One of the best things we've done recently as parents has been getting rid of all the toys! Seriously, we packed all of the toys away in a box and left our soon-to-be three-year-old with a bunch of measly blocks. It was like Christmas! What? Wait a minute! Hold the phone! Stephanie, what in the world are you talking about? I am talking about a decision that has changed the environment in our home for the better. One that has enriched our daughter’s play time and has cured a ...
Intentional Parenting
6 Parenting Books That Have Saved Our Sanity
When you're about to become a parent, everyone has advice. We decided early on that we were going to stick to one set of parenting systems and take advice from people we trusted who followed the same systems. While we've only been parents for a short time, we have found a small library of parenting books that have saved our sanity. These books support our parenting style and have helped us see things (tantrums, etc) through the eyes of our daughter. They are indispensable to us and I wanted to ...
Why Diversity in Children’s Literature Matters
The most common questions I am asked as an educator center around getting children to read. How do we teach our children to read? How do we foster a love of reading in our children? What if my child can’t read before kindergarten? All of these questions, maybe with exception of the last, are very valid and important. The last is another post for another time. The topic I am addressing today is often overlooked by concerned parents and sometimes even educators: diversity in children's literature. ...
2020 Summer Family Bucket List
Each year, as the weather starts to get warmer we start dreaming of summer fun and we start to put together our family bucket list for things we will do. This summer we've had to pivot as a family. Our annual beach trip was cancelled. Our weekly outings to the children's museum and library were cancelled. Playdates, trips to the playground, you name it, all cancelled. At the beginning of April, it was becoming clear that we were going to need to re-think our entire approach to summer ...
Father’s Day Gift Guide
Father’s Day. The day we celebrate the man who can do anything from craft furniture from spare pieces of wood to kiss boo boos and scare away closet monsters...SuperDad! There are so many great ways to celebrate Dad. Since this year has been a little, shall we say different, I will be focusing on shopping small in this Father's Day gift guide. Here you’ll find great handmade gifts from small businesses and crafty folks who probably need a little extra support right now. There’s also a section on ...
three
Dear Emma, Now you are three! Three years has gone by so, so fast! Dad and I are so proud of who you are and how you have grown this year. It seems like just yesterday you were toddling around, exploring your world. Now, you run everywhere and yell, “Mommy!” at the top of your lungs. You have so much to say, and have found that sweet but powerful voice of yours. You’ve learned a lot this year. You’ve learned to count, to identify numbers and letters. You know all your colors, and ...
