parenting hack for bedtime routine

I love books. Always been that way and always will be that way...

... but even if that weren't the case, I think I would still follow my next thought...

Read chapter books to your children as they fall asleep. For me, this is different from bedtime stories. We read bedtime stories together out in the hallway, then we pray and read Scripture or a Bible story. Then they go to bed and lay in their dark room and I read them part of a chapter book from the hallway.

My mom did this for me when I was younger and I want my kids to have the same type of memories. Plus, I think it really helps them settle down when they are listening to a book with the light off. It gives them a chance to focus their thoughts in one area and calm down from the day they've had. In fact, one night a few weeks ago, we didn't read books for some reason, and Brayden had the toughest time going to sleep... he's always taken a bit longer to go to sleep, but we haven't had those problems as much (at least that I can remember) since having books to listen to while lying in bed.

We just did this with Nate the Great books, just finished Charlotte's Web, and are currently going through Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books. Those, in particular, have provided a nice incentive for the boys to go to sleep.

Find a series or grab some classic books and read them to your kids!

parenting hack for picking up the house

It's very difficult to get kids to simply "clean up this room!"

On the other hand, I've found that giving the kids specific instructions is extremely helpful! Instead of simply saying clean up, give them specific jobs. Pick up that airplane and put it in the toy box. Run these dishes up to the kitchen and put them on the counter next to the sink. Put these shoes away. Bring these toys to your bedroom.

That helps them so much. My kiddos are 3 and 5 and always look rather lost when I say "clean up!" Giving them a place to start helps!

why do we have to go through valleys?

Psalm 23 says that David waked through the valley of the shadow of death. That doesn't sound like much fun. In fact, for many who are going through a difficult time, it begs the question, why do we need valleys? If God is good, couldn't He use His goodness and power to keep life fantastic for us at all time? Wouldn't a life of mountain tops be better?

Actually, that question itself is impossible. A land filled with mountain tops would be a flat valley. Mountaintops are made beautiful by the very fact that there are valleys. And depending on where you are, valleys are filled with foliage that cannot be appreciated from the mountaintop. Both experiences create a fuller experience of life.

For us to be dogmatic and assume all of life should head in a certain direction is an invalid conclusion because the beauty in life and the beauty in creation comes from the multidimensional terrain.

God didn't make this life a flatland. He made it a beautiful world of valleys and mountain tops. It's our job to trust Him through it all. As we trust Him, we can hunt for the beauty in the valleys and soak in the majesty of the mountain tops.

You are not alone. Parenting is hard. And we're just in the beginning.

Just put the final kid in the bed for the night. I played a game on the iPad outside their door decompressing while hoping I didn't hear any noise from the bedroom before going downstairs. And yes, I came downstairs a few minutes ago... the boys are down for the night.

THANK GOD!

It was one of those rough days. The kiddos were testing mommy's patience and boundaries over and over and over... if you have dealt with toddlers at any point, you know what I mean. Add in all the normal "stressors" for a day, and let's just say it was a very loooong mommy day that I am glad is over.

Oh and it top it all off, we had to clean up pee off the floor after bath. B is not potty trained yet, but he knows better. Then, after being disciplined by going to bed without stories, he wouldn't stay in bed. Oh and he laughed at all my spankings. I'm going to have to come up with a different discipline plan, apparently!

I started lamenting to a friend, then thought you mommies out there might understand my "drama" of the day... and the fact that that I am sweaty and tired of being a mommy today. Very ready for an evening of... cleaning the kitchen and eating chocolate teddy grahams that I bought for a specific recipe.

Tomorrow our cousins are coming over and I'm very excited. The kids will have more than just me to entertain them and then we are going to grandma and grandpa's for a birthday party. RELIEF!

So yeah. Know that you are not alone. Parenting is constant and exhausting. You try not to be led by your emotions and you try not to let your emotions get the best of you as you show these kiddos their boundaries. It's always good to remember these are just kiddos trying to have lots of fun and learn how to live life well in this world.

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." -Prov. 22:6