Today, I’m starting a 3-part video series on making proactive choices regarding family pets. In today’s video, I look at two pet-related goals I wish I’d been more intentional about when our children were younger. And I focus on the first “Key Question” to ask before adopting a new pet. Of course, if you’ve already brought home a furry family member, you can still discuss this question with your family now! (Can’t see video? Click here to watch it directly on YouTube!) Download our free Pet Care Contract: Join me – and Rafik!i – next month when we’ll look at …
Freezer Waffle Recipes (plus other freeze ahead breakfast ideas)
Mornings… SIGH. I am so not a morning person, I used to be before I had kids. This means I’m not exactly awake in the mornings, not to mention the challenge to get everyone out the door (on time!) to work and school makes for an interesting morning. This means I need to find ways to save time and still serve my kids a healthy breakfast. Freezer waffles are the perfect solution. You can make large batches ahead of time. Then in the morning, grab the desired amount of waffles and place in your toaster or oven. Viola! Breakfast is …
EXCITING NEWS from The M.O.M. Initiative for YOU!
It was in a gas station parking lot when the vision for The M.O.M. Initiative and The Making of a Mom was conceived. As I sat and watched a very pregnant teen girl walk by and light up a cigarette, I reflected on my teen pregnancy and how motherhood was like a messy experiment for me and how my kids ended up being the guinea pigs. And how I thought I was ready but didn’t have a clue. I couldn’t help but wonder if she understood the significance of her newfound roll. Did she understand that everything she now did would affect …
Juicing Once a Day for a Healthier Me & for Healthier Kids
I LOVE food! All food! Well, almost ALL food. But the older I get the more my food shows up on my hips, my thighs, and unfortunately all that yummy stuff affects my heart and my health. When I was younger, I could eat what I wanted and then just watch my intake for a few days and lose the weight I had gained. But those days are LONG GONE and my body is now in need of a little makeover. Okay…so a big makeover. And it’s not about my weight…it’s about my health. So, I started juicing. At first, …
Sleep: It is Worth the Fight
Sleep. It is difficult to do without it. And as moms we often get our first real taste of sleep deprivation as our tiny infant wakes frequently through the night. There are many schools of thought on sleep for infants and young children. Most stem from even deeper seated parenting philosophies. And I don’t want to debate the finer points of sleep training, attachment parenting, or baby wise parenting etc. The bottom line is all kids need sleep. Below is a graphic from the National Sleep Foundation. Sleep is connected to our mood, our overall health (adults who habitually …
Tips to De-Clutter and Organize before & after Christmas
I don’t know about your home little mama but when it’s time to put up the Christmas tree, our living room gets rearranged. And the smallest mess seems like mountains of clutter on top of the kids’ indoor adventures from negative temperatures. And if you’re already wondering how to reorganize your home, the loot, and de-clutter with little ones under foot, here are some fun tips for you. Christmas Ornaments You can either save the boxes each ornament comes in, or save space and time with egg cartons. …
Mom’s Winter Emergency Survival Kit
Ice is frosting the view outside our front door and soon, we will be scurrying to and from cities to visit family, friends and maybe even do a little shopping; but are you prepared in case of an emergency Do you what to do if your car slides off the road and do you know what you should carry in your car for you and your kids? It pays to keep your trunk packed with a winter survival kit for you and your kids AND to keep your cell phone with you. Before we get to your packing list, take a …
Moms: When Being the “Fall Guy” is a Good Thing
One of my friends recently told me about how she had to be the “fall guy” to help her daughter, Kylie, get out of an awkward situation with some friends. I was really impressed and told her I’d be sharing this great parenting tip with the M.O.M. Initiative readers. Here’s what happened. Kylie and some friends recently got together for a sleepover at a friends house. It was late, the parents had gone to bed and one of the girls, who was new to this group of friends, suggested they sneak out and go hang out with some guys from …
Hang in there Mom
Us mom’s can sometimes feel overlooked, underpaid, run down and run over. I am here to encourage all of you at home with little ones to hang in there. So many times I have failed as a mother and so many of my prayers have been, “Lord, please let them forget my mistakes.” I am here to encourage you, that no matter what, if your heart is to raise up godly children and do your best to be a godly wife and mother, your children will one day rise up and call you blessed. That’s a promise. Five years ago, I …
Mean Girls
The words on Facebook glared back at her. “You are so ugly! You are fat, annoying and I hate you!” Lindsay just sat there, staring at the screen, baffled. “What did I say? What did I do?” Maybe this has happened to one of your children, or in some way they’ve faced this same type of painful rejection. Maybe you have felt it yourself. I recently spotted a t-shirt at the mall that read “You’re no one until someone talks about you.” What a sad state of affairs. Growing up in a world where “Mean Girls” and “Gossip Girl” are movie …