Hello! I’m Mariel… owner of this blog, ‘Or so she says…’, finish carpenter’s wife, and a mother of 7. I’m also a whole slew of other things, but we’ll stop there, for now. These are my most favorite people… Despite this pic being a little old, you can see that I have several teenagers in…
I have been blessed to be a step-mother/mother to the GREATEST 9 kids on earth for almost 9 years (and also a darling son-in-law). We literally are a “his-hers-and-ours” family. Our family’s journey has been very difficult in some ways, but my husband and I have been determined to build a strong and happy family in spite of our situation. From the beginning it was very clear that I had to give it my best efforts if I was going to be able to help everyone heal. We have not been perfect at this. Much of creating a blended family is trial and error, but I am a firm believer that we can create our own happiness in just about any situation. The things I’m sharing are things I have learned along the way. I’ve talked to a lot of our kids as well and asked them what has helped. They had a lot to say, and it was fun to hear their perspective. When you read the following tips, remember that much of this is THEIR perspective.
I gathered up a lot of ideas, and laid it all out at the beginning of the week so we could prepare some healthy after school snacks, that are easy for him to grab and eat. We also thought it would be best to get him involved in the process, which is always a great way to get kids to eat a variety of foods!
I have to say we enjoy our time in the library as much as we enjoy the books we check out to read at home. Next time you’re in need of a time-filler, or even a Friday night activity hit up your local library. Find a cozy corner with a stack of books and just read! Then get another stack to check out and take home with you. So many books, so little time!! Happy reading!
This is the first year in many years that I’ve had a child at the public school. 5 are at home with me, being homeschooled, but my 8th and 10th grader are now attending the public school, and it’s going great. I love homeschooling, but it’s also been a perfect time for both of the oldest to transition. A lot of things are new to me, such as having to think about their bodies being fed, outside of the home. Most of the time they eat school lunch, but they’re already getting burned out and have been itching for something new, or something from home. So, I’ve been looking into making lunches for them, at least for some of the days, and I’ve found some awesome top-rated school lunch products that I’ve been contemplating.
We may not always know when our friends or family are feeling sad. People are good at pretending and putting on a show of happiness. Remember, we don’t have signs up declaring to the world what troubles are going on inside. Here is a little object lesson that helps to demonstrate the need to show kindness always.
The wise little pig built a house of bricks to keep the Big Bad Wolf at bay. What can we do to stay protected from the destructive spiritual winds in our lives? This family night lesson will help you find ways to build a solid brick-like foundation that will not fail.
I wish I could tell you that I have some great ideas to take all of the stress out of planning and packing school lunch…I don’t. What I am offering is a few ideas of how to use their lunch to reconnect with your kids. Once a day, your child will open that box or bag from home to fill up on the nutritious foods that you’ve packed for them. You can use this opportunity to not only connect with their stomachs, but also to reconnect with their minds and hearts.
When faced with a job, chore, or trial, we can choose to be like Nephi. He was a man who would “Go and do.” He didn’t murmur or complain. Because he made a habit of being a man of action and faith his life was blessed with joy and prosperity. When we look at our wooden bows, we can remember to emulate the Nephi the Book of Mormon prophet.
Take a moment to use your powerful words to remind your family how much you love them. Point out their strengths and thank them for participating. Bear your testimony about how clean, positive, and uplifting language can invite the Holy Ghost into your life and make a positive impact for good!
Do you take photos of your kids on their first and last day of school? It’s fun to see how much our kids grow from the first day of school and last day of school, but have you ever tracked their writing and drawing growth? I had one of my kid’s teachers do this and I thought it was so fun to see just how much they’ve learned during the year.
This summer my kids and I will be world travelers! With the help of the internet, the local library, and the smattering of cultural restaurants in our area, we are going to learn about a new country each week. I am so excited to expose my kids to the colors, sights, sounds and tastes of other nations.