You Will Blink

I'm sure you've heard it said that you will blink and your babies will be heading off to college.  I know I've heard it a bunch and if I'm honest, there have been a few weary days when the saying makes me do rapid blinks in joke!  But friends, as my first baby turned nine a couple of weeks ago, the saying started to really sink in and it's not so funny anymore.  This precious little bundle, who kept me up countless nights and prevented many household chores from being accomplished, is now this beautiful nine year old who actually helps with chores and sleeps perfectly every night.  This once needy baby now has completely different needs and gives me completely unexpected joy through our maturing relationship.  I write all this to encourage you in days that seem to drag.  The days may seem to drag, but the years really do fly.  And even though you might not be able to imagine it now, you may really want to go back in time some day, even if just for a moment to inhale that newborn smell or squeeze that rascally toddler, so ask God to help you find the joy in "now", I know that's my prayer every day. ---Sarah

Summer Highlights

Here are a few pictures from a couple of our Real Moms summer park dates, submitted by Jenny McElwain.  If you have similar pictures from our summer events, please email them to me and I will add them to this post.

Boredom Buster- Put Them to Work!

We all loathe the sentiment our kids spout far too easily during the summer, "I'm bored!"  Maybe you've run out of paper for them to cut or new books to capture their attention for more than a minute.  Or maybe the cartoons have been on a little too long.  Whatever the case, I've discovered something that my two and a half year old loves to do, and I get to teach her something valuable in the process, a win, win!  When her older siblings are busy and I just can't be her entertainer, I put her to work... and she loves it.  She especially loves the activity pictured here.  A bucket of water with a drop or two of dish soap and a squeegee is all you need. I tell her I really need her to clean the house walls, that it would really help mommy and make the house look so nice.  She will stay at this activity for an hour if I let her!  Another indoor cleaning task she loves is wiping down the table and chairs with a little bucket with soapy water and a small sponge she can easily squeeze out.  She also loves to help me unload the dishwasher.  Work looks like fun until they think otherwise, so go with it!  Happy boredom busting!  --- Sarah L.