Big Kid Friendly School Lunch Ideas!
My oldest was extremely excited to start public school this year! He had been homeschooled the last few years and we decided to make a big change after we bought our house in the middle of the year. My sis year old looked at my husband and I and told us he was ready to start public school!Most of you know me pretty well by now... I'm extremely impulsive. I mean I even went to the pet store to get dog food and left with a puppy! Much to my husband's surprise!We're spur of the moment and it's definitely rubbed off on our son.We have been able to jump into the crazy life of school drop offs and packed lunches pretty well. I still belly ache every morning I have to wake up at 6 am and don't plan on stopping anytime soon! I think most parents still do that though so I'm okay with it.The tricky part has been school lunches. I figured uncrustables every day would make him happy, but I was wrong! Every idea I threw at my six year old was quickly shot down.Lunch meat sandwiches? No.Tortilla roll ups? No.Random crap that could constitute as lunch? No.Of course sleep deprived me got a little frustrated. When I finally nailed down what he actually did want, I found out he wanted leftovers and hot lunches sent with him to school every day. I went to the store that day and picked up a thermos to put in his lunch box.These things are crazy because they keep his lunch hot until lunch time! I made the mistake the first day of sending extra hot soup. I figured it would cool off by then and would be the perfect temperature. Nope. Instead, it was still just as piping hot as when I filled it up!Now that we've figured out the heat situation, onto the menu for the week!
Big Kid Approved School Lunches
Here is a list of big kid approved school lunches! My six year old loves these and would eat them every single week if he could! Warm them up the morning of school, throw it in a thermos, and they're ready to go!Chicken Kofta CurryChicken NuggetsChili and Tortilla ChipsKeema (Ground Meat Curry)Almond Chicken CurryGrilled Cheese SandwichSamosa Hand PiesMacaroni and CheeseSpaghettiPizza PocketsHot DogsEnglish Muffin Make Your Own PizzaSoupBeef StewChicken Wings
Thermos's are great because you can throw just about anything into it! Take a little bit from dinner or even take out and throw the lid on!My favorite is to throw in left over Indian food. I will either make extra over the weekend or whip up a big batch just for lunches on Sunday. Then we just fill up the bottom with rice and throw the curry on top!My picky child has helped me to think outside of the box! I love that he's so proud to bring Indian food with him and he even tells his friends all about it!What do your kids bring for lunch during the school week?
Simple Ways To Get Your Kids Involved During The Holidays
As we decorate our homes with sparkly lights, fresh cut trees, and more glitter than our spouses may like... we continue to enjoy the holiday season. I love it all.I love feeling the weather get colder.I love seeing my neighbors put up their lights.I love watching Christmas movies with my family.My kids are finally at ages where they want to partake in it all. Which means our tree ends up a little lopsided, the decorations consist of paper chains (everywhere), and everything takes a bit longer. The OCD side of me screams to do it all myself, but where's the fun in that?I love watching how they put their own precious mark on our traditions.Sometimes it can get a little tricky to find things they can help with, especially as our home fills with our family members from around the globe. This year I've been trying to think ahead on how they can get involved.The last few years we've gone to visit my husband's side of the family. I hardly see my kids the whole time we're there. They run off to their cousin's and soak in all their time together. I love seeing how close they all are.The closer you look, you realize the kids aren't really doing their own thing the whole time. They have their own little jobs throughout the holidays. The whole family has a role to play and it makes it run smoothly. Little things may come up like they do every other day of our lives, but it doesn't phase them. Everyone makes it work.It's a tradition that we happily continue in our house. Our kids are getting older and their roles are starting to change. Sometimes they're even the big kids in the house, which they love of course!
6 Simple Ways To Get The Kids Involved During The Holidays
Make The Decorations
Let the kids help make place cards and decorations for everyone. They can use simple things from around the house or even some cinnamon sticks from Nanamma's pantry. When they see everyone's faces as they sit down for dinner and see their place cards, they'll feel a huge amount of pride!
Prepare The House For Guests
There's always something to clean when guests come into town. Hand them a paper towel roll with some spray and let them go to town. They can wipe down all the counters, tables, windows, and even throw a bit of laundry in there. It's an easy job to delegate and you can even find a fun job for them!
Help Prepare The Curries
Kids love to help out in the kitchen. They can easily help you mix the curries, fry the onions, or add in a few ingredients. Then they can tell the world they helped make the dish! It's a great skill for them to learn at a young age and it's great bonding time between them and their family! If it doesn't turn out well, you even have someone to blame!
Serve The Chai
Chai is a staple in Indian homes. Whip up the tea and have your kids help bring it to their loved ones. They can even help set it up on the table and invite their Nanammas and Uthas to join them! It teaches them a bit about hospitality and entertains your guests.
Put On A Show
Let them plan a show for everyone! They can practice all month and then put it on when everyone arrives. There's nothing better than a child led production. They're hilarious and so sweet. It will definitely get everyone laughing!
Plan The Games For The Cousins
Have the kids think up fun games to play when their cousins arrive. They can search for new ones online or do ones they do at school. Your kids can write them all down on a piece of paper so it's ready to go!
Go Shopping With You To Get Supplies
My kids always go with me shopping. It's partly because they love it and partly because they have no choice! Lately, we've been using Walmart online! It's amazing! You can either shop online and have it send to your home in two days for FREE or you can put your order online and pick up using their online grocery!Stock up for the holidays and have your kids help pick out festive Kleenex tissue paper, Scott toilet paper, and Cottonelle toilet paper! Don't forget to check out your Ibotta coupons too! (Scott, Kleenex, Cottonelle)I love using their website because it means I get to stay home and I don't have to load up my car with bulky items and deal with the kids asking for a hundred things!Walmart is always trying to help moms out there. They know how crazy shopping can get with kids so they try to make it as easy as possible.
Naptime Ramblings: Mom's Must Have Superpowers
My kids are laying in their beds napping, well pretending to nap. I was going to take a little nap myself, but I hear them upstairs talking to each other. I know it's only a matter of time before they come downstairs tattling on each other or trying to barter with me so I let them out of naptime.Instead of getting things done in these few moments, my mind has been wondering. It always wanders to things to truly don't matter, but I can't help but spend way too much energy thinking it all the way through.Have you ever had one of those moments?Today, I've been thinking about superpowers. I blame my boys because it's all they've wanted to talk about since the new Thor came out.For today's naptime ramblings, let's chat about what superpower moms would LOVE!
Eyes In The Back Of Her Head
The age-old myth is that moms have eyes in the back of their heads. While we do have an amazing intuition that kicks in when our kids are being naughty, think how nice it would be if we really did see it all!My little boys are constantly up to some type of mayhem! I would love to be able to catch them before they can make the mess or cut their hair while my back is turned (real story!)
Mary Poppin's Bag
Moms have to carry everyone's crap around constantly. There's the diapers, wet wipes, extra clothes, snacks, bottles, and then everything the rest of the family throws in!Can you hold this?At the end of it all, it can be hard to find room for your own stuff! None of this would matter if moms could transform their purses into a Mary Poppin's Bag!Think about it... A one-stop shop. If you're ever in need all you have to do is put your hand into your bag and pull out anything your mind can think of. As one of the most forgetful moms out there, I know I would love this!
Move Things With Her Mind
Just about every day I think to myself if I had just one more hand it would be perfect. Whether you're trying to grab everything out of the car at the same time or you're nursing on the couch and need to grab something... it would be much easier if we could have a little extra help.If I could move things with my mind my house would always be clean, my kids wouldn't get away with anything, and things would actually be perfect!
Magical Cleaning Abilities
Anyone with boys needs this one. I've mentioned before how messy boys can get, especially in the bathroom. My boys are always missing the toilet and it drives me crazy! Especially now that they're all potty trained!If it's not pee, it's toilet paper EVERYWHERE.I would love to just push a button or say something and watch my bathroom get cleaned before my very eyes. Admit it, you would kill for this one!What superpower would you choose?
What Are Age Appropriate Chores For Kids
What are age appropriate chores for kids? A list of age appropriate chores for kids by age.
I still remember the day I asked my mom to give me chores. I saw all my friends were doing them and I wanted to be just like them. I had no idea what a crazy thing it was to ask for. I just knew I wanted them.My mom just laughed and said I could unload the silverware. I felt like I was on top of the world and was so excited to be just like my friends.Fast forward a few more years and unloading the dishwasher became my least favorite chore EVER. I'm not even going to lie to you right now. I still hate them, even as an adult! Well, that and laundry. If you follow me on Instagram, you've seen me complaining about the laundry mountain I have to fold each week!The funny thing is that it all came back around when my kids started asking to do chores. They still think they're fun and I have to maximize on that as long as I can!There are so many reasons I want my kids to do chores and I promise they aren't all selfish!
Why Our Kids Do Chores Every Day
Take responsibility for the messes they make
I don't know about you but my kids can make messes that go against the basic principles of physics. I turn my head for one moment and my formerly clean room turns upside down and somehow everything ends up out of place.It still shocks me to see just how messy it can all become. Although as quickly it happens, it always takes one hundred times longer to get them to clean it!Our family quickly decided to let our kids know they are responsible for their own messes. They can make their room as messy as they'd like, as long as they remember it's their job to tidy up afterward. It definitely makes them think twice before demolishing a room!
Learn skills they need as adults
As a parent, sometimes it's easier to simply do things on our own. We see that something needs to get done and also how much longer it will take if we ask the kids to do it.In those moments, I'm always reminded of something a pastor told me. As moms, we're teaching our kids how to treat their future partner. If we do everything for them, they're going to expect their wife to do the same thing.By teaching our kids to clean up after themselves, they learn how to respect their future partner and themselves. I want my boys to be able to be independent and self-sufficient. I let them help me around the house, take responsibility for their room, and be my big helpers in pretty much everything else.
Become Grateful
If you give your kids everything they want in life, they don't always realize how blessed they are to have them. We make our kids do chores and work hard because it teaches them to be grateful for what they've been blessed with.They also realize the value of their things because they see how hard it was to work for them. When kids are little and something breaks they have the same nonchalant response...Let's just get a new one.They're little and don't realize it's not always that easy. By teaching them to work hard and be grateful, they take better care of the things they have in their life. They even learn to respect it!
Big families make big messes and momma needs help!
Our once little family has gotten bigger over the years. Now we are a family of five and the messes and responsibilities just get bigger and bigger. I don't know about you, but mama can't do it all!If I tried to do it all by myself, I would shrivel up in a corner. There's no way. Instead, my husband and I teach our kids that everyone takes part in our family responsibilities. If you make a mess, you clean it up. When someone makes dinner you either help prepare it, set the table, or do the dishes afterward.Everyone helps and it makes our family stronger.What chores do your kids do at home?
How To Raise Globally Conscious Kids
After talking with a few multiracial families lately, I'm seeing a popular question. It keeps coming up and I think it's a fun one to talk about together!How can I raise globally conscious children?Many of us think our kids are automatically exposed to diversity because they're growing up in a multiracial family, but it shouldn't stop there. We should always be exposing our kids to different cultures and ways of life.It helps them feel more confident in their biracial identity or multiracial family. It also helps our kids to be a part of a generation that understands how important ethnic diversity is in our world.We all have so much to teach each other and I for one want to teach my kids how great it is to learn about people around them. I want to nurture their curiosity and teach them it's okay to ask questions. I want them to have that little fire inside of them that makes them want to know how people live around the world.So many of the world's current problems could be solved if we simply cared about people around them. The first step is learning to be globally conscious as a family. Show your kids what it looks like and have fun doing it!
How To Raise Globally Conscious Kids
Watch foreign movies together!
This is an easy one! Head over to Netflix and check out all of their foreign family films. All you need to do is put on the captions and you're good to go. You'll hear fun new music, see different places around the world, and your kids will start asking questions!It's a fun way to get your kids exposed to a different culture and find a new family favorite movie!
Cook a dish from a different country.
Find a new cuisine to try out and let the kids help prepare it! Get their hands dirty and have fun! You can even take it up a notch by using utensils used in different parts of the world as well! Kids tend to be hands-on learners and cooking is a fun and simple way to learn something new. Not to mention it means family time!
Give up utensils for a night and see how they eat in India.
After eating Indian food with my hands for almost eight years, I hate eating it with a fork! I would never have expected it but now it's normal in our house. Teach your kids the technique East Indians and Ethiopians use when eating with their hands.
Attend a local community festival celebrating a different culture.
Most towns offer different cultural events throughout the year. Check out your town's website and see what they have to offer. Then schedule it into your family's calendar.These events can be a show, food show, music, crafts, or fun activities. It's a great change of pace for family night and helps your family step out of their comfort zone to try something new.
Fill Your Home With Diverse Books
This is one of my favorite ways to expose my kids to different cultures. We always look for books that talk about kids from across the globe. Each book is a glimpse into a different child's life and the customs they follow. This helps broaden their views because it becomes normal for them to see diversity.
Listen to popular hits, even if it's in a different language!
Turn up the music and dance! We have dance parties at our house every night and recently we've been listening to new music. One night we'll listen to Bollywood music and the next night we may be listening to music from somewhere deep in Africa.The kids love it and are always searching for new music to dance to!
Things Only A Boy Mom Can Understand
When people find out that I have all boys, they look at me completely shocked. They quickly tell me what a brave woman I am and that they don't know how I do it.Well, I'm going to let you in on a little secret.. I don't know how I do it either!My husband and I always knew we wanted to have kids. We talked about it early on in our relationship. However, when we talked about it we never realized we'd have all boys!Our once quiet and structured lives have turned into noise and chaos. Even on one of the hard days, we both love it. We love our little boys so much and they've taught us more than we ever could have imagined.We'll be sitting down for dinner and our four-year-old is always singing some new song to himself."I love spicy chicken curry! Even the bread, but I love my chicken more because it's better than Liam's!"Dinner immediately becomes a competition between all three of our boys and they rarely remember to use their inside voice. Sometimes they even excuse themselves to go and wrestle in the living room so they can see who the winner is once and for all.Okay, more than just sometimes.I start to think how completely crazy my life is until I find another boy mom. She always understands exactly what my days are like. It doesn't even shock her when I tell her why I'm late... Even though it probably has to do with the fact I was cleaning up pe because my two-year-old decided to pee in a Gatorade bottle. (This really happened y'all!)
7 Things Boy Moms Everywhere Understand
Pee Everywhere
Boy moms are no stranger to pee. It's everywhere. It doesn't matter if your kids have been potty trained for years or if they're in diapers. It's going to get everywhere.You may as well quarantine the bathrooms now because they never get it in the toilet! Not to mention they're fascinated with it! They think it's funny to pee in the garbage next to the toilet and even the tub...When you ask them what excuse they could possibly have... they just smile.
Constantly Buying Food
Little boys are never full. They will probably put up a fight when it comes to dinner because they're picker than all get out, but in between meals is when they really get you.They're constantly in the fridge and pantry. They assume you're hiding the goods so they rifle through it all.It only gets worse as they get older. My kids are 2, 4, and 6 and I swear they're trying to eat me out of house and home. I can't imagine what they're going to be like when they become teenagers!
Everything Turns Into Wrestling
They could start out reading a book to themselves or cleaning their rooms and they will somehow end up wrestling. There's no rhyme or reason to why it starts, but it always does.Usually younger one knowingly takes it too far and then runs to hide behind mom. Then you're left trying to mediate and keep the older one from killing said brother.Right as you think you have it solved, someone sucker punches the other one and they run off in a hurry. Age doesn't stop them either. I never thought a baby could throw a sucker punch until I saw my 2-year old messing with his older brothers.My husband tries to tell me it's how they all bond. I just hope they all survive the bonding!
Bodily Functions Are Hillarious
You can try all you want to convince your kids to talk appropriately at all times, but at the end of the day, bodily functions are hilarious to them.You're really in for it when they learn to fart on command. All three of my kids can and I swear they stink us out of the whole room. My husband and I end up leaving only to hear them yelling "victory" as we close the door behind ourselves!The worst is when they do it in public. Someone does it by accident and of course, I start to yell at them. Then the younger one does it to make his brothers laugh. Then you're outnumbered because they think they're freaking hysterical!
Everything Turns Into A Weapon
I love watching my kids play and seeing where their little imaginations can take them. Especially how it doesn't matter what toy they have in their hands, they'll always pretend it's a weapon.You may have something against your kids playing with weapons and refrain from buying them. However, I'm going to let you in on a little secret.. They'll pretend every other toy they have is one anyways.I've even seen my kids turn their cousin's Barbie into a super secret agent with lasers for eyes and swords coming out of her hands. I'm telling you... They're crazy and love pretending things shoot.
At the end of the days, boy moms deserve a freaking award for the things they experience day in and day out!
My Son Is Colorblind
I'm very excited to introduce you to Rebecca, a presently homeschooling mother of 2, wife to her teenage sweetheart, and author & illustrator of Evie & Alistair: Farmhouse Warriors, now available on Amazon.
This is not a metaphor in regard to racial equality, being that he is a brown boy raised in a peach family. In fact, that metaphor is a significant irritation due to its unintended implications that we are choosing to overlook something that is perceived as inherently less-than in order to accept a person in spite of what they possess, rather than embracing or wholly valuing a person, with color being a fundamental ingredient in the makeup of who they are.Medically speaking, our son has strong deuteranomaly. Without the intervention of technology or a miraculous act of God, he will never see color rightly. That’s just the state of how he was wired in all his humanness. This doesn’t mean that there is something innately wrong with his personhood. It simply means that his visual perception is off.Colorblindness isn’t the only issue with our boy’s vision, and quite honestly, he is so good at compensating for it I may have never been aware of his struggles if a routine screening hadn’t indicated such. He seemed to recognize characters without trouble, he wasn’t squinting or complaining of headaches, and at the time his mix-ups in color recognition could be chalked up as age appropriate. He correctly identified them much of the time too, which cleverly masked his distortion. It’s just that his eyes are the only eyes that he has ever lived with, so he had adapted his output quite well, and at first none of us knew that what he was taking in wasn’t the right thing.His perception is totally valid, understandable, and logical. But its legitimacy & rationality don’t change the fact that it is wrong.Our boy is a problem solver by nature. For example, when he wanted me to cook a grilled cheese sandwich but I was unwilling, he took it upon himself to toast bread in the toaster, put cheese on it, and melt it in the microwave (since he’s not allowed to use the stove). I thought that showed pretty good ingenuity and initiative for a then 5 (now 7) year old.I’ve noticed this quality playing out in the practicality of education as well. Often his instructions would be to color a certain section according to a calculated sum. You know… color all of the 4’s yellow, color all of the 9’s purple, etc. Initially, though his arithmetic was correct, his colors were off. A lot. Understanding that it was due to the challenge with his eyesight, if I even were to say anything at all I may occasionally point out, “This is actually green and not brown, although I know it’s hard for you to see that.” As time went on, I realized that he hadn’t been making as many mistakes. I honestly just thought that his improvements were simply due to lucky guessing. Until one day, I noticed something peculiar out of the corner of my eye: our son would pick up a crayon, gaze at it intently, put it down. Pick up another crayon, examine it, put it down. Pick up another crayon, pause, use it. He was reading the labels! Duh! It never even occurred to me to suggest for him to do this, though it probably should have. (Hooray for getting that whole reading thing down).
Our boy acknowledged his weakness. He didn’t whine about it being hard. He didn’t make excuses about how he couldn’t help that he sees things the way he sees them. He didn’t play the victim and protest the way that he was made and wallow in self-defeat. He simply allowed his weakness to become an opportunity to exercise his strength.Our son went to the source– referred to the name that the crayon was designed to be, and did the next right thing in accordance to the truth—regardless of how he saw it. And what a beautiful picture was made.I don’t know about you, but I’m a grown-up and I still struggle with a tendency to elevate my perception and experiences as the standard of truth. Based upon the evidences set forth amidst the racially charged society in which we live, I am certain I am not the only one. Insides bow up against spoken truths when they feel like threats to our intentions, credibility, and value. I get stuck on not wanting to be misunderstood and so choose silence over solidarity. Frustrations arise at the brokenness and blindness of civilization, and I’m grievously overwrought when I realize my own. Peace is touted as a means to villainize the cries of the oppressed, justifying our comfort rather than actually pursuing justice necessary to bring about the genuine peace we claim to seek.The most worthwhile words of advice I have ever received as the white mother of a black son have been those that have directed my eyes to be opened to the full scope of history and culture, to not automatically shut out discomfort as my privilege allows, and to truly, intentionally see. Because no matter how I raise him, my dark brown son is going to grow up to be a dark brown man, walking independently of my white umbrella-shield. Choosing to turn a blind eye to the reality of what’s out there when others’ interactions are often based upon their own perceptions in regard to color does him no benefit, and is in fact a disservice that sets him up to be overcome by shock and awe.In the case of my son’s vision, I would not have taken the steps necessary to help him compensate for his deficiencies in vision if nobody ever told me they existed. He never would have bothered to work through his own inaccuracies if he were never made aware that he wasn’t seeing things quite right. Berating him for his shortcomings would have been absolutely asinine and not at all helpful. But the truth still needed to be lovingly spoken in order for a beneficial change to be made. Here’s the thing: once we see, we can’t unsee. We are responsible for our awareness. It hurts, it’s hard, and it takes a whole lot of grit. But in that striving and ache is exactly where beautiful strength and unity is birthed.
If you'd like to hear more from Rebecca, head over today and pick up her new book! Evie & Alistair: Farmhouse Warriors, now available on Amazon.
Simple And Easy Ways To Get Rid Of Extra Halloween Candy
Ever since Halloween night, my husband and I have been plagued with the same question. Over and over. When we wake up and when we go to bed.Can I have some candy?It doesn't matter that we tell them only after lunch and dinner can they have a piece. They somehow "forget" every time they ask and pretend to be shocked when we remind them of the rules...I didn't know!It's getting so bad that I'm even being woken up by the question! Not to mention it's all three of my boys!It's not like we don't have sweets in the house all year. Grandma and Nanamma bring candy and sweets when they visit and the kids flip. They're super excited while they're here and then they mellow when the visits are over. Typically the sweets last us forever! We put them up in our pantry, where the kids can't see, and they usually leave us alone about it.Halloween candy is a whole new beast.
Make A Few Big Desserts
Take all the chocolate your kids got and freeze it. You can use it to throw in a milkshake or even make gooey cookie bars! This way you use a big chunk for something the whole family can enjoy. Not to mention it helps us all avoid midnight chocolate cravings!Donate Your Candy To A Soldier http://opgrat.wordpress.com/2013/07/18/halloween-candy-for-the-troops/You can donate to Operation Gratitude and they send care packages to troops. You can tell your kids how excited the soldiers will be when they open up a package full of Halloween candy!The holidays are a great time to teach your kids about giving back!
Get A Treat From Your Dentist
A lot of dentist's offices offer an exchange for Halloween candy. You bring in your candy and they will let you switch out your candy for a toothbrush and a few prizes out of their treasure box they keep for patients.
The Candy Fairy
Let your kids indulge for one night and then have them leave their candy out for the candy fairy. When they fall asleep switch it out for a small gift. This way they still get something for all their hard-earned Halloween candy, however, it's without a toothache!
Expert Parent Tips
If you're really feeling snarky, here are a few other ways to unload all the Halloween candy! Not that I've ever done any of these....
The Pantry Monster
When the kids wake up one morning, incessantly begging for candy, go to the pantry and feign complete shock when you see all the candy is gone. Run from cupboard to cupboard looking for the "missing" candy only to come to the sad realization it's gone. This is when you introduce the pantry monster to your kids. The pantry monster did it and you couldn't do anything to stop it.The downside of this method is the pantry monster is a little scary and may end up causing you more of a hassle when they come to your room in the middle of the night....
Steal It!
Instead of taking it all overnight... you can do what my cousin's dad does.. Every time you pass the candy you can take a handful. Put the handful into your own secret candy stash and enjoy.If your kids start to notice they're candy supply dwindling, put the blame on them!Wow, you are eating it fast!What do you do with your extra Halloween candy?
Choosing The Best Car Seat For All Your Kids
As a mom, I've had to learn a few things about what it means to make things last. I have three boys and it means everything I buy is times three! I have to buy three sets of dress clothes for holidays, three sets of cleats for sports, three sets of winter jackets, and three sets of car seats.It gets expensive!It's because of this I've learned how to stretch a dollar. I go to the store looking for more than how cute it is. While style is important, dependability is the priority. I look for items I like, but know will last for all three kids.If not, I know I'll end up back at the store for child number two!
One item I've learned quite a bit about over the years is a good quality car seat. The first time I picked up a car seat was terrifying. I was pregnant and had no idea what to look for. Luckily, I had a friend who pulled me under her wing and let me borrow her Graco infant car seat.When he was ready to upgrade, I made a poor decision. I purchased a car seat that was cheap but had nowhere near the level of safety as my very first car seat. I returned it the same day and purchased a new and upgraded Graco car seat.We've been a Graco family ever since that moment. Their car seats are made to last, their car seats are rigorously tested to meet or exceed US FMVSS safety standards, and they are a great deal!
Now that our kids are bigger, we still know Graco is the brand to trust with our child's safety.Our kids love their seats too! They always tell us they like to take naps in their seats because of the cozy headrests. Not to mention, they love that they're big enough to get themselves buckled up! They hop straight in the car, buckle themselves in, and ask if we're there yet...
While it may be easy to buckle up, it's not easy enough for them to unbuckle themselves. Our Graco 4Ever seat straps into our car with the built in seat hooks and gives you the directions you need whether you're using forward facing or rear facing.
When I went on the hunt for our new Graco 4Ever car seat I price checked around my neighborhood. The prices were different everywhere I went. The absolute best deal I found was at Walmart. My favorite thing about Walmart is that you can order their products online! Then you can choose to pick up at the store or have them ship it to your house! Either way you don't have to lug the kids inside, only for them to ask for about a dozen other things!
We had them ship our car seat to our home and it was free 2 day shipping! I'm always up for free shipping!All of this has taught me one thing... Parents need to remember to invest wisely into their kid's necessities. While it may save you a few dollars in the moment, you need to think about how much it will save you in the long run.Buy a car seat that will last!
Lessons We Can Learn From Our Kids
Do you ever find yourself sitting on the couch, avoiding all of your responsibilities, and watching Captain Underpants with your kids for the fifth time?Oh, just me?I sit there and think about all the things I need to get done, but it doesn't urge me off the couch. If anything I sink in deeper and deeper with every thought. Not to mention, cuddles from my little boys can seriously cure just about anything.They're so carefree and I love watching them. The smallest things make them happy. Even a silly movie about a superhero in underpants! I need to take a few lessons from them on how to let go of the stress and just enjoy my day.
Sometimes You Just Need A Hug To Make It All Better
You really don't know the power of a hug until you have kids. Something catastrophic can happen to one of them (like a tiny scrape on the knee.... catastrophic) and they can start looking their minds. Right when you think they may never calm down, you walk over and give them a tight hug. You feel them start to relax in your arms and they know everything is going to be okay.I think we as adults need hugs just as bad. Life can turn into complete chaos around us and sometimes a hug is the answer. Even at almost 30, a hug from my mom feels just as good.
Focus On The Task At Hand
As much as we'd all love for our kids to be able to do more than one thing at a time, it just doesn't happen. If they sit down to do homework, their focus will be completely lost the moment they start thinking about dinner. Or they start to go upstairs to grab something like you've asked them to do and forget everything when they see a toy they left on the top stair.Even though it drives us crazy, they may have a point. Sometimes, we have to turn our brains down and just focus on one thing at a time. Maybe it's an evening with your kids and you know you need to set your phone down. Or maybe it's focusing all of your attention onto your spouse while on a date rather than listing off your to do list in your head.
It's Okay To Take A Break
My kids are constantly taking breaks throughout their extremely "difficult" days. Soccer is the perfect example. My son will be on the field for all of two minutes before he desperately needs a Gatorade break. In his mind, he's worked as long as he can and now he needs a little r and r.How often do we give ourselves breaks? We look at the to do list in front of us and tell ourselves there's no way we can justify a break. Take a little note from your kids and give yourself a break just because. You work your tail off every day and you don't need an excuse to kick your feet up for a minute or 30!
Not Everything Is As Important As You Think
There have been so many times I sit stressed out at my desk, only to have one of my kids come up to me and ask why I don't just stop. "Momma, why can't you just stop if it's making you so mad?" I always shrug it off because what do they know... right...?As adults, we tend to think everything is life and death. We struggle with the stress and uncertainty of life, but at the end of the day it's okay. Not everything is as big of a deal as we think. The world will keep turning if we don't fold all the laundry before bed. Your kids will survive if they eat mac n cheese for dinner... again.
A Bit Of Encouragement Goes A Long Way
As a homeschool mom, I've seen how important encouragement is for my boys. They truly thrive on it. When they're working on something difficult they're quick to give up unless I stand behind them acting as their cheerleader!We all need a bit of encouragement in our lives. It's been driven into our heads just how hard we need to be on ourselves. Instead, we should take a moment to pat ourselves on the back. Think about all the successes we've had! Fill your life with people that will do the same thing. If we thrived on encouragement as a child, think about how important it is in your life currently!What is one lesson your kids have taught you?
Am I A Bad Parent If My Child Chooses One Culture Over The Other?
As parents of multicultural or biracial kids, we have a lot of pressure on our shoulders.We want to make sure our kids understand everything they need to know about each culture in their family and to somehow balance it perfectly.We don't want anyone to think we're pushing our culture above our partner's so we're constantly in a balancing act.Then, the day comes... You thought you were doing a good job of blending cultures equally. You've been doing your best, but then you notice something.You start to realize your child is leaning towards one culture. Instead of trying to balance cultures in their own life, they're starting to identify with one over the other.Maybe you notice it because they start to say they're Indian rather than Indian and (blank)...Maybe they don't want to practice the customs of one culture.As a mom, one of my first reactions to this is that I'm not doing my job. I become frantic worrying about what I've done wrong.Did I not show them the beauty of both cultures?Did I subconsciously push one harder than the other?Was I not focusing on cultures at all?
I have three kids and they've all embraced their multiracial culture differently. At first, it was easy. They were little and frankly didn't have a choice in it all. They were just there in different situations where their culture was presented to them. As they've gotten older, I'm starting to see that they're beginning to decide for themselves.I've always said I want my kids to experience both cultures in their lives and blend them how they feel best. What if how they feel best isn't balanced?I have one child that would move to India and let go of their Western culture in a snap. Okay.. maybe they would smuggle in an iPad on their trip but they love their Indian side. They love learning Telugu, learning new customs, and the FOOD!Then I have my "Indian child." The child everyone says looks the most Indian out of their brothers. He's up for anything! Even though he's little, I can see he likes to blend. He doesn't want to leave anything out.Let's not forget my son who wants the spice from his Indian side and that's about it... He won't touch Indian food with his hands or listen to just about anything.Three kids and three completely different ways to blend cultures.
The perfectionist and worrier in me says that I'm doing something wrong. I wonder if I should start pushing them to embrace both sides of their unique culture, but then I see their little faces. They're happy. They aren't worried about this impossible balancing act. They simply love their family (Indian and Caucasian), themselves, and their little biracial lives.Society pushes this idea of a perfect balance onto parents, telling us we're lacking something if it's not 50/50. However, I think just about every parent out there has realized perfection is impossible to attain. As much as we'd all love it, nothing is perfect. We can parent perfectly and why would we teach our kids to push themselves to attain the impossible?At the end of the day, I simply want my kids to embrace who they are and be open to new experiences. I want them to see the amazing lessons both cultures can teach them and find a way to blend them that makes them happy.
How To Teach Our Kids Self-Love
As a little girl, summers were special. They meant a break from school for our whole family. My mom worked at a school so she was on the same school schedule as my little brother and I. Our summers were full of days at the beach and sleepovers. If we could have lived on the water we would have.It was the place that just made everything go away. Bad days, stressful season, everything would simply wash away in the water.There was just one little problem. Summers also meant something else. Every moment of sun meant another freckle on my face.You may laugh, but as a kid, I hated my freckles. No one else in my class had them and they made me stand out. Everyone would make comments about them and they made me feel different.
As a kid, being different is uncomfortable.
There isn't this sense of pride that comes along with it, instead, it makes you feel set apart from your friends.If only I could have told my younger self not to worry because one-day freckles would start trending. One day everyone would want to have your freckles so badly that they'll even get them tattooed on their face.I hope it doesn't take my boys a decade to realize how special they are for being uniquely them. Instead, I want them to look at who they are and be proud.I want them to look at their passions and do what makes them happy, even if it's not what their friends are doing.I want them to stop comparing themselves to other families out there and be proud to have a multiracial family that looks different.
I want them to look in the mirror before they head off for school and smile because they're content with who they are.
So how can we as their parents, teach them to love themselves? How can we help them bypass the years of self-hatred that too many kids face and go straight to loving who they are?It's not as complicated as you may think it is. One of the best ways to help you kids love themselves is by loving yourself first.It all started with mom, so why are we surprised to find out self-love does as well?Our kids watch every move we make.
We are their living, breathing example of everything.
They're looking to us to figure out how they should think, talk, and behave.The problem is we're not always what we teach. It's why we tell them so often to "Do what I say, now what I do." Part of it's our imperfect nature. There is no way we will ever be the perfect example to our kids and I think it's better that way. Instead of giving them this impossible image to attain to, we're showing them what it looks like to lead an imperfect life and how to respond to failure.We're going to do and say the wrong things at times and it's okay. It's the best moment to teach our kids a lesson. You can use the opportunity to be vulnerable with your kids and let them know you were wrong and give them a glimpse into your journey.
Self-love has been that imperfect journey for myself.
I look at my stretch marks, the weight I just can't get off after baby Lucas, and love isn't the first thought that comes to mind. Instead, it's self-hate and comparison. I look at other moms that lost the weight immediately after they had their baby and the mom that bypassed the ugly stretch marks and wonder why I can't look like that. The more I lose myself into the self-loathing, the more it starts to come out verbally."Why am I so fat?""These stretch marks are so ugly."You may not realize, but little ears hear it all. They pick up on the negativity and start to look at their own body twice. If their own mom hates what she looks like, they instinctually start to question theirs.
This leads to the road of self-loathing that takes decades to get over.
If we want our children to love themselves, we have to love ourselves first. We have to let the self-hate go and verbally praise the things we do love about our bodies and selves.It's okay if it's small at first. The more you fill your life with positivity, the easier it will become. Then you'll slowly realize how far you've come and how much you truly do love about yourself.
It starts today. Love yourself daily.
A Reminder To The Momma Who Doesn't Think She Make It Through Today
Last week, I planned out a fun and relaxing evening with my husband. Our lives have been pretty chaotic lately and it was the first evening in a while that we didn't have anything scheduled.It felt like the first breath of fresh air in a while.We had put the kids to be and were about to sit down. Then the baby came out of his room, wild as can be! I instantly knew we were in for an interesting night. When baby Luke gets in these moods it's nearly impossible to keep him in his room. We end up in a back and forth battle of who can keep the baby in bed.Although this time, my husband snuck away. I can't fault him because it was my plan too, he simply beat me to the punch.I was about to wrestle baby Luke back to his room and decided to give him a little tickle fest. Although instead of laughter, he erupted into a hysterical crying fit. I was dumbfounded and assumed he had gotten hurt somehow. Ten minutes of crying later, I realized something else was going on.I kissed his forehead and noticed he had a fever right away. In our family, a fever for baby Luke isn't a small thing. It typically means a febrile seizure and sleepless night.
(Read more about our journey with febrile seizures here...)
I swooped him up and put him in our bed. My husband and I were able to calm him down with a popsicle and cuddles. Then the crying started up again. He was trying to tell me he had an owie and I realized what that meant too late.
Vomit.
Vomit everywhere.
A puddle of vomit in my bed, on my clothes, all over him.
I yelled for my husband and he quickly came in, swooped up the baby in his arms, and put him straight in the bath. He didn't even flinch at the buckets of vomit everywhere.
Needless to say, our quiet evening quickly turned into a night of cleaning bed sheets, sanitizing everything (including myself), and cuddling a sick baby.These are the nights that make parenthood feel like a blur.The moments that make you question whether or not you can get through the next few years while your kids are all little.I'm here to tell you a little secret that can get you through the worst of times.
It's just a season of your life and every season comes to an end.
Motherhood is far from easy. It's not for the faint of heart, but it's all worth it. Your kids are only little once. I know right now, all you can see if the finish line far off, behind the puke stained sheets, pee covered toilets, and sleepless nights, but it's there. One day, you'll be sitting with your friends over brunch, laughing at all of these stories.So, what about today?How do you get through the season you're in?
You take it one day at a time. One moment at a time if that's what you need. Soak up the special moments with your kids and remember the rough times can't last forever.
Sooner than you know it, you'll be in a completely different season of life and you'll be looking back at today as a memory.
Chapter Books To Read As A Family
As a little girl, I have so memories of my mom reading to me. It was just her, my brother, and I for a good chunk of my childhood and reading was always one of our favorites. As a single mom, she was always busy and reading meant a few stolen moments. We could steal her away from all of the work we knew she needed to get done and just soak up time with her.I couldn't wait to share those same moments with my little boys. I was so excited that they had a library before they were even born. I scoured thrift stores for books I remembered reading as a kid like The Magic Castle series. Every adventure started with "...and Beth opened the word window."
What a beautiful image for a little kid. Reading a book truly was like opening a window into a different world. It doesn't matter what is going on in life, reading with your kids is a special stolen moment just for you. It quites everything else around you and helps you to soak each other up.As my kids are getting a little older, we're starting to expand beyond picture books and venture into different chapter book series. Every day during the school year, we all grab a cozy blanket, find a cozy corner of the house, and read together.
The Magic TreehouseAnnie and Jack are a brother and sister team that find a magical treehouse. This treehouse is their gateway to travel and adventures they couldn't have dreamed of! Every time they go to the treehouse, they travel to a different time and get to experience history hands on!Little House On The PrairieMeet the Ingall's family and learn what it would be like to live in the 1800's. Each book give you a glimpse into their lives. Laura Ingalls is a little girl looking for adventures everywhere she goes. Whether she's at home with Ma and Pa or she's off at school with her friends, she's having fun and making memories!Diary Of A Wimpy Kid Greg Heffley is just like any other kid, except he has a big brother that loves to pick on him and parents who just don't get it. He journals about his life and shares the ins and outs of his life with you. Just when you think things couldn't get any crazier... they do!Percy JacksonPercy Jackson is just your typical, every day kid... except that he is the son of Poseidon. One day Percy discovers his magical heritage and is catapulted into a life of chaos, danger, and adventure!Harry Potter Harry Potter lives with his awful aunt and uncle until one day the letters start coming... and coming! Until finally his family can't stop Harry from reading them. He finds out he's invited to the wizard world! Each book shows Harry getting deeper into a new world that he doesn't know how he lived without!Boxcar ChildrenThe Alden kids go in search of a home and stumble upon a boxcar. They make the best of what they have and make it into the best home they've ever seen!RamonaRamona is a little girl with the most terrible luck at times! She's just trying to fit in at school and with her friends but somehow ends up with eggs in her hair and forgetting to get out of her pj's before school!Hardy BoysJoin the Hardy Boys along on their adventures! Every book has a new mystery and the Hardy Boys are on the case! They scour every street to find the person behind the shenanigans going on!Nancy DrewNancy Drew isn't a stranger to mystery. Somehow they keep finding her and she sets out to find out what's going on. Nothing can stop her and she even gets the help of the town!A to Z MysteriesDink, Josh, and Ruth Rose set out to solve the alphabet mysteries. The books go from the Absent Author all the way to the Zombie Zone! Nothing gets in their way!Junie B JonesJunie B Jones is your favorite kindergartener. Somehow the silliest and craziest things happen to her in each book! Kids instantly fall in love with her character and can't wait to hear what happens next!Ready FreddyFreddy is your favorite first grader! He's trying to survive through a new class, new friends, all while trying to join the new hockey team! It's a jungle out there and Freddy is on it!The Chronicles of NarniaThe Chronicles of Narnia are just that.. Books that share stories from Narnia! Each book has a different adventure and you can time travel back to Narnia to see what magical things are happening!
What is your favorite family friendly chapter book?
How To Help Your Multiracial Family Ease Back To School
As the summer draws to a close, parents everywhere are walking into the back to school haze. They know everything is about to get crazy. Free time is out the door and hectic schedules are about to be back in full swing.There are so many things to do for kids to be ready to transition back to school. Their sleep schedules are off, they spend their days outside with no desire for a structured activity, and they've gotten used to being home with mom and dad all day.
Get Back Onto A Sleep Schedule
Slowly ease your children back to a sleep schedule. During the summer late nights are normal because you're hoping they sleep in just a bit for you.Get them ready for school by setting bedtime a bit earlier and having them wake up by a certain time. Transition slowly to get their body clocks back to normal. If you ditch the transition, the first week back to their school schedule will be rough.
Meet Your Child's New Teacher
Find your teacher's email and schedule a time to meet before school starts. This is a great time for you child to meet their new teacher and maybe even get a little excited!It's also the perfect time to introduce their teacher to your multiracial family. You can share a few of the unique things about your family, words your child may use in a different language, etc. Teachers want to truly know who their students are and be aware of what makes them unique.
Set Up Play Dates With Their New Classmates
In addition to meeting their new teacher, try and set up a play date with some of their new classmates. One of the scariest parts of going back to school is the unknown. It's scary not knowing what to expect and the possibility of not knowing anyone.Make them more comfortable by helping them make a few friends early!
Start A New Back To School Tradition
Start a new tradition to celebrate going back to school! Do a drive in movie the last day of summer, throw a party after the first week with their new friends, or go out to breakfast the first morning. Find something fun that you know your kids will love! Make going back to school a fun thing and something they look forward to!
Make Sure To Have One On One Time With Your Kids Throughout The Week
One big transition kids have when going back to school is less time with mom and dad. They got used to spending all of their extra time with you and now they only get to see you for part of the day.Go out of your way to spend one on one time with them during the school week. It doesn't have to be a huge ordeal. It can be as simple as a little coffee date with momma.
How do you help your family ease back to school schedules and routines?
Traveling Families You Should Be Following
Traveling has always been a huge passion for me. I love the idea of scouring the whole world and learning about different cultures and ways of life.The problem is I got married and started a family at 21.... Everyone says you can't travel with kids, so I guess I cut my traveling off before I even got started...I quickly learned that it was all a load of garbage. I met dozens of multiracial families that traveled the globe together! What a concept. A family that travels! I started looking for them online too. I wanted to learn all of their tips and secrets to see how they made it work.I wanted to know how to make traveling with the whole family a fun thing!We started traveling after we had our second son. After a lot of fear, we decided to just do it. Dozens of hotels, road trips, and planes later we finally have a handle on it. So far we've just traveled around the US together, but we're hoping to hit India this year!Traveling truly is a beautiful thing for families. It takes them out of their bubbles and teaches them about a world bigger than themselves. My hope is that my kids will fall in love with different cultures around the world by seeing them firsthand.
The Almost Indian Wife We document all of our travels with the kids. Our family shares the ins and outs of traveling with toddlers! Even the moments that make you question traveling at all! At the end of the day we love traveling together and making memories around the world together.Kid World Citizen Becky shares about her love of traveling with her multiracial family. The scour the world together to learn about different cultures, taste unique foods, and all while raising her kids abroad!Suitcases and Sippy Cups One mom and dad decided to leave everything behind and let their wandering spirits guide their family around the world. She shares tips for other parents wanting to travel as a family and helps you make it happen!Travel With Bender Josh is a dad who documents his family travels. They defy the world's saying that you can't travel with kids. By the time his kids were 2 and 3, they had visited over 65 countries! They're living the dream and telling you every step of the way!Two Kids and a MapOne mom teaching her kids that adventure is everywhere they turn. She also shares how they travel on a budget and how you can too!The Family Without Borders This family decided to travel for 6 months straight when they had their youngest daughter! They didn't stop there, they travel all over the world and teach their kids about the world around them.World Travel Family Travel isn't just a dream for this family, it's a passion! They travel the world and let you know allthe details. They help families find great deals, places to go, and teach you how to live an adventerous life!The Jet Set FamilyThis family shares all of their traveling adventures with the world. They go all over the world and want you to see exactly what it looks like! Curious where to go? Check them out and get inspired!Walking On Travels This family is here to remind you that you don't have to give up on traveling when you have kids. Just take them with you and experience the world together!Exploramum and Explorason This mother son duo is here to share the lessons they've learned from a life of travel with you. They have a passion to travel the world and spread kindness everywhere they go.
Do Kids Belong At A Meat Shop
Over the last eight years that my husband and I have been married, we've faced quite a few culture shock moments. Most of them happen when we least expect it. We just go about our day and then we find ourselves doing something we've done for years, only to see the look on our spouses face.Complete and utter shock.Or it's the other way around and we look at them wondering how in the world they don't realize how crazy it is.It gets even crazier when you have kids.About a year ago, my husband and I headed to our local Indian grocery store. We had planned out a few Indian dishes for the week and knew we needed to pick up spices and some fresh meat.We have taken our kids to this Indian grocery store dozens of times... Usually the Aunty or Uncle that works there gives them a sucker and they always try to find the good cookies.I knew they had fresh meat at this one, but I didn't realize how fresh.We went through the store and grabbed all of the groceries we needed and saved the meat for last. We walked to the meat section and I noticed they had a lot of pre-cut meat right up front. I assumed we'd pick from the meat in the fridge. My husband started talking to the guy about different cuts of meat and decided to order half a goat. The man then preceded to walk into the back room.
He walked back out carrying a goat over his shoulder.
Dead.Skinned.Baby Goat.My four year old instantly asked him, what's that? The man smiled and said it's a goat. Do you see his head? Want to watch me cut him up?
WHAT?
All I wanted to do was yell at this guy that just traumatized my four year old.Why in the world would you joke around with a toddler about a dead animal?! Right as I was about to make the biggest scene this guy has probably ever seen, I stopped and realized this was normal for him. He probably sees families come in all the time, children in their arms, watching this process happen.My husband even told me a story of him and his siblings in India. Him and his family had gone to Hyderabad for the summer. All week long, his younger brother and sister were playing with a goat. They had named it and started to treat it as a pet. One morning, they woke up to see it hanging on a tree behind their bungalow.An Aunty and Uncle were preparing it for dinner.As much of a shock as that was to them, they realized early on the reality of having animals in India.I watched my son the entire time. I was glued to his reactions to see if I needed to cover his eyes and run out of the store at any moment. Surprisingly, he was fine. While I was cringing at every moment, he was curious and then distracted by the cookies in the aisle next to us.This was one of those moments that was completely acceptable in Indian culture and a huge shock in American culture.He still goes with my husband to the Indian grocery store all the time and he still has just as many questions when he goes. The big thing I had to remember was just because this was something new to me, didn't necessarily mean it was a bad thing.I'll admit though... I still hesitantly watch their reactions the whole time!
Have you ever experienced culture shock?
Surprise We Have A New Addition To The Family
My husband and I have always been big animal lovers. While we were dating we talked about the pets we wanted in the future and we quickly started off our pet adventure a few months after we got married.Three kids and one dog later, something just wasn't right. We wanted a friend for our dog, Bella. We were also talking about buying a house with more space outside that would make having two dogs a little easier.My husband and I started thinking through the kind of dog we wanted, whether we wanted to adopt an older dog or a puppy, and when we would take the plunge.Fast forward a few months and my kids and I were out running errands. We got out a little later than expected and the temperature outside was going up. We had planned on going to the park, but I had no desire to sit there, ending up drenched in sweat so they could play for a few minutes.Instead, I decided to bribe them with a pet shop visit. We love stopping in there periodically because you can see all the cute little pets and we could pick up a few toys for Bella. After a bit of whining, they quickly realized stopping at the pet store meant they could check out the creepy crawly bugs and snakes.They ran inside and B-lined straight to the disgusting bugs I will never, ever buy for them. I have a hard enough time sitting there while they poke the cages!After about thirty minutes of running back and forth from pet to pet, we decided to pick up our Bella treats and pay. While we were waiting in line, we saw the couple in front of us had brought their dogs in with them.A-freaking-dorable!!!
They had a Chihuahua mix and a little Shepherd-Retreiver mix. We instantly fell in love and made baby sounds to them the entire time they were in line. The couple kept looking at us and laughing because the kids were infatuated. Okay, I was too!They finished up their purchase and walked out of the store. I instantly started gushing to the cashier about how cute they were. I let her know the Shepherd mix was the exact kind of dog we want to get next.She stopped what she was doing. She smiled big and said something that would change our lives forever...They're actually trying to get her adopted.Stunned, I asked if she was serious. She laughed and nodded. That was all my boys and I needed. We left all of our stuff at her cash register and ran outside!I asked if they really were trying to find a family for her and how much they were thinking about selling her for. All they had to do was look at all three of my kids who were all kissing her, petting her, and cuddling her as we spoke.Free. All we want is for her to find a good family.
I'll take her! My kids and I started jumping up and down saying we want her and would love to bring her home! We exchanged numbers and scheduled a time to pick her up.She was only 2 pounds and needed to be home a little while longer. Not to mention, she was a rescue and was in bad shape when they found her. They spent a thousand dollars to rescue her and nurse her back to health.After they left we went straight back inside to buy stuff for our new puppy.This was the moment I realized something.I just adopted a dog.I just adopted a dog while my husband was at work.I now have to tell my husband we have a new dog coming home.I sent him a picture and let him in on our family's big news. He thought I was kidding. The moment he realized I wasn't he called me.Are you serious?All I could hear was his coworkers behind him laughing. I thank them for getting him in an agreeable mood! He laughed and asked for pictures asap!He was happy she was the kind we wanted and I heard him shoosh his coworkers saying he would bring her to visit!Then he went back to the meeting he was in before I happily interrupted him. He called me the moment work was done for the day and asked me again if I was serious.He wasn't sure if he should believe me until he got home and saw our kitchen table full of puppy stuff.
About 4 weeks later, we drove to the couple's home and picked up our newest addition. Our whole family is infatuated with her. Even though my husband likes to call her "your dog" I secretly find him cuddling her. He's already a push over with her. All she has to do is whine and he immediately makes us get her and snuggle her!
The moral of the story....It's okay to adopt a puppy while your husband is at work because he will fall head over heals for her!
Avoid The Potty Training Backslide This Summer!
Is The Potty Training Backslide Worth It?
When a parent thinks about potty training their child, they're usually filled with a sense of dread. All they can see is accidents on their couch, pulling over dozens of times during their 20 minute drive, and endless loads of laundry to wash the pee stained big kid underwear.Then if you're "smart" like me, you attempt to potty train them before you go on vacation. You convince yourself, it's going to be fine. They will just keep working on it there.Wrong.Instead of improving on their potty training skills, they end up backsliding. All of your hard work goes down the drain as vacation goes on. It may even feel worth the backsliding while you're out laying in the sun.The problem settles in when you get back home. Instead of an eager child, you end up with a disinterested toddler with no desire to potty train again.It's not worth it!
I have potty trained 2 1/2 children in my nearly six years as a parent.My four year old practically potty trained himself. He wanted to be like his big brother and made it all happen. He motivated himself to get it done!My five year old was a different story. He was my first child and I basically had no idea what I was doing. He was an early talker and I just assumed he was ready to be potty trained. Shortly after we "potty trained" him, we went on vacation to Chicago. He completely gave up on potty training there and I ended up in an 8 month potty training battle with him when I got home.
I definitely learned my lesson with my two oldest boys. Now, I'm using everything we've learned with my toddler this summer.Today, I'm partnering with Huggies to help prevent the potty training backlide this summer.
Ways To Avoid The Summer Backslide
If you haven't started potty training before your vacation, I would suggest you wait. You want to potty train when you know you'll be home for a while. I usually schedule a full week at home and then slowly venture out. Take a look at your schedule and plan to start your potty training adventure after you get home from vacation.If you've already completed potty training your child, summer time doesn't have to be a disaster. You can help your child to stay potty trained with a few simple steps.Make It Fun AgainWhen a toddler is on vacation, everything seems more fun than working hard to pee in the potty. Why do something that takes work when you can just go in your pants and let your parents do all the hard work?If you see your child starting to loose interest with remaining potty trained while on vacation, make it fun again. Take a small step backwards and reinforce them every time they use the potty. You could grab a set of stickers or small candy to give them as a reward.Model By ExampleYou can only tell your kids to use the potty so many times. At a certain point, they start to tune you out. This is when it's important to go back to the age old saying, actions speak louder than words.If your child has siblings, let them see how they use the potty. Kids look up to their siblings and they are a huge source of motivation for them. Make sure to point out how they use the potty like a big kid.
BackstepIf you notice your child beginning to backslide, take a step backwards. Instead of letting them tell you when they need to go potty, you can set a timer. Put in a simple timer to your phone and use that as a reminder to have your child try and go potty.While on vacation, it's easy for your toddler to miss their body's cues telling them to go potty. They end up waiting way too long and have an accident. Step in and stop the chain by reminding them yourself.
Let Huggies Help You This Summer
I've used Huggies diapers and wipes since my kids were little. I love to see their passion for kids and their parents. They don't just sell diapers, they want to help parents hold onto special memories with your little ones. Whether it's your child's first step or the first time they use the potty like a big kid, they are there for you.Are you ready to avoid the potty training backslide?If so, head over to your local Sam's Club and pick up a box of pull ups and wet wipes! With a big family, I'm always looking for a good deal. By shopping at Sam's Club, I know I can stock up on my pull ups and wet wipes without destroying my monthly budget.Head over today and save $10 off any two, or $18 off any three diapers, wipes, and pants today!
How To Pack For Your Next Road Trip
Summer is officially here and it means vacation season!I love vacation season. It's my family's chance to travel around and see family members that live a ways from us. This summer we have plans to go to Chicago, Cincinnati, Orlando, and hopefully Vancouver!As our kids have gotten older, planes trips have become more expensive. Our youngest is now old enough for us to buy him his own seat. In reality it's a double edged sword. Part of it is nice because it means I don't have to hold him the whole time. On the other hand it now means we have to buy 5 tickets when we travel as a family.Expensive.Hundreds of dollars just on the tickets.This summer we're saving by road tripping instead of flying. This means more money in our pockets, more crazy car ride adventures, and some amazing memories.
Road Trip Essentials
Before you set off on your own road trips, make sure you pack well. I've made the mistake of packing way too much, not enough, and about every other packing faux pa!This time I'm learning my lesson and taking advice from all of you! Here is a list of travel essentials needed on every road trip.
First Aid Kit
Make sure your first aid kit has all the medical essentials you need. You never know when someone can get hurt and it's better to have it all with you if it does happen. You can even add in your allergy and car sickness medicine.
Cooler With Snacks
Pack a medium sized cooler with some of your family's favorite snacks. Don't pack things you wish they would eat, but do things you know they eat daily.
Small Blanket
Find a light weight blanket that is perfect for your kids. Then you don't have to worry about them fighting over how cold the AC is.
Spill Proof Cup
Spills and messes are going to happen, but don't let it be a sticky juice mess! Find spill proof cups for the kids and make it a bit easier.
External Battery
Electronics won't stay charged forever. This is why it's important to pack an external battery pack to help in your time of need.
Accessable Change Of Clothes
Take out a change of clothes that you can grab during the ride if the kids have an accident.
Notebook and Crayons
Switch things up a bit and have another activity for your kids. We like to grab a small notebook and crayons.
Headphones
Pick up some headphones so you can have a bit of peace on your drive. You kids can plug them into their electronics and then mom and dad don't have to hear the games the whole drive.
Favorite Toy
Don't. Forget. The. Toy. Find your child's favorite toy and be sure to pack it!
Mess Free Snacks
Pick up some mess free snacks for your kids to snack on during the drive!