Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Train Trouble

I had some trouble on the train. Yep, real trouble. With a capital “T” and that rhymes with “me” and I had trouble. The day started well enough. I invited my sister to go to the children’s museum with me. Since she has three toddlers and I have three toddlers, I knew we’d make a grand group. She lives over an hour away, and it’s never fun to drive alone with kids, so I suggested she take the train. After all, I’ve taken the train with my toddlers often, and it’s wonderful! No driving, no stopping for potty breaks (there’s one on the train), no stopping for snacks. We sit in the top of the car and enjoy our treats and books while we look out over the countryside through the big windows. Yep, the train is the way to travel with tots.


Thursday, February 13, 2014

Lotsa Lunches





Here's a quick homemaking tip:

Pack ALL of the lunches in the morning when you make breakfast.  It doesn't take long to fix sandwiches, bag carrots, and put apples and cookies into nine bags.  I pack for all of my children, including those who are at home during the day.  Then, when lunchtime rolls around, I don't have to stop to make another meal.  Just have the toddlers and preschoolers grab their boxes, sit down, and eat!  Hooray!  




Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Brite Families, Bright Future

One of the greatest parenting tools I've ever discovered is Brite Music.  Created by composer Janeen Brady for her nine children, the songs and stories found on the Brite albums are childlike, uplifting, and fun!

I was raised on Brite Music, starting when my parents purchased their first record in the early 1980s.  Thankfully, the music is now available in downloadable form.

Why use music to teach and train children?  Music is a powerful tool.  We retain 10% of what we hear, 40% of what we see, 60% of what we hear linked to a story, and 90% of the messages we hear through music.  If children can sing a song back to you, they are retaining 99% of the message!

Also, music stirs powerful emotions within us.  That which we sing we believe more deeply.  Music can inspire feelings of patriotism, love, memories, and positive experiences.

Brite Music is a tool to teach children self-esteem, honesty, obedience, patriotism, and even safety skills.

Check out all of the Brite Music on their website:  www.britemusic.com

Watch for more stories about how I've used Brite Music in my everyday motherhood.