Fourth baby gift ideas are not always the easiest to come up with. After all, the experienced mom having a fourth baby probably has everything under control and has all she needs to take care of this next child, right? Wrong. As a recent fourth-time mom, I can tell you that I have needed and appreciated all the support I received from family and friends. Here is a list of fourth baby gift ideas sure to please even the most experienced of moms. Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, meaning if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission for referring you (at no additional cost…

Family dinner ideas that please all three of my non-infant kids and are not pizza, hot dogs, or peanut butter and jelly are hard to come by. But every once in a while, we’ll find a winner that gets integrated into our meal rotation. The best family dinner ideas in my book are ones that are easy to make, use ingredients I am relatively likely to have on hand and are met with little to no resistance by at least one of my kids (because you can’t win them all!). Bonus if it dirties only one pot or pan! Here I share 15 of my favorite family dinner ideas with…

I wish that I could say I had trained my kids from the get-go to clean up after themselves. I wish I could say they were born neat, or that I have successfully implemented a chore system (which I really should try to do soon). On the contrary, I have raised super messy kids. It feels like I can have a room all picked up, and then in a matter of minutes, everything will be everywhere once again. Like shoveling in a snowstorm, people say. It’s not just the toddler — the preschooler and first-grader are just as guilty. However, every once in a while, I will decide that I…

Have you ever wondered how to keep kids busy at home when you’ve got a whole day stretching ahead of you? If I’m not careful, days with my kids can quickly turn into marathons of their favorite streaming shows and incessant begging for snacks. When I’m on my game, I help my kids come up with ideas of how to keep busy at home. Although it’s important for kids to come up with their own activities, sometimes they need a little guidance about where to start. That’s why I have created a checklist for kids to give them ideas about how to fill their days and figure out how to…

Art toys for kids are a lifesaver at my house. Let’s just say I was not born with the “craft” gene. It’s not that I’m not a creative person, but music and writing are my fortes, not making magnificent creations out of coffee filters and clothespins. Personally, aside from lacking raw talent in the crafting arena, I am simply not all that interested in finding a craft project, procuring all the necessary materials, doing the prep work, and demonstrating each step for my kids. I know that this kind of thing fills many a mom’s cup. I’m not one of those moms. I send my kids to school and take…

When my kids’ birthdays and Christmas roll around, I try to take charge and create good solid wish lists that I make available to friends and family. These lists include practical items that I know the kid will need throughout the course of the year. Gift-givers often want to pick out the gift that’s going to be the most fun or exciting for the child, and I understand that. But two-year-olds can get just as excited over practical gifts as they do over toys. And if you give a practical gift to a two-year-old, you are likely to make the parents extra happy as well! Here is a list of practical gifts…

Our adorable fourth baby is now three months old. She joined a brother and two sisters, all under the age of seven. The next oldest child was just shy of two years old when she was born. People are often curious to know what it’s like to have four kids. Well, in short, it’s tiring and busy and loud and really messy. There is always someone who needs me, which is both exhausting and life-affirming. I would never trade a single one of my children for the world, but having a fourth baby is not a decision that should be taken lightly. Here are some issues to consider before you…

My two-year-old has a new phrase: “Mommy, where are you?” She often says this while I am standing right in front of her. I think, sometimes, it’s innocent enough. She just needs me for something and is trying to get my attention. But it has me thinking about how often I am physically present, but not actually there.  If you, like me, want to have more meaningful interactions with your kids, here are some simple communication strategies you can try out. Make eye contact Moms are great multitaskers. While your child is chattering away, you might be looking at the dishes, the baby, or your phone. Try turning away and looking…