Okay, let’s be real honest here: fathers often get the rotten piece of the pie. That doesn’t even make sense (who has had rotten pie?), but you know what I mean. The masses applaud moms and say, “Thanks for making the sacrifices, thanks for always being there, thanks for loving me when I wasn’t lovable,” […]
Parenting
Making Summer Count
I initially thought I’d put a tagline on the title–something like, Parenting Your Kids Away from Selfishness–but then I thought, ya know, these concepts are really for everyone. For the first time in several years, I’m not teaching a summer course for Regent U. At first, I wasn’t overly excited, since I get paid per […]
5 Things To Do In Front Of Your Kids & 5 Things to Avoid
Corbin often comes up to me, asking, “Mommy, will you play a game with me?” Although I love to play games, I have to force myself to relinquish my to-do list and sit down in the middle of the afternoon to play cards or Checkers. I know full well that game playing is my son’s […]
Dear Pinterest Mom,
Dear Pinterest Mom, Yesterday I spent more time than I really had trying to get my Pinterest site caught up and more professional. Honestly, the whole process confused and exhausted me: I still don’t know how to embed a meta tag or configure my website, but anyway…. How does one navigating the sea of Pinterest […]
For Sale: Beware of the Industry
*Disclaimer: this content is not appropriate for younger eyes.* Imagine your daughter perched on the couch, laughing with friends while painting their fingernails and watching an Austen film. In the last year, she’s grown taller than you, but her knobby knees and questions let you know she’s still a child at heart. It wasn’t that […]
Motivating our Minions
In college, I worked two years at a daycare. Although I appreciated the preparation it afforded toward future parenting, some of the methods employed didn’t set me up as a successful instructor. Obviously, a daycare regulated by the state had to be cautious when it came to disciplinary actions. We as teachers were not allowed […]
Do You Need a Substitute Teacher?
Homeschool mommas need a break too, but ironically, we are often the last to get it. Aside from helpful grandparents who bail us out, we don’t get out-of-jail cards very often. No paid holidays, no snow days, no long weekends. Even co-ops and sports often require our help or presence. Homeschool moms are […]
Dads, You ARE Appreciated
Bouncing around social media you’ll find all these blogs, videos, and memes encouraging moms, “You are doing great! Give yourself grace. Keep doing the hard stuff. You are amazing.” Etc. Etc. And then we dismiss or ignore the dads. Or worse yet, we applaud the moms and then beat fathers over the head, “You aren’t […]
How to Encourage Your Kids to Write
We’re starting back to school today, which excites a few and makes others groan. If you are a teacher or homeschool mom, these tips might come in handy this semester. As an online English professor I know what it means to teach “the dreaded class.” Aside from public speaking courses, composition seems to be the […]
Play It Again, Sam
I’m over at my mom’s house, introducing an 80’s movie to my kids. Though the VHS is old and cheesy, my children enjoy the adventure of the story and revel in the experience of watching something I did as a child. After the film is over, I snatch kids and put on shoes, trying to […]