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If Kids Were Robots
My Daughter’s Rendition of a Robot If kids were robots*: We could program them for good behavior and that behavior would magically appear. We wouldn’t need to treat our kids like individuals or wonder...
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Getting Out the Door without Damaging the Relationship
We’ve established that life is a gift, not an emergency. Timeliness is not the end all be all. That said, I still hate being late. I feel like it’s rude and disrespectful of other people and their...
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Getting Outside in Winter Time
Shoveling out our parking spot in Massachusetts Update: We now live back in Michigan where we’re enjoying loads of snow and wind chills near zero in mid-November. So I thought it was a good time to...
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Dear Brand New Mama
© 2011 Andrew Blight, Flickr | CC-BY | via Wylio Dear Brand New Mama, I hope you are sitting down a lot. Cuddling a lot. Dear God, I hope you’re getting at least some sleep. I hope you have help. I...
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A New Just Wait
© 2013 Dave Taylor, Flickr | CC-BY | via Wylio “You think being a kid is tough? Just wait until you have to pay your own bills.” “You think long hours at work are tough? Just wait until you have long...
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We’re Training Here
You know how when you go through a check out line and there are two people working? And one has a little badge that indicates he’s a cashier in training? And you sigh a little bit at choosing the line...
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When Happy Doesn’t Cut It
© 2009 Konrad Summers, Flickr | CC-BY-SA | via Wylio It’s 4:52AM. We’re not sleeping too well around here tonight. And I must admit that while the kiddos woke me up, the mothers won’t let me go back to...
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Habits are the Best
I am coming out of the baby fog, folks. Yes, I still have two kids 5 and under, but every day I marvel at how much easier life is becoming (okay, maybe not every day). Both kids sleep through the...
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When Fear Hijacks Joy
The other night we went to the beach. It was perfection. A rare 92 degree day warmed Lake Michigan to slightly above chilly. We practiced gliding. And jumping waves. The kids and Dan dug a big hole....
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We Don’t Do Perfect Here
Dear Daughter, As a female on this planet, somewhere along the way you’re probably going to get the idea that perfection is the goal. And that not only are you expected to be perfect, you must make it...
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The Story of Our Lives
When dinner is coming out of the oven, just slightly burnt. And the kids are reminding you it’s the witching hour. And your husband walks in the door late for the 3rd time this week. Hands are...
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This Thing Called Motherhood
My kind, gracious, smart, beautiful little girl turned 6 this past weekend. I can’t even fathom that I’ve been doing this mothering thing for six years now. Longer if you include the 3 months of...
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The Best Myth
From the second we conceive a child, our eyes are opened to all the ways we can do best by said child. Prenatal vitamins are best. But be sure to get the ones derived from whole food sources so you’re...
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On Celebrating Others (With a Free Kindle Download!)
Nina and I started blogging around the same time. Our oldest kids are very close in age and our next kiddos (twins for her!) are pretty close as well. I don’t remember how we found each other, but...
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Raising Sexually Healthy Preschoolers
In my first (and only) semester of grad school, I took a course on human sexuality. The content was fascinating and sobering. The discussions were lively – led by our 80-something professor who was...
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Today I Loved My Kids Well
This is my new mantra: “Today, my goal is to love my kids well.” See, I like goals and getting things done. I abhor clutter and really like checklists. I like my success to be daily and tangible and...
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On Correlation, Causation, and Parenting
© 2013 Simon Cunningham, Flickr | CC-BY | via Wylio Sometimes I lurk on parenting forums where I’ve found valuable information about some specific situations with my pregnancies and my kiddos. But...
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Fostering Open Communication with Young Kids
The last month has been full of deep conversation with my oldest. And my 2-year old is constantly narrating the stories going on in his head. Thankfully my kiddos are comfortable asking the questions...
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On Kids, Bodies, and Boundaries
I recently witnessed a Facebook debate about the acceptability of kids refusing to show physical affection to strangers, family friends, or even their own parents. I was quite surprised when several...
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Finding the Magic
A Tuesday in Early Spring The kids head to the backyard around 8:30 and play well together until lunch. During my daughter’s favorite ballet class, my son and I got to explore a trail for 45 minutes....
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