Practical Preparation for Motherhood: 5 Things Magazines Won't Tell You

January 14, 2014 by Michele Cherie in Reflections on Parenting

Having a baby is a bit like wedding planning: a lot of thought goes into the details of the big event, but hardly any effort goes towards making sure the "ever after" part goes as smoothly as possible. As a pregnant woman, I spent a lot of time flipping through Pottery Barn Kids' nursery catalogs and arranging tiny layette items, but I wasn't exactly sure how to prepare for the transition to motherhood. Based on what I've learned from other mamas and from my two births, here are five actions to help prepare you for life after baby's arrival:

LIfe with Little Ones Holiday Home Tour

December 19, 2013 by Michele Cherie in Reflections on Parenting, Cultural Reflections

Have you pinned any inspiring photos from holiday home tours lately? Last week I was admiring the lovely photos of Jen's IHeart Christmas Home Tour when I realized that she has three boys, so surely she took those perfect home photos when they were away at school. My little house is cozy and wonderful in winter--but it's evident that we have little ones around! To add some cheer and laughter to your day, here is Intentional Mama's Life with Little Ones Holiday Home Tour:

When Gifts Go Wrong

December 17, 2013 by Michele Cherie in Home Management, Reflections on Parenting

I gave a terrible present this week. It was the wrong gift for a wonderful person, and though she politely thanked me, I knew before she opened it that it was a poor choice. The truth is this: I had forgotten to buy her a gift, ran out of time to shop, panicked, and wrapped a new item I had at home. Frankly, I hadn’t wanted it either. And her quick thanks and perfunctory facial expression told me what I had feared—she was disappointed.

Motherhood: The Beauty of Becoming

November 21, 2013 by Michele Cherie in Reflections on Parenting

I'm only four years into the experience of motherhood, but it's enough to see how quickly children grow from feather-light swaddled packages into youths who beg you to watch as they perform new feats. Yet only now do I realize that the growth and achievements visible in our children often parallel the changes taking place in our adult hearts and minds. Parenting is transformative, perhaps most of all for mothers. As mothers, each moment brings scenarios requiring our response: the baby wakes early; the toddler tugs at our pant leg while we're washing dishes; the child bursts into tears when plans are thwarted--but with these everyday challenges we take a breath and find ways to respond with patience and creativity that we lacked a day or two before.

Do you see how you are growing, mama? Have you realized how you are beginning to shine? Don't fear that you are losing yourself.

International Lullabies: French, English, & Spanish Bedtime Songs for Children

November 15, 2013 by Michele Cherie in French Resources, French Language Learning, Reflections on Parenting, Education

Of all the cultural treasures in the world, lullabies must be among the sweetest snippets of language and melody. In the short film collection Paris, Je T'Aime, one of the more moving five-minute stories featured a nanny singing a Spanish lullaby. The lullaby she sang is called "Qué Linda Manita" and it refers to the sweet little hands, eyes, and other body parts that God gave the baby.

I don't remember any lullabies from my childhood, but there is a song that I associate with bedtime. On a nightstand beside my bed was a lamp with wooden figurines on a seesaw. The lamp played a simple wind-up melody called Say, Say Oh Playmate. My mama taught me the words and wrote them in my baby book. (This American song goes back to the 1930s or earlier).

Tips for Choosing Toys That Will Be Loved

November 13, 2013 by Michele Cherie in Reflections on Parenting, Home Management

As we express our appreciation this month for what we've been given, we also start thinking about what we want to give. Of course, experiential gifts, such as a trip to the aquarium or a live performance of The Nutcracker, are a fantastic alternative to material things. But when we do purchase things for children, we want those things to bring joy and contentment for as long as possible. I haven't purchased any Christmas gifts yet, but I'll be acting on my ideas soon.

Saturday Snapshot: Our Private Park (Almost)

November 09, 2013 by Michele Cherie in Reflections on Parenting

We live in a neighborhood of cookie-cutter homes, but we know our neighbors and we appreciate our little pied-à-terre. Yet few of our neighbors have young children, and fewer still know about the park within walking distance from our street. We call it le Parc des Champignons because of the mushrooms that grow from the bark chips there in the fall and spring.

Establishing The Children's Hour

November 05, 2013 by Michele Cherie in Reflections on Parenting, Home Management

When is The Children's Hour? Longfellow wrote about it in a poem by the same name. Today's culture has essentially forgotten that this daily interval has a name, but the timing remains the same: it's the hour after dinner and before bedtime. For many families, it's the only free hour together. Here are some ideas for making the most of this time: