Maybe it’s because Emmeline’s still so little. Maybe it’s because we homeschool, so I have Katie and Abby with me when many of their peers are at school. Maybe it’s the spacing of our kids, or maybe there’s some magic tipping point between three and four that pushes us into the “large family” category. Whatever … Continue reading "Happy Chaos, or, Babies are Good"
Read MoreTag: reflection
Please Don’t Look at Me, or, Thoughts on Easter and Faith
Last weekend, we celebrated. It had stormed all week, but Sunday dawned clear and beautiful and the world felt new. There was a sense of excitement as we gathered together in the school gym. (Ok. I’ll admit. This was, in part, due to the kids and their anticipation of the festivities to come. But only … Continue reading "Please Don’t Look at Me, or, Thoughts on Easter and Faith"
Read MoreOn Making Lists and Not Wasting My Life
A few months ago, I implemented something new in our homeschool: I started giving Katie a list. It always has the same things at the top. Get dressed. Tidy your room. Brush your hair. Practice the piano. And then, checkboxes for whatever she needs to accomplish that day. Math pages. Copy work. Spelling. Addition practice. … Continue reading "On Making Lists and Not Wasting My Life"
Read MoreIt Seems Like They Change Every Year: Some Thoughts on Routines and Striving for Perfection
Sometime when Katie was in preschool or kindergarten, my mom gave her a magnetic calendar. It had bright, colorful tiles, with places to note the weather and the season and the user’s current mood. It was the perfect addition to our nascent homeschool, and I was diligent to use it as a part of our … Continue reading "It Seems Like They Change Every Year: Some Thoughts on Routines and Striving for Perfection"
Read MoreOn Pink Sunglasses and Growing Pains, or, Joy in Every Stage
I was recently chatting with someone about young kids and their development. I told her how amazed I am whenever I think about how much is happening in their brains and bodies from birth to age three. She nodded, then grinned at Emmeline, who was busy being adorable in my lap. “Is it hard being … Continue reading "On Pink Sunglasses and Growing Pains, or, Joy in Every Stage"
Read MoreOn Lenten Commitments, or, Lessons in Failure
For Lent this year, I made three commitments: to read Journey to the Cross by Paul David Tripp each morning; to use my phone for messages, phone calls, bible reading, and my daily Wordle and crossword puzzles, and nothing more; and to be intentional about practicing gentleness with my kids, even when I’m at my … Continue reading "On Lenten Commitments, or, Lessons in Failure"
Read MoreOn Being a Neighbor
On the night of December 26th, we were hit by the Snowpocalypse. Or maybe it was Snowmageddon. Or, perhaps, Snowzilla. Take your pick of weather-related doomsday names. Whatever you call it, we got about 16 inches of heavy, wet snow that night, followed by another 6-8 inches over the next few days. True locals–that is, … Continue reading "On Being a Neighbor"
Read MoreWhen Words Are Not Enough
After dinner Friday night, Katie brought me the small globe from her room. “Mama,” she said, handing the blue and green ball out to me. “Can you show me where to find Ukraine?” Since Thursday morning, I’ve tried–and failed–to start this blog post multiple times. I’ve typed in sentences, paragraphs, full sections, only to erase … Continue reading "When Words Are Not Enough"
Read MoreAm I Doing This Thing Right?
Once, when Katie was three and having a hard time obeying, I told her, “When Mama or Daddy asks you to do something, you need to listen.” Her response? “I don’t believe that.” The incident is clear in my mind because that was the moment I knew I was totally and completely in over my … Continue reading "Am I Doing This Thing Right?"
Read MoreOn Grout and Wooden Trains and Things That Last
A few weeks ago, entirely by accident, I learned something about my steam mop. (How’s that for a riveting lede? I bet you’re on the edge of your seat.) There was a stubborn bit of something stuck to the floor, so I removed the mop head and used the scrub brush at the bottom of … Continue reading "On Grout and Wooden Trains and Things That Last"
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