Diapers, or Toys)Create Your Own BundlesLearn and Grow BundlesSleep BundlesBath Bundles

Incredibundles is giving away a free bundle! You can use this as a gift for the holidays, to spoil your kids early, or just something fun for a little one in your life! Be sure to enter in to win your own Incredibundle!

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Multicultural Corner: Raising Global Citizens

My husband and I made the decision to homeschool our kids for so many different reasons. We both loved the idea of having flexibility to fit around my husband work schedule, the ability we would have to teach them the way they learned best, and the fact that we could choose their curriculum.Since we've started we've been able to do studies on butterflies, nature, and the ocean. I love seeing how excited my kids get when we start a new study. They want to soak everything in and they always have so many questions. My favorite part about homeschooling has been our discussions!We cozy up on the couch and talk about our study for the month. Often times it goes off on tangents where we daydream actually experiencing what we're learning about. Which of course leads to giggles and silly kids.I will always cherish these conversations with my kids. I do everything I can to teach my children that I'm there for them. I want them to know they can talk to me about anything. This is why there are no silly questions in our house. I'll be teaching the kids about butterflies and my three year old will ask me if he'll ever become a butterfly himself...I love it. I love their little questions.As a mother, it's my privilege to be able to teach them about the world and everything inside of it.[tweetthis display_mode="button_link"]As a mother it's my privilege to be able to teach them about the world and everything inside of it. #aiwtribe[/tweetthis]

Our Very Own Multicultural Corner

Last month, I sat down and tried to brainstorm different ideas on how I could get my kids excited about our diverse world. I want them not only to be raised as biracial children loving two cultures, but as global citizens who love the whole world.Then it came to me. Multicultural corner. Every month we're going to focus on a new multicultural resource. The goal of this is to get our kids excited about the world and to learn more about different cultures.Along with our multicultural resource we're going to do hands on activities, prepare delicious food, and share what we learn together.

Mixed Me

This book has been an amazing addition to our little library. It does a wonderful job of teaching kids the beauty in their biracial identity. There aren't many books out there that discuss multicultural families and Tay Diggs has taken his own experiences in teaching his son and has given us a great resource.Mixed Me walks us through the life of Mike. He is a little boy trying to figure out his biracial identity. Throughout the book he asks questions about his parents and himself. He wants to understand how he can be a blend of both of them when he looks so different.While my kids and I read this book I could see the excitement in their faces. My oldest son instantly felt a connection between the Mike and himself."Momma, he's like me!"

How You Can Join Multicultural Corner With Your Kids

Whether you're homeschooling your kids or you just want to create opportunities to encourage them to learn about the world around them, join us each month for multicultural corner! We will post new activities and ways for your family to join us!This month, we're starting off by talking about biracial identities. Pick up your own copy of Mixed Me from the library or get your own. We can't wait to hear the conversations it gets going with your family.

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The Legacy My Husband Is Leaving For His Kids

The Legacy My Husband Is Leaving For His Kids

Today is my husband's birthday and we're spending it celebrating him and everything he is to our family. He woke up this morning to three anxious little boys and homemade birthday cards! My boys love their daddy to the moon and back and couldn't wait to wake him up with birthday wishes!Being a dad is hard work. You're always trying to figure out how to be exactly what your kids need. You want to make sure you're being a great example while also inspiring them to be world changers.It's a lot to carry on your shoulders.Through it all, my husband is leaving a legacy for his children. This legacy is going to teach them what it means to be young men, a dad, and a husband.

3 Lessons My Husband's Legacy Will Teach Our Children

How To Take Care Of Your Family

I talk a lot on the blog about my traveling husband. He's gone frequently throughout the year for work, but what you may not know is that it's hard. Part of the traveling is fun and exciting. He's been able to experience so much because of his job, but he also has to miss out on a lot.However, his kids know how hard he works for them. He even books his tickets so he gets back in the middle of the night so we all get to wake up with him in the morning.My husband is always taking care of us. He works hard to provide for us and always makes sure we're taken care of.

What It Means To Be Vulnerable

As a man and father, you want to teach your kids to be strong. My husband has taught his kids to be strong, but more importantly he's taught them how to be vulnerable.My husband has shown my kids what it means to be imperfect. They know they don't have to do anything to prove themselves to him. All he wants is for them to be real and honest with him.If they're feeling scared, he holds them.If they're feeling discouraged, he empowers them.He's done this by being vulnerable with them. He's the first one to let them know if he's feeling down discouraged. This not only brings them closer together as father and son but will help them as they grow into the men they're becoming.They'll bring this vulnerability into their friendships and even their future marriages.

How To Love Their Future Wife

My husband and I got married when we were really young. We've grown up together over the last seven years. Our marriage has been anything but perfect. We've had our struggles and out triumphs. Throughout it all, he's always loved me.My boys have been able to be blessed with parents that truly love each other. They've never had to worry if we're going to stay together because even while we're fighting, they know we love each other.My husband has shown my kids what it means to truly love their future wife. Love is a feeling and choice. My sons have seen my husband love me through every season without fail.They've seen him love me, even when I'm being crazy.They've seen him love me in the midst of scary times.I know they've seen it because it even affects how they love me, their mom.

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My husband has truly changed our family. He's loved us without fail every day, he's chosen to be vulnerable with us, he's always taken care of us, and he's the reason our kids will grow up to be amazing fathers.

Let's take a moment to celebrate the fathers in your life. Remind them how much they mean to you and what they've done for your family.

How Purging Toys Has Made My Kids Closer

Our Massive Purge!

I recently went through our home and did a massive purge. I've wanted to do one for a while, but continued to put it off. I'd get rid of a few things here or there, only to replace it with something else.Then I finally did it. I spent an entire weekend going through our clothes and toys. I ended up donating 10 bags to Goodwill.... I didn't even know we had accumulated so many things. Granted some of it was clothes the kids no longer fit into, but there were so many toys.Do you want to know the kicker?My kids haven't even noticed...I spent so much time trying to find toys that would help them to stay entertained, teach them important skills, and to play with their brothers that I went a little overboard.Our purge has been amazing. I spend half the time cleaning up after they're done playing and the most important thing is their imagination has exploded! Instead of dumping out all of their toys and playing with one for five minutes they grab a few and go outside!We've been extremely blessed this year with a park in walking distance from our house. Right next to the park is a fun wooded "fort." My boys have been all about it!Now that we've gone through and donated a huge chunk of our toys, they've wanted to go to the park every day. As soon as we get there, they run to their fort. I tried following them in today but was rudely denied by a five-year-old Iron Man.I still snuck in to snap pictures of them playing together! I love seeing how close they're getting.Having three little boys under six has been crazy at times, but I remind myself we did it for a reason. I wanted my kids close together because I wanted them to be best friends. Now, it's actually happening. They love spending time together.Yet another thing I've seen after getting rid of so many toys is that they play together more. Before, they'd all get their toys and play alone. Now, they find each other and play together!Ok, we're almost there. This little one got kicked out of the fort for throwing dirt at his big brothers. This was his response when I asked if he was throwing things at them.He's got no shame.Try it for yourself and purge some of your kid's toys! You'll be amazed at the results!

10 Things Every Dog Lover Should Do This Summer

This post is sponsored by Evite. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Meet Bella, our beautiful freckled tongue dog. She was adopted into our family shortly after my husband and I were married and has been one of our best friends ever since. She's officially turned us into dog lovers!I've always loved dogs, but adopting one pushed my love into over drive. We got her when she was about 6 months old from a shelter. A few months later, we ended up welcoming our first little boy. Our dog went from our family pet, to our family protector. She was always looking out for our little boy. If he would cry she would even start barking and push us into the room!Five years and three kids later our dog has become the family dragon (when the kids decide she's no longer a dog), protector, best friend, comforter, and family member. Needless to say, we love our dog!

10 Things Every Dog Lover Needs To Do This Summer

Head Over To Your Local Doggy Park

Check out your local doggy park and bring the whole family! Your dog will meet new friends and get a change to socialize. By socializing your dog you help promote good behaviors by providing them with the opportunity for other dogs to show and remind them what to do. Dogs with good social skills also tend to be better trained and better family dogs overall.

Go On A Family Vacation

Book a pet friendly hotel or go camping with the family. Then you can bring your dog and enjoy your vacation together! Hotels are becoming more pet friendly over the years and encourage you to bring your pets along!

Throw A Pet Themed Party

Throw a pet pawty and invite your friends like we did! We decided to throw our son a Paw Patrol party for his third birthday and it was a hit! The evening was full of pet themed snacks, silly animal music, delicious Paw Patrol cake, and paw print decorations!

Doggy Friend Meet Up At The Park

Invite your friend's puppy pal along on your next play date at the park! Most parks are designed to bring your animals as long as their on a leash and you clean up after them. Kids look for our pup at our local park and run over when they see her!

Teach Your Dog A New Trick

Teach your dog a new trick this summer! Our kids decided to teach our dog the "vacuum trick." The whole week our kids decided to purposely drop things on the floor so our dog would come and eat it. Our kids thought it was amazing and our dog loved being spoiled with treats.

Go On A Family Walk After Dinner

Clean up dinner and then take the whole family for a walk around the neighborhood. It helps everyone get some exercise, gives you an opportunity to talk about your day, and helps everyone wind down before bed.

Adopt A New Family Friend

Head over to your local animal shelter and adopt a new friend! There are so many dogs looking for a loving home like yours! Afterwards you can even throw your pup an adoption party! Invite all of your friends and their pups to celebrate your new family member.

Set Your Dog Up On A Doggy Date

Do you have a friend with her ow doggy friend? If so, plan out a fun doggy date. You can invite them to go to a local hiking trail, meet at a dog park, or even a regular park. It helps your dog get out of the house and helps socialize them even more!

Set Up A Doggy Water Station

On our recent walk around our neighborhood we saw this! A little girl decided to set up a dog water station. We caught her while she was filling up the water bucket. She put out a little sign and reminded families to keep their pups hydrated while on walks! Set one up and invite the dogs around the neighborhood.

Host Your Very Own Pet Olympics

This final tip is for the ultimate dog lover! Are you up for the challenge? Invite all of your friends and their pups to their first dog olympics! Set up an obstacle course, make a fun little award, and getting the party started!

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#PawtyPeople Photo Contest

Is your pet a pawty animal? Prove it! Enter our #PawtyPeople Photo Competition. To enter for a chance to win, just follow these steps:1. UPLOAD a photo of your pet being a summer pawty animal to our contest form or yourfavorite social media platform by 7/25. Make sure to use #PawtyPeople so your entry can becounted!2. SHARE your photo submission like crazy with all your friends so they can help vote starting7/26!3. VOTE every day from 7/26 to 8/11 to increase your chances of winning! *Limit one vote per person, per entry daily. Submission period ends 11:59:59 PM EST on July25, 2016. Voting period ends 11:59:59 PM EST on August 11, 2016.

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My Multicultural Family: What I've Learned From My Traveling Spouse

While most families are packing up to head out of town for the summer, my family is getting ready for some epic staycations! My husband, Joel travels for work and summers tend to be one of his busiest times of the year for him.As I'm sure you can already imagine, having a traveling spouse is hard. I'd love to say I handle it all perfectly and that things run smoothly while he's gone... but no. That's definitely not the case. Instead the dishes pile up, the house gets cluttered, clean clothes end up in my closet full of other clean clothes (not folded, but piled nicely in the corner), dinner consists of chicken nuggets or cereal, and bed time is strictly at 7 every night so momma can get a break.It's not all bad.

Having a traveling spouse has taught me a lot.

It's taught me to be more comfortable with myself.

My husband and I got married when we were really young. I was only twenty! The reason I will never forget how old I was is that we went on a cruise to the Bahamas and I was so excited there wasn't a drinking age there!Ahh, the little things that bring us pleasure.I quickly learned to depend on my husband. He's an amazing man and has always taken care of our family, even when that consisted of the two of us. I have always been more comfortable with him by my side. It was really hard when he started traveling because I just wanted to stay home. I didn't want to go to events or get togethers with out him. I felt uncomfortable being alone.Then I realized how wrong that was. I didn't want to be so dependent on my spouse that I couldn't do things without him. He was always encouraging me to go and one day I finally listened. Sure, it was uncomfortable at first, but then I gained a new sense of pride and independence.My husband will always bring out the best in me, but that doesn't mean I'm not my best when he's not there. I will always be me whether he's there or not. Having him travel so much has taught me to challenge and love myself more.

It's ok to not be supermom every day.

While my husband is away for work I'm doing a lot. I have to help my three year old cope with daddy being gone (he struggles the most), take care of the house, take care of the dog, do everything needed to be done for the kids, make three meals a day, keep everything organized, fix broken things around the house, take on things my husband normally does, try to live frugally while he's away, and try to find time for myself.Doing it all isn't just hard, it's impossible.I've tried. I've tried doing everything at 100 percent and I broke down. I felt like a failure because I could barely get things done and the things I did do weren't done well. Then a very wise friend asked me a very wise question.Why are you trying to be supermom?I wanted to do everything perfectly and let everyone know I could do it. I could be an amazing mom while my husband was away and I didn't need help from anyone. Instead I found out just how much my family was suffering from my own pride.No one expected me to do everything. No one expected everything to be perfect. It was me. I was the one that wanted to do it all.My family became so much healthier when I stopped trying to be supermom. Now, I'm honest when I can't do something. I spend every morning looking at my to do list and ask myself what actually needs to get done today.This has lead to a closet full of unfolded clean clothes, chicken nuggets for dinner more often than not, sticking closer to the house to avoid getting everyone ready, and me asking for a lot of help. Guess what... It's also made for a much happier family.Now, my family talks about how to make things easier while daddy is away. We've landed on chore charts for the kids, snack boxes so snacks are figured out ahead of time, simple schedules, and mommy time.

All my kids really want is for momma to make time for them

My kids really don't care if I fill up our days with crazy adventures, perfectly clean houses, extravagant meals, and that I do it all on my own. All they really want is quality time. They would rather me make more time for them than to spend more time cleaning or stressing out about things around then house.My husband has talked to them a lot about how much faster things go when everyone contributes. Now, we make it a big game at night. We spend fifteen minutes and see who can clean up the most. Then we have more time to read books together and chat about our day.It's crazy how long it took for me to realize this. It helps me give myself a break on the hard days. All my kids really want is me.

Does your spouse travel? What has it taught you?

Indian Donuts

Our little guy's birthday is here! We were racking our brains trying to decide what theme we should choose. The pictures taken at a child's birthday live on forever. You will show your children as they get older and if you're not careful you'll end up getting the look. You know what I'm talking about. The look that means, "You seriously chose that theme for my birthday. Wow, mom. Lame."I choose to live as the greatest mom ever and to never get that look from my kids. My husband tells me it's inevitable, but I disagree.One theme you can never go wrong with is Bollywood! We decided to have the kids dress up in their Indian clothes, made Indian food, and decorated everything with bright colors. It was perfect because my husband's family was in town and helped with everything!

Food For The Party

We ended up making Keema Curry, Naan, Samosas, Chutney, and Indian Donuts. Everything flew off the platters, but the thing everyone talked about all night were the Indian donuts. They were a hit!The recipe is thanks to my husband’s uncle, Cali-mama. A little special tidbit on family members names is that names are very meaningful. In our American families, we would call our aunts, Aunt so and so. In Indian families you use part of their name and then pinni, which means little mom. I am really only familiar with the mothers side because I’m around my husband’s mom’s side, mostly. Family members are extremely close in Indian families hence why aunts and uncles are called little moms and little dads. My husbands uncle’s name is Calvin so we call him Cali-mama.Let’s all say a special thanks to Cali-mama for this delicious recipe!

Indian Donuts

Ingredients:

4 cups flour1/2 cup plain yogurt2 cups powdered sugar2 eggs1 ½ tbs butter1 tbs vanilla¼ tsp saltoil for frying

Directions:

Beat the eggs. Add in your yogurt, salt, butter, vanilla, and powdered sugar. Make sure all of your ingredients are mixed well. If you’re like me, you can add in some extra vanilla. I always figure everything’s better with an extra splash of vanilla.Start adding in your flour, a bit at a time, until your mixture becomes a dough. Add enough flour for your dough to not stick to the edges while mixing.Roll out your dough onto a floured surface to about an inch thick. I used a cup to cut out small circles, but feel free to use a cookie cutter or anything you have on hand.Heat your oil in a deep pan on medium high heat. You want your oil hot enough that it starts bubbling as soon as you drop your dough in.  *If it’s too cool, your dough will soak up all the oil, but if it’s too hot your dough will burn.* Turn the donut when it’s a light golden brown. Place on a towel after it’s cooked to absorb the excess oil. You can serve them as is or add some yummy powdered sugar on top. Enjoy!

10 Tips For Great Family Pictures

The Perfect Family Picture

Getting the perfect family picture is similar to... seeing a shooting star, while riding a unicorn, during a snowstorm in July. It just doesn't happen.We recently got our family pictures taken by one of our family friends. He was incredibly patient and took over one hundred pictures. My husband and I were more than excited to sit down and look through them to find the family picture. We started looking for perfection and quickly realized our idea of perfect looks like has changed since we had kids.Prior to kids we look for perfect smiles, perfect poses, and perfect lighting.After kids, we look for the picture that represents our family best. A family picture isn't supposed to perfect. You want to be able to hang it up in your house and have a picture that truly represents every personality in your family. 

10 Tips For Great Family Pictures

Make sure your kids are well rested. 

Often times, photographers like to do sessions in the morning because the lighting is the best. While it works incredibly well for the photographer, kids may not be as happy. If your kids are like mine, they may take a while to wake up and a photography session will be the last thing they want to do.Be sure they have a good nights sleep and a good breakfast before hand. This is going to help them be in the best mood possible as well as have the energy they need throughout. 

Make it fun. 

The best part about taking a picture is that it captures a moment in your child's life. Make your photography session fun and capture real smiles, real giggles, and their wonderful personalities will shine through. 

Bring toys and books. 

Be sure to pack up a bag of toys and books. Your photographer is going to be taking multiple photos which means your child won't be in every one. If they're left to themselves for too long they're either going to get dirty or worse... get bored. Bored kids turn into cranky kids and cranky kids turn into full blown meltdown kids. Save yourself and keep them entertained the best you can. 

Don't be above bribery. 

Bribe. Your. Kids. It's as simple as that. Bring some goodies that you can bring in your times of need. If you start losing your kids to a bad attitude, bring out a piece of delicious candy! Another option is to plan something fun at the end. Remind them if they can finish the session well they can get A or B. 

Bring water and mess free snacks. 

Aside from the candy, be sure to bring snacks. One problem families run into is they bring snacks that make a mess. Then their outfits suffer. Bring mess free snacks like granola bars and water. They'll help if their bellies start to growl. 

Bring extra clothes. 

Life happens. There's no way you can prevent every mess out there. Especially, if your photography session is at a location other than your house. The best option is to bring everyone a second set of clothes for the "just in case."

Be flexible. 

You're going to go into your photography session with ideas. You've probably scoured pinterest boards and decided on great poses. However, you have to be open and flexible. When you get to the location you need to be open to what naturally happens. Trust in your photographer's judgment too. 

Comfort is key. 

Dressing up your kids in uncomfortable clothes is just asking for problems. Do your best to make them comfortable. Is their shirt as itchy as our boy's Indian clothes were? Put a comfortable shirt underneath it. 

Bring wet wipes. 

Messes will happen. Bring wet wipes and I can guarantee they're going to come in handy. 

Leave the cheese at home. 

One thing I've heard from many family photographers is how frustrating it is when parents yell "CHEESE" at their kids throughout the entire session. Instead, make them laugh! Remember to make it fun so you don't end up with dozens of pictures with fake smiles. 

Do you have any tips to share with us?

Be sure to Pin for later. 

Multicultural Round Up #2: Top Posts For Multicultural Families

This week's Multicultural Round Up is full of great posts from moms around the blogosphere. They're all sharing about their multicultural families and I know you'll love them as much as I do!

Top Posts For Multicultural Families

Image Credit: Vanessa from De Su Mama

6 Myths Of Interracial Marriages According To A Latina Wife

Vanessa from De Su Mama does an amazing job at identifying some of the common things people think about interracial marriages. One of the myths that stood out to me the most was #6 All Interracial Relationships Are The Same. Every relationship is different because we as couples are different. It's important to understand how different our relationships are so we don't start comparing them to each other. 

Image Credit: Stacy-Ann from Weather Anchor Mama

What You Should Know About Raising Biracial Children

I love this post by Stacy-Ann from Weather Anchor Mama. She talks about some of the key things multicultural families need to know, want to know, or are asking. She even has a great video at the end on some secret tips from her and her husband!

Image Credit: Mari from We Are That Familia

Parenting Biracial Children: 6 Tips From Moms Who Have Been There

This post is seriously amazing! It's a list of tips from moms with multicultural families. They all share advice and wisdom they've gained from years of raising multicultural children and being in intercultural relationships. 

Image Credit: Ellie From Musing Momma

Dealing with Questions & Curiosity as Parent in a Mixed Race Family

Ellie from Musing Momma has been one of my favorites for a while now. She is a psychologist and a mom with a multicultural family. The advice she gives is amazing and practical. This post is all about questions parents of multicultural children get and how to respond. 

Image Credit: David Martinez, Renee Loiz

16 Easy Ways To Raise A Bilingual Child

Pam does a great job over at Parents in giving us advice on how to raise bilingual children. Many multicultural families struggle to teach their children multiple languages because it can seem overwhelming. This post is full of fun and simple ideas!

Which one was your favorite multicultural post?

5 Steps For An Intercultural Relationship

Whether your brand new to your intercultural relationship of you've been around the block a few times, I have 5 steps for you. These steps will help you to get closer to your loved one, understand who they are, develop a plan to blend cultures, and make sure your improving where you can.Haven't you ever said to yourself, "If only I had a guide for all of this!?"Well, today I'm giving you that guide and I know you'll love it!

5 Steps For YOUR Intercultural Relationship

 

Get To Know Each Other

If you want to figure out how to blend cultures and start your family together, you need to know each other. Take time to get to know who you're together with. I don't just mean their favorite color and what they like to watch on tv.You need to understand their culture. Their culture has shaped who they are and the decisions they'll instinctively make. Ask them questions about how they grew up, what they value from their culture, what they've struggled with in their culture, etc. All of this will help you to understand each other.

Develop A Family Culture

Now, it's time to develop a family culture. When you and your loved one start your relationship, you're starting a family. It doesn't matter if you have kids or not, you're a family. When you start a family, you have to develop your own family culture and identity.The best part is this culture will be from both of you. You need to sit down and talk about what's important from both of your cultures and decide how you can bring them together in one family. The best part is you don't have to worry about making the absolute best plan ever!While making a plan is vital, you can change it up when you need to. The idea behind the plan is to know before hand what's important and you can be more intentional in bringing it into your family.

Communicate

The lines of communication need to be open at all times. As you get to know each other, you'll feel more comfortable talking and discussing how your relationship is doing. Conflict is natural and will come up through your relationship. It will come up when trying to figure out how to blend cultures, when dealing with culture shock, and pretty much any time during your relationship. It's normal.The most important thing is that you learn how to communicate with each other so you can learn how to use your conflict to get closer.You also need to be able to discuss how you feel about blending cultures. Are you comfortable with how the blending is happening? Do you feel like one culture is taking over? These are important things you need to talk about through out your relationship.

Re-evaluate

While the plan you develop may work great right now, you need to be prepared that it will change. You and your loved one have to constantly re-evaluate how your plan is working. If it's not working like you thought or you'd like something to change, tweak it.It's going to change naturally over time because the longer you're together, you'll notice you're both changing. You're growing together and getting closer and your circumstances may change as well.You should be scheduling time to talk about all of these things at least once a month.

Give Each Other Grace

Grace. Your relationship needs to be filled with grace. You are bound to mess up or hurt your loved one's feelings and the other way around. The biggest thing is to remember you need to give each other grace. Blending cultures takes time. Even if you're been together for years, you aren't mind readers and things just happen.All you can do is be sure to talk about it, let them know how you feel, and give each other grace. Let your loved one know they have room to mess up and you'll still love them.--Intercultural relationships are beautiful, but they take a lot of patience and grace for each other. I can promise you one thing, it's always worth it. The more you and your loved one work at your relationship, the better it will be.

My Favorite Intercultural Posts

One of my favorite things to talk about with all of you is intercultural relationships. My family and I have experienced things we never expected in the last six years. Our intercultural experiences have even taught all of you a few things. Here are a few of my top favorites! 12 Things Parents Of Mixed Race Kids HearPeople have no shame when it comes to asking strangers personal questions. They range from funny to I can't believe you just asked me that! Check out this post to hear some of the questions we've been asked and I'm sure you have been asked more than half!Can You Prevent A Dominant Culture From Taking Over In An Intercultural RelationshipWhen you fall in love with your loved one, blending cultures isn't something you think about right away. It comes later and then you have to figure out how to blend two distinct cultures. Sometimes it's easy, but it's usually something that requires a lot of work. It's common for one culture to dominate in a family if you're not careful. Here are a few things you can do to prevent that. Am I Racist Against My Own CultureAfter marrying my husband, I fell in love with Indian culture. It's vibrant, beautiful, and all about food and family. As I fall in love with it more, I've been accused of being racist against my own culture. I didn't realize my love for one culture would portray racism against my own. Culture Clash Wednesday #5 Personal SpaceIf you follow me on Instagram, you have all seen the pictures of my kids touching my face. I. Can't. Stand. It. It used to be adorable and heart warming. Now I get bloody noses because they sneak into my bed and slap me in the face in the middle of the night, trying to "cuddle" my face. If parenting has taught me anything, it's that I no longer have the right to personal space... 3 Signs You're In An Intercultural RelationshipDid you know you're in an intercultural relationship? Really, you are. You may not believe me, but after reading this post, you will see how true it is. There are three major signs that will guarantee you are in one. How To Survive A Relationship With Your Mother Or Daughter In LawOften times, we focus on how difficult our mother in laws can be, but have you ever thought about how it must be for them? As a mother of three boys, I can't even imagine how I will be when they bring girls home. Much less marry them! Read this post and try to put yourself in their shoes. Too White To Be Indian And Too Indian To Be WhiteAs a biracial adult and as a part of an intercultural marriage, I find myself being pulled in two different directions. On one hand, I am trying to appease Indian culture and traditions, but on the other I'm trying to appease a culture I grew up with. Can you relate to this? If so, this post is for you. 

Which post is your favorite?

Teaching Children About India With A FREE WORKBOOK

Recently, I was able to talk to the readers over at 5 Minutes For Mom and address a question a lot of you have asked me. Many of you want to share the world with your children, but the big question is how do I teach my children about different cultures. I shared 5 ways you can teach them. 

1. Try different dishes from around the world. 
2. Make sure their books show diversity. 
3. Listen to new music.
4. Make a craft with your kids.
5. Attend local events as a family. 

What Resources Can We Use To Teach Our Kids About Different Cultures?

Now, there are countless other ways you can do this as well. The biggest thing is that we need to be thinking about how we can do this. Teaching kids about different cultures is extremely important for kids to understand their own culture and identity. [tweetthis twitter_handles="@almstindianwife" display_mode="box"]The more kids learn about the world, the more comfortable they will be with who they are. [/tweetthis]My husband and I are constantly trying to find new ways to teach our children about Indian culture. They are blessed with two cultures in their lives and we want to make sure they are immersed in both. We teach our children through their stomachs and showing them different Indian customs.It doesn't matter if your children have multiple cultures in their lives or not, they all need to learn about the world. There are so many ways you can do it! The hard part is finding the resources to make it possible. Well, I've made it a little easier for you!

 

I've Made All Of You A FREE WORKBOOK To Teach Your Kids About India!

This free workbook is great for kids around 3-6 years old. It's full of hands on way to teach your children about India and I threw in some Telugu words too! All you have to do is print it out today!Find your free workbook by clicking here or on a picture above.