November 2006
November 30, 2006
The picture problem - part 2
Have I told y'all lately how much I love you? I know that sounds weird since I'm just a mom in cyberspace, but your feedback about my picture has just been overwhelming. Did I ever tell you about the time when I was a nerdy, wallflower 12 year old...3:33 PM in Blogging | Permalink | Comments (3)
November 29, 2006
What about this picture?
[Note: this is about a picture that is no longer here, as I have reverted to my old picture - but I left the post because it and the comments illustrate something about honest communication] Just received this from my hubby at work: Hi Honey! Just checked mommylife and saw...4:25 PM in Blogging | Permalink | Comments (43)
November 28, 2006
Help for moms with overweight daughters
Some time ago, a reader wrote to ask for help in dealing with an overweight daughter. I just came across this website which has some great advice and recommended books: Moms! Help Your Overweight Daughter! It is a difficult situation to have someone in your family who needs to...7:40 AM in Diet | Permalink | Comments (2)
November 27, 2006
Suggestions needed for hymns on CD
Hi Barbara, I'm an avid reader of your blog and have implemented many of your ideas! The most recent was teaching my two year olds to put on their own coats. It's great! I, too, love hymns. I've poked around at cyberhymnal, but what I would really like is just...3:42 PM in Music | Permalink | Comments (10)
Keeping Christmas traditions in perspective
From a reader: Dear Barbara, Both my husband and I come from functional families with liturgical roots. Since you are highlighting advent here are some things that work for us or have worked for our families. - Will and I decide together, usually on a date, what 5 things are...2:59 PM in Christmas | Permalink | Comments (1)
Puppy dog blues
Running this - with permission - in the hopes that we can all learn from each other's mistakes: Dear Barbara, I'm sorry to keep bugging you, but I don't really have the kind of parents that will advise me on this, beyond saying "you made your bed, now lie in...12:19 PM in Family | Permalink | Comments (5)
Advent Hymns
I love hymns. I love the intelligence of the poetry. I love the way they give song to our theology, voice to the longings of our hearts, and specific praise to Our Creator. Click on these links to hear the hymns our family sings for Advent: Come, Thou Long Expected...11:20 AM in Christmas | Permalink | Comments (1)
November 25, 2006
Cutting down our Christmas tree
From the archives: I remember one Christmas as a single mother when the tree I’d bought from a lot just up and died, shedding all its needles five days before Christmas. After indulging in just a little Woe Is Me, I took off all the decorations, tied the dead tree...6:12 PM in Christmas | Permalink | Comments (4)
November 24, 2006
Thanksgiving at our house
Here is our traditional Thanksgiving picture - shot just before we put the food on the table. This year the shaky ladder I've used to mount the camera was replaced by a real tripod! As usual, I set the shot, hit the timer, and ran the length of the...9:51 AM in Inspiration, Mothering, Thanksgiving | Permalink | Comments (12)
Kids with disabilities need responsibilities too
From another reader: Dear Barbara, I thought you might like this photo of my son who is nine and suffers from autism washing down the walls of our porch. I think you have inspired a whole bunch of us with disabled children to let them more involved in household chores....Hamish...9:32 AM in Disabilities, Montessori, Mothering, Preschoolers | Permalink | Comments (1)
November 22, 2006
Giving thanks for all I never had
This year I won’t be thanking God for all my blessings, but for all the things I haven’t had: I’m grateful for the full refrigerator we never had in my childhood, grateful for the meals we missed the last few days before my mother’s paycheck. These memories make it...3:02 PM in Thanksgiving | Permalink | Comments (6)
Extra help with shoelaces and chopsticks
While we're on the subject of kids (and moms!) who need a little extra help - Kari at Healed Waters followed up our discussion on tying shoes with this: Barbara, I have no qualms about teaching my girls to read, but tying shoes was completely daunting to me! I bought...9:49 AM in Disabilities, Preschoolers | Permalink | Comments (0)
Kids with disabilities need the same things all kids need!
Jasmine (another Jasmine, not my daughter) wrote: I realize it is probably too late, but just in case I am sending some pictures of my 3 year old working very hard with her cutting skills. This is Lillian she is 3 1/2 and has Apert Syndrome. She is learning to...9:28 AM in Disabilities, Mothering | Permalink | Comments (0)
Christmas shopping/Supporting this site
Julie, who blogs at Imajackson wrote: Hi Barbara, This is Julie Jackson again. I am an avid reader and I recently sent you an e-mail about my thoughts on weight loss and you posted it to your site. I was so pleased to think my thoughts could help another mom...8:48 AM in Blogging | Permalink | Comments (0)
November 20, 2006
Stickers, coloring books, and pincer grasp - plus Christmas advice
From today's mail: Dear Barbara, I have heard that stickers are a very good play activity for small children (ages 3-6) . Carefully removing the sticker from the back sheet allows the child to use her thumb and forefinger and therefore helps develop the brain for what I don't know....9:04 PM in Christmas, Homeschooling, Mothering, Preschoolers, Toddlers | Permalink | Comments (0)
November 17, 2006
See the world through children's eyes
I've always thought that the first step to learning to be a good mom to your kids is to see the world through their eyes. Many readers of my books and/or blog (like here) have heard me refer to a big chair that always reminds me of what the world...3:26 PM in Montessori, Mothering, Preschoolers, Toddlers | Permalink | Comments (3)
With kids, a few words can make a big difference
Received this from a reader - a good reminder for us all! Hi Barbara, Just had to let you know about something you suggested that's working WONDERS in our family. It's just a small phrase, but both my older girls are responding so well...."Let's see how ________ you can do...11:51 AM in Mothering, Preschoolers, Toddlers | Permalink | Comments (2)
Ginger cranberry relish
Yum. My husband came across this recipe - don't ask me how - and I am definitely going to make this for Thanksgiving. The combination of cranberries, crushed pineapple, walnuts and ginger sounds SO good and it can be served warm - very different. It's from Better Homes and...10:50 AM in Recipes, Thanksgiving | Permalink | Comments (0)
On grandmotherhood, motherhood, and spiritual growth
You might want to grab a cup of coffee. This starts out kinda day-to-day but waxes philosophical at the end: Here are my own boys and my grandkids enjoying a quick dinner last night - quick because there was so much to do. Tripp took Jonny, Jesse and Daniel to...7:19 AM in Family, Mothering | Permalink | Comments (9)
November 15, 2006
My next grandchild
We had the privilege of hearing Steven Curtis Chapman sing "When Love Takes You In" two years ago at the Washington Cathedral for the Angels in Adoption Awards. It still makes me cry every time. Christians - in a very special way - all know what it means "When love...4:36 PM in Adoption, Family | Permalink | Comments (4)
Baby with Down syndrome needs home
Bryce is three months old and has just left the hospital to stay with a temporary family until he has a permanent home. Bryce was born prematurely and has had some surgery to repair intestinal problems (the same kind Jonny had when he was born, which haven't had any...7:21 AM in Adoption, Down syndrome | Permalink | Comments (13)
November 14, 2006
Your turkey experience
This is from last Thanksgiving - our discussion of the best way to do turkeys - including 20 valuable comments from readers which I'm running to help you decide. I did end up buying a roaster and the results were wonderful. But this year I'm aiming for spectacular, so will...4:10 PM in Thanksgiving | Permalink | Comments (22)
Opera for kids
This is a wonderful opportunity to expose your child (and yourself) to a little taste of opera. Since it's aimed at children, they will be hitting the highlights of the story and the most riveting music. And tickets are cheap!! (For more on the importance of giving your kids the...3:28 PM in Culture | Permalink | Comments (2)
Teaching kids to tie shoes
Meg asked about teaching kids to tie shoes. I have to admit, I find this one of the most daunting requirements of being a mother. I personally have always tied my own shoes the "wrong" way: by making two loops and then tying them. I think this way actually works...8:48 AM in Preschoolers, Toddlers | Permalink | Comments (8)
About the election
Politically I am a conservative. I vote based on my values and beliefs - which has meant that since my conversion from the radical left in 1987, I've voted Republican simply because the Democratic candidates where I've lived are seldom pro-life and small government. So, yes, I was hoping that...7:29 AM in Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (3)
November 13, 2006
Down syndrome - the gift that keeps on giving
Quietly simmering on one of the many backburners has been the task of finishing the makeover of my website barbaracurtis.com. There is still more to do - like the major task of linking over a hundred articles that are scattered about the Internet. One of those things that will happen...8:44 PM in Down syndrome, Family | Permalink | Comments (2)
Non-slip soap for kids - great stocking stuffer
This is an unsolicited product endorsement: Johnson's Kids Super Sudzer E-Z Grip Soap Sometimes it's the little things in life that really matter! Though I'm not one for frivolous new products, this was one that answered a definite need in a home with special needs children - and would be...8:31 PM in Disabilities, Down syndrome, Preschoolers, Product Reviews, Toddlers | Permalink | Comments (5)
An orphan's voice
Passing on this important message from Family Life: An Orphan's Voice... In Russia, since I was nine, I lived in an orphanage in the city of Yekaterinburg. I lived with twenty-two other kids from three to fourteen years old. My clothing came from the laundry lady. I had a couple...1:18 PM in Adoption | Permalink | Comments (1)
November 12, 2006
Toddlers CAN put on their own jackets
When I was a Montessori teacher, my assistant and I simply could not put on jackets for 25 preschoolers (if that seems like a high student/teacher ratio, that's because the Montessori method works so well and creates such independent learners that one teacher can have 25 preschoolers working in small...6:13 PM in Montessori, Mothering, Preschoolers, Toddlers | Permalink | Comments (4)
How many have your name?
HowManyOfMe.comThere are:588people with my namein the U.S.A.How many have your name?...5:09 PM in Fun Stuff | Permalink | Comments (4)
Important note on product reviews
Since reviewing this product a few days ago, I've received two emails from readers asking me - very politely - what in the world I was thinking. Dear Barbara, I read your blog daily and appreciate so much your great perspective and wisdom. I love to hear you rate products...1:54 PM in Babies, Mothering, Product Reviews, Toddlers | Permalink | Comments (5)
November 11, 2006
Thanksgiving Tradition - Five Kernels of Corn
FIVE KERNELS OF CORN The year following the first Thanksgiving brought greater hardship than the first. During the Starving Time, according to tradition, the Pilgrims had only a daily ration of five kernels of corn apiece. Still, they did not give in to bitterness, but trusted their Lord. Many...10:30 AM in Thanksgiving | Permalink | Comments (3)
Thanksgiving: Pass It On
This article appeared in Focus on the Family magazine in 2000 Thanksgiving: The Whole Story by Barbara Curtis Ever hear the story about the young bride who caused a stir when her new husband found her preparing their first Thanksgiving turkey by cutting it in half? "That's how Mama always...10:16 AM in Thanksgiving | Permalink | Comments (2)
Diet Update
I have now lost 75 pounds. 25 to go. You know I took a break and just maintained for a couple months, but started fresh 10/30. I'm finding this part to be much harder and wondering if taking a break was such a good idea. At least I proved...8:13 AM in Diet | Permalink | Comments (3)
November 10, 2006
Ben
See Ben! Click here to hear Ben sing! Ben seldom shows off his talents when home, so I was blessed when he sent me this clip of his chamber choir. I had to listen several times before I could believe that was my son singing solo and sounding like a...7:15 AM in Family, Mothering, Music | Permalink | Comments (9)
November 9, 2006
Celebrating adoption
From time to time, readers have asked how we ended up adopting three kids with Down syndrome. Since it's National Adoption Month, now seems like the best time of all to tell the story. So make yourself comfy and off we go . . . . It started -...5:20 PM in Adoption, Down syndrome, Family, Pro-Life Issues | Permalink | Comments (10)
Little Leaps Learning System
Note three days after this post: Please go here to read my second thoughts on this product. I had thought of deleting this entry entirely, but it did clarify some issues for me about product reviews, which I shared with my readers in the second post. From time to time,...3:46 PM in Product Reviews, Toddlers | Permalink | Comments (0)
Thanksgiving apron
Last year, I googled around for a Thanksgiving apron and came up with this one, which I ordered. It's made of stretchy courdoroy and looked great for the special day, when I probably had it on all day long: But I also came up with the most wonderful apron I'd...2:06 PM in Thanksgiving | Permalink | Comments (1)
Thanksgiving banner
This family project will produce a special Thanksgiving decoration to hang every year - and some wonderful memories of making it together. You need: Bowls of dried beans, peas, corn, and wild rice Small glue containers When our family made this, I had found a big poster of a turkey...1:48 PM in Thanksgiving | Permalink | Comments (0)
Thanksgiving art
I've been slipping in some Thanksgiving pictures lately - hope you've enjoyed them as much as I have. Here is my favorite: The original is an oil painting by Jennie Brownscombe called The First Thanksgiving. This year I splurged and ordered it to add to our Thansgiving collection. It's available...1:45 PM in Thanksgiving | Permalink | Comments (1)
November 8, 2006
Usborne Books
Here's the newest link to recommended products: Click on the link to see the whole selection of Usborne books. And remember - books are a great gift to suggest when grandparents want to overindulge the little darlin's....6:51 PM in Books | Permalink | Comments (0)
November 7, 2006
Momma Votes!
Hooray for everyone who went out and voted today, whether you sent me a picture or not. Here are the pictures I've received so far - if more come in, I'll add them too. You've really done two jobs today - you've voted and you've left an indelible impression on...8:15 PM in Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (0)
VOTE!
Don't forget! And send in a picture of you voting with your children if you can find someone to take it. I'll run whatever I receive tonight and tomorrow. If tomorrow, it will be in the afternoon as I'm speaking at a MOPS group in Gaithersburg tomorrow morning....11:30 AM in Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (1)
Thanksgiving hymns
Also from the archives: First of all, I have to admit I am prejudiced when it comes to hymns. Praise songs are okay, but to me they seem more based on feelings. Hymns have feelings too ;) - but they are so packed with the tenets of our faith that...8:47 AM in Thanksgiving | Permalink | Comments (2)
Fire safety for children
With winter setting in - fireplaces, candles, and holidays - I thought it would be a good time to rerun this entry from the archives: Justin attends an early intervention preschool in the morning to get the little extra help he needs. The other day the firemen came to visit...8:23 AM in Practical Info | Permalink | Comments (7)
November 5, 2006
Need picture of a reading nook
Still pulling pictures together for Mommy Teach Me and Mommy, Teach Me to Read. If you have any you'd like me to consider, please email them to me by Monday. I still could use pictures of kids doing any learning-to-read activities. A picture of a preschooler making three-letter phonetic words...2:10 PM in Books | Permalink | Comments (3)
November 4, 2006
Something to cheer about: Athlete-to-Athlete
My Loudoun Times-Mirror column for 11/1. Only here, I can show you the pictures, too! Where everyone is a winner How pumped up do you get dashing down a line of pompom-waving cheerleaders whooping up your arrival? Ask a big burly football player how much that enthusiasm helps him give...10:50 AM in Disabilities, Down syndrome, Family, Loudoun County | Permalink | Comments (2)
Start the day with a smile
How wonderful is it when it's all just that simple? From Emily Dickinson: The soul should always stand ajar, waiting for the ecstatic experience....7:15 AM in Humor | Permalink | Comments (1)
November 3, 2006
Thanksgiving ideas - homemade cranberry sauce and Thanksgiving cards
Now that the dreaded Halloween is over, it's time to start thinking about a holiday that since I became a Christian means so much more! I'm not talking about Christmas yet - though that's true of that holiday too - but of Thanksgiving, which I have learned to savor...6:05 PM in Thanksgiving | Permalink | Comments (2)
A meeting of the Catholic and Evangelical minds
For two months, Regina Doman and I have been trying to get together. She had emailed me in September to introduce herself and we kept setting up dates to meet but you know how it is with mothers - things come up and time for friends becomes short. Last night...4:58 PM in Church Issues, Mothering, Religion | Permalink | Comments (5)
Please vote Tuesday - and send me a picture
Please remember to vote next Tuesday. Take your children with you and let them see how proud you are to live in a country where we have this right. If you take your camera and have someone take a picture of you with your kids at the poll -...7:18 AM in Current Affairs, Mothering | Permalink | Comments (1)
Celebrating Cliches
Today, why not give it all you've got? The sky's the limit and life is just a bowl of cherries. Put on a happy face! Let a smile be your umbrella! Today is National Cliche Day which I found out at Interesting and Weird Holidays in November Cliche' Day (November...5:41 AM in Art, Culture, Homeschooling | Permalink | Comments (3)
November 2, 2006
$5 off saving at Highlights for Children
Remember Highlights Magazine for children? It's still around! I love its old-fashioned approach to character building and abstract thinking skills and last month ordered a subscription for Jonny and Daniel. Though they have Down syndrome, I think the folks at Highlights have a good enough understanding of kids' minds that...4:12 PM in Resources | Permalink | Comments (0)
Police chief fired for asking his men to get in shape
Police Chief Fired Over 'Jelly Bellies' Memo He Exhorted 80 Fellow Officers to Get in Shape By TRAVIS REED, AP WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (Nov. 2) - Police Chief Paul Goward was tired of looking around his department and seeing blubber hanging over the belts of some of his officers. So...7:45 AM in Current Affairs, Diet | Permalink | Comments (2)
November 1, 2006
Supporting this site
Just a reminder that if you are shopping online, linking to Amazon from MommyLife helps with the cost of keeping this site up and running. For any purchases made by my readers, Amazon returns a small percentage here. I am still not at break-even, but getting closer every month! You...8:39 PM in Practical Info | Permalink | Comments (0)
Encouragement for fathers
In my inbox today: Hi Barbara - You spoke to our MOPS group last Friday. I am now reading The Mommy Manual and I am really enjoying the book. So much, that I have been talking about it with my husband. He is very excited for me, but is wondering...7:51 PM in Fathers | Permalink | Comments (4)
