Schedule / Routine
Have you ever noticed how 4 year olds can act self-centered? This is actually a developmental milestone for them! It can also wreck your 4 year old sleep schedule since they are more independent and self-confident (aka testing boundaries!). Your child may act afraid to sleep alone, repeatedly come out of their rooms, regress to [...]
Mom Life30 MORE Christmas Party Games for Families
Inside: If you read my post called 30 Christmas Games for Families, you'll love this second edition! Learn 30 more Christmas party games for families and keep the fun going! Christmas party games are a great way to bring people together and have some fun. Last year, we played Poke-a-Tree and the snowball transfer game and the kids had [...]
30 Perfect Christmas Games for Families
Christmas games for families is my all time favorite way to to spend time during the holidays. Well...outside of shopping for toddler stocking stuffers. Christmas family games are an especially great way to bond with family you don't see very often. It breaks the ice and offers you something to do when you aren't sure how to start [...]
Military ResourcesThe GIANT Holiday Gift Guide of Vet and MilSpouse Owned Businesses
Need ideas for the people on your gift list? Why not purchase from military families and veteran-owned companies? Every company on this listed was started by a military spouse or veteran! You’ll see that there is a huge variety of gifts—from handmade jewelry and painted glassware, to bags made from re-purposed military surplus supplies. [...]
Raising Kids9 Genius Phrases for Dealing with a Strong Willed Child
The situation had “meltdown” written all over it. It was a fun, yet incredibly long day at the zoo for the kids. I knew our oldest - a strong willed child - wasn’t going to want to leave. In his mind, we could sleep there with the animals and everything would be perfect. As we prepared to break the news, hangry and tired washed over my [...]
75+ Simple Ways to Promote Independence in Kids (aka Life Skills)
It always started with an explosion of whining before dinner time each night. As a parent I wanted to raise independent children, but I found myself in rut with a child who wanted everything done for him. Naturally, there was incessant whining. I would stand at the stove cooking potatoes, vegetables or [...]
How to Easily Teach Kids Perseverance (Hint: Do Less)
When I was a little girl growing up in the Midwest, my dad and I spent most evenings playing Trivial Pursuit for Kids at the kitchen table. I didn't realize it at the time, but I was in the midst of a life lesson called teaching perseverance to kids. Each night, I desperately wanted to fill my colored trivial pursuit pie before my [...]
My Favorite Things Family Gift Guide 2021
I hope you are rounding out a wonderful 2021! Each year a love to share a few things that we used and loved throughout the seasons. We spent a significant amount of time camping in the Southwest USA and visiting family in the Midwest. These are the top themes that come to mind when I think of 2021: ReconnectionQuality Family [...]
The Day I Quit Dinner Time Battles
Tall and skinny. Those are two words that perfectly describe our preschool-aged son. At 6 months old his weight dropped from the 60th percentile down to the 16th percentile. The nurses and doctors at the clinic expressed concern that perhaps he wasn’t getting enough to eat. Back then I was a new mom and this worried the [...]
The Ultimate Guide to Military Spouse Resources and Support
When I first met my husband I was convinced I'd never fit into the military community. It's overwhelming trying to figure all this stuff out. Back in the Midwest, where my husband and I are from, people keep the same friends their whole life. They live down the street from a whole network of grandparents, aunts, cousins and close [...]
