I love the beginnings of the New Year. I enjoy the fresh calendars, the new planners, the clean crisp notebooks, and the restructuring of my routines. I enjoy having some time for reflection and goal setting. In my time spent planning my next year, I have been thinking about 4 major topics. Ways to find…
Why would we spend money, time, energy, and resources on going to new places with our families? Traveling anywhere is a lot of work. Is it worth it? These were the questions I asked for a long time. Travel with small kids felt heavy and difficult. I did not see the value of traveling anywhere.…
As an overachiever, I can be my own enemy. My own critic who raises expectations. I constantly move the finish line after I accomplish a goal or a difficult milestone. I do not stop and enjoy the achievement. I tell myself that I will. I say to myself in the hard moments when I have…
Travel with small kids is a lot of work. There is so much to think about it can be overwhelming. Running into travel delays, the unknowns, and bad weather was just inconvenient when I was in my 20’s without kids. But with kids along, it can be enough to ruin the trip. When my kids…
When a house plant is dying it often needs a new location and a different watering schedule. Our Rituals, Routines, and Rhythms in our homes are the same way. Sometimes we just need a change to spark new growth. We get stuck in what used to work and we forget that we need to make…
Parenting is hard. The learning curve of new parenting skills is always moving forward. There is an exhaustion that sets in from constantly thinking about small things, worrying about big things, and making decisions about what your children need. Each phase is radically different than before. Every few months there is a new skill to…
I love plans, routines, schedules, charts, lists… all of it! But I also understand that I am not the all-powerful Oz who knows everything that will happen or take place. This means that while I can attempt to plan for all contingencies and events, it is impossible to do so. Kids get worn out, it starts raining, things fall apart,…
Travel with kids is hard. Doing anything is difficult when you add in an extra personality, unique needs, and a break in normal routine. Disruptions and roadblocks happen all the time but especially on a trip. Knowing yourself, how to prepare well, and what is needed for this trip will make travel easier. It can…
I have found freedom in list-making. I know those two are contradictory statements but stick with me for a minute. When I know what I need to get done, what is expected of me, what I want to see accomplished, then I can choose what to do. I can make a conscious decision to spend my…
Let’s talk about Household Chores and Cleaning! My Story Why We Clean Kid Responsibilities/ Chores Questions for You My Favorite Resources My Story: Yes, I am actually excited about this topic. I really love a clean house. Open spaces with clean horizontal surfaces and clean floors… yes!! I like things to be clean so that…
Photos are either taken by Mary Edwards or April Edwards.
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