Kitty is a dreamer. She reaches for the stars and sets high expectations for herself. I love her confidence and determination. It reminds me of myself. She has been playing the guitar for nearly a year now and is turning out to be a dedicated and talented musician. Again, a likeness of myself (I play the flute). But, Kitty has another dream and I am trying my best to help her reach for it. I believe using positive reinforcement and compliments will help boost our children’s self confidence and they…
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Online Friendships – Labor Day Weekend Disaster
This post is going to be a two part. My blogging bud, Lauren Becker from Shooting Stars Mag has challenged fellow bloggers to write about their experience with online friendships. Lauren talks about a Netflix film and book called “Another Girl,” which is essentially about online friendships. I’ve been a blogger for 8 years now, wow it’s been that long, so I’ve had many experiences with online friendships. The second part is all about the disaster that happend this past weekend. Online Friendships During my early stages of blogging back…
Read MoreA Lesson in Responsibility
Growing up my mother kept a clean and tidy home. She taught all five of us kids the importance of taking care of our things and the home. As an adult I get anxious at the site of clutter and messes. I can’t stand it. When the mess is too hard for me to handle I go for a walk. I must get away from it. If I want less anxiety I could spend all day cleaning up after my five children. Kids are messy. However, if I do that…
Read MoreHelp, Summer Vacation Has Started at the Zoo
I haven’t decided if I am going to enjoy having the kids home for summer this year or not. But, for this mom with a daily to do list a mile long, this summer is not going to be pleasant. This is what I learned so far from having my kids home for a half a day: They are all strong willed and stubborn just like their mom. Screaming at each other is a favorite past time when kids 2, 3 and 4 don’t do what kid 1 wants. Parrot…
Read MoreA Not So Spring at the Zoo
May isn’t even half over yet and already it’s been a crazy month at the Talbert Zoo. We have birds living on our house and more birds in a bush less than ten feet from the house. The weather in Chicago is not very spring like yet, with high temperatures barely reaching above 60 degrees. We recently learned that Monkey’s medication is only making him behave worse in school. Goose’s new job has changed our regular routine, but for the better. Momma Robin Momma Robin has been sitting on her…
Read MorePreparing Children with Asperger’s for the Sacraments
I am sitting here listening to Christian music and thinking about the past weekend. It’s been a while since I wrote here. For some reason, I just can not keep up with this blog the same way I do with my other one. I consider the Talbert Zoo my diary. Usually people update their diaries every single day, but my life is way too crazy for me to keep up with that pace. For now I will write a post here a couple of times a week. On Saturday Parrot…
Read More#WordlessWednesday with #linky on a Tuesday – School Open House
Wordless Wednesday is live on thehealthymoms.net and talbertzoo.com. Link up to your Wordless Wednesday post.This is going to be a Wordful Wednesday because I haven’t had much time to update this blog over the past week. On April 22, Google launched a new update for how websites appear on mobile search. The Healthy Moms Magazine dropped out of the search so I have been busy overhauling the on page SEO to get my rankings back. I lost 2,000 page views a day because of this update. I’m still working hard…
Read MoreA Bit Gloomy
I don’t know what to title this yet. I’m just going to type what is on my mind at this moment. Easter is all over, our Florida trip ended, the kids are back in school, Chris is back to working 80+ hours a week, today is a gloomy day with thunderstorms and I’ve been feeling a bit gloomy myself. I have no idea how many people actually read my posts here completely, or who reads them for that matter. There is so much on my mind, and I’m full of…
Read MoreWhy Do I Have Boys?
Boys. When I was a teenager I couldn’t stop thinking about them. By the time I was in college, I found most boys obnoxious and immature. Besides, I had better things to do with my time, then. I had a little girl. I remember when my oldest brother’s boys were little. . They were hyper, full of energy and listened to my brother and sister-in-law about half of the time. Today, they are wonderful, handsome young men. I love my two girls. When I am alone with just my girls…
Read MoreA Parenting Failure
This week is nearly over and it feels like it just begun. The kids had Monday off of school because it was President’s day and tomorrow the wind chill is going to be 20 below so they are off again. My world revolves around the kids. They consume my thoughts every single day. How can five small people make such a huge impact on someone? The school day for the four younger ones doesn’t start until 9:30, yet I wake at 6:30 because I know my boys will already be…
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