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Fusion Academy :: A Revolutionary Way to Learn

By
Boston Moms
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Thank you, Fusion Academy, for sponsoring this post.

It wasn’t until I had children of my own that I realized how many options there are for educating my kids. I figured there were public schools and private schools — I never knew there were so many other ways students could learn and be taught. We know children learn differently, and we are beginning to better understand that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t necessarily work anymore.

What is Fusion Academy?

Fusion Academy in Newton is bridging this gap with an innovative learning concept that works for all students. Fusion boasts a one-to-one student-to-teacher ratio for middle school and high school students. Students are able to learn at their own pace, on their own time, with an educational program that is tailored to them and their needs.  

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Why Fusion?

The beauty of one student to one teacher at a time is that the students are able to truly focus on their strengths and work on their weaknesses to learn in a way that is optimal to their own needs. There are over 300 courses available in the Fusion curriculum, giving students the opportunity to take the state-required courses and enjoy a variety of enrichment classes that are much better suited to their personal needs and interests.

Throughout my tour of Fusion in Newton, the word “cool” kept coming out of my mouth, which is not a way I’ve ever described a high school before! First, it’s a welcoming and inviting space with lounge areas, lots of fun touches, and a warm, welcoming homelike decor and floor plan. Also, the students I saw were so happy and so unique.

Who is Fusion for?

Students come to Fusion for a variety of reasons — some are athletes who need to use traditional school time to practice, some have gotten lost in the big world of education, some are coming back from illness, and some are students with learning differences. There are students who are gifted, students who have learning differences, and everyone in between. Fusion is really for all students, and it bridges a gap in education that helps students excel in their own way. 

At Fusion, students have a lot more freedom with their schedules and day-to-day learning, helping them become more responsible and confident. With a customized learning plan that suits their needs, they develop a lifelong love of learning.

Fusion Academy recently opened in Newton and is enrolling students now.

 

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To Share or Not to Share…

By
Teresa Kett
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Photo courtesy Room & Board.

… kids’ bedrooms, that is.

Our living room was overrun with toys. My almost-5-year-old and his stuff had grown out of his small room. My 3-year-old was finally consistently sleeping through the night.

And then we stayed in a vacation rental with bunk beds. Both kids went crazy over the novelty and begged for bunk beds at home.

It made me think seriously about an idea I’d been mulling over — having the kids share a bedroom. I liked the idea of a “sleeping only” room, which we now call the “bunk room.” And a separate playroom, which we made from my daughter’s larger bedroom.

We took the plunge earlier this summer, and I recommend it. I realize sharing is just plain reality for larger families or those with only a couple of bedrooms, and you just make it work. But for those debating it, or perhaps facing it due to a new baby on the way, here’s how and why we made a shared bedroom work in our three-bedroom house with two kids. 

Pros:

Bunk beds are a huge space saver.

The small room that was my son’s doesn’t fit much other than the bunk beds. But it’s perfect for this use. The bunk room has only the beds, the kids’ clothes, and some books. No toys allowed other than the stuffed animals they sleep with.

The rest of their toys actually stay in the playroom (for the most part)!

This part of the experiment surprised me the most. I thought the toys would still end up everywhere. But we’ve been consistent about putting things back, so it usually works. And the best part is that my living room no longer looks like a daycare center!

Travel is easier.

When we travel and the kids have to share a room, it’s not a novelty and they sleep better.

We save on utilities!

During the summer we saved energy (and money) running only one window A/C unit in their shared room versus one in each bedroom like last summer.

Cons:

They sometimes wake each other up.

But it rarely happens overnight. More often, my oldest wakes his sister up too early in the morning. We reward super quiet, sneaky exits whenever possible. If one wakes up overnight with a bad dream or leg cramp, the other sometimes sleeps through it or goes right back to sleep because they’re still tired.

Shared nap time doesn’t work.

On the rare occasion both need a nap, it just doesn’t work to keep them both in the bunk room. Instead, I left one of the crib mattresses in the playroom for a reading nook, and my oldest uses that if he needs to.

Tips to make it happen:

Buy used bunk beds, but be picky.

My husband set up an alert on Facebook Marketplace for any bunk beds posted for sale. We waited for a set that met our criteria — stairs with drawers instead of a ladder, big drawers for clothes on the bottom instead of a trundle bed, and the dark wood color I preferred. It took about six weeks, but that gave us time to get organized and repaint. Around $200–250 seemed to be the norm for something like this.

Be patient.

It took a good two weeks of prolonged silliness before my kids got the hang of actually going to sleep together. Some of this was in temporary quarters in the playroom while we painted the bunk room. Eventually, the shenanigans got so out of control I wondered if this would work. But we persisted. And implemented a rule that they had to “earn” sleeping in the bunk room with five good nights of bedtime in the playroom. It worked. The threat of missing out on the new bunk beds was enough to ensure a reasonable bedtime routine. 

Spend time organizing.

I took the chance to clean out outgrown toys and clothes and establish good organization systems in both new rooms. Everything has a place in the bunk room, and the kids know where things go. I bought storage buckets and shelves for the playroom. Sometimes it’s messy, but I can always close the door.

I once read a sibling quote that was something like: “The greatest gift our parents ever gave us was each other.” Whether my kids remember this experience when they’re older or not, it’s worth it. They love sharing now. And I love overhearing their bunk room chats. 

 

We Have Never Had Christmas at Home — and I’m Fine With That

By
Emily Fahle
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Christmas at home - Boston Moms Blog

When my husband and I got engaged, the second question our parents asked us (after asking when we were planning to get married) was how we were going to spend the holidays. It fell into place that we would spend Thanksgiving with one set of parents and Christmas with the other. The following year, we would switch. 

Before children arrived, this worked seamlessly. Our siblings adopted the same schedule, and we were all able to see each other at least once a year. Our holiday celebrations felt cozy and laid-back. The dog was spoiled and received way too many gifts from “Mimi” and “Papa.”

After we had our first daughter, celebrating Christmas took on an entirely new level of fun. She was 7 months old for her first Christmas, and everything was magical. Tree lights twinkling were mesmerizing, jingle bells were made for rock stars, and gift wrap was just as much fun as the gift itself. And yet we never felt the need to spend Christmas at home — to “wake up in our own beds.”

Having a sleepover at Mimi and Papa’s seemed to only add to the excitement of Christmas morning. Maybe we didn’t sleep great, but after becoming parents, who does? Moreover, it was very fun to extend the Christmas Eve merriment with our parents by sitting next to the fire, sipping spiked eggnog, and arranging the gifts under the tree. 

Logistics have become trickier the last few years. There are 14 of us traveling to my in-laws’ in Pennsylvania this year. Gifts have had to become smaller since we need the suitcase space. We have both flown and drove (flying FTW!) for the holidays. We all arrive the minute school gets out and stay until someone has to go back to work. It’s loud, we all consume way too much sugar, and we have a lot of fun.

They say there’s no place like home for the holidays, but for us, the magic of Christmas is not lost when we don’t wake up in our own beds Christmas morning. The magic of Christmas for our family is cousins piling on each other like puppies, Grandma baking too many cookies, and aunts and uncles bantering. Santa still finds us, and we get to share the excitement with our extended family. We may not have Christmas at home, but it’s our holiday tradition, and it’s special to us. Christmas may never be at “home,” but home is when we are all together.

 

Easy Beauty for Busy Moms :: Flawless by maurices

By
Boston Moms
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This post is sponsored by maurices, featuring the new Flawless cosmetics collection.

There are things I’m really good at. Getting three kids out of the house in the morning with minimal tears, throwing together a delicious dinner for 15 in a few hours time, and knowing the lyrics to tons of ’80s and ’90s songs are just a few.

Then there are things I am not good at. Catching a ball, dancing when I’m sober, and putting on my own makeup without looking like a clown are a few of those things I don’t excel at. Some things can’t be changed, but I’m slowly learning how to do my own makeup through the help of Instagram, YouTube, and the brand new flawless by maurices beauty line.

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For years, maurices has brought affordable, fun, and fashionable clothes to women all over the world, and their new beauty line is taking that same approach with a great line of makeup that’s perfect for everyone. As a makeup lover who is incredibly intimidated by all the options out there (seriously, what do I do with BB cream and how does foundation work?), it’s nice to have a line of makeup that is easy and versatile, without any craziness.

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I’m all about effortless, but I want to look a little more put together than just a swipe of clear lip balm. I also don’t want to spend a fortune on makeup when I’m running around doing that glamorous mom life but don’t want to sacrifice on quality. The gold and rose gold-hued packaging makes the whole line from maurices feel high end, even though the prices are on point. I love having everything I need in one place, and the gorgeous palettes by maurices make putting a little bit more into my daily look easy with a ton of colors and everything I need in one place. While I still don’t understand how (or why) to contour or what to do with BB cream, I do have an easy way to look more awake than my daily cups of joe is providing. A few simple swipes of makeup make this tired mama glow. The best part is that all the makeup can easily go from day to night for that perfect date night look!

I played around with all the beautiful pieces from maurices and came up with something really simple for everyday mom life. I don’t do foundation or concealer, so it was simple to create a look using shades H and K from the flawless eye and face palette on my eyes, with a little bit of the shimmer brown shadow for highlight. A little bit of the pink blush, a few swipes of mascara, and a bit of nude lip crayon, and I was good to go. Still a mom, but just a bit fresher!

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No, She’s Not Walking Yet (and Please Stop Asking Me About It!)

By
Lindsay Goldberg
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It feels like it never ends. Whenever I’m out with my baby, I get the questions. Whether it’s strangers, acquaintances, or friends, I hear, “Is she walking yet?” No. “Is she cruising?” No. “Is she pulling up?” No. “Is she crawling?” Well, kind of. She scootches. Finally — half a checkmark.

I get it — people are trying to be nice and conversational. So I go along with it and smile while trying not to buy into the shame and disappointment I’m feeling inside. But some of the judgment is real.

See, I’m totally aware that my daughter’s not walking. And I’m totally aware that kids develop different skills at different times. And I’m really proud of the things she does do. Her language and social skills have really exploded in the last couple weeks.

But this constant barrage of questions kills me and leaves me feeling like she’s the racehorse who hasn’t even left the gate.

And I’m not the only one. Friends of mine feel the same way. People, especially moms, love to ask what other people’s babies are doing as if there’s some checklist they all need to meet by a certain age.

But here’s the thing. Whether it’s sleep, language, or physical milestones, babies all have their own timelines! Babies do not read the “ages and stages” charts and follow them like a playbook. And the charts are all based on averages. Averages. As in, bell curves. As in, there are kids at both ends, “early” and “late.” And it is all OK. Not all kids need to know how to moo like a cow or walk unassisted by a certain age. Barring any serious problems, they all will get there.

Watching my baby’s firsts are amazing. She blew a kiss to herself in the mirror the other day. She lifted her shirt and said “bu-bo” while pointing to her belly. And I know her physical development will catch up. She’s in Early Intervention to help it along. And I’m really loving watching her day-to-day growth and development.

Please, when you see me, and when you see other moms, don’t go through a checklist of behaviors. Instead, ask, “How are things going?” or, my favorite, “What are her new tricks?” This really opens the door to let me boast about the things she is doing and focus on the positive. After all, there’s always so much positive — if you choose to see it.

 

Burgers’ Smokehouse :: A Lifesaver for Busy Moms!

By
Deanna Greenstein
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We are excited to partner with Burgers' Smokehouse for this post.

There are a lot of people in my house. Though I would love to say our daily routine runs like a well-oiled machine, that would be a lie. The honest truth is that with the myriad of people in my house also comes a schedule that is amazingly hectic — on a good day.

Between chauffeuring five kids to every activity under the sun, working two jobs, holding a position on the school PTO, and managing all the other responsibilities that come with LIFE, sometimes making “Good Housekeeping” worthy dinners falls by the wayside. (And by “sometimes,” this mama really means she finds herself making small talk with the food delivery guy far more often than she would like to admit. When the pizza guy recently complimented me on my new hair color, I graciously accepted the compliment and then slinked back into the house to research easy meal planning.)

Enter Burgers’ Smokehouse.

I was recently given the opportunity to review a meal from Burgers’ Smokehouse, and I’m so glad I did it! The timing was perfect, as the holiday season is just chaos for any mom. Providing my family a delicious, quality meal that I didn’t have to make from scratch seemed wonderful, but I was thrilled when I logged onto the website and saw just how beautiful the food was! There was a delicious-looking turkey that lured me into clicking and clicking and clicking, and what I found was a little sliver of busy mom paradise.

Burgers’ Smokehouse is a family-owned and -operated business specializing in smoked and cured meats, and everything can be delivered to your front door. That drool-worthy turkey in the picture was going to come fully cooked, ready to heat and eat in just over an hour. I was also ordering sides and dessert, so yes, please! This mama was sold!

Burgers’ Smokehouse boxes appeared on my doorstep a few days after I ordered, and with a little prayer, I tossed the entire meal into the oven. I helped the kids with their homework while dinner cooked itself, then I put a healthy, flavorful meal on the table just over an hour later. It was even easier than takeout, and with no awkward small talk! The turkey was every bit as delicious as the pictures online had convinced me it would be. The broccoli casserole was wonderful, and the strawberry rhubarb pie was simply divine.

The best part about this meal? My kids ATE IT. And they liked it.

Even the broccoli.

A few days after our glorious, stress-free meal, my husband uttered the most romantic words I have ever heard him say: “What do you think about ordering another one of these meals for the holidays?”

Our family celebrates both Hanukkah and Christmas, meaning our holiday schedule is jam-packed with celebrations and activities. The thought of not slaving away in the kitchen for hours before each of our family parties had never even crossed my mind. That is just what you do on the holiday, isn’t it? But — does it really have to be that way? The idea of spending more time enjoying the company of our relatives (and less time getting to know the nether regions of a turkey) was something that existed only in my wildest dreams!

This year, Burgers’ Smokehouse is taking care of the holiday meal. And this mama’s dream of a stress-free holiday dinner is coming true!

Burgers' Smokehouse __ A Lifesaver for Busy Moms!
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Meet Nacho, Our Elf

By
Krystal Avila
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Here is the tale of yet another mother’s love/hate relationship with the Elf on the Shelf:

The leaves have fallen off the trees, you can see your breath when walking out the door, we’ve done the turkey and pumpkin spice everything; all these can only mean one thing: Nacho is here!

Nacho is our 11-inch, 2-pound friend, also known as the Elf on the Shelf. Some elves are boys, some are girls, some have creative names, others are more basic, some fly through the living room while mine sits in basic spots.

We have had Nacho in our house for two years, and since he has been around, I have come to love him. But I also wish he was not a reminder of all the mom fails I am having.

I am someone who loves Christmas and am 100% all things Christmas starting the day after Thanksgiving. From Black Friday shopping to finding the perfect Christmas tree, I love anything and everything Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas” reminds us of. But since we have introduced Nacho (named by a 2-year-old at the time) to our son, Christmas time has changed a little for me.

I love that my 4-year-old talks about Nacho all year and often reminds us that he comes Thanksgiving night. I love that my son cannot wait to see where the elf is going to be each morning. I love that he knows Nacho means Christmas is coming. Lights will be outside, stockings hung somewhere in our condo, and Christmas music all day long. My son is just as excited about Christmas as I am and, I can thank Nacho for some of that. Most 4-year-olds don’t get excited for Black Friday or picking out the tree, but they do get excited for a magical friend.

On the other hand, I feel it. I feel the mom fails commencing on Black Friday, just as we enter into the Christmas season. I love Pinterest, but I do not love Elf-on-the-Shelf Pinterest. I am a creative person and love crafts, but I just can’t do it.

I can’t find creative places for Nacho to be hanging, floating, or swinging from. I cannot make the props, find the outfits, sew, or glue for Nacho. Most nights, when we remember, Nacho is moved to another room or behind some piece of furniture in the house. And, you know what? He is just as magical. But I feel the guilt. My son is 4 and in preschool, and he talks a lot. And I am hoping and praying parents of the other children at preschool are not using all their creative abilities for their Elf, because I am not. 

I think we moms need to make a pact or something. Elf on the Shelf only moves, doesn’t ride matchbox cars, doesn’t play basketball with Ryder, Chase, or Rubble. He just sits. Because you know what? 

All these elves are doing the same thing — watching our children from Thanksgiving until Christmas — so you, Mom, can survive the craziest, most hectic but, also most joyous and wonderful time of year. 

Being a 3-Year-Old Is Hard, Y’all

By
Deanna Greenstein
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Look at my face. The little button nose, the chubby cheeks, the smile that could melt even the hardest heart. Seriously, have you ever seen anything so cute?

Well, my life isn’t all adorableness, let me tell you. This being-a-3-year-old business? It is flippin’ hard!

Yeah, I hear you, I hear you. “You’re a toddler! What’s so hard about your life? You get to play all day!”

Pffttt. Adults. You really need to be taught everything, don’t you? Fine. I will explain. (But pay attention — I have better things to do. The cabinets can’t color on themselves, you know.)

I vent my frustrations loudly.

When I get mad about things, I feel the mad rumbling in my belly, and it makes my hands turn into angry balls and then the mad erupts out of my mouth like a volcano. You call it a “tantrum.” I call it expressing my emotions. How am I supposed to let the world know that I am mad if they can’t hear me? And why does my voice get so loud if I am not supposed to use it?

Things are scary.

The world out there is terrifying. The other day, my mom took me to the doctor’s office. They wanted me to take off my shoes and stand on this platform that blinked numbers on top. My mom and the lady in the purple pants were standing there telling me it would be so cool to find out how much I weighed. But what if I fell off? What if the platform was sticky or pinchy or made of lava? And don’t even get me started on the doctor! Sure, she is the same lady I have known since I was born. But she is so much taller this time because her shoes have stabby sticks on the back! What are those even for?! And I just know that the cold circle she put on my chest is going to suck my guts out!

I know what I want.

… and I don’t understand why you don’t. Seriously, people. The words are right there inside my head. Why aren’t you doing what I want you to do??? What do I have to do, say every single thing I want out loud?!

My wants change.

Get over it. Yeah, Goldfish crackers were my favorite food last week. Then I heard someone sing on the television that they are the snack that smiles back, and that is creepy. Now I am scared of all fish, whether they are crackers or not. I like yogurt now. But only the vanilla one. In the blue bowl. The yellow bowl reminds me of the smiling Goldfish, and I am scared of it.

Everything is frustrating.

I can’t climb up onto the playground equipment by myself, even though my brothers can. I don’t understand why they can do it and not me, and it is the only thing in the universe I want to do.     

You get mad about my experiments.

All I want to do is see if the snake you plug into the back of your phone fits into the slot on the front of the air conditioner. It looks like it should fit in there, and I don’t get why you are so upset about it. Just like you got upset last week when I tried to share my yogurt with Elmo. He looked hungry, and you are always telling me to share, but the second I do, you yell at me for putting yogurt on the TV. And you wonder why I am frustrated!

I want to do it by myself.

I see all you adults putting your own shoes on, and I can totally do that myself. It is just that the opening got so much smaller when I tried to put my foot in. This shoe clearly doesn’t fit anymore. I want different shoes. Now.

I really, really want to help you.

I see you loading the dishwasher, and you look like you could use my help. If it cleans dishes, it can clean my toys too! Let me put those in! And the cat food looks dirty too! And crayons mark stuff up, so maybe they should get a nice wash too!

You expect me to use the potty.

Remember how I said things are scary? This is number one on the list. For real. You expect me to sit on a chair with a giant hole in it, hanging over a bucket of water that spins in circles and goes down a hole to who knows where. Why? I have a perfectly good diaper on my rump! I have been doing this my entire life, why change up the routine now? And, I hate to break it to you guys, but your tushies are a lot bigger than mine. You may be able to safely sit on the holey-water-chair, but my bum could fall right in!

Being 3 is hard, y’all.

I am exhausted. At the end of the day, though, I’m still your baby. I still need your snuggles and your love. It will get easier for both of us, I promise. And in the meantime, look at my sweet little 3-year-old face. You really haven’t seen anything more adorable than your sleeping toddler, have you?

Go ahead and sneak out of my room to that glass of wine you were muttering you deserved earlier. I will give you three minutes before I let you know I can’t sleep. What if that sock on the ground is really a rat that has big teeth and likes to eat toes? I better come get you now, Mommy.

4 Helpful Tips for First-Time ADHD Moms

By
Jalisa Harris
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ADHD moms - Boston Moms Blog

Life with a toddler can be a roller coaster. And life with a toddler diagnosed with ADHD? That’s a whole different story. My son was diagnosed over two years ago, and there is SO much I would tell a first-timer who has a very young child suffering from ADHD. I always find it helpful to hear others’ motherhood experiences, so today I am sharing four tips for first-time ADHD moms of young children. 

1. Trust your gut

Some believe ADHD diagnoses in toddlers are too early and not accurate. But if you visit a specialist early on, it will help ease your mind as well as get immediate help for your child. 

When my son turned 2, I knew something was off. He was overly hyperactive. Other moms would tell me, “He’s a boy and he’s 2 — what do you expect?” They just didn’t understand. ADHD toddler moms have a different perspective. If my son and I weren’t on the go, doing activity after activity, he could not calm down. He wasn’t that toddler you could sit down and do crafts with. Even during screen time, he had to be holding something and walking around. And that is still true today. I just knew there was something going on.

2. Lend compassion when you experience tough behavior (and encourage others to do the same)

You would be surprised at how many people don’t believe young children can even have ADHD. Some will say, “Oh, he is still too young — he isn’t fully developed.” It’s actually become more common than many think. Because so many people aren’t informed about ADHD in little ones, things like public temper tantrums can be extra stressful for ADHD moms. My son gets very sensitive when it comes to dining out, for example. His brain doesn’t realize he is hungry until it’s too late. So while some kids might have no problem saying, “Mom, I’m hungry” while they’re waiting for their food, my son will throw a full-on tantrum. (For this ADHD mom, keeping snacks on hand is key!) Some parents never experience these types of tantrums — we’d all benefit if everyone kept in mind the fact that tantrums are often totally out of the parents’ control.

3. Seek help when you need it

My mother-in-law tells me stories of my brother-in-law, who had ADHD growing up but didn’t receive the proper support from the public school system. Both my son’s pediatrician and a home-based daycare complained about how hyperactive my son was — without offering solutions. So it was a godsend when an in-home daycare through Catholic Charities recommended Early Intervention.

They didn’t see a huge problem with him and his behavior; instead, they recommended a more classroom-structured setting to help him. Because Early Intervention services end when a child turns 3, specialists referred us to the public schools to be evaluated for an IEP. Soon after, his pediatrician recommended him to a pediatric neurologist. The pedi-neurologist confirmed the suggestion for more structure but did not recommend medication. She wrote a letter similar to the IEP, which has helped tremendously. Advocate for yourself and your child. Seek help, even when you’re not feeling supported by the system. 

4. Create small goals for yourself and your child      

Having a child with ADHD can feel daunting and lonely at times. Some days I feel like I’m at my wits end; other days, I sit and look at my son and realize he’s struggling too. So we take things one step at a time. Taking small steps to try to understand your children and their struggles will help you — and them — in the long run. Take it one day at a time. 

 

Stress Less This Christmas :: An Alternative to the Elf on the Shelf

By
Ranessa Doucet
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elf on the shelf - Boston Moms Blog

We have come to that time of year when many households see the arrival of a little elf. Lots of parents do a great job with the Elf on the Shelf and make it a fun experience. But I’ve always thought the elf was a bit creepy. So I avoided the elf until my kids began school and started asking why everyone had an elf and we didn’t. 

I succumbed to the peer pressure and got an elf. I scoured Pinterest for elf ideas — elf making snow angels, elf in the hot tub with Barbie, elf pooping Hershey kisses. It was fun at first, but by day four I was exhausted — 26 more days of this?! The elf started to merely move from place to place (or got moved in a mad panic at 1 a.m. when I realized I forgot to move him!). I began to get creative with why he wasn’t moving — the weather was too bad in the North Pole, the elf had a cold, the elf was enjoying his current view.

The elf did help with some behavior issues, but I found it was causing me to focus on the negative. I was always pointing out the bad behaviors and repeatedly telling my kids they needed to shape up or the elf would tell Santa. I started to feel like the elf wasn’t for us, and I understood why some moms never tried it to begin with. We needed a change.

This year we will try something new: The Kindness Elves. I want to bring the focus back to giving, gratefulness, and kindness. When I found these elves online, I loved the story behind them. A former teacher and mom of four created them because she wanted an alternative to the traditional elf — something with a positive message that emphasized kindness and gratitude.

The Kindness Elves arrive in your home, similar to the Elf on a Shelf, around Thanksgiving. Two elves come with a cute little house (designed by an actual architect) with a tiny mailbox. They are on the lookout for kind behavior as opposed to bad. They leave notes for kids to find with suggestions of kind things they can do. You can write your own kindness suggestions or purchase a book that includes pre-written kindness suggestions (no 1 a.m. note-writing frenzies).

Some of the ideas are simple acts, such as smiling at people, saying please and thank you, drawing a picture for someone, cleaning up without being asked, and playing together without fighting (I’m a fan of that one). There are also some suggestions for thanking those in our community who serve us, donating clothes or toys to others, or inviting a lonely child to play. The kindness suggestions can be as simple or as complex as you want, you don’t have to write them every day, the elves don’t need to move, and you can make the experience what you want it to be. I’m excited to give it a try.

You could also take this idea and implement it by making your own elves (if you’re crafty), buying any elves you like (Etsy has some cute ones), or using the traditional Elf on the Shelf in a new way.

I’m hopeful the Kindness Elves will work for us (and I’m hoping I don’t get burned out as I did with the other elf). It’s all about what works for your family and doesn’t add any extra stress. I’m hopeful this change will help my family focus on positivity and giving, and less on the kids’ ever-growing wish lists. A girl can dream!

 

10 Tips for Holiday Decorating

By
alisonthurber
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I just love the holidays. And nothing gets me in the mood more than whipping up some hot cocoa, blasting some carols, and making my home holiday-ready. I love the vibe of a decorated house, but I often find myself unsure how to get there. I end up buying a few cliché items and sprinkling them throughout, which inevitably looks unfinished.

This year, I decided to turn to the pros. I reached out to the fabulous and super on-trend (and mom of three!) Wendy Ditcham of Wendy Ditcham Interiors for her top tips and tricks on decorating for the holidays.

1. Create an inviting atmosphere in your entry

Let everyone know they are welcome by making a statement in the entry. A touch of warmth and holiday decor here will impress your guests and create anticipation for the rest of the house.

foyer

2. Work with the colors of your home, not against them

Decorate with colors that work with the color scheme you already have going on in your home. Enhance what you have so it’s all part of the plan rather than competing with it, creating clutter.

color-palatte

3. Go organic

Natural elements are the best way to obtain warmth and texture and really bring the season indoors. Plus, they just look much better than faux items.

4. Don’t forget the windows

For those guests who are standing, it’s nice to have decor at eye level. Putting holiday items only on tabletops leaves out a whole plane in your home — wreaths on your windows indoors fill that void.

window

5. Group similar elements for impact

A nutcracker collection, candles, and simple ornaments piled in a bowl have more impact and importance when kept together.

6. Experiment with candlelight, string lights, and table lamps

Soft, sparkling lights sprinkled throughout a room are cozier and more festive than bright overhead lighting.

7. Use items in unexpected ways

I’ve used a zebra cowhide rug as a tree skirt before. A chunky knit throw is another great idea. Explore ideas beyond the standard store-bought tree skirt. The same goes for the rest of your decor. I turned a ladder into an advent calendar (see the pic below).

unexpected

8. One tree is never enough

The main tree is, of course, the family tree with the varied assortment of ornaments that are meaningful to you because they were collected on vacations, handmade by your children, or received as gifts. Adding a second tree will allow you to indulge your tree-decorating fantasies.

tree

9. Flowers, flowers, flowers

I can’t say enough about what live plants and flowers can do for a room, especially at the holidays. A quick trip to Trader Joe’s every week to refresh your vases will keep your home bright and smelling beautiful inexpensively.

10. Hit up your party store for decor

Paper fans and tissue paper ornaments in holiday colors can make a huge impact when grouped together and are so unexpected at the holidays.

party-store

For more holiday decorating ideas, see how Wendy decorated a home for the Concord Museum Holiday House tour here. You can also follow her on Facebook for other general interior design ideas.

Thank you, Wendy!

Being Thankful for the Unthankful Tasks

By
Deanna Greenstein
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We are encouraged from a very early age to be thankful, and to thank those who have done kind things for us. So much so that a muttered “thank you” to someone who holds a door open for us is simply second nature by the time we reach adulthood.

The message to be thankful for the world around us is also drilled into our heads on a daily basis. Enjoy the gorgeous colors of fall, the majesty of the mountains, the serenity of the first snowfall. Slow down, breathe it all in, be thankful for the beautiful things life has to offer.

The Thanksgiving season bombards us with exclamations of things we need to be thankful for and ways in which to show how very thankful we are. But my focus this year is different than in years past. This year, I choose to be thankful for the unthankful tasks in life. 

Unthankful tasks: Tasks in which there is no feeling of or exhibiting thanks, gratitude, or appreciation. Not agreeable or pleasant.

We find ourselves doing these things simply because they need to be done, knowing there will be no direct thanks for them. If we don’t do them, our lives will suffer as a result.

Yeah, I get that it sounds weird. Why would I be thankful for things I dislike?

Take, for example, doing the dishes. Now, I know that in most cases, I will receive some sort of thanks for the dinner I serve on these dishes, even if my kids leave the majority of the food on them untouched. But, at no time has anyone ever exclaimed, “Thank you for this sparkling clean dish!” when I placed the food on the table. As I stand at the sink the following morning, scrubbing congealed yuck off the plates, nobody pats me on the back, thanking me for doing such a meaningful task. And, to be honest, I don’t feel all that thankful for doing it. But… should I?

Doing the dishes, well, that means I’ve got clean, running water with which to wash them.

We may take it for granted, but it is estimated that 783 million people in our world do not have access to clean water — 783 million. Twice the population of the United States lives without access to safe drinking water.

Doing the dishes means I am able to provide food for my family. While 795 million people in the world don’t have enough food to live a healthy, active life. That is one in nine people. Many, even some in our communities, aren’t able to provide food for their families.

The multitude of dishes I am washing means I have a family to feed.

When I think about it that way, perhaps doing the dishes isn’t such a thankless task after all.

Perhaps, instead, it is an opportunity.

There are many, many tasks in our daily lives that feel thankless. But if you look at the deeper meaning of these tasks, perhaps they aren’t so thankless after all. Perhaps they are opportunities in disguise.

Now, I’m not saying it’s wrong to be grumpy about performing these tasks. I am well aware of how annoying they can be, and at times I will admit to complaining until the cows come home about having to do them myself. But, when I am grumpy about performing the unthankful tasks this Thanksgiving season, my goal is to change my perspective. Break the unthankful tasks down to their very roots, and be grateful for the beautiful reasons why I have to do them in the first place.

 

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