85 Days of Summer: Writing Prompts for My Daughter

So, we're two weeks into summer, and my seven-year-old is already bored.  This, despite a fun summer agenda which includes various day camps, playdates, beach and city vacations, overnights at her grandparents, cooking and crafting, trips to the park, to the zoo, to the museums....you get the picture.  It's not boring 'round these parts, but you wouldn't know it based on her whining.

Fortunately, the girl loves to write; this may ultimately prove her gift.  She can journal all day long, providing she has some inspiration.  Thus, my remedy for her unsubstantiated allegations of boredom?  Eighty-five writing prompts, one for each day of our summer.  Each prompt is typed, printed on pink cardstock, individually cut and folded, and placed into a glass apothecary jar which sits on her bedroom desk.  So pretty, so inspirational, so curative of complaining.

Just in case your child is also stricken with "There's nothing to do!" I am sharing our writing topics here.  I devised them specifically for my curious seven-year-old girl and her interests, but most would apply to any elementary-aged child.  Some prompts are silly; some are serious; some require introspection; others require imagination. I hope you find some or all of them useful!

Happy Summer Parenting!


(Sharing with Serenity Now, Sun Scholars, and Real Family Fun)

Teacher Appreciation Week: Day Four

After a week of pretty, sweet, and healthy treats for our teacher, it was time to get practical.  Blessed with a generous class gift fund, I created a bouquet of gift cards:

Although I got a chuckle out of this, I kept it wholesome and purchased gift cards from our teacher's favorite stores.  I taped each gift card onto a flower cut-out, attached the flower to a long craft stick, and inserted the stick into floral foam at the bottom of a pail.  I covered the floral foam with raffia, wrote "Thank you for helping us grow" and the year on the pail, and that's it!  An easy, cute way to present otherwise practical gift cards.

How are you honoring your children's teachers this week?

Sharing with Ladybird Ln

Teacher Appreciation Week: Day Three

We had a day off from Teacher Appreciation gifting because our teacher was at a conference, but when she comes back to her classroom today, she'll find this:

A basket of apples, how cliche.  But when each apple is individually tied to an Apple Store gift card?

Much more fun!  Our school has smart boards in every classroom and issues an ipad to every student; our teachers are thus expected to be up-to-date on all things technology.  We're hoping she can use these Apple gift cards to buy apps, music, books, or even hardware of her choice.  Our teacher is APP-solutely wonderful, and as one of the homeroom moms, I'm having fun organizing class gifts for her this week!

Our Teacher Appreciation Week Plan: Something pretty (sunflowers in a pencil vase); something sweet (the bundt cake tower); something healthy (the apples); and something practical (tomorrow's bouquet of gift cards).   Each child is also presenting her with a handwritten card or letter on Friday.  We're saving the tear-jerker, personalized gifts from the kids for the end-of-year gift presentation in just two weeks.  :)

How are you honoring your teachers this week?

(Sharing with Five Days...5 Ways and Sun Scholars)

Teacher Appreciation Week: Day Two

Our week-long appreciation of our first-grade teacher continues.  On Monday, this. On Tuesday, a tower of little bundt cakes in our teacher's favorite flavors:

By the way, if you haven't tried Nothing Bundt Cakes, you must.  They opened shop in my neighborhood last year, and they've become my go-to bakery for holidays and special occasions.  So. Amazing.  :-)

How are you honoring your teachers this week?

Teacher Appreciation Week: Day One

I did it:

after I pinned it:

A sweet bouquet of sunflowers, posing in a pencil-wrapped vase, ready to present to our first-grade teacher on the first day of Teacher Appreciation Week. As one of the homeroom moms, I'm responsible for coordinating the Teacher Appreciation effort.  And while the week will culminate in a practical presentation of gift cards, we wanted to surprise our beloved teacher with something pretty or fun every day.  

Pinterest to the rescue.  For this copycat project, I used a plain glass vase and ribbon I had on hand, exactly 40 pencils at a cost of $1.50, and a $10 bouquet of sunflowers.  I simply inserted the pencils between two rubber bands on the vase, and then covered the bands with ribbon.  I chose not to glue so that the pencils and vase would be reusable. Total cost, $11.50; total time invested, about 10 minutes. 

How are you celebrating your teachers this week? 


(Sharing with Making the World Cuter and My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia)

Holiday Treats for Classmates

Stuffed with (gluten-free, egg-free, nut-free) candy, ready for distribution to my daughter's kindergarten classmates:

The personalized muslin favor bags are from Perideau Designs.

She's growing up

Today was my oldest daughter's last day of pre-school.  Madeleine's attended this school, which doubles as daycare, on at least a part-time basis since she was 4 months old, for a total of five years. We've had our ups and downs there, but overall, her school successfully provided a secure, happy environment that served as a second home.  She's deeply attached to her teachers and classmates, and so although she's excited about kindergarten this fall, leaving today was bittersweet.

We brought gifts and letters for her current teachers but wanted also to bring something sweet and simple for all of the teachers and staff who have nurtured her along the way.  The obvious choice: her namesake cookie, the one we serve at all special events like birthdays and baptisms, the madeleine.

As I wrapped each pair of madeleines in cellophane and ribbon, I did so with sincere affection and gratitude for all of the people who helped this little girl:

first day of school, age 4 months

grow into this one: 

pre-k graduation, age 5 years