The Big Day
I mentioned in the Respecting Boundaries post that a little over 2 years ago our cat Callie passed away. Callie was 17 years old, completely blind and deaf by the end. The boys were roughly 4 and 8 at the time. Callie was more my pet than theirs, simply because I'd...
Applying Just Enough Pressure
I think one of the MOST difficult aspects of parenting (for me at least) is knowing how and when to set limits. Just like the piano battles I mentioned the other day...there are also other areas in which I find conflict with the boys. It's always been very important...
The “No, Thank You” Helping
I've been chatting back and forth via e-mail with a reader and she asked a question today that reminded me of a trick my own mother used successfully. You know...back in the day when I was little. Well, she had to use it on my sister because I was (of course) the...
Do Your Kids Share Bedrooms?
Right now, each set of boys shares a bedroom. This is rather an efficient arrangement, as we live in a 3-bedroom home. We have room to expand though, and could possibly add 2 more bedrooms in the next year or so. I want one room for visiting family. I could then.......
Drawing Lines in the Sand
So. We're deep into the month of August and I say something innocent to the older boys like, "you need to practice the piano today." They do not take this well, and frowns and foot-stomping abound. Every now and then in the parenting journey you come to an important...
It’s Not That I Have Nothing to Say
It's just that the schedule lately has been full of well, stuff to do. Has summer been just screaming by this year? I feel like it's screaming by. It's crazy really....this whole Time Spinning Faster Every Year thing. My boys are going to be done growing up and out of...
The Importance of Respecting Boundaries
An open letter to a family I've never met: Dear Family, A little over 2 years ago, our family cat Callie died at the age of 17. Because of my allergies, Hubby insisted that we take some time and go without pets for a while and see how it went. My health improved...
Blog Design Contest
Hellloooooo, Internets! Please forgive the off-topic post but I want to tell you about a neat new contest. Full disclosure, I am entering the contest. But you can too! If you have a Wordpress blog, and if you really love your design then you should enter...
Keepin’ It Real
I started writing this blog out of frustration. Parenting is a tough job, and homeschooling adds a whole 'nother dimension. Many were the days that Hubby came home to me angry, and I was often in tears. There were a lot of different situations and reasons, and one by...
Year 15, Day 1
Yesterday was a special occasion: Hubby's and my 14th wedding anniversary. This fact continues to amaze me...I cannot possibly be old enough to have been married that long. Right?? Okay, maybe I am old enough. But shhhhhhh! Don't tell anyone. Today, then, is the first...