Tag: children (Page 3 of 4)

Great Music to Listen to With Your Kids… in Every Genre!

March 30, 2017 / The Mama / 0 Comments

I love playing music for my kids! We almost always have some type of music playing in our home and in the car. As a music educator, it’s a passion of mine that my children hear great music from all genres on a regular basis. I truly feel that we are putting our kids at a disadvantage if we limit what they listen to: while kids’ music is just fine, it leaves out so much great repertoire!

So I’ve put together a list of some of my favorite artists by genre, so that you can look into them with your own family. You can tie in various genres to the recipes you’re cooking, books you’re reading, places you’re going… the possibilities are endless! Continue reading

My Least Favorite Parenting Advice

February 27, 2017 / The Mama / 0 Comments

If you’re a parent, you know that people can sometimes tell you things which are not helpful at all (and instead, drive you crazy or stress you out). My great friend Marie, who helps parents over at Create Balanced Life, has some words of wisdom on this. Here’s what she has to say about that one annoying thing people tell new parents – her least parenting advice – and what to think about instead. Continue reading

Self Care for the Busy Mom

February 13, 2017 / The Mama / 0 Comments

I’ve read about a thousand posts about self care for moms. And I always get anxious that taking care of myself means sacrificing quality time with my kids, or time to clean up and get work done. There are so many great ideas out there, but I feel guilty when I think about leaving my toddler crying on the floor so that I can sip my coffee while it’s still hot. I can’t enjoy my alone time with some of these extravagant ideas… and some I just plain can’t afford.

So here’s what I’ve done: I’ve looked at my own life and what works for our little family. I’ve looked at things which make me happy and recharge the batteries of my soul. And I’ve looked at things which are easily doable on a regular basis, when (gasp!) the kids are around. What’s made it into this article are the things which fit every one of those qualifications.

The result? Self care for the busy mom. These tips won’t make you feel like you’re a horrible mother, because your kids won’t suffer. You can take care of yourself while taking care of the kids, too.

Just remember: you can’t serve others when your cup is empty. It’s taken me years to admit this, but it’s true. So take care of yourself and be well, my friend. I’m in the trenches with you, but I’m still smiling! Continue reading

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Family-Friendly Christmas Movie Favorites!

December 15, 2016 / The Mama / 0 Comments

Ok guys, I need help. I admit it. I love Christmas! I’m probably a little addicted to finding the next great Christmas movie that I can watch with my kids. And I want to build my list.

Here I’ve created a varied list of Christmas movies which I love watching with my family. Some were favorites from my childhood, while some are newer to me, but all of them hold a special place in my heart for this special time of year.

With that, I’m asking for your suggestions. Comment and tell me your favorite family Christmas movie (sorry, Bad Santa) and why you love it. Let’s all expand our holiday movie-watching repertoire! Continue reading

The Best Children’s Books You May Not Have Heard Of

December 1, 2016 / The Mama / 0 Comments

Books can be great gifts for children! But there are so freaking many to choose from, how do you know that you’re getting a quality book? There are some books whose titles are household standards, and those are obvious choices for growing your child’s library. But some of my favorite picks for kids are actually hidden gems: not-so-well-known books which are fantastic in their own way. Here are my family’s choices for the best children’s books, though you may not have heard of some of them!

I’ve got categories for authors, babies and toddlers, preschoolers and elementary kids, classics, and even a section for young readers’ first books!

Here are all of my favorites, as a teacher and a mom. Happy reading!
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Raising Children with Emotional Intelligence

November 10, 2016 / The Mama / 5 Comments

I want my children to grow up with a healthy emotional intelligence. Simply put, I want them to have a healthy range of emotions, know the vernacular so that they can express those feelings, and deal with unpleasant feelings in a safe way. That emotional education begins when they are still quite young and must happen regularly. Let me give you some insight into what’s working beautifully for our family! Continue reading

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Keeping Your Kids Safe

October 27, 2016 / The Mama / 2 Comments

Turn on the news and you will see: it’s a dangerous world out there. While we try to surround ourselves with good people and safe experiences, our children will one day be out on their own. We must prepare our kids for all kinds of situations. And the dialogue to keeping our kids safe starts when they’re still young and innocent.

Here I’ll give you some suggestions on how to begin those essential conversations. Continue reading

How To Talk To Your Kids

October 3, 2016 / The Mama / 3 Comments

Do you have an open relationship with your kids? Do you feel that you have mutual trust and respect? Are you comfortable talking to your kids about anything, and do you feel that they would come to you if they had a problem or a question? Whether you’re just starting out with your young child, or you have a teenager, here are my researched, tried-and-true, usable suggestions for how to talk to your kids. Continue reading

Have a Happy Road Trip! The Best Gear For Your Vehicle With Kids

July 28, 2016 / The Mama / 3 Comments

With our family vacation looming nearer, I got more and more anxious about having such a long drive with two littles. I have a sensitive, active three-year-old; I also have a feisty, demanding nine-month-old who breastfeeds. We have a road trip ahead of us, and I did not want to turn it into an excursion full of stops and screaming.

Read on for my best suggestions and gear when going on a road trip with kids! Continue reading

Working vs Stay-At-Home: An AP Mama's Experience - RealSimpleMama

Working Mom vs Stay-At-Home: An AP Mama’s Experience

July 18, 2016 / The Mama / 4 Comments

Being a stay-at-home mom has been the best, most difficult job I’ve ever had, or will ever have. And yet, I absolutely love it. Not a moment goes by when I think “I wish I was working instead of being home with my babies.” However, going from a working mom (Kid #1) to SAHM (Kid #2) was a challenging transition. Here I describe the good, the bad, and the ugly of both… all from an attachment mom’s perspective. Continue reading