Work For Me Wednesday: Teaching Responsibility

By MAD21

When my oldest first started going to preschool, it was a little hard on both of us. Even though it was only a few hours a few days a week, it was quite an adjustment. I started leaving little 'love notes' in her pockets. I told her it was a little piece of mommy that she could keep with her when we were not together. On the paper it simply said, "Mommy *heart* <her name>." I know it probably sounds hokey. But it helped both of us at the time, and became a loved tradition. (I now find them in my own pockets from her! How awesome is that?!)

A little while after we started doing this, I was out shopping one day and I found a cheap little locket. It was so cute, and at around $3-$4 you couldn't beat the price. I thought it would be a great idea to put the note inside that instead of her pocket, which would also help us resolve the problem of what to do with the notes on the days she wore clothing with no pockets. To say she loved the locket is an understatement. She wore it to school (and anytime we were apart) for a year and a half.

Click to read more ...

Works For Me Wednesday: Pennies For 'Lions

By MAD21

One of the things about being a parent that I enjoy a lot is creating traditions. I didn't have many growing up, but there were a few things that we did that meant a lot to me. Personally, I think it's important to have family traditions. They bring us closer together and create life-long memories.

I don't know how kids are in other families, but ours are always asking for a job when we are working in the yard or flowerbeds. Since they are so little, there isn't a whole lot that they can do independently other than pick up sticks and rocks... and dandelions.

Click to read more ...

Works For Me Wednesday: Toilet Cleaner?

By MAD21

My friend Helen and I participate in a fun carnival on Monday's called Life Is Funny, hosted by our friend Wendy. This week, Helen posted an interesting idea for cleaning your toilet. It was a funny and useful idea if you ever run out of toilet cleaner when you need it.

Every Wednesday, fellow blogger Kristen at We are THAT Family posts clever ideas for getting things done. She calls it, "Works For Me Wednesday" or WFMW. Be sure to go visit her blog to read her post along with links to other blogs who are participating.

Works For Me Wednesday: Growing Pains - Testing Boundaries

By MAD21

We've had a stressful week or two in our house. I'll call it growing pains. You know the kind, -- when your kids decide to start testing the boundaries and rules. I have to say that I think this is one of the most difficult things to deal with as a parent. I don't know about you, but I don't like feeling like a bully or having an authoritarian household. But there comes a time when our kids need to learn that they don't always get a say, and they need to get their sense of entitlement under control.

It's bad enough when your kids misbehave at home, but when the disrespect starts to show up in other places like school, there needs to be some serious action to get them under control.

We feel, as most parents do, that it's important our children do their best at school. Here are some things we do to help our kids prepare for their day:

Click to read more ...

Works For Me Wednesday: Make Time For What Is Important

By MAD21

I've always had the philosophy that if something is important, you will make time for it. And while I still very much believe that, I'm finding it harder to live by as I get older with two young kids and our lives getting busier and busier.

Two things that are important to me are my health (running, eating right), and my time alone with God. Unfortunately for some reason these things seem to always be put off. The only thing that has worked to keep these things part of my daily life is to get up early and do them first.

Click to read more ...