Tag: Teenager

8 of the Best Podcasts for Parents

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date March 1, 2020
10 Comments on 8 of the Best Podcasts for Parents

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Podcasts are my new favorite thing. I can listen to them no matter what I’m doing, and I take full advantage of that. In the car, while I’m cleaning, and even as I sit here and type this blog post (Crime Junkie, anyone?). The best part is, there are literally hundreds of podcasts for parents.

These podcasts for parents can help with any type of parenting style you may have, and you can find something for any situation you may be going through. It may take some time to find the ones that fit your life perfectly, but I’ve put together a list that you can use to start your search.

My favorite parenting podcasts show the real side of parenting. The hosts don’t sugar coat anything and they discuss any and all topics. They truly make me feel like I’m not alone in this crazy world of parenting, and they make me feel like my kids may be …. normal. Crazy thought, right?

Best Parenting Podcasts

1. The Mom Hour

This podcast is hosted by two moms named Meagan and Sarah. They discuss all topics pertaining to parenting, and they do so in a light-hearted way.

What makes this podcast great is that the moms are experienced. Between the two of them, they have kids in all age ranges, meaning they’ve been through it all already and are still going through it all with the rest of us.

They discuss many parenting topics, but they also have two “More Than Mom” episodes each month that are about non-parenting topics.

2. Coffee and Crumbs

Listening to this podcast is like sitting down with a couple of best friends to chat about life. The hosts are three friends named Indiana, Ashlee and April. This is a good podcast to listen to while you’re doing other things like cleaning, driving, walking or putting on makeup.

It’s hard to go into detail about this podcast because all I can come up with is that they just get it. They get how hard parenting can be and they fully understand that parents are not perfect, nor are we supposed to be.

Their personal parenting stories make me laugh, cringe, and shake my head because I’ve done the same things. Other times I’m like, “I’m so glad that didn’t happen to me!! OMG!”. But seriously, there hasn’t been an episode that I’ve listened to that I haven’t liked.

3. One Bad Mother

Hosts Biz and Theresa get real about parenting, so be prepared for a little swearing. They’re totally relaxed during the podcast and they invite guests to discuss parenting issues.

If you’ve ever felt alone, these ladies will make you feel like every other mother has been in the same situation. They truly make you feel like we’re all in the same boat, and there is absolutely no judgement.

4. What Fresh Hell

Two funny moms named Margaret and Amy host this hilarious parenting podcast. Their tagline is “Laughing in the Face of Motherhood”, which is all that you will do while you listen to their show.

The two moms are completely different from one another, which gives different perspectives on the parenting issues that they discuss. They also invite experts on the show to weigh in on crucial topics.

One of the best parts of this podcast is that they aren’t afraid to call each other out when they disagree. The experts they invite on the show don’t always agree with them, either, which just makes it so real. I don’t know about you, but I love listening to two moms who aren’t perfect and aren’t afraid to show it.

5. The Parent Experiment

These moms discuss everything pertaining to marriage, parenting, and living the life. One of my favorite episodes is one where one of the hosts buys a new washer and dryer and yells at the delivery men when they make a huge mistake. It seriously reminded me of myself.

6. The Longest Shortest Time Podcasts for Parents

This is the perfect podcast to help other parents feel like they aren’t alone. The host, Hillary, talks about parenting kids of all ages, from babies all the way to adults.

She brings on guests who tell their own parenting stories. They discuss topics like adoption, not wanting to have kids, and so many other serious topics.

There are also light-hearted and humous moments throughout the podcast, making it the perfect mix of all parenting feelings.

7. Little Sprigs Podcasts for Parents

This parenting podcast discusses how to parent without using bribes or punishments. The host also talks about how to raise confident kids, taking care of yourself, and intentional parenting. She also brings on parenting experts and authors.

8. Mom and Dad Are Fighting

This is a hilarious podcast by hosts Allison and Dan, who are both parents. Between their funny comments, to their honest discussion about parenting issues, this podcast is perfect for real parents who face parenting issues daily.

Fans can even call into the show to ask parenting questions, getting answers from some of their favorite parents. You can also look forward to guest hosts who weigh in on parenting and current events.

Final Thoughts on Best Podcasts for Parents

There are so many podcasts for parents and they each are a little different in style, so you have plenty to choose from. Do you already have a favorite parenting podcast? If so, tell me about it in the comments! If you don’t have a favorite, which one on the list do you want to listen to first?

A slightly unrelated question… I’m also interested in podcasts that aren’t related to parenting at all, do you have any that you recommend?

Tags Adult time, adulting, big kid, funny, little kid, Parenting, Teenager

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13 Random Acts of Kindness to Do With Kids

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date February 15, 2020
21 Comments on 13 Random Acts of Kindness to Do With Kids

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February 17th marks National Random Acts of Kindness Day in 2020. With the date approaching, I want to celebrate the day with my kiddos. I’ve been working on teaching them how to be kind to others, so it’s the perfect opportunity to practice.

Random Acts of Kindness to Do With Your Kids

1. Compliment someone

A simple compliment can make someone’s day. Teach your kids to say nice things about those around them. Whether you compliment someone at the grocery store or you have your kids compliment one another at home, this is a good habit for them to form.

2. Pick up trash outside

There is no better way to do a kindness for others than by taking care of the environment. Walk around the neighborhood or a local park and clean up trash. Have the kids wear gloves or put a plastic bag over their hands so they don’t touch anything yucky.

3. Donate some toys to children in need

Let’s face it, most of our kids have too much. I know mine do. Encourage your child to select a few toys that are in good, working condition and donate them to someone in need.

If they have younger cousins or there are young kids in the neighborhood, you could take the toys there. Otherwise, donating to St. Vincent or somewhere similar is a good option.

4. Help them write a kind note for their teacher

If your child can write on their own, this is a good one for them to do alone. Otherwise, ask your child what they want to say to their teacher and help them write it. This is perfect for teachers of any grade as they could all use a note to let them know they are appreciated.

5. Donate canned goods to a local shelter

Have your kids help you gather canned goods and take them to a local shelter for donation.

6. Do a chore for a sibling or do an extra chore

I know my kids would be so surprised and happy if their sibling did one of their chores. I also know that the happy sibling would likely do the same in return, so it could end up being a never-ending (but awesome) cycle.

If your child doesn’t have siblings, they can do an extra chore to help their parents out.

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7. Thank emergency services personnel

Police officers, firefighters, EMTs and other professionals in the emergency services field sacrifice themselves each day to protect us and our towns. Oftentimes they work long hours with very little sleep, and they also work weekends, holidays, and overnight shifts.

By simply making them a picture or writing a note about how much they are appreciated, you are sure to make their day. You could take it a step further and bake cookies or another treat to deliver with your kids.

8. Leave coins on a ride-on toy at the mall or grocery store

Our local grocery store has a pony for kids to ride on. I’m going to have my kids leave a handful of coins on the pony as an act of kindness so that other kids can ride even if their parents don’t have any change on them.

9. Move a neighbor’s garbage can from the end of the driveway back to their house

If you’re anything like me, your garbage can may sit at the end of your driveway for a couple of days before you pull it back up to the house after garbage pick-up day. Teach your kids to help out the neighbor after trash has been picked up by having them pull the can back to the house. It would be a big help!

10. Return someone else’s cart to the cart corral at the store

When someone is finishing up loading their groceries into their car, run over and offer to put it away for them. It’s the simple things in life that are the most meaningful sometimes.

If you see a stranded cart in a parking lot, that’s a good one to put away, too. It’ll help out the store employee who has to collect all of the carts.

11. Share a favorite toy with a sibling or a friend.

Sharing is caring, right? Encourage your child to share their toys as a way of showing kindness to others.

12. Smile at everyone you see

Challenge your children to smile at everyone they pass today. A smile can make someone’s day and it’ll make you and your child feel good, too.

13. Read a book to someone or to a pet

Being read to is soothing and can reduce stress or anxiety. With this being the case, reading a book to someone is one of the kindest things you can do.

If you can’t think of a person to read to, find a pet who is willing to sit still or cuddle. The shelter is full of animals who would love some attention.

This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.

Final Thoughts on Random Acts of Kindness to Do With Kids

Random acts of kindness are amazing anytime of the year, but with National Random Acts of Kindness Day coming so quickly, it’s a good time to talk about it with your kiddos and spend a day practicing it. By the end of the day, you may find that your kids are coming up with more acts of kindness on their own!

Which random acts of kindness would you add to this list? Tell me in the comments!

Tags big kid, Holiday, little kid, Parenting, Teenager

Adulting Big Kid Life Organization Our Family Parenting Printables Teenager

Free Printables: Paycheck Budget & Chore Chart

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date February 11, 2020
14 Comments on Free Printables: Paycheck Budget & Chore Chart

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One of my New Year’s resolutions was to create a simpler chore chart than what I’d previously been using. My original one was literally four pages long. Well, when I decided to buckle down and create the simple chore chart I was wishing for, I decided to come up with one other freebie, bringing you the two free printables I’m sharing today.

Simple Chore Chart Printable

The first printable, the easy chore chart, is intended to make it easier for my kids to get their chores done each day.

I wasn’t kidding when I said my original chore chart was four pages long. It definitely didn’t make it easy for the kids to pick chores each day, and it definitely didn’t inspire motivation.

Luckily, the new one has been a much bigger hit. It makes it easier to keep up on chores, and the kids know exactly what they should be doing that day.

I’ve noticed that the chores are getting done more quickly, sometimes before I even make it home from work.

Paycheck Budget Printable

Since I was simplifying my life with the chore chart, I was inspired to simplify my budgeting method, as well.

Before, I had been writing my budget out on notebook paper every single pay period. Not a very organized method, I admit. It worked for me for a while, but I needed something a bit easier to wrap my head around.

I have a master list of when all of our bills are due, and each week I sit down to plan out what will need paid that week. I do this before I get my paycheck, and then the day I get paid, I reference my list and pay everything.

This printable can be used for weekly or bi-weekly budget planning and monthly budgeting, whichever you prefer.

In “other expenses” I put things like food, gas, and cheerleading (which we pay weekly). In the “savings” section I put upcoming holidays and our emergency fund, which I distribute money to weekly, as well. “Extras” is for any extra money I’m putting towards debt.

Then, the final box titled “leftovers” is to figure out what I’m left with at the end of the pay period. I take our total income and subtract the total amount of money going out.

Final Thoughts

Printables make my life so much easier, and simple printables are essentials. I can’t keep up with multiple pages for a budget or chore chart. I need simple ones that allow me to keep all of my thoughts on that one page.

What do you think – do free printables help you simplify your life?

Tags adulting, big kid, Life, little kid, Organization, Parenting, Plans, Printables, Teenager

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How to Balance a Busy Life and Still Take Care of YOU

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date September 7, 2019
35 Comments on How to Balance a Busy Life and Still Take Care of YOU

Guys, life is CRAZY busy. I’m sure most of you feel the same way. It’s an overwhelming feeling, just knowing that there is ALWAYS something to be done, and finding a way to balance a busy life is the only answer to easing some of those feelings.

I have this overwhelmed feeling quite often, but I’m realizing that it’s even worse this time of year. Back to school time in our household is absolutely insane. We’re going on week 4 of school and things are finally beginning to become more “normal” for us.

That’ll be thrown completely off next week, however, as my daughter is starting 3-year-old preschool and there will be yet another thing thrown into our already busy schedule. It’s so worth it, though. I’ll forever choose providing for my children and giving them every opportunity I can over living a “simple” life.

Our children deserve the best and, as parents, we all know that we’re going to give them the best life that we can. Even if that means running around like crazy from school to practice to work (yep, our teenager just got her first j-o-b!). The only thing we can do is find a way to balance the crazy schedules and stay sane while doing it.

So what is a mom with a million things on her to-do list to do? Take a bath. Read a book. Listen to music. Watch her favorite Netflix show. Whatever self-care technique you prefer, DO IT.

As parents, we ALWAYS have a million things on our to-do list. Get done what can’t wait, and make the rest wait until tomorrow. Take care of YOU. After all, how can you take care of your child when your own cup is empty?

Make a list

Each night before bed, sit down and write out all the things that need your attention in the coming days. This is the easiest part.

Prioritize

First, organize your list into things that cannot wait. Obviously you will have to get those done. Then, take all of the things that need to be done but can wait until tomorrow or until the weekend and put those on a separate list. You can add some of those to your “can’t wait” list the next day.

Schedule self-care time

You have got to take care of yourself. This is the single most important tip. If you aren’t taking care of yourself, you won’t be able to give much more to anyone else. For success and great parenting, you have to make time for yourself. Remember, self care isn’t just about taking a break every so often. You will also need to be in the best way with your health and wellbeing. It might be that you have an appointment to get suspected tinnitus checked out, this could be bringing you down. If you think you have this then take a look at tinnitus treatment options near you.

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Ask for help

Ask your partner, your parents, your siblings or friends… ask whoever you trust with your kids. They’ll be more than willing to help out, and you will be able to take a load off of yourself, even just for one day.

Remind yourself that one day, you’ll miss this

I know you hear this all the time, but it is so true. I get sick of hearing it myself sometimes, but it really does make life a little easier when things get hectic.

One day, life WILL be “simple”, and you’ll think back to the days when your kids were still kids and you were trying to figure out how to balance a busy life. Believe it or not, you will learn for those days back. Try your best to embrace is now… I know that isn’t always possible (TRUST ME), but with intentional reminders, you’ll likely find yourself in a better mood.

Make sure to spend time with your partner

Parenting really takes a strain on your marriage, but you guys are in this together and that means you have to connect in order for things to stay in sync. Nurture this relationship by scheduling regular date nights, even if the dates are in your living room. Just spend time together… have fun and talk.

For more blog posts on marriage, choose one of the following titles:

Final Thoughts on How to Balance a Busy Life and Still Take Care of YOU

Are you feeling overwhelmed with how much stuff there is to do each day? I’m with you! What do you do to manage it all? Leave a comment and let us know!

Tags adulting, How to, Me Time, Our Life, Parenting, Self Care, Teenager

Big Kid How To Our Family Parenting Printables Teenager

8 Ways to Get Ready For Back to School (plus FREE printable)

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date August 4, 2019
15 Comments on 8 Ways to Get Ready For Back to School (plus FREE printable)

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Can you believe summer is coming to an end and another year of school is upon us? Less than 3 weeks and my kids will be back to school again. Unlike many parents, I am so not happy about this.

I love having my kids home, as weird as that may be. Plus, my firstborn is starting kindergarten!! We have two older kids (bonus kids for me), so I’m definitely not new to back to school, but it’s different when you’re doing the kindergarten thing for the very first time.

Anyway, although I’m dreading the kids going back to school, I have to get ready for it regardless. I’m working on getting all 3 of the kids ready.

Nevaeh is going to be a sophomore this year, Peyton is starting 6th grade (his first year of middle school!!), and Sylas is starting kindergarten. Needless to say, we have quite the preparation ahead of us.

*This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.*

Ways to Get Ready For Back to School

1. Adjust bed time.

Summertime means staying up late… sometimes way too late. Back to school means a “normal” bedtime and waking up early. Bummer, right?

It’s another unfortunate aspect of back to school. To set your kids up for success, begin getting them back on their school schedule at least one week in advance.

2. Make a list of what you need.

Each grade requires different items but, for the most part, they all have similarities. Figure out what each of your kids needs (I found lists for my kids on their school’s website), and start making a list for yourself.

School clothes and shoes are other things you need a list for. I just went through my 5 year old’s closet to see how many pairs of jeans he has, how many t-shirts, etc. From there, I was able to determine how many new school clothes he needs.

3. Watch for back to school sales.

This year, Amazon has been my go-to. It’s actually become my go-to for pretty much everything, so you’re probably not surprised.

Seriously, though, you can find pretty much every brand and every price range on Amazon, and you can find awesome stuff that you can’t find in most stores.

4. Get into a routine.

This routine should be similar or exactly like the routine you use during the school year. My family got WAY off schedule this summer, so we have started our back-to-school schedule already! I just want them to be ready and start the school year on a good note.

Our back-to-school routine is more than just bedtime. It involves reading or writing around 4:00 pm, dinner at 6:00 pm, baths and stories at 7:00, and then bedtime (7:30 for the littles, a little later for our older kids).

5. Take your child to see their new classroom and meet their new teacher before the first day of school.

Most schools have open houses where this can happen but, if yours doesn’t, ask if you can bring your child in so that they are more comfortable on their first day of school.

6. Talk to them about all the exciting things they can look forward to.

Seeing their old friends, making new friends, field trips, recess, riding the bus, etc. Mention anything that excites your child about school.

7. Find another kid in your neighborhood who can be your child’s bus buddy.

With my little man starting kindergarten, I kept saying that I would never let him ride the bus. I feel that there isn’t enough supervision on buses and with him only being 5 years old, I still get a little bit crazy about how he is treated or if his feelings are hurt. (Don’t judge me, this is a judgment-free zone LOL!).

He reaaaaallly wants to ride a bus, however, and it would honestly make my life a million times easier. His big brother won’t be on that bus anymore since he is moving on to middle school, so I talked to another older kid in the neighborhood about keeping an eye on Sylas for me.

This other kid was actually really excited to help me out, and I think it made them feel even more mature. Plus, Sylas is excited to have a buddy on the bus already, especially since it is someone he has known (literally) his whole life and has looked up to.

Now, I’ll probably follow the bus to school the first couple of days, but at least I’m letting him get on it. 😉 The rest will be an adjustment for mama, later on, I suppose.

8. Discuss safety, bullying, respect, and other important topics with your kids.

When it comes to safety, you should make sure to talk about how to be safe on the bus, how to be safe when walking to school or to the bus, and even how to be safe in the classroom. Discussing bullying is SO important, as well, and I’m sure we all know why.

Talking to your kids about respect can cover almost any topic from following directions, respecting their teacher even when they disagree, respecting themselves and others, not doing gross things such as picking their nose, helping out when they see a need, etc. Whatever your definition of respect is, make sure you are instilling it into your children.

Bonus Tip

I have found that the best way to get kids in the back-to-school mindset is to get them their school supplies and back-to-school clothes. This gets them excited for the inevitable and helps them with the transition.

Back to School Checklist – Free Printable

Whatever grade your child is going into, I’ve got you covered. I created THREE free printables just for you guys, in order to make the process easier for you.

back to school, free printable, back to school checklist, back to school grades k-3 — Click to enlarge

back to school, free printable, back to school checklist, back to school grades 4-5 — click to enlarge

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Where to Buy Inexpensive (but great quality!) School Supplies

My go-to for everything else is, of course, my go-to for school supplies, too. Amazon has AMAZING back-to-school deals, and you can buy packages of school supplies that contain almost everything your kids will need. Check out some of the deals I’ve scored this year down below.

school supplies, back to school dry erase markers, 16 pack, back to school deals — Click for the link

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Final Thoughts On Ways to Get Ready For Back to School

The end of summer is approaching quickly, and now is the time to begin preparing. These tips for getting ready for should help you, and the printables will help you make sure you have everything that your kids need for the first day.

What tips would you add to this list? What school supplies would you add to the free printables? Let me know in the comments!!

Tags big kid, How to, little kid, Parenting, Printables, Teenager

Parenting Teenager

Teen Dating: 8 Tips For Parents

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date July 27, 2019
12 Comments on Teen Dating: 8 Tips For Parents

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The dreaded years are here… your teenager has started dating or has begun showing interest in dating. Now what?! This teen dating experience could be disastrous, or it could be a great time in both of your lives.

I’m sure you remember when you first starting having an interest in dating someone. Your trips to the mall or movie theater, meeting their parents or siblings, hanging out at the park… infatuated with this person you’ve been spending your time with.

Our teenager has her first serious boyfriend, and we are kind of learning as we go. Along the way, I’ve been jotting down some tips for when your teen starts dating so that I could help other parents out.

Why Is This Teenage Milestone So Important?

While these teenage relationships may seem minor and unimportant to some parents, it is SO important to think back and remember how you felt in that time of your life. The feelings were REAL, weren’t they? We need to remember this about our own teenagers… these relationships are so real to them in every way, and it is the time to show them how a healthy relationship works, and help them through this time in their life.

The way a teenager or young adult learns to date and have a relationship is setting the precedent for their future relationships and eventually their marriage. Take this time while you are more present in their lives and able to supervise and monitor more of the relationship to give them advice, help correct mistakes, teach your teenager to respect themselves and their boyfriend/girlfriend, and even when it is time for an unhealthy (or potentially unhealthy) relationship to end. Our teenagers don’t know any of this… they’re new to dating! These tips can help you make this new milestone in your teenager’s life a positive experience.

*This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.*

How Do You Know When Your Teen Is Ready To Date?

I hear so many teenagers ask, “how old do I have to be to start dating?”, and I honestly don’t think you can put a definite age to it. Each teenager is different and matures at different times, so there are characteristics you should watch for in your teenager. Once you have noticed these traits in them, you know your teenager is ready to begin dating.

You know your teenager is ready to date when they:

see through empty promises and bribes.
become less impulsive.
know how to speak to adults and introduce themselves.
are respectful of themselves and others.
have proven themselves to be trustworthy and able to make good decisions when adults aren’t present.

Teen Dating: Tips For Parents

1. Communicate!

The most important thing when your teenager starts dating is to let them know they can talk to you about anything. This means you can’t overreact when they do come to you, or next time they won’t let you know what’s going on.

If communication isn’t your strong suit when it comes to your teenager, try this “Dates With Parents” idea that I do with my kids! It gives you an awesome opportunity to bond, which will likely open up a way to easily communicate.

I actually learned a ton from this book “Parenting a Teen Girl“. I learned so many tips for communicating, and they actually worked!!

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2. Be up front about expectations and rules.

An important rule we have for our teenage daughter is that she isn’t allowed to be alone with her boyfriend. I want an adult to always be present… maybe not right next to them the whole time, but at least in an area where an adult will be regularly walking through. This means that bedrooms are definitely off limits.

While I trust her to make a good choice, I don’t want her to get into a position that is difficult or awkward to get out of if I have anything to say about it. She should feel safe and comfortable at all times, and I (as the parent) should feel comfortable in the knowledge that my child is in a mistake-free situation.

3. Talk to them about how to get out of a situation when they are being pressured.

Give them an easy out… let them know they can ALWAYS text you a code word or something (determine this “something” ahead of time), that means they need you to come and get their right away. When you get this message, you could call your teen and pretend something has come up and you have to come and get them. (Read more on this *here*.)

If texting or calling isn’t an option, they should know what else they can do to get out of the situation. One thing you could tell your teen to do if they are being pressured is to tell a lie. I know, it kind of contradicts everything we’ve taught them in the past. However, if they are in an uncomfortable situation like this, their number one priority should be getting out of there and being safe.

4. Communicate about respect (this means both themselves and the other person).

It is so important for a teenager to know that they can say NO. And they should also know that if they are being shown respect, their “no” answer will be accepted. The teenagers should also known to respect the other person… if that person says “no”, they need to immediately drop the subject and accept that answer.

5. Give them a curfew.

The world gets a little crazier after a certain time of night. Alcohol comes out, bad decisions begin to be made, it gets dark, and many of the “good” kids are safe at home. Your child should be home, too, after a certain time of night. Stick to this curfew because, as parents, we know that nothing good could come from being out too late as a teenager.

6. Meet their date.

You would be surprised how many parents don’t think it’s important to meet the people their teenager hangs out with. If someone is going on a date with your teenager, you should definitely meet the date ahead of time. I also like to meet the parents of the date (or have my husband meet them), too.

7. Check on your teenager after the date has ended and give them a chance to talk.

You should always make time to ask your teenager how the date went and give them a chance to talk about it, whether it was good or bad. Don’t interrupt or give your opinion until they are finished talking or until they ask for it. They’ll be able to process their feelings vocally, and you’ll be able to get a feel for how the date went.

8. Watch for red flags.

Even with following all the parenting tips in the world bad things can still happen. You can’t always be present when your teenager is with their boyfriend or girlfriend, so you have to know how to look for red flags in other ways. Some common red flags to watch for include:

sudden lack of communication from your teen.
irresponsible and unpredictable behavior.
telling lies when they didn’t before.
controlling behavior.
unusual insecurity.
withdraw from friends and family members.
lack of interest in their favorite activities.

Teen Dating: Tips for Teenagers

Talk to your parents about the good and the bad.
Stay in well lit areas and near others.
Go on group dates whenever possible, and stay in public places if you’re alone with your date.
Listen to and follow your parents rules (I promise they are only giving rules to protect you!)
Always know where an exit is.
Don’t take food or drink from anyone at a party – always serve yourself.
Don’t hesitate to call for help. This includes calling the police if it even crosses your mind that you may need to.

Final Thoughts On Teen Dating

I think part of the reason that the teenage years are so difficult is because our teens are now learning to do adult things. Driving, working, taking care of pets, meeting deadlines, DATING (omg)… these are all things that full grown adults make mistakes at.

We can’t expect our teenagers to be perfect, so when it comes to teen dating, we must make ourselves present and open to communication with them. It’s one of the only ways we can pave a healthy path for them as they grow into adults.

Tags Date night, Parenting, Teenager

Big Kid Big kid fun Family Activities Parenting Teenager Toddler and Preschool Age Fun Toddler and Preschool Age Learning

10 Nostalgic Books to Read With Your Kids (or alone!)

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date July 20, 2019
31 Comments on 10 Nostalgic Books to Read With Your Kids (or alone!)

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Think back to your childhood… which books did you LOVE to read? Which ones were you extra excited to see at story time? As you got older, which books captured your attention the most?

I have ALWAYS been a reader and can’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t love books. Instilling that passion in my kids is something I’ve always tried to do. This means that I buy them books at any chance I get, and if I see an old favorite of my mine, we’re reading it that day for sure.

From books I loved as a young child, to the adventures of big kid books, and then continuing into my teenage years, I literally buy them all. Now, I’m sharing some of our favorites with you! These are ones that I absolutely loved as a child and that my kids enjoyed, too!

Ok, you all should have known that I couldn’t just choose little kid books, big kid books, or books for teenagers, so I made one list of each. I have 3 littles (ages 5, 3, and 2) and 2 big kids (ages 11 and 15), so I have to have a wide range of books for all different age groups.

If you don’t have kids, no worries!! You could use a little nostalgia in your life, anyway! Go ahead and choose a book or two, and relive your childhood.

This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.

Nostalgic Books For the Littles

My personal favorite: The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales

The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, Nostalgic children's books, books for kids — I was always SO excited when my teacher would pull this book out at school!

Books for Big Kids

Bonus: Every book on this list counts toward AR tests and points. Since school is coming quick, it’s best to be prepared!

I’ve included the recommended grade levels for each book, but remember each child is different. If you want to read a book with your child, it’s OK if it’s a little higher than their grade level, because you’ll be reading with them to help with unknown words and meanings.

Matilda: Grades 3-6
The Witches: Grades 3-7
The BFG: Grades 3-7
Box Car Children: Grades 2-6
The Baby Sitter’s Club: Grades 3-7 **Check out this retro set!!**
Amelia Bedelia: Grades K-3
Ramona Quimby, Age 8: Grades 3-7
The Watson’s Go to Birmingham: Grades 5-8
Junie B. Jones: Grades 1-4
Holes: Grades 4-6

My personal favorite: This is too difficult to answer!! I’ll have to choose three – The Witches, The BFG, and Box Car Children.

Books for Teenagers

Depending on the reading and maturity level of your child, these can also be books for preteens. I read many of them when I was a preteen myself including numbers 3, 7, 9, and 10.

I find that it is more difficult to get our teenager to read books than it is to get my younger kids to read, so reading with her or sharing my favorite books with her seems to be the best way.

Anything written by Sarah Dessen – all of her books are nostalgic to me, honestly. I read and loved them all!
The Great Gatsby
Harry Potter
Romeo and Juliet
The Scarlet Letter
In Cold Blood
1984
The Bell Jar
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
– This may be the best one on the list to read with a preteen or teenage girl. It makes for an awesome movie night after!
The Outsiders
To Kill a Mockingbird

I’m sure you noticed that there are 11 here… just count that as a bonus, because I couldn’t bring myself to eliminate any on this list!!

My personal favorite: The Great Gatsby, for sure!! It’s still my favorite book!

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Final Thoughts on Nostalgic Books To Read With Your Kids

As adults, we oftentimes find ourselves over-stressed, over-worked, and over-tired. We rarely take the time we need to relax and enjoy ourselves. Having kids, however, allows us a few moments to sit back and pretend we are a kid again while reading books that we used to love ourselves.

So, go ahead and pick out a few books to purchase that you loved as a kid. You won’t regret the time spent with your own children, reminiscing over your own childhood while creating new memories that will last forever.

What were some of your favorite books as a child? What about as a teenager? I’d love to hear about them in the comments!!

Tags big kid, big kid activities, books, Family Activities, learning, little kid, nostalgic, Parenting, Teenager

Adulting Big Kid Family Activities Holiday Printables Teenager Toddler and Preschool Age Fun

National Give Something Away Day: Two Free Printables – Updated

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date July 14, 2019
6 Comments on National Give Something Away Day: Two Free Printables – Updated

Updated 9/20/2019 to add my Christmas gift to you – a free Christmas list printable!

As I was preparing for the upcoming holiday season, I decided I wanted to give my readers an early Christmas gift. I hope you and your children enjoy it!

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Happy National Give Something Away Day!! Today I encourage you to find things in your home that you could do without and give them to someone who could use them. My kids and I will all be giving a few things away, but I also want to give something to all of my readers!

Have You Thought About Starting a Blog?

If you have ever thought about starting a blog but life got in the way, there is no better time than right now!! It’s not as hard as you think, and you can do things at your own pace. Trust me, I have 5 kids, work a job outside of my home, and I still find time to run this blog.

It’s so possible to have an awesome blog even with a busy life, and it’s FUN. When I have time to myself to relax, I choose to work on my blog. You won’t regret taking the plunge!

If you want to know how to start a blog in 3 easy steps, check out my blog post that tells you how to do it!

Free Blog Checklist Printable

If you already have a blog or you decide to start one today, this blog checklist printable will be perfect for you! Now, this is the checklist I follow on a daily basis, meaning after work and spending time with my family. When I have some free time, I will likely spend way more time on each category.

daily-blog-checklist-3 Download

Final Thoughts On National Give Something Away Day

Now, after you start your blog, download the printable, and get started on setting everything up, find something in your home to give to someone else. The things that get little to no use in your own home may make a huge difference in someone else’s life.

Tags adulting, big kid, Blog, Holiday, Printables, Teenager, Toddler

Adulting For the Home Gifts Holiday

12 Amazon Prime Day Must-Haves

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date July 13, 2019

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Amazon Prime Day (AKA: Christmas in July) happens only one time per year, and Amazon offers TONS of amazing deals you can’t find any other time. I love Amazon all year long, but I’m even more fond of it in July. Prime day is on the 15th and 16th of this month, and I couldn’t be more excited.

Since I am an Amazon Affiliate partner, I get early access to Prime Day deals and a sneak peak of the deals to come. It would just be rude if I kept all of this awesome info to myself, so I’m going to share it with you, too!

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

Amazon Prime Membership Perks

There are literally SO MANY benefits for Amazon Prime members, it’s probably impossible to list them all. Just so you can get an idea of some of the best benefits, though, I’ll give it my best to list as many as possible.

Free shipping (sometimes same day!!)
Awesome deals that aren’t available for non-members
Watching movies and TV shows
Free games
Ad free music

How to Join Amazon Prime

It’s so easy to join Amazon Prime. All you have to do is click the image below, and you’ll be taken straight to the sign-up page. You can do a free trial at first to make sure you love all the awesome features and exclusives that come with it.

You can cancel at any time, so there is no commitment if you sign up. It’s super easy to cancel, too. You won’t have to deal with calling anyone or waiting a certain amount of time, you can simply cancel right on the Amazon website (although I’m certain you won’t want to cancel).

Must-Have Prime Day Deals

Fire TV Stick
Instant Pot
Bosch Drill
Robot Vacuum
Laptops
Amazon Echo Dot
Kindle Paperwhite
Phone accessories such as this wireless charger
Xbox 1
PlayStation 4
TVs
Air Fryer

Final Thoughts On Amazon Prime Day Must-Haves

There are going to be SO MANY awesome deals on Prime Day, and there are even some offers leading up to the actual even, so the sooner you sign up the better! What items are you hoping to find for a good deal on Prime Day? Tell me about them in the comments!

10 Gift Ideas for a Teenage Girl

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date July 9, 2019
18 Comments on 10 Gift Ideas for a Teenage Girl

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Teenagers seem like a tough group of kids to buy gifts for. Does anyone ever know what it is they truly want for their birthday or Christmas? I sure didn’t, but our newly 15-year-old planned ahead and gave me a detailed list to follow, so I’ve got plenty of gift ideas for a teenage girl.

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

If you’re anything like me, gift giving is a big deal and you want to give the best gifts. This also means having to know exactly what to buy, or at least a general idea of what that person loves. If you have a teenage girl to shop for, this teenage girl gift guide should steer you in the right direction!

Gift Ideas For a Teenage Girl – Gifts She Will Love

1. Air Pods

Apple Air Pods were at the top of our teenager’s birthday list this year, which I’m really not surprised by. At first, I didn’t want to spend the money on something that I thought was so silly, but since she wanted them so badly, we went ahead and made the purchase. I’m so thankful that we did now, because she uses them literally every day and is so appreciative and happy about them.

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2. Air Force 1 Shoes

When I was a teenager Air Force 1’s were hot, and everyone had them or wanted them. It seemed like everyone had them, at leas. Now, my teenager wears them!! This is just crazy to me.

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3. Nike Leggings

We all know how much teenagers love leggings (and maybe us mom’s love leggings a little, too), so of course our teenager asked for specific Nike leggings for her birthday this year. I wasn’t kidding when I said she gave a detailed list. She’s into the high waist style, so she got one regular fit and one high waist.

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Black Nike Leggings: https://amzn.to/32e7dSz

Gray Nike Leggings: https://amzn.to/2LBRBSK

4. Photo Clip Lights

These photo clip lights are perfect for any style of bedroom, so it’s pretty safe to say that any teenage girl would love them. Nevaeh (our 15 year old) has so many photos hanging around her room and loves different kinds of lights, and she was pretty excited to open this on her birthday and put more pictures up.

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5. Makeup Vanity Mirror with Lights

Nevaeh really wants this vanity mirror with lights, and she may just get it from Santa this year. It’s so cute and will give her a quiet place to use all of her makeup, skin, and hair products. I’m hoping that it also means she’ll start storing her products in her bedroom instead of all over my bathroom, too. Wishful thinking, I’m sure. LOL!

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6. Victrola Vintage Bluetooth Turntable with Speakers

This is probably the coolest bluetooth speaker I’ve ever seen. Nevaeh got it as a gift from her aunt, and she uses it all the time. It gives her room a vintage vibe, and she can actually play records on it.

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7. Bath Bombs

Teenage girls love to pamper themselves, and there is no better way to begin a pamper session than in a bathtub full of hot water with a bath bomb. When buying a gift for a teenage girl, she would love this variety pack by itself, or with a candle and her favorite kind of chocolate.

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8. Vlogging Camera

So a vlog is a video blog, which is what you see in YouTube videos oftentimes. Teenagers are way into vlogging right now, and they love having a vlogging camera to record themselves and their friends living their lives. It’s so much fun for them, and I’m all about encouraging this kind of creativity and skill set.

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9. Wall Tapestry

These are SO cute and fit the theme of our teenager’s bedroom. They’re really popular right now, and you can’t really go wrong if you choose this wall tapestry or something similar. Bedroom decor is normally a safe bet when choosing a gift for a teenage girl.

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10. Hydro Flask Water Bottle

So honestly, I’m not sure that I see the hype here, but teenage girls are obsessed with these Hydro Flask water bottles. They come in all different colors, but Nevaeh chose white for herself. Once they have the water bottle, they’ll want to order stickers from a website called RedBubble, and cover the outside of the water bottle in the stickers.

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Other Gift Ideas for a Teenage Girl

iTunes giftcard
Amazon giftcard
Apple music subscription
Gift Card to her favorite store
Ipsy subscription
A trip to a place she has never been

Final Thoughts on Gift Ideas for a Teenage Girl

While they may seem complex and difficult, teenage girls are actually very easy to please. So, as long as you know what the girl is into, you can likely find an easy gift to give her that she will love. All of the gift ideas in this blog post will make her happy, or you can simply choose a gift card or subscription that she will love.

What other gift ideas for a teenage girl can you think of? Let me know in the comments!

Other Gift Guides

Tags Birthday, Gift Guide, gifts, Holiday, Teenager