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1. The Girls Dislike Getting Their Hair Done I can't remember exactly when our 5 year old started to stay still, but our two-year-old definitely moves away from me every time I reach for her head. It doesn't hurt, they just don't let getting their hair done. 2. They Love The Curly Fro Our five year old says, "braids take too long" and prefers her hair in a pony tail, bun or in a fro. Shortly after I style our two year-old’s hair she gestures for me to take it out. If I refuse she does it herself. 3. I’m Learning How To Do Curly Hair Believe it or not, I used to be the go-to person for hair. I braided my whole high school basketball teams hair. I frequently installed extensions for girls when we were in college. I also did my own locs, weave-ins and presses. However, I never learned to maintain a curly fro. Because I haven’t mastered how to do their hair, I keep it short until I figure it out. 4. It’s Healthier I’m frequently told to not cut their hair, but since their hair is trimmed very often, their hair seems healthier. Again, the goal is happy girls and healthy curls. 5. Less Time Grooming and More Time Having Fun I do their hair everyday and the longer it is, the more time it takes. 6. It Grows The good thing about hair is - it grows. If they want it long when they are older they can always grow it out. 7. Confidence & Bonding I want them to love their hair and know how to care for it. I didn't feel good about all of us dreading getting their hair done. I want to enjoy the bonding time and I want them to love how they look. Click here to read more about our hair care. Need to schedule a one-on-one? Use code: HEART2HEART. Until next time... Love The Journey, More hair posts you may love... 7 Secrets To Make Curls Pop 5 Must Haves For Our Girls' Curly Fro 3 Steps To Easily Detangle Curly Hair

1. My Husband’s Expectations Were Different Than Mine I had no idea I was supposed to cook and clean. Before having our child, he cooked most of the time and I cleaned. Actually I think we both kind of did our own thing. I thought I was just supposed to love and nurture our child - boy was I wrong! 2 . I Needed Help It was exhausting entertaining and caring for a baby. Never mind having to cook, clean and do laundry. 3. Struggle with Self-Worth I wasn’t contributing to my home or society (or at least I thought I wasn't). Mentally, I was really struggling with my purpose in life. I could not see the value in staying home with a child who couldn’t walk, feed themselves or talk back. 4. Too Much Time Alone With No Schedule This was my first child and no one I knew was a stay-at-home mother. I had no idea what to do with this baby all day. It was just her and I. She was probably bored which led to her being cranky, which made me miserable. 5. Postpartum Depression Because I felt worthless and had so much time on my hands, each day my mind had nothing better to do than wander. I had very negative, life threatening thoughts that were so numbing there were times I could not get out of the bed. I’m thankful the Lord brought us out. 6. Husband Worked All Day Now that we were dependent on one income I think my husband started to work more. Actually he always worked as many hours as he could, but now his absence bothered me. If this is you. Just know it gets better. One thing that really helped us was creating a village. Can you relate? Until next time... Peace & Love, Dominique Other posts you may love... Just One Of Those Days: 10 Ways I Cope With Stress 8 Ways I Keep My Sanity As A Stay At Home Mom 3 Reasons I Recommend Pre-Marital Counseling #homeschoolparents

The last time I can vividly remember “losing my mind” was when both of our children were sick at the same time. Having a sick child is stressful. Here are 7 things I do to keep all of us happy. 1. Get Out the House I bundle up the girls and do our normal activities - just because one is sick doesn’t mean we should spoil the fun for our other child. You're probably thinking -- great now you'll get other people sick. I avoid indoor activities and anything where we would be in close proximity to others (such as enclosed spaces). I also like to wear them in a wrap, because they're more comfortable that way, they can continue sleeping, and they're not breathing, sneezing or contaminating others. Fresh air is essential especially when sick. This does not apply when my babies are under 6 months old. And of course, I wouldn’t take them out if they are vomiting or anything else more serious. 2. Massage the Temples While nursing, I massage the baby's temples, because I do not want the mucus getting stuck in her ear canal and causing an ear infection (I hear they are painful). Massaging the temples helps to move the mucus along so that it is not just sitting causing problems. 3. Cuddle A lot I can always tell when they are coming down with something because they become more clingy. It’s just them reminding me that hugs do cure sickness. My eldest loved the wrap feeling my heart beat and body heat all day was comforting. Even if we are out the house, I make sure they are as comfortable as possible. 4. Peppermint Bath Their noses quickly get clogged with mucus especially our two year old who hasn’t mastered blowing her nose yet. There are cool devices that help clear the nose like this one or this one, but they scare our kids. During their nightly baths, I put in 3 drops of peppermint essential oil. It’s cooling, calming and in combination with the hot steam helps to open up their congestion. 5. Distract Them Since I still nurse, my child’s ideal spot when she is not feeling well is on my breast ALL DAY - which is overwhelming. Going to different places, our daughters find new things to explore so they are distracted from not feeling well. 6. Lots of Liquids I find the girls don’t want to eat as much when they are not feeling well. Our five year-old loves home-made soup - the nutrient rich meal is just what her body needs for recovery. Herbal teas are also tasty option. Some of the girls faves are lemongrass, orange, chamomille, hibiscus and peppermint tea. Between tea, soup, the breast and her water bottle, our two-year old sips liquids all day. 7. Use My Maternal Instinct I always trust my maternal instinct to determine what is best for their recovery. I’ll take suggestions (from doctors, family, friends, etc) and then I determine what is the best for our children. Until next time... Love The Journey,

Ever thought about sitting in your warm car while watching your kids play in the freezing cold? I considered it, but have not done it (yet). A friend recently invited us to an indoor playground. I’m a little ashamed that our daughter is 5 years-old and this is our first time visiting one. Here are 7 things we liked about it: 1. No Clean Up What family wouldn't love a place where your child can play with costumes, blocks, kitchen sets, dolls, cars and more without having to clean up after? 2. Burn As Much Energy As Possible The unique thing about playgrounds, is that children can run, jump, climb, swing, and burn as much energy as possible for hours. When it’s really cold or raining, we typically go to museums, libraries and sometimes the zoo but there are areas in these places where children can not run around amongst other high-energy things. 3. A Different Experience I assume each indoor playground is different. This one had inflatables (slides and maze) which was pretty cool. 4. An Intimate Setting To Meet New People During colder months, we frequent museums and the zoo which are huge compared to indoor playgrounds. Since this indoor playground is smaller and more intimate it was easier to spark conversation with another parent. 5.Bathrooms I can’t tell you how many times we have been at an outdoor playground and there weren’t any nearby bathrooms. Even when I had our daughter go before we left the house, she was sure to ask once in a while. 6. First Aid Kit Has your child ever gotten injured and screamed in pain unless you put a bandage on it? Kisses used to heal all wounds, but once our child reached a certain age, she NEEDED a bandage to console her boo boos. Luckily this indoor playground had a first aid kit. 7. Memberships I hear some indoor playgrounds are expensive. This one had a monthly membership of $20 a month - which is a cool option so that we do not have to keep the membership during the warmer seasons. Memberships are always beneficial because we pay a fee and can frequent the place as many times as we’d like - getting our money's worth. Have you checked out our list of resources? These are the places we routinely visit and would recommend to other families. Until next time... Peace & Love, Dominique #homeschoolactivities

All dads are not the same, so this blog refers to my children’s father. 1. We Are Different For A Reason If we both did the same thing, there would be no need for both of us. I was frequently annoyed that my husband didn’t know too much about their daily happenings (like what their last nightmare was about). I now know he focuses on planning their future (like their financial independence) - which makes it easier for me to focus on their day-to-day needs. 2. I Have NO Idea What a Father Looks Like I was raised by a single mother and a matriarchal extended family, where most of the leaders were wombmen and the men came and went as they pleased. I want my children to have a father as a steady male role model in their lives. 3. He Doesn’t Know What A Father Looks Like He too was mainly raised by wombmen. I guess I unfairly expected him to be the perfect dad, but I make mistakes as a mom. Furthermore, I am not sure I could have been completely prepared for motherhood - the same goes for fatherhood. 4. We Will Both Be The "Mean One" I get tired of being the rule enforcer all the time (like telling the kids it's bed time). I’m not sure if it is his laid back personality or the fact that he is mostly at work, but he rarely takes on the “mean” role. I have seen him be harder on the girls (for their schooling) and he assures me they will not like him in their teens (because of dating amongst other things). 5. His Role As A Father Is Separate From His Role As My Husband If I get annoyed with him as a husband doesn't mean he is a lacking as a father too. 6. My Mom Tried To Do Both Doesn't Mean I Have To My mother was the financial provider and the nurturer - and naturally I was raised to do both as well. I’m very happy that my mother ingrained financial independence in me. Now that we have our own family, I can definitely take on being the provider, but I prefer being able to put all my energy in solely raising our children. 7. The Kids Love Him Just The Way He Is Although many things used to frustrate me about the way he parents (like how much screen time he gave them). The kids love him just the way he is. Until next time... Love The Journey

Seeing children running around in their birthday suits is a beautiful sign of summer. One day, I noticed a little boy having so much fun playing in the sprinklers. As he ran around, his loaded diaper was swinging back and forth. His diaper was so low it was hanging off of his body and barely holding on by the velcro straps. I looked around the playground to see if I could find his grown-up — maybe they could see what I saw. After minutes of watching this kid enjoy himself and not being bothered by the diaper, I had an epiphany. Why in the world, do I change diapers so frequently? From that moment on, I allowed my daughter's diaper to get so full it was another reason for my family to be disturbed by my parenting style. Here’s what I found. Since my daughter mainly breastfeeds, she only poops once a day. Of course I change the poop - but the rest of the day she just pees. So I allowed her diaper to fill. What Are The Benefits Of Saggy Diapers? Less diapers in the landfills and no need for a diaper bag. It's estimated that diapers take 1,000 years to decompose. There are companies like Terracycle that are working to minimize the damage we are doing to our planet. They do this by upcycling dirty diapers and transforming them into products we can use (like park benches). Isn't It Better to Use Cloth Diapers? Cloth diapers are definitely better for the planet! Our family tried prefolds and covers, but they were uncomfortably hot and irritated our little ones skin. Are Saggy Diapers Uncomfortable? Our children seemed to love the warmth of a filled diaper and despised premature diaper changes. Meaning, they loved taking off their own diapers -- and this was usually after they were quite full. Do Saggy Diapers Cause A Child To Be Bow Legged? Bow legs are when the knees curve outward, leaving a wide gap in between the legs. Some believe bulky diapers in between babies legs can obstruct their ability to walk. Two of our children wore saggy diapers and neither have trouble walking or are bow legged. In fact they both have normal gaits and walked early (in my opinion). One started walking at 6 months, the other at 10 months. Can Saggy Diapers Lead To Diaper Rash? Diaper rash can happen even if your baby or toddler is changed the recommended amount of times. There are 4 main steps we used to prevent diaper rash. Super absorbent diapers Water-based wipes A thin layer of aquaphor A soothing bath every night Do Saggy Diapers Leak? It depends on the brand. Not all diapers are absorbent or have gussets. Gussets are the elastic areas around the legs that ensure the diaper is form fitting and snug around the diaper area. This prevents leaks even when the diaper stretches and is weighed down when wet. We've also tried brands that leaked through the plastic. Meaning, the material was thin, and if our baby peed, the outside of the diaper would be wet too. So we're pretty loyal to this brand, because it works for us. Do Saggy Diapers Smell? Saggy diapers can also occur if your child is playing in water (which children love to do). When swimming or playing in sprinklers, using swim diapers instead of regular diapers will prevent the diaper from filling with liquid. But if the saggy diaper is caused by pee and smells -- drinking more water may help. Smelly pee can happen (especially during hot summer days) no matter the amount. It's best to change the diaper and try to get as much liquid in baby as possible. Do saggy diapers gross you out? How often do you change your baby? Until next time... Love The Journey,

Being a nursing mother changes your life in many ways. Here's how it changed my wardrobe. 1. More Dresses My body looks best in dresses, but I shied away from them for a long time because I couldn’t figure out how to nurse discreetly while wearing one. I could use a nursing cover, but as my daughter neared one year-old, she did not like her face being covered. I did not start wearing dresses again until our second daughter was around one. At that point, I chose to be happy about my appearance versus worrying about how others felt when they saw me nurse. When choosing dresses, choose a sensory-sensitive, stretchy and breathable fabric like cotton. 2. Less Bras I stopped wearing daily bras for multiple reasons. As my body adjusted to the amount of milk my baby needed, my breasts size went from a C cup to an overwhelming E and continued to change after that. Being braless felt way more comfortable, especially with how often newborns nurse. As babies grow, bralettes are a great option, because they are less restrictive than traditional nursing bras, and offer easier access to the breasts. 3. Lots of Wraps For a significant amount of time, I was a baby wearer (used a piece of cloth to wrap the baby to my body). My wraps became must-haves in my daily outfits, so I got three different colors to fit my different moods on different days. If you're interested in a weekend project, visit your local fabric store to pick out the fabrics you love and wouldn't mind wearing daily for the next few months. While more customizeable and less expensive than store-bought brands, they will take some time to cut and sew. 4. Multi-Layers Wearing two shirts helped me breastfeed more discreetly. I used the top shirt to cover the breast and the folded down the bottom shirt to expose the breast. That way your breast is not as visible to onlookers. 5. High-Waisted Panties As a nursing wombman, my body still holds onto fat. High-waisted panties hug my mid-section and make me feel more snug and secure, while carrying the extra weight. 6. Casual Clothes My first daughter spit up frequently after nursing. I did not want to panic over stained clothes - so wearing cotton, an absorbent and washable fabric, became my preferred style. 7. Reusable Nursing Pads Wearing reusable nursing pads during the day and night will help with leaking the first couple of weeks. There were days I thought I could skip the pads, and would wake up in a puddle of milk. Whichever brand you choose, I'd recommend ones made with 100% cotton. 8. Mini Backpacks Or Fanny Packs I traded in my over-the-shoulder purse for a mini backpack. Baby bags have definitely improved over the years (they even have some for dads). But as a minimalist I was able to fit a couple of diapers, wipes and change of clothes in a mini-backpack. Wearing a smaller bag, made it easier to maneuver with the baby and attend to my older kids. Please know, it's best to stay stationary with a newborn. But during the occasional family outings, I carried the small back pack. As our babies aged and didn't require as many diaper changes, I upgraded to fanny packs. Another small carrier, but this time it's positioned on the front of the body, so it's easier to access. 9. Flip Flops I've always had trouble finding comfortable footwear for my flat feet. With motherhood, my feet spread so much that even a size "wide" is still uncomfortable. Thank goodness I do not work in an office, because my go-to footwear are my broken-in flip flops that make me feel like I'm barefoot. They are super easy to slip on, even when holding a baby. 10. Ear Phones My wireless headphones have become a pretty practical part of my wardobe. They allow me to be hands-free and avoid mishaps carrying a phone. As you transition to a breastfeeding wardrobe, I hope you are able to find clothes, fabrics, and other wearables that you love and make your feel comfortable. Need to schedule a one-on-one? Use code: HEART2HEART. Until next time... Love The Journey,

That first latch felt like an alligator bite. Although my baby was born toothless, her gums were pretty strong and grabbed onto my nipple super tight. Then the roof of her mouth rubbed even harder. The second latch was less than two hours later and it scared me. I didn't even have time to heal. I feared every latch thereafter was going to be more painful than the last. At around a week of nursing, my nipples were irritated, cracked and bleeding. As soon as the wound scabbed, my daughter was ready to nurse again - swallowing the scab and drinking the blood-tainted breast milk as if it tasted normal. I saw multiple lactation consultants in the hospital and everyone agreed I was being a wuss because the baby was positioned correctly and it shouldn’t hurt. I was so close to giving up with the self-affirmation that “at least I tried.” Thankfully I called another mom who recommended a lanolin cream. It eliminated the pain almost immediately. I've nursed three children well beyond them learning to walk and talk. Overtime breastfeeding was no longer painful - in fact, there were times I didn't even feel it. Other times I jokingly compare it to getting your toes sucked, because it can feel a little intrusive and uncomfortable having a 3-year old rip off your shirt in public. I’m happy that I didn’t give up nursing after the excruciating pain in the beginning. To all my fellow mommas out there who may be experiencing pain, it gets better! Until next time... Love The Journey,