Yay! Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been revamping the downloads section of this site, and now it’s ready for you! So, welcome to the first edition of a new regular [ real neat ] series that will feature a handy-dandy printable download each week. Enjoy!

This modern family chore chart has fillable form fields so you can list the chores that are most appropriate for your child. Use this customizable list to help you and your kids keep track of how they contribute to your family!

Note : If you have a favorite checklist or chart or article that you’d like to see included, please let me know! I’d love to feature your favorites! [ FYI : Quality design is a must! ]

Unfortunately, it’s quite commonplace to begin to feel totally trapped in the day-to-day mind-numbing monotony that’s also known as motherhood. Nursing, changing diapers, warming bottles, bathing, doing laundry, picking up toys, making dinner, emptying the dishwasher, helping with homework, shopping for groceries, etc., etc., etc. But, it’s extremely important that we not lose sight of our true purpose… raising grounded, well-rounded, healthy children.

As important as it may be to complete your to-do list each day, it is absolutely imperative that you spend most of your time and energy on your children. They must be your primary focus. Goal number one. And, yes, this means that your laundry may pile up and you may be tripping over toys, but your children won’t remember whether or not they wore clean clothes every day… they will remember that you sat down on the floor with them and played cars.

That being said, you do need to find a way to maintain your household while you instill strong Christian values in your children, and here’s how…

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Photo Source: Will Lion

This whole semi-new “single-mom-trying-to-turn-her-lifelong-passion-into-a-viable-full-time-business-and-pinch-pennies-at-the-same-time” thing is definitely something that I could do without! But, as one of my good friends always says, “It is what it is…” (and it has been quite an adjustment, that’s for sure!)

How interesting (…major understatement…) it has been to be forced to choose which of life’s necessities should be paid for this month. Until now, I never fully realized just how many things I have always taken for granted…

Anyway, in light of these unplanned changes in my life and family and home over the past year-and-a-half, I now meticulously scrutinize every single expenditure like I never have before. And, I have come to realize that, aside from the love of family and friends, what Amanda and I truly need boils down to this: car, apartment, electricity, water, medications, and groceries. So, that’s where the money goes right now… absolute necessities only!

Sure, all the “no’s” that Amanda gets from me are tough (on both of us!), but I have no doubt that the time and attention and love that I am investing in my daughter today will reap far greater rewards in the years to come!

So, what about you? Are there things in your life that you could do without? I challenge you to take a moment today to reflect on the true essentials in your life, and I dare you to let go of the rest!

This past week was Spring Break for Scott County Schools here in Georgetown… and I found myself with quite a challenge on my hands in keeping up with Amanda! Though a bit reserved in large groups, she is very much a “people person” and loves to have one or two friends (or mommy) to play with her. Whether it was a good idea or not—along with all the art projects, playground adventures, and random errands—I planned to take a bit of time to tackle the growing pile of “to shred” documents… and this was the end result…

Now, I’m sure you’re thinking “OMG!!” much like I was at the very moment that the first bag of all my hard work was completely dumped out onto the living room floor! But, here’s the thing… It is so very important for us to set aside our pragmatic “grown-up” thought patterns every once in a while and allow our children some freedom to play and explore the vast number of possibilities that abound within their limitless imaginations! Play is a child’s work after all…

So, practicality and cleanliness aside, Amanda spent the week playing with shredded paper bits (aka “confetti”) that ended up strewn throughout my apartment, in every nook and cranny imaginable (i.e., the toilet… really?)! She had a blast!

She made “confetti castles” (which, in case you didn’t know, are much like sand castles… only different!), she created walking paths that went from one room to the next, she raked every last shred into middle of the living room and jumped into her homemade “pile of leaves,” she “buried” every single friend who came over for a playdate, she made new fashions… and hairstyles… and draperies… and nests, and we went on countless “treasure hunts” and “rescue missions” together!

Sure there was paper everywhere and I’ll likely be finding little pieces here and there over the next few months… Sure we spent the week sniffling and sneezing with all the extra shredded paper dust flying through the air… Sure I have to vacuum the floors again and empty out the drawers that were stuffed full of paper… Sure I was embarrassed each and every time an adult stopped by the apartment to drop something off or pick something up… But, man, it was so very worth it! Definitely a small price to pay for all the wonderful memories that were created this week… and an absolutely, positivity, without-a-doubt exquisite treasure to hold close to the heart and cherish forever after having endured a horrid bout of postpartum depression through her early years!

Now, what about you? Have you found yourself abhorring or even thwarting your child’s messy learning adventures? How so? Or, have you managed to “let go” on occasion and have some truly uninhibited and invariably harmless fun? Do tell…

As any parent knows, adding a child to the family can quickly and drastically alter the environment of any home. From infants to teens, kids come with a lot of “stuff.” What are you supposed to do with it all? Here are a few simple tips to help you teach your children how to get organized and stay that way…

• Bins, boxes, and baskets kept on lower shelves make it easy for your child to put away toys. Label storage containers with both pictures (for young children) and printed words (for preschoolers).
• Better yet, have your child draw pictures for the labels. Or, you can cut out the toys’ logos straight from the original boxes, take photos of the toys, or print the logos directly from the manufacturer websites. And, if your storage containers have handles, luggage tags are a quick and easy way to attach the finished labels.
• Before birthdays, Christmas, or other special gift-giving occasions, sit down with your child to sort through toys together. Guide your child through the decision-making process of which toys to keep and which to donate in order to make room for new toys received as gifts. In fact, take your child with you to the donation center.
• As you fold laundry, separate your child’s clothes into complete outfits. Store them individually in gallon-sized zip-top bags. Keep one bagged outfit in the car, just in case. And, when you travel, squeeze any extra air out of the bags to make packing the suitcase a breeze.
• Provide low hooks for your child to hang up sweaters, pajamas, jackets, book bags, etc. Before bedtime, check the weather forecast with your child. Then, have your child select an appropriate outfit to wear the next day.