Superheroes go about in plain clothes, blending into the crowd. Often we know them, but their familiarity blocks our seeing their superhero qualities. I caught glimpses of these superheroes in action when a giant tree fell on my brother’s house, when I broke some bones, and when I blogged about my struggles with sadness. The…
This spring, I read in my local newspaper about how fewer people are getting married. One of the reasons mentioned for the decline was expense. Wedding changes in the last few generations may have contributed to the expenses incurred. According to Forbes, the average wedding in 2024 is $33,000! That’s insane. I agree with a…
Expenses add up with a new baby, but one way to save money is to breastfeed your baby. Breastfeeding saves money, but it also provides other benefits for you and your baby. There’s no need to spend money on formula and all the bottle feeding paraphernalia. Of course, you will still want a few bottles…
Did you know that sensitivity is a gift not a curse? I am a sensitive person, but for years, I tried to squash those emotions or at least hide them. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a person who cries easily. I share empathy with people I know, as well as strangers,…
I recently read Unoffendable by Brant Hansen. His natural, conversational tone makes the book an easy read, though it’s full of thought-provoking material. I think I’m a nice person who tries to be kind to everyone, but since I’ve been wrestling with depression, I’ve had to take a good look inside. I learned that depression…
One thing that I didn’t expect when I plunged into my “life after homeschooling” chapter was the amount of time still dedicated to caregiving. Nobody actually ever so much as hinted about this aspect of an empty nest. I only heard about pursuing interests set aside during the child raising years or changing careers or…
Last fall, I shared with you 13 things kids could find on a nature hike. Now that warmer temperatures are here, I want to share more ideas with you and your children about fun, spring exploration ideas. My children and I enjoyed the following activities, and I hope you will with your family, as well.…
Peer pressure causes many to hide things about themselves out of fear of ridicule. I know I kept my opinions to myself plenty of times. But one day, the spotlight focused on me, and I had to choose between telling what someone else considered cool or to tell the truth: my favorite beverage is chocolate…
I used some different tactile methods when my children were learning their letters and numbers or even just learning to draw a straight line or squiggle. Here is a list of different substances you can use for your children to “write” numbers and letters with their finger and then erase them to start over. For…
I know flashcards don’t have to be expensive, but it can be fun to make them yourself and/or with your children’s help. I made alphabet and number flashcards, one through 12, for my preschoolers. They weren’t fancy, but they did the job. Here is how I made my own flashcards: First, decide what paper you…