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June Break and Our Goals
By Kendra | July 1, 2010
Thank you for letting me take a much-needed break. I’ve been told by other parents of teens that life amps up exponentially during those years, but I have had to see it to really believe it. Two working sons with jobs in two separate towns, relationship management, school work to finish, band practice, Bible study, our home fellowship group, and yes- I still have six other children. Add golf lessons, VBS, and did I mention I have a two-year-old and a three-year-old?
What the month of June did was give me perspective. Out of that perspective came a lengthy late night conversation with my husband about the goals of Preschoolers and Peace. Zeroing in on what is really important (for the blog and in my home), we’ve decided to implement a few changes based on our goals:
1. I’m sticking to preschoolers.
Increasingly I am receiving questions about parenting philosophy, whether we allow our teens to date, and what my opinion is on someone else’s parenting philosophy and whether or not they allow their teens to date. While I realize it can be helpful to hear others’ perspectives on parenting issues, it becomes sticky when I don’t know you or your children personally. You don’t know mine personally either, and even if I paint a perfect picture with glossy photos, you might hate us if you met us 
So unless it’s a nitty gritty issue like potty training or a request for recipes that might help you have a more peaceful dinnertime, I’ll probably refrain from answering. The Holy Spirit is a far better teacher than I could ever hope to be.
2. I want to give you tools.
The original intent of Preschoolers and Peace was to help equip moms who are attempting to educate children at home while at the same time having to manage preschoolers, toddlers, and babies. In that spirit, over the years I have tried to throw a smorgasbord of ideas and options your way so that you might hit on one or two that solves a problem or brings an increased measure of peace to your home.
I’ll continue to do so, but I’ve got to be honest: for at least a year now I have said to my closest friends, “What more do I possibly have to say on the subject?” I feel like I’ve exhausted the best ideas, although I do still have preschoolers and I may have to reach into the very bottom of the barrel to pull out some new tools to use around here. We’ll slowly begin to categorize all the old posts so that you can simply click on a subject on the sidebar and pull up everything on, say, preschool curriculum or sleeping through the night.
3. Either there’s less time in the day, or I have more to do.
Because of this reality, I realize that I cannot keep up the pace of three posts per week. I’ll post regularly, but I’m not sure what that looks like yet. You are welcome to “friend” me on Facebook, and be sure to join the Preschoolers and Peace fan page, too. Lively discussions occur there on a regular basis.
♥
I love what God’s done with this little blog. I love being available and I love writing. Preschoolers and Peace has been a gift to my family.
Topics: Musings and Miscellany, Nurturing Moms | 21 Comments »
July 1st, 2010 at 4:44 am
Having teens is so very different, isn’t it? We have had one or more teens for the last 13 years and still have very young ones as well. Having the little ones is tiring physically, but the older ones can drain you emotionally and mentally. Having both doesn’t leave much else!! Not that it is bad, but it can take everything in you, especially when you have a spread of ages (my oldest is 26 and expecting her third baby, our youngest is 20 months!!). You are smart to take the time you need to do your REAL job. I appreciate your honesty!
July 1st, 2010 at 8:37 am
Thank you for this website! While you may not have much new insight it is a huge blessing to me to be able to see articles that have been written. I have two boys. A 16 month old and a 1 month old. It is so nice to know there are other people who have kids so close in age and understand what I am going through.
July 1st, 2010 at 9:29 am
You might feel like you have gone over everything but I just found your website a month ago! I have looked over past posts but am still looking for more info.
I have five children with three preschoolers, 1,3, and 5.
They are all very active and have not been very successful homeschooling with them underfoot. sigh..
So, please keep it up if you can! It is a blessing to us who are just getting started.
July 1st, 2010 at 9:32 am
I could not be more thankful for your encouragement and help via p&p! Thank you Kendra for all the time and energy you have spent here. It is your ideas and helps that gave me a starting point for our homeschool. The value of a place to start is huge!
I think even revisiting “old” ideas over and over, (especially as you encounter them for the 7th and 8th time) and linking (or referring) to what you’ve already written is still an immense help. Because really, if you think about it raising preschoolers is all about revisiting the same ideas over and over (and over).
July 1st, 2010 at 10:35 am
Thank you all for your encouragement!
July 1st, 2010 at 10:54 am
Hey, even the “classic reposts” are great! I too am just beginning this whole homeschooling-with-a-little-one-underfoot journey. I love reading your ideas, and I know that this will continue to be a go-to source for me as you categorize old posts. But I know that a few times recently you’ve done a “classic repost.” And to quote cheesy TV, since I “hadn’t seen it [the first time around], it was new to me”!
Thanks so much for all you have done so far…I don’t want to sound greedy for more when you have already helped out quite a few people so much. Thank yoU!
July 1st, 2010 at 1:04 pm
I’ve missed reading your blog; it’s my respite during nap time (my kids are 5, 4, 2, and due-in-December). Thanks for continuing, and I guess I will just keep reading the archives!
July 1st, 2010 at 1:56 pm
I appreciate your honesty. I love the regular updates, but have secretly wondered how you can keep both a happy home and a happy website! Your immediate family is your first priority and I’m relieved to see that you are human.
Your idea of categorizing posts for future readers is excellent. Also, having a sidebar linking to other reliable parenting/homemaking websites might be easier for you and work almost as well for us readers needing help!
Thanks for all you do.
Catherine
July 1st, 2010 at 2:10 pm
Kendra,
I am *so* thankful for all that you have poured into P&P. What a wealth of information and wisdom is here!
I’ve spent the past week getting our new Memory Work box/index cards ready for the Fall~ and I love it, and am SO thankful you put that idea out there for me to grab onto and run with it.
More than anyone else in the WHOLE WIDE blogosphere, your ideas have helped me feel like we could do this homeschooling thing, with varying ages and little ones thrown into the mix.
(((Thank you, friend!)))
ps I’ll email you if I find any great preschool/circle time resources, too.. .that way you can decide whether or not you want to post about them here for your readers. I’m excited about something I just ordered and have already had that thought: I’ll have to pass along this tip to Kendra in case she hasn’t discovered this, yet!
July 1st, 2010 at 2:15 pm
Oh. And I forgot to mention that even if you still post once a MONTH, I will still be happily reading here.
AND: praying for you guys as you tackle teenagers *and* preschoolers.
~Stacy
July 1st, 2010 at 3:08 pm
It has been a gift to my family as well! I come here often to look through your archives when I have questions. I recently spent a lot of time going over you Marvelous Monday posts to get ideas for the coming school year. I am genuinely so thankful for your wisdom and experience, and your willingness to take time to share what you’ve learned. May the Lord bless you richly, Kendra!
July 1st, 2010 at 5:56 pm
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July 2nd, 2010 at 3:17 pm
Kendra,
Good for you! I’m so impressed that you took a break. Your blog is such a blessing & encouragement!
If you are able to categorize your blog posts, that will be so helpful as we re-visit them, but PLEASE take your time to do this, as I think we all agree, your family is a higher priority than this blog.
I hope you have other blogs, websites, and Christian sisters who offer you godly encouragement and ideas as you have shared with us.
Please tell your husband and family “THANK YOU” for sharing you with us!
July 2nd, 2010 at 5:34 pm
Kendra,
I pondered your post all day yesterday and then this morning I found a comment from you on my blog.
I too sometimes feel like you do and wonder what in the world I am doing giving out so much help….little old me who doesn’t feel like much of an expert in anything most days.
Thank you for sharing your heart.
Barb
July 2nd, 2010 at 5:43 pm
I so appreciate you, Barb! That watercolor project is going to happen next week!
July 4th, 2010 at 3:03 pm
You have so much to offer. Just updates about what is going on around your place give me hope and comfort…I’m not alone! This can be done!
Don’t feel like you’ve exhausted it all. Every post is appreciated…even if it seems small to you. To those of us just getting started on this journey, we need all the tips–little or big–that we can get. It’s a learning process!
Thanks for your time Kendra.
July 5th, 2010 at 7:56 am
Your family is in our prayers, and we love learning from you. Love you…love you.
July 5th, 2010 at 12:30 pm
I will join the others who have thanked you for sharing your wisdom! I have heard from others that the teenage years are super busy and I am dreading it, though I have a few years to go (with my oldest not yet 8.) Especially not sure what I’ll do if we have teens AND preschoolers/ toddlers/ babies!!! I’ll be done for!!
And speaking of “done for,” what will you do when you no longer have preschoolers?? Rename the blog:? Shut it down? (GASP!! NO!!!)
July 5th, 2010 at 2:26 pm
What to name the blog when we no longer have preschoolers has been a topic of discussion around here. Suggestions?
July 5th, 2010 at 2:33 pm
Hey in the name of preschoolers resources
I read this great book and thought of you and your list. Have you read Fool Moon Rising by Kristi Fluharty or something like that? It’s become a new favorite here… thought I’d share!
Thanks for all you do!!
July 23rd, 2010 at 7:31 pm
I just wanted to say thank you for your blog- it has been an encouragement & blessing to our family, esp to mama.
We’ve never met but I praise God for His family!