5 months ago I wrote about Even Now by Karen Kingsbury. I was excited to report to you about the sequel Ever After but apparently time passed and I didn't finished it as quickly as I would've liked to. So here it goes: the sequel was just as good as the first book. It is kind of a fairytale but once in a while, I good fairytale is good for the soul.
I will forewarn you, bring a box of tissues with you because I sobbed uncontrollably toward the end of the book. I couldn't stop. I had to put the book down and walk away on numerous occasions. It is a longer book but a very easy read. If I wasn't the worlds slowest reader, you probably would've had this book review months ago!
Thanks Leigh for the great book!
Friday, December 10, 2010
Parenting: Activity
Let's face it, preschool aged children are very active and in my eyes it is important that they are active on a daily basis. At such an age they are interested in exploring and finding out their limits. Therefore, scheduled active time is a must. Indoors or outdoors, there are activities that can keep your children active and happy at the same time.
Jayden is very, very active. He has more energy then I know what to do with at times. Therefore, being active inside and outdoors is something I try to schedule everyday. During the spring and summer months we spend the majority of our time outdoor. During the fall and winter, it isn't as easy to spend much time outdoors because it is so cold (Jayden is not a fan of the cold). So to keep his activity level high we bring his basketball hoop indoors, a few softer balls and his scooter. Yes I know, probably not things that should be allowed indoors but we make it an exception in our home.
Below are some of the indoor activities we do to let out some energy:
1. Basketball Games. Yes, we have some heated games in our home. It usually ends up with Jayden and Adam both winning and Mommy losing.
2. Balloon Game. It sounds silly but a single balloon can offer at least 30 minutes of fun. Try to keep the balloon from touching the ground as long as you can. It really takes some effort and ends with lots of laughs.
3. Beanbag Toss. We have a small Cars beanbag games that Jayden just loves. It isn't anything too sophisticated but it does offer lots of fun.
4. Scooter. Again, probably not house appropriate but we do allow Jayden to ride his scooter around the house, mostly in the kitchen. He isn't harming anything and he is getting his legs moving.
5. Dance Parties. Go ahead and laugh but truth be told we have some awesome dance parties in our home. If anyone has seen Jayden dance you can understand why having a simple dance party can let out some serious energy.
Of course there are many less "active" activities that we do on a daily basis but that's for a different post. If your have the pre-winter blues indoors, try some of these activities. It will let our some much needed energy!
Jayden is very, very active. He has more energy then I know what to do with at times. Therefore, being active inside and outdoors is something I try to schedule everyday. During the spring and summer months we spend the majority of our time outdoor. During the fall and winter, it isn't as easy to spend much time outdoors because it is so cold (Jayden is not a fan of the cold). So to keep his activity level high we bring his basketball hoop indoors, a few softer balls and his scooter. Yes I know, probably not things that should be allowed indoors but we make it an exception in our home.
Below are some of the indoor activities we do to let out some energy:
1. Basketball Games. Yes, we have some heated games in our home. It usually ends up with Jayden and Adam both winning and Mommy losing.
2. Balloon Game. It sounds silly but a single balloon can offer at least 30 minutes of fun. Try to keep the balloon from touching the ground as long as you can. It really takes some effort and ends with lots of laughs.
3. Beanbag Toss. We have a small Cars beanbag games that Jayden just loves. It isn't anything too sophisticated but it does offer lots of fun.
4. Scooter. Again, probably not house appropriate but we do allow Jayden to ride his scooter around the house, mostly in the kitchen. He isn't harming anything and he is getting his legs moving.
5. Dance Parties. Go ahead and laugh but truth be told we have some awesome dance parties in our home. If anyone has seen Jayden dance you can understand why having a simple dance party can let out some serious energy.
Of course there are many less "active" activities that we do on a daily basis but that's for a different post. If your have the pre-winter blues indoors, try some of these activities. It will let our some much needed energy!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Parenting: SLEEP
So why would I have "SLEEP" on the top of my parenting list? Well that's because in our house sleep in a very (and I can't stress that enough) important part of our everyday lives. Jayden's behavior is directly effected by the amount of sleep he gets, the quality of sleep and how long of a nap he gets each day. I will be 110% honest and tell you that when Jayden doesn't nap, he might make it until 6 PM without having a complete meltdown over something.
On to a quick version of Jayden's sleep schedule since birth...
From the day we brought Jayden home from the hospital he has been a great sleeper. He only woke up at night when he needed a diaper change or wanted to be fed. He certainly slept between 18-20 hours a day in the first weeks. People were amazed how much he slept. Jayden would nap/sleep anywhere. During Adam's games, at a restaurant, on the couch and in my arms. Around 4 months old, Adam had decided that he really needed to be napping in his crib and be on a solid schedule. Well Jayden had a different idea, he liked to nap wherever he fell asleep. So one day Adam told me it was time to let him "cry it out" in his crib until he soothed himself to sleep. 55 minutes later, a million tissues and an expensive phone bill (I called my mom to talk to me while he was crying) he had fallen asleep. It was from that day on that I swear Jayden learned that nap time and bed time were two things that were going to happen everyday.
Skip a few months and between the age of about 6 months to 12 months Jayden would take 2 long naps a day. Around 14 months old, Jayden switched to one very long nap in the middle of the day. Skip 2 more years and today, Jadyen still takes a 90 minute to 2 hour nap every day. There are very special days when a nap doesn't fit into the schedule, however, that happens maybe once a month and he is then in bed by 7 PM because he is so tired.
For a couple years now, we have made 8 PM an appropriate bed time for Jayden. Because I don't work and Adam has a pretty flexible schedule, we never have to be out of the house or up before 8 AM. With working parents, I know some kids who are up and ready to go by 7 AM. At this age and younger, I feel that 10 to 12 hours in an appropriate amount of sleep for a child. Therefore, if you have an earlier riser, put him/her to bed earlier.
Now that you know what the daily sleep routine is in the Harrington household I have to admit that I whole-heartedly believe that as parents it is our duty to sleep train our children. It may sound silly but its the truth. We have taught our children how to eat, play, speak and listen so why do some parents skip on teaching children healthy sleep patterns? When parents and children are overtired a lot of tension can build up. In order to prevent that, we must take a step back and realize what is best for our children... even if that means letting them cry for 55 straight minutes (gosh, that was the longest 55 minutes of my life I think)!
If you are looking for a good book to read check out, "Healthy Sleep Habits; Happy Child." I wrote about the book a while back, check it out!
On to a quick version of Jayden's sleep schedule since birth...
From the day we brought Jayden home from the hospital he has been a great sleeper. He only woke up at night when he needed a diaper change or wanted to be fed. He certainly slept between 18-20 hours a day in the first weeks. People were amazed how much he slept. Jayden would nap/sleep anywhere. During Adam's games, at a restaurant, on the couch and in my arms. Around 4 months old, Adam had decided that he really needed to be napping in his crib and be on a solid schedule. Well Jayden had a different idea, he liked to nap wherever he fell asleep. So one day Adam told me it was time to let him "cry it out" in his crib until he soothed himself to sleep. 55 minutes later, a million tissues and an expensive phone bill (I called my mom to talk to me while he was crying) he had fallen asleep. It was from that day on that I swear Jayden learned that nap time and bed time were two things that were going to happen everyday.
Skip a few months and between the age of about 6 months to 12 months Jayden would take 2 long naps a day. Around 14 months old, Jayden switched to one very long nap in the middle of the day. Skip 2 more years and today, Jadyen still takes a 90 minute to 2 hour nap every day. There are very special days when a nap doesn't fit into the schedule, however, that happens maybe once a month and he is then in bed by 7 PM because he is so tired.
For a couple years now, we have made 8 PM an appropriate bed time for Jayden. Because I don't work and Adam has a pretty flexible schedule, we never have to be out of the house or up before 8 AM. With working parents, I know some kids who are up and ready to go by 7 AM. At this age and younger, I feel that 10 to 12 hours in an appropriate amount of sleep for a child. Therefore, if you have an earlier riser, put him/her to bed earlier.
Now that you know what the daily sleep routine is in the Harrington household I have to admit that I whole-heartedly believe that as parents it is our duty to sleep train our children. It may sound silly but its the truth. We have taught our children how to eat, play, speak and listen so why do some parents skip on teaching children healthy sleep patterns? When parents and children are overtired a lot of tension can build up. In order to prevent that, we must take a step back and realize what is best for our children... even if that means letting them cry for 55 straight minutes (gosh, that was the longest 55 minutes of my life I think)!
If you are looking for a good book to read check out, "Healthy Sleep Habits; Happy Child." I wrote about the book a while back, check it out!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Parenting: Discipline
As parents, we must all realize that children are a gift from God. A gift that can be taken away from you at any time, a gift that comes with extreme responsibility and a gift that should be raised with discipline. It is our duty to lay out the blueprint for the rest of their life.
There are many different ways to discipline your child/children and each child reacts to discipline differently. For example, raising my voice at Jayden does absolutely nothing. It almost makes matters worse. However, if I drop down to his level and use a calm voice he responds much more positively (although sometimes it's harder on me I try to remember how is reacts when I yell).
It is important to realize what the bible says about discipline and how to put it in to action properly and effectively. We must not let the desires of our children control their behavior. For example, if they want to watch television instead of doing their chores, you are not doing them a favor or being their friend by allowing to watch television instead of taking care of responsibilities. Allowing them to skip their responsibilities daily will create a pattern of laziness that could last a very long time.
In our home, discipline is not taken lightly. There are special occasions when we let behavior slide a little but we try not to make it a weekly thing. Adam and I both try to use consistent discipline techniques. Therefore, whether Jayden is with Adam or I, the rules are still the same. We also try to be the best role models we can. I am surprised how much information and action Jayden can retain at such a young age.
As I mentioned earlier, every child reacts to discipline differently. Below are a few things Adam and I have concluded about Jayden at this point in life:
1. Jayden gets extremely embarrassed when he gets disciplined in public. When Jayden needs to be discipline for acting inappropriately or not following the rules, we tend to bring Jayden away from the crowd. It is much more effective and he reacts much better.
2. Jayden's poor behavior usually stems for one of two things; hunger and being tired. Therefore, it is our duty to make sure he is feed and gets rest when he needs it.
3. We correct Jayden when he is wrong or misbehaves but it is so important that Jayden hears our encouraging words and praise daily. Jayden loves being praised. I really feel like he feels like he is succeeding when he is praised.
4. And lastly, when Adam is out of town Jayden's behavior takes a hit. I still haven't figured out exactly why it's still a work in progress. But I have to remind myself that I need to be both the father figure and mother figure when Adam is out of town. Jayden responds very well to men and I need to remember that.
As Christians it is importantly to realize that an undisciplined child is dishonoring the Lord and His word. Some people may feel like we are too hard on Jayden but in our eyes we are being loving and responsible parents, raising a child on the word of the Lord.
There are many different ways to discipline your child/children and each child reacts to discipline differently. For example, raising my voice at Jayden does absolutely nothing. It almost makes matters worse. However, if I drop down to his level and use a calm voice he responds much more positively (although sometimes it's harder on me I try to remember how is reacts when I yell).
It is important to realize what the bible says about discipline and how to put it in to action properly and effectively. We must not let the desires of our children control their behavior. For example, if they want to watch television instead of doing their chores, you are not doing them a favor or being their friend by allowing to watch television instead of taking care of responsibilities. Allowing them to skip their responsibilities daily will create a pattern of laziness that could last a very long time.
In our home, discipline is not taken lightly. There are special occasions when we let behavior slide a little but we try not to make it a weekly thing. Adam and I both try to use consistent discipline techniques. Therefore, whether Jayden is with Adam or I, the rules are still the same. We also try to be the best role models we can. I am surprised how much information and action Jayden can retain at such a young age.
As I mentioned earlier, every child reacts to discipline differently. Below are a few things Adam and I have concluded about Jayden at this point in life:
1. Jayden gets extremely embarrassed when he gets disciplined in public. When Jayden needs to be discipline for acting inappropriately or not following the rules, we tend to bring Jayden away from the crowd. It is much more effective and he reacts much better.
2. Jayden's poor behavior usually stems for one of two things; hunger and being tired. Therefore, it is our duty to make sure he is feed and gets rest when he needs it.
3. We correct Jayden when he is wrong or misbehaves but it is so important that Jayden hears our encouraging words and praise daily. Jayden loves being praised. I really feel like he feels like he is succeeding when he is praised.
4. And lastly, when Adam is out of town Jayden's behavior takes a hit. I still haven't figured out exactly why it's still a work in progress. But I have to remind myself that I need to be both the father figure and mother figure when Adam is out of town. Jayden responds very well to men and I need to remember that.
As Christians it is importantly to realize that an undisciplined child is dishonoring the Lord and His word. Some people may feel like we are too hard on Jayden but in our eyes we are being loving and responsible parents, raising a child on the word of the Lord.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Parenting: Preparing Your Child to Leave
To some this might come across as a controversial post but I truly feel it is a key part in parenting.
Very bluntly, Adam and I are preparing Jayden to leave our home. There are many different ways to take that sentence but to me, basically I am saying that when it comes time to go to college, Lord-willing, we have raised our son to be prepared and ready to live on his own.
There is no better verse in the bible that explains my point then Proverbs 22:6:
Start children off on the way they should go,
and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
The verse above says exactly what I am trying to say. As a family, we are all on a journey with Jesus. We are continuously teaching our son the importance of living by His command and acting as role models. If we can strongly instill in Jayden's heart the word of the Lord then by the time he leaves our home there is no doubt in my mind that Jayden will succeed in whatever he does. He will be mentally and spiritually prepared for whatever lies ahead of him.
On a different note, everyone has different parenting techniques, that's obvious. However, when I see mothers just hovering over their children I begin to think what would happen if for one day their mother couldn't be there for them. It sounds silly but I am pretty sure we've all seen it happen. As Jayden gets older, I find myself being a more relaxed parent. I allow him to do as much as he can on his own without getting hurt. I am thankful that I am able to be a stay-at-home Mother but when the time comes and I have to enter the work force I want to be at ease knowing that I have prepared my son to leave the house without worrying.
Very bluntly, Adam and I are preparing Jayden to leave our home. There are many different ways to take that sentence but to me, basically I am saying that when it comes time to go to college, Lord-willing, we have raised our son to be prepared and ready to live on his own.
There is no better verse in the bible that explains my point then Proverbs 22:6:
Start children off on the way they should go,
and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
The verse above says exactly what I am trying to say. As a family, we are all on a journey with Jesus. We are continuously teaching our son the importance of living by His command and acting as role models. If we can strongly instill in Jayden's heart the word of the Lord then by the time he leaves our home there is no doubt in my mind that Jayden will succeed in whatever he does. He will be mentally and spiritually prepared for whatever lies ahead of him.
On a different note, everyone has different parenting techniques, that's obvious. However, when I see mothers just hovering over their children I begin to think what would happen if for one day their mother couldn't be there for them. It sounds silly but I am pretty sure we've all seen it happen. As Jayden gets older, I find myself being a more relaxed parent. I allow him to do as much as he can on his own without getting hurt. I am thankful that I am able to be a stay-at-home Mother but when the time comes and I have to enter the work force I want to be at ease knowing that I have prepared my son to leave the house without worrying.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
To all my basketwives & girlfriends!
Is it silly to say that I am happy I am no longer a basket-girlfriend/fiancee and finally a basketwife? HA!
Anywho, my dear friend Erin has once again thought of an ingenious idea. Basically she is a creating a massive list of country contacts. As you can see in her "Calling All Basket Wives and Girlfriends!" post she already has 27 contacts who combined have played in 122 different cities. For anyone who has lived overseas, this truly is a special list. It is always nice to have other wives on the team but it is even nicer to know someone who has lived there before. The gift of sharing is a great thing!
If there are any wives or girlfriends that read this blog that would like more information or to have your information pass on to Erin, please let me know. You can also email her directly at erin@marriedtoaballer.com.
Anywho, my dear friend Erin has once again thought of an ingenious idea. Basically she is a creating a massive list of country contacts. As you can see in her "Calling All Basket Wives and Girlfriends!" post she already has 27 contacts who combined have played in 122 different cities. For anyone who has lived overseas, this truly is a special list. It is always nice to have other wives on the team but it is even nicer to know someone who has lived there before. The gift of sharing is a great thing!
If there are any wives or girlfriends that read this blog that would like more information or to have your information pass on to Erin, please let me know. You can also email her directly at erin@marriedtoaballer.com.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Parenting: Teaching Your Children About Jesus
First and foremost, Adam and I try to base our parenting solely on the bible and surrounding Jesus. We both began out walk when Jayden was 2 years old, so it is still a learning experience for the both of us. As we continue to study the bible and live a worthy life there are a number of things we do daily.
1. Reading Scriptures. Reading from the Scripture daily helps as a way to bring about discussions or questions from Jayden. Sometimes it is only a verse but we always talk about what the verse is saying and say a pray after it. I pray that by doing this it will help Jayden's spiritual growth and provide the information he needs to understand His grace, life and how He died for our sins.
2. Give Thanks. Children soak in more information and behavior then we think. I make it a point to give thanks to the Lord not only at meal times but when our prayers have been answered as well. On the flip side of this, when we say our prayers together at night and our prayers are not answered right away, I make sure that we both give thanks because Jesus is still listening to us and guiding us in the right direction.
3. Praise and Worship. Praise and worship plays a huge part in our daily lives. While we are home or in the car some type of Christian music or a sermon is playing. It amazes me how many songs Jayden knows word for word. The music really gets into Jayden's heart and I can see him feeling the words he is singing. He may not know exactly what the lyrics mean but it will eventually spark questions.
4. Authority. As some of my facebook friends can see, Jayden feels that since Daddy is on the road, he is in charge. Adam and I are both learning to teach Jayden that there is someone even bigger and better then both Adam and I: Jesus. Jesus is the "boss" in our home. He is who we answer to everyday. This will help Jayden understand that even when he leaves our home when he is older, there is still someone he needs to answer to and obey.
5. Prayer. Teaching Jayden to pray has been one of the most challenging yet rewarding things we've ever done. Let's be honest, I am still learning how to pray. By teaching Jayden how to pray, he is establishing a direct line of communication to God. He is beginning his own personal journey with the Lord and his prayers are truly coming form his heart and how he is feeling.
These are just some of things we practice on a daily basis and they are all a work in progress but I wholeheartedly believe this is and should be the foundation of parenting. I will leave you with a passage from Deuteronomy which acknowledges the fact that as Christians it is our duty to teach our children about Jesus.
"Impress them on your children. Talk about then when you sit at home and when you walk along, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." -Deuteronomy 6:7-9
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