Mom. Wife. Busy Life.

Category: Family

How to Start a Container Garden with Kids
When having discussions with other busy moms around me, one thing I often hear are their desires to start a garden at home. Gardening is very popular among families these days. Many families want to grow their own fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs in their own backyards vs. heading to the grocery store to purchase over-priced and not-so-fresh produce. Another concern is the use of pesticides on produce and whether or not the produce is good for you and your family to eat.

While discussing gardening with others, often times the lack of space in one’s backyard is a reason many moms choose not to start a garden. There are restrictions in some locations when it comes to creating gardens. If you live in an apartment, gardening is almost impossible! Good news though — no matter where you live or how much space you have, you can always attempt or try container gardening. As a family that moves often, container gardening is perfect for my family! Container gardening is one way I choose to get my children involved and outdoors as well as working with nature and having fun while doing so.

To start your container garden, you’ll need the following supplies:
- different size containers or pots (with draining holes on the bottom)
- seeds
- potting mix and scoop
- spray bottle or watering can
- plastic spoons or popsicle sticks (for plant stakes)
- permanent marker
Once you gather your supplies, it’s time for the kids to start the planting process!

1. Allow your child to choose the seeds he/she wants to plant.

2. Give each child a container or containers for each plant that he/she will be planting. You want to make sure each container has holes at the bottom for proper draining.

3. Have your child scoop potting mix into the container until it’s filled about 3/4 full.

4. Push the seed down into the potting mix. Cover back up with soil.

5. Using the permanent marker (may require adult supervision), have the child write down the name of the plant on the spoon to use as a plant stake.

6. Press the plant stake into the potting mix surrounding the seed.

7. Set the finished container(s) in a good location in your yard. You’ll want your plants to be a location where the kids can easily check on the progress of their plants.

8. Have the children spray enough water with a spray bottle into the container after planting (or use a watering can).

9. Check on the plants daily with the kids and allow them to make sure their plants have enough water daily.

Enjoy watching the plants grow each day with your children!

*Keep in mind that some plants may need more space to grow once they reach a certain size and can easily be transplanted into a bigger container.

Starting a container garden is a fun and easy project to work on this time of year with the entire family! My kids enjoyed our project and we can’t wait to see their plants grow this spring.

Do you have a garden or container garden at home? What tips do you have for starting a garden with kids?
April 5, 2021
How to Help Adopted Kids Answer Adoption Questions
Does your adopted child get asked questions about his or her adoption? Learn tips for how to help adopted kids answer adoption questions!

Most adoptive parents have had some experience in answering adoption questions from friends and family, especially while they were waiting for their child.

However, adopted kids need to be taught how to answer questions from others, especially friends and classmates who are curious about their adoption status.

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For many adoptive families, race and adoption questions go hand and hand, so it is necessary to prepare for questions and remarks that bring up racial issues.

Choosing a way of sharing adoption information, practicing the answers to potential questions and talking about the impact of the questions are a starting point to preparing an adoptee for handling intrusive questions.

How to Help Adopted Kids Answer Adoption Questions

Choose How to Share Adoption Information

As is true with adoptive parents answering questions from friends, family and acquaintances, adopted children have a choice in how they answer adoption questions.

Adoptees can:
- Use humor to lighten the impact of the question
- Educate others on the realities of adoption
- Maintain privacy by telling the person it is none of his business
Most adopted children will role model their parents and do what seems most comfortable at the time.

It is the job of the adoptive parents to help the adoptee develop strategies to give the child the upper hand in these situations.

Strategies for Practicing Answers to Adoption Questions

As transracial adoptive families are the most visible to the general public, quite often they are the families approached with the most questions not just about adoption, but culture and race as well.

Raising Healthy Multiracial Adoptive Families lists several strategies adoptive families can use to teach adoptees how to handle intrusive questions to handle both issues.
- Talk about what racism is as a family.
- Teach adoptees how and when to speak up about racial, cultural and adoption stereotypes.
- Role-play questions and answers the adopted child may be asked.
- Prepare scripts for common questions asked about the child’s adoption and racial heritage.
- Discuss “What if?” scenarios and come up with appropriate ways to handle difficult situations.
- Read children’s books on adoption and talk about how the characters handled questions about their culture and adoption status.
When coming up with strategies for handling intrusive questions, adoptees also have the opportunity to practice using positive adoption language.

The more comfortable children are about their adoption status, the more comfortable they will be in talking to others about adoption.

Talk About the Impact of Adoption Questions

After adopted children have answered adoption questions from classmates and friends, some of their own questions may arise.

Adoptees may want to hear their adoption story again in detail and they may experience intense feelings of loss.

Adoption questions from others may also give rise to other issues such as fitting in and understanding cultural differences.

In some cases, it may be appropriate for the adoptive parents to offer to speak to the child’s classmates or teachers to help address issues such as racial prejudice and adoption stereotypes.

As much as adoptive parents want to shield their children from the sometimes difficult questions asked by others, it is important to prepare adoptees to handle a range of adoption questions.

By helping adopted kids choose a strategy, practice answers and talk about the impact of adoption questions, adoptive parents encourage their kids to be confident and secure about their adoptive family.
March 31, 2021
How to Help a Child That Stutters

Do you have a child or know of a child that stutters? Here are tips for How to Help a Child that Stutters.

Parents of children who are at risk for developing a stutter should be on the lookout for three different indicators.

The first and second come from the child himself during his speech development: a repetition of whole words that progresses to a repetition of syllables and beginning letter sounds, and increasing frustration and hesitation in speaking. The third factor comes from adults’ own negative habits and attitudes toward a child’s verbal difficulty.

Once a child is identified as being at risk for this potentially debilitating disorder, there are small adjustments that parents can make in their own behaviors at home to supplement traditional speech therapy. These changes may improve a child’s language fluency and even halt stuttering in its path.

How to Help a Child That Stutters

Take Time to Actively Listen

Children go through talkative periods throughout the day and also times when they don’t feel like talking. Noting when a child typically desires communication and adjusting the schedule to provide active listening during those times will go a long way toward improving a child’s speech.

Making eye contact and stopping what one is doing to truly listen will send a message to the child that what he has to say is important.

Slow Down Speech

Parents and older siblings may have the habit of speaking very quickly, causing a child with emerging speech skills to be intimidated. Slowing down slightly, and even introducing natural pauses such as short hesitations or “ums” will make it easier for young children to participate in the conversation.

Decoding speech is a complex process that takes time, and children who are pressured to keep up with fast dialogue may experience more word stumbles.

Don’t Interrupt or Correct

When a child hesitates or stammers, the best thing a parent can do is wait very patiently for him to finish his thought. Interrupting, finishing the sentence for him, or correcting words will inevitably create more stress and may further diminish the child’s self-esteem.

Parents need to demonstrate that there is no pressure on the child to speak faster or without flaw. It is also important to remain calm and nonjudgmental while the child is talking.

Set Aside Daily Positive Together Time

Days bustling with frantic activity will put unnecessary strain on everyone. Periods of stress-free together time engaging in something the child enjoys will establish opportunities for parents to give positive, one on one praise and attention. Even as little as fifteen minutes at the same time daily can produce a host of desired results.

Children will face many difficult challenges along their lengthy path toward adulthood. Stuttering may not need to be one of them. By slowing down the pace at home, parents can make a huge difference in their efforts to help improve a child’s verbal skills and ultimately ward off a devastating disability.

March 31, 2021
How to Discuss Dreams and Nightmares With Your Child

Is your child asking questions about dreams and nightmares that he or she is having? Learn tips for how to discuss dreams and nightmares with your child.

Parents want to stop nightmares and learn what causes nightmares. Most don’t realize that nightmares occur for a reason and they are nothing to be afraid of, as nightmares serve a purpose.

Dreams can give people important clues to solving life’s problems. While everyone and everything in dreams are aspects of self, the dynamics of relationships can also be revealed. The same can be said for nightmares.

How to Discuss Dreams and Nightmares With Your Child

Validate the Importance of Dreams for Kids

Every parent has felt helpless when a child is crying because something frightened them while they were asleep. Hugs and kisses and words of comfort never seem like enough, and saying things like “it’s only a dream” can actually make things worse.

Dreaming is part of what it means to be human. Animals probably have dreams as well – any child who has a pet dog is probably aware of this fact, as dogs frequently vocalize and “run” during dreams. It is easy to rationalize that waking up from a nightmare is similar to walking out of a movie theater after seeing a particularly unpleasant film and declaring “it’s only a movie” to calm oneself down. But when the “movie” is in one’s own head, the importance of it is personal.

Be a Good Example When Discussing Dreams

Parents can honor the significance of dreams by talking about their own efforts to remember and interpret them. Keeping a pad and pencil at the bedside to record dream symbols will aid in dream recall. Use the internet or an ordinary dream dictionary to look up symbols that seem meaningful, but don’t accept ideas that don’t ring true, as dream symbols can vary.

The important thing is that, by showing interest in their own dreams, parents give children permission to talk about their dreams. Sharing dream adventures as a family in the morning is a special kind of intimacy. Kids feel acceptance of their dreams as acceptance of self.

How the Subconscious Uses Fear in Nightmares

Ordinary dream recall is elusive; an individual goes to the bathroom, turns on a light, and by this time, the dream has faded from memory. But the nightmare is an experience that people remember. The subconscious uses fear in dreams to impress symbols on memory – saying, in effect, “Pay attention; this is important.” This is particularly true for reoccurring dreams.

For an example of interpreting nightmares, a pregnant woman dreams that her toddler is lost and dying. The dream is telling her that the relationship with her older child is about to change. He won’t be the baby anymore once the new infant arrives. She might use the information to pay more attention to, and to develop new aspects of her relationship with the older child to prepare them both for the upcoming change.

Children need to know that death in a dream indicates change; it’s not prophesy, and it’s not predicting the actual death of the person. It is also not a wish for the other to leave or die. Changes occur simply because the child is growing up and becoming more independent.

Monsters and fierce animals indicate opportunities to face fears. The first day of school, for instance, might be heralded by a dream of an unknown nightmare man. Remind children that they can choose to see monsters as cartoon characters and turn them into silly, friendly beings by stopping to confront them. This can be done mentally while awake, or by drawing pictures of the dream, or while actually sleeping if the child can realize they are dreaming.

Teach Kids About Lucid Dreaming

Being aware that one is dreaming is called lucid dreaming, and it is a skill that can be taught. A good start is to ask oneself frequently during the day if the surroundings are real or a dream. Try to change something, for example make a bicycle fly, to test the current reality.

Practicing while awake will make it easier to question experiences while asleep. Once lucid in a dream, control is up to the dreamer.

Be Open to Guidance for Dreaming

Dreams can help people make appropriate choices and tell an individual what’s going on with one’s health and relationships. Going up, such as climbing a ladder or a mountain, indicates a step in the right direction in life. Going down, such as seeing a planned purchase at the bottom of a flight of stairs, means buying that item would be a step in the wrong direction.

Choices that affect health can be showcased by dreams. Take the example of a woman who dreamed of a grocery shelf full of exorbitantly priced mayonnaise, butter, ice cream and cheese woke up with the distinct impression that the cost of her high-fat diet was too high in terms of her health. She went on a low fat diet and nipped any health problems in the bud. Junk foods or substances that need to be eliminated might be seen in a toilet in dreams, also.

The Settings in Dreams Have Meaning

Water might indicate that an emotional issue needs work. Flying probably indicates a spiritual meaning, and cars and trucks can pretty much be associated with physical problems. Blood, like death, is symbolic and commonly refers to the loss or careless use of energy. Insects might mean that little things are “bugging” or bothering the dreamer. Don’t be afraid to use a sense of humor when interpreting dreams and nightmares.

Let children become involved with dream interpretation by drawing or writing about dream symbols. Meanings can be very individual, the person who had the dream is the ultimate authority. Looking at several sources for clues can help, but always begin an interpretation for another with, “If it was my dream, I would think…” and allow for other possibilities.

March 30, 2021
How to Be a Good Mother to Your Children

Being a mom can be tough. There’s a lot involved when raising a child or children! Learn tips for how to be a good mother to your children!

In society today, many children are, unfortunately, left alone at home to raise themselves. According to Frances Kemper Alston at the NYU Child Study Center and author of the article, “Latch Key Children,” posted at education.com, as many as five to seven million children, ranging in age from five and 13 years old, are latch key kids (children left at home unsupervised) on a daily basis either before or after school hours.

Latch Key Children and What You Can Do for Them

Many children become latch key children as a result of their mothers having to raise their children on their own. In addition, many women, although married, have to work to help maintain the households financially.

Latch key children, however, tend to do poorly in school and, often, get into more trouble than necessary due to being alone and not having a parent present to monitor, train, and discipline them.

Nonetheless, whether you are a mother who cannot afford to be at home with your children because you have to work or just a mother looking for ways to be a better mother, there are a few things that you can do to be the best possible mother that you desire to be for your children.

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If you are a mother who has to work to help meet your family’s financial needs, asking a loving neighbor or family member whom you feel you can trust to help you with your children may be an option for your family. Find out if your children can stay at your neighbor’s or family member’s home to make sure that they are fed, doing their homework and are monitored on a daily basis

How to Be a Good Mother to Your Children

When you are at home with your children, the following suggestions will help you to succeed at being the good mother that you desire to be.

During the times that you are not working, be sure to spend quality time with your children and have fun together. Participate in their activities at school and after school as often as you can.

Allow your children to talk to you and share with you the things that are on their minds. Being a good mother also means listening to your children with caring ears. If you listen to them with sincere concern, you are showing them that you really care even though you may not always know the answer.

Be a positive role model before your children. No one is perfect, but you should seek to live a life that will bring you honor and a life that your children can be proud of and desire to model after.

If you believe in God, you should teach your children the fear (honor, respect and reverence) of the Lord. Teach them the importance of reading the word of God so that they can seek and obey God’s will for their lives.

If you are married, allow your children to see the sincere love that you have for their father. In witnessing the love that you have for your husband, your children will discern that love and respect is vital in a marriage. This will, also, help your children to learn how to be caring and affectionate mates, themselves, when they are old enough to be married as well as help them to recognize when someone really loves them or not.

Children require moral and ethical training and this training should come from their parents. Therefore, as a mother, you have to be a parent to your child, not just a friend. You should, definitely, be a friend when he needs you to be, but overall you are your child’s mother and you are responsible for teaching your children good moral standards. If you are a parent who has to work, do not allow guilt from not being able to stay at home with your children prevent you from disciplining your children when you need to. Your child should not be allowed to do whatever he wants when he feels like it. Disciplining your child is a necessary part of being a good mother.

A good mother teaches her children to be caring and helpful to others. Train your children to be respectful of others just as they desire to be respected by others. Therefore, teach your children not to be selfish or arrogant but confident individuals, instead, in order to accomplish their set goals in life.

Teach your children to respect their elders, also. In doing so, you are teaching your children to respect you as well. You are, furthermore, preparing them to be caring children toward you, their mother. When you grow older, you may need your children to take care of you in some way, but selfish children do not help their parents. So, you will do well to teach them to be respectful, caring and helpful individuals. Help them to understand, also, that they will expect children to respect and honor them as their seniors and leaders when they grow older.

When your children are doing well in school or in other endeavors, encourage them. It is easy for us, as parents, to see and point out the negative, but we must, also, make it a point to pay tribute to our children when they do things well.

Unfortunately, we cannot trust everyone in this walk of life; therefore, it is important to teach your children that not everyone can be trusted. Let them know that, even though, you expect them to be a trustworthy and honest person, not everyone chooses to be an honest person.

Teach them to be watchful of dishonest people and not to be too trusting of strangers. Let them know that they should not get into the vehicles of strangers nor go any place with them. Your children should, also, be informed about who they are allowed or not allowed to get in cars with or go places with even if they know the person.

It’s not always easy being a mother. We don’t always do everything right, but if you keep love in your heart and follow goodness yourself, you will be a good mother, overall, to your children.

March 30, 2021
Family Travel Packing Tips

Are you a busy mom interested in taking some time away with your family? You deserve it! Here are a few Family Travel Packing Tips for Traveling to help you get started on your next adventure!

If you are a mom, then you most likely understand what it’s like to pack for a family. If you are like me, you have to create a huge list of things to pack for yourself and the kids! It can be overwhelming!

As a military spouse of 16+ years, I consider myself a pro with packing for my family now for road trip and airline traveling. We’ve traveled the country throughout the years and have taken so many trips for vacations and to go home to see family.

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In fact, I know that if I want to have a successful trip, I must plan ahead so that travel is as smooth as possible with my family of 5!

Here are my top tips for family travel packing. I hope these tips help you plan a successful trip! Happy adventures!

Family Travel Packing Tips

Make a List

A list is very important when packing. Make sure to list what each family member will need. You don’t want to get to your destination and forget anyone’s pajamas or underwear!

By making a list, you may avoid having to make trips to a store nearby to pick up items that you forgot back at home.

Etsy has a few printable family travel sets to help you plan:

Family Travel Printable Planner
Start packing a little early

Don’t wait until the last minute to pack for the family. You may be left feeling overwhelmed if you try to do it all at once.

I like to set out our set of luggage about a week in advance and add to it during the week.

When I do my final load of laundry before our trip, I go through it to make check for any other pieces that I need to include in the luggage before we leave!

Don’t forget to pack the extras

Sometimes you’ll need to throw in a few extra diapers or wipes, along with items like burp cloths and extra onesies if you are traveling with very small children.

It’s a good idea to pack one of your child’s favorite blankets or stuffed animals as well to avoid a meltdown on your first night at your hotel!

Bring Devices

If you don’t mind your kids using devices in the car, bring portable DVD players to keep the kids entertained. Don’t forget the headphones and plenty of DVDs! Make sure you charge the devices before travel.

Create a Basket or Bag of Travel Games, Activity Books, or Small Toys

I love to find small travel games, activity books and small toys that my kids haven’t seen before and place them in a medium sized basket in the car so that they have things to keep them entertained while traveling!

Don’t forget writing utensils like pens or pencils. Be careful with crayons (they can melt in your car if lost) or markers (the ink can run on the interior of your car if a child loses one without the lid!)

Bring a Basket or Bag of Snacks and Drinks

We never leave home without a basket of snacks and drinks when we go on trips! This helps us avoid stopping several times when the kids get thirsty or hungry!

Print Travel Games

Plan ahead and print a few travel games for your kids like scavenger hunts, license plate games, and more! I usually print a few activities off and place them on a clipboard for the kids to use in the car to help provide a hard surface to write on. Here are a few ideas for your next trip:

Road Trip Activity Pack Printable

Printable Travel Games for Kids – The Ultimate Activity Pack

Printable Road Trip Games

16 Page Road Trip Kids Activity Set

Do you have any other helpful family travel packing tips?

March 17, 2021
How to Make a Daily Schedule for Yourself

Struggling with time management as a mom? Learn how to make a daily schedule for yourself!

As moms, we have a lot on our plates each and every day.

We have children to feed and clothe, dinner to make, and laundry to wash. And no matter how much we clean, it seems like it is never enough.

Every time we look around, there is something else that needs to be done. It can be really overwhelming.

One technique I absolutely depend on to help me get everything done each day is a daily schedule. Without my schedule, I tend to just start cleaning haphazardly with whatever is closest to me.

I pick up a few socks, I put a few dishes away, and then I ultimately end up on Facebook about 15 minutes later with a house that looks no cleaner than when I started.

Any cleaning that I do manage to accomplish never stays accomplished, and at the end of the day, I feel like I’ve cleaned all day with no real progress to show for it.

How to Make a Daily Schedule for Yourself

I sat down and made a schedule. Here’s the steps I took, that you can take too!

1. I made a list of all things that I want to get done every day.

2. I divided my day into segments (You can work around your kids’ nap times).

3. I assigned different tasks to different segments, keeping in mind how productive I tend to be during each block.

For example, you may be most productive during morning nap time. If you have a solid block of time without interruptions and are fully awake, you can get things done. I use the mornings as my writing time.

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Mid-afternoon, however, can be a little different. Children will need attention. Mid-afternoon is a great chance to knock out smaller tasks that don’t take a lot of concentration or time, such as responding to emails or picking up toys before my husband comes home.

Benefits of Having a Daily Schedule

I love my daily schedule, and not just because I love crossing things off a list. Here are a few reasons why:

1. When important tasks are a part of my schedule, I don’t forget them.

2. I am able to maximize my time by doing tasks at a time when I will do them best.

3. I don’t have to be overwhelmed with ALL that there is to do because I’ve got a plan.

4. I don’t get distracted as easily. I know that if I just focus on the thing that I am scheduled to be doing right now, everything will get done eventually.

5. I don’t waste as much time on things that don’t matter.

6. I waste less time switching between tasks because I already know what I need to do next.

7. Crossing items off of a list gives me a great sense of accomplishment. Even if the majority of my house is still trashed, I got one task done, and that is a win! This gives me energy for the next task.

8. At the end of the day, I can see that YES, I DID get things done today. I have a whole list of crossed-off items to prove it.

For those of you who hate schedules, it is okay to have a looser schedule.

For example, I don’t schedule out every little cleaning task. I schedule cleaning times, working times, and family times. You’ll need to find the balance that works best for you.

But if you don’t use a schedule already, I encourage you to give it a try! You may be surprised just how much time you save!

Do you schedule out your day? Does it help you stay on track?

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March 16, 2021