Everyday is Mom's Day! I wish...
Saturday, May 15, 2010 By: Daven Tackett

Mother's Day, a celebration!

I wish everyday were Mother's Day.  It feels very nice to be apprecitated for raising children for 1 day out of the 365 days that we do it.  It's the other 364 days that are hit and miss. 

I am stepping into a new mothering realm, with my oldest child turning 18.  I can see now that she will always be my baby. As much as I still want to "do" for her, it is now her turn to "do" for herself, and I have to allow it.

This poem says it all:

Words from a Mother's Heart

I have given you life, but cannot live it for you.

I have taught you much, but cannot make you learn.

I have given you directions, but cannot be there to lead you.

I have allowed your freedom, but cannot account for it.

I have taken you to church, but cannot make you believe.

I have taught you right from wrong, but cannot decide for you.

I have given you love, but cannot force it upon you.

I have taought you to share, but cannot make you unselfish.

I have taught you respect, but cannot force you to show honor.

I have advised you about friends, but cannot choose them for you.

I have advised you about sex, but cannot keep you pure.

I have taught you the fact of life, but can not build your reputaion.

I have told you about drinking , but cannot say no for you.

I have warned you about drugs, but cannot prevent you from using them.

I have taught you about kindness, but cannot force you to be gracious.

I have warned you about sin, but cannot make you moral.

I have loved you as a child, but cannot make you walk with God.

I have taught you about Jesus, but cannot make Jesus your Lord.

I have taught you about life, but cannot give you eternal life.

I love you.

Anonymous

For all the moms, say a pray for your children today! 

Daven

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Internet Safety for the Summer
Saturday, May 08, 2010 By: Daven Tackett

 

Keep your kids safe this summer while on the web.

I have a friend at church who revealed one day in our bible study that her felt as if her main goal as a parent was to keep her children safe and sheltered for as long as she could.  She felt like part of showing them unconditional love was to allow them to grow up slowly.   

Having children at home this summer during those hot and humid sweltering days of June, July and August can mean computer games and web surfing. 

Start researching now for a computer guardian program or at least turn on your computers parental controls to keep your kids safe on the net.  

Along with parental controls, teach your children about approved sites that they can surf to.  Here is a list I gave my kids when they were young.  Enjoy, Daven

pbskids.org

Disney.com

Discoverykids.com

nationalgeographic.com/kids

 

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Car Wash Cleaning and Productivity. What?
Sunday, April 25, 2010 By: Daven Tackett

All moms at one time feel the urge to be productive and to be able to see results!  Here is a tip to help achieve results.

Being a stay-at-home mom can sometimes lead to days of unrest with a strong urge to be productive in an immediate way.  It makes sense.  
I mean, you see your husband get results at work day after day and you know that your results will be seen in a person who is still being formed and still needs to be reminded for the 10th time that they can not get out of bed once the lights are out, and the bedtime story has been read and they have their full sippy cup of water.  It is time for bed, for pete's sake.
So on that line of thought, I used a very creative and innovative technique for cleaning large items around my house that made me feel productive. 

I take them to the CAR WASH......it's not just for autos.  Who knew?  I didn't, but I tried it and it worked like a charm.
So, if you ever want to get a car seat, high chair, or stroller clean just presoak it with some multipurpose cleaner like, Spin 'N Span or Fantastic, and run it to the car wash and let the washing wand do it's magic.  You then leave it on your porch or in the sun to dry.

Get those quarters ready for that first really sunny day and get productive!

I have also used this technique on large rugs.  

Because, if you can clean it, you can reuse, recycle or resell it!

Daven 

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Waste Not, Want Not
Saturday, April 17, 2010 By: Daven Tackett

 Waste not, want not.

This phase resonated with me from an early age, as I was raised by a single mom on disability.   For my mom, waste was getting rid of something that could still have some value.  My mom taught me how to repurpose items that had served their original purpose, and how to clean and repair things most people would have seen as trash.  She was Green before her time, learning by trail and error.  She took care of the things she had because we planned on having them for a long time.

I am a product of my mother, and proud of it!

She worked hard at keeping a clean house with clean furnishings and items. 

She had several house rules that helped facilitate this lifestyle and I followed everyone, as did my two younger sisters. 

Rules of the House: (a few samples, see if you can relate)

Everything has a place and it needs to stay in that place, so if you get something out, you put it back.

If you want to use something that does not belong to you, you must get permission to use it before you use it.

If you want to eat you eat at the kitchen table and you eat your meals when everyone else eats at 6:30am, noon, and 5:30pm.

As soon as the meal is over, work together to wash the dishes, table, and counter tops and dry and put the dishes away.

You eat what is served or you fix something for yourself without complaint.

Saturdays you have two hours of chores to take care of from 8am-10am, so if you want to do something with friends, make plans after 10am.

If you have homework, get it done before bedtime at 8pm.  

No TV until your homework is done.

If you are bored, go outside and play.  You can come in the house when dinner is served or you can work on your homework.

If you get in trouble at school, you get punished at home.

Do not sit on your bed, it is for sleeping on. (This kept the mattress from breaking down on the sides and lasting longer)

Do not lay on the couch, it is for sitting on.  (This kept the couch from breaking down and getting dirty)

If you fight you will BOTH be punished, no matter how or who started it.

If you spill, it is your responsibility to get a towel and soak it up as fast as you can and put the carpet cleaner on it and let it soak and then vacuum it up.

If you break something, you fix it or ask for help to fix it.

You always tell the truth. 

Simple rules for simple living, and I still love to live simply.

Daven 

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