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Winter Woolens: Making Wool Crafts With Kids

I love wool. I love it in the morning and the afternoon, and I love to get it for Christmas and for my birthday. This Christmas, I got a bag of wool from my sister in law. I have a bag of unwashed wool in my workshop from the sheep at the local petting zoo. I just really, really like wool. Oddly enough, I also dislike knitting. I’m very left-handed, so doing anything with my right hand is a bit of a challenge. I much prefer crochet, since it only involves one hand. So what do I do with wool, … Continue reading →

Cool Find: A Kid’s Guide to Drawing America

State history is required in most states. I must admit I am not always up on teaching state history while in the middle of teaching algebra, biology, preschool, American History, Ancient History, Latin, and all other subjects to my children. I teach history chronologically and so far we have not hit the history of my state. After giving this great thought, I realized it is important to take out time to briefly teach the history of my state. After all, it is where we live and one should know about the place they dwell. It is only logical. To help … Continue reading →

Why teenagers? Do you have any idea what you’re getting yourself into?!

The initial response received from others when announcing that you are planning to adopt varies widely. I have heard the occasional “That’s wonderful!” And that’s nice. We’re not doing this for praise, but it is nice when others can be supportive; whether it’s the reason for doing something or not, everyone likes to get a positive response to news shared with friends and family. However, what I most often hear, especially when we add that we are adopting teenagers, is more along the lines of “why?”… “Do you know how difficult that is going to be?”… “Do you have any … Continue reading →

Your Children Will Find You

Your children will find you. A friend in the online adoption community told me that once. That was long before I even considered adoption as an option for me. She was so right. For the majority of people their children find them through natural means. There are so many children who, for many reasons, are unable to live with the people who created them biologically. That’s where foster and adoptive parents come in. Foster and adoptive parents come in all shapes and sizes just as biological parents do. What foster and adoptive parents can do that biological parents cannot do … Continue reading →

Nurture Your Teen’s Interests

When kids become teenagers it can become more of a challenge to connect with them. They are going through their own transition of separating from you and becoming their own person. Sometimes their interests seem so foreign to us, that we don’t know how to engage them. There are ways that parents can do this. It just might take some creativity and effort. Today I enjoyed a very special day with my 16-year-old son. It is not often that it’s just him and I enjoying an activity together. His interests are all about aviation, the military and history. So I … Continue reading →

Remembering Your Kid is Just a Kid

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As the parent of a special needs child, I can’t help but think of my child as special or unique. In late 2008, my daughter Lily was born with a detached esophagus that had to be surgically repaired three days after she was born. As a result, Lily never breastfed, never drank out of a bottle, and, until she was six months old, was only able to drink half an ounce of liquid by mouth each day. So without question, Lily is special. There are times, though, when I have to force myself to take a step back and recognize … Continue reading →

Keeping Your Future Family Connected

Many people in their interest to learn more about their ancestors focus so much on the past and what they are finding that they forget to preserve the present. While it is important to be able to pass on the information and lineage of your ancestors to your children and grandchildren it is also equally important to pass on the present day family memories to the generations that will follow. Realizing who you are related to and knowing the stories of their lives, both sorrows and triumphs can help to better connect future generations of the family. It can be … Continue reading →

Get Your Body and Your Finances in Shape

With the warm weather coming, you might be more conscious of getting your body in shape for a summer full of swimming and lighter clothing. joining a gym can be a great way to do this, but let’s face it, a gym won’t do anything for your finances. Here is how to get in shape or stay in shape while actually benefiting your bottom line. Substitute your feet Make it a challenge to substitute your feet for your car as often as possible. Take a walk or a bike ride to the store if that is feasible. Is the store … Continue reading →

Remembering the point of homeschooling

I remember and discuss the reasons I homeschool regularly, but I often forget to mention the point of homeschooling. Where the reasons for homeschooling includes poor quality of education, danger in schools, and letting the child learn at his or her own pace, the point of homeschooling is the ability to choose what is best for one’s own child. I remember the point of homeschooling when I find myself and my kids in a position when I realize that their education is being controlled by an outside source. That outside source can be a curriculum provider. It can be a … Continue reading →

Are You the Reason Your Husband Doesn’t Help with the Baby?

I had an interesting experience the other day. We went to a parenting seminar and sat with a couple who had an infant. That in and of itself wasn’t interesting (although I will say that if you think you’re going to go to a parenting seminar to get it all straight before they get older–you’ll be going to more than just one parenting seminar!) However, over lunch the wife shared how frustrated she was that her husband didn’t help more with the baby. My husband is super spouse. He cleans, he cooks, he does diapers and baths–and he doesn’t bat … Continue reading →