Parenting Archives - Page 8 of 43

Seasons of Sickness

January 27, 2015 by Jules 1 Comment

Some seasons I thrive on having lots to do. I remember in high school feeling like I was way more productive and managed my time better when I had more going on, more responsibilities, and less free time. As an adult, some days that's still true. If I have my list of things I know need accomplished that day, I set to it and get lots wrapped up before the day is done.

Other days. Days like today. The things on my list seem overwhelmingly mounting leaving me feeling like a failure before I've even attempted to begin climbing it all and sitting on a couch at the end of the day not wanting to touch the normal list of things that need to be done before bed.

These seasons of sickness among my friends, extended family, and in my household seem to arise as soon as I think we've found our rhythm. I know they're coming and try to be proactive but never feel ahead of the game when they turn.

Trying to wrap up paper work and training for foster care has been a dozy. I don't like paper work but like check lists. We're moving right a long tackling everything but then, in comes the sickness. Long days of training, juggling childcare for our littles, striving to help friends in crisis behind the scenes, holiday/birthday season dragging on and one, regular port-a-church stuff, and now everyone deciding to take turns running low-grade fevers, snot'n up everything, while being crabby and clinging.

We've been to our pediatrician {40 minutes away btw} 3 times in the past 2 and 1/2 weeks. They're not real keen on large families attempting to be seen at the same time but today, I was THAT mom and drug all my kids in the 1 appointment time they had available.

The conclusion? 2 and 1/2 HOURS in the doctor's office, no diagnosis other than "she has nothing really...prolly just a random virus.", three flu mists, and a flu shot, and all the signed medical paper work we needed for DHS.

Are you in a season of sickness you want to be DONE with but don't want to wish away the few days you have with your littles? How do you handle it?

I'd love to share a few things that helped me not loose my mind on this eternal day at the doctor on this week's Thoughtful Thursday. 🙂

Filed Under: Parenting, The ones about the Rothacher Home

#mommied Monday: Invisible Friends

January 26, 2015 by Jules Leave a Comment

In honor of Mother's Day {in 4 months}, I'm going to be sharing stories {possibly weekly} that makes ya wanna say, "BOOM! You just got Mommied!" because it is a super power 😉 Often we feel like we just got owned by our children in the small battles so we need some encouragement when we don't loose!

I would LUUUUUUVE if you would share your #mommied stories with us on the as Jules is going facebook page or find me on Instagram to share awesome documentation of your #mommied moment! Don't forget to use the hashtag so we can all find it. Maybe by the time Mother's Day gets here we will all feel the true power God has given us as mommies to train up His lil blessings.

My 3-year-old daughter was supposed to be napping in her room upstairs but kept talking loudly. I went out to her room multiple times and every time she told me she was playing. She finally confessed to playing with her imaginary friends. I told her they weren’t allowed to play during nap time. When it continued, I went in I grounded her from the imaginary friends. I stuck out my hand and told her she was not allowed to play with them during nap and ask her to hand them to me. She looked at me funny then slowly placed one handful of nothing into my hand. I ask her how many she had to which she giggled and said 3 and then she placed two more in my hands. I told her she could have them back after nap; they’d be in the hall waiting. She went to sleep smiling and never played with them again during nap. #mommied

Share your #mommied stories with us!!! Side note: if and when I ever finish my book...YOUR #mommied quote may or may not be used in it 😉

Filed Under: #mommied, Parenting, The ones about the Rothacher Home

Our Newest Journey in Chasing After God’s Own Heart

January 16, 2015 by Jules Leave a Comment

I'm sure some of you know that my husband, Matt and I love the idea of adventure. We totally see chasing Jesus in this way; a glorious adventure we get to be apart of!

Sometimes God's call on our life feels quite humorous. As soon as things seem to settle, become routine, or even comfortable, God shows us a new part of His heart and lets us know its time to take part in that with Him. The newest part of this journey is something that was never a plan B. It has never been is we can't ___ then we'll ___. It isn't something God recently unveiled our eyes about.

Care for orphans has always been plan A. When, if, and every time the change was available, we want to care for the children and their parents who's families have been broken. Some times this might look like having students in our home on a regular basis to give them love, encouragement, and consistency. It might be taking part in sharing love through Angel Tree or Operation Christmas Child boxes. Wither these are children in need of care domestically or abroad, we want to be apart of it!

Most recently, God has shown us that becoming someone's "forever family" may be on the horizon. This excites me so much. I think adoption can be one of the best pictures of what Christ did for us and I want to experience that. At the same time, I've been learning a lot about foster-care and adoption that gives me a better picture of the entire scenario that breaks my heart more but also softens the excitement about being ask to step in as someone's adopted parent.

Matt and I are beginning the process of opening our home for foster-care/adoption through DHS here in Arkansas. There's a whole lot to what that means and what it looks like BUT we are also apart of a group called The CALL who exist to help Christian families navigate the overwhelming process within this agency. The CALL stands for Children of Arkansas being Loved for a Lifetime. We have filled out initial paperwork to begin the process and just this past weekend completed our first 15 of 30 hours of PRIDE {Parent Resources for Information, Development, and Education} training via The Call so that we can soon finalize everything so our home qualifies to be opened to state agencies to assist those children {and their families} in need of care.

During this process I'm going to try and share as much as possible because I know there are tons of you out there who are curious about this process. Maybe you have a heart for fostering or adoption. Maybe you have a gazillion questions, aren't sure if this is for you, or maybe you just want some help walking through all of this. If you're like me, it would be nice to at least have an idea of what you're walking into before you start. That's what I'm doing to attempt to do. I wanna cover logistics like names of agencies I'm learning, resources that have deemed super helpful, and even thoughts and emotions that come up during this journey.

SO if you have any questions, PLEASE ask {comment, email, message, etc} or I may not touch on something that would be great for you and others to hear about. We've started more detailed conversations with our littles lately about this and their questions have lead to some great discussions!

Just for the record: our family hasn't decided which route(s) we are taking at this time {ie fostering and/or adoption}

Filed Under: Foster Care and Adoption, Parenting, The ones about the Rothacher Home

Decluttering Kids’ Books with a Win Win Win

January 5, 2015 by Jules 2 Comments

One of the places I've delaying in the Decluttering-My-Home-thing has been the kid's bookshelves.

Sadly, this isn't because I'm a book-lover. I was a little sentimental about who/where they came from but it is mainly because I'm not a reader. I didn't read a lot as a child but I want my kids' to love reading. I know you can learn anything if you're a good reader. I was scared that since I don't really like reading, I'd just chunk everything and be THAT terrible homeschool mom who had no books for her children to read. I mean really, what would people think if they came over and I had no books?! lol but really!

I finally hit it hard last night. As soon as the kids were in bed, I finished picking up and then had my hubs drag ALL their books into the living room from the play/school room where I strung them everywhere while we/he watched a TV show.

I was nervous.

I made piles. Then I reorganized the piles. Then I doubted my piles. Books from HIPPY {that must mean they're good, right?}. Books that damaged. Books I recognized from seeing in the school library as a child. Random. Donate. Trash. I'm not sure.

Ya see what I'm saying, I'm okay at organized but reluctant to declutter. Everything has a purpose, someone one would use it, I might be able to make $2 off of it. Ugg

I finally confessed my fear of getting rid of books to my hubs and then dumped my pile of random books next to him to help me make finally decisions about.

We cleared out a giant tub-full of books. Some I could have possibly sold at the Duck Duck Goose Consignment Event but I just decided that if they made it into the tub from whatever reason, I wasn't going to look at them again. I'm not sure how shaddy this was but I just left the 'donate' and 'trash' pile all together in the tub. I ask my hubs to take the tub to the garage for now so 'the kids' would dig stuff back out of it.

Today we picked back up our attempt at weekly library trips. As I walked out I grabbed that tub. The stupid thing is clear. That's Not Helpful.

I didn't look. I just put it in the front seat and after double checking with the librarian, I brought in the tub and left it with her. Tub and All. I couldn't take the chance of watching her sort through them. Guilt. Regret. Embarrassment.

When I got home, I was hoping the kids didn't really notice me running back into the library with their books. But apparently that's hard to miss. They announced at lunch, "Daddy, we took our books to the library! Now we can rent them any time we want."

Hmm That had never occurred to me. I mean. I'm a genius. I convinced my children it was okay to declutter/get rid of books by taking them to the local library because now someone Else has to store them, we can check them out any time we want, AND other can use them as well! 😀

Filed Under: as Jules is living, Homeschool, Organizing, Parenting, The Ones about Jules Life {Randomness}, The ones about the Rothacher Home

Tree Training {with Lots of Littles}

December 11, 2014 by Jules 2 Comments

Fourth baby. Learning this stage all over again. Having a tree without a cage around it takes a bit of "Tree Training". I'm talking about some of the things we do with our little(s) over at Successful Homemakers today. 😀