March Preview: Rhythm and Routines, Creating Kid-Friendly Spaces

by on February 28, 2011
in nesting · 5 Comments

The following is by editor Kara Fleck.

As February draws to a close, we’re looking forward to next month here at Simple Kids.  In March we’ll be discussing rhythms and routines and creating kid-friendly spaces within the home.

These are two topics I get quite a few questions about in our comments and via email.  With Spring cleaning on everyone’s minds this time of year, it seems like a good idea to set aside a few weeks and explore these specific topics.

As my own family prepares to welcome a new baby at the end of this Summer,  I’m personally looking forward to revisiting these topics and exploring them further.  This new season of our lives is going to bring changes to both our living space and our current family rhythms (and we can’t wait!).

Rhythm and Routines

We’ve touched on rhythm and routines before:

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Weekend Links

by on February 27, 2011
in showcase · 1 Comment

And I want to offer congratulations to one of our February sponsors, Sarah Baldwin of Bella Luna Toys.  Bella Luna was named one of the Best Websites for Fair Trade Toys and Clothing by Reader’s Digest. Congratulations!

Are you signed up for the Simple Living Monthly newsletter?  The next issue is going out early this week and I know Tsh has a few “insiders only” things to share that you won’t find anywhere else but in our newsletter, as well as a spotlight on the best posts of the month from across Simple Living Media.  You can sign up here.

Friends, I’ve so enjoyed chatting with you on the blog, on Facebook, and on Twitter this week.  You guys are a fantastic, supportive bunch and your words have been encouraging to me, but perhaps even better has been reading the encouragement you’ve given each other. Thank you!  Simple Kids readers are wonderful!

Storytelling Day: The True Story of the Tooth Fairy

by on February 25, 2011
in character · 4 Comments

The following is by contributor Robin Zipporah of The Not Ever Still Life.

It was just a few weeks ago. On the night of her fifth birthday, just before bedtime, our oldest child let out a startled shriek. I thought I knew what had surprised her but I went upstairs to check.

I found her in her bedroom staring at the parcel dangling from the ceiling. She had received her registration packet – she was successfully signed up with the Tooth Fairy Network.

Per the instructions in the packet, this was what I read to her:

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Simple As That: The Emergency Hug

by on February 23, 2011
in parenting · 23 Comments

Thank you all for your comments on Monday’s post.  If you haven’t taken a peek at the discussion going on over there, you really should.  Following my own advice, I decided to take a few things off of my own plate this week and so I’m re-running one of my favorite Simple Kids posts, written by Megan Tietz of Sorta Crunchy.  I think we could all use an Emergency Hug from time to time. – Kara

As you may have guessed from the article I wrote earlier this year on how to be intentional with touch, one of the primary ways I give and receive love is through affection.

I wanted to share something with you today that my mother created when we were children.  It’s so simple yet so effective when you need a time-out from the moment to reconnect with your child.  My mother called it “an emergency hug.”

I can remember when we were kids, my mom would just call to one of the four of us and say, “I need an emergency hug!”  We would stop whatever we were doing and run to my mother’s open arms. It is one of the sweetest memories of my childhood, and it’s something I’ve started doing with my own daughters.

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Let’s Talk: Coping During Challenging Seasons of Life

by on February 21, 2011
in parenting · 42 Comments

The following was written by editor Kara Fleck.

This isn’t the post I intended to write for today. The truth is, not much has gone according to plan the past few weeks. We’re going through a busy time of life at my house right now and I’ve been feeling challenged.

My husband’s work is starting to ramp up for their busiest time of the year, which means longer hours for him and less time at home.  We’ve learned to adapt to Christopher’s schedule over the years but this year, as I face the upset stomach and exhaustion of the first half of pregnancy, coupled with the flu that recently worked its way through our household, I’m finding that I’m feeling overwhelmed.

I have to keep reminding myself to step back and get some perspective.

I thought I’d share a few of the ways I’ve been coping and then open up the comments for discussion today on dealing with the busy seasons of life.

And so, to remind myself as much as anyone else, here are a few things I’ve learned during life’s challenging times:

Life Happens

Life just happens.  Illness.  Pregnancy.  New babies.  Family crisis.  A parent going back to work or picking up an extra job or more over time hours.  Perhaps your family has recently moved or is remodeling your home.

Some things we can control and there are also things we cannot.  For good, or for bad, events occur and circumstance present themselves that can be a challenge to navigate.

During those times, I’ve found I have to remind myself of a few things:

  • This too shall pass.
  • My goal is peace, not perfection.
  • My best is enough. Even if it is merely the best that I can do right now.
  • It is okay to ask for help when I need it.
  • Focus on the basics and let the rest go for a while.

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