Steady Mom

Celebrating Half Birthdays: A Simple Tradition

Photo by Chris Breeze

Written by Steady Mom contributor Kat of Inspired to Action

One really fun and simple tradition our family has adopted recently is celebrating our children's half birthdays.

Here is how we do it and why:

1. It's a surprise.

While my kids know exactly when their birthday is, they never remember their half birthday, so it's always a fun surprise for them when I come out with a half cake after dinner.

2. It's simple.

If I have time, I make a cake and cut it in half. Then I top it with the candle from their last birthday - cut in half. If it's a busy day, I'll just pick up a pastry from the grocery store.

We don't do anything elaborate or fancy. We just eat half a cake and sing half a song.

Adoption: A Beautiful, Broken System

A note from Jamie: This post was originally published on November 16, 2009, and is one of my personal favorites.

Adoption has become a "buzzword" in some circles now and on occasion, seems almost "trendy." I'm all for more people adopting, without a doubt. At the same time, our family is fully acquainted with the ins and outs of this complex, complicated issue. In the end, for us, it came down to growing our family the way God intended.

I wouldn't change a thing.

It's hard to imagine a time in my life when adoption wasn't part of it. Hard to believe that years went by when I didn't live, breathe, and dream about this issue.

Only five years ago did I hold my first adopted child in my arms.

What beauty and richness, what depth it has ushered into my world.

And what brokenness.

Because adoption is a broken system. It would be so much better if there was no need for it--if all children were born and raised in families where they were loved, nurtured, provided for.

Where the harshness of neglect, poverty, and abuse never entered in.

I wish that was the case for all children around the world. But we know it isn't.

Adoption is a miracle for the one, but not a solution for the masses.

It's a beautiful, broken, imperfect solution.

How to Entertain Your Toddler with a Hole Punch

The following post is written by Steady Mom's monthly contributor, Melitsa.

Toddlers love to pick things up and examine them.

Toddlers love to be in the middle of what you are doing.

There is truth in slowing down and finding playful moments during your busy days. With a little diversion my toddler and I both had a lot of fun. We both got our "work" completed.

My little guy was very curious with the hole punch after he saw me using it while filing one afternoon. Even his older brothers were curious--where do all the circles go?

The older two soon left, but here's how the mountain of filing got done and the littlest guy had some creative play.

My 2011 Ethical Spending Challenge

Photo by joanna deSilva

Blogging offers a unique tool for public accountability. I'm going to need that this year, as our family goes to the next level in making sure our spending doesn't harm the earth or anyone on it.

I've always felt a stirring for justice and hypocrisy bothers me deeply. Still, it's hard to feel that baby steps make a difference when it comes to the world's poor. It's easy to ignore issues so far removed from our day-to-day--like sweatshops and slavery.

I don't want to live in guilt, but I do want to live better. And more in line with our family's values...at every checkout line I stand in.

But ethical spending can be scary; it requires coming up with a new "normal."