Teaching My Child To Sweep

As a parent, one of my key responsibilities is teaching my children how to work hard and how to manage a home. Though only 2, S is responsible for cleaning up her toys and crayons. She helps throw away diapers, and puts her dirty clothes in her laundry basket. As she grows, so will the list of housekeeping tasks I require of her.

When I saw this pin for a fun way to teach your child to sweep, it seemed wonderful! S loves doing what mama does. She has a toy broom which she loves to "sweep" with {or dance to "Steppin' Time" with, alternately}. And she loves games. Perfect!

I purchased a roll of painter's tape and marked a square for her in the linoleum to sweep all of the crumbs into. I had even allowed a good week or so of dirt to build up, making it a timely exercise ;). Oh wait, maybe sweeping just hasn't happened as often as I'd like it to since baby #2 :). In any case, the floor was good and prepped for her sweeping game!

Bless her heart, my little girl just doesn't have the coordination for this activity yet. Oh, someday she will {and we will bring this game back out when she does- I still think it's a fabulous idea!}, but for now, one little hand holds the broom, swishing crumbs back and forth with no rhyme or reason.

Ah well. Guess she can't be my floor cleaner yet {drat!}.

What chores are your kids responsible for? Do you have any inspiring ideas for making housework more fun?

Join me as I seek to apply my pin boards to real life!

Felt Mr. Potato Head

All you need for this adorable play thing is colorful felts and a good pair of scissors. The blogger who made the handy-dandy printable pattern for it double-layered her felts and sewed them together {darling!}, but I am no seamstress, and fairly anti-crafty, so I simply hot glued the pieces that needed sticking together, and kept each accessory single layered.

Hers was way cuter than mine, but mine works. So if you are super crafty, please go to town and make your Potato Head awesome. But if you are just a simple gal like me, I'll bet you can still make a semi-decent one that your kids still love playing with :). I love pins that can work for anyone!

S enjoyed playing with this today while Mommy was in the dentist's chair. Although I think she wished that the felt mustache would stick to her face too ;).

P.S- I have officially been slacking when it comes to this 31 Days business... as you know, October ends tomorrow, but to make up for my missed posts I plan to finish up the rest of the week with more pin-tastic posts :). Thanks for sticking with me!

Join me as I seek to apply my pin boards to real life!

Pipe Cleaner Color Sort

Want an easy to make educational activity that will keep your toddler engaged on the road {or at home, for that matter}? Well, today's your lucky day ;).

The Pipe Cleaner Color Sort will take you maybe five minutes to assemble. All you need is an empty container {I used a "puffs" one, but I imagine that an oats or even plain tupperware would work}, a few pipe cleaners in assorted colors, round binder stickers, markers, and a hole punch.

 You may notice that my holes are not as evenly or neatly distributed across the lid as the original pin was. That is because 1) my hole punch is pretty small, and couldn't reach far enough, and 2) I am not a brilliant and amazing crafty person. You also may notice that I didn't bother to prettily decorate it's exterior. If prettily decorating your Pipe Cleaner Sort thrills you, than please, by all means, go to town with it and have fun. Personally I just didn't bother.


The good news for me and you is that you don't have to be crafty, and this project doesn't have to be perfect {or even pretty!}, in order for your child to have a good time. S figured out the matching business rather quickly. She spent 10 or 15 minutes playing with it when I first made it for her, and usually revisits it at least once a day since. I think this would probably occupy a younger toddler for even longer.

*Note: The blogger who originated this idea recommends folding over the ends of the pipe cleaners and twisting them tightly to avoid poking fingers. This has worked well for us so far!

Join me as I seek to apply my pin boards to real life!

Coloring on the Go

Coloring is one of S's favorite activities. Last weekend we took her to a huge local farm that boasts a pumpkin patch, pig races, a petting zoo, homemade cider donuts, and hay rides {just to name a few}. Her favorite thing? In the bakery we ate our donuts at they had a giant coloring board on the wall. She colored on that thing for a good 40 minutes, happy as a clam. It's the little things, folks.

I'm always looking for simple activities to keep S occupied whilst we're out and about- in the car, at the doctor's office, in restaurants. This pin suggested putting crayons and post-its in a soap box, then slipping it in your purse/diaper bag.

Not only is it super portable and fun, it is tiny- a huge improvement on the stack of books or other toys I've lugged around at various times. Brilliant!

I picked up a hot pink soap box at Walmart for probably about $1. To my surprise, the standard size post-it note didn't fit. Is my soap box on the small side? Who knows. Good news- I have a humongous paper stash. I found some smaller sticky notes {colorful and in different shapes}, popped in a few crayons, and VOILA! Instant on-the-go entertainment.

We tested it at the pediatrician's office this week, and it worked like a charm. S has never waited so happily and patiently! From now on, the crayon soap box will be a staple in my diaper bag.

What simple things entertain your kids on the go?

Join me as I seek to apply my pin boards to real life!

Sidewalk Chalk Paint

It amazes me sometimes how the smallest amount of effort on my part can mean the world to my little girl. Parenting can be so complicated. It is *by far* the hardest job I've ever had... yet when I pause for S and give her my undivided love and attention, many wrinkles sort themselves out.

Take sidewalk chalk paint. It looks so easy- 1 cup of water, 1 cup of cornstarch, and a little bit of food coloring. Yet how easy is it to pin, plan on spending an afternoon playing with your kiddo, and then just forget about it? We mean to make the time for our kids. We intend to plan and execute special activities that lend themselves to sweet memories. But then life gets busy, and our to do lists consume our days....

Well, thank you 31 Days, because you were the fire underneath me that I needed to just do it. One lovely sunny day, S and I enjoyed an afternoon playing away with our sidewalk chalk paint.

Can I tell you that it was a super easy project? It required minimal effort on my part, but S had a blast! Definitely worth the opportunity cost mamas!

She started off painting the sidewalk ("Just like Mary Poppins!" she said, thinking of Bert's sidewalk drawings), and then moved to the grass, then ended up painting her little play house. A special afternoon, and one I hope to repeat often throughout S's childhood.

What simple activities do you and your kids love to do together?

Join me as I seek to apply my pin boards to real life!

Taming the Television {Life With Toddler} + Toddler Link-Up!

Photo Credit

Over the last four months I've noticed some distinct changes in my little girl's behavior. Temper tantrums come more quickly and frequently, oftentimes leaving me at a loss on how to respond. I'm trying to be patient, give S plenty of attention, and to meet all of her needs... yet she can be happy for one minute, only to have a major melt down in the next.

Several things have happened within this window of time. First, she turned two. They aren't called the terrible twos for nothing! So maybe it is an age and stage issue?

Second, I went on bed rest, my mother came to live with us, and we had another baby. Perhaps her new attitude is a result of her entire world going topsy-turvy, with new routines, less mommy-time, and big changes at home?

Third, coinciding with my bed rest, S's t.v. time increased exponentially. I've noticed that as soon as we turn off the screen, a tantrum is bound to occur. She just doesn't want to stop watching once she's started. Scary!

So we have a combination of possible causes for her new tantrum tendency. Ultimately, I know that it is because S is a sinner, with an inclination towards wanting her own way at all costs. Still, I want to curtail them as much as possible, so I'm turning my eye to the possible contributors that I can control {as well as seeking the Lord in prayer for His wisdom, a whole lot more!}. 

The television can be an extremely useful parenting tool. When I just need to get a shower and my husband has already left for work, Netflix keeps S happily occupied. When S wakes up from her nap, but I'm still drowsy and not ready to be done with mine {remember folks, I have a newborn}, a few episodes of Little Bill gives me the chance to snuggle her and wake up slowly. Because I was able to rest for those extra minutes, I have more energy for the last {and hardest} part of the day.

I would also argue, however, that television can be one of our biggest parental stumbling blocks. Once I start sticking my kid in front of a screen, I am far more likely to keep her there. It's a slippery slope. Parenting is the hardest job I've ever had- sometimes it is just easier to turn on the tube. I can relax, put my feet up... or maybe finally get caught up on my to do list.

Before I know it, the day is over, and my daughter hasn't played outside, colored pictures, read books with me or had unstructured, creative play time. Childhood is much too short, and far too important, to be spent entirely in front of a screen.

What's the balance?

I have no idea.

I'm trying to avoid it as much as possible. I'm trying to make sure we cross off our list of important childhood activities each day before turning it on {get outside. read. play. dance. color.}. I'm also trying to give myself grace when I really need that shower or a little bit of extra rest because my night was just too short. I'm trying to observe my daughter's behavior before and after t.v. time, so that I can adjust our use of it as necessary.

How do you structure t.v. time at your place? Have you observed any changes in your children's attitudes as a result of screen time? 

Don't miss the other posts in this series!

Introduction
Cleaning Up with Your Toddler
Family Worship
Home Education 
Housework with Helpers

Now it's time to link-up, toddler mamas! What have you learned as the mother of little ones? How do you train, nurture, and engage your toddler? What does a typical day in your life look like? Any and all posts related to toddler-dom are welcome. Please feel free to share as many posts as you'd like. And please share a text link back to here so that other moms can join in on the fun! 

Housework With "Helpers" {Life with Toddler}

"Help! I have a two-year old and I have no idea how to get anything done anymore!"

"My toddler is into everything- I turn my back for a few minutes, and all the work I've done is undone."

"My carpet is literally strewn with a million cracker crumbs... I vacuum, and within the hour it looks like the vacuuming never happened."

Words echoed from the mouths of countless mothers... or is it just me? Please tell me again that I am not alone here!

While some of these conundrums may never be solved {especially the cracker crumb scenario- seriously, I say I won't let her walk around the house with a snack anymore, but that has yet to happen}, and the messes will always keep coming back, there are a few tricks I've employed in keeping house with my two year old.

Washing the dishes. When I wash the dishes, S washes her "dishes." I stick her in her high chair with a small container of water, throw in a few bath toys, and let her have fun. Yes, my entire kitchen floor is sopping by the time we're through. Oh is she happy though, and Mommy is happy too, because all of her dishes are done :).

Cooking. S loves to help me in the kitchen, and I am kicking myself for not including her in my cooking and baking sooner! She dumps measuring cups into bowls, taste-tests the veggies I've chopped, and helps me stir.

Warning: when cooking with toddlers, I'm learning that I need to have a game plan ready to go before starting if I want to keep my patience and sanity. Knives and spillables need to be in a corner of the counter far from S's reach. Suitable activities for her to participate in need to be identified and prepped before I enlist her help. Then we can both have a good time, and I won't have to fret about how to salvage a recipe tweaked by S when my back was turned ;).

Cook dinner earlier in the day. Seriously, 5 o'clock is when everyone in my house loses it. The baby is screaming, the toddler is screaming; I am tired and hungry, they are tired and hungry. Putting off dinner prep until then is a recipe for disaster. When Niall walks in at 5:30, I want him to be greeted by happy kids, a cheerful wife, and a hot meal. Not a frazzled woman with two irritable children and something burning on the stove :).

When I plan ahead what we will be eating, tackle as much as possible of the prep-work when everyone is fresh and well-behaved earlier in the day, 5 o'clock is a much more peaceable hour. I am free to attend to needy children without feeling stressed. We can dance and sing and snuggle, and be ready to greet Daddy with smiles.

Playing with (and taste-testing) bagel dough

Monkey see, monkey do. One thing I adore about this stage is that S wants to do everything Mommy does. Her unbridled enthusiasm for me won't last much longer, so I want to take advantage of it {hopefully even prolonging it by doing so}. If I'm vacuuming, S has her toy vacuum out. If I'm sweeping, she grabs her broom and then holds the dust pan for me. We pick up the living room as a team. Almost any task can be done together!

Does it take longer? Absolutely. I have to re-sweep multiple times because my neat pile has been spread across the floor all over again. But S is learning valuable life skills, and spending time with her mommy. And I am learning to develop mass quantities of patience :).

How do you get stuff done around the house with your toddler(s)?

Don't miss the rest of our series on toddlerhood through the month of September! And please join us for our toddler link-up on Friday the 27th- any and all posts on toddlers welcome {feel free to dig up your archives!}.  

Check out the other posts in this series:
Introduction
Cleaning Up with your Toddler 
Family Worship
Home Education

Home Education {Life With Toddler}

There are affiliate links in this post. That means that if you click through and make a purchase, I receive a commission at no extra charge to you. You can read my full disclosure policy here. Thanks for your support of The Purposeful Wife! 

The two year old brain is a vast and incomprehensible sea of possibilities. Toddlers are so eager, so energetic, so intelligent, so drawn to the attention and affection of loving adults in their life. With very little application on my part, I am amazed at the knowledge and understanding my daughter displays.

The biggest obstacle to me investing in my daughter's education is a lack of intentional effort on my part. If I'm not careful, an entire day can go by without me laying aside distractions and taking the time to read with S {one of our favorite things to do together!}. A week will easily pass without me cracking open our art supplies. Hitting up the library will never happen if I don't intentionally aim and make it happen {especially now that I've got a newborn in the mix!}.

With this reality before me, I've been *attempting* to form plans and follow through with them, on purpose.

My plans?

Slow and Steady Get Me Ready by June R. Oberlander. Recommended in The Well-Trained Mind, Mrs. Oberlander's book offers one "learning" activity for each week of a child's life, from birth to age five {just in time for kindergarten!}. Varying from physical exercises to craft projects to rhyming games, it provides manifold educational experiences for moms (or other caretakers) and their kiddos. I am even trying to do the infant activities with W.

I may miss a week here or there, but they don't take too much extra effort, so I might double up (or triple) the next week. S has enjoyed the small handful of activities we've tried so far!

Hit up the library once a week. Or every other week. I'm a big believer in interest-led learning, so I seize upon S's current fascinations and check out books accordingly. For example, right now she is way into the moon. Don't ask me why, but the kid loves it. Hearing her lisp about the "waxing gibous" cracks us up.

So last week we checked out a stack of books from the children's library on the moon. While many of them were written with older kids in mind, I am surprised at S's capacity for sitting through them {when she is in the right mood, at the right time}. Other less lengthy books fail to hold her attention because they just don't speak to her interests.

Read. A whole ton! We read in 10-15 minute chunks periodically throughout the entire day... this is made especially easy by my little nursling. W's meal time is S's book time- I'm already sitting on the couch, so I might as well be taking advantage of it! This also keeps S out of trouble when I'm preoccupied with the babe.

Arts and crafts. I am terrible at this, but I need to improve. There are so many great, free printables and ideas floating around the web. I'd like to do at least one well thought-out, prepared in advance art project with S each week. But as long as I pull out some crayons or markers once a day for her, I will call myself a success. We want to encourage that beautiful toddler creativity ;)!

Other than that, I point out letters as we encounter them in books or on signs. We count cheerios and toys and fingers and toes. A few friends of mine with older preschoolers meet up once a week with informal preschool lesson plans, and I will try to show up for those. I try to expose S to good music every day, and lots of musical variety. She pounds away freely at our piano's keys, and Daddy tells her the names of each note.

You may notice that I say the word "try" a lot. That's because juggling two kids is new to me. And because life happens. And because I know that it isn't the end of the world {or my daughter's hope for an excellent education} if I fail to carry out a full-fledged preschool program from home. She is little. Reading with her, and really, just giving her the time of day, will cover a multitude of other inadequacies.

What educational resources do you and your toddler love? 

Don't miss the rest of our series on toddlerhood ! 
Introduction
Cleaning Up with Your Toddler
Family Worship

Family Worship {Life With Toddler}

As Christian parents, we know that the Word of God ought to be central in our homes. Most of us probably think that family devotions are a good idea. We want to teach our children that the glory of God is our first priority, and we want the way we structure our home to reflect that.

But how?

There are two major pitfalls that Niall and I have experienced in our attempts at holding meaningful family worship times.

1. Lack of QualityMaterials. I cannot tell you how many times I've been reading a Bible storybook with my daughter, only to scratch my head and puzzle over the author's additions and/or misinterpretations of the Scriptures. We have purged more children's Bible books than I care to recall, simply because they are inaccurate or misleading. I've learned that if there is any question in my conscience, I'm much better off just getting rid of it, rather than inwardly cringing each time I read it to S.

Children may be young, but they certainly have a greater capacity for understanding than we realize. These early years are critical, and I do not want S to develop false impressions of God and His Word, simply because we carelessly fed her a diet of "Christian" twaddle.

2. A Short Attention Span. Two year old's can have a hard time sitting still... especially when they are tired or cranky, like right before bed when we do our family devotions. The last thing I want is for S to think of our Bible time as a burdensome, tedious exercise. My goal is to keep her engaged and interested, interacting with the material.

Our current solutions?

 365 Great Bible Stories. I am so thankful that my pastor's wife introduced me to Carine Mackenzie's collection of Bible stories! The stories are concise, simple, and true to the Word of God. Each one has a beautiful and sensible, Christ-centered application.

The only thing I don't love is the artwork- some of it is okay, but some of it is downright awful. I am picky, but I believe that quality illustrations are important... what can I say?  

S does pretty well sitting for these stories, but does sometimes get antsy. We try to encourage her in learning to sit quietly and still through them, but occasionally will just shut the book early on her extra difficult evenings.  

The Children's "Prove It" Catechism. I found this pamphlet randomly lying around at my church, and am so glad I picked it up! While we've wanted to begin a catechism with S for awhile, each one we looked at was just a little too wordy to hold her attention and memorize. This one is perfect! Each question and answer is short and to the point, with one proof text to memorize.

So far S has pretty well memorized the first five questions! We try to introduce one new question each week {if we neglect the catechism one week, we just stick with the same question the next}. You can find this catechism for free in a cool game format for older kids here. Or you can pick up a copy for $.75 here.

We start our family devotions by reading {usually} two stories from 365 Great Bible Stories, then move on to the catechism, reviewing a couple questions, and working on learning our new one for the week. Finally, we close out with a song or two and prayer.

Teaching S to sit still and concentrate is for sure a work in progress, but she is improving each week!

What resources for teaching the Bible to toddlers do you love? How does your family structure worship times? 

Don't miss the rest of our series on toddlerhood through the month of September! And please join us for our toddler link-up on Friday the 27th- any and all posts on toddlers welcome {feel free to dig up your archives!}.  

Check out the other posts in this series:
Introduction
Cleaning Up with your Toddler

Linked with: Raising Homemakers, Wise Woman, Thrive @ Home, and Growing Home.

Cleaning Up {Life With Toddler}

One of the simplest and most basic responsibilities that I can require of my toddler is to pick up her own belongings. In our home, I *try* to have S put away her toys and books before bed each night, as well as cleaning up little odds and ends throughout the day as we go along.

Of course, there is usually something else she would much rather be doing, and each toy that she picks up is a new temptation to play with. Many times I find myself getting irritated that I'm telling her yet again to put away the same thing, that cleaning up a small room takes 20+ minutes, or that I have to micromanage her progress with such a seemingly simple job.

Yet patience seems to be the number one requirement for gentle child-training. I must constantly remind myself to take a deep breath, keep a pleasant tone and countenance, and faithfully follow through on the commands I give her.

This is a work in progress. Tell me I'm not alone here?

I want to model joyfulness in my work, to show S by example that work is God's good gift to us, not a drudge. So for both of our sakes I am trying to keep it fun!

Make it a game. Totally on accident, I managed to invent a game for picking up. It started one day when S had dumped her entire box of crayons all over the floor- definitely one of our more tedious clean-up jobs.

To encourage her along, every time she dropped a crayon in the box I would make a different sound effect {think animal noises, robots, musical ditties, etc.}. She thought it was hilarious. So much so, that as soon as she had put the last crayon away, she dumped out the entire box again so that we could continue with our game. *Smacks forehead.*

From the crayons, it carried over to her food toys, and stuffed animals, and before we knew it, everything was nice and tidy. Success! She fondly refers to this game as "bee-doop" {the original sound I made}.

Sing. Who doesn't know the clean-up song? I'm convinced it is the international anthem of toddlerhood :). We will also put on some of S's favorite music to inspire her and help "the medicine go down." Every task is more fun when you're dancing!

Provide extra incentive. The other day I felt frustrated because try as I might, S was not staying on task during our morning clean up. Her favorite song is Gene Kelly's "Singing in the Rain" {we have similar taste, my girl and I <3}, and she asked to watch the You Tube video of it. I told her that as soon as she finished picking up her books, she could watch it.

Lo and behold, the task I'd been unsuccessfully encouraging her to do for over ten minutes was finished in less than two. Sometimes a kid just needs a little healthy, fun motivator- a light at the end of the tunnel, a reward for a job well done.

I know I sure do! I often reward myself at the end of a hard or unpleasant task with a few minutes of reading, a little bit of chocolate, or a cup of tea. Why should my child be any different?

Motivators shouldn't necessarily be offered every time- S does need to learn that she must obey, simply because Mama said. But they sure can be a nice occasional treat.

What works for clean-up time at your house? Any tricks of the trade to share, toddler mamas?

 Don't miss the rest of our series on toddlerhood through the month of September! And please join us for our toddler link-up on Friday the 27th- any and all posts on toddlers welcome {feel free to dig up your archives!}. 

Linked with: Grace Laced, A Sweet Fragrance, and The Better Mom. 

Life With Toddler {A New Series}

 S just turned two last month. She is a delight to my soul, bringing massive amounts of joy, laughter, and energy to each day.


She is also my greatest challenge. All of that energy demands that I respond likewise, and some days it is impossibly hard. Half of the time I just wonder if I'm doing things right, how I ought to respond to her, how to handle the different situations that arise.

Tantrums. Whining. Insatiable curiosity. Food issues. And boy oh boy does the girl want and need so much of her mama- my time, my love, my affection, my undivided attention.

Over the month of September I'll be sharing lessons I'm learning, what's been working in our home, how we are trying to embrace age two as terrific, not terrible :). I plan to cover education, family worship, adjusting to a new baby, handling housework... as well as anything else that strikes me.

Because I really long for the wisdom and fellowship of other mamas, I will be hosting a link-up here at the end of the month, on Friday the 27th. Any and all posts on toddlers are welcome (feel free to dig up your archives)!

What is your biggest challenge as the mother of a toddler? What kind of topics would you like to see covered in this series and the link-up?

Overcoming Fear in Pregnancy {Introduction}

My first pregnancy ended in miscarriage.

My second pregnancy abruptly ended at 27 weeks, with an extremely premature birth and a two month hospital stay for our daughter.

I've heard of full term babies dying due to undiscovered infections, cords wrapped around the neck, and gestational diabetes going undetected.

If anything is certain in life, it's that life is uncertain. Knowing the uncertainties- knowing that hearing a heart beat, seeing a healthy ultrasound, or making it to 40 weeks; that these things don't guarantee a healthy babe in arms- can be nightmarish to an expectant mother's peace of mind.

I am 24 weeks now with my third baby. 24 weeks with S was the week that my mucus plug fell out, I was hospitalized, the contractions kept coming, and we came very close to losing our little girl. To say that my nerves have "struggled" this week would be an understatement.

I could chose to rest on probabilities: an infection in my placenta is probably what caused my preterm labor with S, and the likelihood of such an infection occurring again is very rare.

I could chose to rest on medicine: I've been receiving progesterone shots for weeks that are supposed to help prevent preterm labor.

I could chose to stick my head in the sand: to ignore fears, shove them away, entertain myself to distraction and pretend that nothing hard or bad ever happens.

However, none of these options are good enough. Probabilities are meaningless when all of a sudden you become the one in a million. Medicine, while useful in its proper place, can't offer me any solid guarantees. Ignoring reality is also futile- unpleasant things happen in a sin cursed world, and to close my eyes to this will only set me up for future heart break.

Trading fears for faith is a battle. This week its been a moment-to-moment, hour-by-hour kind of warfare for my mind. While I don't have all the answers, and while I am still struggling to apply known truths to my heart, the Lord has mercifully reassured me in the goodness of His grace... no matter what the outcome of this pregnancy. Over the next few weeks I'd like to share the truths that have encouraged my soul in clinging to Christ.

Join me as I seek to overcome fear in pregnancy?

Other Posts in this Series:
A Call To Open Hands 
Knowing His Character
When Fears Are Realized

Linked with: Growing Home, Encourage One Another, and Raising Homemakers. 

Training my Toddler in Truth

"Reading" books is a favorite pastime

My daughter kills me with cuteness. At eighteen months, she is talking like nobody's business. She knows about 50% of the lyrics to "Row Your Boat;" can tell you what noises a cow, dog, cat, monkey, rooster, sheep, horse, and lion makes; and identifies objects such as clementines, teddy bears, and pancakes with fairly clear English.

This coming from the babe born 13 weeks early. We didn't know if she would ever catch up to her peers, so to see her excelling in language development is beyond encouraging!

I've taught her to habitually say "please" when she wants something, and we are working on "thank you"- she can say it, but she does so reluctantly and begrudgingly. Even now her sin nature is actively asserting itself ;). I've started to point out colors, and we work on counting {though she hasn't gotten past three}.

Working so hard to teach her these basics has caused me to feel convicted about the lack of spiritual training I'm imparting. What are colors and numbers without knowing the God who created them?

More importantly, how can I teach my little girl the important truths of God's Word, when her understanding is so limited and she is still so young?

As I muddle through this question, day by day, I've come up with a few basic ideas to answer it. I'm still wondering, however, and unsure of the depth of the solutions I'm finding...

Incorporating prayer into our daily routine. We pray as a family at dinner time, and lately I've been trying to remember to do the same before breakfast and lunch {terrible that I forget, but it's the truth!}. When my daughter says "Amem," it usually means she wants to eat, so I guess the habit is rubbing off a little :). I also am making it a point to pray together before bed time. I want her to learn to pray by hearing Mommy and Daddy pray. I want her to get a glimpse of who Jesus is through listening to our conversations with Him.

Reciting Scriptures out loud. I repeat so many nursery rhymes and songs throughout the day, and S really does pick up the words. Why not do the same with Scripture verses? It seems like the most basic one, so I've been reciting John 3:16 to S at different periods of our day. She says "John," and that means, "Do it again Mommy!", so on we go. She will repeat the occasional word after me- "life," "Son," etc. She certainly doesn't know even a percentage of it by heart, and I realize she doesn't understand the meaning of it, but I want the pieces to be there for the day she can finally put them together.

Reading my Bible and Bible story books. Oftentimes S is awake and playing nearby while I read my Bible in the mornings. If she wants attention or interaction, I read my daily passages out loud. Sure, she has a short attention span, but it can't hurt her to listen in and out of snippets. We also have several Bible storybooks which I try to read from each day. Side note: I must say I'm disappointed with the vast majority of children's Bible books! I find that many of them take way too much artistic license with the text, and apply stories in a way that seems somewhat in congruent with Scripture. Do you know of any solid ones which you could recommend? I am definitely interested!

So this is me, clumsily attempting to teach my little one about the Lord.

I'd love your feedback! How do you intentionally train your toddlers in the truth?

Real Food for Baby {Pureed Soups!}

I've mentioned before my daughter's issues with food... at 14 months she was still mainly on a liquids only diet, and even now, at nearly 18 months, we struggle to eat solids each day.

Some days she'll have a meal or two of her pureed baby foods. And sometimes she won't touch them for a week. I know that she is healthy and growing, but I can't help still feeling concerned about nutritional deficiencies.

The one food guarantee I have with S is that if mommy is eating it, she wants it. This would be amazing, if she had a few more teeth, and not such an easy gag reflex. I always let her try what I'm eating, but when it gets stuck towards the back of her tongue and she can't spit it out, it ends in projectile vomit. Not this mommy's favorite thing.

My solution?

It is winter time anyway, the perfect time of year for homemade soups! I've been making at least one large batch of pureed soups each week, to have for at least one dinner, and plenty of lunch leftovers. If mom eats it, its good enough for her, and sure enough, S has been sucking down these soups! Happy mom, happy baby. It's a win-win!

Some of the soups I've tried include:

Mixed Vegetable. I found this scrumptious recipe in Mirelle Guillano's book, French Women For All Seasons (the counterpart to French Women Don't Get Fat). I highly recommend her books! They have much practical sense, and many delicious recipes! This particular soup includes chicken stock, onions, leeks, potatoes, spinach, zucchini, and carrots. 

Cheesiest Potato. This recipe is a family favorite! Even though it is a bit spicy (due to cayenne pepper), S seems to love it. It makes great leftovers, and freezes exceptionally well. I try to make a double batch and throw half into a ziploc, then the freezer for an easy meal later.

This week, I plan on making:

Creamy Carrot. Another recipe from French Women for All Seasons, it consists mainly of carrots, with a few potatoes thrown in to thicken it, and a bit of cream to make it A-MAZING. So far S has turned her nose up at carrots in baby food form- I'm hoping this soup will be my secret weapon for teaching her to love them! We'll see :).

We also eat homemade yogurt every day- this is super nutritious, and it always makes me feel good when she eats a large helping of pro-biotic packed goodness. Homemade yogurt is very tart. Sometimes I mix pureed fruit in with it, but I've been shocked that she loves it plain too. I also find it is a great food to hide unwanted veggies in. For example, S hates sweet potatoes (weird- I thought every baby loved them???). I add them to yogurt, and she gobbles them down.

I don't think I've mentioned it, but after many different yogurt recipes of trial and error, I've finally found my favorite! It uses the crock pot, but because it is heated on the stove top first (ok, admittedly more work than other crock pot recipes), it always turns out beautifully thick. So thankful to Keeper of the Home for this wonderful recipe! You will have to give it a try :).

That's how I get my tricky baby to eat. Have you had food issues with your babes? What secrets did you use to combat their picky tastes? I would love to know!

Why I Am Ridiculously Excited About Classical Education @ Home (Part 2)!

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Welcome to Part Two of my review on The Well-Trained Mind/ Thoughts on Classical Home Education. If you missed Part One, you can read it here.

What makes me so excited about classically educating my children at home (as presented in Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise's, The Well-Trained Mind)?

Filling the gaps in my own education. I did not pay attention very well in school. Not even in college... until my junior year, when I finally realized the glories of learning and knowledge and wisdom. Better late than never I suppose?

 I cannot wait to start educating S, because it will be my second chance at a decent education! Chronological history, repeated for me three times? Yes please! Chemistry and Physics (which I never got to before) in their simplest forms (grades 3,4, 7, and 8)? Sign me up! A rigorous Great Books reading program? Can I get a "hallelujah"??? Count me in!

Great Books. Enough said. Ha, just kidding! But really, I love books. Classical Education involves reading direct sources- instead of reading a text book about Roman history, reading Livy's History of Rome, par example. We will be reading Homer, Plato, Augustine, Dante, and Shakespeare. I love that the authors recommend a number of simplified children's editions, so that even in the early elementary years, my kids will be getting to know primary source books. Then when they get to high school, the actual works themselves won't be nearly as intimidating!

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Instilling a love of learning in my daughter. I cannot wait to teach her to read, to watch her face light up as concepts begin to dawn on her. I am very excited about spending her formative years with her, training her, watching her develop and grow. Homeschooling is so great, because if S is really interested in one topic, we can park there awhile and really absorb it. We can run on our own flexible time table, allowing her to make choices and pursue what interests her, while still being disciplined and on a lesson plan. 

Learning Latin. The earlier a child begins learning another language, the easier it will be for them to learn other languages as they get older! Bauer and Wise recommend starting Latin in 3rd grade. Speaking of filling the gaps in my own education, I am so excited about learning Latin! As the foundational language of many modern tongues (French, Italian, and Spanish), knowing Latin opens whole new worlds to a student. It also preps your kid to ace the vocabulary section of the SAT ;)!

These are a few of the things that excite me about following The Well-Trained Mind's program of schooling. It would be unfair of me to not let you know that I am also shaking in my boots. Here are the aspects that make me nervous:

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Hard work. Educating children classically at home is no walk in the park. It is going to require a whole lot of discipline, sweat, and self-denial for me as a teacher. Can I really buckle-down and do it, come hell or high water? Do I have what it takes to keep going in the nitty-gritty, year after year?

Cost of Materials. The Well Trained Mind recommends many excellent books and resources. While they give you ideas on how to save money (using your library, purchasing second hand), the cost could very well still be staggering. My plan is to start looking and purchasing bit by bit now... and to trust the Lord to provide for our needs! If He wants me to do this, He will provide a way.

Lack of Knowledge. While the first few grades shouldn't be too trying, the further we get into homeschooling, the more in over my head I will be. This makes me slightly nervous. I'm trying to take it one day at a time- perhaps by the time S is ready to start Chemistry, we will be in a co-op that offers an amazing Chemist? Same with higher order math. These subjects are not my strong suit, and I am really hoping that tutors and other homeschooling parents come along who can help to fill my gaps.

That pretty much summarizes my homeschooling plan for now! Do you plan on homeschooling (or are you already)? What methods appeal to you, and why?

Why I Am Ridiculously Excited About Classical Education @ Home!

Recently I finished reading (yes, all 800 pages of) Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise's book, The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home. Can I just tell you that this book made me beyond excited about starting homeschool in four years??? I am working ahead peoples...

In lieu of a review, I thought I'd share all of the reasons this book excited me, and why I am leaning towards a classical education in general.

It is super organized. I love the order of this system, and the complete and thorough directions the authors gave in their book. Classical education is based on the Trivium- three stages of learning that take advantage of a child's interests, natural to his or her age.

Stage one is the Grammar stage, grades 1-4. In the grammar stage the focus is on memorizing and learning basic facts, since this age group loves to parrot and is still excited about learning and trying to impress adults ;).

The second stage is the Logic stage, grades 5-8. At this time, children are turning into adolescents who question everything, are prone to debate, and just want to know why. The Trivium takes advantage of this stage by teaching the art of logic (reasoning and debate), and focusing more on why things happened in history, or why math and science work a certain way, instead of just learning the facts. 

Finally, the third stage is Rhetoric, grades 9-12. If you recall your high school days, you might remember them as a time when you were very concerned about your appearance and how you came across to others. Acknowledging this reality in high school students, the Trivium trains them how to present information they have gleaned in a coherent and polished fashion.

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It is repetitive. Classical education is also very well-ordered in its proposed curriculum. Throughout the student's twelve years of schooling, they will repeat the same order of study three times.

As proposed by Jessie Wise and Susan Wise Bauer, history, science, and math are divided into four major time periods: Ancients (5000 B.C.-A.D. 400), Medieval to Early Renaissance (400-1600), Late Renaissance to Early Modern (1600-1850), and Modern (1850-present).

Children will learn about the ancients in grades 1, 5, and 9; medieval-early renaissance in 2, 6, and 10; late renaissance-early modernity in 3, 7, and 11; and modernity in 4, 8, and 12. The first time around they will get very basic facts, adding to their expanding knowledge the second and third times. This rhythmic pattern really allows ideas and concepts to stick more permanently.

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It is cohesive. During 1, 5, and 9th grades, students will study Biology, as this is the science most understood by people in the ancient period. Grades 2, 6, and 10 will explore Earth Science and Astronomy; 3, 7, and 11 Chemistry; and 4, 8, and 12 will do Physics and Computer sciences. So even what my child is learning in science class will match what they are learning in history. Each subject will correspond to the period of history being studied (art, music, math, etc.).

I love this, because so often in school it felt like each class was a random conglomeration of facts- memorized for a test, and quickly forgotten. When different subjects are bridged together, and a student is making connections with how they relate to each other, it will be easier to remember and understand (for the long-term) the information that is being taught.

This is quickly turning into a book.... To Be Continued next week!

Book Review: First Bites (And Giveaway!)

Maybe I haven't mentioned it before...

But S and I have had a really hard time with solids. I waited until she was nine months old (six adjusted) before introducing my little preemie to "real" food.

You cannot imagine the excitement I had built up. Before having S I was a nanny. Introducing solids to the little girl I watched had been so much fun! I loved every single spoonful of it.

Before I even got pregnant I owned a copy of Ruth Yaron's Super Baby Food- I had perused it diligently, and was determined to make and freeze my own baby food.

It was quite the let down when S couldn't care less. I do not even want to tell you how much food I threw away because we tried to feed her, but she still wasn't interested.

Only in the last week and a half (I kid you not!) has S begun to eat two or three pureed meals a day. She is 15 months old now (12 adjusted).

I've learned that kids will eat on their own timetable. All that a poor parent can do is keep trying and be patient!

That being said, over the past six months I've experienced burn out when it comes to making my own baby food. After all of the wasted food, time, attempts, and money- I started buying the stuff so I had it "just in case". S would eat a meal here and another one there, but she was so inconsistent that my freezer spply would go bad before she could finish it. Super Baby Food is a great book, but it is gigantic, and at times overwhelming and intimidating...

So I was super excited when Hilary Kimes Bernstein asked me to read and review her new ebook, First Bites!

As a former journalist (with 10 years experience under her belt!), Hilary serves up a plate full of excellent research on feeding your little one- from formula and breastmilk, to purees and finger foods. It contains a quick and informative survey of what every mom needs to know about nutrition in their child's first year.

• If you're unfamiliar with the benefits of breastfeeding and the downside to formula, this book is for you.

• If you don't have time to read Super Baby Food, or any other big fat book on baby food, this book is for you.

• If you are feeling overwhelmed by all of the information out there on feeding your baby, this book is for you.

I was particularly interested to learn the statistics regarding breast milk supply in first world vs. third world countries, the effects of food coloring (natural and synthetic!) on children, and what to do if you must feed your baby formula (as S is on it right now).

Hilary's book reminded me why I wanted to make my own baby food in the first place. It was just the motivation I've been needing to get back on the bandwagon! I appreciate her Christian perspective and her encouraging tone.

As a baby Hilary herself was fed formula exclusively. She acknowledges that no matter how healthily we try to feed our babies, toxins are a part of life in a fallen world. God is ultimately in control, so we must do the best we can and trust Him to take care of things!

The good news? Hilary is offering to share a free copy of First Bites with one Purposeful Wife reader! The winner of this book will be given her choice between a copy for the Kindle, or PDF. The giveaway starts today, and ends this coming Wednesday. Good luck!

If you don't win the giveaway, you can purchase Hilary's book here for $9.99. Bonus: 10% of all proceeds are going to World Vision to help feed hungry children.

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*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of First Bites for my honest opinion and review. There are no affiliate links in this post.  

Linked with: The Better Mom, and A Mama's Story.