Kid Tips

My friend, Rachel, did a post a while back on Baby Tips, things she learned as a mom over the first year of her daughter's life. It was so helpful, in a tongue-in-cheek sort of way, that I've been wanting to do my own for some time. Today is her one year blogging anniversary (hooray!) and she is inviting everyone to help celebrate by posting their own tips. So now is the perfect time to enlighten you with all the wisdom I have gleaned from 6 years of child-rearing. So without further ado, and in no particular order, here are my "Kid Tips".

First, some rules regarding sleep:

NEVER let your baby sleep on his stomach, or with stuffed animals, and definitely not on their stomach with a stuffed animal

or with a blanket - because it might wind up over their face.

Do not let your children share a crib - with each other or with the above-said stuffed animals.

Second: Enforce good hygiene habits early on.

Like brushing their teeth.

And bathing

But it is important to remember that as they get older, it sometimes really is easier to hose them off outside.

Now for some safety tips around the home:

Keep your child away from electrical outlets and light bulb sockets.

And do not let them play with any kind of open flame.


Avoid sugary foods and desserts.

but encourage them to try new foods.

Discourage nasty habits, like picking their nose...and bathing in their food.

From an early age, encourage them to enjoy yard work, like collecting raking leaves.

but also always encourage them to take time to stop and smell the flowers.

Encourage a love for reading as soon as you can.


It is also important to teach respect:

For their siblings,

And for adults, especially when they are being spoken to by an adult.

And finally, encourage them to celebrate their unique fashion sense,

but also teach them the importance of dressing for the occasion.

Also, go back by Rachel's blog and check out this year's addition - Toddler Tips!

Rachel's Giveaway Jubilee!

I wanted to let you know of a very fun event going on over at my friend, Rachel's blog. Saturday will be her one year blogging anniversary, and she is having a giveaway extravaganza all this week! There is something new being given away every day this week - from practical things like indestructible kids' labels, to pieces of beautiful pottery, to even a custom blog design! To enter, all you have to do in comment on each post (but read carefully as some of them tell you specifically what to comment on), but there are lots of ways to get extra entries too, which she explains on this post. You have until March 16 to enter, so go do it now while you're thinking about it. I hope I win you win!

And happy bloggy anniversary, Rachel!

Being Content

Phil. 4:11b - "for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances."
Don't you just love it when God so wants you to "get" something He's teaching you that He surrounds you with that one message? Well, this has been my lesson the last couple of weeks. All week last week, He kept having this verse run through my mind everytime I got aggravated with life's circumstances, and then in Sunday School, the teacher taught from this verse AND then Pastor Harry used it in his sermon! The funny thing is, I thought this was a lesson I had already learned. When big, bad, scary things happen, I know how to keep my eyes on God; I've experienced His peace that passes understanding. However, it's in the day to day that I struggle with this. I'm all about praising God when things are going great, but the minute things get difficult or stressful, I am often too quick to start complaining, and it is impossible to praise God about anything while you're complaining about something. God doesn't want a fair-weather worshipper. He wants a true worshipper - one who worships in spirit and in truth. If I truly believe God's promises for me, then I should be able to look beyond any temporary difficulty, small or large, to see God's hand using it for my good and His glory. In fact, Paul goes on to say in this passage - "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation....I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." (Phil. 4:12b, 13).