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Action day!

Make that playlist for the car that your child will enjoy, que up a storytelling podcast, buy or make supplies for a project, print out coloring sheets, go outside, go to the library and check out books. Find time and/or materials for your child’s alone time. If today is too busy, write down your ideas (you can even start to ask for their input).

Check your expectations

Just because you buy/do/set up an activity for your kids doesn’t mean they have to do it. It’s their time to decompress. Guide, but don’t force. It’s okay to schedule and try, but make adjustments as needed. Modeling really is one of the most effective ways to ‘teach’ how to be alone. Not sure how to present the idea to them? Show, don’t tell. Write about your expectations…how was today’s Alone Time? What did you think it would look like? What did it actually look like? What did you expect your kids/family to do? Take their own time? Leave you alone during yours? Were you clear about your wishes?

Today we’ve looped back around to observing ourselves in relation to our family. Write about your expectations for others and think about whether they are fair, loving, needed, clear, etc. …

Keeping expectations in check can help keep goals obtainable and decrease frustration. What could you let go of that would get you closer to more quality Alone Time? Are your goals of a whole day at the spa too expensive or impractical? Is your wish for zero interruptions keeping you from enjoying the few minutes you do have? Do you expect everyone to make way for your Alone Time without offering any in return? Do you feel like you’re not planning big enough? Do you have expectations, or do you think of them as goals?

Today’s action: make Alone Time a priority if it feels important

Look at your calendar/schedule. What’s looking like it might work better—everyone going off on their own at the same time or separate times? Is it looking like there is room for daily Alone Time or not? Are there small holes of time that could work? Would it be easier to start with once a week? Are you going to need to set that alarm in order to get it? Is there a time you could set aside as family alone time/quiet time?

Not a scheduler? Simply try to keep it in mind as the day unfolds.

Go outside… and observe!

Mommy steps. Today is about inside vs. outside. Do you go outside during the day? Do your kids spend time outside during the day? Do you make it a point to go outside at least once? Twice? Go outside today and watch your kids. Try to go to a safe space where your child can explore while you watch from a distance or quietly walk beside them. What are they looking at? What are they doing? Are they wild? Quiet? Do they need to get energy out by themselves? Does it seem like they need a big space? Do you think their quiet time would be better spent in a cozy space or a big space?

While you’re outside, try taking some deep breaths for yourself. Let your kids in on what you’re doing…we can model deep breaths and point it out to be clear. It may seem odd to say what we’re doing out loud, but that verbal cue draws your child’s attention to what you’re doing. Model the behavior you want to see. What person, big or little, couldn’t benefit from a few deep breaths?

Observe yourself in relation to your children

Do you encourage separate time for your child(ren)? Do you encourage siblings to spend time apart? What is your expectation for siblings during the day? That they are to be all together all the time and get along? Do you set up stations for your children? Are there clear areas in your home where they are welcome to start playing at/in at any time? Do you put out activities for them? Coloring? Playdough? Slime?

Take action: Research quiet activities for your kids. Check out our Pinterest board. Share your ideas on our Facebook page or comment on our Instagram feed.

Observe again

Did your kids go off by themselves? Was it at the same time of day? The same activities? Did they seem to need to decompress? Were they tired? Or was it after sibling tension? Did they ask to be alone? Did they just take it?

Do your kids naturally go off on their own?

When? What are they doing? Reading? Screens? Toys? Reading? Don’t ask or guide them, just watch.

If you have an infant, what are they doing when they are awake and by themselves? Playing happily? Cooing? Reaching for toys? Trying a new skill? Do you place them in front of toys/objects of interest or do they find them themselves? (Answers will vary greatly month to month and even day to day with babies because they grow so, so fast). Do they enjoy being by themselves? Don’t guide them, just watch.

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“I’m sorry, the Auldridge Ohana can’t take y “I’m sorry, the Auldridge Ohana can’t take your call right now. Leave a message at the tone if you want, but also know we won’t be available for the next month. Maybe more. We like adventures and we’ve gone to find some.” *beep*
Day 6 of our “official” new homeschool year an Day 6 of our “official” new homeschool year and we pressed pause on everything to start Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park on the front porch while holding cats, petting dogs, and soaking up the last of the summer sunshine. ☀️🍁🥹☕️

This is the life. 🩵 Truly, truly. There is nothing else I’d rather be doing than reading Jane Austen with my kids in the sunshine when the moment strikes them. 

10/10 recommend this Usbourne introduction to Jane Austen. It’s captivating and beautiful!
Is anyone else reading this book right now? 🫁 O Is anyone else reading this book right now? 🫁 Or have you read it? 🤔

There’s a lot to unpack in this book! 👀 Let’s talk about it! Spoiler alerts and stories about how you have applied it to your life are welcome in the comments👇🏼 

This was gifted to me by @birthuprising 🥰 It’s book club worthy for sure!
Our first baby Holland Lops are available 🥰 The Our first baby Holland Lops are available 🥰 They are adorable beyond all reason & ready for their new homes. If you’re in North Idaho and interested in a 4-H project or a snuggly pet, send me a DM! 

@honeybunnyfarm 🐇
This is absolutely, without a doubt, my favorite t This is absolutely, without a doubt, my favorite thrift store find ever. 😍 Our entire family is obsessed with books. Our house is designed around our books. And one thing we need more of (other than bookshelves 😂) are book ends!

Wait until you see the thrift treasures my homemaker friends are posting about today, too. 🤩 (See tags below) 

What is the best thing you ever thrifted? 

For more fave second-hand items, check out my friends along with our hashtag #homemakerscircle 

@lifeonhomegrownhaven
@crazyw8farm
@allyson.boop
@homestead_education
@foremeandmyhouse
@iamkristib
@loribethauldridge
@theprairiewife
What a summer of simple joys and beautiful days wi What a summer of simple joys and beautiful days with my children! 🥰 

Lord, open my eyes so that I can take in the joy that is meant for me in this beautiful life. Help me and my family to continue to keep our eyes open as we enter into the new homeschool year. Draw us closer to each other and closer to you. Amen. 

Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. Psalm 119:18

Blessings on your new homeschool year! 🙏🏼😘
A rainy summer day at home Sleeping in, not sure A rainy summer day at home

Sleeping in, not sure if by accident or on purpose
Coffee with my best friend
Our toddler requested banana bread
So I made some
The rain became more steady
So we made tea
And opened our poetry book
One poem was so beautiful, I cried
Wide eyes asking questions 
Then laughing at the next poem
I love these days, my children, and poetry
A little school
And a lot of home
I treasure our time together
I stare wide eyed back at them
The seasons are shifting
And so are we. 

#homeschoollife #homeschooldreams #homeschoolpoetry #teachingpoetry #rainydays #elevatingmotherhood
There’s only two things that money can’t buy a There’s only two things that money can’t buy and that’s true love and homegrown tomatoes! 🍅 

Those three humble cherry tomatoes are from my garden and the heirloom tomatoes are from the store 😂 (But my tiny tomatoes definitely tasted better than store-bought ones! Motivation to grow more next year!) I didn’t have enough for my caprese sourdough bread so I combined the two 🙂

👩🏻‍🍳LB Style Recipe:

Sourdough pizza crust can just be a regular sourdough bread recipe but add garlic, oregano, basil, and olive oil. 1 loaf is 2 crusts. 

Put your halved dough in a pan and cook it hot (450-500) for about 8 minutes to cook the crust partway. 

Take it out, add your toppings, & put it back in the oven until it’s done enough for you and your family. 😂

For this dish, I loosely followed @halfbakedharvest recipe for caprese garlic bread with crispy prosciutto. I subbed salami for prosciutto because that’s what I had on hand and I cooked everything instead of keeping it cold on top. 

That’s my favorite way to cook…read other recipes for reference, see what I have on hand, and make adjustments. The only thing I actually follow a written recipe for is baking 😉 

Now’s a great time to dive into your garden and grab basil and tomatoes! For more great tomato recipes (and recipes with details 😂) check out my friends along with our hashtag #homemakerscircle

@lifeonhomegrownhaven
@iamkristib
@homestead_education
@allyson.boop
@loribethauldridge
Today was a ✨perfect✨ homeschool day Not bec Today was a ✨perfect✨ homeschool day 

Not because I was the perfect teacher or they sat perfectly still in their seats and got 100% in their workbooks…

It was perfect because we were together and learning and enjoying one another. Comfortable and content at home. 🥰

It was perfect because I got to be the one they ran to when they found a giant peacock moth caterpillar, the little one shouting, “Mom! Come here! It’s a calerpitter emergency! Tell us what it is!” 🥹

It was perfectly natural and relaxed, despite poopy diapers, ill-timed giggles, misplaced supplies, squirming in seats, daydreaming, chatting about everything, and any other occurrence I could have called “annoying” or an “interruption.” It was perfect all the same. 🥹

#hereforit #elevatingmotherhood #elevatinghomeschool #homeschooldays #homeschoolday #perfecthomeschoolday #adjustedexpectations

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