The Creative Salad – Page 13 – Crafty fun and homeschool adventures in Sonoma County, California.

The Best Books for Parents of Young Children

Let me preface this by saying that while I have read many, many parenting books, there are so many other parenting books out there that I haven’t read yet. In fact I have a very bad habit of taking out “phenomenal” parenting books from the library (on friends recommendations), flipping through, and then having to return them before I get a chance to read them. Sometimes I renew them not once but twice and I still can’t find the time to tackle them.

STORY OF MY LIFE. So many interests, so little time.

The books below are the best of the ones I have read all the way through AND loved. These are the books that not just shaped our parenting style, but best describe it.

We think these four books are must-reads for all parents of young children:
1. How To Raise An Amazing Child the Montessori Way — evidently that’s what we’re doing!
2. Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids: How to Stop Yelling and Start Connecting — if you’re going to read one book, this is it. Completely changed how we do, oh, everything.
3. NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children — for those of us who don’t have time to stay on top of parenting news articles, this book summarizes the latest research.
4. Positive Discipline for Preschoolers: For Their Early Years–Raising Children Who are Responsible, Respectful, and Resourceful — the book we loved until we read Peaceful Parents, Happy Kids, which trumped it. Still worth reading though!

Don’t have time to read a whole book, but want some awesome parenting advice right now? This awesome article is worth reading RIGHT NOW.

Please join in the discussion. What parenting books do you love? I’m excited to check out your recommendations.

Weekend Moment

Loving time with daddy. He is, without a doubt, the most fun person we know.

Breaking Our Plastic Baggy Addiction

This year on Earth Day I resolved to curb our reliance on plastic baggies:

We started using plastic sandwich baggies several years ago when we joined Costco, where they are cheap and BPA-free, and found them to be incredibly convenient.

I tried to bury my feelings of guilt over the waste of natural resources and money; guilt over sending hundreds of baggies to a landfill where they’d take hundreds of years to break down.

Ugh. I feel a little sick just thinking about it.

Time for a change.

Now instead of reaching for a sandwich or snack baggy:

When we open our baggy drawer, we grab a LunchSkins Reusable Bag (BPA, pthalate, lead-free and dishwasher safe):

We also have glass Pyrex containers (with BPA-free lids) and bell jars topped with BPA-free Tattler reusable canning lids in the cupboard.

A friend recommended these stainless steel snack containers and I’ve been eyeing these Lunchbots containers to supplement our container storage (especially since we can’t bring glass containers to the pool and we plan to swim all summer long).

I hope to sew these washable container covers reminiscent of shower caps. (My mother-in-law has washable plastic ones like this that work great with leftovers, especially during the holidays.)

Do you have any tips or product suggestions for us? We’re excited to jump back on the plastic-free bandwagon again.

Old School Phone

We keep this thirty year old phone alarm clock around (despite not having a landline):

because 1) it still works, 2) we’re trying to economize (i.e. make do with the things we already have), and 3) our daughter loves making pretend phone calls with the receiver:

One of these days I may bite the bullet and get a stylish alarm clock, in which case we would probably need to buy this:

They even come in neon colors and mint green (my favorite!). I know we don’t NEED this despite the fun we would have, but how cute would our daughter look actually using the receiver and Skyping with this retro phone?!

Someone please hide my wallet. Now.

Three Months Old

Our little guy is three months old! (I can hardly believe it.) He’s incredibly chill, hardly ever cries (as long as this breastfeeding mama stays away from dairy!), and feels content to watch and absorb the world around him.

He’s an earnest talker, putting on a very serious expression as he soliloquies.

He’s so physical: standing with assistance, rolling from his back to his tummy at every opportunity, even getting close to sitting on his own. He holds his head up at every opportunity, only placing it down reluctantly if he needs to sleep.

When he smiles his face transforms. The much-sought-after belly laugh brings us such joy. Today he laughed at his sister for the first time. Up until now he’s been so focused and serious watching her. (What will tomorrow bring?!)

His hands (or thumb!) are always in his mouth and drool is ever present.

Our boy prefers to sleep on us (daddy or I) during the day, usually in this baby carrier. At night he sleeps for long stretches (cuddling next to mama), only feeding every 4-7 hours (usually at my insistence). He doesn’t bother to open his eyes and always goes right back to sleep as soon as he latches on. We thank you for this, sweet one.

He adores his big sister, who may love him to death right back. She loves talking, reading, singing, dancing, being fun and crazy (think exuberant!) for him. Giving him loving attention is her forte and I feel thankful for that on a daily basis. Her help has been invaluable (especially when I need to put up another load of laundry, make lunch, take a shower or go to the bathroom). Our daughter is such a kind helper. I don’t know how I’d get through the day without her.

Our life feels so rich and full. David and I go to bed early (if the kids will let us!) and exhausted each night, with smiles on our faces, loving these children and this life of ours.