More Than a Mommy

Easter Crafts to get Your House Decorated for the Holiday

Our house looks like the Easter bunny may have gotten sick in here with all of the Easter crafts hanging around. For now, my nice Easter decor is in storage and the scissors, glue, glitter, crayons, paint, etc. come out. The more my house is gaudy around holidays with kids’ crafts, the more I LOVE IT! I am one of those mommy’s who LOVES plastering the walls with paintings and crafts. Lucky for you, I have come up with the different crafts we have either done or plan to do in our household (thanks to Pinterest) this Easter season. I always choose 5 crafts a season that I feel would be FUN and would decorate my house nicely…killing two birds with one stone. Here are the 5 we plan on doing.

By Mary Bockert, ago

Teaching Preschool to Your Littles With Materials Found in the Home

I remember feeling overwhelmed when I decided to teach my oldest preschool in our home. I was a former teacher but had sold or gotten rid of most of my teaching supplies so I felt like homeschooling would be tricky and EXPENSIVE! Over the course of several years, I have learned the art of “using what you have in the house” as a means of teaching preschool. Below are several examples of using what you have to accomplish the bigger goal. I spent not one penny on any of the activities below. I have found that making my own worksheets is actually easier than printing them off because I can tailor them to my own child’s needs and Pinterest has been KEY to academic success in household! Feel free to comment below with any questions you may have on any of the activities below. Happy (cheap) Schooling!

By Mary Bockert, ago

Ways to Teach Kids to Give Back

Our oldest daughter is all about her “stuff.” We have stuffed animals GALORE, toys and trinkets everywhere and things she hasn’t played with or even looked at in MONTHS! When asked to go through her things and get rid of the stuff she doesn’t want, her pile is just a couple of little things that don’t make an impact on the “stuff” she still has. My husband and I have explained to her that things we own aren’t important as the relationships we hold. Unfortunately, when you are six years old, that doesn’t resonate. In trying to rid the house of unwanted and “un-played” with toys, we have found the following to be the most helpful.

By Mary Bockert, ago

Making Each Moment Count…When Time Seems to be Flying

I blinked…yep…my baby is now 3 months old and I can’t even believe it. This is our last child so, as you can imagine, we are savoring each and every minute, every coo, every milestone…as it is our last to experience until our grand-babies are born. I know, a little too sentimental, right?!? Not when you know it is your last time to experience these things.

I can’t help but to grieve a bit when it comes to our last child. It can be hard as a parent to watch the days tick by quickly and feel out of control as they are growing more quickly than you are comfortable with. We have made it a point to make each moment count, not just with our last child but all three girls. The first two go-arounds we didn’t savor time, I got caught in the craziness of constant play dates and activities, and we certainly stayed BUSY! This go-around has been a different story. My calendar is more clear, I don’t mind staying home and just being mommy for a while, I watch my kids nap (I truly love just watching them sleep), and I am more focused on the relationship I am creating with my kids.
I know many people work and don’t have an opportunity to watch their kids nap or stay home and keep the schedule clear so I have created a list of things you can do as a family, as parents, etc. to make every moment count with your kids…because before you know it, they will be off making their own memories with their own kids and you will have wished time had slowed down.

By Mary Bockert, ago

STEM Activities That Will Get Your Kids Thinking

Lately all I have been hearing about is this “new” concept of STEM that involves kids’ and their  learning.

So  what is STEM?

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math and is hands-on learning that applies to the world around us. STEM builds and teaches creativity, problem solving, life skills, ingenuity, resourcefulness, patience and curiosity. STEM is what shapes the future as our world grows and changes. STEM is everywhere and in everything we do and how we live. From the natural world around us to the tablets in our hands that show us the world far, far away. STEM builds inventors!

Wow…so that is A LOT of good piled into one little acronym right?!?

By Mary Bockert, ago

The Art of Saying “NO!”

The title of this blog is The Art of Saying “NO!” It makes me laugh because saying NO to your kids can be just that…an art!

Will they throw a temper tantrum in public if I don’t buy them this…?
What will the family think of my “oh so sweet child” if I allow the tantrum to escalate?
It can get pretty hairy with kids when they are learning what they can and cannot get away with. I would love to say that it only lasts toddler-hood but that would be a complete lie as I am still practicing this art with my 6 year old and I am guessing it will continue until they are ready to sail on their own and leave the home for their own adventure.

By Mary Bockert, ago

Adjusting to a New Baby in the House

Grace………………..>>>>>>>>>

Give yourself LOTS of grace as you transition into a new norm. Having a new baby in the house is like having a long lost relative from another country come to live with you. You don’t know their routine, they are needy because everything is new, they can’t do things for themselves, they may have their day and night backwards because of where they are from or time change is an issue for them, they depend solely on you and your company until they are ready to branch out and do things on their own.

YIKES right!?!

By Mary Bockert, ago

Cabin Fever Musts

When it comes to cold weather, staying inside seems like the best option when littles are present…especially newborns. The weather has been unbelievably cold in Ohio this winter and leaving the house just isn’t doable…nor am I excited to do so. I would have to get 3 kids bundled tightly, spend 30 minutes loading them into the car and getting them buckled into their carseats, etc. In other words, no thank you! LOL

By Mary Bockert, ago