I am a homeschooling mother of five children, and I love it! For most of my education, I was home-schooled, so as a "second-generation homeschooler," I have a blast repeating things that my mother did, and I also enjoy finding new methods and resources. There are so many fantastic resources out there these days! I have been asked many times what subjects I prioritize, and my answer is always reading, reading, and more reading. Of course, there are many other subjects that are

Are you ready to share your body for six months, nine months, a year, or however long you choose to breastfeed? Sometimes it can be a challenging thing, but there is no better choice for your baby! Breast milk is a perfect food for your new little one. It will provide incredible support for your baby's immune system, help provide antibodies for short-term illnesses, and it helps to bond the mama and baby, just to name a few incredible benefits. Breastfeeding can be a scary an

My dad always used to say, "People who say to look out for the "terrible twos" never had a three-year-old." His meaning was that there is a wider age range for tantrums in early childhood. Toddler tantrums can occur around the two-year-old stage and last until a child is about four years old. I have not dealt with many tantrums from my children, and I believe that there are two reasons why this was/is the case. First, I try to take care that their emotional needs are being me

"Mom! I want to do it all, but I can't!" ... A few weeks ago, I was on the phone with my mom expressing my frustrations with time management. I had been struggling to complete half of what I had planned on doing in a day. So, I thought I would just pick up my pace and try to work faster, and that is what I did. After the first day, I ended up in tears telling my husband that I needed to go to bed early.

As a mother of five, I have experienced quite a span of different teething experiences. It seemed as if my first child just woke up one day and had teeth; teething was not an issue for her at all. My second child had a similar experience; however, her minor fussiness and discomfort were cured with a Baltic Amber teething necklace and a few applications of Baby Oragel. When my third child began teething, a nightmarish experience began. My poor little guy earned his teeth with

Toys, toys, and more toys! After having five kids in six years and many well-intentioned, gift-giving relatives, I was swimming in children's toys. For the sake of my mental health, something had to be done. I researched, I learned how other moms organized their homes, and I spoke with my mom. Peace and Order. These are two principles that my mom believes ought to be prioritized in a home. What my mom and I have both experienced is that with peace and order in the home, both

Did you ever build a fort as a child? Some of my favorite memories are with my siblings, as we built forts in the living room with every blanket we could find in the house. As a mother, I initially had a hard time allowing my children to do this because it just meant a mess for me to clean up later. Do not make the mistake that I did in being afraid of messes. Mom has told me over and over, "Life is messy, and it's ok." Well, it turns out that she is right. I have grown as a

Ah, spring! This is probably my second favorite season next to fall. By the time spring rolls around, I am tired of the snow and the cold and ready for some good, strong sunshine! My children love to be out in the spring with all the rain and mud. Quality rainboots and umbrellas are probably some of the best investments that I ever made for my children, mostly because the children use both items DAILY during the spring season. Aside from splashing in all the mud puddles, thes

Oh, the fall! Such a cozy season! While we spend much time reading by the fire, I like to make sure we still get our daily outing. In truth, fall is my favorite season; so, it does not take much convincing to get me out of doors. Aside from yard clean-up, vegetable harvesting, and spontaneous games of "mom-ster" where I am chasing and capturing my kids, here are a few activities that we really enjoy and might even do multiple times in the same week: Nature Scavenger Hunt —Thi

Baby, it's cold outside... and the motivation to go out is hard to find. I give myself goals for getting my children outside because it is incredible for their physical and mental health, and mine as well. Typically, I try to have us spend at least an hour outside in snow, rain, or shine. It is always well worth it! But what are you to do once you are out there? Here are some of our go-to winter activities: Food Coloring in the Snow —Purchase condiment bottles from the grocer