So you recently got an invitation to a birthday party and it says “no gifts please”. What do you do? Do you come to the party empty-handed or do you bring something just in case? What does it mean? Is it obvious or is it just trying to be polite? Here is a breakdown of…
After weeks of living in a hotel and trying to explain that screaming was even less acceptable there than in our other homes, I had reached my breaking point. Granted, the changes of moving across the country and being in a state of limbo and flux were hard on my children as much as they…
Spanking. The one word probably elicits a lot of emotions for many. Whether you are an advocate or against the idea, it was something I didn’t think much about. I was spanked as a child and I had seen spanking within my family. And though I have been one to do as much peaceful parenting…
Most all of us have heard about the five love languages and how we can show those around us love in a way that they understand. But few people seem to focus on how everyone has two love languages – one for how they give love naturally and one for how they naturally feel loved….
I get it. Today was rough. So was yesterday, last week, and last month. Raising toddlers and young children in general is not joke and some days you just need to see the silver lining to raising these little humans. You need to know that you’re doing something right… or you at least just need…
There is a model of parenting that elicits a certain amount of fear in a child that if they don’t do what you want them to, you will do something they really don’t want. It’s a parenting style that is easily used because it uses persuasion to get a child to act accordingly. However, in the grand…
In the age where children are inconsolable, dealing with big emotions, and many times lack the words to effectively communicate, it is important for parents to be there to help fill in the gaps rather than create more distance. When a toddler is throwing a tantrum or is on the verge of getting upset, it’s…
We have all been there… your toddler is tired, cranky, and inconsolable. They are acting up and you’re making excuses for their lack of sleep and deep in your soul you’re feeling depleted, empty, and helpless. Yep. I am there all the time. My toddler hates to sleep for the most part meaning 9 times…
I stood in the corner of our Oklahoma living room looking at a room empty of all belongings with a mountain of luggage behind me, my two babies sleeping on the floor, and sign on our fire place staring at me declaring that “The best things in life aren’t things”. That was the moment that it hit…
I think sometimes embracing parenthood is hard. Not just because you get less sleep or have to share food, but because you have to truly die to yourself. While I can raise my child to love what I love, explaining the social implications of futbol and machismo on world politics just isn’t something I can…
Maybe you have heard of the different learning styles or maybe you haven’t. There are three main categories: Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic. And while the average person utilizes all three, we also all typically have one that is more prevalent than the other two. Therefore, training our ears and eyes to observe and detect the…
Even since my oldest daughter was about four months old, we have tried to parent in a way that elicits critical thinking. Because, for us, it is important that we are raising children to problem solve and not be 100% dependent upon us. And in the end, we have encouraged independence in our toddler and…