It’s October. Did you realize that? September just disappeared as I awoke to green leaves tinted fiery red. Just a reminder that I am exactly where I want to be. Speaking of new places. Welcome to OUR new place. See that little squirrel up there? He drinks coffee and lots of it. This is our same but new blog. Our same but new space. A place where we get to become the mammas God has always knew we could be. I am so grateful you are here.

This won’t be a long post, but I plan to pack it in. Specifically, I plan to kick off a kickoff and give away a giveaway. It won’t be the last for the month either.

First, the kickoff. A) this blog and new address. 2) this drinking squirrel (don’t worry. He’s sober). and D) 31 days of me. That’s right. You are about to get 31 days of Parenting Nonsense at its Finest. Every day of October will boast a post right here filled with all those tidbits you call me about. You know the ones? Here are a couple of things that have come across my texting/email screen.

• Do you offer bootcamp? Can I send my kids to your house for a week, so you can whip them into shape?
• What is a good policy on gum?
• What do you say to a teacher when they seem to be singling out your kid in a mean way?
• How do you ever find time for yourself?
• Would it be ok if I put my kid on the phone and you talked to them about being rude?
• What do you do when your elementary school kid has hours of homework every night?
• Do your kids lick stuff? I mean like all the time lick stuff?

It’s not that I am an expert. It’s just that I have done this and been this mom and prayed a lot. And by a lot I mean sometimes it takes up my showering and eating time. Uh. Lot. I am in the trenches and learning as I go. And I want to pass it all along! We are in this together, you and me. Peas and carrots. Whiskey and sour. You be sour, and I will handle the whiskey. No really. I GOT this! So check back every day of October for another little bit of insight.

I will thank you ahead of time. And I will tell you the honest truth. More people need to see that coffee drinking squirrel. Everyone really needs to see him, so I will make you an offer. I’ll give you a chance to win presents if you share him. That’s it. Share a post you like on Facebook and you are entered to win. Share all 31 posts, and you are entered 31 times. I am giving away TEN prizes to be introduced over the course of the month. There are a couple small ones and a few hefty ones. I won’t spoil the surprise, but let me just say that I want all of them. But this is about you, not me!

Here is the first of the bunch! A book. Are you surprised? You shouldn’t be. I am just a little bit addicted to books, and this one is gunning for my heart. Jamie C. Martin has a missionary heart once torn between being a missionary to the world and a missionary mom. We know that struggle, right? Her solution? Bring the world to her children.

In her new book, Give Your Child the World: Raising Globally Minded Kids One Book at a Time, Jamie weaves possibility into her new reality. A mamma of three kids (one biological, one adopted son, and one adopted daughter) Jamie pulls you in quick with her miraculous trip into motherhood. Half a chapter in I was throwing out an, “Oh my goodness!” and tearing up as she shared. I love her open heart. And I LOVE her book list. 

After she dishes about her family she shares her dedication to bring culture to her family through written word. Jamie has compiled a collection of books and a quick synopsis of each! They are categorized by continent and culture. She even has a chapter dedicated to practical ways to introduce cultural awareness to our kids at a young age. What mission! What a mom! She has taken the idea of Missionary Mom and put feet to it in such a simple way!

You don’t have to go far to help your kids be globally minded. In fact, you don’t even have to travel further than a snuggly couch and your own copy of Give Your Child the World: Raising Globally Minded Kids One Book at a Time.

I can help by sending you a copy. Share this post to be entered to win one of TEN prizes in my goody bag this month!

See you tomorrow,

Nonsense