 Singing and dancing through life. This morning as I listened to my daughter sing herself awake, I couldn’t help but think, “Lord, let her always wake up with such cheer in her heart.” My mother prayed a similar prayer for me as a child, but more on that later.
Lately it’s a rare moment in our day when Abby isn’t filling the air with songs – whether from memory or brand new material, fresh off her imagination. From the house, to the car, to wherever we end up – she’s singing. I love this about her; the freedom in which she’s still operating. I don’t look forward to the day when she becomes embarrassed when she realizes people are listening to her.
After I graduated from college, my mother shared with me the prayer she had prayed for me as she watched me skip away to kindergarten. She prayed that I would always carry that happiness within me, that I would never lose that joy that made me “skip” through life. The reason she shared this with me was because, following my graduation as we were setting up for the party, she watched with tears in her eyes (seriously, no dramatic exaggeration here) as I skipped away to the door.
So I’m hoping that one day, years from now, I’ll get to experience a similar moment of dreams realized for my daughter. On the outside looking in, it might seem like a small thing, but to me it’s everything. Are there other prayers I pray for my daughter? Of course, nothing in her life is off limits in those conversations, but happiness, joy...Isn’t that what we want most for our children?
On Examiner.com there's this nifty little discussion feature, which I haven't used up until now. But tonight I finally decided to roll the dice and see what kind of a response I could get on what can only be described as a hot-button topic in the parenting world. To spank, or not to spank? This one question can stir up emotions like no other. Odds are, even if you aren't a parent, you've probably developed strong opinions about it one way or another. If that's the case, then I invite you to participate in that discussion: http://www.examiner.com/billings/discuss/to-spank-or-not-to-spankThe plan is to publish an article some time in April weighing both sides of this issue. If you're uncomfortable sharing your thoughts, but you'd like to participate, please feel free to e-mail me. As always, if you don't want your name shared, that's completely your call, and I will maintain your anonymity. I look forward to the discussion, see you there!
 Aside from that little hiccup of falling snow this past Tuesday, according to the calendar and in general, all signs point to spring diligently working to show its bright and shining face. The birds are singing, baseball teams have begun practicing, and barbecues are begging to be fired up all around. For this week's Fun Friday offering, I explored my Top 5 reasons we're thankful for spring, but within that list, I didn't get to fully dive into why I'm beyond ready for spring to hit the air already. So please, check out the fully familial version of why I'm thankful spring is battling its way into our midst, but following is just a bit more...1. Easter will soon be upon us. I could just say I can't wait for Lent to be over so I can have myself that soda (or five) that I've been craving, but that wouldn't be 100 percent true. (I'd be lying if I didn't say that wasn't part it). But truly I love Easter, especially as I've gotten older and particularly after I became a mom. It's a beautiful time of year and to have the sacrifice that Jesus made for us at the forefront of our thoughts...It's just incredible and overwhelming. 2. Our yard is a complete and utter disaster and I am genuinely looking forward to not having to look at the ugliness anymore. I know it's gonna be a real back breaker getting it looking decent, and in truth I wish I could just spray it with 'ugly-be-gone,' but I'm pretty sure that's not an option...So I'll take the hard work for the prettier view. 3. Flip flops and Capris. Need I say more? 4. I am crazy excited to unleash my daughter on our driveway. She's got her Dora bike with training wheels and her scooter from Christmas...I am so ready to see her out there enjoying the outdoors in a whole new way. 5. Barbecue!!! We attempted barbecuing in the screen porch this winter...It wasn't so pretty. Definitely be glad to have that baby back out on the porch where it belongs, enjoying food in this delectably fantastic manner. 6. Abby told me she's so ready for spring because it means setting up her pool...And ideally putting water in it. Daddy got her some "gobbles" (goggles) and she is beyond ready. 7. My youngest niece starts tee ball this year. I cannot wait to watch her out there in all of her sassy glory. It will be magnificent. 8. Basketball. I am surrounded by family and I'm really hoping this will be the year for "community basketball" on the home front. The memories of endless hours of H-O-R-S-E, Around the World, and 1-on-1; I can't wait to make new memories with all the nieces and nephews. 9. Speaking of the nieces and nephews, the two 7-year-olds have concocted a plan for baseball, soccer, and volleyball camps to be held on our little "compound." (Not really, but that's what it's affectionately known as). They are hoping I'll "run" their volleyball camp - what's better than that?10. Spring leads to summer, which leads to the Fourth of July, and in our family there's little else that can compete with the good times we have on that day. So there you have it - the unfiltered version of my I'm-so-happy-it's-spring list. What's on your list?
 It’s amazing to me how the little things can make a day perfection. Today, for me, was a day filled with little things that made my heart ache at their simplistic beauty.
It was the sound of singing birds, the joy on a child’s face, the love of two brothers…
Our morning started off as most Sundays do – in a rush. Abby and I were rushing out the door; running late - nothing new there, but then it happened…A moment so perfect in its sweetness, that I remember actually thinking, “Slow down, let her enjoy this moment like only a child can.” On the first day of spring it was fitting that we experienced our first morning serenade from the birds. Abby was enchanted by the sound, exclaiming, “Birds! They’re tweeting to me! Tweet, tweet, tweet! I talking to the birds!”
That one little moment allowed us to shake off the stressed out feelings of the morning rush and just…be.
Once at church it was time for our annual Lenten baking of “Praying Arm Pretzels” and that brought so many little moments in and of itself. The joy the kids have as they roll out their pieces of dough and form them; it’s beautiful. Such a little thing, yet it’s their favorite Chapel Time activity.
Later, as I sat in church with my family, two of my nephews at my side, I happened to glance over at them in time to witness a moment that made my heart ache. My sister’s youngest son was snuggled up to his older brother and Tommy had slipped his hand into Austin’s. It was just one of those moments that was so tender and sweet that I wanted to bottle it up to save for a rainy day.
Today was my reminder to stop and enjoy the little things; I hope you will too.
Jinxed is the parent who even dares to think, "We've sure been healthy this winter. How lucky are we...Crap, no, I didn't just think that, knock on wood..." *sigh* Too late. Such is my life this past week. It had actually looked to be a fairly decent week writing wise, but life had another plan in store. On Wednesday my girl had a bit of a cough, but nothing to really raise any red flags...Or so I thought. By the end of the day she had a raging fever - and by raging I mean the highest fever she's had in her four years of life. 103 plus. On top of that, shortly after going to bed for the night the poor girl experienced some unfortunate digestive pyrotechnics. I think it's safe to say that no one actually enjoys the process of throwing up - it's upsetting, yet my poor baby was melting down over the fact that "only babies have accidents." Oh kiddo. Not even close. After this first incident I knew we were in for a long night and indeed we were. I should say here that Ask-a-Nurse just might be one of the greatest inventions ever. I'm panicking over the 103+ temperature, ready to dash her to the emergency room, if need be, but the kind nurse talked me back off the ledge. Rather than going into a long and detailed account of the rest of our sleepless night, I'll just say that a phone call was made to my parents at one in the morning and multiple loads of laundry were done throughout the night. As I mentioned above, I had all kinds of plans for the writing that would get done this week - I was going to be on top of things, darn it! Alas life had a different plan. Every time I sat down to work, the ladybug needed some snuggles or assistance of some kind or another. And at the end of the day, which hat tops the pile? Mom or Writer? No question there, Mom all the way. Plus, who in their right mind would turn down snuggle time from a normally active 4-year-old?The following days haven't been any more productive, though I did finally manage to get something pulled together today and that was more a 'have to' than anything since today is National Genealogy Day and I had already been gathering quotes and statements for the article, so I couldn't just let it pass me by. Fortunately, for most of the day Miss Abby seemed to be rebounding...You know, except for the cough that seems to have bombarded her full force now that everything else is simmering down. Ugh. Poor kid. Kind of breaks your heart when your kid's constant refrain is either, "It hurts" or "Why I gotta be sick, mama?" So for now this mama is praying for a healthy baby (she's still my baby) and hopefully a more productive coming week. Oh, and keep your fingers crossed for me, I applied for another online writing job...I'm hoping. P.S. The article for Genealogy Day is essentially a celebration of grandparents. My favorite quote used in the article is: "Grandchildren are the dots that connect the lines from generation to generation." -Lois Wyse To weigh in on why grandparents are so special, go to Celebrating grandparents on National Genealogy Day.
As you may or may not know, back in October I added a Family Night series to my Early Childhood/Parenting column. As you can imagine, I've started to build quite a little library of family night ideas and it seemed like it would be beneficial to my readers to provide an index of those articles. So, if ever you're in need of some inspiration for family night ideas, you will no longer have to rack your brain or attempt to scroll through the pages of my articles to find, "that one that's just on the tip of your brain..." Instead, you can just go to, Family Night: A reader's guide. The index will be updated as new articles are published. If you ever have a Family Night idea that you'd like to see featured in this particular series, you know the drill, shoot me an e-mail or you can always look me up on Facebook. Enjoy your family!
 Seriously, where are Max and Ruby's parents? In case the title gave your heart a bit of a hiccup we're talking about Nick Jr.' s children's cartoon, Max and Ruby. Everybody okay? Good, let's move on.
Ever since I was introduced to this cartoon (one that my daughter inexplicably really enjoys) the same question has plagued me. Where the...are Max and Ruby's parents?
It was only a matter of time before this particular question became fodder for my Fun Friday series. I'll have you know, that time is here. Here and now. While I (and we) never successfully managed to discover a concrete answer to that question, I relished coming up with possible answers. I also managed to persuade a few lovelies to contribute their theories. I invite you to do the same.
So, with no further ado, why don't you head on over to Fun Friday: Where are Max and Ruby's parents? and see what you come up with.
Just a short and sweet post to let you know that Barnes & Noble is taking part in Read Across America by offering some pretty great deals and discounts in the children's section. However, you'll want to get on this sooner rather than later since the deals are only good until this Sunday, March 6, 2011. For links to the coupons and more information Read Across America, check out this article.
 What's your favorite Dr. Suess read? Photo by: Amazon.com Today, March 2, 2011 is National Dr. Seuss Day. It's pretty incredible, the staying power of Dr. Seuss' work. The Cat in the Hat was released in 1954 and is still a kid favorite today - as are so many of his books. Amazing.
Today I compiled my personal Top 5 list of Dr. Seuss must-reads and discovered there are quite a few I've never had the privilege to read. You better believe our next trip to the library will be spent perusing the Dr. Seuss selection.
Here's a little taste of my list:
- I Can Read with My Eyes Shut! - The Cat in the Hat makes a return starring appearance in this special Seuss book. A constant must-read as a child, it was also one of my first solo reads.
- Oh, the Thinks You Can Think! - Not discovered until after I became a mother, it quickly became a favorite to read to my daughter. I loved everything this book had to offer. Colors for her to recognize, the common Seuss-silliness in the rhyming flow of the words, to the inherent idea of the book in “The thinks you can think up if only you try!” Reminding kiddos the beauty of their imaginations...Read more
As I was pondering over which books to include in my list, I found myself thinking about the things that make these books great. Why have they remained an important part of children's literature for decades? As I paged through my favorites, I thought back to the first grade when I struggled with certain aspects of reading. It gave me serious anxiety. Even though I loved the idea of reading and words even then. I wondered if perhaps the silly, made-up words don't give beginning readers a sense of confidence. I mean they're so very often words completely drawn from the imagination of Dr. Seuss, and they end up creating the silliest of rhymes...It's almost like a child can't go wrong when reading his books.
In the end, I don't really know. What do you think? What is it about Dr. Seuss books that has made them so incredibly timeless?
To get my list in its entirety, please head on over to my Examiner.com column where it was initially published. (Also don't forget to tell us what Dr. Seuss books make up your top reads).
Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss! Thank you for all of your fantastical books of imagination and rhyming.
 I mean, seriously, what's not to totally love about this gap-filled smile? Yesterday, February 28, was National Tooth Fairy Day. One might think that a grown person wouldn't be practically giddy to discover that there was a day set aside for this character of American folklore. (Dating back to the early 1900s - in case you were wondering).
Ever since I was a kid who was losing her own baby teeth, I've loved all there is to love about first being a toothless wonder myself, and then getting to experience that excitement with the kids in my life. Related or not. I just love it when I see a kiddo with a fresh gap in their teeth. I adore hearing the tale of how they lost those sweet, little teeth. In fact, it became an issue in my family - especially when a first tooth is lost, then I want to know - that night. I don't care how late it is. My sister's youngest son lost his first tooth and they didn't call until the next day! I know. I couldn't believe it either.
After that tragic incident where I was delayed in sharing my excitement, a rule clearly had to be instated. Regardless of the time of loss - a phone call was a must. Again, I couldn't be more excited to hear the tale of how they came to lose that wiggly little wonder.
I know what you're thinking - "this chick is crazy. Really, you really get this excited about those missing teeth?" You bet. Call it the kid in me that refuses to let me officially grow up (P.S. I'm okay with that), call it plain looniness, but I love being a crazy enthusiastic person for these little loves.
Given all of that excitement, of course I wrote a whole series of articles celebrating this day. I kicked it off with Fun Friday: Even the Tooth Fairy gets hit by inflation. For this installment, I polled my friends, family, and Facebook peeps to get a feel for how the times have changed - even for the Tooth Fairy.
Next we went to suggestions for how you might want to celebrate National Tooth Fairy Day with, Celebrate National Tooth Fairy Day on February 28, 2011. Within this little bit, you'll find books and movie suggestions that are all about the Tooth Fairy. Additionally, you'll get a little glimpse at my enthusiasm for all things Tooth Fairy in the opening paragraph.
Finally, I capped off my coverage of National Tooth Fairy Day with a look at the oh so important Tooth Fairy Pillows. The holder of those sacred little lost teeth. In the midst of this piece, you'll find how-to's from my mom and others. I mean really, who better to turn to than your own mama? With that I give you, Make a Tooth Fairy pillow for your toothless wonder.
So, tell me your or your kiddo's stories; you know I want to hear 'em.
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