Moms and turkeys

You know what I love?  Copycatting Emulating moms around me.  One time my sister in law told me she doubled-up the sheets on her kids' beds, layering them: sheets, mattress protector, sheets, mattress protector.  Accident in the night?  Peel off the first two layers, and clean sheets are waiting.  That has saved me TOO many times to describe.  A friend shared with me an idea that another mom had shared with her about how to talk to little ones when they let their emotions run all over them...another game-changer for me.  I've watched other mothers in the way they structure their homeschool days, how they efficiently serve lunch, teach their children biblical truths in everyday circumstances and niches of time, and how they best administer medicine to the unruly and unwilling.  

I'm a curator of mothering ideas for sure.  Watching.  Taking what applies to our situation and tucking away what doesn't...because it might one day.

Curator.  I like words.  Mostly I'm a copycat :)

Just before Thanksgiving, a few mom friends and I got together with out littles for a Thanksgiving fun day.  We each planned a small part and our kiddos walked away with a full day of activity, fun with friends, and learning.  

We had a little read aloud then there was art, practice following directions, taking turns, numbers and colors:

There were snacks that were seasonally appropriate and fun:

(Turkey made of goldfish and popcorn!)

And games:

My favorite was this little relay race.  The "Pilgrims" raced their boats over to the New World...

...where they planted corn...

...built a house with Legos, harvested their corn, and then sent their boats back to England for new settlers to come over.

This was a big win in everyone's book!

Then we all shared lunch on the porch...how fun is that?

*my favorite :)

Everyone did a small thing...nothing over the top.  In return: a super fun morning with friends and Thanksgiving learning.

*The three youngest girls were not interested in our picture....but they were there, stealing crackers, legos and attention for sure!

I know moms get a lot of heat for being mean to each other.  For judging each other for the different choices we make.  For slicing comments about vaccinations, school choice, natural birth...you name it.  But you know what?  Mom friends are worth it...all the way.  I am so grateful to have friends to watch and "curate" all their methods that will work for my littles...and who will lean in and invest in them in ways I am not gifted.  I am grateful to have moms who have gone down this road ahead of me who are willing to give me ideas when I frantically send screen shots from the video monitor, begging for ideas to "fix this nap situation!" (obviously a hypothetical situation and not something I definitely did a few weeks ago...)  I am grateful for moms who are willing to do parts of this parenting gig alongside me and can help me in the trenches.  I am grateful for moms who are just joining the game, who jump into my chaos and ask questions and listen to my children's endless chatter.  Moms...the friends you have are willing and ALSO capable of having your back...while mutli-tasking.

Mom friends...you're the best.  Also...long naptimes after busy mornings: the best :)