Mom{e}Matterschildren

When I was about 20 years old, I met an old pastor’s wife who told me that when she was young and had her first child, she didn’t believe in striking children, although spanking kids with a switch pulled from a tree was standard punishment at the time. But one day, when her son was four or five, he did something that she felt warranted a spanking—the first in his life. She told him that he would have to go outside himself and find a switch for her to hit him with.

The boy was gone a long time. And when he came back in, he was crying. He said to her, “Mama, I couldn’t find a switch, but here’s a rock that you can throw at me.”

All of a sudden the mother understood how the situation felt from the child’s point of view: that if my mother wants to hurt me, then it makes no difference what she does it with; she might as well do it with a stone. And the mother took the boy into her lap and they both cried. Then she laid the rock on a shelf in the kitchen to remind herself forever: never violence. And that is something I think everyone should keep in mind. Because when violence begins in the nursery, one can raise children into violence.

By Astrid Lindgren, author of Pippi Longstocking

∞03:14 pm, by mom-e-matters ∩18

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If I had my child to raise over again:
I’d build self-esteem first and the house later
I’d finger paint more and point the finger less
I would do less correcting and more connecting
I’d take my eyes off my watch and watch with my eyes
I would care to know less and know to care more
I’d take more hikes and fly more kites
I’d stop playing serious and seriously play
I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars
I’d do more hugging and less tugging
I’d see the oak tree in the acorn more often
I would be firm less often and affirm much more
I’d model less about the love of power
And more about the power of love.

~Diane Loomans

∞07:29 am, by mom-e-matters ∩3

[mom-e-matters] [children] [moms] [love]

This week’s Time magazine cover features Jamie Lynne Grumet, a 26-year-old woman breastfeeding her three-year-old son. Grumet was one of four mothers photographed by Time for a cover story on “attachment parenting,” an approach—outlined by 1992’s “The Baby Book” by Dr. Bill Sears—that recommends extended breast-feeding, co-sleeping and “baby wearing.”

I’m a proud supporter of breastfeeding and doing what you feel is best as a mother… but I do NOT think that child is 3. He’s like 8.

Discuss Mom{e}’s! What do you think of Time’s cover? Is it just an attempt to sell more magazines or is it a step in the right direction for breastfeeding moms everywhere and acceptance of this nurturing practice?

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∞02:40 pm, by mom-e-matters

[mom-e-matters] [time] [breastfeeding] [moms] [nursing] [baby] [toddler] [children]

This is pretty intriguing.

organicmommy:

colormemommy:

Montessori Madness.

Even before i saw this video, i knew that i wasn’t going to put Bella in a conventional school like i was put into. This just seals the f-ing deal. I don’t care how much money i have to save, bella will be either in a Montessori school or homeschooled.

I LOVE this!! It is exactly like the description of the Montessori school we are putting Addy into when she is 3! I just wish it didn’t cost $6000-$9000 a year…

(Source: cre8tivemommy)

∞03:00 am, reblogged by mom-e-matters ∩19

[Mom-e-matters] [motessori] [school] [children] [learning] [parents]

My mom always taught me to listen to children. What they say might not be important to us, but it’s important to them… As are their problems. Listen to them now, so they still come to you as they get older for the really big problems.

pbsparents:

This kid has 99 problems, and counting to 99 is one of them.

I’ve heard of “First World Problems” but “First Grade Problems??” I’m ~~intrigued~~ obsessed. It’s like, sometimes we grow up so fast, we forget how hard it really is to be a 6 year old.

(Source: )

∞04:33 pm, reblogged by mom-e-matters ∩144

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parenting:

This is a great idea if you’re planning a trip somewhere that could be hectic or crowded.

(via Dee Minturn on pinterest)

∞09:01 am, reblogged by mom-e-matters ∩91

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parenting:

We’re reposting this because today is National Hugging Day! So be sure to hug extra (a lot extra) today.

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∞12:49 pm, reblogged by mom-e-matters ∩16

[mom-e-matters] [national hug day] [hug] [children] [kids] [love]

Parents need to fill a child’s bucket of self-esteem so high that the rest of the world can’t poke enough holes in it to drain it dry.

Alvin Price

Praising our children is so important. If we don’t build their confidence, the best schooling won’t matter. A child has to believe he/she can do it first. So, mom{e}’s and dad{e}’s fill that bucket full!!

∞05:36 pm, by mom-e-matters ∩15

[mom-e-matters] [children] [mom] [dads] [kids] [praise] [confidence] [self-esteem]

Christmas Gift Idea for Preschoolers

Remember that Lite Brite you had as a child? Well, they’re back and maybe not better than ever, but still a great educational gift for your little one. How so? Well, let’s see:

Fine Motor Skills: Pushing those little pegs into the board can be tough for little hands, but in a good way. Focusing on the pincher grip, this toy strengthens your preschooler’s small muscles needed for writing, grasping small objects and fastening clothing.
Letter Recognition: Lite Brites also help your child with the alphabet; particularly capital letters. It’s important for the child to know various letters as the letters correspond to the colored pegs. Putting the pegs in the wrong order will immediately show the child that a mistake has been made in the pattern and to try again.
Creativity: Without using the predesigned templates, your preschooler will delight in making his/her own unique picture.
Shapes: Again, without using the templates, you can show your child how to make geometric shapes.

The possibilities are endless. I’m glad my son’s preschool teachers suggested this gift to us. They also suggested going to the library and exploring space/planet books, as children this age are really interested in the solar system and stars.

What will you get your preschooler for Christmas? Any other great gift ideas?

∞05:19 pm, by mom-e-matters ∩4

[mom-e-matters] [gifts] [christmas] [preschool] [preschoolers] [children] [moms] [dads] [lite brite] [educational] [motor skills] [library] [space] [planets] [stars]

I love this quote. I think it’s so important to let our children know to be proud of who they are and what they really excel at. And it’s just as important for parents not to get upset if their child isn’t great in every subject and instead, encourages their accomplishments. Our children need affirmations before abc’s.

Think of your child{ren} as a bucket with holes. You want to fill that bucket up so full of affirmations, “good jobs”, and “you are wonderfuls” so that even if someone is mean on the playground or he strikes out at baseball, his bucket is still so full from all the love and encouragement you’ve provided that he can pick himself up, dust himself off and carry on knowing how wonderful he is.

∞05:37 pm, by mom-e-matters ∩12

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