Winstead Wandering

Prone to Wander

Free Mother’s Day Printables (for Grandma, too!)

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These adorable and FREE Mother’s Day printables make perfect inexpensive gifts! They’re a thoughtful keepsake Mom or Grandma will treasure, and they’re perfect for creating an annual tradition.

These adorable and FREE Mother's Day printables make perfect inexpensive gifts! They're a thoughtful keepsake Mom or Grandma will treasure, and they're perfect for creating an annual tradition.

Mother’s Day is this Sunday!

I created these fun and free Mother’s Day printables (with a grandma version, too) as a cute way to memorialize my kids’ thoughts about me and their grandmothers. It’s true that kids really do say the darnedest things, and who appreciates that more than moms and grandmas? Probably no one, which is why these printables make such great gifts.

These adorable and FREE Mother's Day printables make perfect inexpensive gifts! They're a thoughtful keepsake Mom or Grandma will treasure, and they're perfect for creating an annual tradition.

The pages are great for giving on their own, especially if you don’t usually buy Mother’s Day gifts for grandmas. They make wonderful gift-giving inspiration, too; let your child’s response to one of the blanks (“she loves to wear…”) serve as a starting point when it’s time to shop for presents.

To get this free Mother’s Day printable, as well as free access to all my printables, simply sign-up below for my free newsletter. If you’re already signed up, the link and the password you received in the original email are all you need.

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Pin these Free Mother’s Day Printables for later!

These adorable and FREE Mother's Day printables make perfect inexpensive gifts! They're a thoughtful keepsake Mom or Grandma will treasure, and they're perfect for creating an annual tradition.

Toddler Craft: Easy Stained Glass Art

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With just two inexpensive supplies and a few minutes of time, you and your toddler can create this easy stained glass art.

With just two inexpensive supplies and a few minutes of time, you and your toddler can create this easy stained glass art.

My two oldest kids, ages six and four, love crafting at home. They both do a lot of art projects at school, but they’re up for more at home (hence the three batches of salt dough ornaments we made last Christmas). I’m so not a Pinterest mom, though; I tend to find an easy craft that requires a few inexpensive supplies and run with it.

Speaking of Pinterest, I remember making stained glass art with my preschool students way back in 2008, before Pinterest was even a thing. It’s been on my mind for the last few months, but it took me that long to remember to buy contact paper and then to figure out where in Walmart to find it (in the plastic storage containers/shelf organization aisle, if you’re wondering).

With just two inexpensive supplies and a few minutes of time, you and your toddler can create this easy stained glass art.

We made our rainbows the same day I brought the supplies home, on a fittingly rainy Monday. The kids loved it so much we made donuts the next day- B’s suggestion- and they’re already dreaming up the shapes they want to try next. We still have nearly the whole roll of contact paper and a ton of tissue paper left, so I’ll have no problem pulling off easy stained glass art again and again.

With just two inexpensive supplies and a few minutes of time, you and your toddler can create this easy stained glass art.

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What I’m Reading Lately: Children’s Books Edition

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Finding books that appeal to kids and parents can be tough. We’ve done it, though! Here’s what I’m reading lately: children’s books edition.

Between Christmas gifts and school book orders, we’ve been reading a lot of books lately. Often, the kids get hooked on a couple books that J and I don’t care for. I love that my children share my passion for reading, but it’s no fun to read (and read and read and read) books you don’t like. That’s why J and I are thrilled when we come across children’s books we enjoy reading.

Since I’m sure we aren’t the only parents out there in search of entertaining kid lit, I put together this list of children’s books we’re currently loving.

Finding books that appeal to kids and parents can be tough. We've done it, though! Here's what I'm reading lately: children's books edition.

What I’m Reading Lately: Children’s Books Edition

“The Day the Crayons Came Home“

Finding books that appeal to kids and parents can be tough. We've done it, though! Here's what I'm reading lately: children's books edition.

My four-year-old got this book for Christmas from my husband’s mom. We came home after opening presents that day and discovered my mom had gotten her the exact same book. So now we have two copies. Considering how much the kids love it, that might be a good thing. Not only is this story really cute, it’s full of puns and humor just for the grown-ups.

“Mother Bruce“

Finding books that appeal to kids and parents can be tough. We've done it, though! Here's what I'm reading lately: children's books edition.

This book is hilarious. The first time J read it to the kids, I couldn’t stop laughing at the random lines I could hear from the kitchen. The kids were cracking up, too. This story is one of those rare gems that delights parents as much as it does kids. There’s a second book, “Hotel Bruce“, that the kids and I are excited to read.

The Children’s Storybook Bible

Finding books that appeal to kids and parents can be tough. We've done it, though! Here's what I'm reading lately: children's books edition.

A few years ago, within the span of a couple weeks, I saw this story Bible recommended by several friends and trusted bloggers. I had to buy it, of course. Even three years later, it’s still our favorite children’s Bible. I love the doctrine and the kid-friendly writing, the kids love the bright pictures and the easy-to-understand story.

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Stop Saying My Son Needs to Toughen Up

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Stop saying my son needs to toughen up.

First of all, he’s five. He’s far too young to be subjected to your narrow-minded stereotypes and ill-informed ideas. Secondly, and most importantly, he’s perfect just the way he is.

First of all, he’s five. He’s far too young to be subjected to your narrow-minded stereotypes and ill-informed ideas. Secondly, and most importantly, he’s perfect just the way he is.

You see his sensitivity as weakness, as something a little time spent hunting or throwing a football can extinguish. I see it as precious, like the time he insisted on putting his arm around my shoulders as I sobbed on the couch after finding out I’d miscarried his younger sibling. I see it as sweet, like the way he’s content to hold and sing to his newborn sister for far longer than most kids his age would be.

First of all, he’s five. He’s far too young to be subjected to your narrow-minded stereotypes and ill-informed ideas. Secondly, and most importantly, he’s perfect just the way he is.

You see his cautious nature as weakness, too, as if he’s one hesitation away from wilting like a delicate flower. I see it as intelligence; he’s bright enough to think through the potential consequences of his actions. I don’t want him to grow up fearing the world around him, but I also refuse to dismiss his concerns and anxieties. They’re part of who he is and I won’t try to frighten them out of him.

I don’t know when I first began to notice the implication from others, often from well-meaning family members, that my firstborn needed to toughen up. The comments didn’t bother me much at first, I guess because it seemed like such a silly thing to say about such a young child.

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Why I’m Glad My Kids Are Close in Age

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Nope, it wasn’t an accident; we planned it this way. Here are the reasons why I’m glad my kids are close in age.

My two oldest kids, G and B, are 20 months apart in age.

Why yes, they were both planned, thank you for asking. I don’t think I’d even returned to work after my maternity leave with G before J started asking me when we could have another. I was still horrified by the C-section I’d had. Getting knocked up again wasn’t even on my radar, even though I knew I wanted three or four kids.

Nope, it wasn't an accident; we planned it this way. Here are the reasons why I'm glad my kids are close in age.

As G’s first birthday approached, I jumped on the let’s-have-another-baby train. We found out we were pregnant with B the weekend after G turned one and she was born almost exactly 20 months after G. The fact that we intentionally had two children so close together was mind-boggling to people (most especially to the strangers bold enough to comment on my growing belly as I was out and about with G).

Granted, we didn’t fully know what we getting unto. How could we have? Still, we knew a second baby would be hard work, especially so close to the first. It wasn’t a decision we took lightly, and it was something we’ve never regretted. In fact, I continue to be so happy that we chose to have our first two kids so close together.

Why I’m Glad My Kids Are Close in Age

You’re Still in Baby Mode

One of the comments we got most often when we told people we were pregnant with B- and there were a lot of comments- was, “but you’ll have two in diapers!”

The idea of having two kids under two didn’t bother us nearly as much as people expected it to. After all, we didn’t know anything different. And besides, changing diapers- the diapers of your own children, at least- isn’t so bad. We ended up appreciating having our kids in diapers at the same time. It was just what we knew.

Now that our next baby is going to be almost exactly four years younger than its next closest sibling, we’re going to have to get back in baby mode all over again. We’ve grown used to uninterrupted sleep, and the lack of spit up and drool around our house is kind of nice. There aren’t even words to describe how excited we are about this baby, but jumping right back into baby mode is going to be a big adjustment.

Nope, it wasn't an accident; we planned it this way. Here are the reasons why I'm glad my kids are close in age.

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10 Best Classic Children’s Books

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As an avid reader, one of my favorite parts of being a parent is introducing my children to the books I loved during my childhood. Here are what I consider to be the 10 best classic children’s books.

As an avid reader, one of my favorite parts of being a parent is introducing my children to the books I loved during my childhood. Here are what I consider to be the 10 best classic children's books.

I’ve loved reading for as long as I can remember. My kids enjoy reading, too, and it warms my heart to see them engrossed in stories, or to watch them discover new favorite reading material.

There are so many fun new books out there, but I’ve always had a soft spot for the classics. There’s something so special about seeing your kids enjoy the same stories you loved as a child.

Stone Soup

As an avid reader, one of my favorite parts of being a parent is introducing my children to the books I loved during my childhood. Here are what I consider to be the 10 best classic children's books.

A classic story with a timeless lesson, this book is as relevant now as it was when it was written in the 1940s. I’ve always enjoyed stories with clever solutions to seemingly unsolvable problems, which is probably why this one was such a favorite.

A Mother for Choco

As an avid reader, one of my favorite parts of being a parent is introducing my children to the books I loved during my childhood. Here are what I consider to be the 10 best classic children's books.

When I was a kid, I didn’t recognize this book as the heartwarming adoption story that it is. Instead, I enjoyed it for the adorable little bird, Choco, and his silly search to find someone who looks and sounds like him. In the end, he finds a home and a mother that are just right.

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10 best toddler toys under $20

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Encouraging imaginative play doesn’t have to be expensive. Ditch the electronics and get creative with these 10 best toddler toys under $20.

Encouraging imaginative play doesn't have to be expensive. Ditch the electronics and get creative with these 10 best toddler toys under $20.

When it comes to buying toys for our toddlers- G. is almost 5 and B. just turned 3- we try to buy toys they can both enjoy. We look for options that encourage them to create and imagine. While there are plenty of expensive toys out there to invest in, we’ve found that all our favorites are each less than $20, and some can even be made at home for just a few bucks.

1. sort and snap color match
Encouraging imaginative play doesn't have to be expensive. Ditch the electronics and get creative with these 10 best toddler toys under $20. We bought this activity as a birthday gift for one of the kids a couple years ago. I don’t remember which kid because, within a month, we bought a second one for the other child. I love that this toy practices fine motor skills while encouraging creativity.

2. homemade kool-aid playdough
Encouraging imaginative play doesn't have to be expensive. Ditch the electronics and get creative with these 10 best toddler toys under $20. Speaking of encouraging creativity, I love watching G. and B. play with this homemade playdough. We talk about the scent and the color and the texture, and then I watch them make pancakes and trains and caterpillars. This recipe is easy to make and can be colored to suit any holiday or preference. (Playdough is a great way to practice shapes and letters with fun cookie cutters)

3. floor puzzles
Encouraging imaginative play doesn't have to be expensive. Ditch the electronics and get creative with these 10 best toddler toys under $20.Our kids love to do puzzles, but sometimes sitting still at the kitchen table isn’t realistic. For times like this, we love to keep them active yet engaged with floor puzzles. We especially love this fire truck and these zoo animals.

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