Lisa💖 I love your solo videos! You have such a peaceful presence….. I needed to hear you talk about sickness because that is my number one anxiety in motherhood, and it stresses me out . I need to let go and trust God! God bless your beautiful family 💖💖💖💖💖💖
God will care for you! „Are you not more valuable than many sparrows“?? And remember, worry robs you of the present moment and of joy! God says, „ DON‘T worry.“
When pregnant with my first baby I read “the power of a praying parent” by Stormie Omartian. The Lord used this book to give me so much peace - my children belong to the Lord and He LOVES them way more then I could ever do. This realization made me realize that no matter what happens, God is in control.
About toys……when my boys were little I didn’t separate toys. They didn’t have a lot but they did have a big toy box that their grandpa made for them. Every toy went into that box and digging through it, looking for a certain car or puzzle piece or finding something in the very bottom that they had forgotten about was exciting to them. Once in a while I would quickly go through it and throw away broken ones and get rid of outgrown toys but the digging through that jumbled toy box was a great pastime for them and visiting kids loved it too. At the end of the day it was easy for me and them to quickly return it all to one box. Most of it was on the floor around the box. No separate containers, or labeling or sorting. Sometimes when they wanted to do puzzles I would tell them to find ALL pieces, put them on the table, sort them to the correct puzzle then work as many as they wanted. Just the sorting was a fun, learning game for them. When a piece was missing they would run back to the toy box to find it. I’m just telling what I did in the 1960’s. I think toys were pretty basic back then. Donna
In regards to the woman asking about whether she should go to work and how she feels worthless being a stay at home mom, There is a channel called Home with Kelli who actually doesn't have any children yet but she talks a lot about building skill sets and improving her home economy. She is very valuable to her husband and the household by staying home. ❤ Just because we stay home doesn't mean that we are lazy or not contributing. We can obviously choose to do nothing but I stay at home and there is never a dull moment. There is always something to do, skills to work on or something related to my family that I need to take care of.
Agree, and also adding to the subject with our children...unless you were to have free child care that cost is high, plus the exhaustion after work and preparing for the next day with our kids, we would get takeout so much and by then I was paying out to actually work. For me, staying at home with our children was more important than choosing that trade. Find others who encourage your life rather than putting it down❤
I'm never bored, we have a small farm and we homeschool. Even up to a few years ago I still struggled with not bringing anything tangible to the financial table. I menu plan and budget, plan things ahead for gifts or school, garden, farm animals, so we aren't wastefully spending. I was constantly worried that because I didn't bring anything in, I was not as valuable as I could have been. It took me a long time to realize the absence of financial contribution was not the only measure of whether my time at home was valuable.
This was perfect for me to hear. We have three (2 year old twins and a 9 mo. old). I was like I'm done trying to steward all of these toys and their pieces. I put everything except wooden blocks and cars back in our toy closet and decided I won't be buying nearly as many moving forward.
I’m from a family of eleven and had seven children myself. I’d say you answered all the questions with such common sense and it’s mostly how my grandma , Mom and myself handled things especially in regards to sickness an toys , but again we had lots of outside space !
We filled 8 large paper grocery bags with toys and kept them in the basement 2 months. My 3 and 4 year old didn't notice, and after 2 months, we felt confident they wouldn't ask, so we donated it all. What a relief! Now we mostly have train sets, Legos, and magnet toys. Works great!
I have a 1 and 3 year old in a 1,200ft house, but don’t entirely agree with Lisa on the toy thing. I would advise that mom to 1. Look at what toys engage your kids the most. My son has 3 things that will hold his attention for hours; cars, trains, books. My daughter is 1 and it’s stuffed animals. Then take those toys and pair them down to just a few, what is the minimum your kid needs to be happy; 1 doll, 2 cars, etc. I do offer a few toys they have to share too. Example, we have 3 push toys, but only one stays out the others are in the basement and I rotate through them weekly. Lastly, any toys with a bunch of pieces is kept out of reach. My son loves puzzles but he has to ask for them and I will get them out of the closet for him to do say while I make dinner. Your kids don’t need access to every toy 24/7. Give them only what they can manage.
After four kids I’m feeling the same. Legos and duplo stay. But everything else caused me so my stress. The beautiful wooden toys I spent so much on. And the kids just not keep them organised. Silly I thought they could even do that. It’s so freeing to get rid of the toys. The kids spend so much time outside anyway.
I was also overwhelmed by toys when my kids were little. As she mentioned, family members (grandmas, aunts, etc) and friends wanted to show love to my kids through buying them toys. And in the suburban culture, the kids see other kids’ toys and parents perpetually feel like they have to keep buying more, like it’s “normal” in those young parent circles. But they hardly ever played with them. Now that we live out in the country, toys are just not a thing anymore for my kids. They play outside and nature is their toy. They are building 8 ft teepees with found logs, for example.
Having help with groceries is not a modern concept! Grocery delivery has been common in America since at least the 1930s. There were grocery "delivery boys" who did that as their full-time job until World War II started and they were drafted or enlisted. At that point, a lot of American women had to start doing their own grocery shopping who had been used to having it delivered previously. I have many books and articles published in the 40s that talk about this. A lot of"new" homemaking ideas can actually find in publications from 80 years ago. For instance, audio books are not a modern homemaking idea, either. Homemakers were encouraged in the 50s to listen to books on records while they were cleaning their homes. 👍
I was going to say exactly this… but it goes even earlier than this! One of my favorite book series by Maud Hart Lovelace was written about her life going up around 1910. “Grocery delivery “ is mentioned throughout the book. It makes sense…automobiles weren’t common, and a family would only own one typically, until the 50’s and 60’s. Household help of all kinds was far more common, before we had extra machines to help with the workload!
Going back even earlier, into the 1800s, you could say there was "grocery pickup"! I've read numerous books set in the 1800s, that mention giving their list to the clerk of the General Store, going about other errands in town, and then returning to have it loaded onto their wagon.
I worked in some pretty bad day cares.. I stayed home 1st 10 yrs then had to go back to work in 08. I work for a large company from home I picked hours opposite of my husband. I always knew I would do whatever it took to keep my kids with me and with our families values.
I love how much your inteo has chnaged through the years!! 😁You've come so far as a business woman and mom!! Praying for you and your family. Thank you for sharing videos that don't cause anxiety, but rather lift us up.❤️☺️ You are doing God's work.❤️❤️
Mommas, best tips I learned when my kids were small: 1) Use two grocery carts! One you push, one you pull. Take a list, and put one of the older kids in charge of it. The little one(s) sit(s) in front with their shoe laces tied together (so they can‘t stand up). One child holds onto the cart on one side and one on the other. This stops fights. I hand them things and they’re in charge of putting them in the basket. Another child holds onto my back pocket (it’s like holding hand but MY hands are free! 2) kids help bag. The smaller ones „ help“ by telling them which items are heavy and go in first! They also hand them bags. They also remind them, „ Cold things together!“ 3) Get a tall lightweight box (like an appliance box) to toss toys into. When you get to the bottom, kids can play on it (color or paint inside, use stickers. The child is contained, as well as the mess. The toys can be tossed in and the box dragged to the porch, the garage, to the playroom. Think of it as a vertical toy box! 4) RELAX. Play with the kids, let them help, slow down, teach as you go.
I so needed to see this today my boys have a ungodly amount of toys we do try to go through them together to give to children less fortunate but it's so much easier for me to do it myself but to find myself letting go if things because I always put in my head what if they want them or want to play with them then I tend to hold onto them for a what if but truth is they are toys they haven't touched in months time for me to get rid of the unnecessary items they are just taking up space not only in our home but in my head lol thank you for always being so kind and humble and such an inspiration for us to live a more simple life and home❤ much love from upstate n.y
@katie7748 yes I agree my parents as well hence why I mostly do it with them doing it with me for those who are less fortunate, but mostly the things I get rid of without their knowledge is broken or missing pieces but I always try to have them involved as much as possible
I love your videos so much! I have 6 (going on 7) children, ages 17 on down, and have taken on a lot of the same attitudes about things. Sometimes I feel like the odd one out because I don't stress about things that maybe I should stress about 🤣 but listening to your videos brings me so much comfort knowing I'm not alone! I always encourage new moms that come to me for parenting advice to watch your videos because you pretty much sum up everything I would tell them!
Personally, grocery trips have been important for us! I only have 3 very little kids (one 3yr old, two 1 year olds), so this may not apply with older kids or more kids: Shopping with them is low-stakes practice for listening and life skills. My 3 year old pushes a mini cart and now he can identify things we need, and put back impulse items when asked. It's a great way to talk about colours and letters, etc with the babies too. I have been told multiple times that it looks like we "are having too much fun". 😊 That said, my mother in law also had 3 under 3 (3 under 2 actually) and she never took them to the grocery store! Not once! Too much chaos if they're not used to it. And i order grocery delivery when it's just too much to go in. No one size fits all!
My piece of advice for any moms with littles seeing this and struggling with the toy thing - it’s a huge mind numbing thing for most people. I got rid of 2/3 of my kids toys and they play so much better! The issue I ran into was the judgment from my family or other moms who kept telling me they need “age appropriate developmental toys” and it just didn’t make sense to me. I can’t remember the creator but I saw a video of a mom who got rid of 90% of her kids toys and took so much data and recorded how it changed their home and her kids’ attitudes and how they played solo and with one another for the better. It was too much work for me to do it that way but I was confident it would be a success and I have so much more peace now. I even want to get rid of half of the stuff I kept but I have another baby coming so I’m sure I’ll have to do it again next year anyway haha! Good luck mamas!
With toys.. something I’ve realized lately is that my own attitude about them is what’s causing toy keeping / management to be stressful. I was asking grandparents to only buy certain things but that was cutting off the flow of joy for them and it was keeping my kids from experiencing something different they wouldn’t have gotten from me. So I’m asking myself this holiday season about how to relax more, how to create a better management system so they can keep toys without it being overwhelming, how can I teach my kids to organize / clean their things, which is an important skill.. and I’ve released my parents and in laws to give as they want to. If I can receive the gifts they want to give my kids we all will experience joy, something new, and if the kids don’t care about the toys later, they can always find a new home 😛
I haven’t seen able to restrict what others give either but my solution was watch the kids and see what they play with most often. I’d see Christmas toys 2 months later basically untouched and I’d put it front and center and encourage the kids to play with it and if they aren’t inclined they won’t. Those toys I donate several months after a birthday or Christmas once I’m sure they don’t want it or won’t truly use it and I can donate confidently without guilt! And yes, grandparents give different stuff from us which is really fun.
I really love this! I never felt good about restricting what family wanted to get my kids, considering their hearts in wanting to bless and bring joy! But we box away toys that aren’t played with and rotate them out. If they don’t get played with after a while, we pass along to a friend or donate. It gives them a chance to see all sorts of different toys and get things that I may not have thought to purchase for them! And also, sometimes we can send the toys back to the grandparents house, that way it’s a novelty every time we visit!!
When my kids were younger my son came home from school with chicken pox & exposed the whole daycare. When my friend found out, she told me that she wished she'd known-then she would've brought her 3 girls over & exposed them to get it over with & help build their immune systems.
I just love your podcast and what you say. You answered the questions so lovingly and well. I can't imagine spending $200 something for a wrap though. Woah. I definitely think that if you plan to have more kids it is good to keep things you know you will use or pass it around in the meantime. I did that a lot and am keeping some items for a hopeful fourth baby before I age out. . .and I don't keep ANYTHING.
Love the helpful tips on minimizing! With two under two, I’m quickly realizing the worth of my sanity far outweighs all the little puzzle pieces and stuff. Have you heard of Bright Hearth? Some great homemaking content. It’s a podcast I listen to on Spotify. I’d love for you to have Lexi on to chat about motherhood or marriage.
Ha! The mesh crib tent. I had one boy that could climb and get out like a Houdini! He was such a pest to his brothers trying to sleeping in the same room. The tent worked great.
I’ve been watching you since you lived on Boone St as well! I was expecting my first and I think you had just had Micah? Anyway! You have brought me thru 4 pregnancies thus far and life with littles with such amazing advice and inspiration. So much that you mentioned in this video I have come to the same conclusions about. It’s great to have confirmation of those from other moms!
I love listening even know my kids are 18,20,23 when mine were little we had 3/4 totes and we would swap them out every few weeks and when we got more than those totes we thrifted them or sold on line
I honestly have had the same qualms about grocery pick up or delivery. This is how I think of it- grocery stores are already modern. Before we’d grow our own, trade, go to market. I remember watching I love Lucy and her grocery man coming by… so basically the same thing?
$800 for "health insurance" alternative is fantastic!! No regular insurance is going to be close. When we had just 4 kids and my husband was employed with another company, they offered us a plan that was $1400 /mo. We use CHM now and for our family of 6, I believe it's about $700...
I just love your advice. I'm currently in the middle of a purge. I'd like to get pregnant next year, and there's just no way I'll be able to handle my 1 year old and a dysfunctional home.
We have a very small yard in town and we still don’t have a lot of toys. Outdoor things are a much better investment. We got strider bikes used on FB and we plan on getting a sandbox and trampoline. We also invest or get for gifts really good winter gear so our kids will go out during the winter! It’s a way better use of our money!
We just joined Samaritan. We previously had an Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) policy. Two adults in good health paid $3300.00/month. In 2025, our premium would have been over $4000.00/month. We are early retirees, too young for Medicare and just over the income limit for a subsidy. If you are a family of 10 and you only have an $800.00/month "premium" , you are blessed.
I love your minimal toys - and completely agree. Only having legos would be plenty, however I have to say your kids probably have a ton of outside space and freedom to play with nature, which is so helpful! That alone would be enough! I wish we had that. Some people may keep more if they live in the city, have no outdoor space, etc. my kids would be happy with just nature stuff!
We use the 20/20 rule constantly. It’s super helpful for my big kids. I think The Minimalists coined it. …We also use The Minimal Mom’s “if it’s not a decisive, enthusiastic YES then it’s a no”.
Your take on sickness… Yes and Amen!!! We have 5 kids and hang out with many other large families. We have all surrendered because we would literally never see each other if we didn’t. It seems to me that sicknesses that truly should keep us home, do. I mean if they’re severe enough, I can tell and we stay home. More often than not though, these common colds and minor illnesses aren’t something we are concerned about. I do try to be sensitive to my friends and family who fall into the sterilize and quarantine everything camp though. The immune system that has been allowed to develop without interventions (ie vaccines and fever reducers) is a beautiful thing.
I would love your advice on how to handle a child with a stomach bug for example throwing up. What are some home remedies that help with that? Your comment really helped me because I worry a lot about sickness. Thank you ❤
Yes! I had to let my friends know not to be around me or the kids when they had „ just a cold,“ though. My kids and babies had RSV a few times being exposed to kids with „colds.“ A few landed in ERS or hospitals. They also had croup and asthma attacks. They’re well now thank the Lord but a snotty nose, sneezing, coughing - please keep your kid home.
@@Dana-mb1hd activated charcoal is great for stomach bugs! They usually come in capsules but for little ones I open the capsule and mix with juice or applesauce.
@@Dana-mb1hdI understand where you’re coming from. I used to be afraid of sickness until I came to realize that all those nasty symptoms are God’s design for detoxing and healing our bodies. For stomach bugs, I tend to go with feeding them bone broth, then kombucha, then milk kefir berry smoothies. I don’t worry too much about getting them to eat, just keeping them hydrated while they naturally want to fast and then when they’ve regained their appetite, we do broth based soups. I really believe that childhood illnesses set them up for less autoimmunity and chronic disease later on (Dr Thomas Cowan and others have written on this). When viewed through this lens, the sicknesses become less scary and we see their value in forming a healthy immune system and person. An interesting aside, I’ve also noticed that following bigger bouts of sickness, my kids often make a developmental leap.
Excited about your upcoming video that you teased! Want to be able to pull together our space in about 1 hour for company with two little children. That’s the dream.
The grandparents are key by NOT interfering with your limiting toy gifts, and by NOT giving you a TV when you have chosen to read books every evening. Pay attention Gramma and Grampa. TV and media can be bad babysitters.
I can’t bring my kids around any family without them immediately pulling their phone out and handing it to my 3 year old😒. And they wonder why my children act worse around them. We do no tv till dad gets home (I can’t get my husband on board with no tv.) and usually he wants to watch farming videos so it’s not stimulating them much.
Hi Lisa! Speaking of the first 6-14 weeks.. Im 7 weeks pregnant and the first trimester fatigue and nausea is kicking my butt ❤ Curious what natural remedies you may use to ease the symptoms? Love these solo videos!
I seriously struggled with nausea and vomiting in my pregnancies, especially my first (hyperemesis gravidarum). I managed it much better the second time. I recommend: A methylated b vitamin complex, particularly b6 1/2 a Unisom at night Magnesium glycinate Force yourself to eat protein and don’t let your tummy get empty. If you are unable to function or hold anything down, talk to your obgyn about a Zofran prescription. Zofran saved my life. I have a standing order for it with my doctor. Hope that helps.
Hey girl! Just wanted to say that I’m 7 weeks pregnant too! I have chronic auto immune issues so I already have low energy so first trimester is kicking my butt too in terms of energy. I loved what Lisa said about it. Kind of allowed me to give myself grace ❤ Praying your pregnancy goes well!
I struggled with nausea this pregnancy, but trace mineral drops made a HUGE difference in how I felt. Maybe give them a try? It was new to me, but really helped. Also, eating more often in small amounts throughout the day. All the best!
I have a question that I dont think you have talked about. When you had your first kids, did you have to play with them constantly? How did you manage to do so? Or how did you help your toddlers learn to play on their own? I havent been blessed to have children yet, but wondering how will that work when I get to have my 1st and no other children will be around.
Mom of five here, with a two and a half year age gap between my first and second children. No, you do not have to play with your children constantly! In fact, I really never make a point of playing with my kids at all. Gasp! Take them along with you in the work that you are doing. My kids love to help me in the kitchen, with measuring and stirring when they are little, which turns into cooking eggs and flipping pancakes, with supervision, by the time they are preschool age. Little ones love to help clean. Let them loose on an old linoleum floor or something that it's okay if it gets a little overly wet, and let them do the mopping first, before you go in and finish up. As soon as she could walk my youngest has asked to help unload the dishwasher. They want to spend time with you, they don't need your help in playing. They are perfectly capable of going off and playing on their own, as long as you don't start the habit of having them think that they need a playmate in the form of you, in order to have fun. Also, let them go outside. That is probably the best place for them to use their imaginations!
What do you do about sleep regressions. The way you think is so common sense, I love that. My 16 month old is having a way harder time with teething and sleeping in general than my five year old did. We sleep trained right around the year mark and you are so right about committing lol. We have just moved and he is so clingy at the moment, if I bring him to bed he will go to sleep, which he didn’t used to. But I’m afraid of starting a bad habit to get him through this patch.
Hi Lisa! I am a mom of 2 (4 years and 18 months) and I am struggling with them constantly fighting over the same toy. What is your approach to this parenting dilemma?
As someone who lives in Minnesota 5 years ago if I wanted to pay for private insurance it would have been 700$ just for me. Not for my husband and we didn't have kids at the time.
I just put raw milk in the blender and add cocoa and honey or maple syrup and a pint of salt....adjust to your desired level of chocolate and sweetness.
Hi Lisa, I have a question so I know you guys live like out of the city I live in the city in an apartment with my three children ages 2010 and five the two younger ones have them developmental delays and ADHD. What do you do about toys when your kids can’t always go outside and play oryou know the ADHD factor comes in to play with Children what would you like because I do want us to find my kids toys but I do know they do a good amount of stuff to keep them busy sometimes also because I am very ill and a single mother the oldest is away at college so what should I do in that since also have you heard of the app pantry I heard you say you had a running list of items that you’re keeping your house this app literally you can scan the barcode or you can individually put the stuff in and you put in when it and when the expiration date is on there. You can also put where you have it stored in your home and it gives you updates on what’s going bad how much of what you have when you try to reference the stuff back it’s an awesome app. You should look into that instead of always having you know the pen and paper.
it is really just raw milk whatever amount you want to drink with cocoa powder and real maple syrup to taste...a pinch of salt too.....mix in the blender and serve or make a big batch to store in the fridge....
For us, we keep a personal tote box in the garage (one for each child). These stay in the garage and come out when they ask for it. While they play in the garage I put a chair outside and read :) When birthdays/ Christmas come, we analyze the box. If the new toys dont fit in the box, then they decide if they donate the new toy or take some older toys so the new ones fit. Inside we keep a dresser which holds all their "sharing toys". Same concept, if we want to put in more and they dont fit, we have to take some out. No toys in bedrooms. They dont make a fuss because we use this container approach throughout our home. So they are familiar with the concept. Its all about finding a solution that works for your family and what brings peace into your home. Its okay to run YOUR home the way YOU want to manage it. It took me a while to learn and accept that vs people pleasing. I value my space/ mental health over "things". Its about learning how to interact with your things vs being attached to them. Once I heard, "I have never seen a hurst with a Uhaul behind it 🤣" Hope this helps and good luck.
Hi Lisa, I have a question so I know you guys live like out of the city I live in the city in an apartment with my three children ages 2010 and five the two younger ones have them developmental delays and ADHD. What do you do about toys when your kids can’t always go outside and play oryou know the ADHD factor comes in to play with Children what would you like because I do want us to find my kids toys but I do know they do a good amount of stuff to keep them busy sometimes
I have a gluten free starter and bread recipe on FarmhouseonBoone.com. As for everything converting to gluten free, I cannot say as I have not tested the recipes that way.
As much as I'd like to I don't see how I could save money in our household as a homemaker in a way that it would compete with me working... Whatsoever. I want to try do my best to live frugally but, I certainly can't save the same amount I'd make. Baking and sowing doesn't save that much money?
I love how much your inteo has chnaged through the years!! 😁You've come so far as a business woman and mom!! Praying for you and your family. Thank you for sharing videos that don't cause anxiety, but rather lift us up.❤️☺️ You are doing God's work.❤️❤️
Mommas, best tips I learned when my kids were small: 1) Use two grocery carts! One you push, one you pull. Take a list, and put one of the older kids in charge of it. The little one(s) sit(s) in front with their shoe laces tied together (so they can‘t stand up). One child holds onto the cart on one side and one on the other. This stops fights. I hand them things and they’re in charge of putting them in the basket. Another child holds onto my back pocket (it’s like holding hand but MY hands are free! 2) kids help bag. The smaller ones „ help“ by telling them which items are heavy and go in first! They also hand them bags. They also remind them, „ Cold things together!“ 3) Get a tall lightweight box (like an appliance box) to toss toys into. When you get to the bottom, kids can play on it (color or paint inside, use stickers. The child is contained, as well as the mess. The toys can be tossed in and the box dragged to the porch, the garage, to the playroom. Think of it as a vertical toy box! 4) RELAX. Play with the kids, let them help, slow down, teach as you go.
Couldn’t agree more! What’s considered minimalistic today was considered excessive only a few generations ago.
Lisa💖 I love your solo videos! You have such a peaceful presence….. I needed to hear you talk about sickness because that is my number one anxiety in motherhood, and it stresses me out . I need to let go and trust God! God bless your beautiful family 💖💖💖💖💖💖
God will care for you! „Are you not more valuable than many sparrows“??
And remember, worry robs you of the present moment and of joy!
God says, „ DON‘T worry.“
@ 🙏
When pregnant with my first baby I read “the power of a praying parent” by Stormie Omartian. The Lord used this book to give me so much peace - my children belong to the Lord and He LOVES them way more then I could ever do. This realization made me realize that no matter what happens, God is in control.
Me too. Thanks for the book recommendation too.
I’m glad you found some peace in this video!
Your solo podcasts are my favorite!🥳
Same
I love these too!
About toys……when my boys were little I didn’t separate toys. They didn’t have a lot but they did have a big toy box that their grandpa made for them. Every toy went into that box and digging through it, looking for a certain car or puzzle piece or finding something in the very bottom that they had forgotten about was exciting to them. Once in a while I would quickly go through it and throw away broken ones and get rid of outgrown toys but the digging through that jumbled toy box was a great pastime for them and visiting kids loved it too. At the end of the day it was easy for me and them to quickly return it all to one box. Most of it was on the floor around the box. No separate containers, or labeling or sorting. Sometimes when they wanted to do puzzles I would tell them to find ALL pieces, put them on the table, sort them to the correct puzzle then work as many as they wanted. Just the sorting was a fun, learning game for them. When a piece was missing they would run back to the toy box to find it. I’m just telling what I did in the 1960’s. I think toys were pretty basic back then. Donna
Great perspective!
I put together toy sets and it was frustrating. Could have saved myself SO MUCH WORK!
Thank you for sharing that with us.
In regards to the woman asking about whether she should go to work and how she feels worthless being a stay at home mom, There is a channel called Home with Kelli who actually doesn't have any children yet but she talks a lot about building skill sets and improving her home economy. She is very valuable to her husband and the household by staying home. ❤ Just because we stay home doesn't mean that we are lazy or not contributing. We can obviously choose to do nothing but I stay at home and there is never a dull moment. There is always something to do, skills to work on or something related to my family that I need to take care of.
Totally agree with everything you said.
Agree, and also adding to the subject with our children...unless you were to have free child care that cost is high, plus the exhaustion after work and preparing for the next day with our kids, we would get takeout so much and by then I was paying out to actually work. For me, staying at home with our children was more important than choosing that trade. Find others who encourage your life rather than putting it down❤
I am never bored either! ❤
Love Kelli’s channel!!
I'm never bored, we have a small farm and we homeschool. Even up to a few years ago I still struggled with not bringing anything tangible to the financial table. I menu plan and budget, plan things ahead for gifts or school, garden, farm animals, so we aren't wastefully spending. I was constantly worried that because I didn't bring anything in, I was not as valuable as I could have been. It took me a long time to realize the absence of financial contribution was not the only measure of whether my time at home was valuable.
This was perfect for me to hear. We have three (2 year old twins and a 9 mo. old). I was like I'm done trying to steward all of these toys and their pieces. I put everything except wooden blocks and cars back in our toy closet and decided I won't be buying nearly as many moving forward.
I’m from a family of eleven and had seven children myself. I’d say you answered all the questions with such common sense and it’s mostly how my grandma , Mom and myself handled things especially in regards to sickness an toys , but again we had lots of outside space !
We filled 8 large paper grocery bags with toys and kept them in the basement 2 months. My 3 and 4 year old didn't notice, and after 2 months, we felt confident they wouldn't ask, so we donated it all. What a relief! Now we mostly have train sets, Legos, and magnet toys. Works great!
I have a 1 and 3 year old in a 1,200ft house, but don’t entirely agree with Lisa on the toy thing. I would advise that mom to 1. Look at what toys engage your kids the most. My son has 3 things that will hold his attention for hours; cars, trains, books. My daughter is 1 and it’s stuffed animals. Then take those toys and pair them down to just a few, what is the minimum your kid needs to be happy; 1 doll, 2 cars, etc. I do offer a few toys they have to share too. Example, we have 3 push toys, but only one stays out the others are in the basement and I rotate through them weekly. Lastly, any toys with a bunch of pieces is kept out of reach. My son loves puzzles but he has to ask for them and I will get them out of the closet for him to do say while I make dinner. Your kids don’t need access to every toy 24/7. Give them only what they can manage.
It's great that you have found a system that works for you!
After four kids I’m feeling the same. Legos and duplo stay. But everything else caused me so my stress. The beautiful wooden toys I spent so much on. And the kids just not keep them organised. Silly I thought they could even do that. It’s so freeing to get rid of the toys. The kids spend so much time outside anyway.
I was also overwhelmed by toys when my kids were little. As she mentioned, family members (grandmas, aunts, etc) and friends wanted to show love to my kids through buying them toys. And in the suburban culture, the kids see other kids’ toys and parents perpetually feel like they have to keep buying more, like it’s “normal” in those young parent circles. But they hardly ever played with them.
Now that we live out in the country, toys are just not a thing anymore for my kids. They play outside and nature is their toy. They are building 8 ft teepees with found logs, for example.
Having help with groceries is not a modern concept! Grocery delivery has been common in America since at least the 1930s. There were grocery "delivery boys" who did that as their full-time job until World War II started and they were drafted or enlisted. At that point, a lot of American women had to start doing their own grocery shopping who had been used to having it delivered previously. I have many books and articles published in the 40s that talk about this. A lot of"new" homemaking ideas can actually find in publications from 80 years ago. For instance, audio books are not a modern homemaking idea, either. Homemakers were encouraged in the 50s to listen to books on records while they were cleaning their homes. 👍
I was going to say exactly this… but it goes even earlier than this! One of my favorite book series by Maud Hart Lovelace was written about her life going up around 1910. “Grocery delivery “ is mentioned throughout the book. It makes sense…automobiles weren’t common, and a family would only own one typically, until the 50’s and 60’s. Household help of all kinds was far more common, before we had extra machines to help with the workload!
Going back even earlier, into the 1800s, you could say there was "grocery pickup"! I've read numerous books set in the 1800s, that mention giving their list to the clerk of the General Store, going about other errands in town, and then returning to have it loaded onto their wagon.
I appreciate you sharing all of your knowledge for those of us that are trying to learn
I worked in some pretty bad day cares.. I stayed home 1st 10 yrs then had to go back to work in 08. I work for a large company from home I picked hours opposite of my husband. I always knew I would do whatever it took to keep my kids with me and with our families values.
Moms who struggle with the work or not to work mindset, should listen to the world and UN recognized expert: Erica Komisar
I love how much your inteo has chnaged through the years!! 😁You've come so far as a business woman and mom!! Praying for you and your family. Thank you for sharing videos that don't cause anxiety, but rather lift us up.❤️☺️
You are doing God's work.❤️❤️
Mommas, best tips I learned when my kids were small:
1) Use two grocery carts! One you push, one you pull. Take a list, and put one of the older kids in charge of it. The little one(s) sit(s) in front with their shoe laces tied together (so they can‘t stand up).
One child holds onto the cart on one side and one on the other. This stops fights. I hand them things and they’re in charge of putting them in the basket.
Another child holds onto my back pocket (it’s like holding hand but MY hands are free!
2) kids help bag. The smaller ones „ help“ by telling them which items are heavy and go in first! They also hand them bags.
They also remind them, „ Cold things together!“
3) Get a tall lightweight box (like an appliance box) to toss toys into. When you get to the bottom, kids can play on it (color or paint inside, use stickers.
The child is contained, as well as the mess.
The toys can be tossed in and the box dragged to the porch, the garage, to the playroom. Think of it as a vertical toy box!
4) RELAX. Play with the kids, let them help, slow down, teach as you go.
Love it! You make motherhood feel so much more manageable and less stressful. I appreciate all your advice!
Love a good grocery pickup!! Such a game changer with little kids!
I so needed to see this today my boys have a ungodly amount of toys we do try to go through them together to give to children less fortunate but it's so much easier for me to do it myself but to find myself letting go if things because I always put in my head what if they want them or want to play with them then I tend to hold onto them for a what if but truth is they are toys they haven't touched in months time for me to get rid of the unnecessary items they are just taking up space not only in our home but in my head lol thank you for always being so kind and humble and such an inspiration for us to live a more simple life and home❤ much love from upstate n.y
@katie7748 yes I agree my parents as well hence why I mostly do it with them doing it with me for those who are less fortunate, but mostly the things I get rid of without their knowledge is broken or missing pieces but I always try to have them involved as much as possible
Amazing, thank you so much Lisa! LOVE, love your solo videos and the wisdom you share.
I love your videos so much! I have 6 (going on 7) children, ages 17 on down, and have taken on a lot of the same attitudes about things. Sometimes I feel like the odd one out because I don't stress about things that maybe I should stress about 🤣 but listening to your videos brings me so much comfort knowing I'm not alone! I always encourage new moms that come to me for parenting advice to watch your videos because you pretty much sum up everything I would tell them!
I have a 3 year old and two 1 year olds. What are your top tips (not in the video)?
Maybe this is because we only have one (another on the way!), but I don’t put toys back, they litter the floors for playing until we have guests 😂😅
Personally, grocery trips have been important for us!
I only have 3 very little kids (one 3yr old, two 1 year olds), so this may not apply with older kids or more kids: Shopping with them is low-stakes practice for listening and life skills. My 3 year old pushes a mini cart and now he can identify things we need, and put back impulse items when asked. It's a great way to talk about colours and letters, etc with the babies too. I have been told multiple times that it looks like we "are having too much fun". 😊
That said, my mother in law also had 3 under 3 (3 under 2 actually) and she never took them to the grocery store! Not once! Too much chaos if they're not used to it.
And i order grocery delivery when it's just too much to go in. No one size fits all!
Love your podcast! I listen to it in the evenings when the kids are down, and always feel in good company with this community of moms.
Love that!
Grocery pickup is such a blessing! I want to go through my kids toys and purge now 😅
I totally agree about the toys I see now as a grandmother and great grandmother how toys cause a lot of havoc in the home
My piece of advice for any moms with littles seeing this and struggling with the toy thing - it’s a huge mind numbing thing for most people. I got rid of 2/3 of my kids toys and they play so much better! The issue I ran into was the judgment from my family or other moms who kept telling me they need “age appropriate developmental toys” and it just didn’t make sense to me. I can’t remember the creator but I saw a video of a mom who got rid of 90% of her kids toys and took so much data and recorded how it changed their home and her kids’ attitudes and how they played solo and with one another for the better. It was too much work for me to do it that way but I was confident it would be a success and I have so much more peace now. I even want to get rid of half of the stuff I kept but I have another baby coming so I’m sure I’ll have to do it again next year anyway haha! Good luck mamas!
With toys.. something I’ve realized lately is that my own attitude about them is what’s causing toy keeping / management to be stressful. I was asking grandparents to only buy certain things but that was cutting off the flow of joy for them and it was keeping my kids from experiencing something different they wouldn’t have gotten from me. So I’m asking myself this holiday season about how to relax more, how to create a better management system so they can keep toys without it being overwhelming, how can I teach my kids to organize / clean their things, which is an important skill.. and I’ve released my parents and in laws to give as they want to. If I can receive the gifts they want to give my kids we all will experience joy, something new, and if the kids don’t care about the toys later, they can always find a new home 😛
I haven’t seen able to restrict what others give either but my solution was watch the kids and see what they play with most often. I’d see Christmas toys 2 months later basically untouched and I’d put it front and center and encourage the kids to play with it and if they aren’t inclined they won’t. Those toys I donate several months after a birthday or Christmas once I’m sure they don’t want it or won’t truly use it and I can donate confidently without guilt! And yes, grandparents give different stuff from us which is really fun.
I really love this! I never felt good about restricting what family wanted to get my kids, considering their hearts in wanting to bless and bring joy! But we box away toys that aren’t played with and rotate them out. If they don’t get played with after a while, we pass along to a friend or donate. It gives them a chance to see all sorts of different toys and get things that I may not have thought to purchase for them! And also, sometimes we can send the toys back to the grandparents house, that way it’s a novelty every time we visit!!
When my kids were younger my son came home from school with chicken pox & exposed the whole daycare. When my friend found out, she told me that she wished she'd known-then she would've brought her 3 girls over & exposed them to get it over with & help build their immune systems.
I’d love to hear your Mother interviewed!
I just love your podcast and what you say. You answered the questions so lovingly and well. I can't imagine spending $200 something for a wrap though. Woah. I definitely think that if you plan to have more kids it is good to keep things you know you will use or pass it around in the meantime. I did that a lot and am keeping some items for a hopeful fourth baby before I age out. . .and I don't keep ANYTHING.
Thanks for the info!
What about art supplies. And sports things like balls. Bikes
Freedom over opinions. ❤❤❤
Lots and lots of what you say makes people (me) HAPPY 👍💞
Love the helpful tips on minimizing! With two under two, I’m quickly realizing the worth of my sanity far outweighs all the little puzzle pieces and stuff.
Have you heard of Bright Hearth? Some great homemaking content. It’s a podcast I listen to on Spotify. I’d love for you to have Lexi on to chat about motherhood or marriage.
Ha! The mesh crib tent. I had one boy that could climb and get out like a Houdini! He was such a pest to his brothers trying to sleeping in the same room. The tent worked great.
I’ve been watching you since you lived on Boone St as well! I was expecting my first and I think you had just had Micah? Anyway! You have brought me thru 4 pregnancies thus far and life with littles with such amazing advice and inspiration. So much that you mentioned in this video I have come to the same conclusions about. It’s great to have confirmation of those from other moms!
I love listening even know my kids are 18,20,23 when mine were little we had 3/4 totes and we would swap them out every few weeks and when we got more than those totes we thrifted them or sold on line
Same. Mine are 28,27 and 25. My advice, get rid of stuff and get off the screens.
Just wanted to say you look so beautiful in this video, I don't usually comment but I really appreciate your content.
Thank you so much!
I honestly have had the same qualms about grocery pick up or delivery. This is how I think of it- grocery stores are already modern. Before we’d grow our own, trade, go to market. I remember watching I love Lucy and her grocery man coming by… so basically the same thing?
Always enjoy your Q&A podcast! Have a wonderful day! God bless you! 😀❤️🙏🏻
Thank you so much!
$800 for "health insurance" alternative is fantastic!! No regular insurance is going to be close. When we had just 4 kids and my husband was employed with another company, they offered us a plan that was $1400 /mo. We use CHM now and for our family of 6, I believe it's about $700...
regarding sleep training using CIO, FYI their cortisol levels remain elevated even after theyve stopped crying :(
I love Lisa! Thank you for shining your light. I wish I had this wise maternal guidance when I was a young homemaker.
I just love your advice. I'm currently in the middle of a purge. I'd like to get pregnant next year, and there's just no way I'll be able to handle my 1 year old and a dysfunctional home.
It is a great idea to get your home in order and create some space for your growing family!
We have a very small yard in town and we still don’t have a lot of toys. Outdoor things are a much better investment. We got strider bikes used on FB and we plan on getting a sandbox and trampoline. We also invest or get for gifts really good winter gear so our kids will go out during the winter! It’s a way better use of our money!
We just joined Samaritan. We previously had an Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) policy. Two adults in good health paid $3300.00/month. In 2025, our premium would have been over $4000.00/month. We are early retirees, too young for Medicare and just over the income limit for a subsidy. If you are a family of 10 and you only have an $800.00/month "premium" , you are blessed.
A 3300? A month ? Omg !
My hubby pays $600 bi-weekly for health insurance for a family of 3.
Good morning from NJ. Thank you ❤
I love your minimal toys - and completely agree. Only having legos would be plenty, however I have to say your kids probably have a ton of outside space and freedom to play with nature, which is so helpful! That alone would be enough! I wish we had that. Some people may keep more if they live in the city, have no outdoor space, etc. my kids would be happy with just nature stuff!
This was so good! I’m amazed that you only have 1 bin of boy clothes. Here’s to letting go of hanging on to things 🎉
We use the 20/20 rule constantly. It’s super helpful for my big kids. I think The Minimalists coined it. …We also use The Minimal Mom’s “if it’s not a decisive, enthusiastic YES then it’s a no”.
Your take on sickness…
Yes and Amen!!!
We have 5 kids and hang out with many other large families. We have all surrendered because we would literally never see each other if we didn’t. It seems to me that sicknesses that truly should keep us home, do. I mean if they’re severe enough, I can tell and we stay home. More often than not though, these common colds and minor illnesses aren’t something we are concerned about. I do try to be sensitive to my friends and family who fall into the sterilize and quarantine everything camp though.
The immune system that has been allowed to develop without interventions (ie vaccines and fever reducers) is a beautiful thing.
I would love your advice on how to handle a child with a stomach bug for example throwing up. What are some home remedies that help with that? Your comment really helped me because I worry a lot about sickness. Thank you ❤
Yes!
I had to let my friends know not to be around me or the kids when they had „ just a cold,“ though.
My kids and babies had RSV a few times being exposed to kids with „colds.“
A few landed in ERS or hospitals. They also had croup and asthma attacks.
They’re well now thank the Lord but a snotty nose, sneezing, coughing - please keep your kid home.
@@Dana-mb1hd activated charcoal is great for stomach bugs! They usually come in capsules but for little ones I open the capsule and mix with juice or applesauce.
Our rule for sickness is if they've had no fever or throwing up for the past 24 hours we'll be around you.
@@Dana-mb1hdI understand where you’re coming from. I used to be afraid of sickness until I came to realize that all those nasty symptoms are God’s design for detoxing and healing our bodies.
For stomach bugs, I tend to go with feeding them bone broth, then kombucha, then milk kefir berry smoothies. I don’t worry too much about getting them to eat, just keeping them hydrated while they naturally want to fast and then when they’ve regained their appetite, we do broth based soups. I really believe that childhood illnesses set them up for less autoimmunity and chronic disease later on (Dr Thomas Cowan and others have written on this). When viewed through this lens, the sicknesses become less scary and we see their value in forming a healthy immune system and person.
An interesting aside, I’ve also noticed that following bigger bouts of sickness, my kids often make a developmental leap.
Grocery pick up for the win 👏🙌 Mom of almost 6 here!
Excited about your upcoming video that you teased! Want to be able to pull together our space in about 1 hour for company with two little children. That’s the dream.
My 2 year old carries a rock around 😅
Can you do a thriftmas/Christmas gift guide for kids/family/neighbors etc? Love every thing you do!
Angie from this gathered nest would be nice to see as a guest :)
Loved this ❤
Thanks for sharing ❤.
You’re welcome!
These podcast episodes are so refreshing! Thank you Lisa 😃
Glad you like them!
When you say "radically minimalize toys" can you show us what your toy selection and how you came down to that selection? Thank you
The grandparents are key by NOT interfering with your limiting toy gifts, and by NOT giving you a TV when you have chosen to read books every evening. Pay attention Gramma and Grampa. TV and media can be bad babysitters.
I can’t bring my kids around any family without them immediately pulling their phone out and handing it to my 3 year old😒. And they wonder why my children act worse around them. We do no tv till dad gets home (I can’t get my husband on board with no tv.) and usually he wants to watch farming videos so it’s not stimulating them much.
The thrift store idea for cheap toys is awesome!
Hi Lisa! Speaking of the first 6-14 weeks.. Im 7 weeks pregnant and the first trimester fatigue and nausea is kicking my butt ❤ Curious what natural remedies you may use to ease the symptoms? Love these solo videos!
I seriously struggled with nausea and vomiting in my pregnancies, especially my first (hyperemesis gravidarum). I managed it much better the second time.
I recommend:
A methylated b vitamin complex, particularly b6
1/2 a Unisom at night
Magnesium glycinate
Force yourself to eat protein and don’t let your tummy get empty.
If you are unable to function or hold anything down, talk to your obgyn about a Zofran prescription. Zofran saved my life. I have a standing order for it with my doctor. Hope that helps.
Hey girl! Just wanted to say that I’m 7 weeks pregnant too! I have chronic auto immune issues so I already have low energy so first trimester is kicking my butt too in terms of energy. I loved what Lisa said about it. Kind of allowed me to give myself grace ❤ Praying your pregnancy goes well!
I struggled with nausea this pregnancy, but trace mineral drops made a HUGE difference in how I felt. Maybe give them a try? It was new to me, but really helped. Also, eating more often in small amounts throughout the day. All the best!
For my girls it’s magnatiles and stuffed animals and art supplies thats all they want
Magnatiles! Yes! One of the very few things my kids do play with still (and legos)
Yes to Magnatiles!! 🙌🏻
Do you keep many kids' books on hand? Do you have a method of deciding what to keep and what not to with those?
We have lots of books for school and recreational reading!
How about bring on Margaret Matheny onto your show? Her RUclips showcases simple living and minimalism with a Christian theme. She's a mom of 3 boys.
Hello from NC
I’m pretty much asking for all of your courses for Christmas :)
I have a question that I dont think you have talked about. When you had your first kids, did you have to play with them constantly? How did you manage to do so? Or how did you help your toddlers learn to play on their own? I havent been blessed to have children yet, but wondering how will that work when I get to have my 1st and no other children will be around.
I would love to hear this question answered as well!
Mom of five here, with a two and a half year age gap between my first and second children. No, you do not have to play with your children constantly! In fact, I really never make a point of playing with my kids at all. Gasp! Take them along with you in the work that you are doing. My kids love to help me in the kitchen, with measuring and stirring when they are little, which turns into cooking eggs and flipping pancakes, with supervision, by the time they are preschool age. Little ones love to help clean. Let them loose on an old linoleum floor or something that it's okay if it gets a little overly wet, and let them do the mopping first, before you go in and finish up. As soon as she could walk my youngest has asked to help unload the dishwasher. They want to spend time with you, they don't need your help in playing. They are perfectly capable of going off and playing on their own, as long as you don't start the habit of having them think that they need a playmate in the form of you, in order to have fun. Also, let them go outside. That is probably the best place for them to use their imaginations!
What do you do about sleep regressions. The way you think is so common sense, I love that. My 16 month old is having a way harder time with teething and sleeping in general than my five year old did. We sleep trained right around the year mark and you are so right about committing lol. We have just moved and he is so clingy at the moment, if I bring him to bed he will go to sleep, which he didn’t used to. But I’m afraid of starting a bad habit to get him through this patch.
Hi Lisa! I am a mom of 2 (4 years and 18 months) and I am struggling with them constantly fighting over the same toy. What is your approach to this parenting dilemma?
As someone who lives in Minnesota 5 years ago if I wanted to pay for private insurance it would have been 700$ just for me. Not for my husband and we didn't have kids at the time.
Chocolate milk recipe please!!!
I have one: make the sugar syrup with cocoa FIRST. Boil 2 min.
Sprinkle with salt. Add vanilla.
Then add it to milk.
Best cocoa too.
I just put raw milk in the blender and add cocoa and honey or maple syrup and a pint of salt....adjust to your desired level of chocolate and sweetness.
Can you share your Walmart grocery list of what you get there?
I was just talking about this to my husband that we really need that 4th bedroom. A girl room/boy room/ and "baby" room. 😂
I had no idea your first house had a basement. I am quite sure houses in the UK do not have basements.
Yes, basements are more common in the US.
Hi Lisa, I have a question so I know you guys live like out of the city I live in the city in an apartment with my three children ages 2010 and five the two younger ones have them developmental delays and ADHD. What do you do about toys when your kids can’t always go outside and play oryou know the ADHD factor comes in to play with Children what would you like because I do want us to find my kids toys but I do know they do a good amount of stuff to keep them busy sometimes also because I am very ill and a single mother the oldest is away at college so what should I do in that since also have you heard of the app pantry I heard you say you had a running list of items that you’re keeping your house this app literally you can scan the barcode or you can individually put the stuff in and you put in when it and when the expiration date is on there. You can also put where you have it stored in your home and it gives you updates on what’s going bad how much of what you have when you try to reference the stuff back it’s an awesome app. You should look into that instead of always having you know the pen and paper.
Thanks for your insight! Can you share your chocolate milk recipe with cocoa powder?
it is really just raw milk whatever amount you want to drink with cocoa powder and real maple syrup to taste...a pinch of salt too.....mix in the blender and serve or make a big batch to store in the fridge....
Thank you!
How do you handle birthdays and Christmas gifts while staying minimal in toys that’s when they creep back in.
For us, we keep a personal tote box in the garage (one for each child). These stay in the garage and come out when they ask for it. While they play in the garage I put a chair outside and read :)
When birthdays/ Christmas come, we analyze the box. If the new toys dont fit in the box, then they decide if they donate the new toy or take some older toys so the new ones fit.
Inside we keep a dresser which holds all their "sharing toys". Same concept, if we want to put in more and they dont fit, we have to take some out. No toys in bedrooms. They dont make a fuss because we use this container approach throughout our home. So they are familiar with the concept.
Its all about finding a solution that works for your family and what brings peace into your home. Its okay to run YOUR home the way YOU want to manage it. It took me a while to learn and accept that vs people pleasing. I value my space/ mental health over "things". Its about learning how to interact with your things vs being attached to them. Once I heard, "I have never seen a hurst with a Uhaul behind it 🤣"
Hope this helps and good luck.
Yes, it would be alot more than 800 a month for a family of 10-12
Listening to this makes me think of how much time I wasted sorting legos when my son was young. Whyyyy????
Hi Lisa, I have a question so I know you guys live like out of the city I live in the city in an apartment with my three children ages 2010 and five the two younger ones have them developmental delays and ADHD. What do you do about toys when your kids can’t always go outside and play oryou know the ADHD factor comes in to play with Children what would you like because I do want us to find my kids toys but I do know they do a good amount of stuff to keep them busy sometimes
It’s hard when you leave in an apartment and can’t go out all the time bc you work from home and then off so late like at 6 pm.
I'm sure that is difficult to balance.
How do ask questions for a Q&A? Where I mean
Can the info in your sordough course be adapted to gluten free
I have a gluten free starter and bread recipe on FarmhouseonBoone.com. As for everything converting to gluten free, I cannot say as I have not tested the recipes that way.
Hannah from Ballerina Farm as a podcast guest for 2025
A carabiner Keychain is pretty amazing to help with the zipper crib tent situation. 💁🏼♀️💁🏼♀️💁🏼♀️
Instead pray about everything.
Talk to your doctor if you are having nausea and vomiting that you cannot manage yourself.
So you no longer have a dairy cow?
Not currently but plan to again in the future. I shared all about that in an older podcast/video
As much as I'd like to I don't see how I could save money in our household as a homemaker in a way that it would compete with me working... Whatsoever. I want to try do my best to live frugally but, I certainly can't save the same amount I'd make. Baking and sowing doesn't save that much money?
people who have more than one kids BLOW MY MIND! Nevertheless 8! Like HOW? How do even have time to shower….
Get off the internet and you've freed up some time😂
Regards to the insurance question: look into the ACA marketplace. My husband is self employed and we receive lots of subsidies.
I love how much your inteo has chnaged through the years!! 😁You've come so far as a business woman and mom!! Praying for you and your family. Thank you for sharing videos that don't cause anxiety, but rather lift us up.❤️☺️
You are doing God's work.❤️❤️
Thank you for your kind words! I hope to continue sharing helpful content!
Mommas, best tips I learned when my kids were small:
1) Use two grocery carts! One you push, one you pull. Take a list, and put one of the older kids in charge of it. The little one(s) sit(s) in front with their shoe laces tied together (so they can‘t stand up).
One child holds onto the cart on one side and one on the other. This stops fights. I hand them things and they’re in charge of putting them in the basket.
Another child holds onto my back pocket (it’s like holding hand but MY hands are free!
2) kids help bag. The smaller ones „ help“ by telling them which items are heavy and go in first! They also hand them bags.
They also remind them, „ Cold things together!“
3) Get a tall lightweight box (like an appliance box) to toss toys into. When you get to the bottom, kids can play on it (color or paint inside, use stickers.
The child is contained, as well as the mess.
The toys can be tossed in and the box dragged to the porch, the garage, to the playroom. Think of it as a vertical toy box!
4) RELAX. Play with the kids, let them help, slow down, teach as you go.
Thanks for sharing with us!