The Stage Of Motherhood We're Never Ready For

Okay, you guys true story I either need a new puppy or a baby.

It’s as simple as that. I’m ready for something because all I keep seeing in my Instagram feed our babies. So many freaking babies and all I want right now is to hold one and snuggle one and have one. The problem is I have a Husband. He doesn’t seem to think an Instagram feed full of itty bitty teeny tiny babies is a reason for one more child. Okay, maybe it’s the fact that he woke up to my three-year-old peeing in the garage and our five-year-old got threatened to get kicked out of gym childcare today?But you guys come on.

I’m going to chalk that up to a day full of mischievous little antics that remind me I’m a boy mom.

Okay, maybe I really don’t want any other things to add to my life right now. Maybe, I’m just going off to you guys so that I can somehow have reality come back into my mind and remind me that I am happy to be out of diapers for my kids and be able to sleep through the night.My husband and I are entering into a new phase of parenting. This is probably the real reason I’ve been thinking so much of having another baby lately.

This is my last year with my babies home in the morning.

This year my oldest son was the only one in school, and my other two babies got to stay home with mama all day long. Next year my five-year-old enters kindergarten and my baby will start going to preschool. Excuse me while I hide under my covers and cry my eyes out asking myself where my babies went.When I walk down the street with my boys, I always have one of them by the hand. It's usually Lukey Bear, my youngest. He always loved holding my hand. He'd look for it every time we went out together. Today, I noticed I was holding him by the wrist. It was the only way to hold onto him because he was trying to run off and walk with his big brothers.

Then it hit me.

He's becoming a big kid. They are becoming boys. They are no longer little toddlers and babies, but now they're boys. We are starting to go through countless pairs of jeans due to torn up knees. I’m realizing that I can’t get through one week with one grocery trip anymore. Instead, I have to constantly run to the store to feed these three endless bellies. They want to have grown-up conversations with me where they talk about their dreams for the future. They’re all about what school to their friends. They would just about anything if they thought their friends would like it.

I don’t know how all of you mothers out there have done this before me.

When I look at these boys, I always see our babies in their eyes. I remember the moment I first looked into their beautiful brown eyes. I remember rocking them to sleep countless nights. I remember nursing them in the middle of the night.Part of me is sad.

Part of me looks at them with tears in my eyes and wonders how it all went by so fast.

I remember people used to tell me to hold onto every single moment. They told me not to blink in fear of missing out on what was before me.I have to be honest. There’ve been so many times in motherhood that I've wished for seasons to be over. I’ve prayed to God that I could simply get through to the next day, get through to the next season, or my kids would finally sleep through the night so that I could get a moment's rest.It's not all been easy.

Motherhood requires us to sacrifice a little bit of time, ourselves, and more than I realized.

I would do it over and over, time and again, because it’s all led us to this point right now. My kids are who they are because of the sacrifices my husband and I have made for them. We would do anything for our kids.Motherhood is painful.Motherhood is a blessing.Motherhood has transformed my life more than words can express.Motherhood has given me hope on the hardest days.Right now, motherhood means letting go.It means I have to watch my little boys grow up before my very eyes and let them experience new adventures. I wish I could be that crazy mom follows them everywhere they go. It wouldn’t bother me to see the looks that I got from the other mother's wondering why in the world I can’t just hold on to the alone time I've finally gotten after all this time.But I doubt my Husband would let me be that crazy mom. Instead, we’re going to hold each other’s hands as we watch our kids go off to school next year. Even now they’re talking about it, deciding on backpacks they’re going to get, talking about lunch they're going to enjoy together, and getting more excited it as every moment passes.

The moment is going to come as I drop them off to their first day next year.

They’re going to get that fear in their eyes and run to momma. They’re going to wonder if they can do it if they can survive an entire day without mom and dad by their side. You guys I have to get myself to a point emotionally where I can hug them tight, give them a big kiss, and let them know that they can do anything they set their minds to. Even though inside I'm praying I can keep it together until I get out to the car.Motherhood means making the tough choices for our kids. It means being strong even when we feel weak.I have officially turned in to that mom that comes up to you on the street and says don’t blink. Hold on to every moment with your kids because it’s going to go by in a flash. Your babies are going to turn into little boys and girls, and they’re going to take everything that you've taught them and shown them about the world and put it into action on their own.

What It Means To Be An Anna In Our Multiracial Family

What It Means To Be An Anna In Our Multiracial Family

As a little girl, I always knew I wanted to have a big family. I loved having my brother with me growing up. We did everything together. We built forts together, we had epic movie nights on the weekends, we stood up for each other, and we always knew we weren't alone. We always had someone there to look out for us.Even if that meant I yelled at dumb kids on the bus when they decided to pick on my little brother. He was my little brother and I wasn't about to let anyone mess with him.

Along with all the good times, we had plenty of knock out, drag out fights. We were siblings, what else do you expect.

I loved my little brother, but as we got older it wasn't just fun. I had responsibilities as his big sister. I HAD to be there for him all the time. I HAD to look out for him to make sure he wasn't dumb enough to swallow a penny (which in fact he was dumb enough to do and did).Older siblings carry a lot of weight on their shoulders. You can ask any older sibling how it was growing up with little siblings and you'll instantly hear grumbling.It's one of many reasons my husband and I got along so well. We were both the oldest kids and knew exactly what the other one went through.

When we had our second son, we looked at our oldest with excitement and a bit of pity. We knew the road he was about to embark on.

In our multiracial family, we have raised our kids to understand what it means to be an anna. An anna is an older brother and it also carries a different meaning in our almost Indian family. It's a badge of honor for older brothers. It means it's not their responsibility to help raise their little brothers. They have to look out for them as they're little and even as they venture out into the real world as adults.Our oldest son, Liam became an anna when his little brother was born. Then Levi became an anna when Lukey was born.Their dad and I do everything we can to teach them how important this role is in each other's lives. It's not a burden like it feels like at times. It's a special bond they will always have with each other.

It doesn't matter where life takes them around the globe, they will always have each other.

The three amigos. They will always be partners in crime and I can't tell you how happy that makes me.It's not an easy road as an anna. It's hard. The weight is heavy, but the best part is they can all carry it together. Even as the little brother, they can look out for their anna. They can all be there when one of them needs help. They can all be there to love on each other. They can all push each other to be the best they can be.I know they'll even be there to cover each other's backs when one of them decides to be dumb. Even though I'll give them the mommy look of death when I catch them in the act (I'll secretly be smiling as I see what a strong unit they've become).

Being an anna isn't easy, but it's one of the most special things they'll have in their lives.

6 Reasons Little Kids Test Boundaries

The moment the doctor tells you, "You're having another boy," you know things are about to get a little crazy.

Oh, and it definitely did. I have three boys, under five years old. As they get older, our stories about our day to day lives get more interesting.If you follow me on Instagram or Twitter, you've gotten to know my little family.You will definitely know my son Levi. I'm always posting pictures of his little mischievous antics. He's a riot. His nick name is Leviathan and if you were around him for any length of time, you'd understand. All of our crazy parenting stories involve him.

He greets people at our house half naked (Let me assure you I dress him about 15 times a day, but he always manages to "lose" his clothes).

He is always under the table with some contraband item (candy usually).

He randomly changes your name for an entire day (yesterday I was Queen Mommy).

He decides on a whim to cut our dogs hair.

He even wakes up at 5am to get a head start on it all.

It's because of him that I drink three cups of coffee a day. I have to keep up with him somehow! As he's getting bigger, I'm learning more about his character. Everyone always sees his mischievous and silly side, but people forget that their is so much more to him.People tend to think he needs us to raise our voice and be firm with him. They've told us he needs tough love and no grace. They make comments in front of him about how naughty he is. They tell us we're not parenting him right.What they don't see is that same little boy come up to me later that night and ask me to call him a good boy. While, you may think it's nothing, it is. He wants me to reaffirm that I love him and that I don't think he's a bad boy.There are so many rowdy little boys like mine in the world. Instead of understanding who they are, people label them the trouble makers or tell their parents they need to be put on ADD medication.Today I want to challenge all of you out there. Whether you're a parent or not. The next time you see a rowdy little boy, do not label him. Don't tell him he's bad because he wants to explore the world with his hands and push limits.

While you think he's disrespectful, he's learning what to say.

While you think he gets into everything, he's learning limits in his environment.

While you think he's can handle your "firm" words, he comes to mommy crying.

While you think he's being mean to his baby brother, he was trying to give him a big kiss.

While you think he's rude for not wanting to hug you, he is learning about his own emotions.

While you think he doesn't listen, he hears every word.

While you see some of the naughty things they do, you don't always know what they're trying to do. Instead of being tougher on them, figure out how you can help.I wish people would try to teach kids what they could do rather than what not to do. Yelling "NO" at a child doesn't teach him. Instead, teach him how to do it better.Kids need to be allowed to explore their environment and figure out how the world works. This means they will fail. They will cross the line. they will do it wrong. It's your job as the parent to teach them those limits.Children understand so much more if you encourage them to explore and set clear limits. Labeling a child as the "bad kid" will prevent them from being able to express themselves, learn about the world, have any self confidence, or want to learn how to do things differently. Encourage your children rather than label them.

The Chaos Of Going From Two To Three Kids

People joke all the time how motherhood is a full-time job, but they're wrong. It's not just a full-time job. It's two full-time jobs, with no break, no holiday pay, and constant over time. This job doesn't have a training period, you're simply thrust into it the day your child is born and you're left to figure it all out as you go.I have three boys. Three.

You'd think I'd have it all figured out by now, but I'm not even close.

I'm still figuring things out! My kids didn't want it to be too easy for me, so they decided to have completely different personalities and present me with different challenges every day.You have my oldest who is the rule follower. He wants to be perfect. It doesn't matter how often I tell him that it's impossible to be perfect and you learn the best through failure. It's ingrained into who he is. He pushes himself so hard and I'm still trying to figure out how to teach him to give himself a break and enjoy the journey.Then you have my middle child. He's full of endless energy, have no impulse control, and loves figuring things out for himself. This typically ends up in broken things around the house, situations I can hardly explain to anyone because they think I'm making it up for a laugh, and constantly asking, "Where's Levi?"Last, but not least, you have my youngest. He's the most dangerous combination of them both and he puts his own sassy spin on it all. He knows he has to hold his own as the youngest, so he never goes down without a fight. He also has two big brothers to learn his trickery from!Together, they're like a Power Ranger (see you can even tell I'm a boy mom through my references!) They combine together to become a super force and love trying to take me on every day.Aww. They're cute. They can't be that crazy can they??

Let's give you a little snapshot of my day yesterday.

I walked into the bathroom to see they forgot to flush for the millionth time. Not only did they forget to flush, but there was toilet paper all over the floor, soap all over the sink, and a full sink of soapy water. When I asked them about it (aka yelled at them for making such a mess) they quickly reminded me that they're magicians and had to make a potion.Over the next hour, things got crazier so I decided to take them to Chick Fil A so I could get a break. Plus it means they're playing in a room with one door in and out. It makes it much easier to keep tabs on them. I finally sat down with my coffee and peaked in to make sure they weren't destroying anything. What did I see? A pile of my kid's clothes. On the ground. Levi was completely out of sight. I ran in to find him before anyone else say my naked child running around and it turns out he had a costume on..... What!? He had apparently worn a costume under his clothes so he could "show his friends" his fun Ninjago costume. The mom in there looked at me like I was crazy, but I didn't care. I was just happy he wasn't naked. Costumes I can handle, naked tushies are a different story!You guys, this was just my morning!Three boys are no joke. Two boys were a little bit easier because I had enough arms to maneuver them when need be. Three kids mean I have to legitimately use my entire body to block them from all running off.

How has your life changed after welcoming another kiddo into your family?

Raising Young Men In A Time Of Trump And #MeToo

I'll never forget the moment I held all three of my little boys for the first time. Staring at their beautiful little faces wondering how in the world they could be mind.My boys.Six years later and I still find myself staring at them in the same way. Even after a long day of tantrums, fighting, wild antics, and all. Those wild little boys are mine.When I go to sleep at night, I find myself praying that their dad and I can raise them to be the kind of men this world needs.Men that know the importance of chivalry.Men that always strive to make the world a better place.Men that take care of their family and make them feel safe.Men that look out for people around them.Men that don't contribute to a #MeToo environment but stand alongside others knowing it's time for a change.It's a lot of responsibility to raise young men, especially the men you know they should be. It means we as their mothers have to fight hard now. We need to take every opportunity we can to teach them and surround them with men that lead by example.We have to stand up and fight against the negative examples of men that reflect the very disease in our society that leads to a time of #MeToo.

How can we raise young men with integrity when Trump is the most powerful leader in their country?

He stands for everything I don't want my kids to be. Regardless of your thoughts on politics, he's known for sexualizing women, joking about assaulting them, racist remarks, and promoting violence.He's undoing years of progress made in our country over the last hundred years.As a leader, our kids look up to him. They learn from his actions and words. Yes, even his toxic Twitter account where teens spend most of their time.So what can we do? Are we doomed to ending up with kids like the leader of our very own country?No. Hell no.

It's our job to teach our boys to be set apart.

They don't need to conform to the standard of men society has deemed acceptable. Our boys need to rise above be better.Every mother out there needs to challenge their kids daily. Raise the bar for them.Expect them to be chivalrous and hold doors open for people.Expect them to protect women rather than take advantage.Expect them to behave like young men with integrity and they will rise to the challenge.The time is now. We need to step up and challenge toxic masculinity at every step so our young boys can be the beginning of change. I refuse to raise my boys in the shadow of this example. They need to break through every bad example, every suggestion from our society, and SHINE.They need to learn to be the very examples we hope they find in their lives.

Ways To Simplify The School Week

I’m only a few months into a child at public school and I’m already feeling how crazy it all gets. Our homeschool schedule was completely different. We would wake up when we felt like starting our day, enjoy a good breakfast together, and ease into our school work. Then we were done by lunchtime and ready to have family and friend time!Public school is a whole different ballgame.Bedtime becomes life or death. If my kids don’t lay their heads on their pillow by 7 pm I know the following morning will be horrible. The next morning I have to get the kids up by 6 am, help them put their clothes on while half awake, and then leave the house by 6:45 am.Then you have the drop-off line.. The dreadful and infinitely long drop-off line. I typically spend our time waiting on my Instagram stories, complaining about how long it’s taking.By the time I make it back home, I’m completely exhausted but too wired to fall back asleep. Not to mention my younger two kids are wide awake waiting for their days to begin.I don’t know how all of you have survived it for so long! I count down until the weekends so I can get a bit of extra sleep and sanity. Only to find out my kid's body clocks won’t even let them sleep in!This is exactly why I started asking for advice from my momma friends about one day into our public school adventure. Here are all of the tips they have that help them make it through school mornings with a bit of sanity!

Breakfast Prep

Prepare your breakfast the weekend or night before. We don’t always have time for the kids to sit down at the table and enjoy a bowl of cereal. Sometimes, it’s simply a grab and go morning.Okay, most mornings are grab and go.I like to make hard boiled eggs, masala egg cups, smoothies, homemade granola bars, and samosa hand pies.The more that you can prep beforehand, the less you will need to do on school mornings.

Have Your Child Lay Everything Out The Night Before

Help your child pick out their clothes and school supplies out the night before. This way all they need to do when they wake up is put their clothes on. They don’t have to take the time to stress out over what they’re going to wear. They can simply roll out of bed and get dressed.On their way out the door, they can even grab their backpacks and lunches. No more of the whole looking for the notebook they misplaced the night before. Do all the handwork the night before when you’re not in a time crunch.

Keep The TV Off In The Mornings

If your kids are anything like mine, it can be incredibly hard to pull your kids away from their favorite show. Instead, you can turn off the TV and turn up the music. We have a few playlists that the kids have created and they choose our which ones they want to listen to for that morning. It helps get them moving, but it’s also easy to turn off when we’re done. Or you can even transition it to the car and listen to it on the way to school!

Stick To A Routine

Find a routine that works best for everyone and stick to it. This helps promote independence for your kids because they know exactly what they should be doing. It will be tricky at first because they’ll try to get out of it or pretend they can’t remember what they were supposed to be doing.Once they see your morning routine isn’t going anywhere, they’ll start to do it on their own!

Reward Your Kids For A Good Week

I am a big fan of positive reinforcement. Okay. Okay. I’m a big fan of bribery! I find little ways to reward my kids for good behavior and it helps! Did your kids have a good week? Were they getting ready quickly or did you find this week better than last week?

Reward them!

Let them know you’re proud of their hard work in the mornings and find a way to show them. It can be a special breakfast in the morning, an early trip to Starbucks, or take them to the movie over the weekend. It doesn’t have to be big, just let them know you’ve noticed their hard work.

What are you tips for school mornings?

My Family's Journey With Essential Oils + Our Favorite Blends

*I am a member of Young Living and receive a small commission on sales. All opinions expressed are my own.*

I’ve never considered myself a crunchy mom. In fact, I didn’t even know what that term meant until I moved to the Pacific Northwest. It was there I was introduced to a world of healthy moms full of vegan, dairy free, organic, sugar-free everything.I thought it was silly to waste all that time and continued on with my sugary coffee and donuts.Then my son had his first febrile seizure. Then my husband and I entered into a crazy season in our family’s life. It was also when I realized a crunchy life really wasn’t so crazy after all. It simply meant moms out there were doing anything in their power to make sure their kids were healthy and happy.I started looking into everything I could. I paid attention to what was in the food I purchased, started making things homemade when I could, and I was introduced to essential oils. I needed to find natural ways to boost my kid’s immune systems so they didn’t pass things along to Luke and cause him to have another seizure.A few years later and we’re still using essential oils. I love how easy they are to use and it’s become a part of our sick routine.The first sign of a cough or a fever and we immediately start diffusing oils, rub oils on our kids back, and start taking them in our water as well.We definitely saw improvements in our health overall. Not to mention, if you’re a candle junky like me, you love having your house smell fresh all the time. It’s exactly why my diffuser has become my best friend.

*I use Young Living Oils in my house so everything you see below is using their products. Also, I am NOT A DOCTOR. These are things we do when our kids get sick and merely a suggestion.*

My Go To Diffuser Blends

Wake Momma Up ( 3 Drops of Lemon + 3 Drops of Peppermint)Sick Days (3 Drops of Purification + 3 Drops Thieves + 2 Drops Lemon)Yucky Smells (3 Drops of Purification)Homework Time (2 Drops of Lavender + 2 Drops of Frankincense + 2 Drops of Stress Away)Bed Time (3 Drops of Lavender)

Our Sick Routine

FeversWe filled a roller bottle with coconut oil and 12 drops of peppermint oil. When our kids get a fever we roll it on their spine. It naturally cools your kid’s bodies.Tummy AcheMix a drop of Digize and coconut oil and rub it on their belly. Young Living also has a kid version of the Digize and that works well too.EczemaMix 2 drops of lavender and coconut oil and rub it on the affected area. It really helps my kids feel better. My kids have mild eczema, but it works for them and the coconut oil is very moisturizing.Don’t Get Sick!Try to stay healthy this season by putting a drop of Thieves oil on your feet in the morning. It’s supposed to help boost your immune system.If you're interested in trying it out for yourself, head over and pick up a starter kit. It has all the beginner oils you'll need to get your family healthy this season! Plus, if you sign up with me I can help you along the way!

Click here to sign up!

Helping Your Hot Tempered Child To Calm Down

"The words that come out of your mouth are much more powerful than you realize. They can make someone's day completely better or make them feel like complete garbage. You need to think about that before you start saying mean things..."

This was just a tiny piece of my conversation with my four-year-old last night.He is my sensitive boy. I always have to watch what I say to him because he can find a flaw or insult in just about anything. It almost means a simple compliment for him can mean the whole world!Then why is it so easy for him to say hurtful things to his brothers?Last night, I walked in on my boys fighting over some silly toy. It's not unusual for them in fact if I were to walk in on them playing nicely together... I'd wonder what they were up to.In that moment, I had it. I was completely over the arguing and mean things they were saying to each other. I started to explain just how powerful words are to my four-year-old and noticed he started to get emotional.His tender heart couldn't believe that he had truly hurt his brother's feelings even if his temper told him differently in the moment. The problem is everything goes to the waist-side when his temper is flared.I've never felt so close to him!The perpetual struggle with your own temper is rough. Especially when you're a little boy trying to sort it all out. The good thing is he feels remorse afterward and he wants to be nice to people around him. That's more than I can say about myself when I'm mad. In the midst of my bad mood, I have no desire to be nice to anyone else.So what can I do? How can I help him try and calm down before he says something he regrets?

Tips To Calm Down Your Hot Tempered Kiddo

Take A Deep Breath

Teach your kids to take a deep breath when they feel like they're about to blow. It gives them a moment to think before they do or say anything they'll regret in the moment.

Find Alone Time

When your kids starts to get upset, teach them to ask for a break. They can go to their room, sit on the back porch, or simply find a little spot in the house to find some peace. Let them calm down on their own and then come back when they're ready.

Ask For A Hug

Sometimes emotions get high and all your child really needs is a big hug and some reassurance. When they get upset, give them a few options to calm down and always offer some love. You'd be surprised just how much can be solved by a tight hug.

Help Your Child Understand Their Feelings

Talk with your kiddo and help them talk through their feelings. You can help them find out what made them so angry and explain what they're feeling. As they learn to identify those feelings they can figure out what to do with them before they get too explosive.

Sing A Song

Find a fun song that can help change the tone of the situation. One of our favorites is Daniel Tiger. All three of my kids know their calm down song and even sing it to each other! Adorable.

Find Something For Them To Do With Their Hands

Anger can quickly turn to fighting with siblings or breaking something. Stop it before it can get there and help your kids find something to do with their hands. You can have them punch a pillow, play with a squishy ball, or play baseball.How do you help your kiddos calm down when they're about to blow a gasket? 

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?

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!

Our Little Fixer Upper *Before*

If you’ve been following my blog for long, you’ve picked up a few things about my family. We’re a multiracial family, I like to adopt pets while my husband is at work, and we move… a lot. We’re at it again!We just closed on our new home! Purchasing a home is one of the most exciting things! We started looking for our dream home a few months ago. We anticipated we’d end up starting the process sometime after March. We wanted to have enough time to find the perfect place and be able to save.We had only been looking for about a week when I got a text from my husband. One sentence would send our family into a whirlwind and change all of our plans.Check out this house!I fell in love with it right away! We decided to drive by it that afternoon and our pastor hooked us up with a realtor from our church. We ended up hating the house after seeing it in person.It’s the funny thing about house hunting. A house that looks so perfect in pictures can feel completely different in person.Nonetheless, that house started us on our house hunting journey. We absolutely loved our realtor, Michaela and decided we wanted to keep looking. About one week later, we found Our Fixer Upper House.The funny thing is that we had skipped over it the first time we saw it. The pictures made the house look like something we wouldn’t like. However, it was sitting on 2 acres and my husband decided to add it to our list of houses to see.In order to get to this little gem, you have to drive down this windy little road into our woods. Yes, our woods! It’s absolutely beautiful. I have always wanted to have a yard that my kids could play in all day long. The woods were a dream I never thought I’d be able to have!The inside is a bit of a different story. It took my much longer to fall in love with. It’s much more outdated and needed a good bit of work. However, every episode of Fixer Upper that my husband and I had spent watching together kicked in and made us realize we could turn it into Our Fixer Upper.  It simply needed a fresh coat of paint, elbow grease, and some Joanna Gaines magic!This house definitely has its charm. It has a 70’s vibe everywhere you go. It even has its own intercom system! My husband was going to get rid of it but I quickly reminded him it meant we could yell at our kids wherever they went!Not to mention the popcorn ceiling…Every single room had popcorn ceiling and we knew it would be the first thing we’d get rid of when we moved in! As soon as you started to get lost in the work the house needs, you simply need to walk outside and see why it’s all worth it.The peaceful backyard makes every moment of work worth it. Especially when you hear how it influences you kid’s imaginations. It’s not just a backyard for my boys.

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?

Multiracial Family Guide: Hosting Your In-Laws

As a new couple, one of the scariest moments is having your in-laws over to your house for the first time. Most likely, you've already met them before, but it was on their turf. Now you're welcoming them into your own home.Your natural habitat.The place you can relax and be the raw, unfiltered you. You know the place you eat take out directly out of the container. The place you walk around without a bra because they're all dirty. The place you don't bother keeping spick and span because you're too busy.The place you're terrified to let your in-laws into.Before you start hyperventilating, take a deep breath. It doesn't have to be as bad as you're imagining in your head.In reality, having them over to your house can be easier. You're the most comfortable at home, so it can help with your nerves. Not to mention, you are in control of your environment. You can tidy up, hide the Game of Thrones contraband, and set out a vase of flowers.The scariest part is not knowing exactly what they're expecting when they arrive. As an interracial couple, you know things will be a bit different and you'll have to figure out what is culturally expected as the host.This is one of the things I've struggled with over the years. When I have people over to my house, I do what I was raised to do. I do what my family taught me was expected as the host, but over the years I've learned just how different it can be in different cultures.I finally sat down with my mother in law and simply asked her.What should I do as the host when Indian family members come to visit?

Everything Starts With A Cup Of Chai

Chai can make everything better. Truly. Somehow it has a magical effect when people enjoy it together.Whip up a batch of masala chai before your guests arrive. After they walk in the door and the greetings are finished, offer everyone a cup.This is going to give you huge Indian points with your family. You're showing them that you're going out of your way to bring them a little comfort from their own home.Try this simple masala chai recipe for your guests.

Food Is Your Best Friend

When you get your Indian relatives together, they're expecting food. I used to try and do little appetizers or plan to go out and get food soon after, but it's not the same. They want Indian food. Who doesn't? I can't even blame them because Indian food is delicious and it's a great way to bring people together.It doesn't matter if they're coming at lunch, in between lunch and dinner, or late at night... Prepare a few Indian dishes for them. Worse case scenario they say no thank you and you reheat it for the next meal.It means a lot to them when they see all the hard work you put in for them.You could prepare a simple keema curry, almond chicken curry, or even my favorite pav bhaji. Serve it with a big plate of rice and you're ahead of the game.

Shower Them With Gifts

If this is your first time meeting your in-laws, get them a gift. It doesn't have to be anything huge, but gifts are expected. They may not ever tell you this, but it's an unwritten rule in Indian families.You could get them a little container of loose leaf tea, a scarf, a piece of jewelry, or truly anything. It's not the cost that matters, it's the thought.

Be Yourself

At the end of the day, be yourself. The reason you're meeting your in-laws or hosting them at your house is that your partner loves you. They love you so much they want to bring you into their family.All you have to do is be yourself.Share about your first time hosting the in-laws in the comments!

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! 

Summer Safety: How Big Families Can Stay Safe At The Pool

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #JumpIntoSummer #CollectiveBias

Life with three boys under 6 years old can be pretty hectic. Everything just gets a little more complicated. When I had two kids, I had just enough extremities to keep up with them. I could hold them both at the same time... I could hold one hand and hold the other...Then I had my third son and I quickly realized things had changed. I thought it would just be little things, but it was so much more. I had to think strategically about everything. If I went grocery shopping, I had to go to the place with the extra large carts to fit all my kids. If I went to the park, I had to wear one on my back while I held the other kid's hands. I had to make a plan everywhere I went. Some places became a simple no. I knew it would be too complicated to bring the kids while I was by myself and I'd have to wait for my husband. Then the summer hit. We recently moved to North Carolina and found a house with a pool. I was just as excited as the kids to spend the entire summer in the water. Then the nerves set in. How would I be able to keep three kids safe at the pool? I knew I couldn't physically hold all three of them and they aren't good enough swimmers to go on their own. Right as I was about to give up, a friend recommended Stearns® Puddle Jumper®  3D Life Jackets to me. She swore that they were amazing and helped parents feel more secure at the pool.I tried it for my five-year-old and they changed my life! Stearns® Puddle Jumper 3D Life Jackets help parents keep their kids more safe while swimming! Parents have enough to worry about and these vests help take the fear at the pool away. They're designed to wrap around your child's chest and arms. Not to mention, they're designed so they can't hike up to their neck. It doesn't matter whether your child is a confident swimmer or a beginner swimmer. They help keep their head above water while still letting them learn the basics of swimming.When I was younger, I used to help at my church youth group to teach kids to swim. One of the biggest things I learned was that the first step to learning how to swim is to feel confident in the water. They had to be able to trust themselves while swimming. Stearns® Puddle Jumper®  3D Life Jackets help give kids the confidence they need.Now that my two younger kids are ready to get in the water, we went to Target to find their Puddle Jumper®  Life Vests. They were so excited to find that they have 3D characters on them! I was excited to see that they were adjustable. All three of my kids have such different builds and it's usually hard to find one thing that works for them all. The adjustable straps help to make sure they fit them all comfortably.Keep these pool safety tips in mind if you're going to the pool with a big family like mine.

1. Get your children comfortable in the water.
2. Make swimming fun!
3. Always make sure an adult is present.
4. Make sure your beginner swimmers have on a life vest while swimming.
5. Walk around the pool.
6. Don't swim when tired.
7. Take breaks.
8. Make sure you always see your kids.
9. Stick to one spot of the pool while they're getting comfortable.
10. Get swim lessons.

Are you ready to brave the summer? If so, head over to your local Target and pick up your own Stearns® Puddle Jumper®  3D Life Jackets! Whether your have PAW Patrol® or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle® fans, they’re in luck! Let them pick out their own vests and get excited about swimming this summer!Enjoy your summer with Stearns® Puddle Jumper®  3D Life Jackets!

Father's Day Is Our Chance To Tell Him How We Feel

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CelebrateAllSummer #CollectiveBias

Father's Day is right around the corner and my boys are getting excited! They've been planning out the perfect day to let their daddy know how much they love him.I've loved seeing the relationship my boys have with their daddy. In the beginning, they were complete momma's boys. I could tell my husband was nervous that they'd always be that way.Then I saw it happen before my eyes. I'd find them searching through the house looking for dada and the look on my husband's face was always priceless. His heart was completely full in those moments.Over the years, I've seen him do everything he can to be the best dad for his boys. He works harder than so many people I know, he always makes time to throw the ball around the yard with them, and he's showing them what it means to be an amazing man.Father's Day is our chance to let him know how much we love him.As life get's busy we don't always take the time to tell each other how we feel. We assume they just know what we think and how much we appreciate them.American Greetings is there to help us find the words we want to say. Father's Day is the perfect time to let it all out. These dads work hard all year to be an example to their kids and much like every other parent, they don't always think they're doing great. This is our time to let them know how much we appreciate everything they do.My kids had a blast choosing out their cards. My four-year-old found a card with a "superhero daddy" and my other boys found cards that fit their personalities perfectly.This year for Father's Day, my kids are going to spoil their daddy with cards that tell him exactly how they feel and a delicious brunch. We even decided to mix together two of my husband's favorite things... Indian food and pizza.We've decided to whip up a delicious batch of Curry Spiced Waffle Pizza. If he could survive on Indian food and pizza, I know he would. I let his taste buds be the inspiration for our tasty Father's Day brunch menu. [amd-yrecipe-recipe:24]Whether you want to find the perfect words to tell dad you love him or you just want to celebrate your best friend, American Greetings is there for you. Sometimes it's hard to find the words to describe how we feel about the close people in our lives, but these cards are perfect.We went to Walmart looking for Father's Day cards and ended up leaving with cards for Hug Your Kids Day and Finally Summer! I had to cut my kids off in the end because they wanted to leave with them all!I love American Greetings because they don't just have cards! We were able to get everything we needed for Father's Day in one simple trip! We picked up our favorite cards, a gift bag, and even tissue paper! They have it all!Pick up your American Greeting cards today, but don't forget to use this coupon!Are you an Ibotta fan like me? You should be! They have a ton of great savings! You could head over to Walmart today and purchase any American Greetings® Card at Walmart and Earn $1 on Ibotta ! They've even sweetened the deal by offering another deal! You can purchase any American Greetings® Card at Walmart and Earn $1 on Ibotta !

Does It Make My Son Racist To Notice Different Skin Colors?

"Mom, look! He's black like daddy!"

This was what my 4 year old decided to yell as we walked through Target. The funny thing was that the man he was referring to looked at him and smiled, but a lady walking behind us was the one that gave Levi a double take. She wasn't mad necessarily, but you could tell it made her uncomfortable.My son is very visual, like most kids his age. When he retells me some of his adventures from the day, he tends to refer to children and adults by skin color. It's the descriptive words that his brain instantly recognizes."Can you get the black boys phone number so he can come and play?"In his mind, he's just describing his new friend like he would with any other adjectives.I've struggled over this one a bit. Everyone has such different opinions on what's acceptable, but at the end of the day, I had to make a decision for my kids.When my son was talking to me about his friend from the park, I responded by modeling different descriptors."Oh yeah, the kid with the orange shirt? He was really nice!"I don't correct him for using skin color as his descriptor, but I provide him with others as well. As a biracial child, I think it's important for him to realize we are who we are because of so many things. Our skin color doesn't define who we are, but it's one of many pieces of our identity.

Should We Raise Our Kids To Be Colorblind?

Another approach to this would be to raise our kids with a color blind mentality. It basically means you teach your kids not to see skin color.As a multiracial family, I can't see how that's healthy. My kids are being raised in two different cultures. Those cultures have influenced so many things about our family's identity and our daily decisions. If we were to teach our kids to stop seeing color, I feel like we'd be telling them to stop letting their Indian/American culture influence who they are.I've had people tell me I focus too much on my kid's culture rather than teaching them to simply be kids. I do it because I want my kids to be raised with a global mindset. If we're only teaching them about one culture we're ignoring all of the other amazing lessons they can learn from different cultures around the world.We currently attend a multiracial church and our pastor is always talking about being color blessed instead of color blind. I love it because it encourages us to embrace what makes us unique rather than ignore it.I want my kids to see the differences we all have so they also understand the unique part we all have to play in our diverse world.

 The Real Problem

At the end of the day, the problem isn't kids using colors to describe people around them. The problem is when we make negative and hurtful statements about people based on the color of their skin.We are raising our children in a society that still struggles with racism and prejudice. As far as we've come from the days of Martin Luther Kind Jr. and the Lovings, we still have a ways to go.It's because of this that race becomes an uncomfortable conversation. People would rather be colorblind than talk about something that makes them feel awkward. In reality, I think a lot of parents are scared of saying the wrong thing.I've been there too! It's one thing to talk about race in the comfort of your own home, but it's a different story when it happens in public. You don't want to offend anyone, but you don't want them that talking about different races makes you feel weird.I've just started to break the uncomfortable barrier by asking questions. If I'm not sure what to say, I'll ask friends around me. By asking the question, they know you want to be respectful and you'll even learn a few things!I want my kids to do the same thing. I encourage them to learn more about people and to feel comfortable noticing what makes us all unique.

Embrace The Mess This Summer With These Fun Activities!

The Bigger The Mess, The Bigger The Adventure

As a mother, most of my day is spent cleaning up messes that get made quicker than I ever thought imaginable. I'm constantly trying to keep boogers in noses, pee in the toilet, and dirty fingers off my couch.Summer time can get a little crazy for parents. While it's supposed to be a two month long vacation, it turns into chaos rather quickly. When kids don't have school work they happily find other things to keep them busy.I'll let you in on a little secret... it involves a big mess.The more I've been thinking about this summer, I've realized messes aren't the end of the world. I tend to be a control freak when it comes to my parenting. I want things to stay the way I envision them which means as little mess as possible.In the end it only ends up with me near a nervous breakdown while my kids get dirty anyways.Then I had an earth shattering moment... I realized summer time is the absolute best time for messes. All you have to do is let the kids go outside, get as messy as they can, and then turn the sprinklers on!It's a win-win situation!Your kids instantly think you're the best mom in town because you're letting them get as messy as their hearts desire and you can get them clean before they even step foot in your house.This is exactly why our summer motto is "The Bigger The Mess, The Bigger The Adventure."My kids are only going to be little kids once. I love watching them go outside and turn our backyard into a jungle filled with giant creatures they have to run from. I love seeing rain turn magical powers that gives my kids the ability to fly.While I may see these crazy, mud-covered children as something else I have clean up, they see it as a huge adventure.

20 Messy Summer Adventures

1. Digging in the dirt for treasure
2. Finger Paint In The Bathtub
3. Chalk Bombs (Crushed up chalk and a bit of water in a water balloon)
4. Squirt Gun Painting
5. Mud Painting
6. Puffy Paint (Shaving Cream and Glue)
7. Sensory Bin Filled With Cooked Spaghetti
8. Make Bright Colored Slime
9. Use Your Own Body As A Stamp Outside
10. Giant Bubbles
11. Spray Chalk
12. Muddy Trucks In The Play Pool
13. Exploding Mentos (Mentos in Clear Pop)
14. Messy Twister (Adding colored shaving cream to each spot)
15. Paint Slip And Slide
16. Bubble Wrap Painting
17. Foam Sand (Sand and shaving cream)
18. Fairy Soup (Water and whatever they can find in the yard)
19. Ice Cube Painting (Water and food coloring)
20. Shaving Cream Blocks (Use shaving cream as the "glue" to keep it together)

Kleenex Is Here To Help Moms Embrace The Mess

At the end of the day all you need is a sprinter and a Kleenex On The Go Package. Kids are going to get messy and summer is the best time to embrace it.It doesn't matter if you're at home, at the park, or on your way to vacation, embrace the mess this summer. Just have fun and if you're brave enough... join in!The best part is there is no mess that the Kleenex On The Go Pack can't handle! I always have one in the car and one in my purse. We've used them for anything from muddy hands to paint covered faces. It makes cleaning up the mess a breeze.Head over to your local Walmart today and pick up your own Kleenex On The Go Pack and embrace the mess this summer!