Meghann, Author at Rooted Childhood - Page 21 of 21

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Welcome

Hi, I'm Meghann, the voice behind Rooted Childhood and mama to three littles.

I believe that every child deserves to know the deep roots of connection and that you can create opportunities to nourish your child’s head, heart, and hands without feeling rushed and overwhelmed. Read More…

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I spent a decade having babies, nursing, and givin

I spent a decade having babies, nursing, and giving everything I had to my children. I love being a mother, and I’m so darn proud of the family we’ve grown.

But somewhere along this winding path, I lost a bit of myself. And gained a lot of extra pounds, too. My physical transformation has only happened over the past year but that couldn’t happen until I started taking care of my whole self.

Two years ago, I started taking a pottery class just for fun. And started going on regular dates with my husband for the first time since having kids. I started getting pedicures and getting my eyebrows threaded. Then I decided to sign up for Stitch Fix and start wearing clothes that actually fit my body and looked good on me. I started going to a Pilates class and playing pickleball. I started reading books for pure entertainment. I hired someone to help with laundry and dishes. I bought cute workout clothes that fit my today body. I started cooking what I want to eat even if nobody else in my family likes it. I started taking long walks even when it was inconvenient. I started pulling weeds for fun. I picked up my recorder for the first time since 5th grade. I decorated my closet and painted it pink!

My life has done a 180, and it’s not just how I look on the outside. I’ve always been an optimistic, happy person. But when I smile now, the happiness goes deep into my bones and into my soul. I look back and wish the old me could see how happy we are now. I know she’d be proud of us. ❤️

I thought I was a good mom when I gave everything to my kids. But the truth is I’m an even better mom when I show up for myself and prioritize taking care of me, too. We’re worth it friends!

There’s nothing extreme in my homeschool philoso

There’s nothing extreme in my homeschool philosophy.

I went to public school and had a great experience. We live in an area with great schools, and I’m confident my kids would thrive at whatever school they went to.

We homeschool simply because it’s what works for us. I like my kids too much to have them spend the best parts of the day with someone else. Homeschool gives us flexibility and freedom and the biggest gift of all- time.

Where are all of the other middle of the road homeschoolers just doing this because we like it?! 🙋‍♀️

Seven year olds are pure ✨magic✨ They’re fu

Seven year olds are pure ✨magic✨

They’re full of life and spunk and sass in the best possible way. No filter. Just joy. And side eye. And lots of snacks. I just love her to pieces!!

On a side note, where are the mamas who gave their kids long names? And who prefer not to use nicknames but actually call the kid the name you spent a lot of time dreaming up for them?

This girl came home from her new gymnastics class and said the teacher said, “Your name is too long so I’m going to call you Alex.” She said she doesn’t mind. But the problem is, she won’t answer to “Alex.” I tested it that day and no response! 🤣

She actually does have a nickname that friends and family call her- Baby, but I can see that not lasting much longer. 🙈

So what are the long-named kids to do? Insist on their full names or just roll with a nickname? Help!

I went rock climbing yesterday!!! If you don’t

I went rock climbing yesterday!!!

If you don’t really know me, this might be no big deal. But this was a big deal for me for a lot of reasons.

I’ve lost almost 90lbs in the past 8 months and getting to do something like this with my kids is THE main reason I wanted to get healthy. I’ve been working out consistently every single day since last August and this felt like the payoff and made every walk and workout so worth it.

I’m also afraid of heights and generally scared of anything doing anything adventurous or risky. Ever since I can remember I’ve always skipped out on things like this. Since my husband’s stroke last fall, I’ve had to step up and do things that my husband would normally do. When the kids wanted to go rock climbing, I knew it would have to be me going with them.

I took one step up on the first rock and almost gave up right then and there. But I told myself that it’s OK let go of how I’ve always been and be my best self right now.

So I started climbing. And kept going even when it was hard. And gave up a few times. And then tried again and again. I got bumped and bruised and scraped up (see last pic with my trusty Neosporin 😆). And I had SO MUCH FUN!!!

I’m turning 40 next month and maybe this is me growing up and learning that there is still so much adventure out there and I want to find it.

What scary, adventurous thing have you wanted to try? Here’s your push to do it!!!

Happy eclipse! We made moon cakes and spent the af

Happy eclipse! We made moon cakes and spent the afternoon outside experiencing the eclipse as the moon made its way towards the sun.

We had a lot of clouds so didn’t get to see much of the eclipse with our glasses but we did get to experience 2.5 minutes of darkness.

There was a chill in the air as the sun was blocked, and the birds stopped chirping and became still. It was like someone had a dimmer switch and slowly turned the lights off and then back on again. It was really neat!

How was the weather where you are for the eclipse? Did you get to actually see it??? ☀️ 🌖 ✨

Is there anything better than a handmade, personal

Is there anything better than a handmade, personalized gift? I think not!

My kids worked on this sweet gift for a friend a few weeks ago, and it turned out so great. Stamp carving is a wonderful handcraft with so many opportunities to be creative in the final product.

My kids are 12, 9, and 7, and they all helped with this project. I’d recommend stamp carving for ages 5 and up. The blades are not quite like knife blades, which makes it a pretty safe handicraft.

It’s super simple to get started- you just need a linoleum block and a carving tool!

Comment STAMP, and I’ll send you a full tutorial for this fun project!

Handicrafts are for boys too! I remember back wh

Handicrafts are for boys too!

I remember back when my kids were tiny and learned to finger knit. My daughter would sit and knit necklaces all day and it was the sweetest thing! And then my son decided to finger knit an eye patch and came to me saying “Ahoy, matey!” 🏴‍☠️

Boys and girls can be so different! And I never want to limit them by preconceived notions of what boys can do or what girls can do. Their imaginations are the limit!

My son has been crocheting and dreamed up this sweet snake! He's a beginner and has only learned to make a chain, how to do a magic ring, and how to increase but that's all he needed for this sweet project.

Tell me: would your boys love this snake? What projects are your boys working on?

🦋 Spring Butterfly Garland 🦋 We made this s

🦋 Spring Butterfly Garland 🦋

We made this sweet needle-felted garland for a little friend’s birthday last week and I love how it turned out!

Here’s what we did:
- Cut out butterfly shapes from craft felt; 2 per butterfly
- Needle felt shades of the same color onto the butterfly adding lots of layers for dimension
- Use a needle to thread felt balls onto a cotton string
- Space out the balls and plan where the butterflies go
- Sandwich the string between the needle-felted butterfly and a blank butterfly backing with hot glue

What do you think? Would your kids like to make a spring garland?

My 12yo took a shoebox and turned it into her drea

My 12yo took a shoebox and turned it into her dream library complete with cobblestone flooring, a fountain, plants, art, a library ladder, and endless books of course. 📚

She got one of those miniature book nook kits for Christmas and loved it so much she wanted to make her own. She used balsa wood and random craft supplies and a lot of glue to make this creation.

Anyone else have kids into miniature designs? What should she make next?!

The absolute best homeschool resource that every s

The absolute best homeschool resource that every single kid needs is something money can’t buy. TIME.

In the early years, it was pretty easy for us to spend our days in the sunshine, digging in the dirt and enjoying nature. Honestly, being outside for hours every day was the only thing that kept me sane when my kids were babies and toddlers.

But what happens when there are math lessons and read alouds and spelling when kids get older? And then when you add in extracurriculars like music and sports and theater?

It can be more of a challenge to reserve unscheduled time for sure, but it’s even more important as our kids get older. They might not play like they did when they were little, but their brains still need space to find their own zone of flow. Whether it’s in nature or working on projects they dreamed up or engaging with siblings and friends, this unscheduled time is essential in our homeschool.

What does this look like practically? For us we have two days a week where we have long 6+ hour stretches with nowhere to be and nothing more important to do. On this particular day we spent 5 hours out in nature. It never fails that after 2 hours or 5 hours, nobody wants to leave. Five hours feels like only minutes when it is yours to own wholly and completely with no pressure, no hurry, and no expectations.

If you have older kids, please share how you ensure they have plenty of unstructured time and time in nature!

Happy Valentine’s Day! My kids have spent the we

Happy Valentine’s Day! My kids have spent the week making homemade Valentines for their friends. One made these sweet crocheted hearts, one enjoyed quilling and made cards, and the other used a lot of tape and glue and what I would consider trash, but hey, she loves them. 🤣

There were no Valentine’s baskets here, no themed lunch, not even teatime which we usually do. And this day was still no less special for my kids! We wore pink, we told each other what we love about each person, and we told the story of how mama and daddy got engaged on this day 18 years ago. ❤️

Who else kept it simple this Valentine’s Day?

Handicrafts used to be something we did as part of

Handicrafts used to be something we did as part of our homeschool curriculum.

We’d spend 12 weeks on macrame, 12 weeks on knitting, 12 weeks on whittling. And usually by the end of 12 weeks of whatever we were working on, we were so bored!

The truth is, handicrafts are a lifestyle. I am not an expert in any crafts. But I’ve made it part of our family culture to have tools, loose parts, and a copious amount of craft supplies on hand so that when creativity strikes or a need arises, we can learn together.

On any given day, you will find my children knitting, crocheting, doing embroidery, doing paper crafts, needle felting, and more. Their creative spirits are infectious and inspiring.

I wanted curtains for my little office, so my 7yo took on the project of sewing the curtains. My sewing experienced peaked in Home Economics in 7th grade but we figured it out!

I also wanted whimsical art for my office so my 12yo painted me a beautiful canvas in my favorite colors.

And now my little office is a happy, bright space to store all the things for when the next creative burst hits!

“Mama, can we needle felt today?” Yes, of co

“Mama, can we needle felt today?”

Yes, of course we can! My sweet girl needle felted a precious heart today while I told her a story and sang her this song.

I’ve done this before with my two older kids and sometimes it breaks my heart that with her, this is the last time I get to do these things. But with every season that passes and every “last” that happens, I know that there will be new adventures and “firsts” along the way too.

Going to save the memory of this heart away in my own forever! 💜

If you want to try needle felting, we love the kits from @woolbuddy to start. Cookie cutters also make a great way to start and protect little fingers from the sharp needle until they get the hang of it.

Here’s a super simple and fun way to transform a

Here’s a super simple and fun way to transform any sweatshirt in your closet.

This is the first time I’ve ever embroidered any piece of clothing, and the whole project start to finish took me maybe 30 minutes! ❤️

Use water soluble adhesive paper for an easy way to get your printer pattern onto the sweatshirt. When you’re done, it just washes away with water. 💦

I’m thinking of all the things I can embroider now! Tell me what you’d like to try in the comments!

Here’s how I get 90 minutes of exercise in a day

Here’s how I get 90 minutes of exercise in a day as a busy homeschool mom who doesn’t go to the gym, isn’t already skinny, and doesn’t like to work out.

I set a goal for 90 minutes of exercise back in September, and I’ve met it most days! Every day looks different and this day isn’t necessarily typical.

Our @tonal makes it easy to do strength training at home and my Apple Watch makes it easy to track everything.

I cannot overstate how much joy these snowflakes b

I cannot overstate how much joy these snowflakes brought us through the darkest, most challenging times this winter. Also, the Trader Joe’s flowers that last FOREVER…love them too!

Sometimes it’s the little, simple things that bring the most sunshine. Sometimes when my life feels crazy or my house is chaos, I tidy up one little corner of the house like this just to stare at it and feel peaceful for a moment. Maybe that’s a weird thing 🤷‍♀️but it sure helps me feel calm and grounded.

Here’s a sweet Valentine’s craft that anyone c

Here’s a sweet Valentine’s craft that anyone can do with any sweatshirt you already own!

❤️ Print or draw a design onto adhesive water soluble transfer paper. Or, use a water soluble marker to draw right onto the sweatshirt.

❤️ Gather embroidery thread, a needle with a large eye, and scissors for this project.

❤️ Use a backstitch to embroider your design onto the sweatshirt just under the collar.

❤️ Rinse the design under water and gently rub the paper away.

❤️ Keep your design small for a super simple and quick project that you can enjoy every time you wear it!

My 12yo did this sweatshirt 100% on her own. I’m going to make one this week too- let me know in the comments if you have questions!

When you come close to death, it is true that you

When you come close to death, it is true that you see your life flash before your eyes.

For me, it was in slow motion. The people I loved were there in front of me, and I know they are what brought me back to life when I was rushed into emergency surgery.

My husband had a small stroke. His symptoms lasted for only a couple of hours and then they were completely gone. Within a couple hours, he was eating Whataburger and drinking Red Bull (we didn’t find out he actually had a stroke until he had an MRI the next day). He ended up having a lot of complications after a heart surgery to prevent future strokes but thankfully he is doing amazingly well and is 110% back to his old self!

I don’t think he saw his life flash before his eyes in the moment of his stroke, but in the days and weeks after, it was a time of reflection for both of us. There were so many “What Ifs” and we took this opportunity to really evaluate our lives and start working on some changes. Before the stroke, we both read Peter Attia’s Outlive and started to focus on longevity…talk about perfect timing!

Here’s some of the things we’ve focused on to ensure we’re healthy, whole people giving ourselves the best chance at living this wonderful life for a very long time:
- We stopped drinking alcohol
- We’re committed to weekly date nights
- We’re moving our bodies every single day with strength training 5-6 days a week
- We’re eating at home 99% of the time
- We’re spending 1-1 time with our kids
- We’re finding balance in work/fun/parenting/marriage
- We’re investing time in learning new things (my husband is having lots of fun learning guitar!)
- We’re sticking to a budget and focusing on our financial goals
- We’re thankful for the best doctors and modern medicine AND thankful we have lots of natural healing options too
- We’re making mental health a priority
- We’re practicing meditation each day
- We’re nurturing relationships with friends and family who matter to us
- We’re practicing daily gratitude for big and small things

What else would you add to this list? What’s something you do for longevity?

Tell me you’re a kid from the 90s without tellin

Tell me you’re a kid from the 90s without telling me you’re a kid from the 90s.

Our babysitter brought this for my kids yesterday and the song came back INSTANTLY. Now that’s some good marketing. 🤣

I am not usually the fun parent but my kids and I had WAY too much fun with this all morning! We’ve had a broken planter pot and an ankle injury in less than 24 hours so I’m not sure I can recommend this toy but for nostalgia sake it’s totally worth it!!

So who else remembers this jingle? Any other 90s toys with jingles you’ll never forget?!

Three months ago our lives changed in an instant.

Three months ago our lives changed in an instant.

Have you experienced a life-changing pivotal moment in your life?

I wish we didn’t have to have this kind of experience to take stock of our lives and make changes, which is why I want to share about how my husband’s stroke has served us blessings upon blessings over the past three months.

We are healthier. Our marriage is stronger. Our family is more connected than ever before. It’s cliche but we really are cherishing every moment. We’re listening to music like it’s the first time we’ve heard each song. We’re dancing just because we can. We’re doing boring things and fun things and everyday things and just enjoying doing them together.

In 2014 after the birth of my son, my uterine artery ruptured and I was inches from death’s door. I remember looking at pictures and seeing the last photo taken before the rupture, dreaming about what it would be like to go back to that moment. I do the same with my husband’s stroke. If we only knew that those little signs were brining us to that moment on Nov. 2.

But we can’t go back. So we forge ahead. Together. Happy, healthy, and better than ever.

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