Christmas Decor ~ Pinterest Favs

Source: bhg.com via Rg on Pinterest

Source: withstyleandgrace.blogspot.com via Cherylin on Pinterest

Source: thecinderellaproject.blogspot.com via Hannah on Pinterest

Thanksgiving Decor ~ Pinterest Favs

Not already wasting enough time on blogs, facebook, and twitter? Well, you can expand your social media addictions by joining Pinterest! The site provides a wealth of design ideas that many are indulging in!

Here are a few of my favorite Thanksgiving decor ideas from Pinterest:

[Photo Credit]

[Photo Credit]

Photo Credit

[Photo Credit]

Are going to put out any special Thanksgiving decor this year?

Spaghetti Squash

[Photo Credit]

I enjoyed Spaghetti Squash for the first time a couple of weeks ago. The squash I tried had been boiled and then seasoned with a little salt and butter for taste. It was surprisingly tasty!

Below is a recipe I found at Steamy Kitchen for baked spaghetti squash with garlic and butter. I am thinking of trying it for Thanksgiving!

1 small spaghetti squash (about 3-4 pounds)

2 tablespoons butter

2 cloves garlic, finely minced

1/4 cup finely minced parsley (or basil)

1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)

1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese

1. Preheat oven to 375F. Pierce squash a few times with sharp paring knife (to let steam escape). Bake spaghetti squash for 60 minutes, or until a paring knife pierces easily through skin with little resistance. Let squash cool for 10 minutes.

2. Cut squash in half, lengthwise. Use a fork to remove and discard the seeds. Continue using fork to scrape the squash to get long, lovely strands. If the squash seem difficult to scrape, return the squash to bake for an additional 10 minutes.

3. Heat a large saute pan with the butter and the garlic over medium-low heat. When garlic becomes fragrant, add parsley, salt and spaghetti squash strands. Toss well, sprinkle in the parmesan cheese and taste to see if you need additional salt. The spaghetti squash should have a slight crunch (i.e. not mushy) - but if you like it softer, cover the pan and cook 2 more minutes.

Tired?

Recently, Kim from Life in a Shoe wrote a post for tired young mothers of many.

Here is a excerpt:

Back when we had a lot of Littles and no Bigs, daily life looked very different. Sometimes it felt a little dark and hopeless. How could I do everything that I need to do? How could I be a good wife, a good mother, a good Christian, while battling morning sickness and creeping chaos of a house with so many little ones?

These are questions that I have pondered SO many times in the past five years! It is such a blessing to hear the perspective of a mom who has been there and done that!

You can read the entire post here.

A New Season

"For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland." (Is. 43:19 NLT)

Have I ever told you how much I love this verse?

This is a verse God has used to speak to me a few times when he was about to change something in my life that I had been struggling with for a long time. This verse excites me! This verse means; a new season, change, and deliverance!

I could use a new season in my life, right about now. So, I am praying for it and expecting it.

One area that I would like to have a "new season" in is the area of organization.

I have been working on different ideas for our daily routine and have been sticking to a fairly effective morning routine for a while.

Here it is:

Morning Routine

Quiet Time (Mom-Read Bible and Pray) (Kids-Look at a book on their bed)

Brush Teeth/Floss- All

Wash Faces- All

Make Beds- All

Change Diapers- Mom

Bedroom Pick-up (Put away clothes, shoes, items, etc)- All

Wipe down bathroom sink, mirror, toilet- Mom

After the morning routine is over, we all go downstairs and I begin to cook breakfast while the children are playing. The rest of my day happens in a way that is not quite so organized. Thus, I am working towards a more concrete afternoon, evening, and bedtime routine!

What about you? What does your daily routine look like?

I'm a list maker.

I've come to accept that I cannot function without a list.

I've always been one who learns and remembers by writing things down, but my dependency on lists has gone to another level. I think its because of the voices.

See, there are so many voices talking to me at the same time. And no, the voices are not in my head! They are real voices coming for four real little people! At this point in my life, if I do not write it down on a list, its doomed!

Everything depends on my list. Our bills getting paid, diapers getting changed, meals getting made, my hygiene, my sanity, my very survival, and that of the ones around me, depends on my list! My list is my new brain. It was difficult at first, but now that I have come to terms with this, I have moved on to new and improved methods of list making!

For example, a couple of my mentors told me about the "If-Then" chart some time ago. Now that I have embraced the fact that my children's best chance of being consistently and lovingly trained, rests upon my ability to make a list dedicated to that effort, this chart seems like the perfect buy!

This 8.5x11" colored, laminated "If-Then" chart by Doorposts is designed to help you be more consistent in disciplining your children.

When they disobey, it will help you know what you need to do, and it will help your kids to know what to expect. It is an excellent tool at helping the husband and wife to be more united in their efforts to discipline and raise their children for the Lord.

When children can visually see the problem with their behavior, it helps them to respond more favorably to the consequence.

Are you a list maker too? What helps you remember things?

Hubby vs. The Squirrel

Hubby has been in an ongoing battle with a very bold and persistent squirrel.

Round 1:

The fury little creature ate a hole in the top of our plastic garbage can. So, hubby had a new one delivered. He ate a hole in that one too.

Squirrel- 1. Hubby- 0

Round 2:

Hubby heard that squirrels would be turned off by the smell of coyote urine. So, he bought a spray bottle full of some concoction that included coyote urine from Home Depot. He sprayed that all over the top of our garbage can. Apparently, the squirrel thought the concoction was there for his benefit. So, he used it as his barbeque sauce. He continued to get in our garbage.

Squirrel-2 Hubby-0

Round 3:

Hubby thought he would really outsmart our little nuisance by using duck tape to put a mesh wire tightly over the hole that the squirrel made in our garbage can. This seemed to have worked for a while. But, eventually the squirrel decided that the mesh wire could serve as a sort of appetizer before his main course and ate through that too.

Squirrel-3 Hubby-0

Round 4:

Hubby got wind of the fact the squirrels hate the smell of ammonia. Thus, hubby got a large towel and kept it soaked in ammonia and stuck it inside the hole that the squirrel had made in our garbage. Hubby had finally won. The squirrel stopped coming around and seemed to finally be defeated.

Alas, tis not that simple. Once the weather warmed up and it was hard to keep the towel wet, the squirrel came back and ate an even bigger hole in the garbage can.

Squirrel-4 Hubby-0

Which leads us to Round 5...

You are looking at Hubby's latest conception. It consist of plastic from a canola oil bottle that is literally cocked to the garbage can. Furthermore, the brick you see is holding the plastic in place with the help of that shovel.

Has hubby finally defeated the notorious squirrel? Or can this squirrel eat through brick and mortar? At this point, I wouldn't be surprised. Perhaps it can also leap tall buildings in a single bound.

Actually, hubby says that if the squirrel can get through this one, he deserves our garbage. In fact, he says he might just buy the squirrel a big fat victory cake and set it inside.

To be continued...

On Patience

Fill in the blank.

You know you've lost your patience when____.

1. You start counting to 10.

2. You start praying along the lines of: "Dear Lord, help me not to knock (insert name) from here into next week."

3. You start slamming doors and dishes.

4. You start looking around for anything you can get your hands on to throw/strike with.

5. You can finish this sentence: "If one more person touches me/asks me for anything, so help me God, I will ________."

6. You suddenly feel a connection with those moms you've seen on the news.

7. You find that you're somewhere in your home hiding.

8. You're mumbling something under your breath about not being afraid to go to jail.

9. You got everyone scared to move because you're irritated when others engage in any of the following:

1. Relaxation.

2. Laughter.

3. Leaving the premises.

Your immediate responses/thoughts to these actions are:

*with a crazed look in your eye*

"What are you doing? (pause) Nothing. Exactly."

"What are you laughing at? (pause) Ain't. Nothin'. Funny."

"Oh? Where you going? (pause) If anybody needs to go somewhere, its me!"

10. You have sudden thoughts of yourself with a new name, lying on a beach somewhere wearing dark sunglasses and a wig.

Got Questions?

Have you any questions about large family living that you would like answered by some seasoned moms? You should check out the "4 moms, 35 kids" series!

Each week, 4 moms with a collective total of 35 children share their knowledge, experience and and helpful tips in maintaining health, order and sanity. There is even one week in which the moms will take a stab at your questions if you leave them in their comments section!

I must say I have been enjoying this series very much. You can click on the button above to read what you have missed and to find out more about future topics in the series.

Girls Room Inspiration

I'm looking forward to some decorating projects during the spring and summer. I want to go with a pink and green color scheme for Noelle and Bella's room. I found some great inspiration below!

I like how she painted this bed pink.

[Photo Credit annaleahart]

[Photo Credit: annaleahart]

Clean Should Smell Better.

Have you heard about Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day products? Mrs. Meyer's believes that "clean should smell better" and has a line of household products that come in a variety of fresh scents!

I found out about Mrs. Meyer's on the web and was able to do a search to find out which store location near my home carries her products. Wouldn't you know, my beloved local Target just so happens to have them in stock! I stopped by the cleaning aisle to take a sniff and I think my favorite scent is the Lemon Verbena.

These pictures are of gift baskets made by a Mrs. Meyer's customer. What a cute idea! You can find more of these pictures and others at Mrs. Meyer' s facebook page.

The Confident Homemaker

When I was in college, I majored in Social Policy. There were students in my Social Policy classes that struggled to understand the concepts; but it seemed as though my life experiences and way of thinking made that field of study a perfect fit for me.

On the other hand, in order to graduate, I was required to take a certain number of science and math classes. In those classes, I felt lost. No matter how many office hours I attended or how many tutorial sessions I sat in on, I was always very slow to catch on. Still, with a lot of work and the help of the Lord, I was able to at least get a passing grade out of those classes.

When I think back to college, I realize that everybody was not good at everything. Although I am sure there was great ability shown in every academic department; I know that every individual was not showing stellar ability in every academic department. People had their niche. People majored in their areas of interest and in areas in which they excelled. That was the way it was. It made sense and no one seemed to have a problem with it.

When I think back to those good ole' college days, I remember feeling comfortable when it came to my academic strengths and weaknesses. I knew where I flourished and I focused my energy on those areas. In other areas, I did what was necessary to perform adequately; however, if I wasn't going to beat myself up over not getting straight A's in those areas. When it comes to homemaking, I realize that I need to approach things with a similar attitude.

In her book, "The Confident Woman" author Joyce Meyer writes, "Confident people do not concentrate on their weaknesses; they develop and maximize their strengths." She goes on to explain that while we should know what are weaknesses are, it is not conceited to think about what you are good at. As homemakers, it is easy to focus on what we don't do well. What we didn't accomplish during the day. What goals we still have not met. We also begin to look at others around us and what they do well and feel bad if we don't seem to flourish in the same areas. Focusing on these things will only leave us drained and discouraged.

On the other hand, what would happen if we focused on the opposite? What if we said "Hey, I fall behind on laundry, but I do a great job at menu planning!" or "I may not find paying the bills an exciting task, but I am great at planning and executing family traditions!"? Of course, the laundry and bill paying are important and need to be done. Still, if I tend to fall behind in those areas, I shouldn't judge my entire ability to be a good homemaker based on that! I can grow in those areas that I am weak in enough to do a good job for my family until God moves me into another season of life. Still, those areas may never be my niche. God has not called every individual to have a niche in every area.

Look at the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12 says:

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit...

...For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will...

For the body is not one member, but many.

If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him."

Now, God has given us all different spiritual gifts and abilities, and he expects us to be content with not having them all. So, why should I feel bad if I do not have every natural gift, as it relates to homemaking? God has not made me a natural at every homemaking task, and that is okay. I can still be a confident and efficient homemaker without trying to be the same kind of homemaker as someone else. Our homes will look and function differently because we have different strengths and weaknesses.

Meyer writes, "Make a list of what you are good at and rehearse it daily until you gain confidence in your abilities. Thinking about what you are good at is not conceited; it is merely preparation to do your job with confidence." She explains that anything we are good at is because God has gifted us in that area.

I want to approach homemaking with more confidence as we approach this new year. Thus, I have chosen to start my own list of strengths in order to stay encouraged and to further develop these areas.

Some of the strengths I listed are directly related to my family life and others are more general strengths that I believe God has given me. Here is my list:

I am good at encouraging others.
I am a supportive wife.
I enjoy daily devotion with my children.
I am a loyal friend.
I can admit when I am wrong.
I am good at keeping my children well-groomed and healthy.
I enjoy reading aloud to my children.
I am a good public speaker.
I am good with directions.
I have strong communication skills.
I enjoy listening about my husband's day.
I am good at planning and executing fun and memorable family events/traditions.
I am a good writer.
I am good at long-term planning.
I acknowledge when I need help.
I laugh with my husband and children everyday.
I am determined.
I get along well with most people.


This list is a start for me as I continue to seek God about what his will is for my family and home and how he desires to use my gifts and strengths to be a blessing to my husband and children.

If you had to make a list of strengths, what would you write?

The End of a Thing

"Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit." -Ecclesiastes 7:8

I can't think of a better way to describe the end of last week than Ecclesiastes 7:8. Yesterday marked the end of my week home without hubby, and boy was I glad to see it finally arrive!

It just so happened that hubby had 3 different out of town trips scheduled all last week. He left last Sunday and was only in Chicago twice throughout the week to get more clothes and to transfer from one trip to another. He finally returned for good this Sunday.

As for me, it just so happened that this same week called for many errands and important plans to be tied up on the home front. Can I just say that after being responsible for running all over the city of Chicago to take care of business, still taking care of 3 kiddos, being 5 months pregnant, and by myself, I am convinced that there ought to be a national holiday to acknowledge the work of single-parents! Seriously, in case you were wondering: yes, division of labor is a beautiful thing!

By the end of the week, I was both frazzled and fragmented and in actual physical pain! Needless to say, I thank God for my parents and for hubby's parents who were a big help by taking care of the children while I went to my prenatal visit on Wednesday and while I "recuperated" from the week on Saturday.

I thought about using my time alone on Saturday to go get my hair done at a salon; however, I quickly realized that my aching body would benefit more from of epson salt and ice packs than deep conditioner and a curling iron. Thus, I dropped off the kids around 11am and because my motto is simple: There is no relaxation independent of iced coffee, I picked up a venti iced caffe mocha from Starbucks before going home to soak and ice.

Hubby finally returned from his final excursion on Sunday, and we met him at church. Afterwards, we went with our dear friends, the Grimes, to a great little restaurant called Take Me Out. The restaurant is known for its signature wings known as "little hotties." They are worth a trip to Pilsen if you are ever in Chicago!

Here are couple of pictures we took after dinner:

Weekend to Remember Getaway

I don't think there is any marriage that couldn't use a little strengthening! I am praying that hubby and I can make it to the Family Life Today: Weekend to Remember Getaway in Schaumburg, IL next month!

You can check out Family Life Today to find out when a conference will be in your area! Your marriage is worth it!

The Highlight of My Week

Hubby: (As I bandage Noelle's arm) "See Noelle, Mommy's all done! She's a good nurse." Do you think Mommy could be a nurse?"

Noelle: "No" (as she shakes her head).

Hubby: "Well, do you want to be a nurse?"

Noelle: "No!!"

Hubby: "Well, what do you want to be?"

Noelle: "I want to be a Mommy, just like Mommy!"

Conquering the Paperwork

Its beautiful outside. However, I'm inside doing this:


Organizing Your Office:
How To Organize A Home Office File Cabinet

Quirky Housewives

Although I've only been in the homemaking business since 2005, it seems to me that each homemaker has her own strengths and weaknesses.

Some of us might not like to cook much, but love cleaning. Others may not be the best when it comes to organizing, but have an affinity for gratification that comes from grooming our children. Essentially, we all have our quirks.

So, in the spirit of homemaking and quirkiness, let's have a good laugh at ourselves by doing a little self assessment, shall we?

If you're so inclined, answer the questions below in the comments section. My answers are in italics.

1. Dishrag or Sponge?

Dishrag (I've recently discovered some that actually have a scrubber side!)

2. Cooking or Cleaning?

(Ummmmmmmmmmmm...ahem...Okay, okay, I guess I'll go with cleaning).

3. Gloves or Bare hands?

(Nothing grosses me out more than bare hands in dishwater. Give me gloves or give me death!)

4. (When it comes to household products) Generic or Name Brand?

Generic (except for soap and dish washing liquid).

5. The time of day I feel the most energetic and productive.

9am

6. The time of day I'm at my wit's end.

7:30pm (I'm usually watching the clock thinking, "It's not bedtime yet?"

7. I may not be perfect but, I sure do know my way around a ________.

Target!

8. The household chore I enjoy the most?

Folding warm, clean, fresh scented clothes!

9. The household chore I despise?

Cleaning the toilet. You've never seen me sadder than I am at that moment.

10. The way I motivate myself to do what I really don't feel like doing is__________.

If I had an answer to this question, then I wouldn't be asking you! No seriously...answer this question! I'll just go with music for the time being.

11. My family would say my best homemaking skill is_________.

My household shopping skills. (From toothpaste, to deodorant, to a tissue for a runny nose. It's a very rare occasion that someone goes to find some kind of household product that we're out of.

Hubby has told me that he appreciates how I anticipate their needs and always seem to get enough of everything we need, while staying in the budget.

I attribute my success in this area to my mom. If you could see her pantry, you would understand.

And the fact that I know my way around a Target doesn't hurt either;).

12. My family would say the homemaking skill I need to improve on the most is_______.

Keeping the kitchen clean. Who knew my success as a homemaker would prove to rest so heavily upon my ability to keep one blasted room clean!

13. The one piece of advice I would pass on to any aspiring homemaker?

Learn how to plan. Plan meals, plan cleaning, plan down time. Plan everything!


[Image Credit:dok1]

Home Remedies

Before motherhood, I scoffed at the idea of home remedies (What did I know?).

Nevertheless, after experiencing three pregnancies, post-partum problems, and having become a in-home nurse to my own family, I welcome any legitimate home remedy.

Not only will a good home remedy save you money and a trip to the doctor, but it provides you and your family with a safe-alternative to many drugs and chemicals that have negative side effects.

Here is a list of home remedies that I have yet to try, but sound really interesting!

• Did you know that drinking two glasses of Gatorade can relieve headache pain almost immediately-without the unpleasant side effects caused by traditional pain relievers?

• Did you know that Colgate Toothpaste makes an excellent salve for burns?

• Before you head to the drugstore for a high-priced inhaler filled with mysterious chemicals, try chewing on a couple of curiously strong Altoids peppermints. They'll clear up your stuffed nose.

• Achy muscles from a bout of the flu? Mix 1 tablespoon horseradish in 1 cup of olive oil. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes, then apply it as a massage oil for instant relief for aching muscles.

• Sore throat? Just mix 1/4 cup of vinegar with 1/4 cup of honey and take 1 tablespoon six times a day. The vinegar kills the bacteria.

• Cure urinary tract infections with Alka-Seltzer. Just dissolve two tablets in a glass of water and drink it at the onset of the symptoms. Alka-Seltzer begins eliminating urinary tract infections almost instantly-even though the product was never advertised for this use.

• Honey remedy for skin blemishes... Cover the blemish with a dab of honey and place a Band-Aid over it. Honey kills the bacteria, keeps the skin sterile, and speeds healing. Works overnight.

• Listerine therapy for toenail fungus: Get rid of unsightly toenail fungus by soaking your toes in Listerine Mouthwash. The powerful antiseptic leaves your toenails looking healthy again.

• Easy eyeglass protection... To prevent the screws in eyeglasses from loosening, apply a small drop of Maybelline Crystal Clear Nail Polish to the threads of the screws before tightening them.
  

• Cleaning liquid that doubles as bug killer... If menacing bees, wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets get in your home and you can't find the insecticide, try a spray of Formula 409. Insects drop to the ground instantly.

• Smart splinter remover: Just pour a drop of Elmer's Glue-All over the splinter, let dry, and peel the dried glue off the skin. The splinter sticks to the dried glue.

• Hunt's Tomato Paste boil cure... Cover the boil with Hunt's Tomato Paste as a compress. The acids from the tomatoes soothe the pain and bring the boil to a head.

• Balm for broken blisters... To disinfect a broken blister, dab on a few drops of Listerine, a powerful antiseptic.

• Vinegar to heal bruises... Soak a cotton ball in white vinegar and apply it to the bruise for 1 hour. The vinegar reduces the blueness and speeds up the healing process.

• Quaker Oats for fast pain relief... it's not for breakfast any more! Mix 2 cups of Quaker Oats and 1 cup of water in a bowl and warm in the microwave for 1 minute, cool slightly, and apply the mixture to your hands for soothing relief from arthritis pain.

Do you know of any other effective home remedies?

Ministry at Home

"In every generation, mothers must answer the call to be what no one else can be, to do what no one else can do for their children.

It isn’t that mothers can’t do many other things, but if they refuse to accept their calling as a mother, some child ends up shortchanged, and the empty space that mother leaves echoes for generations.

Mothers are neither the cause of all of society’s ills, nor the saviors of the nation. But the future of society does depend in part on what we do with the children under our care. What calling could be more significant or more glorifying to God?"
~Jean Fleming in A Mother's Heart

How are you cultivating your Ministry at Home?


(Image from es1123

A Little Advice

A homeschooling mother of 15 children did us all a favor when she decided to write this.

If you have young children and are homeschooling and/or thinking of homeschooling, you will probably appreciate her advice as much as I did!

Here is an excerpt from her post on homeschooling with young children:

When I decided to keep my first daughter home, my first inclination was not to formally "do" anything--just live life and let her develop and see how things went. But a well-meaning relative, one who already was sure I had jumped off the dock and was headed for the abyss, insisted on buying my first year's curriculum.

When the box came I was excited. I loved flipping through the colorful texts and wanted to get started right away.

It wasn't long before I was quite frustrated. The babies kept getting into everything or crying or the phone would ring. Worst of all, my daughter hated the materials and didn't catch on like she was supposed to. What an awful mess it was!

Then I would get pregnant and sick, and the whole thing would seem to shut down for a while, except that it was in these times that things actually progressed. The children would then have fun just drawing and playing legos and exploring. Since I was pretty sedentary, I would read novels aloud to them--Little House on the Prairie, Old Yeller, and the like. It was during these times that I would research and find out that I could relax.

And so I would like to offer some simple suggestions for those with many children up to age 7:

• Don't be afraid. You taught your child how to walk and talk, and reading isn't that complicated. Take the pressure off and you will do much better.

• Have these supplies on hand: Paper, scissors, glue, crayons, a cheap watercolor set (these items will cost you less than ten dollars during the "back to school" sales), some home-made salt dough, some picture books from the library or thrift store and a good set of phonics flash cards and number cards.

• Invest in a child gate. This is good to keep the kids "corraled" so that the mess they make is localized, instead of letting them have free reign over the whole house so that you never feel as though you can get anything accomplished!

• Keep food simple. We used to eat just two different breakfasts and lunches every day. The kids never got tired of them--and I always knew what to fix!

• Have a stash of snacks for yourself. I learned this after I went through a time of being about 10lbs underweight. I would feed the kids and then forget to eat!

• A good book to have on hand that will teach you how to teach reading is Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. My kids usually get tired of this book by lesson 50, but it lays a great foundation for more advanced reading.

• Don't have a schedule, follow a routine. Prioritize--what are the most important things that need to be accomplished? First, people need to be fed three squares a day. They need to be clean and rested. They need clean dishes and clothes. They need to be loved and listened to. Only after these basics are accomplished should anything else be added. It doesn't matter that Suzie Q. runs all over town and volunteers at church--you are not responsible for her. God has given you your family and that is all you have to do for now. The outward-focused life is for another season.

• Have paper, pencils and crayons always available, with parameters set up to prevent waste. One way I have done this is to tear my sheets of paper into quarters, and in this way if they make one scribble and decide to move on, the whole sheet is not wasted.

• Save the messier supplies for "special" times. This preserves you and your house.

• Have daily "quiet time" after lunch and clean up--do this for your marriage as well as your own health.

• Keep media to a minimum. I don't allow computer time to children this age at all. Television (they don't watch cable or networks) is only for special times.

• Read aloud daily, if at all possible. Even if it is the same book over and over. I think I have Green Eggs and Ham memorized almost completely.

• Answering questions is about the best thing you can do. You are the walking book that a child refers to whenever he is puzzled. Count it as a privilege!

• Use the necessary errands of life as learning experiences. Tell them stories about your childhood and God and sing together in the car. Teach them how to behave in public. Explain things to them as you are doing them so that they will feel included and important to you.

• Teach them how to tie, whistle, blow bubbles, hopscotch, ride a bike, fold a towel. These are both fun and inexpensive activities and help them to develop the fine motor skills necessary for all the other stuff.
  

If you just live and love your child, he will gain a much better education than he could ever receive during these years in some institutional setting or with some formal curriculum at home. It's not "parental perfection" but loving response that is key here.