More Than a Mommy

Giving Back…A Fall Tradition

If you have ever thought about teaching your child the gift of giving back, the fall season is a GREAT place to start. Thanksgiving is around the corner and Christmas is just a few weeks after that. The weather is cooler and people tend to stay inside a bit more than in the summer months. Fall is the PERFECT opportunity to get your kids involved in a less selfish activity and get them into the habit of giving to others rather than always receiving. 

By Mary Bockert, ago

Giving Each Child Their Own One-On-One Time

It can be so hard to make sure you are pouring into each child’s attention tank as parents. Oftentimes I find myself spending more time with one or the other or even the opposite of that, not giving either child the one-on-one time they crave. So how do you make sure you are covering your bases and making everyone feel loved like they deserve from their parents?

By Mary Bockert, ago

Breastfeeding-Don’t Let it Fool You

If you know me, have read any of my posts, or a have traveled to my social media pages, you know that I am BIG into living a  healthy lifestyle. In our household, we make sure the kids get a balanced meal, we get in enough exercise for the day and live a healthy lifestyle. That being said, it was a no brainer when my first daughter was born that I would be breastfeeding her for the next 12 months. It is the healthiest thing for the baby, it helps bond mommy and baby, and it saves money…A LOT OF MONEY.

By Mary Bockert, ago

Getting Into a Solid Routine Once School Starts

Routine…ahhhh…what every kid thrives on. In fact, when we are out of routine, my life feels like utter chaos and I end up a grumpy mess. Some families find comfort when school starts because life has a flow again where over the summer it was more of a stagnant pond (or better yet, crazy hurricane). It is true, kids do better all around when there is some sort of routine to follow. Think about it, the first week of school is all about learning the classroom routine and procedures on how to do things. Why do teachers take the time to do that? It’s because they are setting their year up for success. When kids know what to expect and how to navigate their day, there tends to be less behavioral issues, less chaos in the classroom and less overall misuse of time.

By Mary Bockert, ago

Potty Training 101

Although we are potty trained in our household with two of our three girls, I feel like it is one of those topics every mommy and daddy struggles with. Potty training either goes SLOWLY or your child just “gets it” and is trained in no time. Having trained two little ones (one with ease and one that took some time), I feel I have some tips and tricks that can ease the troubles when learning to go to the restroom at the right time and place.

By Mary Bockert, ago

Discovering Your Child is Different

I still remember the day like it was yesterday. We took our 18-month-old daughter to a behavioral pediatrician to see if she may be on the autism spectrum. She had been showing signs of having autism such as behavioral outbursts, a clingy disposition to myself, and she did strange things like make her bed every day and stack and re-stack books for hours. The knot in my stomach was too big to manage with tears ready and loaded as we waited in the waiting room to be called back. I was extremely nervous at how everything would turn out. It was a three hour test. My 18-month-old threw tantrums every 20 minutes, she wouldn’t allow anyone to…

By Mary Bockert, ago

Keeping Kids Healthy When Germs Seem to Be Inevitable

I am one of those mommas…Yes…the ones who see another child sneeze into their hand and cringe because you know the inevitable is going to happen. You immediately rush your child to the restroom, scrub them down from head to toe and wait…wait…wait for the cold to set in a few days later. Eeek…it gives me the weebie jeebies just typing it.

Being a former teacher, I have a few tricks up my…

By Mary Bockert, ago

Fun Summer Activities to Get the Kids Moving

SUUUUUMMER!!!!!!!

Who doesn’t LOVE the warmer weather, the sandals coming out of the closet, the cookouts, the windows open in the house and car and all of the festivals going on? Spring and Summer are my two FAVORITE seasons followed closely by Fall. There are merely endless opportunities to get moving, be active, and enjoy the weather.
Our family turns the TV off and we PLAY. We play outside, inside, we have play dates, we explore local parks, etc. In fact, I have had NO PROBLEM keeping my littles busy over Summer break. I want to share the many ideas that you too can implement into your summer routine.

By Mary Bockert, ago

Five Reasons Your Kids Need a TeePee Tent

We all know that kids love a play house and a teepee tent for kids is a super cute choice. In addition to the fact that your kids will love it, there are lots of benefits and uses of kids teepee tents. Here, I will highlight a few uses for a teepee tent for kids and why I think that you, as a parent, will love teepee tents just as much as your kids! This post is brought to you by La Vie Vert’s ideas.

By Mary Bockert, ago

Embracing the “Different”

This little 3.5 year old has been on quite the journey…and taken my husband and I on quite the journey as well. 💗

From an EXTREMELY young age (like 3 months) I knew Delise was unique and different from the “norm” (whatever the heck that means 🤷🏻‍♀️). Little did I know that she would transform my heart 💗 and help me to embrace her way of thinking, seeing the world, and loving life.

It took about 3 years for the two of us to truly “get” one another. I’m not speaking about loving one another…that came naturally for me as she is my precious gift from God. No, It was just, well…where I saw black and white, she sees a thousand different shades of gray.

By Mary Bockert, ago