Kids Ain't Cheap

But They Sure Are Worth It

You are here: Home / Home

How to Create a Digital Vision Board

| Leave a Comment

Digital Vision Board

Have you set goals for yourself?  Would you like to utilize a strategy to make those goals reality more quickly?  If so, a vision board may be just what you need.  Since most Americans are on their electronics most of the day, a digital vision board may be even more helpful.

How to Create a Digital Vision Board

Creating a digital vision board should only take an hour or two, but its impact should influence you for the rest of the year.

Determine Your Goals

The first step is to determine your goals.  What do you want to accomplish over the next 12 months?  What is working successfully in your life that you want to maintain?  What inspires you?

Make a list of seven to ten goals and items in your life that you want to maintain.

Then, it’s time for the fun—actually choosing the images for your vision board.

Choose Your Digital Vision Board Images

The next step is to find images that best visualize what you want to achieve in your life.  For instance, if you want to graduate from college, you may have an image of a woman in a cap and gown posing with her children.  If you want to cook at home more, you may have a picture of a luscious homemade meal or a woman cooking.

Pick at least one picture for each of your goals, though you can pick more if you’d like.

In addition, you may want to add in a few inspiring quotes to keep you motivated throughout the year.

Where to Find Images

When you’re looking for images, the best place to start is Pinterest.  Because there are so many pictures there, you can really find one that speaks to you and is unique to your own goals.  You can also find motivational quotes here.

While you’ll likely find all that you need on Pinterest, if you don’t, you can go to a place like Unsplash and find images there.

Digital Vision Board

Photo by Danielle MacInnes on Unsplash

Remember, you can also use your own personal photos.  If one goal is, “take a family vacation,” use a picture of the family on your last vacation as motivation.

How to Put the Digital Vision Board Together

Finally, to put the digital vision board together, go to Canva.  (It’s free!).  Once you’re in Canva, click on “Create a Design” and choose “Desktop Wallpaper.”

Next, upload all of the photos and quotes that you have chosen.

Click on “Elements” in the side bar and type in “grid.”  Then choose the grid pattern you would like and starting arranging your pictures.

Final Thoughts

For years, athletes have used visualization to help them perform better.  When you visualize something repeatedly, you’re more likely to achieve that goal.

By placing a digital vision board somewhere you will see it repeatedly throughout the day, say on your desktop, you’re subconsciously reinforcing the vision of your future and your likelihood of making that vision a reality.

Read More

Squeezing the Last Drops Out of Your Child’s Summer Vacation,

Saving Money While Traveling with Children,

Road Trips with a Young Child

Dyper Review

| Leave a Comment

As a parent to a young child, nothing beats the convenience of disposable diapers.  Even if you feel inclined to use cloth diapers, which most parents don’t, you’re not always able to do so because many daycares only accept disposable diapers.  However, for eco conscious parents, disposable diapers may morally be tough to use.  After all, they take decades to decompose (some estimate as many as five hundred years!).  The decision to use disposable diapers is a bit easier if you consider an eco-friendly company like Dyper.

Dyper Review

Dyper Review

Dyper is an eco-friendly company that offers diapers and services unlike any other on the diaper market.

What Makes Dyper Different

There are many ways that Dyper is different from other diaper companies.

Eco-Friendly Diapers

Dyper’s diapers are made of bamboo.  Unlike other disposable diapers, Dyper’s contain no print or decoration; the diapers are solid white.  These diapers also are free of many chemicals found in other brands.  Specifically, they do NOT contain any of the following:

  • Chlorine,
  • Latex,
  • PVC,
  • TBT,
  • Antioxidants,
  • Perfumes,
  • Lotions, or
  • Phthalates

SOS Program

When you buy from Dyper, you sign up for a monthly delivery of diapers.  However, should you run short on diapers, Dyper has an SOS program.  This program, available a maximum of two times per year to active subscribers, will give you diapers within four hours (if you live in the 12 large cities currently offering this feature.)  Otherwise, diapers will be sent to you the next day.   Even better, they’ll be sent to whatever location you’re currently at, even if it’s at the beach while you’re vacationing.

Recycling Program

Dyper offers a ReDyper program (extra fee applies).  The company will send you eco-friendly bags, a shipping box, and prepaid label.  When you’re ready to empty your diaper pail, don’t put the contents in the garbage, which will go into the landfill.  Instead, put the diapers in the bag in the shipping box, seal and label and put it out by your front door.  Dyper will pick it up and recycle your diapers, keeping them out of the landfill.

This option is something that really sets Dyper apart from other diaper companies.

How Much Is Dyper’s Monthly Service?

A monthly subscription to Dyper is $68 a month.  The first month, you get 30% off, making your total $47.60.

The number of diapers you get per month depends on the size diaper that your child is wearing:

  • Newborn – 264 diapers/delivery
  • Small – 224 diapers/delivery
  • Medium – 184 diapers/delivery
  • Large – 140 diapers/delivery
  • Extra Large – 120 diapers/delivery

Dyper Review

Other Products Dyper Offers

In addition to disposable diapers, Dyper also offers

  • Training pants,
  • Cloth diapers,
  • Baby wipes,
  • Alcohol wipes,
  • Diaper cream,
  • Diaper pail, and several other products

Basically, Dyper has your diapering needs covered.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, this review has helped you to see that if you’re looking for an eco-friendly diaper company, look no further than Dyper.  Their convenient subscription service saves you the hassle of making trips to the store for diapers, and their recycling program keeps disposable diapers out of the landfill.

Read More

How to Save Hundreds on Diapers,

Free Diapers for Low Income Families,

Cloth Diapers Vs. Disposable Diapers

Loans for Stay-at-Home Moms – What Are Your Options?

| Leave a Comment

Borrowing money is as commonplace in today’s economy as choosing your next meal. Many use it in daily life – whether it’s choosing a vehicle, a college, or a purse. But is it healthy? Also, do loans for stay-at-home moms even exist? Let’s take a look at your options in today’s article.

Loans for Stay at Home Moms

Loans for Stay-at-Home Moms – a Breakdown of Your Options

I used debt regularly the moment I reached adulthood. My entire effort was to ultimately raise my credit score.

However, my focus on debt became one of my biggest stumbling blocks for becoming a stay-at-home mom, years later. I honestly didn’t think I’d ever make it because debt was holding me back.

I’m not saying you can’t ever use debt, but I want you to know what my experience taught me. Also, as a financial coach since 2013, I’ve seen the underbelly of loans and debt.

So let’s take a look at when it might make sense to borrow money and when it might not.

Can Stay-at-Home Moms Borrow Money?

It’s a valid question. If your income is $0, then what creditor will believe that you’ll pay them back? Here are a few options (none of which are guaranteed):

Consider Household Income

Find a lender who will consider your household income. Even with my decent credit score, lenders weren’t remotely interested in loaning me the money for our first house until they saw my husband’s full-time income. If you’re a stay-at-home mom, then you’re already living off someone else’s paycheck – likely your spouse’s. It’s best to go forward with any major financial decisions – particularly debt – together.

0% Interest Cards

Apply for a credit card with 0% interest. Try to find one that promises no interest for at least 12 months or more and read the fine print!  It’s especially important to look at what the transfer fee will be if you’re transferring old debt to pay off.  (Typically, transfer fees are 3 to 5% of the total amount you transfer to the 0% interest card.)  You will also want to consider what the interest rate will be after the introductory 0% phase in case you aren’t able to pay it off within that time.

You will still need to declare your household income to be approved, but this will likely give you a lengthier time to repay a debt (i.e. medical bill or personal debt).

Collateral

Ask about collateral. If your name is on something of value (i.e. a vehicle), you may be able to use it for a loan.  However, be forewarned that if you’re not able to keep up with the monthly payments, you can lose the item you put up for collateral, so in general, choose this option as a last resort.

Most importantly, make a clear plan for your budget to pay this debt off as quickly as possible! The average household has $16,748 in credit card debt. So many families let that final step slide and become buried. That doesn’t have to be you!

When Loans for Stay-at-Home Moms Might Make Sense

There are some instances where loans for stay-at-home moms make sense.

Mortgages

Loans for Stay at Home Moms

Photo by Colton Sturgeon on Unsplash

If you wish to buy a home but don’t have six figures in cash at the moment, that’s understandable. Taking out a mortgage does include its share of benefits:

  • Accrued equity
  • Resale value
  • Options for shorter and more accelerated payoff plans (saving thousands in interest)

Medical Payment Plans

Perhaps you’re an at-home parent facing a medical procedure that’s more than you have available. The billing company often provides structured payment plans (often interest free) allowing you to pay off that debt over time.

Debt Alternatives for Stay-at-Home Moms

While accumulating debt makes sense in some cases, often avoiding debt is the best thing to do.  As my husband and I began our journey out of debt, we had to find new alternatives to paying for every purchase. Here are a few primary habits we still practice today:

Adjust Your Standard of Living

If you’re used to buying nicer decor, vehicles, clothing, and vacations and placing them all on credit, then it’s likely snipping the card won’t be the only important step. You may need to reduce your clothing budget, take a staycation, or live with your current decor longer than normal.

Create a Sinking Fund

Loans for Stay at Home Moms

Photo by Naomi Hébert on Unsplash

This was a big one for us. Sure, it’s easy to say we’ll pay for things in cash, but putting in the actual work is difficult. For example, one day, you’re going to open your refrigerator and it’s going to feel like warm, sunny day instead of the icy Arctic. That’s an expensive fix, but also an inevitable one. By placing chunks of money into a savings account every month, you’re preparing for the cost of keeping that food cold again one day.

Build an Emergency Fund

Contrary to the sinking fund, the emergency fund is there for the big, ugly, unexpected moments. Your transmission may decide to self-destruct. Tragedy may strike an out-of-town friend or relative. You’ll want the funds ready to transport you quickly to your destination. An emergency fund has prevented my husband and me from going into debt, time and time AND TIME again.

Your Takeaway

Knowing your options is one of your most powerful tools in your financial toolbox.

If you’re more inclined to choose a debt-free route for your family’s finances in the future but aren’t sure where to begin, Laura Harris has created a financial roadmap for moms just for that reason. “The Stay-at-Home Mom Blueprint” is an eBook designed to help anyone seeking the steps to financial freedom to spend more time with their family.

Paperback-Book-Small-Spine-Mockup

What’s included?

  • 150 strategies to slice debt, save money, communicate in healthy ways with your spouse, sell your household goods, earn a side income from home, and successfully develop a budget.
  • Harris’ story of overcoming debt and sloppy spending to become debt-free and achieve her dream of staying home.
  • Dozens of additional resources to equip you on your financial journey.

Ready to take a closer look at “The Stay-at-Home Mom Blueprint”? Click here for more info.

Join the Discussion: Do you believe debt is a useful tool to be used in daily life or as infrequently as possible? Do you land somewhere in the middle? Share your perspective in the comments below!

This post contains affiliate links.

Read More

Looking for more stay-at-home mom resources? We’ve got you covered!

Or you can also check out this credit score tool online:

Side Hustles for Single Moms

| Leave a Comment

Sometimes money is so tight that the only way to stay afloat or pay off debt is to get a side hustle.  Years ago, side hustles meant working a second job somewhere outside the home.  For married couples with kids, this might work because one spouse could stay home with the kids.  However, for a single mom, sometimes a side hustle just wasn’t worth it because you’d also have to arrange additional child care, which may take up most of the money you make on the side.  But times are different now.  There are plenty of side hustles for a single moms that you can do from the comfort of your home while the kids are playing, napping, or sleeping.

Side Hustles for Single Moms

Side Hustles for Single Moms

There are so many ways to make extra money in the Internet age.  What you decide to do just depends on your natural talents and proclivity.  Here are a few of my favorites.

Side Hustles You Can Do on Your Own Schedule

These side hustles let you set your own hours.  Prefer to work at midnight when the kids are sleeping?  No problem.  Prefer to work at 5 a.m.?  That’s okay, too.

Writer

There are plenty of writing jobs available.  You can work for brick and mortar businesses, or bloggers, or online businesses.  The hard part is getting your first writing job.  After that, you can let your samples speak for themselves.

Some places to look for writing jobs include Pro Blogger’s job board as well as Media Bistro.

In the beginning, when you’re still trying to get samples, you may need to take low paying jobs.  However, with experience, your rates will rise, and you’ll likely get word-of-mouth referrals, giving you more jobs.

Virtual Assistant

If you aren’t a writer, being a virtual assistant is another great side hustle that’s home based.  You can find a virtual assistant job working for someone like a real estate agent or a blogger.  You’ll likely be given a set of tasks to complete within a certain time frame.  I work as a virtual assistant and have specific jobs I have to complete by Sunday night, but I can do them any time during the week.  Being a virtual assistant often means you have a flexible schedule, though some people may need your services at specific times and specific days.

If you’d like specific training to be a virtual assistant, there are many online classes you can enroll in.  Another excellent resource is the book, The Bootstrap VA by Lisa Morosky.

Etsy Shop Owner

Side Hustles for Single Moms

Photo by Alex Jones on Unsplash

Are you creative?  Crafty?  If so, Etsy may be for you.  However, don’t just think that you’ll make a few items, set up shop and make sales.  It’s not that easy.  To sell on Etsy, you need to not only have professional looking items to sell, but also have a strong marketing plan, excellent pictures, and amazing customer service.

If you open an Etsy shop knowing all that it entails, you have a better chance of being successful.  I’d highly recommend speaking to other Etsy shop owners first.  In addition, there are plenty of web articles both for and against setting up an Etsy shop as well as YouTube videos that can explain what you need to know.

Side Hustles You Must Do at a Designated Time

In addition to side hustles that require you to maintain your own schedule, there are also side hustles that happen at specific times, though you do have a say in what those times are.

Tutoring

Photo by Adam Winger on Unsplash

With so many students still doing virtual schoolwork, the need for tutors has exploded.  Kids seem to have a harder time learning via Zoom, and tutors can fill in that gap.  I’ve even seen jobs advertised to help kids stay on schedule with their Zoom classes.

In addition to helping Americans, you can also find jobs teaching English to children in China.  A homeschooling mom of four I know went this route.  She did her tutoring from 4 to 7 a.m. PST.  She was finished working for the day when her kids woke up.  She worked for VIPKid and loved that the company had the lessons already made for her.  VIPKid does require a bachelor’s degree, but there are other companies that don’t.

Teaching on Outschool

My girls (12 and 10.5 years old) have recently discovered Outschool.  On this platform, teachers have free rein to develop whatever classes they have expertise in, no degree required.  These are high quality classes, monitored by Outschool.

My girls have taken classes on dance, Descendants trivia, and cat behavior.  They’ve also started to learn the Japanese language through Outschool and joined a recurring book club and social club.  Take a peek at Outschool; there are truly an endless array of classes you can teach.

As a teacher on Outschool, you’ll earn 70% of the class fee (Outschool takes a 30% cut).  You’ll be responsible for paying your own self-employment taxes.

Babysitting

Babysitting can be an excellent side hustle.  This job allows you to stay home with your own children while also caring for others’ children.  A single mother I knew ran an after-school program for five neighborhood kids from 3 to 6 p.m.  She charged $7 an hour per child.  Each week she earned $525, for a total of $2,100 a month.  Plus, she didn’t have to worry about after school care for her own kids.

If you don’t know where to look, consider advertising locally and by word-of-mouth.  A more organized option is to join Care.com or Sittercity.com where you can advertise your babysitting services.  When I needed child care for my kids, I found the sitters on Sittercity.com.

Final Thoughts

If you need to make some extra money, know that there are plenty of side hustles for single moms that you can do from the comfort of your own home.  I’ve been working online for over 10 years, and I love the convenience and the extra money I make for my family.  You can do this, too!

Read More

Four Legitimate Work from Home Jobs for Moms

Get Some Extra Cash: Nine of the Best Ways to Make Money from Home

3 Unexpected Options for Stay at Home Moms to Make Extra Money

 

How to Help Your Child Socialize During a Pandemic

| Leave a Comment

We have three kids who are 16, 12, and 10.  The older two are quite social, and the younger one is introverted and prefers to be at home.  When the stay-at-home order began at the end of March, I wasn’t too worried.  I thought we’d be mostly home for a month or two and then cases would be low enough to resume most normal activities.  Boy, was I wrong!  As our time at home stretched on, all three of my kids started craving social interaction.  If yours do too, here’s how to help your child socialize during a pandemic.

How to Help Your Child Socialize During a Pandemic

Zoom Is Your Friend

Before the pandemic, I hadn’t even heard of Zoom.  Now, it’s a household name.

All three of my kids use Zoom to stay in touch with friends.  There are a variety of ways they have socialized with their friends over Zoom.

Cooking Lessons

My oldest has a friend who loves to cook Mexican food for her large family.  Over Zoom one day, she cooked while my son watched and asked her questions.  He wrote down the recipe and has created the meal himself.

Likewise, your child can cook at the same time their friend is.  Even more fun, your kids and their friends can have a Chopped session.  Each pulls out three unusual ingredients, and over Zoom, they cook a meal and decide who is the winner.

White Board Games

My younger two frequently use the whiteboard feature and play games over Zoom with their friends that way.   They’ve played hangman and tic tac toe.  They’ve even drawn each other pictures and talked about them.

Board Games

Younger kids might enjoy playing board games over Zoom.  Each child would need to have the board game in his or her house and move for the other player.

Watch Movies Together

Have one person the designated movie player.  All that person has to do is share screen and then tap the tab where she has the movie set up and all Zoom participants can watch the movie and chat while watching.

While it’s not quite the same as having your friends lounging on the couch with you watching the movie together, it is the next best thing considering our current times.

Meet in Person, Socially Distanced

Help Your Child Socialize During a Pandemic

Photo by Julian Schiemann on Unsplash

If you feel comfortable with doing this, another option is to have your older kids meet in person.  Have them wear a mask and socially distance.  Some kids do this and play a game like hackey sack where they don’t have to be really close to one another.  Other options would be skateboarding or throwing a frisbee.  Teens could also play a game of tennis or go on a socially distanced hike.  As long as they’re socially distanced, wearing a mask, and outdoors, they should be good for any outdoor meet ups.

Final Thoughts

While some people have gone back to more normal activities such as work and attending schools, other families have chosen to stay mostly at home to protect people in their family who may be high risk.  If you fall into the latter category, there are still ways to help your children socialize during the pandemic.

Read More

Tips to Improve Eye Fatigue from Online School

Why the Pandemic Affected Our School Choice

What You Need to Know to Homeschool Your Child in the Age of COVID

How to Make a Diaper Bouquet

| Leave a Comment

Having a baby can be expensive, especially when it comes to all of the diapers you need to buy.  In the first few months after baby comes home, you might change the baby’s diapers 10 to 12 times a day!  All of those diaper changes mean you’ll likely go through at least 2,000 diapers in the first year!  Some people try to help offset that cost for new parents by giving diapers at the baby shower.  One fun way to do that is to also make the diapers decorative.  If you’re hosting a baby shower and want a fun but practical centerpiece, here’s how to make a diaper bouquet.

Making the bouquet is not that expensive.  Plus, it’s practical and will be much appreciated by the mom to be.

How to Create a Diaper Bouquet

Supplies for the Diaper Bouquet

To make the bouquet, you’ll need the following supplies:

  • 12 Disposable Diapers,
  • 12 Skewers,
  • Tulle,
  • Rubber Bands
  • A Glass Vase
  • Ribbon for a Bow

You may also want the following additional supplies:

  • Tissue Paper,
  • Fabric such as a Receiving Blanket,
  • Small Baby Supplies like Pacifiers, Rattles, Baby Mitts, etc.

How to Make a Diaper Bouquet

There are a few simple steps to make the bouquet:

Step One – Make the Diaper Flower

Take the diaper and roll it into a tube.

Step Two – Add the Diaper Stem

While still holding the diaper roll in your hand, gently insert a skewer in the center.  Then, wrap a rubber band snuggly around the diaper roll, about one inch from the bottom where the skewer is inserted.  Repeat the process until all diapers are on a skewer.

Step Three – Fill the Vase

How to Create a Diaper Bouquet

Photo by Filip Kowalski on Unsplash

Decide what you want at the bottom of the vase.  Some people cover the outside of the vase with fabric (ideally a receiving blanket so the mom will also have that to reuse with baby) and a bow.  Then they don’t have to fill the inside of the vase with anything since it isn’t visible.

Other people fill the inside of the vase with tulle.

Still others fill the inside of the vase with baby items the new mom will need like pacifiers, rattles, etc.

Another idea would be to use clean, small rocks, especially if the diaper bouquet will be used in a baby shower as the centerpiece and you want it to be stable.  If you’re not sure which way you want to go, Etsy has plenty of sample bouquets you can get ideas from.

Step Four – Arrange the Diaper Flowers in the Vase

Put all of the skewered flowers carefully into the vase.

Step Five – Fill Out the Bouquet

Next, decide what you want to finish filling out the diaper flower bouquet.  Some people buy fake flowers in either pink or blue, depending on the sex of the baby, to arrange among the diaper flowers.  Some people also use fake greenery to add a pop of color.

Other people use tulle the color of the baby’s sex and weave it in and out of the diaper flowers to enlarge the diaper bouquet.  The choice is yours.

Final Thoughts

Diaper bouquets are the perfect center piece for the tables at a baby shower.  Not only are they adorable, but they’re also practical.  The mom-to-be will love to have the pretty decorations as well as a stash of diapers when the new baby arrives.

Read More

5 Free Printable Baby Shower Games,

How to Make the Most of Your Baby Registry

The Best (and Worst) Baby Shower Gifts

 

Tips to Improve Eye Fatigue from Online School

| Leave a Comment

Since March, our kids have been spending MUCH more time in front of the computer.  Some kids are taking synchronous learning via Zoom, which means they are in front of the computer for a full school day, five days a week.  For most people, this is way too much screen time.  If your child is complaining of eye issues, try these tips to improve eye fatigue.

Tips to Improve Eye Fatigue from Online School

Tips to Improve Eye Fatigue from Online School

My 10-year old is homeschooled, but she’s still on the computer much more than she used to be.  She has eight hours of therapy a week online, she’s taking some Outschool classes, and she’s had a bit more screen time than normal thanks to the pandemic.  After a few months of this, she started complaining about her eyes hurting.  Taking these steps, we’ve remedied some of the problem.

Buy Blue Light Filtering Glasses

Probably the best thing we did was buy blue light filtering glasses.  Anytime our daughter has to use the computer, she uses her glasses.  She finds such relief from eye fatigue using these, that she won’t even use the computer if she can’t find them.

Turn Down the Brightness on the Computer

The other thing she did was turn down the brightness on her computer almost all the way.  This helps reduce the amount of light she gets and also reduces eye squinting.

Limit Consecutive Computer Activities

She’s very firm now that she doesn’t want one computer activity after the other.  She repeatedly asks me to schedule her Zoom sessions with at least an hour or two separation so that her eyes have time to rest.  By doing this, along with using the blue light filtering glasses and turning down the brightness of the computer, she’s been able to resolve most of her eye fatigue.

Take Eye Breaks

Of course, we have the luxury of scheduling breaks for her computer activities.  Kids in synchronous online classes don’t get that choice.  If that’s the case for your child, teach them the rule of 20-20-20.  For every 20 minutes staring at the screen, look at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds.  This gives your eyes the chance to refocus and helps prevent eye fatigue.

Limit Computer Usage

Finally, if you’re able, limit your child’s computer usage.  On the days our daughter uses the computer a lot for therapies and school, we limit her free time on the computer.  (She actually asked to do this.)  Rather than 30 minutes of free computer time, she has 15, or she foregoes it altogether.

See an Eye Doctor

Tips to Improve Eye Fatigue from Online School

Photo by Liam Welch on Unsplash

If you use all of these tips to improve eye fatigue and your child still has issues, consider seeing an eye doctor to make sure the discomfort is not caused by something more serious.

Final Thoughts

Thanks to the pandemic, our lives have changed in ways we couldn’t have imagined a year ago.  Problems creep up like eye fatigue that need remedies.  If your children’s vision is suffering, hopefully these tips to improve eye fatigue from online school will help reduce their discomfort.

Read More

A Complete Guide to Discount School Supplies for Distance Learning

Why the Pandemic Affected Our School Choice

What You Need to Know to Homeschool Your Child in the Age of COVID

What Are the Perks of Having Twins?

| Leave a Comment

Many people think of having twins and immediately think of the negatives.  Twice the expenses at once, twice the chaos. . .But these misconceptions only tell part of the story.  Many moms of twins share that there are incredible perks to being blessed with two babies at once.

The Perks of Having Twins

Perks of Having Twins

There are many benefits of having twins that most people don’t think of.  Consider these.

Double the Tax Deduction Instantly

When you have a new baby, you qualify for an additional tax deduction, but with twins, you immediately get double the tax deduction!  That can make quite a difference on your yearly tax return and can help pay for some of the extra expenses twins incur.

One Pregnancy—Two Babies

If you have easy pregnancies, you likely won’t care about this perk.  However, for women who struggle through pregnancy with morning sickness and discomforts, this can be a true joy.  One pregnancy, but two babies!  If you only want two children, you could reap all the rewards of having two kids but only struggle through one pregnancy.  Yes to that!

Built-In Friends

The Perks of Having Twins

Photo by Jelleke Vanooteghem on Unsplash

My cousin has twins, and she said the first year was extremely difficult.  After that, though, she felt that she was luckier than other moms because her twin sons each had built-in playmates in one another.  While many kids when they’re young rely on their parents to keep them entertained, she said her boys did that for one another.  She enjoyed watching their “twin language” develop and the way they played with each other for hours.  No play dates required.

Share Clothes

If your twins are the same sex, they can share clothes.  This gives them twice the wardrobe at the same price as buying clothes for singletons.

Easier Homework Time

When you think of the perks of having twins, you likely don’t think of homework time.  Yet, if your twins are in the same class and have the same teacher in elementary school, they both have the same assignments due.  Rather than looking at two or three different sets of homework as you would if you were mom to two singletons, the twins will get the same homework, making your job as homework assistant easier.

Discounts for Twins

Did you know if you have twins you can get discounts at a surprising number of places?  My cousin said that she received discounts on daycare when she registered her twins.  A quick search on the web shows that many, many companies offer parents of twins discounts for all sorts of items from mattresses, to formula, to sleeping pods.  The list goes on and on.

Sure, you’ll be paying more out of pocket when you make a purchase times two, but you may save more overall compared to buying twice with singletons because you get a discount.

Final Thoughts

While it is true that by having twins you can face double the expense at one time, there are also many perks of having twins that save you money and time.

Read More

Tips for Approaching Parents of Twins

What I Love Most about Having Twins

Tips on Buying Gifts for Twins

 

 

The Best Books to Explain Death to Children

| Leave a Comment

My son was just 3.5 years old when my brother died.  My son was close to my brother, and telling him that his uncle had passed away was extremely difficult.  Because death was such an abstract topic for a child his age and because he loved to be read to, we bought many books to help him understand.  These are what we found to be the best books for when he was young and when he was older.

The Best Books to Explain Death to Children

Best Books to Explain Death to Young Children

If you have young children, say three to five years old, these are the best books I can recommend based on personal experience.

What’s Heaven by Maria Shriver

Maria Shriver wrote this book when her own grandmother, Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, died and her children had questions about death.  The story does have a spiritual/religious element to it, but the book can truly be read by people of all faiths.

In the story, Kate’s great grandmother has just died and her mother answers Kate’s many questions about Heaven.  I like the soft, dreamy feel to the illustrations.

Badger’s Parting Gifts by Susan Varley

This story doesn’t delve specifically into death but in missing the ones we love.  In Badger’s Parting Gifts, Badger is old and heads down the long tunnel.  His friends go to his house the next day and are sad that he is gone.  While they cry in the beginning, in the end, they reflect on all the things that Badger taught them to do such as skating across the ice and learn to tie a tie.  By the end of the book, all of Badger’s friends join together and share fond memories of Badger.

I Miss You: A First Look at Death by Pat Thomas

I Miss You is a book that we read over and over to our son.  This book is perfect for young children as it shares the feelings, including guilt and sadness, that people may feel after loss.  It also explains how the child may behave, such as withdrawing from others, and the awkwardness that others may feel and how they may avoid the person who has suffered loss.

God Gave Us Heaven by Lisa Tawn Bergren and Laura J. Bryant

Obviously, God Gave Us Heaven comes from a Christian place.  This book explains that people die and go to Heaven.  The book promises that no matter what pain and suffering we have in life, there will be no more of that in Heaven.  This book has young polar bears asking their parents about Heaven, and they receive reassuring answers.

The Invisible String by Patrice Karst

The Invisible String doesn’t deal specifically with death.  Instead, the mom comforts her twins when they’re scared about a noise in the night.  She tells them that no one is ever alone because we’re all connected to the people we love with an invisible string.

While this book would provide comfort to a child dealing with the death of a loved one, it would also soothe little ones dealing with separation anxiety.

Best Books to Explain Death to Older Children

Even a few years after my brother’s death, my son still wanted to talk about it and process it, so we had books that we read to him then, too.  These books are good for ages six to twelve.

The Fall of Freddie the Leaf by Leo Buscaglia, Ph.D.

A family friend gave us The Fall of Freddy the Leaf, and I must confess, it made me cry.  The story is about Daniel and Freddie, two leaves on a large tree.  They grow together through the spring, the summer, and the fall.  When the leaves start to fall, Freddie asks Daniel what is happening.  Daniel explains about death, and Freddie is at first angry.  He wants to know what is the point of life if they just have to die.  Daniel patiently answers Freddie’s questions before Daniel slips gently from the tree branch.

By the end of the story, Freddie is the last leaf, and as he finally falls from the tree, he is at peace and understands his reason for living.

When Dinosaurs Die by Laurie Krasny Brown and Mark Brown

One of the co-authors of this book is Mark Brown, the creator behind the kids’ show, Arthur, so kids will likely recognize the style of the illustrations.

There is no main character in this story.  Instead, the book explains what it means to be alive and what it means to die.  The author also explains why people die.  (Be warned, for young children, there are deaths from drug overdose and suicide mentioned here.)

The book also explains what people may feel when their loved one dies and validates those feelings.  The authors also suggest ways to deal with these feelings.  The book is mostly secular and discusses various burial rituals as well.

Maybe Dying Is Like Becoming a Butterfly by Pimm Van Hest

This book, recommended for 1st through 4th graders, is written by a psychologist.  The story itself is very comforting.  A young child asks his grandpa if he should catch a caterpillar.  Grandpa says no because it might die, which prompts the discussion about death.

For most of the story, grandpa answers Christopher’s questions, including if grandpa is scared to die.  By the end, Christopher decides that death is like a butterfly—maybe after death there is something else like after a caterpillar is gone, there is a butterfly.

Parents might also enjoy that the last page of the book includes suggestions and tips for discussing death with children.

Final Thoughts

Dying is a part of life, but when death comes and children are too young to understand, explaining the concept can be difficult.  My son, at 3.5 years old, was too young to understand losing a loved one, but he got a better understanding through many of these best books to explain death to children.  Even though we’ve moved on from our loss, we still keep these books because they’ve become a beloved treasure to remind us of a difficult time.

Rock Painting Ideas for Kids

| Leave a Comment

In our area, we’ve had the pleasure of stumbling upon a painted rock more than once, to the delight of whichever one of my kids finds it.  In fact, our city has its own Facebook page where people can share the rocks they’ve found around town as well as the rocks they have painted and placed around town.  There are over 13,000 members in the Facebook group!  If your family would like to get in on this fun hobby for kids, there are many easy rock painting ideas for kids.

Painted Rock Ideas for Kids

Rock Painting Ideas for Kids

If you’re looking at rock painting ideas, I’d encourage you to first see if your town has a Facebook group.  You can simply search the name of your town and rock painting; if there’s a group, you’ll find it that way.

However, Facebook rock painting groups can be a bit intimidating because there tend to be so many fabulous artists there.  If you or your kids’ skills are a bit more elementary, I’ve found YouTube to be a good place to search.

Ideas for Those 10 and Younger

To get kids excited about rock painting, try to pick designs that are easy enough for young kids.  The best ones seem to be designs that involve painting the entire rock as something like a ladybug or a strawberry, for instance.

There are so many tutorials on YouTube that will spark your children’s creativity!

For younger kids, Missy Maker has a tutorial showing kids how to make rock ladybugs, and giving examples of rock painting bees, minions, Shrek, and Nemo.

Ideas for Tweens and Teens

For older kids, rock painting can be an even more engrossing hobby.  Once kids’ artistic talents are a bit more developed, there are so many designs to pursue.

Tweens and teen can start using more advanced supplies like acrylic paint markers for more fine-detailed work like outlining and writing phrases on the rocks.

If your teen is a beginner, this video explains the whole rock painting process as well as designs for tweens and teens.

Rock Painting Ideas for the Whole Family

If you have children of varying ages and abilities, you can use a YouTube video like this one.

This video doesn’t show specifically how to paint the rocks, but it gives ideas for many different designs for all types of abilities.  I also enjoy tutorials with painting ideas for every season and holiday!  My kids who are 10 and under love painting simple flowers.

Final Thoughts

Rock painting can be a fun, low-cost hobby for everyone in the family, especially when you take the time to hide the rocks around your city.  It’s even more fun when you join a Facebook group and look to see if anyone has found your hidden rocks.  This hobby is also easy to start using some of these fun rock painting ideas for kids.