Living with Little Men
As a mother of 5 sons,I've learned that living with "Little Men" can be interesting and confusing...not to mention LOUD! However, there are wonderful things that happen when you watch them grow to BIG men.
I hope to share what I've learned myself and from others. I'll also share some great resources that I've found over the years.
Oh....did I mention we also homeschool? That's quite an addition to the adventure of raising boys!
Stay tuned!
Shelbie
Legos! Build a World of Imagination!
Legos are the building blocks or your child's imagination.
We personally own about an 18-gallon plastic tub of them and our sons still have a great time playing and building with them. We've bought kits that build Star Wars ships, boats, cars and even an SUV but they usually throw away the instructions for those and build their own creations. Many of which I have taken pictures of to "keep" the project in our memories but free up the blocks to build something else.
One day our boys were quiet playing Legos in their room. At that time, we lived in a mobile home that had air conditioner vents in the floor. When I went to check on them, they had built a whole town complete with an electric generating plant! The "generating plant" was a little building that had a Lego fan on it and when the air conditioner in the house turned on...it turned the fan to generate electricity! How ingenious I thought! Even funnier was the houses and stores were all connected with thread used as power lines!
There were no parents/adults involved in their building...just two boys ages 6 and 9 playing quietly in their room. That told me that Legos would always have a place in our home and I hope they are in yours as well. If you don't have a set for your children, consider purchasing a set and let their imaginations run wild!
Shelbie D.
Lego Stuff on Amazon
LEGO Birthday Cake Kit
Amazon Price: $34.99 (as of 10/15/2008)
Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 10/15/2008)
LEGO Racers 2
Amazon Price: $10.99 (as of 10/15/2008)
LEGO TIE Collection
Amazon Price: $311.74 (as of 10/15/2008)
Lego Flickr Photos
Our recent excursion to the LEGO store down in Hillsdale reminded me that last m...
Lego Star Wars Storm Troopers Desktop Wallpaper
04-22-06Alex and Adrian had a Lego? inspired wedding reception. Building a re...
When I got my
Lego Dragon, at the Lego store in Downtown Disney.
LEGO dragon at Downtown Disney, in front of the LEGO Imagination Center.
Downtown Disney Lego store
At Legoland in Windsor. Miniland featured models of famous landmarks and countr...
Sculpture made from Lego blocks inside the Northbridge Mall in Chicago, Illinois...
Mt. Everest
Today I climbed Mt. Everest!
Ok...ok...so it wasn't exactly Mt Everest...it was more like Mt. Never-rest. I tackled our mountain of laundry. It's amazing the amount of laundry a family of 7 can provide...the hours of enjoyment I get with moving it from washer to dryer. Then the real fun starts...sorting and trying to get them to fold their basketful and put it away. You know...before someone dumps it out to find something and before the dog decides it makes a great bed.
I've heard...and I'm sure it's just someone's idea of a sick joke, that there are actually people out there who enjoy doing the laundry. I'm wondering what planet they are from or maybe how I can move to that attitude. When I'm faced with a mountain like that, I try to remind myself of two things: first, "All things are possible with Christ" and second, that God has truly blessed our family with plenty of clothing! Both trains of thought help me climb the mountain. Hey, maybe it's the Faith that moves mountains! :)
Anyway...I'm always trying to find ways to help with the mountain and if you've got any tips, send them to me and I'll post them for others.
Have a great day!
Shelbie D.
Climbing Mt. Never-rest
The first one is just a cute poster. I think I'll put in it my laundry room!
Laundry Help Wanted by Linda Spivey Art Print Poster
Amazon Price: (as of 10/15/2008)
Behind with the Laundry and Living Off Chocolate: Life Changing Strategies for Busy Women
Amazon Price: $15.95 (as of 10/15/2008)
Lord, Please Meet Me in the Laundry Room: Heavenly Help for Earthly Moms
Amazon Price: $11.69 (as of 10/15/2008)
The Sacred Weave of Mothering: Reflections from the Depths of the Soul to the Heights of the Laundry Pile
Amazon Price: $13.95 (as of 10/15/2008)
Tools for Little Men
A Pocket Knife is an ideal tool for Responsible Young Men
Recently, our nephew was given a pocket knife. Nothing fancy, but it's a knife of his own. He was instructed on how to use it and warned that if used improperly, it would be taken from him.
Our own sons have had knives for years and we've had no major accidents with them. Oh sure, little cuts here and there but they've learned to use them responsibly. We have all the basic rules when it comes to tools: use them for what they are intended, never threaten or hurt others (human or animal), and always be careful.
Our boys favorites have always been the "Swiss Army" knife with all the little gadgets and tools. It can be a great tool and help build responsibility in "Little Men."
So consider buying your Little Man the tool no man should be without.
Shelbie D.
Pocket Knives On Ebay
Swiss Army Pocket Knives
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Playtime with Little Men
Reviewing "The Dangerous Book for Boys"
I have recently purchased this book for one of my sons. When I showed it to his older brother (now 18) he commented that it was very similar to a book he often borrowed from the library. I remember that book; he would read it constantly and always wished he would not have to return it. Unfortunately, it was out of print and I could not find one.
I highly recommend the book although there is a section on role-playing games and it uses the example of Dungeons and Dragons. These games are not for everyone but there is too much great stuff in the book to toss it for that.
Check it out and you will probably end up purchasing one for your adventuresome young man!
Shelbie D
Great books for Boys On Amazon
Get those boys reading about great projects and adventures!
The Dangerous Book for Boys
This book is tops! We recently purchased it for one of our sons and he loves it. There is so much to read about and then do...it helps get those boys out of the house and into the real boy world! Check it Out!
Amazon Price: $17.79 (as of 10/15/2008)
The Curious Boy's Book of Adventure
Another recently acquired book for our collection. There are great projects that any boy should be able to do and it has lots of pictures to help explain what they are doing.
Amazon Price: $10.20 (as of 10/15/2008)
How To Be The Best At Everything (The Boys' Book)
This book was a gift to my nephew. He couldn't put it down! Even his dad was reading it with him and talking about how he would have loved to have had a book like that when he was growing up.
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 10/15/2008)
The American Boy's Handy Book: What to Do and How to Do It (Nonpareil Book, 29)
My oldest son was always checking out a book similar to this at the library. Lots of great things to do and how to do them!
Amazon Price: $10.36 (as of 10/15/2008)
The Boy Mechanic: 200 Classic Things to Build
Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 10/15/2008)
Cowboys and Indians
Guns? Shooting? Not my son! HA!
Well...I think there is something built into boys that they simply MUST have a gun of some kind. I figured this out when our oldest discovered his finger gun! We're thinking..."where did he get this idea from?" Later he found other "guns" to use, even building them from Legos. We soon gave up on that idea and decided to teach them gun safety and self-control...you know, the kind that keeps you from shooting your brother "because he's driving me nuts" kind of self-control. So, now several years later they all have the traditional BB gun and they're learning to target shoot in the back yard, always being careful of what's behind the target as well as where all the other people and animals are playing. It's working well for our family and it might for yours too. Of course, the younger boys don't have BB guns but they do enjoy their "pop" guns and rubber band guns. :)
I wonder if their need for a gun could have been the result of the many John Wayne movies they've seen...I'm a bit addicted to them.
Have a great day!
Shelbie D.
Rubber Band Guns on eBay
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byThe Difference
The difference between the first child and the last.
Well time changes, right? By the time our 5th son was born we were almost tossing him under the car with grandpa! Grandpa had got used to our complaining about touching the baby with greasy hands with the first one that he was a little shocked with the later additions to our family. We always were allowing them a little more freedom...I guess it happens to all of us. I'm not sure if it's laziness or just lack of energy to chase them as much...we're not going to mention age, right?
Oh...another difference, when the first child fell...we rushed to help him up and soothe his crying. When the last child falls...we laugh, check for blood and tell him to get up and try it again.
Interesting, isn't it? It's not a lack of love or concern for the last one but rather we know more. Kids need to get dirty sometimes, they need to have a little freedom within the confines of safety and they need to know that although they fall...they must get up and try again.
This phenomenon usually appears when a couple has 3+ children. For some reason, it doesn't happen in families with only two children. Hhmmm, maybe we are just tired!
Have a great week!
Shelbie D.
Great Stuff on Amazon
Classic Peanuts Character #5: Pigpen Statue
Amazon Price: $59.99 (as of 10/15/2008)
Pigpen Peanuts Scarf
Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 10/15/2008)
PEANUTS SNOOPY WOODSTOCK DON'T LITTER Fine Woven Fitted Licensed
Amazon Price: (as of 10/15/2008)
Reader Feedback
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SadieCope
I love it! I homeschool(ed) 5 children, though not all boys. #1 is in college, and the remaining four are home, ages 13, 14, 15, & 16! (Sigh!) Ditto on the Legos and Dangerous Book for Boys! There's also a Dangerous Book for Girls, though they may not be quite so dangerous, seeing as how pocketknives aren't nearly as exciting to the girls! Posted October 04, 2008 |
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Summitmom
hi, I am a fellow mommy to 5 boys!! I had to laugh, my 10 yr old just brought a rubberband gun home from camp. and my fave saying to a crying boy is.."if I am not driving to the hospital, you are fine!! (is that mean? LOL)I am also crazy enough to homeschool mine. I always say "never a dull moment" Posted July 12, 2008 |
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Barkely
Welcome to the Fun For Kids Group, I'm the mom of one little man (who usually thinks he's bigger than he is:) Posted January 21, 2008 |
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KarenHS2
Oh wow - as the mother of 4, two of them boys, I could so relate to everything in this great lens!! Especially the part about boys having that "gun" thing built in. They do! Posted January 16, 2008 |
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MuddyLaBoue
This is great! I grew up as one of 5 - 2 girls, then 2 boys, then another girl (me). There's much to be learned! Posted January 09, 2008 |
