It’s all so symbolic, isn’t it? I am the circle, and from me my little butterfly is about to emerge, spread her wings and fly. The story is about a little girl who has butterflies in her tummy about her first day of kindergarten, but slowly she releases them as she tries new things and gains confidence.
Just pass the tissues now please…letting go is so hard. But I’m excited to watch her soar.
xo,
Amy
]]>I spent some time last week taking inventory of our lunch supplies, making sure we’re ready to roll next week. A few things needed replacing, and I ordered those and have our lunch cabinet all freshened and ready for a new year ahead. It makes the daily task more enjoyable for me, and hopefully the extra added touches bring a smile to my kids’ faces when they are away from home.
Here’s a look at our tried and true staples for packing fun, easy to throw together lunches on the
Our number one must have is a quality bento style lunch box. We’ve tried a few other brands, but have found them to be a little too small for my kids’ hungry tummies. A friend recommended Planet Box to us, and while pricey, they have been our best investment. My oldest chooses to no longer use hers for middle school (which I get) but it’s still in such great shape that it’s being passed down to the youngest. Our outer cases need replacing every couple of years, but I would say that’s true for most lunch boxes.
I like these ice packs the best, and they stay cold the longest. Bonus, they don’t pop a whole and leave a gooey mess behind.
We have been fans of Kleen Kanteen water bottles for as long as I can remember. I like that they are stainless steel and easy to clean with only two pieces.
As you can imagine would happen after packing so many lunches, I fall into a rut from time to time. I like to riffle through an idea book every so often to get inspiration and new good ideas. My library has a few that I like to check out too!
Food picks are not necessary, but a fun little added touch. My kids like to use them to eat cut up pieces of fruit, and I also use them to hold sandwich wraps together.
My lunches definitely aren’t Pinterest worthy, but I like to think I make up for that by adding in a cute napkin, and sometimes a little note of encouragement. I collect napkins whenever I find them, mostly holiday themed from the Target dollar spot, Marshall’s and the like. Party aisle are a good place to look too.
And last but not least, this cute little thermos. Now, this doesn’t fit in our Planet Box, so I use a separate bag for it. But sometimes it’s nice to send soup, or leftovers that need to stay warm. I’d say we use our once a week or so. I warm it up first by filling it with boiling water, screwing on the cap, and then letting it sit for about 5 minutes. Then I dump out the hot water and immediately fill it with the warmed up soup/leftovers. My one tip for the thermos is to have your little one practice opening it at home first. The vacuum seal can make it a little trickier to open. Remind your kids to that the lunch aides are there to help, and to not be afraid to ask if help is needed!
I think I’ve got all our basics covered! Are you team School Lunch or Lunch From Home?
xo,
Amy
]]>And even though she is so excited, even though I kept her home an extra year and she is beyond ready, even though she will have the same kindergarten teacher as one of her brothers did, I’m still preparing my heart to feel big emotions on that day.
So what do we do with our own big feelings, besides shoving them aside to feign our happiness and excitement for our little ones? We take the advice that an amazing mama shared with me all those years ago. She told me “Be gentle with yourself today. Do something expressly kind for yourself.” So on my first go around, I put my other little ones down for nap time and ordered in lunch for myself. Then I crafted. I don’t remember what I made, but I remember that crafting makes my heart soar, so that’s what I did that day. This year, I’ll be all alone for the first time in 12 years. I can barley even comprehend having all my children in school at the same time. My plan for this year’s first day of school will be something similar. I’ll get them all off to school with smiles and hugs, and once they’re all off, I’ll let myself feel the feels. But then I’ll do something expressly kind for myself, something that fills my heart and breathes life back in to me. And with that, I know the hours will pass and it’ll be time to go pick them all back up again, and I will smother them in love once again.
Be gentle with yourselves, friends. I promise it won’t always feel this hard. I’m thinking of you, and your little ones.
xo,
Amy
]]>Here’s what I’m currently…
Doing:
I’m on an end of the summer vacay with my family in Captiva, Florida! I’m feeling very inspired and excited for fall, but I’m not ready to turn the page quite yet. We’re still sticking seashells in our pockets and rinsing sand off our feet.
Reading:
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. This summer I’ve also read Daisy Jones and the Six, and Malibu Rising by the same author. I have enjoyed them all!
Watching:
Virgin River on Netflix. I binged Season 3 in a few short days, and want to start the whole series again once I’m back home.
Buying:
My kids don’t go back to school for a few more weeks, but we have started to prep for it. We skipped right to the fun stuff and have bought backpacks, lunch boxes, and tennis shoes. We still need all the actual school supplies like notebooks and crayons.
Enjoying:
The slowness of summer. I’m embracing it before my days of school drop offs and after school sports picks up again.
Wearing:
These tees. They have been a carefree staple for me this summer, easy to toss on with a pair of jean shorts and feel put together. The colors will transition into fall perfectly! (I got Jupiter brown and white)
Exercising:
I made it goal to go for an hour walk five mornings a week this summer. I wanted to lose weight for this vacation I’m on. I lost 3 of the 10 pounds that I wanted too, but I stopped counting and caring early on. I feel good and look forward to my walks, and that’s the real take away.
Dreaming of:
How I would decorate a beach house if I owned one. This pink one is so darling! If I ever owned a second home, I think I would try something bold and daring, the complete opposite of my actual home. I don’t want to be afraid to try new things!
What are you currently doing, reading, watching, buying, enjoying, exercising, dreaming of?
xo,
Amy
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That last sentence was a game changer for me. Parties should be about celebrating the day my babies were born, not wowing my family and friends or documenting it all for the Gram. My kids don’t care what food I serve, where their cake came from, or how many balloons I buy. They just want to have fun and feel special. And I can do that in a much simpler way than I’d been doing.
Now I keep my focus on a much simpler scale. I pick one area to decorate, like the buffet in the dining room (instead of my entire main floor), and decorate with these simple things: balloons, cake, framed photos of my child, and maybe a letter board. I’ve learned that when you consolidate it to one small area, simple decor makes a much bigger statement than spreading it throughout the house.
We also chose to have our parties midday, between lunch and dinner, and serve light snacks and drinks (and cake of course!) instead of a full meal.
We keep the guest list light, just immediate family or a few friends, but not both. My kids can choose between a family party or a friend party. This was hard one for me to swallow, but it just makes sense to us for so many reasons to only have one party. Friends don’t seem to mind if there isn’t a party, and family can stop by anytime to give a birthday hug.
I keep the party short, like 2 hours. It’s plenty of time for playing or a simple activity/game, opening presents and having cake. There isn’t time for guests to be bored and I feel the need to entertain them (more than I already have!).
And lastly, I buy the cake at Target. For many years I fussed with making them myself, but there were two problems. 1) I’m not good at it, and 2) they always turned out ridiculous looking, and I would be upset with myself. For a little while I went to the local bakery and ordered those over the top fancy cakes, but now I’ve simplified even more and buy a plain $10 cake from Target and add my own decorations on top. My kids care way more about simply having a cake, than having a stressed out mom trying to make things perfect.
That’s it friends. My solution to having a fuss free birthday party. The only one holding you to high expectations is yourself, so consider this your permission to dial it back. I hope that you will find it just as meaningful and special, with my time to focus on your kids…which is what it’s all about anyway!
xo,
Amy
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I’m no expert on this matter, and it may vary depending on where you live, but I’ll share with you all what I shared with a good friend recently.
Here’s what I consider when setting my rate for babysitters:
-How many children will be in their care, and what are the ages?
-How many hours will my children be active vs how many hours will they be asleep while the sitter is here?
-Will they need to prepare/serve a meal while I’m gone?
-How old is the babysitter? I will pay a little more for a sitter who is older and able to drive themselves to and from our home.
-What is the hourly wage for jobs in my community? If our sitter worked at X, what would he or she make?
-Does this particular sitter go above and beyond? Ie: do they clean up messes, dishes, etc? I will pay a sitter who leaves my house equal to or better than I left it in gold!
Considering the questions above, you might wonder how to broach the subject of pay with your sitter. I’ve found it easiest to be straight forward! You can start with “How much do you charge per hour?” I’ve found that most sitters we’ve used respond with “I’m fine with whatever you want to pay me!” So from there, I’ll state what I’m willing to pay. This is a good opportunity to lay out your expectations also. Things that are important to me are that they are engaging with my kids and not just giving them screen time, that meals and messes are cleaned up and put away, and that they stick to our bedtime schedule, to name a few.
There is no right or wrong rate to pay a sitter. What is affordable to me might vary from you. I think the most important thing is that you land on a rate that feels good for both you and your sitter. You want them to feel valued, and you want them to say yes the next time you ask! And most importantly, enjoy your time away and trust that your kids are having just as much fun back home!
xo,
Amy
]]>I know the time will come for those things, sooner than I think. The past few days I’ve been irritable and short tempered. I know that it’s normal and even ok to have days like this. But I know that I can’t let myself stay here. I need to fill my cup so that I can continue to keep pouring for my family. Here’s how I’m finding ways to keep going, even when I feel like I want to quit.
-Go for a walk
- Go for a drive. Grab a coffee and wander the back roads. Roll the windows down and let the wind whip through your hair.
-Go outside. We know this one is a game changer for our kids, but it’s also true for us! Over the weekend, I took a book out to the hammock and just sat and read. It was glorious.
-Carve out time to read for pleasure. After my kids go to bed works well for me. No self help or parenting books…beach reads only.
-Grab your camera (your phone totally counts!) and take pictures of things that make you happy. I’ve always found it very relaxing to photograph nature. Last night I did exactly this and took photos of our sunflowers popping up throughout our gardens.
-Hire a babysitter or reach out to a friend to take your kids for a few hours and go do something completely selfish. Walk the aisles of target, get your nails done, meet a friend for lunch. When you’re feeling better, return the favor so your friend can do the same!
-Find a good show to watch. Might I suggest “Virgin River” on Netflix? It’s like a Hallmark movie, only a series!
-Buy yourself a treat.
-Take a class. Last week I signed up for a class at my friends flower farm. I brought my neighbor along and we spent Friday night walking through flower fields, learning a bit about them, and we got to make our own bouquets to take home. It was lovely.
-Clean your house. Or don’t. My mind is most settled when there is order to the chaos, so sometimes self care for me means cleaning the house and tackling the laundry.
-Call a friend or family member, and just have a good ol’ conversation.
Whatever brings to peace, comfort, joy, and fills your cup, do that. I know it’s so easy to ignore that little voice inside that’s crying for attention. That is me to a T. But when I stop and listen to it, feed my soul even just a little, I am just a better and happier person all around. You deserve that.
xo,
Amy
]]>Supplies needed:
-Sunprint paper kit (I ended up cutting our papers in half to stretch it out for more fun!)
-cardboard or tray
-Creative objects! I’m partial to those found in nature, but we also tried using some plastic sea life figures and they were fun too!
How you do it:
-Place your sunprint paper on top of your cardboard/tray.
-Arrange your items onto the blue paper. We looked for things that had fun lines and patterns.
-Place the clear plastic sheet on top of your objects (this is included in the kit)
-Place outside in direct sunlight for 1-5 minutes. We had fun experimenting with the times to see if it made a difference (it didn’t!)
-Bring inside, remove objects, and rinse paper under cold water. Lay the paper flat to dry. We let ours sit for several hours and were surprised to see that the paper went from white (in the sun), back to blue, leaving images behind of the objects we had placed on it.
What is happening?
-The paper goes through a chemical change when exposed to direct sunlight.
Pretty neat, right?
xo,
Amy
]]>I found these beach bags on Amazon, which came in a 4 pack-perfect for my crew of 4! I then used this cute name idea I had seen from The Mama Notes, to create your kids' name out of pipe cleaner and hot glue on to the bag. Just assigning each of my kids a colored bag would have sufficed, but I enjoy creating and crafting, so I went the extra step.
Next, I filled each bag with a beach towel, goggles, sunscreen, and ear plugs. Add in whatever items suit your needs. I added sunscreen to Orelia's bag, as she sometimes goes swimming at a friend's house, sans the rest of our crew. For the rest of the sunscreen, I keep it all together in a separate bag (It's expensive and I don't want it to accidently fall out!) I have this hook rack hanging in my laundry room, so I designated it as the home for these bags. They hang here, ready to grab and go, and it has saved us so much hassle this summer.
After a trip to the lake, pool, or swimming lessons, I wash the towels, replenish the bags, and hang them right back here so they're ready for the next time!
Do you have a great summer mom hack? I'm always looking for ways to make things run more smoothly!
xo,
Amy
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The first one we do each time we go somewhere is to keep a travel journal. You can keep one as a family, or have one for each child. My kids enjoy having their own, especially my kids that are able to write independently. We like to write about our highlight of each day, and either draw a picture or take add in a polaroid picture that we've taken of that time. We also collect mementos along the way, like maps, postcards, a restaurant menu, ticket stubs, and tape them inside. The more things we find to add in, the more memorable and meaningful it becomes. I love this one, because it can be used for several trips. There are pockets throughout to add in all the things we love.
In addition to our journals, my favorite souvenirs are bits of nature. Whether it be a handful of seashells, a layer of sand, pinecones, rocks, or bits of sea glass...think of all those perfect treasures that your little ones pick up along the way and insist you keep. Collect them in a plastic bag, and once you get home, place them in a jar and label with the destination and date. Over time, you will have a fun collection of such jars, and they make great decor when displayed on a shelf!
xo,
Amy
]]>Its no secret I love books...books for myself and especially books for my kids. We have so many books, and I love changing them out seasonally. I had an itch to add some new titles to our collection this summer (as I usually do), but I went with a different approach. The cost of books can add up quickly, especially when you're buying multiple titles at once. Cue, THE LIBRARY! We have been library lovers forever and always, and as things are looking up with the state of the pandemic, our library has opened up more and more to its "normal" state. I was reminded how much I love just browsing the shelfs and picking out titles that I haven't seen before.
And that is exactly how we built our summer library this year. My kids love the change of fresh books, and when the novelty wears off, I can exchange them for a pile of new ones! I literally went row by row, bin by bin, at our local library, and pulled out any book that seemed summer to me. Titles about water, cabins, bugs, being outside, the ocean (we have a beach trip coming up next month!), and yes, even one about being bored!
Here's what we're currently enjoying. I'll link them here, but I encourage you to request them from your local library for free!
Supplies needed:
-balloons
-water
Steps:
-Place figurine inside of a balloon
-Fill the balloon with water, tie shut
-Place in the freezer until frozen solid (several hours or overnight)
-Once balloon is frozen solid, remove the balloon from the "ice cube". Make sure to discard all balloon pieces safely.
Set your kids up, preferably outside, with the dinosaur eggs, bowls of warm water, liquid droppers, and let them go to town! The goal is to melt the ice to "hatch" your dinosaur! There are so many fun extensions you could do with this activity too...pretend you are an archeologist digging for dinosaur fossils, experiment with what makes ice melt (salt, hot water, leave it sit in the warm sun). You could try a few experiments and record/compare how long it takes for the egg to hatch-which method works best? Why? Or at the very least, let your kids cool down on a hot summer day!
xo,
Amy
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These are the books I've read recently that I really enjoyed! I should mention my preferred genre is romance, mystery, and historical fiction. I hope you see something here that might catch your eye and inspire you to read this summer
The People You Meet On Vacation
I also have quite the list requested from the library. I am so excited for many of these!
I hope your summer is off to a great start, and that you are carving out time to do the things that bring you joy!
xo,
Amy
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I set this up prior to the start of summer, so it’s all ready to go from day one. One chore = one punch. One full card = $5 allowance. My kids are digging it so far! For the most part, we tackle chores after breakfast. We’ll also do a clean up after dinner, and I’ll assign a job to each kid. My kids are also responsible for their own laundry, so when their basket is full, they know what to do. (Obviously this took some training, but they are learning and doing great! Also, if you want to change your clothes 5 times today, that’s great! I’m just not going to wash them all for you, ha!)
What jobs do you have your kids help with?
This printable also comes with a Kindness card that I’ll introduce when needed...so far they’re getting along pretty well! There is also one for reading, which I’ll share what we’re doing for next week!
Here’s to a fun, smooth running summer!
xo,
Amy
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My 2.5 year old does his own laundry, puts dishes away, cleans up his own toys, and pretty much doesn’t need me anymore… HA! We can dream, some dreams are bigger than others. It doesn’t mean they aren’t possible, we just have to make a few adjustments in the way we parent; from birth, children are naturally in pursuit of independence.
We need to be willing to provide opportunities for developing independence. Doing this is not just to help us as parents get some reprieve, but it is so crucial to building a sense of self, self-esteem, and ultimately assist with their level of frustration, and perseverance. We will need to accept; tasks may take longer, may be 3 times as messy, and we will have to watch them fail, feel frustrated, or feel disappointed.
So how do you make this an easy adjustment for you and your kiddo? Set predictable routines. When they can anticipate their day, naturally children feel more equipped to take on responsibilities for themselves. It builds trust and trusting children builds self-confidence; you have faith in their ability to complete routine tasks without you and they know you are always there to help if they need you.
Let them choose; provide 2-3 options for them to choose from, be sure to always provide options you are 100% confident following through with. These types of choices can range from what to wear or what to play with. Let them feel empowered, crossing the street without you isn’t an option. Offer, Mommy can hold your hand or you can be carried; still nourishing empowerment while also keeping them safe.
Let them help or give them small chores. Honestly, children truly love it! It allows for an easy redirection or calming a tantrum while also giving them a sense of control. What does this look like, don’t overthink it. A family that bakes together, stays together! Premeasure items and put in small pitchers/cups, let them pour it into the larger bowl. Provide tools their size, remember their hands are smaller and still learning everything they are capable of. Have a small bowl with soapy water and a towel nearby, let them help with larger tasks like cracking eggs.
What is happening when we do this? We as parents are communicating trust, we know they can take on these tasks. It is an opportunity for back-and-forth conversation about the activity or shared goal. You are encouraging a sense of responsibility and self-reliance, developing executive functions, teaching teamwork, and nurturing empathy. Helping prepare a meal or simple tasks teaches them this is a part of life; I should want to help versus being forced to help.
Encourage and nurture free play, problem solving, and projects. Independent and unstructured play fosters creativity, critical thinking, and autonomy. Remember, sometimes we have to let them fail; this is hard. It makes me uncomfortable watching my lil dude struggle with a task; we learn to crawl before we walk and walk before we run, they will push themselves if we allow the space for them to keep trying and will ask for help when they truly need it. My 2.5 year old helps me load the washer, turn it on, pour the detergent, press start, and move to the dryer. Laundry takes a lot longer, but now when something is dirty and needs to be washed, he will drag his laundry bin into the laundry room and start loading the washer himself. Be sure to see them; see their efforts, their persistence, their bravery, and their growth and let them know you see it!
The ultimate goal is to provide a nurturing and loving environment for our children, while also teaching them to be self-sufficient, kind, empathetic humans. This is no easy task, but if we as parents can shift our way of thinking, practice more patience, and provide ourselves and children with grace when something doesn’t get done or isn’t done just right we will be one step closer to our ultimate goal.
Here are some helpful items to help make this a little less challenging:
For more ideas, just reach out!
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About the Author
Hi I’m Anesih!! I started out as a Bumbelou Customer and fell in love. I have been a part of the Bumbelou team since October and have loved every minute of it. Outside of Bumbelou, I am a Mama to a beautiful 2 year old, Ellis. Literally the day Ellis was born, I told my husband, Jake, we need to move closer to your family and you need to make it happen.
As you get to know me more, you will see I have a passion for all things related to children, and have a background in Early Childhood Education. I am excited to be able to share that passion with you, through Bumbelou.
My preschooler “graduates” at the end of this week, and my big kids wrap things up next week! I have lots of teachers to thank, so I’ve been working on putting together our end of the year gifts. Keeping it simple, but thoughtful, is the way I like to do it! And I do the same for all our teachers, except I’ll switch it up a bit for our male teachers. Here’s a look at what I put together this year. I love it so much, I want to keep it for myself!
I found this adorable bag at Joann Fabrics, Ann’s thought it could be a cute summer purse or a small beach bag! It’s the perfect size to hold just the essentials. Next I grabbed these towels from Target. I love the color, and every teacher/mom deserves their own sophisticated beach towel (am I right?!). Something to read is always a safe bet, so I added in one of my favorite magazines that I think would interest most. You could also add in a fun summer novel (I noticed so many cute titles at Target!) I found this cute bottle of lemonade at Aldi, which I envisioned joying while reading, on your cute towel and the beach or pool! I popped in a few flowers just because, and then we’ll top it all off with a handwritten card. You could also add in a gift card if you’d like.
And viola! A sweet, personalized thank you! Summer is so close, are you ready?!
xo,
Amy
]]>One day, after I had my fourth and final baby, I was visiting a good friend's house. I love going to her house because I love everything about her style and the way she is always moving things around, maximizing her small home for her large family....much like me. On this particular day, we were in her girls' shared room, ogling over her latest closet cleanout (I know, total mom stuff, right?!) She had hung their clothes just so, put baskets at reachable levels for little hands, and put special things up top. Then she pulled down a small, ordinary box, but what was inside was about to blow my mind. Inside was all the most special keepsakes she wanted to save for her youngest daughter. Each item was carefully chosen, folded, wrapped with string and labeled why it had meaning. In one little box. That was it. She let go of the rest. Let me say that again. She LET GO of the rest... And it was perfect. No grown child wants their old bouncy seat passed down. They want their going home outfit, first pair of shoes, a stack of cards from special people...
This lit a fire under me and gave me "permission" to let go of that stockpile I had down in my basement. I immediately sat down and made a list of the items that we're most important to me. Your list may look entirely different, and that's ok!
Here's what my list included:
-Birth announcement outfit
-Homecoming outfit
-Newborn diaper (so tiny!)
-Hospital mementos (hat, ID bracelet, basinet banner, string that measured how big around my belly was before I delivered)
-Cards welcoming baby
-Baptism dress and candle
-Favorite or personalized baby toy
-Special blanket
-First pair of shoes and/or shoes they learned to walk in
-Tiny hair barrettes and headbands
-First birthday outfit, highchair banner, cake/cupcake topper
Next, I pulled up all those bins from the basement, and started going through them. I made a pile for each of my four kids, only setting aside those most special items from my list. I tried really hard to keep it the same across the board. I wanted each of my kids to have similar items saved and about the same amount of stuff so that it felt fair to each of them. Even if I loved an item but it wasn't on my list, or I didn't have one for each kid, I let it go. I shared some of those things with friends who I knew could use it, and I donated the rest. I know it sounds painful to do, but I promise it wasn't. I was fully in a place where I knew our family was complete, and I was ready to reclaim the space this stuff was taking up.
Then came my favorite part! I went to the craft store and carefully chose special ribbons and tags, and little boxes to corral little things. I folded each item carefully, stamped a tag for it, and I even went as far as printing pictures of my babies wearing the items. I tied it all together with ribbon and placed it in the box. Four perfectly curated boxes of love and mementos for the four most important people in my life. And a whole lot of empty space in my basement!
My kids have asked to look though their "Memory Boxes" from time to time, and each time we pull them out, they just make me so happy. They instantly take me back to those tender days of caring for babies. I smile at the photos, and share the stories with them about those special times.
It's been four years since I made these boxes, and I can promise you I don't miss any of the stuff I let go. I honestly don't even remember what much of it was. The things I do think about are kept safely within our keepsake boxes, to be cherished always!
xo,
Amy
]]>Every toddler has their own way of letting you know they want, no, need, this one thing, something has to be done a certain way, or they have to do everything themselves. Whatever it is, their perfect little bubble is about to burst.
At this point, we know we are most likely headed to meltdown city… so what do we do? Can we stop it? Do we just give in? Are these people judging me for my crying kid? Where is my patience level at?
Having a toddler is no easy task, they are starting to realize they are separate individuals. We are trying to help these tiny humans, who have big emotions, just like us, understand what they are feeling. While this may be an exciting time, full of growth and development; toddlers do not understand logic, they have a tough time with waiting, and a tough time with self-control. They can’t always say, “I’m mad, Susy took my car and I want it back.” Instead they hit, bite, push, scream and then we have more crying. We become upset because Joey hit Susie.
As a Mama of a 2.5 year old and as someone who has a degree in Early Childhood Education and has worked in plenty of classrooms with gobs of tiny humans… I am here to tell you, unfortunately, there is no easy fix. However, I have learned lots of things to make this time a little more manageable and I want to share them. As life gets busier, we often forget all the little things we could be doing to support, empathize with, and validate our littles BIG feelings.
None of this will stop tantrums, outburst, or the hitting. But, it will hopefully help it happen less frequently, allow them to come down more quickly, and eventually they will start to navigate these many scenarios themselves.
Here are some helpful resources:
Books:
Instagram Accounts to Follow:
]]>Traditionally, May Day was a day to celebrate the return of Spring. People would leave a paper basket or cone with spring flowers on each other's doorsteps, knock, yell "May basket!" and then run. You better believe the running is my kids' favorite part! The idea is that you want to stay anonymous and not be caught, so the faster you can run away the better! My kids strategize where to park the car or how to sneak up to the door for maximum getaway opportunity. It's extra fun if you can hide in the shadows and watch the receiver open the door to find the surprise on their doorstep.
This year we made up little baskets that included a pot, seeds, soil, and a little bottle of water, so that our littlest friends can plant their own flowers! We also followed this tutorial and tried our hand at making tissue paper flowers. We have some perfecting to do, but it was time well spent!
Happy May Day, friends!
xo,
Amy
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Plus, did you know that kids can actually learn a lot from playing games?! Some highlights include:
-identifying colors
-practice counting
-develop hand-eye coordination
-dexterity (picking up, holding, and moving small pieces)
-waiting your turn
-following directions
-boost language skills
-lengthen attention spans
-teaches how to be a good loser
-my personal favorite: SCREEN FREE!
-And, not to mention, quality time with Mom or Dad! (or grandparents, siblings, peers...)
We also love this card holder for little hands! It has saved us to much frustration!
Here are a handful of personal favorites that we love in our house!
Happy playing!
xo,
Amy
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Then I met a friend whose sister owned a small children’s boutique, specializing in Montessori style toys. I quickly became intrigued, and that was the start of big changes in our house. I weeded out almost all of those obnoxious toys, and started mindfully purchasing heirloom quality toys instead. Toys that sparked creative and imaginative play. Toys that didn’t light up and weren’t made of plastic in all different colors. Toys that withstood wear and tear of multiple kids, and toys that I’d want to save for my future grandbabies.
Several years ago, I searched and searched for a vintage dollhouse to gift to my oldest daughter for Christmas. We painted it, made over the furniture, sewed our own pillows for the beds...I can’t even tell you how many hours she has logged playing with it! She’s 12 now, and while she no longer plays dolls, she is very much into interior design, decorating, and sewing. She spends hours upon hours wallpapering the rooms, and rummaging through my fabric scraps and craft supplies to furnish the rooms. If I could only save one thing from her childhood, this would be it. This is the toy that I will bring down from the attic one day, and she will feel that sense of nostalgia. This is the toy that she will dust off and place lovingly into the corner of her own daughter’s room. This is the toy that when she’s an accomplished designer one day (her dream), she’ll say it all started with this dollhouse.
Now, my second daughter (5 years old) has shown interest in her sister’s dollhouse, and I knew it was time to get her one of her own. For two reasons...1) Big sis isn’t jazzed about sharing hers, and 2) I want both of my girls to have such an heirloom piece. This was supposed to be Alma’s birthday gift, which isn’t until July, but once I started working on it, I knew she’d love it so much and just couldn’t wait that long to give it to her! I have spent months carefully sourcing out and saving up for the perfect pieces and accessories. I knew I wanted to base hers around these darling Maileg mice. We have purchased a few over the years and they are just the sweetest little things! They remind me of the Brambley Hedge books, if you’re familiar with those. I fully expect (and hope!) that Alma will spend hours upon hours playing with her little mice friends and rearranging their rooms just so. That’s the fun of it! And the icing on the cake is that almost daily, I hear one of my girls say to the other “Want to go dollhouse with me?” and they run to their room and bond over these sweet sisterhood moments.
Do you have a favorite toy from your childhood? If you could save one toy for each of your children, what would it be?
Sources:
xo,
The nursery is painted, the crib is set up, now it's time for the gift registry. Gulp!
Don't worry, we are happy to guide you through the process!
When building your registry, we recommend starting with all the health and safety basics: care items like the Baby Basics Kit, portable changing and burp cloths, and small but important pieces like teethers, finger brushes, and bath time supplies.
Then it's time to have some fun! From bonnets to booties, we have baby covered, literally, from head to toe. Mix and match our sleepwear, swaddles, and so many stylish clothes. Just remember they won't stay small for long, so make sure to register for many sizes. We also have board books, plushies, and sensory toys.
And last but absolutely not least, don't forget about mom! In all the excitement, it's easy to forget that mom will be going through a huge change. Recovery and healing are vital, which is why we are stocked with pampering postpartum kits and supplies. We have herbal baths, body balms, soothing masks. Carrying baby for 9 months is hard enough; we want carrying baby AND baby supplies to be simple and stylish. Let diaper bag backpacks, crossbody bags, and stroller bags make life a little easier.
Bumbelou makes it easy to create, manage, and find a gift registry. Start yours today.
-paper towel
-washable markers
-two identical glasses
How to:
1. Fold the paper towel in half.
2. Cut off about 1/3 of the paper towel.
3. Draw the rainbow colors on one end of the paper towel in rectangular blocks. Go over the colors a few times with the markets to make sure there is enough due to travel up the paper towel.
4. Repeat on the other end, making sure to line up the colors with the opposite end.
5. Pour water into the two glasses, filling about 3/4 full.
6. Place the two ends of the paper towels into the cups. 1/2 of the rainbow blocks should be in the water. Do not fully submerge the entire colored portion of the paper towel in the water.
7. Watch the colors travel up the paper towel. They will eventually connect and make a rainbow!
To further the experiment, test different brands of paper towels and absorbency. You can also play around with how much dye you color on the ends of the paper towel.
Have fun!
xo,
Amy
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5 Tips to Prepare for the Day of Travel
Travel Tip: Pack a First Aid Bag
The one I never got to was sharing tips for road tripping with little ones, and it seems perfectly fitting for today as many of us may be choosing to travel by car instead of plane right now. We have done a good amount of road tripping with our 4 kids, usually within (or close to) our state, but we have driven cross country before too!
I think a huge piece of the key to success for road tripping with kids in in the PREP. You kind of have to be prepared for a little bit of everything, and keep an open mind. Being able to shift course easily will keep every one sane. My husband is more in the "pedal to the metal" mindset, but I strongly believe that if you want to keep your sanity, follow your kids' lead. When they need a break, stop. Anticipate when they are going to be hungry. Stop often for stretch breaks. Yes, it may add some time to your course, but you'll all be happy in the end and that's what matters most in my opinion!
I love a good reason to prep and curate supplies just so, and road tripping is no exception. Here are my top five tips!
#1. Snack Caddy
Feeding your kids will keep them happy, seriously! I like to keep snacks within easy reach for my crew so I'm not constantly handing them out. I keep extras in the trunk so I can replenish as needed.
#2. Screens and Headphones
At home, we run a pretty tight ship with screen time. Road tripping is not the time for that. It's not my favorite, but I also know where we're going we will most likely have little to no screen time as we'll be busy exploring new places, so I try not to sweat it. We do not own enough devices for everyone to have their own screen, so usually the two in back and the two in front will share. These headphones are amazing, as one plugs into the device, than then another can plug right into the first set. This allows my husband and I to be able to have a conversation up front, or listen to something of our choice.
#3. Travel Potty
This has been a game changer for us. As we all know, when kids need to go, they need to go NOW. They can't always wait until the next rest stop. We keep this is our car at all times (not just for road trips!) and its great to have when in a pinch. We'll set it up on the side of the road (if privacy allows) or in the trunk. It's not glamourous, but its better than wet clothes and car seats!
As a Mama of a toddler, I often feel like I am trying to understand a completely different language when trying to communicate with them. One way I found to help with this was the use of basic sign language. We started working with Ellis around 4 months, this is early, but it’s all about repetition! I am not here to brag about how incredibly smart my kiddo is (I may be biased, he’s amazing), rather share all the benefits of using basic sign language at home.
Did you know, using sign language assists with a wide range of learning styles; verbal linguistics intelligence (a person’s ability to think and express their thoughts using words), kinesthetic intelligence (a person’s ability to process information physically through hand and body movement), and interpersonal intelligence (the ability of a person to relate well with people and manage relationships).
Babies as young as 6 months can start to remember signs and by 8 months they can begin to sign single words or imitate gestures. As they progress, they can start to sign multiple words, forming a sentence. It allows open communication between baby/toddler and adult as it relates to their basic needs or even feelings. It also starts the “building of the bridge” for the spoken word.
Not only will you be working on early language and cognitive skills, but it is reported early communication helps build confidence and self-esteem. It creates a sense of “feeling better” about themselves, especially when they can communicate their wants and needs to those around them. As a parent, I can attest to this, I felt more confident I was meeting their needs and not just playing a constant guessing game.
Now that we’ve discussed the importance of sign language, let's talk about a few tips to keep in mind for a higher success rate:
Lastly and most importantly, remember every child is different and all learn at their own pace.
A few Helpful Resources:
Videos:
Books:
Virtual Class:
]]>We followed the recipe on the rice crispy box (3 tbsp butter + a bag of mini marshmallows + 6 cups cereal), and just added in lucky charm marshmallows at the end, and on the top! I know you can buy bags of the fancy marshmallows somewhere, but we just picked ours out from the cereal...a perfect job for little hands.
Now we have a fun little treat to enjoy while we try to (patiently) wait for St Pattys Day!
xo,
Amy
]]>If you've never partaken in this fun with your kids before, might I suggest starting with one or two (or all!) of these books. Not only are they fun to read, but they will get your kids imaginations and creative juices flowing!
How to Build a Leprechaun Trap
Three Ways to Trap a Leprechaun
When its time to get your traps ready, rummage through your house and see what you can find for supplies. This is my favorite part because I love watching how my kids' creativity works. They probably spend an hour or more in this zone, and I love it so much. Pretty much anything can be used to make a leprechaun trap, including wooden blocks, magnet tiles, tissue boxes, and anything found in your recycling bin. I also set out craft supplies, because those leprechauns need to be lured in, ya know? Rainbow details, glitter (if you dare!), popsicle stick ladders, and plenty of glue are favorites around here.
Lastly, on the eve of St. Patrick's Day, when all the traps have been carefully set up just so, tuck the kids in early and have a little fun of your own! Mess up those traps, knock them over, make it look like a little magical elf has been there. Sprinkle a few gold coins along the way (individually wrapped Rolo candies are also fun)! Last year, I printed off a scavenger hunt and it was next level excitement for them! (A similar one can be found here) It led them up and down and through the house, ending in the car where they found a box of Lucky Charm cereal to enjoy for breakfast. Our leprechauns have even been known to leave a little gold in their backpacks and lunchboxes! You never know where a leprechaun might be hiding!