My one-year-old has been nipped at by five different dogs. Every nipping was done by a dog that the owner swore was “great with children”, “loved kids”, and “would never hurt a fly”, and occurred with my sitting no more than a few feet from him. All pets, no matter how sweet and docile, have their limits. They might get … Read More
Thoughts On Choosing Childcare
Depending on where you live, you might need to make childcare decisions long before your child has even arrived! For parents who will return to work after having a baby, choosing a childcare provider can be one of the toughest decisions they’ve faced. It is very difficult to trust your child to someone else’s care, and to feel confident that … Read More
Exclusively Pumping: What You Need To Know
When I was pregnant with my first child, I just assumed I’d breastfeed. Everyone breastfeeds right? So obviously that’s what I would do too. I bought a breastfeeding pillow and nipple cream. I also bought an expensive breast pump and milk storage bags because that’s what everyone said I should do. Looking back, I had absolutely no idea what I … Read More
The Best Moms On The Internet
Looking for some new places on the internet to make part of your weekly routine? I have been over Facebook and Pinterest for some time now, and have found some favorite websites that give me laughter, inspiration, and encouragement after my son heads off to bed. If you are looking for some new internet pals, here are some of my … Read More
The Little Things
When my oldest was about three years old, he pointed out every irrigation pivot we drove by. He got so excited about seeing them that we pointed them out if he hadn’t noticed them. He wanted a toy pivot, like the one his uncles got when they bought a real pivot. We took him to watch pivots running because he … Read More
Early Breastfeeding Experiences
Breastfeeding is seen as something that is beautiful, caring, and completely natural. But for many women it doesn’t come naturally, and sometimes it just doesn’t happen at all. When community living was more common, women would see others breastfeeding babies. Wet nurses were used, and women’s knowledge about breastfeeding and its difficulties was more easily able to be shared. These … Read More
Cloth Diapers Are Easier Than You Think
Want to save money and lower your environmental footprint? Then cloth diapers might be for you! This will give you a very brief overview (there are entire blogs specifically devoted to cloth diapering) and maybe peak your interest enough to try them yourself! Many shy away from them because the initial cost can seem daunting – ten to twenty dollars … Read More
Indoor Birthday Party Ideas For Toddlers
When your child turns two, three or four, they are finally aware that the celebration is in their honor. They have developed their own sense of fun activities, and they might even have a set of friends and family that they’d like to spend time with on their special day. But what happens if you have a dreaded winter birthday … Read More
Help Wanted: Our Allowance Strategy
This summer, our family of three started something new: allowance for our 5 year old son. If you are thinking about an allowance system, my first piece of advice would be to steer clear from the internet. As with all things, googling your parenting options and choices will just make you feel less confident and more guilty. I can’t ever … Read More
Teaching Kids Respect
I hear a lot about needing to teach kids respect, both in conversation, and online. There seems to be a lot of agreement that kids aren’t being “put in their place” properly, like they used to be. The complaints of the older generation about the younger goes back to ancient Greeks though, so thinking that kids are not like they … Read More