Susan Merrill

Pros and Cons for Redshirting Your Kids

Susan Merrill — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:38:42 +0000

Reshirting children is becoming more common for parents trying to give their child an academic or sports advantage. What do you think about this practice?

Building That Mother/Son Relationship

Susan Merrill — Fri, 04 May 2012 20:23:21 +0000

Mothers and sons sometimes speak different languages.Here are a few tips on how to build and strengthen that mother/son relationship.

Pin It to Win It!

Susan Merrill — Tue, 01 May 2012 23:07:57 +0000

Celebration!

My husband, Mark, released a book today.

Woohoo!

We are celebrating by giving a gift of beauty and it is…

iMOM–Tiffany–Blue!

Pin it–I hope you Win it!

Teaching Your Kids Self-Control

Susan Merrill — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:40:25 +0000

Self-control is tough at every age (I know that’s true!), but it’s especially hard for children. Still, there are ways we can teach it to our kids, and it’s important that we try. In fact, one research study that I find fascinating, makes that point loud and clear.

Do You Need a Tutorial on Pinterest?

Susan Merrill — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 15:09:08 +0000

I love Pinterest!

I love that I can look up recipes for my family and the pictures make me drool!

I love that I see adorable, easy crafts for every season.

I love that Pinterest has made my home remodel easier.

If you aren’t familiar with Pinterest, here is two minute overview that will help you get started and I bet you will love it too!

Don’t forget to follow me and iMOM on Pinterest!

Communicating With Your Kids

Susan Merrill — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 14:03:15 +0000

It can be hard to keep the lines of communication open with your kids, especially as they get older. Here are a few tips on pushing through common communication barriers and really getting your child to open up.

The Dangers of Pushing Your Child to be Popular

Susan Merrill — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 18:14:19 +0000

We never want our children to feel left out, but pushing your child to be popular has many dangerous outcomes. Here are some ideas for encouraging your child to strive for greatness, not popularity.

With 5 kids, I have had children on all sides of the popularity spectrum.

Need more on why it’s ok for your child to be a geek?

30 Day Marriage Challenge

Susan Merrill — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 13:52:02 +0000

I am declaring April a month of spring fever for my marriage.

30 days of thinking about Mark

instead of being consumed by the kids, work, the book, the house renovation, the move in July, the dog’s scratching allergy, etc, etc, etc.

I am hoping the 30 Day Marriage Challenge

will shower him

with so much love

that it produces a blooming summer!

Print yours here!

How Quickly the Years Go By

Susan Merrill — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 14:39:36 +0000

Where does the time go? One day, my girls were playing dress up and having tea parties. The next, or so it seemed, they were grown women.

In this really beautiful video, Michael W. Smith asks, “How did tomorrow turn into yesterday?” How did our little children grow up, so… very… fast?

Every Life Is Beautiful In The New Film “October Baby”

Susan Merrill — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 17:48:54 +0000

I love watching movies, but sometimes the choices can be ugly. So when a movie comes out that has meaning, gives understanding and depth to life, opens up opportunities for discussion and reflection, I am all over it. October Baby is such a movie and it releases in theaters on Friday.

In October Baby every life is beautiful…but living through it is not always pretty. October Baby honestly explores the reality of life. As the mother of adopted children, so much portrayed in the movie spoke to me personally. I have seen the same pain Hannah fights as she unravels her past in the movie played out in my children’s lives. Having met my adopted children’s birth mother, I cried as saw the emotion in Hannah’s birth mother’s face. Most of all, I anguished with Hannah’s adopted parents in their desire to protect and love the child they had taken to be their own. Every life is beautiful and Hannah’s life is no exception…but then neither is yours. October Baby won’t let you forget that.