Before my husband and I had children, we discussed how we planned to handle various aspects of holidays. We aren't Christian and don't celebrate Christmas, so it only seemed natural to me that we wouldn't bring the commercial aspect of Santa Claus into our home for the Solstice. It wasn't something I would miss. Not only... Continue Reading →
I think everyone I know has been approached by a stranger on the street at some point in their lives - asking for food or money. At the very least, we are aware of people with signs asking for help as we drive by. While there are many people who ask for handouts as a... Continue Reading →
We've been helping our children make gifts for their siblings this year, and I have to admit that I am extremely pleased with the results - not necessarily the physical results of their hard work, which admittedly are lovely, but the results of the experience. The first step for each was to come up with... Continue Reading →
My children have several dolls, all of which have been made by me. I hadn't planned on making more dolls for the holidays, but I was inspired by the tumbleberry dolls. The fun, funky hair was more than I could resist. Considering that I had almost all of the supplies to make the dolls, I set... Continue Reading →
The Gift of Listening... Listen. Really listen. Don't multi-task, daydream, or do anything else. If you are physically with the person, look them in the eye. Practice active listening. The Gift of Affection... Act in ways that communicate how you feel about someone. Give hugs, kisses, pats in the back. Shake someone's hand or... Continue Reading →
With six people in our family, one of whom has some obsessive compulsive tendencies with regard to possible germs, we wash hands a lot. We used to go through quite a bit of soap. Afterall, it's fun to play with soap and water. In an effort to conserve some money, I began making our own... Continue Reading →
When my daughter was two years old, she drew on the wall with a pencil. It was actually a pretty cool drawing. We took a picture of it before she helped me wash the wall off. There is something appealing about drawing on the wall, though. It's a different experience drawing on a vertical surface... Continue Reading →
As with many other holidays, companies have managed to turn Halloween into a consumerist Photo by Yaxzone product. Emphasis is placed on the purchase and distribution of mass amounts of candy, over-priced cheaply made costumes, and non-environmentally friendly packaging. When we celebrate Halloween by taking our children trick-or-treating, it's easy to fall into this mindset.... Continue Reading →
My children see hearts everywhere. Every time, I hear a "Mom? I [point at the heart] you!" I love you , too, my dear sweet ones.
Early in our marriage, my husband and I went to a cultural crafts fair. While there, we saw some gorgeous ceramic stars that had copper wire wrapped around them. At $12 a piece, they were out of the price range for a young couple in grad school. We decided to try and make them ourselves.... Continue Reading →
living peacefully with children 