With summer break around the corner, I am already anticipating having both kids home from school and daycare for several days. Therefore, I am starting to compile activities that keep them busy, having fun and maybe even learn a bit. Like most children, mine are big fans of stickers–especially my 3-year-old.
I yearned to be a mother for as long as I can remember. I have vivid memories writing a piece in the third grade that said when I grew up I wanted to be a mom and have my own daycare so I could take care of my baby and other kids. So when I became pregnant with my first born at 29 years old, I was beyond excited. I would finally get to follow in my mother’s footsteps and be a kind, nurturing and loving caretaker for my family.
If you saw my Monochrome Playroom post, you would have seen the gallery wall I created in the room my kids frequent most. One of the prints shown on the gallery wall is one that I had made for my readers to download for free.
When we moved from our small two bedroom apartment downtown to our current suite that still isn’t massive, but does have four good sized rooms, I was thrilled to make the extra room a play space for the kids. I was happy we could have an area that could house their toys and foster their creative sides.
I am the first to tell you that being a mother is the hardest role I have taken on in this lifetime, while at the same time, being my proudest accomplishment. It is exciting, humbling, exhausting, all encompassing and emotionally draining and fulfilling (all within a single day). To your children, you are the one that provides for them, the one who comforts them and the one they love unconditionally, although they may not always show or say it. For that moms should be celebrated…not just in May, but each and every day.
If you follow me regularly, you know that I have a slight obsession with children’s books and promoting literacy. Growing up, my mom would say “Readers are Leaders” and I truly believe encouraging children to pick up a book and read is more important now than ever. That being said, I always note the importance of finding books that interest the child in order to develop their connection to wanting to read more often.
If you a saw my last post featuring my daughter’s “Tutti Fruitti” toddler bedroom, you may have seen the pastel prints placed above her play kitchen. The orange, lemon and pear artwork are the perfect addition to the space.
When my little girl was finished with her crib, I knew I wanted to refresh her room and bring in a cute toddler bed. My husband will tell you that I have gone through room themes like underwear since she was born…hearts, woodland animals, and most recently palm trees and flamingos. It is just that girl stuff is so darn cute and I find it easy to switch out a couple elements (like different printable and a blanket or two) to create a whole new look.
So it is the day after Easter and the remnants of the holiday lay around the house. In particular the plastic eggs seem to be in every room. With the kids home from daycare and school for one more day, we emptied any candy that remained into bags and put the plastic eggs to use before packing them away until next year.
One of my favorite memories as a child was from Easter: My mom and neighbor decided to organize and host a morning full of Easter activities. It included an egg hunt, pictures with the Easter Bunny, and was topped off with a full on parade. All the neighborhood kids marched down the streets around our house while donning their Easter best (complete with homemade bonnets and batons) alongside a wagon blasting music. Despite this being over 20 years ago now, it still brings a smile to my face thinking about all the fun we had.