Posts by Bekah Banihashemi
Grace for Growth
My sweet Sophie has taken being TWO very seriously. It has seemed as if the moment she turned two, she flipped a switch. She still has her adorable, tender moments especially when it comes to her little brother. However, when she doesn’t get something that she wants she makes it very known.
A month or so ago, she started hitting. Where she learned that hitting is something you even do when you’re frustrated, I have no idea. But, my hubby and I decided hitting is a non-negotiable in terms of discipline. So, when she hits, she loses a toy or a “friend” from her stash of princesses or stuffed animals. They go up somewhere where she can see whatever she has lost and does not get it for the rest of the day.
In the last week, she has given me a run for my money. There have been a lot of timeouts and some friends lost for multiple reasons. “Consistency is Key” is what I heard before having kids and now especially when asking for advice or researching for wisdom for a strong-willed child. So that is always on my mind – Be consistent! And, quite often, with my husband’s busy schedule majority the disciplining falls on my plate so I feel a lot of the pressure to keep that consistency.
Yesterday, Sophie got frustrated about something and, in the midst of her meltdown, she hit me. As a result, she lost her Anna doll right before nap time. Usually, she would lose the friend until the next morning. But, as I was feeling super discouraged, I realized that we have not been seeing results or growth in the disciplining. Yes, she’s two and maybe we won’t see huge growth until she gets older but I decided to try …
Read MoreMom Hacks for Easter
Easter is coming up next week! Busy mom life gotten in the way of your desired Pinterest worthy ideas? Don’t stress – here are some tips and tricks to having a great, simple, and still adorable, Easter!
CARROT BAGS
If your time is limited, but you want to do something cute for your kids’ buddies or classmates – this is perfect for you! These bags are so cute! All you have to do is fill them with an orange treat (Goldfish, Cheddar Bunnies, Orange M&M’s), tie them off, add a cute label and you’re set!
EASTER BASKETS
Find cute containers or baskets that can be used after Easter. These are $1 at Target and I plan to use them for toy organization and storage after they are filled with some fun Easter goodies.
Tip for Easter Baskets
Fill Easter baskets with things your kids NEED, not just candy and trinkets.
Clothes and shoes for the warmer weather, an Easter outfit (that can be worn throughout Spring and Summer, too), new school supplies, a craft idea with all the supplies that will give you and your child some quality time together!
Check out some of our favorite (and always simple) ideas to have a super fun, Jesus-filled Easter!
https://www.growingweisser.com/2017/04/05/what-easter-is-really-all-about/
https://www.growingweisser.com/2017/04/04/easter-craft-to-share-love/
https://www.growingweisser.com/2016/03/09/planting-jelly-beans-in-home-grown-easter-grass/
https://www.growingweisser.com/2017/04/14/easter-egg-ercise-get-your-bunny-tails-moving/
https://www.growingweisser.com/2017/04/05/donut-forget-jesus-on-easter-the-empty-tomb/
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Growth through hardship — Your Great Hands
Life shattered on this empty floor
I’ve tried so hard to simply keep it
I know there must be something more
I’m here now to turn it over; complete surrender
Into Your great hands, I will place my trust (ohh)
When I cannot stand, You will lift me up (ohh)
Every failure, every fear, every step that led me here
All I am, into Your great hands (ohh)
To loosen my grip and let go
But really all that I am risking
Is perfect
A Sticker Chart for a New Year
My focus for the year is to get more organized. This “organized” is all encompassing, including organizing the things in my home, my scheduling with a better routine, and my mindset as a mom. The “mindset as a mom” is a big one for me as I have often felt recently like I am always catching up instead of being ahead of the kids’ new transitions and phases. As a result, I am wanting to do more intentional parenting this year so that I can feel more on top of what my kids are going through and have a more smooth ride through each phase.
Lately, Sophie has been as curious as ever and testing more and more with each new day. It is sometimes hard to remember that just as I am learning everyday more of how to be a mom, she is learning how to go about life and how to grow and develop through different stages of life. And with that comes a lot of frustration and days filled with “No”. I was tired of having the same day over and over again and not doing anything to make a change.
Sophie has been very into stickers recently! She loves to make cards with stickers to send to her cousins and she loves to put stickers on her shirt. I decided to take this new interest and match it with something to encourage good behavior- A Sticker Chart! It is so simple to make and, so far, quite effective!
Here’s what I did…
- Choose your categories – Find a few tasks that your child can work on where you know they will be able to have some success. This is important for them to understand the concept of the sticker chart and to feel encouraged to continue
The Names of Jesus: JESUS
“I AM THE GIFT that continuously gives – bounteously, with no strings attached. Unconditional Love is such a radical concept that even My most devoted followers fail to grasp it fully. Absolutely nothing in heaven or on earth can cause Me to stop loving you. You may feel more loved when you are performing according to your expectations. But My Love for you is perfect; therefore it is not subject to variation. What does vary is your awareness of My loving Presence.
When you are dissatisfied with your behavior, you tend to feel unworthy of My Love. You may unconsciously punish yourself by withdrawing from Me and attributing the distance between us to My displeasure. Instead of returning to Me and receiving My Love, you attempt to earn My approval by trying harder. All the while, I am aching to hold you in My everlasting arms, to enfold you in My Love. When you are feeling unworthy or unloved, come to Me. Then ask for receptivity to My unfailing Love.“
-“Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young
Jesus,
Thank you for showing your true love by setting aside your Glory when you came to Earth as a baby for my salvation. Help me to remember this throughout the holiday season. You truly are the reason for the season. You were the ultimate gift, and your love has never wavered since. Allow me to find rest and peace in your unconditional love.
Amen
TRUE LOVE WAS BORN IN A STABLE
What an amazing statement that is sometimes hard to truly grasp in all its immensity! As we strive to keep Christ in Christmas, I want to teach my children, not only the story of Baby Jesus, but also the earthly beginning of the only TRUE LOVE that we can ever really …
Read MoreGratitude Test
“As we near the end of this gratitude challenge, take this little quiz to see where you’re growing and where you still need work. Try answering these questions candidly—not just yes or no, but with supporting details that come to mind:”
Do I often complain about my circumstances, feeling like I deserve better?
Do others hear me voice more complaints and negative comments than words of gratitude about the typical events of daily life?
Would others describe me as a thankful person?
What evidence is there that I have a grateful or an ungrateful spirit?
How often do I begin statements with these words: “I am so thankful that . . .”?
Do I more frequently display a pessimistic, negative outlook or a positive, grateful perspective?
Am I reserved or eager when it comes to expressing appreciation to others?
My most recent expression of gratitude was . . .
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Be Thankful For What You’ve Got
This week has been filled with Thanksgiving prep and Black Friday turning into Black Week. Do you ever find yourself so distracted with the hustle and bustle of the holiday season that you forget to actually be thankful or to look at all you are blessed with?
Today, my challenge to you is, in the midst of cooking and baking and maybe a little shopping too, take a few minutes throughout the day to STOP and THINK about all the things you have in your life to be thankful for!
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Gratitude is Contagious
There are so many things to be thankful for in our lives! However, sometimes we get distracted by all the frustrations or difficulties happening around us. But always remember, our kids are watching.
“While teaching and instruction have their place in growing gratitude in our kids, the best teacher of all is our example.“
Gratitude is contagious. And, when are children can see our grateful hearts lived out everyday in us, they will want to have that same heart of thankfulness.
“Gratitude is more effectively caught than taught. How contagious are you, especially at home?”
Gratitude Challenge, Day 14 -Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth
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Serve with a humble, thankful heart
“Ruth was a woman with a humble heart—a trait that’s a companion virtue of gratitude…And because she relinquished her demands for certain expectations, she was able to be genuinely thankful when she actually did receive the blessing of his (Boaz’s) generosity….Ruth went out to serve with a humble, thankful heart.”
As I read today’s devotional, I couldn’t help but think of motherhood. It explained how living day-to-day with expectations takes away from being thankful for what we have and seeing all that God has blessed us with. Being a mom isn’t always easy, and I know that if I lived expecting my children to owe me something for all I do for them, I would be disappointed all the time. But, if I can remember to serve them with humility, then I can see my little ones for what they are – BLESSINGS! I am so thankful for the opportunity God has given me to give to my littles and learn to be more like Ruth.
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Guilt-Free Puppy Chow
The holidays are fast approaching and the weather is cooling down. Cooking soups and stews and baking goodies is such a fun past time in the fall. One of our family’s fun fall favorite treats is Puppy Chow. We make it around Halloween/Thanksgiving and add some fall colored M & Ms or candy corn and during the Christmas holidays you can add green and red M & Ms or Christmas green and red chocolate chips. Here is a new recipe for Guilt Free Puppy Chow that was shared with us. We tweaked it a bit and the result is a delicious and much healthier option.
Ingredients
4 1/2 Cups of Rice Chex
1/2 Cup of Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1/4 Cup of Peanut Butter
1/4 Cup of Honey
1 1/2 TBS of Coconut Oil
1 tsp of Vanilla
2 Packets Dairy Free Chocolate IsaLean Shake (or 1 [heaping] Cup of Your Favorite Protein Powder) ^^ This is our favorite!! You can also try with Vanilla or Pumpkin Protein Powder.
Measure out the Rice Chex into a large bowl. Mix together the chocolate chips, peanut butter, honey and coconut oil in a 2 cup glass pyrex measuring cup. Melt in microwave in 15 second intervals, stirring well after each interval until smooth. Pour over Rice Chex and stir carefully until coated. Pour 1 packet (or ½ cup) protein powder into a large gallon ziplock bag, add chocolate covered Chex mixture and pour the other packet of protein powder over Chex. Close bag securely and shake until pieces are covered with protein powder coating. Lay on wax paper covered cookie sheet and allow to cool. Be careful when you taste this Guilt Free Puppy Chow because you could easily eat the whole batch-it is really DELICIOUS!!!!
Optional add ins: Orange/Fall Color M & …
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