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A new year means a new you, right?  Well, how about just improving on a few things?  At the top of my list this year is some of the usual resolutions: working out more, attending church regularly (even if Claire Bear runs down the center aisle), and my last one is probably the one I'm most excited about.  I joined Julie Hedlund's 12x12 picture book group!  My goal in this group is to write one picture book every month of 2013, plus blog about my work whether it be a flop or a success.  I look forward to creating new writing friendships and learning about the craft.  Wish me luck! 

Be Unique, Not Perfect

My title has so much meaning to me today.  We all know as adults we are far from perfect, so our children should fall under the same circumstances, right?  My youngest daughter has felt the pressure from her (old) preschool teacher of not fitting her expectation of a typical four-year old.  Her shyness gave the teacher reason to hold her back from kindergarten?!?!  My child has barely made her way into this world and already she is not meeting someone's standards.  It is beyond my way of thinking, my years of school and teaching, to believe that an adult could take a group of kiddos and want every single one to write the same way, run the same way, or speak the same way.  I am very blessed my child does not have a major handicap, but if she did, she would be loved just as much.  Every child needs encouragement to grow, not pressure to be something they're not. My daughter is not perfect.  She is what she is, and that's just fine with me.


Whew, I really had to get that off my chest.  Thank goodness our new preschool teacher is understanding and accepts my daughter for who she is.  This teacher will be getting a nice present at the end of the school year. :)

And now, it's Autism Awareness month!!!!  I want to celebrate by posting a small excerpt of a story I'm working on, "My Sunshine".  It is about a child's first glimpse of a friend with Autism.  And remember that all kiddos have special needs and need to feel special in their life!!!!

Suzy climbed up the steps of the jungle gym.  She looked over the park.  The only people she could see was a little girl and her mama sitting on a large blanket. 

It was yellow, just like Suzy's hair.  She flew down the slide, letting the wind blow her yellow curls around.

Suzy walked over the the blanket.  The mama was reading a magazine while the little girl picked at the ground.

"Hi," said Suzy.  The little girl kept her head down.  She must be shy, thought Suzy. 

"Would you like to go down the slide with me?  We can go super fast!"  Suzy was excited to have a friend to play with, but the little girl still looked at the ground.

Maybe she doesn't like to slide?  Suzy looked around the park.  The swings!  Perfect!

"How about we go swing?  Do you like to swing?" asked Suzy.  Still no answer from the little girl.  Suzy felt sad.  She wanted to make a new friend and play with her at the park. 

Suzy looked up at the sky.  The bright sunshine warmed her cheeks, turning them pink.  That's it!  I can sing her the special song mama sang to me, Suzy thought. 

She started to sing quietly.  "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.  You make me happy, when skies are gray."  The little girl looked up at Suzy for the first time.  Her eyes were brown, just like Suzy's. 

"You'll never know dear, how much I love you."  The little girl started to rock back and forth. 

"Please don't take my sunshine away."  Suzy was proud that she remembered all of the words.  "Did you like my song?" she asked.  The little girl finally smiled. 

"Can I sit and play with you?"  The little girl smiled again.  Suzy happily sat and played with her new friend.  She didn't run or swing or slide.  But she had a great day at the park.

Get a SPRING in your Step!

Hello bloggers!! Let's welcome springtime with open arms!  The weather here in SE Kansas is beautiful! (not including the four days of nonstop rain from last week)  My daughters have donned their bathing suits and we are all showing off our nice white arms and legs. 

Here is a book I came across in the library I work at, "Fred Stays With Me" by Nancy Coffelt.  What a great story!  The girl in the book describes the hardships of divorce in an understandable way for younger children.  Her dog, Fred, is her sidekick throughout the moving from here to there, mom's house to dad's house.  After Fred starts causing trouble at both homes, the parents are definitely unhappy about the dog.  But the deteremined youngster stands her ground and demands that he is her dog and he stays where she stays.  Good for her!!  The parents cooperate and Fred stays, hooray! 

The story is excellent for children who have/don't have divorced parents. It will totally give insight to a child who has a friend with divorced parents. 

Get a SPRING in your Step!!

Parents, check out these awesome crafts from an awesome blog!!
Be sure to explore the site, lots of great ideas here:

http://www.toddlerapproved.com/2012/03/paper-plate-easter-basket.html

Count Your Blessings

Day after day we as parents do the following: wake up child, feed child, play with child, feed child again, etc, etc.  Between the routines of feeding and napping, do we stop and say thank you for what we have?  Thank you for the monotonous routine of raising our kids and, along the way, loving them the best we can?  After a trip to the ER last week with my one year old, I feel like all I have been doing is counting my blessings.  I am blessed with two beautiful girls and even if I am stressed to the max, I cannot forget that!  Here is a great book about blessings to share with your little one:

Salina Yoon is a favorite of mine, the pictures are whimsical and the writing is perfect for little ones.  This makes a perfect bedtime story!

Parents, be a lovebug!!  Take it a step further and make a Blessings Book.  With a few pieces of paper, fold and staple on the side. Discuss what you are blessed with in your life.  Your child may choose toys or pets, which is perfectly fine.  Make sure you add family to the list, especially siblings.  To add the educational factor, number them as they do in the book.  For example, four pets or two parents.  Good luck and always remember to what your biggest blessing is:  Your Children!!

Happy Lovebug Day!!

Hello to all you lovebugs out there!  I am celebrating Valentine's Day with the launch of my new blog, Lovebug Literature.  Besides food, clothing, and shelter, the most important thing a parent can do for their child is READ.  What could be better than curling up at bedtime with a picture book and your little one?  Well, maybe add a mug of hot cocoa with marshmallows with that...  Reading with your child gives them a great start on the process of learning to read and the one-on-one interaction helps them feel secure and loved.  Check out my book picks of the week plus a Valentine's activity to try with your little lovebug!

XOXO Meg


Meg's Pick:  "Pinkalicious: Pinkie Promise" 

Pinkalicious is a darling, pig-tailed girl whose favorite color is...Surprise! Pink, of course.  She borrows her friend's pink paint and promises not to use it all.  Whoops, after her pinkatastic pink picture is painted, she discovers she used up all of the pink paint, plus the red and white too.  Her friend is mad and Pinkalicious is upset that she broke her promise, but even more sad that her friend doesn't sit next to her at lunchtime.  Finally, Pinkalicious delivers a brand new tube of pink paint to her friend and finds out that she is forgiven!  This book gives many great messages on dealing with a friend who is upset with you and even better, the importantance of forgiveness.  Written by Victoria Kann, check this one out!

Valentine's Hand Hearts:

Supplies:  Red or pink paint, white paper, and a pair of tiny hands :)

Paint the outside of your child's hands, the part that is soft from your wrist to your pinkie.  Curve hands to make a heart shape and press down on a piece of paper.  Ta da!  A perfect heart for a sweet valentine!



Valentine Scavenger Hunt:

Every year I have a Valentine scavenger hunt for my girls.  After a breakfast of heart-shaped pancakes, I read the first clue to my oldest and she races to get the next clue.  Try to make the clues rhyme and have your child pick out the rhyming words.  Here are a few examples:

Happy Valentine's Day to Lily and Claire,
now go find what we use to brush your hair.

This is a clue to a bed,
a place where Mommy rests her head.