I seem to have a pretty good sample for a study on birth order... Josiah, 15 (below, left), Jonah (on the right, below,) 13, and Luke (center, below) almost 11. Levi, who arrived six and half years later, throws me for a bit of a loop. I always say he must fall somewhere between a first born, and a baby. (And a Tasmanian devil, but that's another story.) But really, I have always been intrigued by the topic of birth order. Not only do I have a great sample to study in my home,
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Birth Order: What Youngest Kids Need Most from their Parents
After a long pause, we return to the fascinating topic of birth order. And just like those baby albums that never seem to get done for the youngest kids, we almost left the babies out of our birth order series! But I couldn't do that, because this is my favorite one of them all! And of course it is, because I happen to be a youngest child. And youngest kids love to talk about....themselves! Yep, birth order is a super fun topic. And no, it is not a perfect science, but yes, it is
Birth Order: What Firstborns Need Most from their Parents
A simple walk through the Swanson household would make for an easy object lesson in birth-order. You start in the front of the house with Luke and Levi's bedroom. There are clothes on the floor, towels on the floor, and...well, everything on the floor. There is a backpack with yesterday's lunch still in it, and then a few lego-figures, special rocks, and a few dollars wadded up and tucked under the bed from the last time I threatened a little life gave a stern warning if the room didn't get
Take Home Lessons from an 80th Birthday Celebration
Greetings from somewhere high in the sky over the Pacific Ocean. If you're following on Facebook and Instagram, you might know that Dave and I just spent a whirlwind 36 hours in Oregon, to be a part of an 80th birthday celebration for both of his parents. We’re on our way back now, and naturally, I am reflecting on so much that happened, in such a short time. I have concluded that as a parent, there are actually two types of “get aways” from your kids. The practical kind where you go to
Merry Christmas! And some (realistic) Thoughts to Help You Enjoy the Holidays
Merry, Merry Christmas! I pray that you have a most wonderful Christmas celebration with people you love. My parents are in town, and my husband has a rare Christmas off work, so this is a very special holiday for me! Before I sign off and dive into all of the holiday festivities, I thought I would share a few things I'm reminding myself of this season. 1. Expectations are dangerous: For best results, lower them. Yes, it is Christmas...and some of us can't seem to shake the mindset that
How Fifteen Minutes could Save your Relationship with Your Teen
15 minutes that just might save your relationship with your teenager Today I am sharing one more favorite post from the archives...If you missed this one, I hope it inspires you to parent with thoughtfulness this week. If you've read it before, then perhaps it's a healthy reminder. ***** This weekend something came up...once again...with one of our sons. It was an incident related to the way he treats one of his brothers, and honestly--we've all gotten pretty fed up with this
What Preschoolers Need Most from Their Parents (and a few things they don’t need.)
Since I first shared my "What a Teenage Boy Needs Most from his Mom" post, I began receiving requests for all of the other ages/stages of a kid's life. I've done my best with middle school and elementary kids, and then last week I took a break to cover what us Moms need most... But I've put off the one age group that might be requested more than any other: Preschoolers. And I admit that part of the reason I have put it off is because my current preschooler...Levi...the fourth one I've
Happy New Year! Guess What’s Coming in 2019?!
Hey Friends!! Happy New Year!! Don't you just love a clean slate? A fresh calendar...a blank journal? Do-overs and fresh starts are my absolute favorite. I hope you're as excited for 2019 as I am. New Years is extra special around here, because it also marks this blog's BIRTHDAY! We're 8 years old today!! For those of you who have been around since the beginning, you know how far we've come. (If you haven't, trust me -- we've had our fair share of awkward stages along the way.) But