There is a healthy balance between independence and emotional dependency. As moms, we want to be sure we’re raising independent children without sacrificing the love and bonding we crave. My aunt and uncle have 3 daughters. He always said he raised them so he could drop them off in North Carolina with $5 and they could find their way back to Florida. They are all three unique, independent, self-sufficient and have close relationships with their parents even in adulthood. Instead of escaping their home to go elsewhere, they were the type of girls who invited friends to their house. It struck m ..read more

April is Earth Month in honor of Earth Day and here’s how we have celebrated it in our home. We live in the sticks.  We are in a rural area 10 minutes from Alabama and 40 minutes from the Emerald Coast. We have few neighbors, lots of crawling wildlife, and a lot of space to roam free. One of the priorities I have had over the years is to let the kids roam free and wild outside. It’s a great way to help them get the wiggles out, it is a healthier option than a screen, and fresh air and Vitamin D are good for the soul. Sample Summer Routines (Toddler To Elementary!) Here are 3 sample dail ..read more

We are big on vacations around here. Our kids have traveled across oceans, time zones, and been through more airports than I can even remember. In fact, I’ve blocked some of them out. :) If you are new to traveling with kids you’ll find tons of stuff here, but if you’re a pro and I leave anything out, be sure to add it! Sample Summer Routines (Toddler To Elementary!) Here are 3 sample daily summer routines (by age!) to help you get some peace, fun, and relaxation! Packing tips for Kids Pack kids’ outfits in ziploc bags. This helps them pack flat and gives you somewhere to put dirty or da ..read more

What an exciting time! You’re a new mom and you get to finally celebrate that holiday every mother looks forward to- Mother’s Day. How will it go for you and what will you do? I hope you have a wonderful time and enjoy every moment! I’ll never forget my first mother’s day… My daughter was only a few months old and I was so proud. She was perfect, I wasn’t crying myself to sleep every night, and I could fit into most of my clothes. What mother could a first time mother ask for? I wish, looking back, I’d have done a bit more for myself, but since I didn’t… I’m encouraging you to. As a mother of ..read more

Mother’s Day is this weekend and, like most holidays, it’s a chance to show the people in your life how much they mean to you. Whether that’s your mother, your friends who are mothers, and even your kids wanting to show you love! This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Groupon. All opinions are 100% mine. Y’all know that I’ve been big on celebrating the mothers and their hearts this year. Not just buying something, but giving her something that will meet a deep heart or heart’s desire. I think this is so important! I also think that sometimes we get encouraged, upli ..read more

Inside: There’s a place for both being entertained and learning to play independently. Learn the difference and how to make sure your kids are independent in play. There’s a time and place for both playing and entertaining, but it’s important we consider the benefits of both so we can have them in proper balance in our homes. I took a walk the other day with my daughter. I was trying to get my steps up somewhere at least near 7,000 for the days (since I got a Fitbit to avoid Blogger Booty) and she was just trying… well… to play. We picked flowers for my grandmother, threw sticks in the pond ..read more

Children love imaginative play, here’s how you can help encourage your toddlers and preschoolers to use their imagination daily. I’m a big fan of encouraging my children to use their imagination and play independently. When kids play pretend they fully engage in play in a way that has endless benefits. There’s a difference between being entertained and playing, and encouraging imagination and pretend play helps children learn to use all parts of their brain and actively engage in life. This is far preferable than too much screen time. Tidy Routines CHECKLIST Follow this checklist until ..read more

Looking to do a Christ-centered Easter activity? Here’s a He is Risen activity with a printable included! Post may contain affiliate links for your convenience.  During Lent this year I really wanted to do some Easter activities focusing on Jesus and the story of the cross. So, with my mother’s help (who is the artist) we created a printable to do a 3D version of the day He arose! Here we printed out (shown below) the papers and the kids colored. Or some of them colored, rather. Read These While You’re At It Spring Cleaning Projects (Moms & Kids!) That’ll Reset the HomeSpring Garde ..read more

There are many amazing lessons to be learned from gardening. Here are some things I’ve done to garden with my kids. Also included are some great supplies you may need. This year I wanted to put more effort into gardening with the kids. We have the space, we already eat the types of foods that grow well in summer in our area, and we had the willingness. The kids love to help out so we made a plan… 101+ 15 Minute Projects In just 15 minutes a night (while you’re in your pajamas!) take your home (and heart and mind) from stressed out to organized. “In the spring, at the end of the day, you ..read more

As a mother with multiple children, it’s sometimes difficult to meet everyone’s needs. Here are some key points and strategies to help. While pregnant with my third, fourth, and fifth many people asked how I was going to do it all… I soon realised that “all” is a word that can never be defined except by its user. To some people doing it all means getting to keep all of their personal endeavors. To others, it means staying home with kids and working from home as well. Still…to others it simply means making sure your children are fed and alive. Whatever the definition, a mother has the wonder an ..read more