moms

Getting Ready For Back To School

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Disclosure: All photos/post from ABCMouse.com. Affiliate link included. Purchases made through my link costs you nothing extra, but helps me earn a small fee. School will be starting soon. Are your children homeschooling or catching the bus back to school? Either way, they are getting sad or happy. If you homeschool you know that it’s important to have plenty of things to keep the little ones busy. It’s really important that they’re not just watching cartoons or messing up the house. They want to learn too, as well as have fun. ABCMouse is the answer! ABCmouse’s high-quality curriculum has thousands of learning activities to support your child’s education at home! Backed by research and designed in collaboration with nationally recognized childhood education experts, ABCmouse’s supplemental homeschool curriculum includes: Books Games Puzzles Learning Videos And Much More! Video from ABCMouse It’s easy to see how much progress your child is making with the ABCmouse.com Progress Tracker. In addition to the display of total number of learning activities completed in each category (books, songs, puzzles, games, and art), there are easy-to-read graphs that show progress both by academic level and by curriculum subject. More than 850 Lessons Across 10 Levels The Step-by-Step Learning Path presents the full ABCmouse.com curriculum in a carefully designed program of more than 850 lessons in ten levels. As your child completes each lesson, he or she is guided to the next one and is motivated to continue learning by ABCmouse.com’s Tickets and Rewards System. (https://abcmouse.com/) Check out all the wonderful benefits found in this huge program. It’s so useful for many ages and grade levels. I’m so glad that you can have this great deal and get an entire year (to use with all your children) for this reduced price – Only $45. Order it Here!

Things I Learned From My Grandmother

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pie crust

A few years back, it was all the rage to multi-task your way through life.  We talked about all the things that we could do at once.  It was believed that this was the way to get more done in our days.  But, now the common thought is to single-task instead. Although fads will continue to evolve in our thinking, I do agree that single-tasking is the way to go.  We may still multi-task when cooking a big holiday meal or keeping up with our small children, but it’s not the best way to function in our lives. As someone who always ran on adrenaline, multi-tasking seemed very helpful to me.  I was the typical Type A personality that wanted to succeed at everything I did.  It was easy to get in a tizzy and get burned out.  As I got older, multi-tasking became less likely to happen.  The energy level and mind fog both seemed to stop it from working.  I was now single-tasking.  And, sometimes even that didn’t work. Looking back on my youth, I realized something about my grandmother.  Both grandmothers were excellent role-models, but I’m focusing on my paternal grandmother.  She never multi-tasked.  She was a single-task person who accomplished more in a day than anyone I know. This lady could do almost anything, and she was good at it.  She lived in the country and always raised a big garden.  She tended it and kept the weeds away.  She harvested and canned all of the vegetables.  She was an excellent seamstress and was in great demand  in our area.  Her house was always clean and she always looked fresh. What I remember most is her attention to us.  When we would come to visit, she stopped whatever she was doing and sat down with us to visit.  She gave us her full attention and made us feel welcome.  Little ones were encouraged to sit on her lap, where she would read them a story or just rock them.  She always asked questions and got to know her family well. Because she lived this way, I never saw her get in a hurry.  I never saw her rush people around.  She always seemed to have control of herself and enjoyed what she was doing.  Although I watched her all of those years, I didn’t realize one of her great secrets until later in life. She didn’t rush through life, but focused on one task at a time.  This worked perfectly for her and it brought all of her grandchildren many wonderful memories.  Even though I didn’t practice this as a young mom, I hope that I can treat my grandchildren half as well as she did. My hope is to see the beauty in life and feel contentment in each and every task that I can complete.  My goal is to make my children and grandchildren feel welcome and important when they are with me.  What a great legacy that would be! @2019, copyright Lisa Ehrman

How To Be A Great Long-Distance Grandmom

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Woman and Child

Disclosure: Affiliate links included. A small commission could be earned if you purchase through my links, which won’t cost you a penny. The happy day has arrived and you’re now a grandmom.  The only sad part of this new title is that you don’t live close to your new grandchild.  Being a long-distance grandparent is hard for so many reasons.  Your visits may not be as often as you would like, but there are many ways to stay in touch. I am a long-distance grandmother and each trip to visit the little sweetie is eagerly planned.  When you can’t be close all the time, it’s always shocking to see the huge changes from visit to visit.  Having my child send me pictures and videos online has been a terrific blessing.  It makes me feel like I’m there.  All that’s missing is a hug! One way that I like to stay close with my new grandchild (and his parents) is to send little care packages.  Sending a little gift every month or so has been fun and lets them know that I’m thinking of them often.  Care packages are perfect because they can vary greatly in price. My care packages are not expensive but I do try to send something that the parent values.  When the grandchild is still an infant, the gift can be practical or more of a luxury.  While a baby may be needing a new teether or onsies, a new mom could also benefit from a little self-care. Care packages for moms will be greatly appreciated because new moms are sleep-deprived and can get to feeling the need for something that makes them feel beautiful.  Whether you’re buying for your daughter or daughter-in-law, she’ll love getting to feel pampered. Although there are many pre-packaged care packages available in stores and online, it’s better to be personal when you send a gift.  If you know what her favorite brands, colors, or fragrances are, go ahead and send her something that you know she’ll love.  If you’re not sure, ask her or her husband. Here are a few of my favorite items to send in a care package: Wax melt (non-toxic with essential oils) Soothing lip balm Nursing pads Lovely night gown Journal Cute slippers New mom book with encouraging quotes or verses Herbal teas with beautiful cup Aromatherapy for shower or bath Massage gift card Organic lotions I hope that this list might inspire you to think of the perfect little items for a new mom care package.  Any little, or big, care package will be met with smiles and maybe even a tear or two when it reaches it’s destination.  Don’t we all feel a thrill when we receive a surprise gift in the mail?   @2019, copyright Lisa Ehrman

How To Make Frugal Living A Family Affair

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Piggy Banks

It’s not enough for Mom to live frugally.  Although Moms are the family member who often makes the majority of the shopping decisions, each member of the family must join in on the frugal lifestyle. Frugal living can be more than just a choice to save money.  It can be fun and some folks even make it more of a competition.  Choosing to see if you can save more than you thought possible gives you a goal to reach.  When you include your children and husband in this frugal competition, you’ll find that saving becomes easier, too. If you have family meetings, it would be good to plan one to teach frugality lessons.  Just taking one topic at a time means that the children won’t be overwhelmed.  Here are some things to try with your family: Buying used clothes – Show them how they can save by getting some of their things gently used.  Show them some of the clothing that Moms have purchased (just like new) and how more clothing can be purchased for the same amount of money.  Encourage children to think ahead.  If they will need a special dress or suit for an upcoming event, they can be watching ahead when the family shops.   If you wait until the last minute, it’s harder to find a good deal.  Buying used toys – Gently used toys are just as much fun. Buying used tools and cars – Dad and Mom can shop for big-ticket items that are used.  Checking Craigslist, online groups, and the newspaper can help you find great savings! Explain to the family that all the money saved by buying used could now help the family take a fun vacation (or some other desired thing).  When a family has a goal that leads to a great reward, you should see a big difference in their attitudes toward saving. Frugal living is all about joyful, simple living.  Frugal life can be done through rules and nagging, but it will only bring negative attitudes and resentment.  My goal is to make it a fun and painless experience.

12 Freebies For Your Baby

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baby

Disclosure: Affiliate links included. Now that I’m a new grandmom, I’m always on the lookout for something cute for my grandchild.  Having a baby is so expensive, and everywhere you look you’ll see tons of new baby products to buy. It’s totally unnecessary to purchase all the gadgets and fluff out there!  Just pick out the items that you know will be needed.  And, best of all, get as many free baby products as possible. Places to get Free Baby Stuff: Amazon Baby Registry  Baby Shower Gifts Ask for freebies before you leave the hospital Pediatrician can give you samples Free samples and coupons from: similac, and enfamil.com Stores that offer freebies: Motherhood Maternity and BuyBuyBaby Baby Box Target Registry with Free Baby Welcome Kit Huggies Rewards – your Huggies receipts will help you to earn wonderful gifts and cards Pamper’s Rewards – lots of great rewards here, too! Free Breast Pump – You may qualify under the ACA Nestle Baby – free box of goodies and over $100 in coupons Once you are pregnant, you’ll be on the mailing list of all kinds of offers and freebies, too!  Discounts can save you many dollars on things you really need, such as: cribs, strollers, carseats and high chairs.  With the discounts through Amazon or Target, you can outfit the nursery for much less! The most important things for baby is a place to sleep, clothes and diapers, and milk.  Mothers who breastfeed will have milk for baby without the bottles and formula.  Bottles and formula will be discussed with your doctor or nurse at the hospital.  Hospitals will probably send you home with samples. Before the baby is born, it’s important to have bottles purchased and sterilized.  Baby blankets, burping cloths, socks and baby gowns are going to be used.  Babies can soil their clothes often, so moms will need plenty of changes.  Soft, cotton fabrics are perfect for baby’s sensitive skin. Moms will need a supply of soft towels and washcloths.  Gentle shampoo, soap, and lotions are often used.  A small baby tub is very helpful for newborns.  It prevents all the slipping with baby being wet and slick.   Choosing a crib or bassinet is up to the parent.  There are many choices and price points.  Complete the crib with sheets, mattress pad, and bumper pad.  Colors and prints are available for every taste and style.  Moms can get very creative in planning their nursery. It’s good that parents have 9 months to get ready, because it certainly takes time.   @2019, copyright Lisa Ehrman

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