We’ve reached a point in our family where the amount of work being done by our oldest child was not equal to the amount of work being done the other kids. Sidney and I are seeing a development in his maturity; doing things without being asked, helping take care of his younger brothers, etc. Our […]
Learning Thankfulness in the NICU
Nurse: “Ok, let’s get you hooked to this IV and get the antibiotics started.” Me: “Excuse me? IV? Antibiotics? I am having a natural birth and my birth plan states I do not wish to be on an IV. I don’t mind you puting in the heplock for just-in-case, but no IV unless needed.” Nurse: […]
Using Aromatherapy During Cold and Flu Season
Using Aromatherapy during cold and flu season is essential in my family. I use essential oils everyday, no matter what time of year it is. I’ve been using aromatherapy, essential oils for about 5 years now. I was first introduced to them by a friend of ours for an earache my husband was having. The […]
Holiday Memories – Are Yours Up-to-Date?
You guys know I am becoming fanatic about backing up my computer in a timely and safe manner. And in today’s digital age that’s probably what most of us think about. But what about your NON-digital or outdated memories? I’ve switched over to digital scrapbooking almost 100% but still have a few print photos, as […]
Novel Destination: A Thousand Splendid Suns
Whew! That was a quick trip to Afghanistan and back. That is because “A Thousand Splendid Suns,” by Khaled Hosseini, is a quick read and a good story. It opens in the 1950s in northern Afghanistan. It is the life stories of two women, and how their lives become entwined. Mr. Hosseini was able to […]
Blessing of the Animals: Many Animals and Many Religions
On the Sunday closest to the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, many churches around the country have a special blessing of animals service. In New York City, the largest of these was held on October 2 at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in MorningsideHeights. Since I am an animal lover at heart, […]
Grocery Store Survival Tips
In my last Ragu Giveaway Post I asked the question – What are your biggest grocery store survival tips? I loved some of the answers you guys shared with me and am highlighting some of my favorites here! While you’re browsing through the featured responses, check out what these mom’s had to say when Ragu […]
Using Common Scents to Nurture Traditions
The sense of smell is one of the most powerful stimulants to memory. Why not take advantage of that with and for our families? Several years ago, I was a foster parent to a houseful. The children that came to my home usually had no religious background. I created opportunities to plant seeds of goodness […]
How to Grow a Smart Kid: Free Time
photo by utini In part 1, we talked about the importance of reading, and in part 2, the role of imaginative play in the development of a smart kid. Let’s expand on that a little with more ideas for free time that will help encourage your children to use their imaginations and thinking skills! Play […]
The Unsung Hero of My Home
I never thought of myself as heroic. In fact I am quite average in my community of fellow Navy EOD spouses. My husband takes bombs apart for a living and while my daily focus is always on how heroic HE is, this post is about how heroic moms can be, and I think Navy EOD […]
How to Grow a Smart Kid: Toys and Playtime
photo by George Eastman House In the first part of this series, we talked about the importance of reading and creating a reading environment to help bring out your child’s intellectual potential. There’s a lot more that you can do as a parent, though! Playtime is where children learn – absorb, really – without even […]
How to Grow a Smart Kid
First, let’s define what I mean by “smart”: Each of our children has been given by our Maker 5 senses and a brain that work together to help him learn about the world he was placed in. Each child has also been given a special aptitude for one aspect of the world or another (be […]
