Modern Parents Messy Kids

We're all about finding ways to make family life better while keeping our sense of humor. Check out our famous MPMK Top Toy Awards, already viewed over 7,000,000 times!

How to Style a White Tee

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Have you guys ever seen those "Closet Must Haves" or "10 Pieces Every Woman Must Own" lists in style magazines?  Usually, a white tee would make it onto those lists, but I never understood why.  I bought a white tee, only to have it sit in my closet because I never knew how to wear it.  It was always just a plain white tee to me, which then translated to me as a plain outfit. … [Read more...]

Fun with Logs

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At first I was feeling guilty that this post is long overdue - we started the series back in May after all. But now I'm thinking it might be just the time to re-visit the idea of natural outdoor play spaces. With summer coming to an end, so too is the time for running through the sprinklers and planting vegetable gardens. The return of cool, crisp fall weather is actually quite perfect for a more rustic approach to outdoor play. … [Read more...]

Book Club: Week Four

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After a small hiatus, our virtual book club is back and today we're discussing my favorite chapters yet of Buddhism for Mothers of Young Children - Becoming a Mindful Parent.  Examining who our children are (as well as who they're not) and exploring the question of "Is this All"?  Both topics drove home for me the importance of letting our children become their own person and defining ourselves outside of our roles as mothers. Additionally, the question of "Is this all?" is especially salient on … [Read more...]

Recreational Reading

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If you have young children, summer might not be the time of year where you get in a lot of your own reading. But now, with the summer reading lists tucked away and a routine emerging as school starts up, perhaps you'll have a chance to get some reading of your own squeezed in. If you're looking for suggestions, here are eight books I'd put on my "Not-Summer Reading List:" … [Read more...]

Midweek Musings: Harnessing the Power of Touch

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I recently came across, The Power of a Parent's Touch and the post resonated with me so much. Now that my oldest is nearly 4, I can feel he's on the cusp of a time when my touch won't always be wanted. Already, he occasionally shrugs me off if I snuggle too close and he no longer drops everything and comes running at the suggestion of a hug.  I mostly take it in stride but this small shift has me focusing more and more on the connections that are made through touch. … [Read more...]

Giveaway: Storage Furniture from ClosetMaid

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Today we have another fabulous joint giveaway with the lovely Jen of I Heart Organizing. In honor of the newly organized and beautified site, we're giving away some fabulous storage pieces to help you organize and beautify your own space. My initial intention was to use these snazzy cube benches in the playroom.  Once the hubs finished assembling them in the living room, though, I pushed them over to the window to temporarily make room and instantly loved the look.  I've always wanted a bench … [Read more...]

It’s Finally Here – MPMK 2.0

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Our big reveal is finally here, ta-da!  I really couldn't be happier with the way the site turned out. Along with a sleek new look, one of my top priorities for MPMK 2.0 (as I'm affectionately calling it) was to make it VERY easy to navigate.  I really think we accomplished that goal.  Today I'm hosting a mini tour to show you what I mean.  (If you're reading this via an RSS feed, be sure to click on over to the new site and follow along.) Let me first draw your attention to the top of the site … [Read more...]

Dealing with Night Time Fears Through Play

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One of my boys was blessed with my very over active imagination, which can be fun during the day, but not so much at night.   We've battled our nighttime monsters in different ways. We talk about what good dreams he wants to have that night - where he wants to go, what he wants to do etc. I've also given him an old remote control so if he wakes up from a bad dream he can change his dream channel. Another way to battle those monsters is by melting them!   This activity is fun … [Read more...]