Friends, it’s been a while, I know. Life has been keeping me busy these days, and what little time there has been for writing has been devoted to two new children’s books that are in the works. But tonight, my husband graciously ushered all of the small people out of our home for some good […]
Silencing the Expert Within
I’m a trained educator. I hold degrees in general education and special education. I constantly hone my skills through coursework and self-study. But none of this matters. No, it doesn’t matter one whit – not to my children. To them, the number of degrees I’ve earned is irrelevant. The plethora of parenting books I’ve read […]
The Santa Question
Is Santa real? It’s a question we’ve all asked at some point, and as parents, it’s one we’re very likely to face again. Our culture is full of stories that aim to strengthen our belief. From Miracle on 34th Street to The Polar Express and The Santa Clause, the theme is the same: one-time doubter […]
Pumpkin Pie Slime
Never underestimate the power of a good sensory activity to attract children of all ages. This one, from Growing a Jeweled Rose, was a hit with kids ranging in age from four years to nearly eleven! Here’s what we used: A little tip: clean up is so much easier if you cover your table with […]
Help! I’m an Unschooling Introvert!
The unschooling life is a wonderful fit for our family, and I can’t imagine taking a different path. BUT, just because it’s the right thing doesn’t mean it’s always the EASY thing. Having my children home with me presents some unique challenges, and I’m not going to pussyfoot around that. In the past, I’ve reflected […]
A New Twist on Reporting
I don’t know about you, but every year I find myself getting increasingly stressed as end-of-year reporting draws near. Although I keep a journal of our activities throughout the year, it’s cumbersome to compile it all into a report. Worse, I’m never happy with the end product. Being a former teacher, I have no trouble […]
My Side of the Fence
My mother will tell you that from the time I was a tot I had a tendency to compare. In my eyes everyone else was prettier, more talented, and happier than I was. And in the many, many conversations my mom and I had on the subject, she usually mentioned at some point that famous […]
Making a Soap Souffle
A good experiment can entice all four of my kids, regardless of their age range. This one was super simple, but gave us lots of bang for our buck! We found Soap Souffle on Steve Spangler Science…but of course, we added a few twists of our own! Here’s what we did: First, we compared Ivory […]
It’s an Anniversay Sale!
My first book, A Pair of Sparkly Sneakers – A Mother’s Journey to Inner Wisdom, came out a year ago. It’s crazy how the time has flown by! It’s been so great to hear from readers who have enjoyed the book. To celebrate, I’m offering the kindle version for only $2.99 all month. If you’ve […]
School Days: the Sequel
This fall, Thomas decided to take on fifth grade academics. He was eager to know “everything a fifth grader knows”. It was the first time we’d be using formal curriculum in four years, but he and I were both up for it. Bright and early one September morning we officially launched fifth grade (okay, it […]