Tag: motherhood

Homeschooling, real life

Do These 5 Things When You Don’t Feel Like Homeschooling

by Emily Sewell8 Comments on Do These 5 Things When You Don’t Feel Like Homeschooling
Do These 5 Things When You Don’t Feel Like Homeschooling

The alarm pierces the dark coolness of my room, jolting me awake. Is it morning already? As I wipe my eyes and stumble to the bathroom, the thought of another day of teaching overwhelms me. I don’t feel like homeschooling today. I need a break, and my kids probably do too. But I still need this day to count towards our school year.

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We all have days where we feel like this. Maybe we went to bed late the night before, perhaps we’re sick, or maybe the baby indulged in an all-night kegger (of milk, that is). Whatever the case, some days we just need a break from doing normal homeschooling. There is no need to feel guilty about that. Here are 5 low maintenance and educational things you can do instead when you don’t feel like homeschooling.

#1 Have a Read-A-Thon

Remember read-a-thons from elementary school? They were so much fun, and the teachers loved them too. All you need are books, puzzles, and all things cozy. Don’t forget a book for yourself! Read-a-thons are fabulous on rainy winter days.

Lighting candles around the house really sets the mood. My kids love read-a-thon days. My fourth grader devours Minecraft books, while my second grader bounces between picture books, beginning chapter books, and Epic!. What if your child isn’t reading yet? No worries! Did you know there are hundreds of read-aloud books on Youtube? If you’re sick or not in a position to actively read to your child that day, this is a great option.

#2 It’s Baking Day

When I don’t feel like homeschooling, I’m probably (definitely) in the mood for homemade treats. A baking day is a great alternative. I’m pretty sure it’s in the homeschool mom guidebook that we must use baking to teach real-world math, so why not make a day of it? Have the kids plan a menu, order groceries, and have at it! Pro tip: Cooking with kids is more enjoyable when you work with one child at a time. Also, it’s a pretty special milestone when the kids can cook on their own without burning down the house.

#3 Watch a Documentary

Pull out the blankets, pop some popcorn, pile on the couch together, and turn on a documentary. There are so many great options! From Disney+ to Netflix to YouTube, you can find a documentary about anything you’re currently studying or something the kids want to learn more about. After it’s over, have a group discussion. Then, the kids can then write a movie review, draw a picture of something they learned, or act out their favorite scene. Seriously, the possibilities are endless.

#4 Pull Out the Board Games

I love board games. Love. Being an only child, I didn’t get a chance to play them as much as a wanted. Well, I am making up for lost time now! Board games teach so many essential skills.

Benefits of playing board games include critical thinking, practice turn-taking, collaboration, flexibility, communication, accepting loss, and strategy.

So many benefits! I really appreciate how there are options for cooperative board games these days. They are a fun way to build up sibling relationships, and it is so sweet to see the kids encouraging each other. Some of our favorite board games are:

#5 Pack Up for a Day Outside

Have a change of scenery and get out of the house! Seriously, the forest cures just about any woes, in my opinion. But if hiking in the woods isn’t your thing, that’s ok! Head to a playground, a pond, your own yard, or even a random empty parking lot. Wherever you can go, you can make it work. My perspective on spending the entire day outside changed when I realized that There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather. We just need the proper gear. So, friend, pack up all the snacks, lunch, water bottles, blankets, and good outerwear, and enjoy the outdoors! It’s literally a breath of fresh air.

These are all things I do when I don’t feel like homeschooling, whatever the reason may be. I hope this sparked some inspiration for you when you are needing a break. Did I miss anything? I want to hear about it. Tell me in the comments below. Also, don’t forget to share this post, because these things are more fun when you do them with friends.

Homeschooling, real life

The Importance of Social Emotional Learning with LuvBug Learning

by Emily SewellLeave a Comment on The Importance of Social Emotional Learning with LuvBug Learning
The Importance of Social Emotional Learning with LuvBug Learning

Social emotional learning is such a buzzword these days, especially in the education community. But what is it exactly? Social emotional learning is simply the process of developing self-awareness, self-control, and intrapersonal skills. That’s it. Social emotional learning occurs in all sorts of situations, like at home, on play dates, during full blown meltdowns in the middle of Target. You get the idea.

Disclaimer: I received this product for free, and I was compensated for my time for this post. As always, my opinions are honest and true to my personal experience with these products and services.

Sometimes, however, we want a more focused learning environment for our kids with regard to social emotional learning. This is why I was thrilled when I was introduced to LuvBug Learning! LuvBug Learning is an online play-based SEL curriculum that is perfect for your elementary-aged child. Keep reading because I have a DISCOUNT code for you!

Teaching Feelings with LuvBug Learning

LuvBug Learning is the leading gaming platform for social emotional learning. Children do not even realize they are learning important life skills as they interact with Pixar-quality characters and games. These characters exist in various worlds where children engage in critical thinking skills while learning all about feelings and good character qualities.

These include things such as:

  • Gratitude
  • Empathy
  • Integrity
  • Responsibility
  • The Golden Rule
  • Honesty
  • And so much more!
Scavenger Hunt Extravaganza

The graphics on LuvBug Learning are one of my favorite key features. I have shared before how a couple of my children, as well as myself, are neurodivergent. The animation on LuvBug Learning is so engaging and captivating for my children. They already love games like Roblox. However, with LuvBug Learning they are getting filled up on that dopamine, all the while learning skills they will utilize in everyday life. In my opinion, it is vital for neurodivergent kids to have a focused SEL curriculum, because it is easy for them to miss certain social cues or rules of etiquette in everyday life.

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Emily Sewell (@intentionally_well_blog)

So What’s Included?

LuvBug Learning has a variety of subscription options, with the best price per month option being the annual subscription. Furthermore, I have an additional discount code just for you! Use code: LUVBUG5 for your annual subscription to only cost $5/month! Although LuvBug Learning offers deals throughout the year, this is the best you’re going to see. This offer EXPIRES October 15, 2022, so don’t wait! This price gets you one child account and one parent account, but you can easily add additional users for a small fee.

Furthermore, each child on your account will have their own dashboard. What I love about LuvBug Learning’s platform is how customizable it is. Parents have the ability to filter and tailor their child’s experiences based on their individual wants and needs. Parents also can also track their child’s learning progress in a very easy and concise way with the Social Emotional Pillars tracker in their dashboard.

Join LuvBug Learning today!

With beautiful and FUN graphics, characters, and games, LuvBug Learning is an obvious choice for social emotional learning for your elementary-aged child. Join today and grab your discount with code: LUVBUG5, and let the fun and learning begin!

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Homeschooling

Catch Up on Math Skills with CTCMath

by Emily SewellLeave a Comment on Catch Up on Math Skills with CTCMath
Catch Up on Math Skills with CTCMath

As homeschooling parents, we know every child has different strengths and challenges. We do our best to choose curriculums that fit our children’s needs. We do everything we can think of to get the concepts mastered, whether it’s making flashcards, playing bingo, or having a nerf gun fight. Seriously, whatever it takes.

Even with all of that, sometimes we need a supplemental resource to reinforce what we are learning. So, when I found CTCMath, I knew I had to share it with you! Ever since I found CTCMath, I have been so impressed. Their Homeschool Family Membership makes an excellent tool to help students catch up on math skills.

Disclaimer: I received this product for free, and I was compensated for my time for this post. As always, my opinions are honest and true to my personal experience with these products and services.

What is CTCMath?

CTCMath is an online supplemental math curriculum created and founded by Pat Murray. Pat Murray is an Australian educator with more than thirty-one years of teaching and tutoring experience. Personally, math is and has always been my favorite subject. However, I know so MANY adults who still claim to hate it based on their negative experiences in school.

As we know, math is a subject that builds upon itself continuously. If one concept is not mastered, it can, and will likely, create future stumbling blocks. Children fall further behind and often lose confidence in their own abilities. This is why it is so important to have supplemental resources to help kids catch up on math (or any subject they might be struggling with!) available to homeschoolers.

This is where CTCMath can step in and fill in any gaps your child might have. With CTCMath and the Homeschool Family Membership, children will:

  • Have access for all grades K-12
  • Have lessons taught in a concise manner using animation
  • Learn at their own pace
  • Catch up on concepts not fully mastered
  • Gain understanding and confidence in areas of previous struggle
  • Develop an individualized learning routine where they succeed
CTCMath has won multiple rewards as a result of their success in helping kids match up on math skills.
Check out CTCMath today!

How Does CTCMath Work?

CTCMath utilizes a multi-sensory approach through visual and auditory learning. Every lesson introduces concepts with a four to nine-minute animated video. These videos are simple and concise, which is wonderful if your child can be easily overstimulated. Additionally, each lesson contains a printable PDF, so students can have something tangible in front of them to use as a guide and/or take notes. Children then assess their understanding of the lessons through interactive questions.

On CTCMath’s dashboard, parents have the ability to assign lessons and track progress. Searching for lessons is so simple. It is very easy to filter the entirety of CTCMath’s lessons by grade, topics, and lessons. You, then, assign lessons to your student, which shows up on their own personal dashboard. Furthermore, as your child progresses through their lessons, they celebrate by earning awards.

CTCMath parent dashboard helps parents assign lessons to help their children catch up on math skills quickly and confidently.
The parent dashboard is so easy to navigate!

Final Thought on CTCMath

CTCMath is an excellent choice for homeschooling parents who are looking for a resource to help their child catch up on math skills. Their lessons are simple and clear. This curriculum is the perfect choice for a student who struggles with overstimulation and overwhelms, because of the way lessons are presented. I know that when your child is needing extra help, you want them to master skills quickly and effectively. CTCMath enables you to track your child’s progress easily so that you can move on as soon as a skill is mastered. Check out CTCMath today with their FREE TRIAL and HALF PRICE DISCOUNT!

Encouragement

How To Survive Year-End Stress With Your Elementary Student

by Emily SewellLeave a Comment on How To Survive Year-End Stress With Your Elementary Student
How To Survive Year-End Stress With Your Elementary Student

Woohoo! Summer break is almost here, and it is time for a busy but beautiful season of vacations, pool parties, and lemonade stands. But before you can dive in and enjoy the fun that summer vacation brings for you and your kiddos, you must partake in the end-of-school-year Olympics and figure out how to survive year-end stress.

Yes, I am talking about the weeks after spring break and before summer vacation, when school tests the fortitude and dedication of every elementary school parent and beyond. You will be stretched to the limit some days, but the end result is worth it: watching your child’s face the day they walk out of school for the last time before summer break. What an exciting, squealing, ice cream-faced reward!

Manage Year-End Field Trip Stress

Children looking at a train car on a field trip to the train station.
Field trip to the train station was so much fun!

Is it just me, or do schools cram as many field trips as they can into the last 3 weeks of school? Aquarium, pizza arcade, Zoo, nature walk, CRAM IT IN! Oh and do not forget the permission slip. Or close-toed shoes. And the money for snacks on site. Or the sunscreen! While it may seem like a ton of extra stuff to cram into your pint-size child’s backpack, it’s all worth it to see their ruddy cheeks at the end of the day. Filled with stories and excitement from the trip. Remember your why!

Do Not Stress Report Cards & Grades

While the report cards and quarterly grades may not seem like a big part of how to survive year-end stress, they certainly are for your children – elementary school and beyond. When my daughter began 3rd grade, the report cards got a bit more serious. And so did she.

Reward all grades, as long as you know your child has done their best

Remind your kiddo that there are no bad grades as long as they have done their best work. Grades do not make a kind or empathetic spirit. Kick the stress and discipline when a disappointing report card rolls in. Celebrate the small victories!

Year-End Teacher Gifts – What To Give?

I am positive your kid’s teacher has some different ideas about how to survive year-end stress, which is why I always love to gift them something special at the end of the school year. 

Here are some “how to survive year-end stress” gift ideas for teachers:

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How To Survive Parent Teacher Conferences

Parent-Teacher conferences can be intimidating and leave everyone feeling defeated if handled improperly. My daughter’s elementary school requires at least 2 conferences a year. But you can have a great conference with your child’s teacher!

Focus on the positive.

Do not hone in on your child’s worst but choose to focus on their best.

Ask questions.

Do not begin the conference without a list of questions to ask your child’s teacher.

Request positive feedback to give your child.

Your child’s teacher wants them to succeed. They watch them learn and grow every day, so grab some of those compliments to share with your child.

Make Year-End Class Parties Fun

You might not be an over-achiever. You know what I’m talking about – a Pinterest-Perfect mom. One of those moms who set the table for every holiday and take the Christmas tree down by New Year’s. If you are, elementary class parties might not be your forte. That is okay momma! Take a chill pill and bring in the store-bough cupcakes. You do not have to cut the carrots into star shapes. 

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More than perfection, your child will remember your presence.

This is a hugely important part of how to survive year-end stress and school madness. Your child will not likely remember your perfectly styled hair or the cupcakes you stayed up until 2am baking. No, they will remember your smile as you laughed on the bus headed to the Zoo. They will remember your compassion when they got a 75% on their math test.

Choose to focus on the reason why you are running around like a chicken on mountain dew. Your children and the memories you are making amidst the madness. Do you have any tips for surviving the year-end stress of elementary school? I’d love to hear them in the comments below!

Howdy, Miranda here from planitmiranda.com 

I am a full-time working mom and small business owner. I work for a local law firm while trying my best to juggle mom-sponsibilities, 40 hours of work for “the man”, and entrepreneurship. My days are spent meticulously planning what is to come so nothing falls through the cracks. My daughter Dorothy is 9 years old and my joy.  We make a great planning team.

Homemaking

Mrs. Field’s Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

by Emily Sewell2 Comments on Mrs. Field’s Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Mrs. Field’s Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

I don’t know if these are actual Mrs. Field’s oatmeal chocolate chip cookies or not. My guess is they were probably some kind of dupe from the nineties. But my family has been making this cookies for as long as I can remember, and we always call them Mrs. Fields cookies. So, thank you Mrs. Fields for giving me my most favorite cookies that I now get to share with my family. We enjoy eating these cookies during our homeschool tea time.

Freshly baked oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.

Mrs. Fields Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

  • 1 cup softened butter
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 2 1/2 cups rolled oats
  • 12oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 4oz milk chocolate chips

First, cream together butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla in a large bowl. Next, combine remaining dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until ingredients are fully combined. Finally add as many chocolate chips as your heart desires. Spoon golf ball size cookies onto a greased cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown around the edges.

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This recipe makes a lot. I like to flash freeze golf ball sized servings of cookie dough to keep in the freezer. To do this, spoon cookie dough on to a cookie sheet,. Next, place cookie sheet in the freezer for 1 hour. Store cookie dough balls in a gallon zip-loc bag, and bake whenever you feel the desire for fresh Mrs. Field’s oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.

Homemaking

3 Hacks to Developing a Cleaning Routine You’ll Actually Stick To

by Emily Sewell3 Comments on 3 Hacks to Developing a Cleaning Routine You’ll Actually Stick To
3 Hacks to Developing a Cleaning Routine You’ll Actually Stick To

What’s one of the biggest lies culture tells homemakers? Developing a cleaning routine is simple and easy to stick to. Am I right? But what if you hate cleaning? I got you. Here are 3 simple hacks to designing a system that works for you and your family.

From my extensive research, (read: asking all the women I know which they like better, cooking or cleaning?) people either get the cleaning gene or the cooking gene, but it’s never both. Never, not once have I met someone who enjoys both.

Do you? Most likely not. (If you are the magical unicorn who enjoys both, please tell me you secret magical ways.) One is always so much harder than the other. If you’re like me, then that’s cleaning. So, here are my best and most practical tips for developing a cleaning routine that works.

#1. Clarify Your Expectations

First, you need to set appropriate expectations. What does a clean home mean to you? Is it consistently mopped floors, floors cleared of clutter/toys, or floors being clear chunks of yesterday’s breakfast? You do you. This is your home, no one else’s.

Tidiness is different from person to person and from parenting season to parenting season. I expect more of myself (and children) now that everyone is out of the baby and toddler stages. However, my expectations are not equal to a family that has teenagers. My kids are very much in the toy years. It’s unrealistic of me to expect all toys to be put away at the end of every day, because toys are life right now. I mean, there’s currently a pretend golf course in the playroom.

So, I don’t expect the toys to be perfectly picked up every single day. If I did, then I would be correcting and scolding my children constantly. No one wants that! Instead, we do a big clean-up once a week. This works for us. The toy years are a season of childhood, and that is where we are at right now.

#2. Decide How Much Time Do You Want to Devote to Cleaning?

The second thing to consider when developing a cleaning routine is how much time you can reasonably and sanely devote to cleaning. Quick story time: When I was home with a new baby and a toddler, a plumber came out to our house to do some work. I *always* tidied up before anyone would come over.

Well, he unexpectedly had to go into my closet to access the shower. I hadn’t tidied my room, much less my closet! I quick ran in there to make sure, you know, there wasn’t a bra on the floor or something. I was mortified! I kept apologizing for the mess. Then this sweet old man turned to me and said, “It’s okay. I use my house too.” Friend! Let me tell you. That plumber set me free!!

We use our home. And what a blessing that is! And I don’t want to spend all my time cleaning. What works for us is doing a quick pick-up after breakfast before starting our homeschool. We do another pick-up before rest time, as the school day is coming to a close. Lastly, I do a pick-up of the living room (usually it’s just the kid’s cups and maybe a random dinosaur or two) at the end of the day after the kids have gone to bed.

Now, I do deep clean one room a day. But only if time and energy allows. I don’t stress if I don’t get to it.

#3 Get the Kids Involved

Finally, developing a cleaning routine became a lot easier when my kids were able to effectively participate. My elementary aged kids have morning chores. These include things like unloading the dishwasher, giving food and water to the pets, getting themselves ready for the day, clearing breakfast dishes, and so on. Check out the chore chart I use! My kids love checking off their chores each day.

Here is a good post sharing ideas for kid chores based on age. You can find chore ideas for kids all over the internet. Don’t feel overwhelmed by these (beware the comparison game!). These are all just ideas. Pick and choose what works for you and your family.

I want to know! Do you have a cleaning routine? Share in the comments below to give others ideas and inspiration. If you found this post helpful, please share it with your friends and sign up for my email list to be the first to know what’s happening here!

Encouragement

Self Care is Basic

by Emily Sewell3 Comments on Self Care is Basic
Self Care is Basic

It is time that we stop apologizing for being actual humans. We are not machines, people! We need rest. We need a break. When I say self care is basic, I mean self care is a basic human need. It is not indulgent. It is not spoiling yourself. It is taking time for your mental, physical, and spiritual health intentionally. Of course, anything can be twisted and warped into something its not supposed to be, and self care isn’t any different. But I am not talking about that here. I am talking about intentionally taking time for yourself, so you can be the best you.

Perspective

I remember when I first became a stay at home mom. I had visions of a 1950’s housewife, who spent her days cooking three meals a day for her family in her always immaculate house. You know what those moms did? They put their babies either in a play pin, propped in front of the TV, or being watched by hired help. When I realized my vision was a fallacy, I realized what undue pressure I was putting on myself. I drove myself mad trying to live up to these lofty expectations that were completely self imposed. Hear me, sweet friend. It is not a thing to have a perfect house and perfect peaceful children all the time. It’s just not. And that is okay! It’s time that we look at our selves and our lives through a realistic lens.

Healthy Expectations

What am I reasonably capable of in a given day? What would be nice to accomplish but isn’t a necessity? What do I need to do to take care of myself today, so I am starting with a full cup tomorrow. There is nothing worse than feeling like we are running on empty. I see this all the time, especially with new moms. We have visions of what we will be like as mothers, and sometimes reality doesn’t match. For example, I did not know that I get overstimulated by noise until I had my own children. When I am overstimulated, I get short tempered and shouty (I may have just made up that word). I know that is something I need to mitigate. If my kids are being loud, I might need to take a few minutes and go upstairs where it’s quiet. I might (*gasp*) even need to scroll on my phone for a few minutes to feel like I’ve separated a little. Then, I am better able to come back to reality and not be frustrated and shouty with my kids.

Prevent the Burn Out

Here me, mama. Taking time for yourself is not detracting something from you family. It is investing in them. A better you is a better wife and a better mother. If you’re looking for permission to take that break, I am giving it to you. If you are needing someone to tell you to let the laundry sit there this time, so you can take a much needed nap, I’m telling you. There will ALWAYS be something that needs to be done. Our lists are never completely checked off. There will always be something else to do. But that doesn’t mean you have to give in to this pressure of getting it all done perfectly. Take a beat. Take a breath. Take a nap. And if you are looking for some extra pampering, check out these products. Also, here are my best tips and tricks on incorporating a self care routine into your day.

Encouragement

How Nurturing Sibling Relationships Creates Forever Best Friends

by Emily SewellLeave a Comment on How Nurturing Sibling Relationships Creates Forever Best Friends
How Nurturing Sibling Relationships Creates Forever Best Friends

Nurturing sibling relationships is an aspect of parenting I want to thrive in! Mothering and parenthood are legit hard. It’s a high and holy calling on us. And I hope something shared here can bring more peace to your home, where there might be chaos.

I do not get it right every time, and I do not know all the things. We struggle and have hard days and weeks, just like everyone. However, because we put an emphasis on our children getting along with each other – and have from the very beginning – they are best friends. Here are the things we purposely implemented in our family culture to nurture the relationships among our children.

Valuing Sibling Relationships

First and most importantly, we view siblings as a gift in our family. My husband and I don’t take the value of this special bond for granted among our 3 kids. I grew up as an only child. As a kid, I longed for that best friend who would be with me through thick and thin no matter what. I wanted so badly a connection like reading each other’s thoughts without saying a word.

Childhood friendships can graze the surface of this, but those relationships tend to be fluid and temporary. They depend on where you live, what school you go to, etc. And those things often change. But siblings are with you forever. They’re stuck with you, ha! That is the biggest motivator for how we’ve taught our kids to view each other. Siblings are a gift.

Teaching Conflict Resolution

Teaching conflict resolution is essential to nurturing sibling relationships. I have shamelessly been a helicopter parent regarding conflict resolution with our children. This meant having them repeat what I say when resolving a conflict (over and over again). I intentionally taught them the words and tone to use when speaking to each other.

I took the time to explain why their sister or brother was feeling a certain way. If one child did something hurtful, I would tell them to look at their sibling and say, “Look at their face. They are sad. It made them sad when you did XYZ. You need to say sorry and make it right.” I start this around age two. This helps develop awareness and empathy for others.

Only recently have I started letting my 5 and 7-year-olds work out their conflicts independently. And it’s been a joy to hear them both state their opinions on a situation and come to their compromises. It makes all that hard work I did when they were younger worth it.

Additionally, I take the time to explain to my older kids that those younger than them are still learning. We have to be patient and teach them. This is especially poignant, as I call my now 2-year-old the toddleriest toddler I have ever had. He is in his learning stage, and my older two often have to give him grace when they don’t feel like it. That’s a good life lesson.

Nurturing the Heart

To the best of our ability, we all parent the hearts of our children and not just their behavior. If one child is going through a phase where they’re repeatedly getting frustrated and yelling at someone else, we try to figure out the reason why they acting that way.

We recently dealt with this. The frustrated child yelled because they felt like their sibling wasn’t listening. After discussing appropriate ways to express frustration (yelling at people is not one of them), we talked to the other sibling about the importance of active listening and how it hurts people’s feelings when they don’t feel heard.

It takes a lot more work on the front end. It would be much easier for me to separate the two kids and have a blanket “no yelling” statement, then move on. But if we only responded to the behavior, we would have missed a teaching moment. We try to keep the goal of nurturing sibling relationships in mind during conflict resolution.

Family Culture

Lastly, we instill team spirit into our family culture. I credit my husband with this one. He loves being part of a team. Therefore, we don’t allow our kids to compete against each other. They can use teamwork to complete tasks, whether chores or just playing a game. But they can’t try to beat each other.

Also, when calling my kids, I say, “team Sewell, it’s time to go (or whatever).” This gives them a little reminder that we are all on the same team. Always. We don’t pit them against each other – ever. Even when playing games.

The big takeaway in nurturing sibling relationships is that this is a priority in our family. We put a lot of our parenting energy into this. We tell our kids they are “forever best friends,” and we mean that wholeheartedly.

I would love to hear how you nurture sibling relationships with your kids. Share what has worked in your family, so we can learn from each other.