Naming feelings is a really important part of a child's development, no matter the communication level of the child. I promise you that your kiddo can benefit from this at home, too. Check out this exclusive content from education.com.
Tag: no happy accidents
How to Teach your Kids Real-Life Social Skills
As this years summer winds down, I am in awe at how little we have accomplished this year. We went into the summer with grandiose plans and everyone made a list. Similar to our bucket lists of past summers. However, we never really focused on checking anything off! But you want to know what they really gained this summer? It was something I didn't plan on, but I am so glad I noticed it in action. My Kids Gained Valuable, Real-Life Social Skills.
Warning: Self-Identity Crisis and How to Cope
Have you ever had the problem of having too many options? Having endless opportunities? Having the ability to go in any direction and accomplish any goal? I am talking about both big and small goals. It's a real problem for me. I know that sounds like I am whining, but it's really a big deal. And yes, I realize this is a total first world problem, but hear me out because you might see yourself in me. When I was a kid, I knew exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up. I had two, very specific dreams.
Tweenager in the Kitchen: No-Bake Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites
My oldest daughter loves being in the kitchen. She also LOVES to sing and perform, create new things with fabric, glue and paint, and design fashions fit for a runway. Over the weekend, she decided to make a variety of different items.
Recovery-Part One
I entered August optimistically. I was scared and nervous for my upcoming preventive mastectomy and breast reconstruction, but ultimately optimistic for the outcome that was being laid out in front of me. On the way to the hospital I felt nothing but gratefulness and luck. Surgery was seemingly uneventful, but my recovery at home was anything but. I was having a hard time. Read on and share my story if you think it could help someone else. ~Love to you all!!
Unprepared is Prepared: Surgery Update
I started to actually think about being "prepared" I realized that I don't know as much about this next step as I thought I did. My husband and I have a great understanding of the "what" and the "how" of what's to come, but we don't really have a good handle on the aftermath of it all. Everybody's experiences are different and reading different women's journeys is both helpful and frightening at the same time. So, this morning I started to think of everything I didn't know. My head was spinning.
Thank You Just Isn’t Enough
I never expected anyone to pay attention to my little blog (again, it's therapy- but thank you for reading and following it) and I really didn't expect the amount of community support that came with it. People checked in on me, made our little family dinner, dropped off milk, offered my kids fun days, and sent me messages via Facebook, texts, and phone calls. I even got a handful of beautiful cards from friends and family; near and far. Friends and neighbors dropped off surprise flowers, homemade cookies and breads, mochas, and even prosecco. I loved the sweet intentions that went with each one, but more importantly I appreciated the time that people took to even think of us during their busy days, let alone to drop something off. From the bottom of my heart (and the four others in my home), thank you. Even though it doesn't seem like enough.
Personal Choices- My BRCA-2 Update
In 2008 I was told that I am a BRCA-2 carrier, which means that I have a gene mutation which significantly increases my risk of breast, ovarian, and a few other cancers. Most doctors recommend the removal of ovaries and a preventative double mastectomy with reconstruction of the breasts. However, we were told to finish having children and then wait a few more years before scheduling any of the major surgeries. I was on target to start preventive surgical care in the next few years when a tiny tumor appeared in my last breast MRI. Lucky for me, it was benign and not an issue. However, it caused me to speed up my decision making and start looking at a calendar, pronto. These breasts are ticking-time-boobs and they need to go! As nervous as I feel right now, it's nothing compared to what I could feel if I ended up with a breast cancer diagnosis because I procrastinated when I could have done something.
Love YOUR Summer!
My kids have not even been out of school a full week yet and they are already bored, fighting, and expecting big plans daily. There was a time when I wanted to schedule "fun" things for them everyday or at least a few times a week. Then last year we made an End of Summer Bucket…
50% Mom- An Ugly Lesson From One Touch
During an extremely challenging week our household was a hot mess. Everyone was busy, emotional, and needed extra attention. Plus we had our regular "life" duties and all of the above activities. Everybody needed a break, but we kept trucking on. During a hectic afternoon, I was getting an after school snack ready for my three kiddos and answering an email on my phone. Since busy for me looks a lot like me being on my computer or phone, my kids associate my phone with me being too busy for them. Which of course is not the case, but having access immediately to emails and job related activities in a very virtual world, means that I can be efficient and multi-task. But my oldest set me straight on this crazy day.
no happy accidents 