French Magazine for Toddlers: Popi

December 04, 2013 by Michele Cherie in French Resources, French Language Learning

A few months ago I shared an overview of the French children's magazines available in the U.S., and now I'm glad to give a more in-depth review of my daughter's favorite early childhood magazine: Popi.

Popi (pronounced PUH-pee) refers to a cuddly stuffed monkey who was originally a character from an English children's book series by Helen Oxenbury. Now he has his own cartoon (Léo and Popi). But Popi magazine doesn't focus on the monkey much--he's just one of several reappearing characters with their own brief stories in each issue.

Simple, Creative Ways to Celebrate Advent and Countdown to Christmas

December 03, 2013 by Michele Cherie in Cultural Reflections

Joy to the world--it's December and Christmas is near! My little ones remind me of the simple joys of Christmastime at home, from candles and recorded carols to cookies and calendars. Advent calendars are one my favorite activities for anticipating noël because they are a concrete way for children to comprehend the passage of time. (Advent traditionally starts four Sundays before Christmas, but it's easier to stay on track by starting December 1st.) If you haven't started a countdown yet, it's not too late to catch up!

Living Abroad: Missing a Holiday (or More) Far from Home

November 29, 2013 by Michele Cherie in International Exchange, Cultural Reflections

Bonjour, mes amis! My family was on vacation in central Oregon earlier this week. Now that we've returned home, I love seeing my children spend long periods playing with their familiar playthings again. The old becomes new with absence!

Yesterday was a strange Thanksgiving Day for us. We celebrated with my family a day in advance, and we'll celebrate with my husband's family tomorrow, so our actual Thanksgiving Day was uneventful. The quiet of this holiday reminded me of Christmas 2004, when I was a university exchange student living in France. I spent that Christmas Eve in an inexpensive Paris hotel.

Fêtes sans stresse: What Children Can Teach Us

November 27, 2013 by Michele Cherie in Contentment, Home Management

Quel joie, les fêtes! What joy it is to celebrate! But how easy it is to let stress sully our holiday preparations. As a mama of young children, I am reminded of a few tips little ones can offer us during the holidays:

Aim to bless, not to impress. The heart of hospitality lies in our motives.

Responding to Homelessness: Influences and Experiences

November 25, 2013 by Michele Cherie in Contentment, Parenting Books

I attended college in Santa Barbara, California, where the mild Mediterranean climate attracts movie stars, tourists, and the homeless alike. Mental illness was so common among the homeless there that my psychology professor assigned a project that involved observing a street person displaying signs of mental illness, identifying a probable diagnosis, and writing a suggested treatment plan. Several years prior to my arrival on campus, a fellow college student was so troubled by the ever-present homeless population that he dropped his classes, donated the contents of his bank account to a local shelter, and moved onto the street to join them. Clearly, this was neither wise nor a significant solution, but I admire the depth of his concern.

C'est le Weekend: Links You'll Like

November 23, 2013 by Michele Cherie in Weekend Links, Cultural Reflections, Education

Aren't you thrilled to celebrate Thanksgiving next week? I'm grateful that my husband has a week off work this year, even if some of the days are unpaid furlough days. I hope you have plenty of time to relax too! From hackschooling to newborn twins in France, enjoy the links I've compiled for you this weekend.

Thanksgiving: An Act of Grace Tied to Five Kernels

November 22, 2013 by Michele Cherie in Cultural Reflections

We Americans will soon celebrate l'Action de grâce. I love the French translation of Thanksgiving, because in addition to gathering with family for food, this season is indeed founded on grace and gratitude. My favorite definition of grace is "unmerited favor." Sometimes it takes disasters like the recent super typhoon in the Philippines to remind us that we have far more than we deserve, and it's more than appropriate to pause in wonder at God's protection and provision.

Here in America, our lives have continued to be characterized by increasing abundance. My "five kernels" of gratitude reveal the generosity that God has shown me:

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.