I know what you are thinking. I MUST be crazy to start wanting to get outside more right as the weather starts getting colder. You aren’t wrong. I am crazy. I hate cold weather. Which means I need to do it. Why? Because it shows not only my children but myself that I can do things I don’t want to. That I can handle hard things. That when motivation is down, a lot can be said for enjoying time in nature. I truly believe that time in nature can help cure most bad days.
Chalk Drawing with Monkey
But what do I do? How do I get outside when I don’t want to. First, I say yes more than I say no. I swear kids have this innate sense to be outside. And that the more they are outside, the more they want to be outside. Weird but true. So when my kids ask to go outside, unless I have a pressing reason (like it is a bad storm, not we have to make lunch), I say yes as long as we can be outside for 15 minutes. You would not believe how quickly 15 minutes goes and it adds up so fast! Before you know it, you will be at 50 hours in 2 weeks just like us.
Download the fill printable below!
But I also have this fun printable for you to be able to check things off of (mostly) free things to do with your kids this fall! Don’t have kids? No problem, they all can be done sans kids with enough imagination and carefree will!
Have you ever just felt called to do something? It isn’t often that I get this feeling but every once in a while, I just know I am doing the right thing. I felt it with being a mom. I felt it with staying home and homeschooling. I felt it with this. Notice how it all centers around my kids? Yeah. There are mistakes I have made in my life. So many choices I have wondered or known weren’t the best. But my kids are not even close to one of them. With them, I know I am meant to be their mama. And I know I needed to attempt this challenge.
I love my children dearly, but with 4 pulling me in different directions, we have gotten away from time. Time together, time to ourselves, and time with nature. In this digital age, everything is instant gratification. Everything is here and now. But in nature, you have to wait for the ground to thaw, the plants to bloom, the leaves to fall, and the sun to rise. It always happens but only on its own time. I used to feel a connectedness to nature. Like I was home when I was outside. Some of my favorite memories from growing up are from being outside. I remember being outside from the time I woke up to the time I went to sleep practically in the summer. I remember being on my bike the entire day, rolling down the neighborhood hills.
Grandma and I gardening
This past year we had a great school year. We did a lot more together, it was more organized and we had so much fun (well if you ask me, if you ask Monkey and Monster, they probably have a different idea of how it went). But I still felt like something was missing. Then I read Call of the Wild+Free by Ainsley Arment (not an affiliate, just a fan) and wow. Then I read Home Grown by Ben Hewitt (also not an affiliate). I felt such a purity in the way they were living life. Exploring nature, spending time connecting to Earth and each other, living off of their land and it just called to me. This is what is missing. In my wanderings through the internet, I came across 1000 Hours Outside page and a wonderful community started and growing through the efforts of Ginny Yurich. We all know how competitive I am, so naturally we were going to do 1000 hours. But see, I didn’t think about it. I didn’t plan for it, and we fell WAY short. Because 1000 hours outside doesn’t seem like much until you calculate that that is almost 2.75 hours a day! Do you spend 3 hours outside a day? Yeah, most people don’t. So it takes some serious intentional planning. So I’ve started my plans. And along the way it may turn into not having to. But right now I have to say yes, when I want to say no. I have to make the plan, when I want to stay home.
Monkey has a screen addiction, lets face it my whole family does. But screens affect his mood a lot more than the rest of us. He eats, sleeps, and breathes screens. Shows, games, now web searches, and it doesn’t matter what. Tinkerbell, Barbie, Pokémon, if a screen is on, it has his attention. So to break us all of the habit I decided to hit us hard with not only starting our 1000 Hours Outside challenge but also taking away screens at the same time (at least during the week) right at the beginning of our year!
Monster punting the football at 7am on a Saturday
They pretty hated me for two days because they got their chores done and *gasp* didn’t get screens afterwards (insert horror scream here). Instead they played with LEGO, we have gone to the park, we have ridden bikes, played football with the neighbors, and gone on a walk, made chalk pictures, and eaten ice cream. We started 6 days ago and already have almost 21 hours hours logged. They won’t hate it forever. Because soon it will become part of them.
Playing in the stream in the Smoky Mountains
They will see trees, sticks, streams, insects, and everything in between, as home. They will learn to observe nature, care for nature, and experience nature and all of its beauty. They will ground themselves in their surroundings, get natural vitamin D, learn to listen to their body, explore, learn, and live. Is it the right thing for us to do? I don’t know. But I do know that I have said yes to going outside a lot more than I have said no to screens in the past 2 days. And for that, I may just make it to 1000 this year.
I’m sure you are thinking “Wow, she is crazy for thinking her son being hurt is a good thing.” But first, he is fine, nothing major, just needs to rest. And second, life lessons come in the weirdest forms. You can’t always control it.
See, I am working on presence and patience with my kids. Something that, especially lately, I have not had enough of. But something shifted today. Not because I spent more time with them or even was more patient with them, but because I realized the more I create the foundation of the family and fill in those cracks, the more solid they can build our walls. So let’s get on with it.
Beautifully clean bathroom
Let’s start with this bathroom. Does this bathroom look like a 10 year old cleaned it?! No?
Because he didn’t. He took a spill today while riding. And while he saved himself more pain because he hopped off instead of straight falling off, he managed to twist his ankle in the process.
But today was his day to clean the bathroom. Typically, I would have let it go. What’s one time of missing the bathroom being clean? Ultimately nothing. We would survive, the bathroom would get clean next week, and life would go on.
But what if I cleaned it for him? What if I took the 15-20 minutes and cleaned it myself? This…
He saw that it is ok to rest when he needs to.
He saw that family, helps family.
He saw that Mom can be lenient and understanding. (Something he probably doesn’t see enough)
He saw that we all live here and are responsible for the state of the house.
He saw that he doesn’t have to do it all (though he will probably still tell you he does).
And what did I gain? A child who can find peace and know resting is ok because we will be there to help.
Oh… And a MUCH cleaner bathroom than he would have had… But baby steps…🤷♀️🤣
I talk a lot about my kids in general. But I know I ramble more about the “when they were little” phases. You know sleepless nights, potty training, and teething.
When they are little all those problems you encounter are new and seem huge and hard to manage. You aren’t sure what to expect. And not to mention you are dealing with them on very little sleep and even less caffeine because of course you don’t know where you left your coffee this morning! Even after working with kids in one capacity or another for more than 10 years before having my first child, I still didn’t know things. I guessed… A lot! I knew the development. I knew the rough ages of what they should be learning and when. I knew how to potty train. I knew I didn’t want them to have a pacifier past one year (insert eye roll here).
Now don’t get me wrong. I have GREAT kids. Honestly! For the most part, they are respectful, well behaved, mostly good listeners, and they have good hearts. They drive me nuts a lot of the time but all in all I can’t complain and honestly, I’m not sure it is because of me. But I digress.
See what I am noticing though is that we are moving into this new phase. Most of you know it or at least remember it. It is this time of finding your voice and who you are, being awkward, making bad decisions and even worse fashion statements. We are entering… the TWEEN years. (Bum bum buuuuuum)
But see these are not the years I am accustomed to. I don’t know how to handle these years, especially for boys! I barely made it through these years as a girl (which I am also not looking forward to in about 8 years with Mermaid). I surely was not paying attention to how my male cohorts experienced these years. Now yes, my husband is familiar and takes an active role in these situations but where are the I’m a mom of a tween boy posts. For real though, can you moms who have been there, done that start making infographics and blogs and quick study stuff for these years because it is happening and happening fast!
Here’s what I have learned so far… It isn’t much as we are just about to hit 11 so follow up with me in say 2-4 years and I’ll let you know how wrong I was
Try to remember at this point privacy is becoming a big thing. Knocking on doors, giving them alone time, etc. It teaches them to respect your space as much as they would like theirs respected.
They still need hugs and kisses. They may not show it often, but they still have a little bit of little kid in them that needs the affection.
They are finding their voice and sometimes they can cut you deep (because, SURPRISE, they legit are with you now). But if you listen to what they say, you may just realize that they are telling you exactly what they need, just maybe in a jumbled mess of big emotions
Their interests can literally be anything. With as much as I would love to not listen to a 30 minute lecture on the healing power of 3 common crystals, or a 15 minutes diatribe on a Pokémon I have never even heard of, or have him talk to me in sentences that have 1 or 2 words replaced with their Latin counterpart, I also will NEVER squash those interests because they are important to him.
I need to reach out more. I can’t expect him to come to me. He is too anxious of a person and too timid to admit that he “doesn’t know” something and so I have to go to him and sneak in those little lessons through a back door conversation
See it isn’t much, but I’m learning also. I’m learning to apologize when I do something wrong. I am learning that I have to deal with my emotions appropriately if I want them to do the same (oh hey ADHD and anxiety! Thanks for that!). I am trying to get better about privacy for all of my children, because it is about respect. I know I am going to screw up. He’s the first. But we will still get through this together. And I am hoping that taking the time this year to really learn and bond with each other, it will be a huge step in the right direction.
I can say this… He still hugs me and tells me he loves me and that means the world to me❤️ So maybe I’m doing something right🤷♀️
I read an article today. And as I was reading it, I could relate to it by being a mom, but as a homeschooling mom, I just kept thinking, “How sad!” This article was talking about soaking up the snuggles. Enjoying the peace of the early years and especially the early months because the snuggles end, kids need you less, and you can’t always protect them or watch over them.
Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy those early snuggles too. You know, the ones before they can wiggle out of your arms. The ones where they look at you like you are the beginning and end of their world (because you are). The times where you can just sit and be with them because they don’t need you to do anything other than hold them. Those early days are great.
But this article was stating how you have to let go and miss those days when kindergarten starts. How they become less dependent on you as time goes by. How as they get older, they don’t want to snuggle with you. And that makes me sad. It makes me sad because it doesn’t have to be that way. Not if you foster the relationship. Now, I’m not saying stunt them and make them rely on you for everything but it is ok for them to still want to connect with you.
See in our little world, weekly snuggle sessions are just a given with all of our children. Hugs and kisses through out the day, I don’t care how old you are. I teach my children to be independent and do for themselves but just because they can do it for themselves, doesn’t mean I won’t still do it for them also. If they want me to make them a smoothie, I will make it if I am able to. Are they also able to make it, absolutely. But they are also learning that sometimes it is ok to ask for help. Just because you are capable, doesn’t mean you are alone. I think independence is important but I also think learning that family is who you can depend on is also important. My children are 10 ½, 8 ½, and 3. They all snuggle with me. They all hug me everyday. They all depend on me for different things at different times. They all also understand I will support them in any way I can, while I foster their learning and personal growth. I carry them while teaching them the skills to be independent. I allow them to spread their wings with the safety of me being there to catch them.
I would never say this is unique to homeschoolers as I am sure many public school children are still this way. I would also never say homeschoolers can’t be less snuggly and more independent, I know many of them. What I am saying is I don’t have to miss those moments. I don’t have to wonder what is happening at school today and if they will tell me. When they get hurt, I get to make them feel better, not a teacher who has 30 other children to also deal with. But me, their mama, who has been there comforting them since the moment they were born. When they have a great success, I get to share their joy. I get to watch over and protect them. They get the freedom they need with the safety net to make mistakes and be caught by someone who won’t ever stop loving them. They get to learn that mistakes are going to happen, but I will always be here to help them clean them up. They get to learn boundaries while being reassured that they are allowed to feel however they feel.
Yes, the days are long, and the years are short. But I get to see it all. I get to still be needed even after school begins. They don’t have to look to a teacher. They don’t have to look to a friend. Mom and Dad are always here, always willing to help, and always willing to learn along side you. We are in this all together and I love every second of it.
Who just got their stimulus money? We did. And I was so excited. We have been fortunate to not have had Covid-19 affect our finances. So the stimulus checks have been used to further our financial futures and give us a better life in the years to come. Don’t get me wrong, we used a little of each one to help stimulate the economy. Buying things we haven’t wanted to splurge on knowing our bigger picture. But for the most part, the check have gone to building savings or paying off debt.
Yes, the Stimulus Check is meant to stimulate the economy so I am 100% for using a small amount of it and buying something at a small, local owned business. They are the ones really hurting right now. Or go to a local restaurant and leave a great tip for your server who has definitely taken a hit this year.
If you, yourself have taken the hit, PAY ON WHAT YOU NEED. Start with where you live, what you eat, and how you transport yourself. Those things are not negotiable. You need a safe stable place to live and utilities (water, electric, heat), you need food to eat, and you need to be able to get yourself to and from a job. Use this money to get back on your feet if you need to. You are who this is meant for! Use it where you NEED it. Anything left over? Catch up on other bills you are behind on. And use this time to cancel those subscriptions you don’t need that are eating up your money right now. You can always get the back as your season changes and improves.
If you are one of the lucky ones, use it in your next step. We are on step 2, pay off debt. We are sooo close I can taste it. Our check would have taken care of everything but a car payment! One car payment a month! And we would be able to pay extra on it each month leaving us with the ability to pay it off much sooner than originally planned. That was the plan. And then Murphy came knocking. Actually his name was Kevin… And he is with a roofing company.
Apparently one of our neighbors had some damage to their roof due to a storm last year. And when they came out to check it out, the roofers noticed damage on another neighbor’s roof. And ours… So he came by and asked if they could give us a free look and see if there is anything wrong. Long story short, our first major repair is scheduled to be redone on the house. Not bad for 10 years in the home and this is the first major issue we have had. I can’t complain. But rooves aren’t cheap. Thankfully insurance covers it (and they were surprised we haven’t had any issues because of the extent) because it is storm damage! Only our deductible is needed. Whew! But that still isn’t easy. Finding a $1000 deductible to come up with is hard for 60% of people in the US. SIXTY PERCENT! Because we have followed the plan, we have the savings and honestly don’t even have to touch it because of the stimulus check. Instead of paying debt off, we are using that to cash flow our roof. Let me say that again. WE DON’T HAVE TO DIP INTO OUR SAVINGS TO GET A NEW ROOF. Now this would not be possible without the stimulus check but there is one thing that is hitting me more about this than anything else.
Security.
Before when I had a car issue, or something went wrong with the house, or a big medical bill came up, I panicked. How would we get through it? Where would the money come from? Are we ever going to get out of the hole? Is it going to pile up forever? What kind of life are we building for our children? Now? Something happens and my immediate reaction isn’t panic. It isn’t fun. It isn’t joy that we have to spend that much money. But my stress level is so much lower than it was before. Because I know where our money is, what it is for, and exactly how long it will take to get back if we do have to use it.
So how do you start? Because you want security. You don’t want to freak out any time something little happens. I know you don’t. Because who would? You can do this. Start here to find some free ways to get acquainted with the steps and how you can do this for free, because you don’t always want to spend money to keep your money.
Then start with Step 1: Build Your $1000 Emergency Fund. So many ways to do this:
Start selling clothing you don’t wear on Facebook Marketplace
Sell old toys
Sell baseball or trading cards
Pick up a side job like Lyft, Uber, DoorDash, etc.
Online teaching on Outschool, VIPKids, personal tutoring via zoom, etc.
MLM/Direct sales (be careful with these but if you can do it and actually make money, go for it)
Use a hobby and turn it into cash flow (Baker? Sell cookies. Artist? Sell pieces.)
Become a freelance writer if you have the skill.
Use your stimulus check and put it in the bank to make it work for you
Cut out any unnecessary bill each month (Netflix, Hulu, KiwiCrate, etc.)
Stop unnecessary purchases (Do you really need Starbucks 5 days a week? That is at least $20 a week)
Pay yourself first. When you get your paycheck the first “bill” you pay is savings. Use a percentage of each check and do not deviate. Watch those savings keep going up!
Shop around for insurance and cell phone providers. We saved almost $150 a month switching from Sprint to Google Fi and even living in the country, we still get similar service and at home we use Wi-fi to not increase our data usage.
Whatever way you choose, you are going to have to make a conscious decision to change your habits. But I promise it is worth it! What are some ways you saved in the past? Comment below with any other ideas you have!
seemstressed.family.blog 