There will be moments when you won’t say just the right thing to your toddler.  You’ll be flustered or upset and yell or snap.  There will be days that the dinner will turn out gross, despite your extra effort to try a new recipe and buy all the yummy ingredients.  There will be the mornings when you’re late for every thing.  There will be weeks when you feel estranged from your spouse and the kids will cry, tantrum, and defy you.  There will be times when you feel like you’re …

I was helping my 6 year old prepare her first school report on giraffes.  It struck me as odd and neglectful when I read that adult female giraffes leave their calves in a hidden spot for up to a month and come back to nurse them 3 or 4 times each day.  The calf remains alone, hidden, without the comfort and care of the mother.  After a month, the cow (that’s what female giraffes are called), brings her calf into the “nursery” with the other calves and their mothers for …

This month’s Personal Renewal Group call focused on the Transformative Power of Self-Care.  One of the areas of self-care is our spiritual needs.  So many families are moving away from organized religion.  With or without an organized religious community, it can be easy for moms to neglect their spiritual needs.  Here are some great ideas from “The Mother’s Guide to Self-Renewal” to get back in-touch with that part of yourself again…

Take time to be by yourself to think or write
Take a walk in a park or out in nature
Meditate, pray …

It might sound crazy to start thinking about risky teen behaviors when your oldest is only 4 or you’re a mom of a cherubic 15 month old.  We have a lot of work to do if we want to keep our kids safe and connected to us through the next decade or more years.
Part of that hard work can be spread out if we understand that we play a big role in our young children’s lives.  But that only works if you are present and willing to stand up to …

One of the ways to help our children learn right from wrong and to reflect on the choices they made that day, is to reflect back with them how they handled situations that came up.  For example, my 2.5 year old is still learning how to take turns and to communicate his wants and needs without screeching and crying.  Today at his preschool Fall Festival he desperately wanted to ride in the wagon that two other children were riding.  I watched from across the yard as he clung to the …

It’s never too early to pick a night of the week that pulls everyone together to do something special together.  Since we’ve limited television viewing in our house we’re making Friday night “family night” for making homemade pizza and borrowing a movie from the library that we can all watch together. This last week was especially nice because we had Noni here - my children’s paternal great grandmother.  She’s full-blooded Italian and LOVES to bake pizza crust.

I thought it would be fun, but I had no idea how much …

I love the Fall. It takes a bit longer for it to arrive here in North Carolina than in other places.  Today was crisp with a warm sun.  Cool enough for layers, warm enough to be comfortable.  I’m always looking for fun decorating ideas to do with the kids for Halloween.  I discovered this wonderful site and wanted to be sure to pass it along to all nobleMama subscribers.  Enjoy and have fun exploring the different ideas!

It’s always comforting to find out just how connected we really are when you find yourself identifying with complete strangers in regards to private, personal habits.  One common personal habit I have is staying up way too late.  I love the quiet solitude of knowing that my wee ones are sound asleep, content.  A wave of excitement washes over me as soon as I slap myself awake after reading the bedtime story, saying the last prayer, and finally turning off the light.  “It’s time for me!” I hear my inner …

As my daughter’s 6th birthday approaches at the end of this month, I’ve been pondering what gift to purchase that will stimulate her desire to play!  I’ve been reading Heaven on Earth by Sharifa Oppenheimer and it’s been wonderful to explore what kinds of toys engage a child’s imagination.  I am always inspired by the suggestions of simple things from nature and providing the kids with toys that they can manipulate.
For young children, boys and girls, dress up is an all-time favorite.  We have a basket filled with hats, accessories, …

We’ve all used television and computer games as a babysitter at some point as parents.  Perhaps your kids are exposed to screens daily or just once in awhile.  The way we use screen technology in our homes is personal.   You get to decide how much of it you want your kid to have.
I find that I make better choices about the amount of screen time my kids get when I’m reminded about the negative impact it has on their development and behavior.
This month I’ve focused on helping moms create …