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Author: Stefanie Tong

5 Activities With Chalk Markers

April 24, 2018
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5 activities with chalk markers

This post is sponsored by Chalkola and contains affiliate links. My girls absolutely love any and all art activities. Sometimes it's difficult to find something that will keep both a six-year-old and a two-year-old engaged in a creative process. It's even more difficult to find something they won't fight over! I'm a fan of anything that can be open-ended with no right or wrong way to use the materials. The chalk markers by Chalkola have been keeping the girls busy for weeks! Here are five simple activities with chalk markers. 1) Drawing on Tiles There are days I struggle to...

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Tiny Bud

April 15, 2018
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| Categories: Personal

Tiny bud Who never got to bloom Firmly planted Uprooted too soon Like the breeze Against my cheek Gone before I could reach Like a sprinkle of rain Fall on me so I can feel Take me to the skies Like the clouds Swiftly changing My grief floats and hovers Planted in a season beyond time Blossoming petals of light The bouquet I delivered too soon * With Love and Light, Stefanie  

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4 Tips for Toddler Bedtimes

January 28, 2018
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4 tips for toddler bedtimes

Reader Question: What do I do when my 2 year old has a complete meltdown and he won’t communicate to tell me what’s wrong? Do I let him flail and cry it out, do I ask him questions? Use stern voice? Loving voice? (I sound like a bi-polar person switching). Distractions aren’t working. Soother wasn’t working. Eventually after 10 mins or so he took a bottle and calmed down. He was overtired. So the answer is to put him down BEFORE but what do I do when we miss that window?   Dear Mama Who Missed The Sleep Window, Thanks...

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Toddler in the Wild: Playing in Nature

January 22, 2018
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toddler in the wild

I should really be doing homework right now, but I welcome the break from academic writing (and I'm also procrastinating). This past week I was dealing with a flare in my back and was finally feeling better today. I didn't want to pass up an opportunity when my body was actually cooperating with me. When my toddler said, "I go outside?" we did just that. "I jump puddle" is what I was told. Knowing that she was heading for any amount of collected water, I geared her up to the max - boots, waterproof jacket, muddy buddy! I think we...

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Day 7: Your Motherhood Story

October 15, 2017
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october15

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month! This week leading up to October 15th, I am partnering with fellow loss mama and writer, Liz Mannegren, to help create discussion and raise awareness about this vitally important topic. Journal Prompt: What does your motherhood story look like? Use the #thismotherhoodstory to share it with us! What do you want others to know about pregnancy loss? Today is October 15, National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day. Though pregnancy loss happens to one four women, this topic is still not spoken about openly. After my first loss, I didn't share it with...

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Day 5: Helping Your Child Grieve

October 13, 2017
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October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month! This week leading up to October 15th, I am partnering with fellow loss mama and writer, Liz Mannegren, to help create discussion and raise awareness about this vitally important topic. This Motherhood Story Day 5:How have you helped your child grieve the loss of his or her sibling(s)? If you have not yet entered this emotional space, what wishes do you have to help your child grieve the loss of his or her sibling(s)? One aspect of pregnancy loss that I never considered was having to help my eldest through the loss...

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Day 3: Postpartum Depression

October 11, 2017
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postpartum depression

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month! This week leading up to October 15th, I am partnering with fellow loss mama, and writer, Liz Mannegren, to help create discussion and raise awareness about this vitally important topic. This Motherhood Story Day 3 Journal Prompt: Take the time to be honest with yourself today. Journal about what pregnancy loss was really like emotionally. What emotions were present during the loss of your child? What physical symptoms did you notice due to your mood? Use as many descriptive words as you can to share your experience. I stood in my doctor’s office...

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Day 1: A Letter to Your Angel Baby

October 9, 2017
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miscarriage letter

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month! This week leading up to October 15th, I am partnering with fellow loss mama and writer, Liz Mannegren, to help create discussion and raise awareness about this vitally important topic.  This Motherhood Story Day 1 Journal Prompt: What would you like to say to your baby? This can be one sentence, several pages, or even a drawing. Take your time. This is your love letter to your baby. Whether you type the letter, handwrite it and seal it in an envelope, do what feels right for you. My Sweet Heavenly Babies, Writing words to...

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This Motherhood Story

October 8, 2017
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thismotherhoodstory

We are one week away from October 15, National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day. I’m teaming up with my friend, Liz, who writes over at Mommy Mannegren to help bring light this topic which is sadly still a taboo for many. I met Liz through A Little Light online community, where we were learning more about online platforms. The metaphor used was that our blogs are a garden. If we are the gardener, what are we planting into our communities? It was a really convicting metaphor for me. My hope is that I’m planting a safe place for all...

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The Brave Jar

July 19, 2017
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brave jar

We have been struggling with separation anxiety over here for quite some time. M, my five-year-old, has been struggling with separation anxiety for about two years. One of the biggest separation anxiety triggers for her is when I have to use the bathroom. This started just after the miscarriages. As a three-year-old, she saw me go to the bathroom, and then come out in inconsolable tears. I can imagine she thought something very traumatizing happened in there, which it did. It was the moment I discovered I was miscarrying for the second time. Since then, M has not left my...

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