Life with Kids

Raising kids can be a challenge. I know what you’re thinking. “That’s a bit of an understatement, wouldn’t you say?” Raising kids is the most challenging thing I have ever done, and I’ve done some challenging things during my time on this planet.

However, raising my kids has also been the most rewarding, wonderful experience of my life. The real challenge, in my opinion, is not HOW to raise kids well, as I’m of the opinion that most kids turn out fine no matter how much we do to screw them up, but rather how to enjoy this whole parenting experience without losing our minds. It is a bittersweet recognition that this moment in my life will be over before I know it if I don’t take the time to slow down and enjoy my kids in each of their various stages.

My journey as a parent is ongoing, a work-in-progress, and a labor of love. The articles on this page are not meant to be How-To manuals. I don’t believe there is a “right” way to raise a kid or a “one-size-fits-all” solution for any child. These are merely some of the thoughts I’ve had while parenting when I reflect back on what I’ve learned so far.

Recommendations and advice are offered, but I fully realize that what has worked for me may not work for you.

Homeschooling is not something I saw myself doing before I had children. However, I’ve come to love the opportunity, freedom, and closeness that homeschooling provides.

With 4 kids and generous grandparents, we’ve gone through fair share of toys in out household. While I also recommend giving kids books as gifts, here are a few toys and other items that I believe make some of the best gifts for kids.

Back when I had babies, I followed many of the tenets of attachment parenting. I co-slept, breastfed, and used a baby carrier almost non-stop. As with all aspects of parenting, I don’t consider myself an expert at infants. However, I loved the baby stage. Here are some of my thoughts on life with a baby.

I potty trained all four of my kids by their second birthday. I don’t think it’s necessary to potty train kids this young, but personally, I think it is much easier than waiting until they become more opinionated about the matter.

Getting my kids to do chores consistently is an ongoing struggle. I have created a number of free chore-related material to hold my kids accountable without having to constantly nag them.

Before I had kids, I loved traveling. Now that I have 4 kids, I’ve come to realize that traveling with kids is not the vacation it used to be. However, with some planning, forethought, and practice, I have hope that our family can enjoy experiencing the world around us.

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