I’m not sure that I would recommend this particular method, it’s just how I did it recently. Step One – discover that one of your neighbors, a mom (and you always like to spend your money with moms) is a photographer. Step Two – think, “I really need to have my profile picture updated. The […]
Kids Don’t Need Toys: Proof
When my parents and I get together, my Dad is often heard saying, “Kids don’t need toys“. I think of this often, and when it plays out in my children’s lives, I like to document it. Here’s an example. My children have been spending the better part of their afternoons doing this. I considered buying […]
Things I Learned Camping
We went camping last weekend. The last time we did so was five years ago, so I had forgotten a few things about the experience. This is a shot overlooking the pond the kids swam and fished in. Nice, no? Camping is a great way to step off the hedonic treadmill. Meaning, it’s a pattern […]
Benign Neglect: what it is, why your kids need it
{Note: I originally published this post about benign neglect in 2008, before the term “helicopter parent” had been coined. I decided to republish it now.] Benign Neglect I remember reading this term years ago in Mothering magazine when they published a feature article praising “benign neglect”. I don’t think it’s online, but a Google search […]
The Trouble with Neighborhood Kids
The good news is, my across-the-street neighbors have two little girls visiting for the summer. The bad news is, my across-the-street neighbors have two little girls visiting for the summer. Since their arrival yesterday, they’ve attempted to spend every free moment at my house. I’m pretty sure it’s not my charm that draws them, but […]
In Which I Deal With All.The.Feelings
Lately, my blog is feeling like that beautiful girl who can’t get a date because she’s so intimidating. And then when the guy does work up the nerve to ask her out, he forgets what to say. I’m sitting at Starbucks right now with no kids around (well my oldest is here but he hardly qualifies […]
Y’know, Stuff
I haven’t meant to be so quiet around here. It’s just that once again mothering has taken over blogging and writing. For one thing, Queen V has been living up to her name recently. While she still has my heart wrapped around her finger and is positively the sweetest thing ever, she’s going through a […]
How To Find Time for Read-Aloud
[This post is part of a series in which I focus on read-aloud. To see the list of 31 posts, go here.] We’ve talked about why reading to your kids is important. How do you find the time to do it every day? Kill The TV. Kids who don’t have access to much TV and […]
Walking to the Library
[Note: This post is part of a 31 day focus on read-aloud. To see the entire list, go here: 31 Days of Read-Aloud.] We’re fortunate enough to have a library that’s a mile away from our house. I’m embarrassed to admit that we’ve only walked there twice in the nearly 4 years we’ve lived in […]
It Takes a Family to Raise a Toddler
It doesn’t take a village to raise a child. I take major umbrage with that statement. However, it does take a family to raise a 2 year old. Ruby was getting on everyone’s nerves this morning. It has been a cacophony of whining, crying/screaming when everything didn’t go her way. Caleb had his fingers in […]