More Than a Mommy

Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes that the Kids will LOVE!

As a momma, I am ALWAYS trying to keep our meals as clean as possible. Making sure to get in all of the food groups can prove to be tricky at times and keeping the sweets to a minimum (especially since we have Halloween candy galore right now) can be almost impossible. I have spent several hours and countless experiments in the kitchen to “clean” it all up (by clean I mean nothing processed). Since Delise is our beautiful little one who has proven to be a bit tricky, we have tried to take out as much processed anything as possible (another topic for another day).

I thought it fitting that I blog about creating a healthy, unprocessed Thanksgiving meal that everyone will LOVE. The flavors are rich and the meal is as healthy as it can get. You won’t feel guilty stuffing yourself and then laying on the couch to “sleep it off” with these recipes.

By Mary Bockert, ago

Best Fall/Thanksgiving Crafts to do With Your Preschooler & Toddler!

I just can’t help it…the holidays near and I get all geeked up about crafts and art projects. I did a little Pinterest investigation and found my Top 10 crafts that Annora, Delise (and even Daddy) and I plan to conquer! We may not get to all of them but at least we have several options. Whenever I choose crafts to do with the girls, I always look for something that incorporates some type of learning. You will see that these Top 10 will not only be FUN, but educational as well!

You can also follow me on Pinterest at: https://www.pinterest.com/mommy2be81/

By Mary Bockert, ago

The myths of the Stay-at-Home Mommy!

What happened to me?!?

I went shopping at the mall for the first time since I had a child and the sales associate said something that horrified me.
He asked “What do you do for a living?”
Smiling I said “I’m a stay at home mom” I should have said I’m a domestic engineer because that is more accurate.
“Oh. you don’t work then. Your lucky. Sit around the house all day and do nothing. You have a life of leisure and relax all day.”
I was livid! It is baffling the crazy stereotype of the modern day homemaker. It is because of these myths that we get little respect in society. Today I hope to set the record straight and educate the public.

By Mary Bockert, ago

Play with a Purpose

“Momma, what can I have my chef make you from the kitchen?” Annora LOUDLY announces.

“Um, what do you have?” I reply.

“Well, it’s all healthy food. We have salad, oranges, strawberries, chicken noodle soup, oatmeal, and key lime pie,” she firmly states.

“Key lime pie is not a healthy food option.”

She replies with, “Well it has limes in it and limes are healthy.”

This kid…..

It is too often I am so excited for the next stage of her life that I rush her out of her current stage. Academic rigor was the only thing on my mind at the beginning of this school year. As I have seen Annora mature into a “bigger” little girl, I am slightly sad that she is weaning her imaginative side a bit. Now I see her teaching her little sister how to play using her imagination only to leave her sister and do something different, more concrete.

By Mary Bockert, ago

“Sing a Song of Sixpence…”

As a mommy of 2 beautiful girls, the jealousy can get a bit thick in our house. We argue over toys, Daddy’s attention, Mommy’s attention, etc. Sometimes my head spins and I have to dial back as to where this is all coming from. In our house, it boils down to the need for parent approval and attention. Attention can be hard to give to each individual child sometimes (I can’t imagine more than 2 kids right now). So…I sat down one day and scheduled it in…sad I know but you gotta do what you gotta do!

By Mary Bockert, ago

Baking Buddies!

I have to start by saying that I am the WORST baker! I have been known to forget ingredients, make a mess of the kitchen, burn the end result, etc…you name the disaster and I have probably been there done that!

By Mary Bockert, ago

Why I Chose Classical Conversations Homeschooling…

Man is it tough to be informed about all of the educational opportunities out there for your children! Charter, Public, Private, Montessori, Homeschooling, etc. Phew…the list goes on!

As a first time momma to a schoolage child, I must say that I was very confused and uninformed about my options. Thank goodness for my past!!! Having been a former teacher, I knew that the options out there were endless (well…almost), but I also knew it certainly isn’t the “norm” to go against the grain. I did know one thing though, I wasn’t comfortable sending my little one to the public school around the corner that refused to let me observe in the kindergarten classroom (to see if that school was a good fit for my upcoming child).

By Mary Bockert, ago