Last year I started a new tradition in our household. I incorporated random acts of kindness with our advent calendar (or countdown to Christmas). As we countdown the days to Christmas, beginning December 1st, we do one random act of kindness each day until Christmas morning.
On Sept. 11th, I started my countdown to Maciella’s arrival. She was already 4 days past due, and although I had not felt anything but Braxton Hicks contractions; I was definitely sensing she was going to be making her appearance soon. However, if at all possible, I really didn’t want my baby girl to be born on a day our nation mourned. I wanted her to be free to celebrate her birth without the pull to memorialize the tragic event of 9/11.
My four-year-old and two-year-old absolutely love Thomas the Tank Engine and all his friends. So we couldn’t miss the opportunity to take them to “A Day Out With Thomas“.
Continue reading “Roaring Camp Railroads ‘A Day Out With Thomas’ Review and Tips”
The other day, I had a conversation with a friend about the challenges children at this present time endure even at a young age. Between the shootings that have occurred at elementary schools, child prostitution, and unlimited, uncensored access to information, without a doubt our children are being raised in a different world than we were.
Continue reading “Equipping Your Child for Success in Perilous Times”
The birth story of my first born was not exactly how my husband and I envisioned it would be. But isn’t labor like that for every first time mom? Nevertheless, we were doing everything we could to be “well-prepared” parents on the day of our little man’s delivery.
I can remember by husband and I attending every birthing class offered. We were those eager students ready to learn all we could, in hopes to have the perfect labor experience. I love planning and organizing, so I already had a detailed vision of what my labor was going to look like. My birthing plan in a nutshell was to labor as much as possible at home, give birth to my son vaginally without any medication, and rely on the help of my mid-wife with just my husband and I in the delivery room. My husband was going to help by cuing the instrumental music, be on standby for inspirational scriptures, pillow propping, massages and yoga ball exercises as needed. We were ready to execute our plan! As far as the baby room preparation, getting all the baby clothes ready to wear and packing my hospital bag, we were just going to wait until I was off of work. After all, we were still in March, I was going to take the month of April off to relax and slowly prepare. The baby wasn’t due till May 2nd-that should have been enough time right? So we thought.
It’s that time again where I share my ridiculous mommy adventures with you! Remember this is a no judgement zone where we can freely share with one another our parenting moments in hopes to gain some comical relief from our day-to-day parent grind.
At any moment, I can put on my Television or go on my phone and see the news of tragedies taking place within or outside of our country. My heart grieves over the catastrophic journeys parents have walked. I’m constantly prayerful and I’ve shed many tears over the sorrow these mothers and fathers have endured. No one deserves the heartache of watching their child suffer or experience a tragedy. In times of sorrow, I’ve often heard the question of “Why do bad things happen?” or “Where is God when bad things occur?”
I believe with both of these questions we can find some direction from the Bible. It was while I was composing my first blog post on How to Conquer Parenting Fears Part I (if you haven’t read my Part I and would like to, click here), I realized these questions come up and they need to be addressed. If you’d like to empower yourself with 5 tools to help you conquer fear, I encourage you to read my first blog. I know it will bless you. In this blog post, I want to answer those questions that enter our minds in the midst of tragedies. I hope to empower parents so they can raise their children without fear.
Both of my children were napping near me while I was folding laundry; and all of a sudden a thought hit me like a ton of bricks…“What would I do if something tragic ever happened to my children?” In that moment my heart sunk into my stomach. Tears begun to fill my eyes and fear tried to grip my soul. In that instant I recalled my first brother.
I often hear from friends my life appears to them like “I have it all together!” I don’t mean to give the idea I don’t ever go through tough times, because I absolutely do. EVERY ONE DOES!! In regards to my struggles, I simply have learned to lean on and trust in God with everything; and rely on his grace to get me through my trials. I may not announce my battles with a bugle horn but I definitely share some of my battle scars in my blogs.
In my Mommy Life logs, I like to give my heart some medicine and look back at some of those trying days with some comical relief. I might as well. It sincerely helps having a sense of humor when raising kids. If you haven’t read my Mommy Life: Log Entry 1, you’ll crack up after reading about what I woke up to one morning. I think that image will haunt me for the rest of my life! Now that I have two toddlers, I’m thinking motherhood and humor are synonymous.
So enjoy my Log Entry 2 in my Mommy Life. I hope it will lighten up your day! You’re never alone in your Motherhood journey!
As I was scanning my Pinterest home feed I came across this quote:
“Based on how you spoke to (or about) your husband, today, what did you teach your son to look for in a wife?” – Matthew L. Jacobson.
After reading it, I immediately stopped and reflected. I honestly in that moment didn’t know if I was happy with the image I’ve been painting for my son, specifically what I wanted him to look for in a wife. Of course, I could go on and on about the characteristics of a good wife and what I’d hope he’d find in his future spouse. Still nothing can outweigh the constant display I’ve put before my son day after day. Whether I like it or not, I’m defining and creating for him a perception of what a wife is and what he may look for when he’s searching for her.
Continue reading “You’re Being Watched! What is Your Life Teaching Your Children?”
It All Began With Two 