Welcome
Hello all! I hope everyone has had a fabulous week! I have had a busy week and literally just texted a friend, "I am not winning any mommy awards today!" Ha! This week my husband has been traveling for work. I know many of you experience this almost every week, so my one week is hardly a comparison. That being said, this week has felt loooong!
I try really hard to stay buys with my 18 month old. I think about what we will do in the morning and after each one of his naps. I think sometimes I give myself a hard time if we just stay at home and have a low key afternoon. I feel like since I am currently a stay-at-home mom, I must fill every second. As I have written about before, we as mommies or daddies, put a lot of unneeded, unnecessary pressure on ourselves. It is silly to think during every waking moment, I need to be doing one of the following: take a walk, play outside, take my son to a kiddo class, meet a friend for a playdate, go to the library, etc.
At the end of the day, we do the best we can. Not every second can be perfect. And after writing this post and after a looong week, there we be some independent, inside play for my son this afternoon, ha! Have a great weekend and enjoy issue #37.
Best Reads
What I Learned About My Body From Raising a Daughter
Looking my daughter in the face and telling her she was just like me, and in the next breath destroying my body in front of her, was a catastrophic mixed message.
Bullying at school on the decline, says new report
About 22% of students ages 12 to 18 reported they were bullied at school during the school year in 2013. That's down from a range of 28% to 32% of students who reported being bullied at school in previous surveys dating back to 2005, according to data from the Education Department's National Center for Education Statistics.
Do Kids Really Make Parents Happier?
An exclusive survey of parents and non-parents, by Yahoo Parenting and Care.com, reveals that 90 percent of people without children report being happy — compared to 81 percent of moms and dads.
5-Year-Old's Touching Act of Kindness Toward Homeless Man
The story of an Alabama boy’s thoughtful gift of dinner — with a blessing — for one hungry man in his neighborhood is inspiring readers around the world.
How Kids' Sleep Can Be Influenced by Digital Media
In 2014, the National Sleep Foundation found that most 15- to 17-year-olds routinely get seven hours or fewer hours of sleep, which is a good two hours less sleep than they need for a healthy life. The foundation also found that sleep quality was better among children who turned their digital devices off before bedtime than those who took their devices to bed.
Mommy Approved
The 70 Best Apps For Teachers And Students
This is a really cool list. All the apps are in different categories for easy selection. Check this out!
The Best Toys for Speech and Language Development
The toys on this list include many of my speech therapist “must haves” for working with early language learners, as well as those that I would generally recommend to parents of young children.
Free Play
Top ten toys for the preschool classroom
Top ten toys that are most engaging or meaningful to children (ranging from ages 3 to 5) - From a preschool teacher!
Smartest Kid on the Block
50 Fun ABC Games for Kids
ABC games are a fun, hands-on way to teach kids the names and sounds of letters. This roundup of 50 ABC games includes favorite finds from across the web. Whether you’re looking for a super active game or you’d like an easy download you can print and play, this list has you covered.
