Politically-Correct Parenting

I am NOT a politically-correct mother. I discriminate based on age and gender and whether or not you’ve finished your homework. (For example, those who have, may go out and play.) I insist that girls wear dresses and boys wear ties to special occasions. I teach my girls to cook and sew, and my boys to dig ditches and mow lawns. If you are older, you may have privileges younger siblings don’t enjoy, like staying up late or watching particular movies. We also pray before every meal, even if our non-church-going friends are visiting. And, we celebrate Christmas. So, as you can see, I’m not politically correct. In fact, you could say I’m a bit old-fashioned in values and in parenting.

I Pledge Allegiance

I am grateful for the many inspired men and women, both past and present, whose dedication to God has made this nation great. Please enjoy this video which pays tribute to them.

Family Reunion 2014

I believe in family reunions!  Our children can be strengthened and uplifted by extended family aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents.  Plus, reunions are so much fun!!!

A Time to Savor

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"To everything there is a season and a time..." (Ecclesiastes 3:1) Right now is my time to savor.

For 17 years we've had babies – little bundles of joy that determine our every moment – waking, eating and sleeping (or not!). Our babies have grown to toddlers. All too soon they've walked and talked and gone to school. They've ridden tricycles and scooters and roller skates. They’ve grown out of bikes and into cars. They’ve matured and grown taller. However, more babies have always come to replace the growing children; and our arms, hearts and home have stretched longer and wider to accommodate this happy abundance.

During these busy, bustling times I’ve sometimes been exhausted and even discouraged, feeling that this hectic lifestyle would last forever – that my husband and I would never again have a moment of aloneness, with nothing to do. But now, the pendulum has swung to the very edge of our growing, and we are hanging, suspended in a window of time, before it begins to swing back – back to solitude without children.

Happy Mother's Day!

I'm a mother. However, I’m quite convinced that Mother’s Day wasn’t created by a mom. I’m equally as sure that the day can only truly be appreciated by mothers.

As the mother of nine children, my Mother’s Day begins early. “Clink, clank, crash ...” I hear sounds from the kitchen. Pretending I’m asleep, I listen to my children (and husband) whispering and scurrying around making breakfast. The slight aroma of burned toast reaches my nose, and I hear the kitchen window opened quickly for some fresh air.

Training the Tot

Training the Tot - Without traumatizing the parent  

Successful potty-training tips

Published on FamilyShare.com March 22, 2014

• Much of motherhood is glorious, uplifting and fun. However, there is one chore which looms over even the most cheerful and talented mothers: Potty training. When my first son was 1-year-old, I delved with excitement into the mission at hand. Unfortunately, the process (which spanned a year and a half) left me older and wiser, and vowing that I would never again train another breathing thing.
  
  
  

Church Mice In The Chapel

My first article for FamilyShare.com was published Sunday, March 16th.  Within the first day it had over 6,000 hits, and is now approaching 9,000.  Hooray!  

Taking small children to church can be a daunting task for any parent. Here are a few tips for teaching your children to sit quietly during the service.

Church. For a parent with young children, the word may bring to my mind visions of temper tantrums, Cheerios thrown into the adjacent pew, and, “I have to go potty,” screamed at the wrong moment. Yet, those of us who want our children to be honest, upright citizens often make a weekly pilgrimage to a religious service.