The Best Parenting Book EVER!!!

I am not one who likes to repeat herself, but this book is so good it warrants mentioning on BOTH of my blogs. It's called "Piggyback Rides and Slippery Slides: How to Have Fun Raising First-Rate Children" by Lynnae W. Allred.

This book seriously is an answer to so many of my prayers lately. If you can't go out and buy it, I know they have it at the library...it is well worth the time it takes to read. She has so so so many ideas for making life fun, and enjoying moments with your children, and making memories at mealtime, and on and on and on. I would love to tell you all of my favorite things she mentions, but she wrote the book, not me, so just go get it...read it. I KNOW you'll love it!

Instead, I'll just share one idea. Mealtime for us is stressful. My kids all have loud voices...they all are equally obnoxiously cute, and all are vying for our attention at the exact same time as trying to digest the scrumptious meal I've placed before them. Not the most serene of combinations to be sure. So anyways, one of this lady's ideas was to have a utinsel-less spaghetti dinner. "Horrors!" I initially thought. But the more I read, the more I realized how far away I have drifted from the purpose of mealtime and I have turned it into a duty rather than an opportunity for family togetherness. I've actually done this activity before, but for a Young Women/Young Men group. Ironically enough, it had never occurred to do the same thing for my family. So, I'll let you know how it all goes. Lucky for me, Bryan's dad has a lifetime supply of plastic sheeting ;) I'll let you know how it goes!