Longgggggggg Winter

This was the message on my answering machine the other day:

Hi Andi, it's Jenny. It's going to be a longggggg winter. I have an idea so give me a call.

When I called her I expected her to tell me of great plans to move us all to a warmer climate... Wishful thinking? No, I love the seasons too much to move south. Her idea was to compile a list of activities with supplies that can be pulled out at any time. This idea has been swimming around my brain the past few days. It hit me today, don't keep this between us, put it on here to share with others.

I'm sharing this with you on one condition, you share with me.

I know I can't make you share ideas, but I would SO appreciate any input from you!

Over the years of teaching and now being a mom I have collected many books and websites I turn to when I need ideas. With all of these resources overflowing from my classroom bookshelves and my Delicious account busting at the seams I don't have time to look for an activity when I have one, two or even three kids screaming from boredom. I need something fast that doesn't take any planning or preparation. I can only retain so much information so I think this post will be perfect.

I'm planning on making it a regular post. We'll see if I can get to posting ideas weekly but for now I'm aiming for twice a month. Subscribe to my blog so you don't miss any ideas and if you post a list of your own add it to Mister Linky (at the end of this post).

Long Winter Day Ideas

Shaving cream in a bag-- Buy the cheep bottles of shaving cream at the dollar store. Keep some gallon size zip lock bags with the can. Squirt some shaving cream in the bag, seal and squish! Sometimes I add a few drops of food coloring or a dab of paint. If you mix primary colors it doubles as a lesson for secondary colors and the effect white has on colors.

Water race-- Pull out a piece of wax paper, a straw and get a little water in a bowl. (You may need to tape down the corners of the wax paper.) Dip your fingers into the water and put a few drops onto one end of the wax paper. Start blowing the water with the straw. Once your child becomes a pro you can have races to see who gets to the end first. Here is a video for all of the visual learners! (Side note- this lady is AMAZING! Pull up her page any time for a song playlist your preschool kids will enjoy, which takes me to my next idea.)

Sing a song-- I know it sounds too simple, but it's not easy. When I'm trying to get seven things done at once and my kids are bouncing off the walls singing is NOT the first thing that pops into my head. While I have a lot of songs tucked away in my back pocket I still forget about them ALL. THE. TIME. Last week I spent a few days putting together a song book. I now have a binder with 40+ songs that my kids can look at and tell me what they want to sing. I put a distinct picture with each song so pre-readers can still pick.

Special box-- I have a box that I pull out when I need the kids to play with out my attention. It only comes out once in a while so it stays special and I change out the contents periodically. Right now there are some books that are related to current holidays and season, metal trays with magnets, a few foam puzzles, a magnet puzzle book, a few finger puppets, and Mini PlaySkool games: Don't break the Ice and Cootie.

I hope this gets your juices flowing. Link up below with your ideas and subscribe now to get updates in the future. Here is to an enjoyable winter regardless of the length!

Dear Anonymous

A comment left here from my last post:

Anonymous said...

They should teach that being a mother is a blessing and that some people won't be able to procreate so if you are blessed with children, you should be grateful and not complain. I know a ton of women who would love to be in your shoes so next time you are listing off the "challenges" you face as a parent, you might want to count your blessings instead.

My first reaction to this comment was to hit delete. This is my blog and I have the freedom to say whatever I feel and think. The more I thought about the situation I realized Anonymous has the right to speak their mind. While the comment was uncalled for I do not know their situation and the struggles they may have gone through or are going through. After thinking hard and praying about this I have decided to respond the only way I know how, with honesty. I strive to be real in life and on this blog. I like to think "what you see is what you get," that is what I am trying to do here.



Dear Anonymous,

I am aware that children are a blessing, I have never claimed otherwise. No one ever told me I would be spending hours every week in the laundry room scrubbing out stains. I was not informed that waking up out of a dead sleep I would have SteveSongs running through my head instead of Green Day's latest hit. I wish someone had been more honest about the day to day happenings in the life of a mom. I wish someone would be that open with teenagers who are tempting fate. Had someone been this blunt with me I still would have had children, but I would have been a little more prepared.

I watched my parents lose four babies and have had dear friends suffer the same loss. I hurt with my friends who can not conceive. And I rejoice when after months of trying God blesses them with a miracle. Even those blessed with children are only human and do not have a smile all day. Parenthood is not all lollipops and roses.

Dealing with Postpartum Depression for the second time is no picnic. Every day I battle with myself over the thoughts and feelings I have. No one told me this was a possibility. I never imagined I would have to force myself to hold my baby. Having a third baby was not supposed to emotionally detach me from my other children. A new baby shouldn't pull me further away from my friends. I never dreamed having another child would bring loneliness.

There hasn't been a day in Mr. Darcy's life that I haven't shed tears at least once. Daily I struggle with my ability as a wife, mother and friend. The strain this mental illness is putting on my relationships with my husband, children, family and friends weighs on my heart every day. Every morning I force myself to get out of bed because my husband and children need me. Each moment of doubt, loneliness, anger, sadness and fear I push forward because one day I will be better. This is a war I will win.

My friend Ruth from church posted about a series that just finished on Sunday mornings.

Our church recently did a series on Habakkuk. We talked about how we all experience "dips" in our lives in one way or another, where we encounter something that either causes us to take pause or sometimes even causes us to complete stop in our tracks of life. Habakkuk shows us how that even in those dips, God is wanting us to press in closer to Him (not just turning to Him during the good times). It's in those moments where we can really learn to trust Him. Of course, there's not always an easy answer to our situations. There won't always seem to be a way out. Sometimes it's something we have to continue to live with. God knows that. He understands that we don't always understand, that we ask why, that we even get upset with Him at times. And that's okay. Our Father loves us deeply, and wants to help us grow, just like us parents want for our children.

The last week of the series, we showed a video of some other people at Paradox who have gone through various dips in life. The stories share their dip, some of their heartache, and where they are at now. Some are past those moments, and some are still in the thick of it, trying their best to cling to Christ.

Making the decision to be a part of this video was a big step for me. Through the whole series I felt God whisper to me, "I will use your hurt, pain and healing to help others." I felt this was the first part of God using me to help others. I'm still waiting to see how this will help others. It was not easy to be that vulnerable in front of the whole church. It isn't easy being this open and honest on this blog, but I think this is one more step. One more step to helping someone and one more step toward my healing.

Every day I am reminded of God's blessings. He gives me strength to keep fighting and not give in to the lies. Anonymous, you may have been trying to remind me that my children are to be cherished, but maybe next time you will take a step back and think from the another's point of view.

What Should Really Be Taught...

in sex-ed.

How many people live in your house x 2 = loads of laundry per week.

Add 30 minutes at the beginning and end of a typical trip to the store. And take around 3 extra bags full of items you may or may not need.

A typical conversation with a friend will go something like this:
You: "Ted and I were going Johny stop hitting your sister to take a Susie spit that rock out now drive to the Susie give that toy back to the baby shore Johny where is your other shoe on Sunday. We were thinking of Susie stop screaming having a where did I put the baby's spoon picnic. Do you want to join us? Johny bring me your shoe so I can tie it."
Friend: "Yes we would love to join you."
You: "Join us for what?"

You will never miss a meal again. You will not eat at these meals, but you will never miss one.

Snack will become a four-letter word. Along with mom.

You will become an expert on product recalls instead of movie reviews.

Every children's morning show theme song will be memorized in place of the Top 20.

You will never again need to set an alarm clock.

Okay moms what else should they really teach?