intentional parenting

Why I’m Buying My 8-Year-Old Her First Bra

by Mandi on July 23, 2012

She’s not yet 8 and just entering 2nd grade.

She knows more about the animal kingdom and world history than Sean and I put together, but she still giggles over Yo Gabba Gabba.

And although our culture rushes children through childhood and then lets them linger in adolescence, we believe childhood should savored and protected in those early years.

So why am I buying her her first bra already?

Honestly, I didn’t even realize that 8 years old was considered young for a bra until I mentioned it in passing to a few friends and they looked at me like I’d grown two heads.

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Don’t Wish Away the Years…But Know That It Gets Easier

by Mandi on July 16, 2012

playing in the sprinkler

source: Mandi Ehman

{I recently posted something similar to this on Facebook. Based on the reaction there, I thought it would be worth expanding into a blog post!}

If I could tell my younger self one thing about life with littles, it would be this: The fun stuff gets easier with each passing year!

As kids get older, it certainly brings additional challenges — puberty and peer pressure, rebellion and attitudes — so I can’t say that parenting itself gets easier with each year.

But the fun stuff, like going on vacation or watching the fireworks? Those definitely get easier.

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Where Does the Time Go?

March 20, 2012
Thumbnail image for Where Does the Time Go?

The following post is from Brad, a web designer and father of quadruplets: Every year that goes by, as a dad of four boys, the level of potential fun seems to increase exponentially.  And, as spring seems to have sprung early here in the Midwest, I am beside myself with excitement for the warm months [...]

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