From now on, when my children say I'm a mean mom, I'll smile to myself and think, "Well good. I must be doing something right!" #Doublethebatch

How to be a Mean Mom (and why your kids will thank you for it!)

Ever wondered how to be a mean mom? Yeah, probably not. You might want to look into it! Here is why…

I don’t remember a lot about when I was really young, but I do remember the particular night when I made my mother cry. In my little 5 or 6 yr old world I was completely oblivious to the long and exhausting days my mom was enduring to raise 3 young children. I remember the words that came out of my mouth like it was yesterday.

“I hate you! You’re a MEAN mom!”

Evidently, it was  just enough to send her over the edge that day because I heard her sobbing in the next room and my little kid heart felt like it was going to break!

I am now that mother raising 4 young children. My heart still aches for my young mother, only now even more as I experience some of the same emotions that she did raising me. When I scrape Cheerios off of my kitchen floor I think of my mom and all the Cheerios she scraped off the floor for me, all the diapers she changed… for me….and all the times I was un-grateful and disrespectful…and yet she still never gave up…on ME! That kind of perspective helps me to get through the rough times of raising my own kids.From now on, when my children say I'm a mean mom, I'll smile to myself and think, "Well good. I must be doing something right!" #Doublethebatch

Family night can be a tradition your children will love so much, they'll pass it on to their kids!

How to Plan a Family Night Your Kids Won’t Forget!

How to Plan a Family Night Your Kids Won’t Forget!

This post is groundbreaking  for me folks! Here is the reason why. In our home we have a special Family Night once a week (usually on Monday). The reason why we have this Family Night is to ensure that, no matter how crazy our lives get, we will always have at least one night were we connect as a family. This post is ground breaking because it is the first of my Family Night series. From here on out I plan to share great ideas, tips, and lessons that can be used to create a wonderful Family Night that your kids won’t forget. I will post weekly, so be sure to subscribe to my emails on my home page so you won’t miss out!

I’ve already told you one reason why a Family Night is important. Here are 2 other reasons!

1. Establishing a time to teach. As parents, we know that life lessons are taught every day to our kids just in living life, but having a Family Night also gives us that one extra moment to teach our children something that we feel they need in their lives. It forces us to dig a little deeper and ponder the question, “What can I teach my family THIS WEEK?”

2. Stronger Family Roots and Traditions. Being consistent and making special time for your family each week tells your kids how important family is. It helps to establish deep roots that will last forever. I grew up in a family who had 1 Family Night a week. I don’t remember everything we learned but I remember spending time together and bonding from that time. To this day, I am very close to all of my 7 siblings and we are now passing on this same tradition to our own families!

OK! Now we get to the FUN part! How to plan a Family Night that your kid’s won’t forget! In order to get your family to WANT to jump on board with this idea, you need to make it FUN and MEMORABLE! IF you are just starting out, the first few weeks are crucial to your success. Here are 6 ways I have found to have success!Family night can be a tradition your children will love so much, they'll pass it on to their kids!

I was just about to throw our TV in the garbage because I was so fed up with the excess viewing and the damaging effect it was having on my kids. Instead, we decided to turn TV into a positive influence on our family!

How to Turn TV into a Positive Influence for Your Family

I think I’m writing this post as a reminder for me more than anyone else. TV has always seemed to have it’s hold on our lives. It entertains my kids when I need to get things done. It entertains us when we’re bored. It’s just ALWAYS there like a friend beckoning to us to ‘come and play’, only this friend doesn’t always have the best influence on our kids and on our family.

If you’re like me, sometimes the ‘2 hours a day’ rule turns into 3 or 4 or even more! It can be so nice to have my children quietly entertained while I get things done. On the other hand, what price will I have to pay for that extra quiet time? I have noticed that even though tv entertains my kids, too much of it causes contention in my home. My children fight more and don’t get a long.

Why is this?how to turn tv into a positive influence for your family

This was so funny and hit so close to home! Whether you are pregnant,or just look like you are, you will love this!

The Preggo Belly Rule!

You are probably wondering, “What the heck is the Preggo Belly Rule??”

Alrighty folks! This post has been in the making for quite some time now! It’s a sassy post, so beware! Here’s the magical question of the day:

When is it appropriate to ask a woman if she is pregnant? when she is due? how much longer till she pops?

This was so funny and hit so close to home! Whether you are pregnant,or just look like you are, you will love this!

If you’ve been pregnant, you know how frustrating this can be during and AFTER a pregnancy! Let me just humor you with my life experience on this topic so far to date….This was so funny and hit so close to home! Just when is it appropriate to ask a woman if she's pregnant??

My body just naturally tends to gain weight more in the belly. It always has. Most women can get away with being pregnant for the first time without many people even noticing they’re pregnant. Then , when their baby ‘bump’ finally emerges and people start to ask, they say,

“Oh yeah! I’m 8 months along!”

I envy those women.

This helped me to keep going! Motherhood is no PICNIC, but it's worth it!!#DoubletheBatch

How to be a Stay at Home Mom…and Live to Tell the Tale!

Being a stay at home mom is such an emotional and physical roller coaster ride! One minute you are pregnant and dreaming of holding your first child. You can’t help but ask yourself,

“How much longer do I have to wait before I can hold this sweet child in my arms?”

The next minute, your world is turned upside down, your days and nights are filled with these “sweet” minions and you can’t help but ask yourself,

“How much longer till bedtime?!”

How to be a stay at home mom AND live to tell the tale, might also be re-worded, “How to be a stay at home….and not eat your young!” People tell me all the time how cute my kids are. My response is always the same.

“Thanks! That’s how they stay ALIVE!”This helped me to keep going! Motherhood is no PICNIC, but it's worth it!!#DoubletheBatch