Looking at this necklace, I think of hard work and passion. As a kid, I loved soccer and when I saw this necklace in our school’s fundraising catalog (a cute necklace with a soccer ball!) I wanted it. I saved up fifteen dollars to buy it myself. It was special to me. It is special … Read more
So often I come up with things I feel like I need to teach my kids, whether it’s something I see that they don’t know how to do well, something society says they need to know, or something I just think they need to learn. It’s easy to have my whole mind focus on the … Read more
If you look up research done in preschool and kindergarten classrooms, you’ll discover that their abilities to read, write, count, or identify patterns is only indicative of how well they do on tests. But the future success of our young children is closely linked to their social-emotional skills. A recent study found that fourth-graders “who … Read more
Peter jumped out of his boat three times to follow the Lord. He leapt from the side and swam to shore when he recognized the resurrected Lord on the beach. Is that how we will respond when we meet the Savior, running to his side? Before that Peter stepped out of the boat and walked … Read more
Dear daughter, you have been blessed with a mother’s heart. It is beautiful to watch you take a toddler by the hand and lead him, to watch you gaze with wonder and adoration at babies and do all your little body allows to care for them. God has blessed you with a love for children. … Read more
The summer before my son started kindergarten I was talking to another mom at church with a son the same age. When she found out I had decided to homeschool, she said something to the effect of, “You’re so brave.” I didn’t feel brave. But she wanted to know where I got the confidence to … Read more
Earlier this week, I gave my one-year-old angry eyes and angry words. “Just go to sleep! No, you can’t do that. Leave it alone.” I was that mom. The mom that is so ornery you feel uncomfortable for her child. I’m not always the mom I want to be. We were on an airplane on … Read more
It’s getting to the season when so many of us look forward to the fresh start of the new year. I seem to look forward to the fresh start of each new season. Every few months I am looking for ways to set new goals (though I could definitely use some better structure in that … Read more
I can’t say that I have always loved motherhood. I am committed to motherhood because I know it is the most important job in the world, and I feel God’s encouragement and help, but there have been times when motherhood has been completely overwhelming, to the point of being devoid of joy. Maybe devoid is … Read more
Imagine you’re living in the 1800s on a homestead. You’re living in this cute little log cabin (let’s ignore the fact that it would be freezing in the winter) and there isn’t a technology screen in sight for the next 100 years. Your little kids play happily in the dirt with a few homemade toys … Read more