As a stay at home mom, I find great fulfillment is helping other parents with their children.
It is summer time and a lot of parents need some place for their older children to spend the day, I have provided that this summer. It has been a fun adventure and challenge! Being a stay at home allows me to help other parents, whether they work outside the home, need a break, or just need some help for a couple hours a day every once in a while.
Mamas, we need to be there for each other. Yes, sometimes that means spending one day a week surrounded by children and having a completely child fun day. It may also mean offering help to that other mom you see who you know doesn't get breaks often. You will find that when you look at helping other parents as just that, helping parents, the daunting task of helping with additional children actually turns into a blessing to you! It truly is better to give than receive. When you know you have helped another mama and that you have done it well, it brings a great satisfaction to you.
This week find that mama that needs some help and offer your time. Reach out, go outside of your circle of friends, and open your arms and open your home to others. You can do this mamas!!! We need each other!!!
XOXO,
Rebecca
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Saturday, June 22, 2013
It's Party Time!
Oh, birthday parties. A rite of passage into motherhood. From the first birthday party for the first child....the one that you rent everything you can for and go out of your way to have the whole shebang. To the birthday parties that your child is telling you exactly what theme and who to invite to the party. Birthday parties are a time of fun, laughing, and stress!
At the beginning of my birthday party journey, I literally had an itinerary printed out as to what activities would be when and I had RSVPs mandatory; if you did not RSVP your child did not get a coveted goodie bag. Well, here I am today, just completed my thirteenth birthday party on this journey and I can say that I have loosened up. Instead of planning the parties a year in advance, I usually take a couple weeks to plan it. I don't pull out all stops any more. I just relax and make sure the guests are having a good time. We had our two year old's birthday party this weekend; and I can say I truly enjoyed myself. I wasn't stressed at all. I had a fun time. And there was no itinerary!
As I was reflecting on the enjoyment of the party, here are some things I noted I did:
- Made the menu simple: finger food only. We had pinwheels, fruit and cheese kabobs, a veggie tray, bottled water, and the cake.
- Started on time. I did not wait for everyone on the invitation list to come, I started at the time the party was said to begin.
- Let the kids play. I admit, when the birthday child ran outside in the muddy backyard, I got a little stressed. After we took the pictures, all the kids had free reign in the backyard.
- No goodie bags. Okay, brace yourself.. It is okay. We had no goodie bags and nobody missed them. Less stress for me and probably less stress for my friends, not having to say "no" to candy and gum!
- No games. You may need to sit down for this one. No goodie bags AND no games!! There was no real organized activities at the party.
- Hung out and relaxed. Yep, you read that right. Me, the hostess, just relaxed. I enjoyed myself and just had fun with my friends and family.
- Kept the guest list intimate. I invited family and friends who are basically family. At two years old, my child's friends are generally children of my friends. I did not invite the entire nursery at church. I did not invite based on wanting an invite to one of the other children's parties. I invited based on relationships. This may have been my sanity saver this year. The people who came know me well, I did not have to "put on the dog", it was just friends hanging out.
If you're planning the party of the year for your little darling, make sure it is a fun time for both the children and yourself. Don't worry about what the Jones's are doing for their birthday parties, they are no fun to keep up with any way! Don't stress!!! Your child will remember the people who came....and probably the cake, more than they will remember pin the tail on the donkey or the double bubble gum in a goodie bag. I have included some pictures from the birthday party so you can see how easy it can be!
Have fun during these times! You can do it mama!!
XOXO,
Rebecca
At the beginning of my birthday party journey, I literally had an itinerary printed out as to what activities would be when and I had RSVPs mandatory; if you did not RSVP your child did not get a coveted goodie bag. Well, here I am today, just completed my thirteenth birthday party on this journey and I can say that I have loosened up. Instead of planning the parties a year in advance, I usually take a couple weeks to plan it. I don't pull out all stops any more. I just relax and make sure the guests are having a good time. We had our two year old's birthday party this weekend; and I can say I truly enjoyed myself. I wasn't stressed at all. I had a fun time. And there was no itinerary!
As I was reflecting on the enjoyment of the party, here are some things I noted I did:
- Made the menu simple: finger food only. We had pinwheels, fruit and cheese kabobs, a veggie tray, bottled water, and the cake.
- Started on time. I did not wait for everyone on the invitation list to come, I started at the time the party was said to begin.
- Let the kids play. I admit, when the birthday child ran outside in the muddy backyard, I got a little stressed. After we took the pictures, all the kids had free reign in the backyard.
- No goodie bags. Okay, brace yourself.. It is okay. We had no goodie bags and nobody missed them. Less stress for me and probably less stress for my friends, not having to say "no" to candy and gum!
- No games. You may need to sit down for this one. No goodie bags AND no games!! There was no real organized activities at the party.
- Hung out and relaxed. Yep, you read that right. Me, the hostess, just relaxed. I enjoyed myself and just had fun with my friends and family.
- Kept the guest list intimate. I invited family and friends who are basically family. At two years old, my child's friends are generally children of my friends. I did not invite the entire nursery at church. I did not invite based on wanting an invite to one of the other children's parties. I invited based on relationships. This may have been my sanity saver this year. The people who came know me well, I did not have to "put on the dog", it was just friends hanging out.
If you're planning the party of the year for your little darling, make sure it is a fun time for both the children and yourself. Don't worry about what the Jones's are doing for their birthday parties, they are no fun to keep up with any way! Don't stress!!! Your child will remember the people who came....and probably the cake, more than they will remember pin the tail on the donkey or the double bubble gum in a goodie bag. I have included some pictures from the birthday party so you can see how easy it can be!
Have fun during these times! You can do it mama!!
XOXO,
Rebecca
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Library Survival 101
We are library geeks. There I said it. For the past several months our local library was shut down due to a new library being built. We would drive twenty miles to another library, just to read books and check them out. We are proud library geeks!
Our summer reading program at our local library is in full swing....my excitement over this may be a tad inappropriate. Growing up, libraries were a part of my childhood, it was exciting and awe inspiring to go the library. Reading books opened new windows and doors for me, and it became my fast escape from the real world. I want my children to develop a love for books and the library that follows them into adulthood, as mine has.
With my library geek-ism being explained, I can move forward! Our library has an array of summer reading programs, we attend the preschool program in the morning and the elementary program in the afternoon. Normally. This morning was an epic fail. After breakfast I declared it nap time for everyone, I didn't set my alarm, because there was NO WAY we would sleep two hours. So, three and a half hours later, we woke up. Boo hiss! My mother of the year title may have been stripped today. I decided to let my two older children attend the elementary program together this afternoon. My youngest and I spent time with my Grandma at the library this afternoon. When I was packing for our one hour program; our one hour of trying to keep a two year old library quiet, I realized over the past several years I have become a pretty great packer for these kind of trips.
In the diaper bag there was:
- diapers
- wipes
- sippy cup
- cheerios (in a "spill proof" snack container)
- a toy car
- a tea cup
- a baby doll
- bracelets
Thankfully the people at my library understand that Wednesdays are kids days and are pretty accepting of the extra noise. Here is the key, the mommy tip I will pass on to you:
Don't stress.
Easy, huh? Not really. Learn patterns of your child and take note when your child starts to get antsy, have a game plan ahead of time to allow you and your child an opportunity to change tunes without screaming! Don't pull out all your tricks at one time, try to hold off on your diaper bag goodies and allow the child to have fun looking at board books, playing with toys at the library, or coloring. Take some deep breaths. You are not at the library to prove to the other moms how awesome your toddler can be for an hour, you are at the library to have fun; to instill a love of reading and a love of the library. Hold your child on your lap and read to them as much as they will let you. If all else fails, find the bathroom and hide in there for a while until your child settles down....this is from experience, I may be an expert bathroom hider. If you stay calm, your child will stay calm. Your child takes from your cues.
Have fun and teach your little ones that the library is for quiet, inside voices. Teach them the adventure that awaits inside a book. Let them experience the fun of the library! You can do this mamas!
XOXO,
Rebecca
Our summer reading program at our local library is in full swing....my excitement over this may be a tad inappropriate. Growing up, libraries were a part of my childhood, it was exciting and awe inspiring to go the library. Reading books opened new windows and doors for me, and it became my fast escape from the real world. I want my children to develop a love for books and the library that follows them into adulthood, as mine has.
With my library geek-ism being explained, I can move forward! Our library has an array of summer reading programs, we attend the preschool program in the morning and the elementary program in the afternoon. Normally. This morning was an epic fail. After breakfast I declared it nap time for everyone, I didn't set my alarm, because there was NO WAY we would sleep two hours. So, three and a half hours later, we woke up. Boo hiss! My mother of the year title may have been stripped today. I decided to let my two older children attend the elementary program together this afternoon. My youngest and I spent time with my Grandma at the library this afternoon. When I was packing for our one hour program; our one hour of trying to keep a two year old library quiet, I realized over the past several years I have become a pretty great packer for these kind of trips.
In the diaper bag there was:
- diapers
- wipes
- sippy cup
- cheerios (in a "spill proof" snack container)
- a toy car
- a tea cup
- a baby doll
- bracelets
Thankfully the people at my library understand that Wednesdays are kids days and are pretty accepting of the extra noise. Here is the key, the mommy tip I will pass on to you:
Don't stress.
Easy, huh? Not really. Learn patterns of your child and take note when your child starts to get antsy, have a game plan ahead of time to allow you and your child an opportunity to change tunes without screaming! Don't pull out all your tricks at one time, try to hold off on your diaper bag goodies and allow the child to have fun looking at board books, playing with toys at the library, or coloring. Take some deep breaths. You are not at the library to prove to the other moms how awesome your toddler can be for an hour, you are at the library to have fun; to instill a love of reading and a love of the library. Hold your child on your lap and read to them as much as they will let you. If all else fails, find the bathroom and hide in there for a while until your child settles down....this is from experience, I may be an expert bathroom hider. If you stay calm, your child will stay calm. Your child takes from your cues.
Have fun and teach your little ones that the library is for quiet, inside voices. Teach them the adventure that awaits inside a book. Let them experience the fun of the library! You can do this mamas!
XOXO,
Rebecca
Monday, June 17, 2013
Welcome Friends!!
Hello, hello!!
I am so excited you have took the time to visit my new blog, and my first public blog on parenting! I am a stay at home mommy of two amazing boys and one amazing little girl. I am happily married to my wonderful husband of almost eleven years. We live in the deep south, and I have learned (being a transplant from the way north), that y'all is a proper noun, everybody is darlin', and somebody's heart is always getting blessed!
Each of my children are very special and have unique needs. I have learned to count my blessings and not get overwhelmed, but focus on the happy and laugh at the little things.
I love to help other mommies find their purpose, calling, and passion in motherhood. In this day and age, motherhood is becoming a lost art. I hope you will join me on my journey of motherhood! Grab yourself a cup of coffee and visit my blog whenever you need a good dose of mommy encouragement!
XOXO,
Rebecca
I am so excited you have took the time to visit my new blog, and my first public blog on parenting! I am a stay at home mommy of two amazing boys and one amazing little girl. I am happily married to my wonderful husband of almost eleven years. We live in the deep south, and I have learned (being a transplant from the way north), that y'all is a proper noun, everybody is darlin', and somebody's heart is always getting blessed!
Each of my children are very special and have unique needs. I have learned to count my blessings and not get overwhelmed, but focus on the happy and laugh at the little things.
I love to help other mommies find their purpose, calling, and passion in motherhood. In this day and age, motherhood is becoming a lost art. I hope you will join me on my journey of motherhood! Grab yourself a cup of coffee and visit my blog whenever you need a good dose of mommy encouragement!
XOXO,
Rebecca
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)