“Every day is a new day.”  That is what my son’s nursery school teacher said to a group of 3-4 year olds as they created a game on the hay bales and excluded one of their school mates.  The morning had just begun and already the children were thinking about the trouble they had in the past with their friend.  It took some explaining, but the children soon realized that everyone can start fresh, with a clean slate - there are no mistakes in this beautiful day!
My ds, at only …

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 …

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, …

If you’re like so many moms, trying to fit in that physical care of your body is a tough one.  Our bodies are moving…

They have to get up in the middle of the night when our baby needs to eat or our child is sick or has had a nightmare.
They have to get up with our early riser and start breakfast.
They have to stretch to reach the block or pacifier that fell behind the couch.
They have to run after our toddler as he runs after the stray dog in …

Yesterday, I took my 5 year old and 2 year old to a toy store to pick out a birthday present for my daughter’s friend.  I’m always a bit challenged by this task.
The toys are so unappealing to me - the cheap plastic, ugly colors, and obnoxious noises.  I was surprised that even my kids weren’t that impressed with the glam and glitz of the latest fads.

This month we’re exploring the topic “Should I Be My Child’s Playmate?”  Be sure to register to be part of the conversation.  It’s coming up this next week!
Date:  Thursday, October 9, 2008
Time:  9:00-10:30pm EST
To find out more about this topic and to register Click Here!

The Law of Attraction (LOA) isn’t new. We’ve all heard of The Secret by now. Growing up, my parents often used the LOA without calling it that. When I was 9 years old my father became legally blind. My mother was a stay-at-home mom of five children. I am the baby of the family. My dad is a store designer, specifically for shoe stores. He relies on his eyesight.

It’s so easy to think that a therapist or child development specialist or pediatrician or even your own personal parent coach is a perfect parent. I remember thinking in those pre-baby years that parenting would be a simple task - I mean, I had so much information and wasn’t it just about knowing what to do and then doing it?? This is where God’s sense of humor comes in. I have been very blessed to learn just what a craft and art parenting truly is from excellent …

Something that is really helping me through these young years is figuring out what I’m passionate about. Hopefully many of you haven’t lost your passions when you entered motherhood.