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This submission is by Jennifer Wright, a MomUnity member who earned an OkkaTots diaper bag by answering this prompt: When you decided to take on the job of raising a child (or more than one), your heart knew that you would be the giver of the love long before you'd be the receiver. And the love you give is the VERB kind of love -- every repetitive, mundane act, every phrase you hear yourself say a zillion times... Why? Ask yourself, and answer yourself. It's a valuable practice to become conscientious and provide those reasons to get you through the hard times and be able to appreciate the good times all the more. Here is Jennifer's beautiful and thoughtful answer. If you'd like to submit an answer and earn a diaper bag too, here's the form.  Photo Credit: Liana Mikah on Unsplash.com Motherhood is made up of moments. Good moments, bad moments, successful moments, learning moments, rewarding moments, and more.
Why do I spend my time being a mother? Well, honestly, there are hard moments when I ask myself that question and I can’t see that I’m making a difference. But those moments inevitably pass, and are usually followed by learning moments. The most applicable answer is: I love my children! Ultimately, I want them to be happy and I am the one most able to help that happen in the short term and the long run. My children need me. I give them my time and attention so their lives will be better. I am the one that best understands them and can infer their needs. My children are young and they can’t communicate well yet, either because they can’t talk yet or are still learning the meaning of words and how to tell me something. No one else is as equipped as I am to understand and help them because I know their bigger picture, the moments that make up their world and reality. It’s rewarding to see the progress they make as a result of choices I have made in adjusting their surroundings or schedule to best fit their current needs. I know those needs intimately because I have been there every moment and step of the way. I am positioned to best help them progress and succeed. My children reflect me. Children are little sponges who repeat the most random things! I learn about myself in how they handle emotions and react to situations. I know they learned many of those things from me. Sometimes those moments are painful to see, but I am a better person for seeing myself reflected by them. The rewards are in the moments too. Milestone moments of learning to smile or walk and random silly happy moments filled with laughter, and moments of progress when something ‘clicks’ that we’ve been working on. I love my children the most of anyone on this earth, and no one else is going to care what happens to them more than I do. I want to be the one they ask for help, even if it’s 100 times a day. I want to be the one advocating for them. I want to be the one who feeds them, sees their smiles, kisses their ‘hurts’ and tucks them in. At the end of the day, I can best celebrate their victories with them because I know the moments that make up their days and months and years. Their best chance of success is through me, and I love them, so I give them my moments.
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By Sam Allred, CouncilMom over Music, Inspiration, and Laughter  Happy 4th of July!
It’s a day of barbeques, fireworks, and parades -- and you can have even more fun by teaching your little ones some patriotic songs to sing during the festivities. Thanks to childfun.com and famlii.com for the suggestions! NOTE: The concept of using a familiar tune and simply inserting fresh lyrics is one to remember and use whenever you're in need of a song to lighten up a learning moment! It's called "Piggy-backing" and is just as fun as it sounds! On the Fourth of July (Sung to the tune of London Bridge) It’s our country’s birthday, Birthday, birthday. It’s our country’s birthday, On the Fourth of July! Fireworks go Snap, Snap, Snap! (Sung to the tune of Mary Had a Little Lamb) Fireworks go snap, snap, snap! Crack, crack, crack! Zap, zap, zap! Fireworks make me clap, clap, clap On Independence Day! This Land is Your Land This land is your land, This land is my land, From California to the New York Island, From the Redwood Forest, To the Gulf Stream waters, This land was made for you and me. Way Up in the Sky (Sung to the tune of ‘Row, Row, Row Your Boat.” Wave, wave, wave the flag, Hold it very high. Watch the colors gently wave, Way up in the sky. March, march, march around, Hold the flag up high. Wave, wave, wave the flag, Way up in the sky. By Sam Allred, CouncilMom over Music, Inspiration, and Laughter  Music is a fantastic tool to use in all stages of parenthood. Adding a lullaby to your kids’ bedtime routine can help them wind down at the end of the day. Listed below are some of the best songs for helping your little one relax at bedtime.
These songs are simple, easy to remember, and can be sung by singers of all skill levels. If you aren’t feeling up to singing, consider making a playlist on your favorite audio streaming service and let the music lull your little ones into a sweet slumber.
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