15 Diffusers Under $50

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November 14, 2014 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

15 Gorgeous and Useful Diffusers Under $50 for Gifts or Yourself

Diffusers make great gifts for the seasoned oiler or a newbie. We use diffusers in every room in our house with various essential oil blends year-round. I’m sure you’ll find a fun diffuser to fit your needs and budget. You don’t have to spend more than $50 to get a really great diffuser!

These diffusers are all under $50 and offer great essential oil diffusing, colors, and lights:

1. Now Foods Ultrasonic Wood Grain Oil Diffuser – $36.99

2. Desk Humidifier Ultrasonic – $22.99

3. Mini Car Charger Ultrasonic Essential Oil Diffuser – $11.99

4. Car clips aroma diffuser – $9.95

5. Portable Small Mini Mushroom Diffuser – $19.05

These models are from various companies. Lovely patterns and lights!

6. Signstek with Patterns – $24.99

7. Greenair Aroma Diffuser – $29.99

8. Greenair Spa Vapor for $29.99

9. Porcelain Lotus – $19.95

10. Greenair Aquacool – $49.98

11. Greenair Serene Living – $34.43

12. Greenair Zen – $29.99

13. GreenAir SpaMister White Flower Petal – $39.99

14. Cute Critter Diffuser – Owl, Hedgehog, or Cactus – $19.99

15. Mini Atomizer – $9.99

These are some of my favorite diffusers from third party companies. They work well with all essential oils and have fun features. The kids like having diffusers in their rooms and we use them in all our public spaces and when we travel. You can never have too many diffusers!

Check out my favorite diffuser blends.

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Homemade Face Serum

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November 12, 2014 By Jennifer Lambert 6 Comments

I LOVE using essential oils in my beauty routine.

I don’t like all the chemicals in commercial beauty products.

My teen daughters and I typically use coconut oil and some essential oils after morning cleansing.

When we want something with a little more moisture and nourishment, we add several essential oils to a blend of nourishing carrier oils.

Here’s the recipe for my favorite face oil:

1 oz. Sweet Almond Oil (Hydrates, brightens, reduces fine lines and wrinkles. Use another carrier oil if you’re allergic to tree nuts!)
3 Tsp. Vitamin E Oil (Nourishes. Antioxidant that protects and repairs your skin.)
3 Tsp. Castor Oil (Moisturizes and stimulates lash growth. Reduces puffiness and helps eliminate wrinkles and scars.)
5-7 drops Frankincense essential oil
3 drops Lemon essential oil
3-5 drops Lavender essential oil
1 Evening Primrose Oil capsule (Hydrates the skin and increases circulation. Also reduces inflammation and clears pores.)

Mix the carrier oils together in a dark glass bottle (I typically use a dropper bottle). Puncture the Evening Primrose Oil capsule and squirt it in. Add essential oils. Attach dropper lid and mix gently.

Apply every night all over face (especially the sensitive and thin eyelids!), neck, and décolleté before going to bed.

It smells heavenly and nourishes the skin.

Here is another option that can suit your skin’s needs:

Nourish from Within Sacred Body Oil

1 oz (30 ml) vanilla-infused jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis)
6 drops Frankincense (Boswellia carterii)
4 drops Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha)
3 drops Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens)
2 drops Rose (Rosa × damascena)

Experiment. Have fun. Smell great! Have gorgeous skin.

(Be aware of any nut or other allergies when you choose carrier oils.)

Pick a Carrier Oil:

Carrier oils for Normal skin: Almond, Hazelnut, Apricot kernel, Jojoba, Evening Primrose
Carrier oils for Dry skin: Almond, Olive oil, Apricot kernel, Soy bean, Avocado, Wheatgerm, Jojoba, Carrot, Evening Primrose
Carrier oils for Oily skin: Almond, Hazelnut, Apricot kernel, Grapeseed, Jojoba
Carrier oil for Mature skin: Almond, Hazelnut, Apricot kernel, Wheatgerm, Evening Primrose, Carrot, Rosehip, Pomegranate, Borage

Pick the Best Essential Oils for Your Skin Type and the Scents You Love:

Essential oils for Normal skin: German Chamomile, Lemon, Geranium, Fennel, Lavender, Jasmine, Rose, Neroli, Frankincense, Carrot Seed
Essential oils for Dry skin: German Chamomile, Lavender, Calendula, Sandalwood, Geranium, Patchouli, Rose, Rosemary, Neroli
Essential oils for Oily skin: Cedarwood, Geranium, Clary Sage, Lavender, Ylang Ylang, Lemon, Peppermint, Frankincense, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Juniper, Grapefruit, Rosemary, Neroli
Essential oils for Mature skin: Rose, Geranium, Myrrh, Patchouli, Lavender, Citrus, Frankincense, Neroli, Fennel, Clary Sage, Sage, Cypress, Sandalwood

I see an improvement in my skin texture and clarity, especially as winter approaches with its cold air, drying wind, and indoor central heating.

What are your favorite scents?

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10 DIY Gifts with Essential Oils

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November 12, 2014 By Jennifer Lambert 6 Comments

Want some DIY gift ideas using natural ingredients and essential oils?

Someone into natural health and beauty would love these items!

Check out these 10 DIY gifts with essential oils:

1. Simple Homemade Cleaner.

As simple as baking soda and essential oils in a pretty jar. I like the oily combination of Thieves, Peppermint, and Citrus. Perfect for cleaning the bathroom and scrubbing your nose. Super safe and smells great! For really good cleaning, add some vinegar.

2. Scented Play Dough.

Add essential oils (or even dry spice blends like Apple or Pumpkin!), glitter, and natural food coloring for pretty fun!

Simple play dough recipe: Mix in warm nonstick pan.

2 cups flour
2 cups warm water
1 cup salt
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 Tablespoon cream of tartar

Add essential oils, glitter, and natural food coloring and knead until desired consistency. Store in pretty jar with a ribbon. I like Cinnamon, Lavender, Citrus, or Peppermint. I’ve also added Magnesium oil for calming.

3. Beauty Serum.

Great for all skin types and smells amazing. Check out the recipe here. What lady wouldn’t love to find this in her stocking? Great way to get teens into a good skin care routine. Another super easy skin recipe is whipped coconut oil with Lavender.

4. Bath Soothers.

Add about 10-15 drops of any of these essential oils: Eucalyptus, Melaleuca, Rosemary, Lavender, Clove, Cinnamon, Peppermint (decide what scents you love) to a baking soda paste (about 1-2 cups of baking soda with about 1/2 c water until it’s pasty like putty). Place in a pretty silicone muffin tray to dry for about 30 minutes. Pop out and store in a pretty bag with a ribbon. (Beware use with children. These are “hot” oils and could irritate lungs.)

5. Roll-on Blends.

Add essential oils to a carrier oil like Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Almond Oil, fractionated Coconut Oil, or V-6 for personalized blends in pretty and easy roll-on bottles. Some of my favorite oils and blends are Cedarwood and Lavender, Frankincense and Lemon, Thieves, Valor, Pine and Orange.

6. Scented Bath Salts.

Super simple!

1 c Epsom Salt, 1/2 c baking soda, 10 drops of a soothing essential oil like Lavender.

Mix and place in a pretty jar! Add a sprig of dried lavender or crushed rose petals and a little scoop to the ribbon for a pretty and useful present.

7. Scented Salt Dough Ornaments.

Pretty and fun for the whole family. Great for an ornament exchange party!

Recipe for salt dough ornaments:

2 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 cup water

Add essential oils and natural food coloring to dough. Cut out in pretty shapes. Acrylic paints and glitter (optional). Bake at 225 F for 3-6 hours. Seal with lacquer (optional) but they will last longer and be shiny. Not sure if they will smell as great though. Add a hanging ribbon.

8. Pretty Soap.

You can get a goat’s milk soap base and melt it down. Add essential oils and oatmeal or dried herbs for extra oomph. Place in a pretty soap mold or silicone muffin tin to harden. Pop out and wrap up in pretty paper! See this soap recipe my kids use!

9. Sugar Scrub.

A great pampering gift for anyone! Makes skin smooth and smell great!

Recipe:

Melt coconut oil in a double boiler (I often just use a glass jar). Stir in white or brown sugar until desired consistency. Add essential oil and 1 drop of natural food coloring, if desired.

½ cup coconut oil
1½ – 2 cups white sugar
5-10 drops Peppermint oil

10. Lip Balm.

Pamper those lips!

Recipe: Melt wax, honey, butter, and oil together in a glass jar or double boiler. Remove from heat and add essential oils. While still liquid, pour into a lip balm containers and cool until hardened. You can also use old mint tins or little balm jars.

1/4 Cup Beeswax
2 Teaspoons Honey
1/4 Cup Coconut Oil
1/4 Cup shea or cocoa butter
10 drops of essential oil (whatever you like – Peppermint, Lavender, Citrus)

These fun and easy DIY items are great for a “make and take” party too!

What’s your favorite way to use essential oils?

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Kaiserslautern Volkspark

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November 10, 2014 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

We’re taking advantage of the pretty fall days by getting outside to admire the changing leaves and fresh air.

We spend Sunday afternoons walking and exploring while stores and shops and restaurants are all mostly closed.

This Sunday, we explored the Volkspark in Kaiserslautern.

There were seven lovely swans on the lake. Four young ones we had seen in the spring as ugly ducklings who still had some scraggly grey feathers and three gorgeous adults.

This beauty was showing off.

The ducks expected food but we followed the rules and didn’t feed them. There are signs everywhere that people disobey and the kids were mad.

We loved the golden leaves of this birch.

We love the green moss on everything.

The kids were ecstatic to ride this! I’d never seen anything like this anywhere.

I only panicked once or twice when someone put their little toddler on it and swung it round really fast.

Check out the cool video here on Instagram.

The girls really liked this merry go round.

Also a fun hamster wheel thing the girls loved. See the video. They found out it’s quite difficult to stay upright.

Also, on the hillside, there are built-in slides and a little creek and swings.

A stage hosts fun concerts in summer. And the ice cream man parks on the corner! There’s a public swimming pool in one corner. They had a huge medieval fair at the end of summer.

Lots of green space (about 17 acres!) and a lovely paved walking trail.

Parking is at a premium and I have a panic attack every.single.time we have to parallel park the minivan on a side street.

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A Weekend in Paris

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November 6, 2014 By Jennifer Lambert 3 Comments

What can you do for just a weekend in Paris?

Quite a lot.

We took a very early ICE train from Kaiserslautern to Paris. We left our luggage at our hotel (Hotel Cactus) and took off for sightseeing. Not a moment to waste!

We were up early to catch the train and we knew we’d not be able to stay out late.

Day 1: As many of the famous sites before we drop.

Le Tour Eiffel.

Liz was thrilled to round a corner and see this:

We took an early birthday trip to Paris. How many teens get to do that?!

We had ice cream at the Trocadero and watched people.

We walked everywhere. A lot. Of walking. My Fitbit loved me. Liz and I adored seeing all these familiar street names and locations from books and movies and history.

l’Arc de Triomphe.

Quite a lovely view from the top. I highly recommend paying to go up. And having your kids speak French to the ticket agents is a great way to get smiles and occasionally discounts. Always check for family tickets to save money and some attractions have deals for multiple sites.

We had a late lunch at Chez Clément on L’Avenue des Champs-Élysées. I do not recommend this restaurant – or perhaps just this location. The restaurant chain was raved about in the guidebooks and online as a great affordable, family-friendly place. The food was just ok. We had other, much better dining experiences. It was fine for a first time munch for nervous and hungry travelers. (Did you know the name of that famous street is French for Elysian Fields?)

We were running short on time so we took a fun motorcycle taxi to Notre Dame. The kids absolutely LOVED it. It was about €30, but it worth these smiles and that it fit all six of us. The driver gave us all Gummis and played awesome French radio.

River Walk Tour with Paris Discover Walks. Lots of tours to choose from – all for the price of a nice tip. Great trivia and fun – all in English.

While we were waiting for our tour guide by Notre Dame, we fed the pigeons.

The college student who ran our walking tour was awesome and full of trivia, like an anaconda was found in the River Seine. Really, y’all.

Great restaurant recommendations and fun stories by a Paris local – all in English. Check out these tips for Paris shopping.

Look around! History and literature is EVERYWHERE. This was on the corner by our hotel. Rue Plumet.

We stayed at Hôtel Cactus. A great find online with free croissants and hot drinks in the morning.

Day 2: Churches and a Museum with a Grand Finale Evening

We checked out Le Cité this morning.

I love the Arte Nouveau look of the Metro.

This flower market was renamed in honor of Queen Elizabeth.

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris

We got there early and viewed the inside in awe. We waited in a rather long line to climb to the top. They kinda corral you at various points in the tour – the gift shop, the gargoyles, the top level, before releasing you to descend.

The bells are outside in the courtyard. There’s a lovely garden and park too!

A fun café across the street from Notre Dame.

Check out this time machine rickshaw. Love it!

La Sainte-Chapelle

Gorgeous stained glass!

Everything was just stunning. The walls, the doors, the floor, the ceiling. A favorite.

Dinner at Ma Salle à Manger. This is our absolute favorite restaurant in Paris. Such fun and delectable food. The waiter was darling and took the kids on a tour of the restaurant to pick out their ice flavor after they ate.

Apparently, to the right of this sandy park, Johnny Depp used to live there.

Musée d’Orsay.

Pictures aren’t allowed inside, but we saw all this great Impressionist art! Statues for each continent are outside in the courtyard.

La Tour Montparnasse.

This was great fun for our whole family! We feasted on ice cream, macarons, peanuts, and Champagne while the sun set and the lights of Paris delighted us.

We skipped going up the Eiffel for seeing it all a-twinkle and the whole city of Paris from the top of Montparnasse. Well worth the money!

We loved seeing Le Tour Eiffel all sparkly. Magical.

Day 3: A lazy Sunday in Paris.

Le Jardin Luxembourg.

Of course, we had to play with the sailboats! This was a lifelong dream for me.

Liz, being a Whovian, chose the UK boat.

I lived vicariously through my kids, giving them pony rides through the garden. They loved it!

We admired the statues and fountains.

At the entrance, we saw this delightful organ man!

We walked to Ladurée for macarons and had dinner at l’Odeon. This was probably our least favorite food, but it was really fun and a great location! The wait staff were darling and impressed with our attempts at French.

Finally, a crêpe! This is all she wanted the whole weekend and I’m glad I kept putting her off, not wanting to get her a mediocre one from a street vendor, and found this darling little shop Amorino near La Cimetière Montparnasse with all-natural gelato.

Square Saint-Lambert. We really loved this park and garden. Free wi-fi, a playground, fountain, walking trail.

We spent the evening at this lovely Paris playground, relaxing on our last evening in Paris. Europe has the best playgrounds.

The kids loved speaking to other kids in French and English.

We purposely did not go to The Louvre. I just felt it would be a bit much for me and the kids on such a short trip.

This was a just a taste of Paris for our family. We’ve never really traveled anywhere outside The States so we weren’t sure what to expect. We were pleasantly surprised and delighted. Having a larger family, it’s sometimes awkward and expensive.

We had a delightful experience, no issues with tourist traps or rudeness at all. Because we all tried very hard to be polite and respectful.

We plan to return to Paris next year and see lots more!

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Broken

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October 31, 2014 By Jennifer Lambert 2 Comments

This morning I again pulled away from the smothering hugs of my children.

It was the day my daughter asked me why I don’t like love.

It cut me straight through.

I paused with my coffee cup halfway to my lips, my finger poised to scroll down on my iPhone.

My eyes prickled and my ears got warm.

I couldn’t look at her.

“I’m broken.”

She nervously laughed and snuggled closer.

“It’s like a dog you abuse and beat and then expect it to let you pet it.”

She informed me that I am not beaten.

Wise girl!

“Not physically beaten, no. But words often hurt more. And I’m still scarred. It makes it hard for me.”

I’m not in denial so much anymore.

I’m not affectionate.

For years, I blamed it on my German-American heritage, my INTJ personality, that I need a cuppa before anyone should communicate with me.

Anything so that I wouldn’t have to confront it or change.

But there are studies that we need affection, human touch, at least a dozen occurrences of it every day for spiritual and mental health. For relationship.

My family needs more than a reluctant good morning hug and a tired good night kiss.

So, I retrain myself to lean in closer, accept the hugs and return them. To seek out my children randomly for affection.

Because I’ve noticed the kids don’t run to me for hugs so much as they used to. They’re learning a wrong way. It’s sad.

And my husband too.

He has suffered greatly by my lack of affection.

I don’t want to pull away anymore.

Broken - It was the day my daughter asked me why I don’t like love. | http://royallittlelambs.com/

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Because I Said So

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October 30, 2014 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

“Because I said so” should never be uttered from a parent’s lips to her child.

Especially if that parent is of the “do as I say, not as I do” variety. Kids deserve a reason and they can understand most reasons.

I’m not saying to try to reason with a two year old, but a four year old can understand he has to wait for a meal to cook. He may not like it and he may not exhibit the self-control you should expect from a fourteen year old. That is normal child development.

Actions speak so much louder than words.

If you teach “do as I say,” you’re setting yourself up for a rebellious child.

If your child sees you eat in the living room but she can’t? You’ve just confused her and she understands you don’t respect her.

If you sneak a cookie before dinner but won’t let your whining son have one? You’ve just confused him and disrespected him.

If you’re irritable and snappish but reprimand your child for the same tone of voice or even the same phrasing of words to her sibling? It’s confusing and disrespectful.

Don’t expect blind obedience.

This isn’t healthy. It’s brainwashing. You most likely have your child’s best interests at heart, but does that teacher, boyfriend, boss, or whoever they will find to obey in the future?

Teach your children to make wise decisions. Coach them on this journey of life to be kind and respectful to others. Give them opportunities to exhibit integrity. Not just a list of black and white rules to follow.

How to be an better parent:

Lead by example. You as a parent have to do the right thing if you want your kids to follow.
Eliminate arbitrary rules. Desire to say yes as much as possible and have the no’s mean no for everyone.
Don’t use the Bible as a weapon. Most kids will just learn to hate it if you make them do copywork for punishment. Or if you quip Bible verses at them to remind them what they did wrong. There are ways to use the Bible as a heart training tool. Sit with them and discuss it together. Pray without shaming.
Yelling and hitting is never an option. Use your big girl mama words to explain what the problem is. Never use your superior size and power to physically demean a child. It’s not a power struggle. Discuss with your child what should happen next time the issue arises. Offer grace.
Exhibit integrity in all you do. Even those little white lies (we can’t afford cookies) or the typical societal pretending (Santa and the tooth fairy) can erode the parent-child relationship. It’s just easier to be honest. If your goal is not to buy cookies, explain that you’re eliminating processed foods and you can make a healthy alternative together. If you like the holiday traditions, teach the legends behind them and let the children decide if they want to pretend or not. Ours do!

Focus on the positive and find ways todo life together with your children. They will learn by watching you.

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Outsider

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October 29, 2014 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

As a military wife, there are certain…duties…that I must undertake to assist my husband in his career goals. Once such duty is that I attend functions with other mil wives. I seldom enjoy them. These meetings are certainly sacrifices I make for him and his career. He understands the anxiety that these events cause in my heart and he appreciates that I do these things {mostly} willingly because I love him.

In the beginning, I tried really hard to fit in and do the right things and be the right kind of military wife.

I had a mentor who became a dear friend and I learned a great deal from her about these events. She helped put me at ease.

So, at her prompting and my husband’s hints, I joined the Officers’ Spouses’ Club and even became a board member. I really tried to say and look and do all the right things.

Attempt #1:

Most of the officers’ wives were just mean girls. It was like middle school all over again. We were isolated on an island and had to rely on each other whether we wanted to or not. Most wives didn’t work outside the home. Their kids were all in school during the day. Since I was a homeschool mom with three very little ones, I missed many meetings or had to get a babysitter. It grieved my heart to do this and I felt so selfish.

I learned quickly just to not say much. I didn’t have to talk since most of the wives’ favorite pursuits were Bunco and drinking. I could be invisible. And observant.

There came a time when I could no longer sit back and listen and watch silently. I was only in charge of the newsletter, website, and publicity. Many of the wives whose husbands had higher rank relished telling us younger wives what to do and how to do it. I even got called out for some of the ads I placed in the newsletter. The finances for the OSC were facing discipline for mismanaging funds and the honorary member (a general’s wife) and one of the advisors (a colonel’s wife) tried to threaten board members to cover it up.

I was so DONE. I am not one who can stand to be manipulated. This was not an organization in which I wanted to participate. I sent a very formal, well thought-out, and neutral resignation email citing exactly what I felt was wrong and why. I got an ugly response from an advisor. She felt my email was a personal attack on her. She replied “to all” in her email and she was rather inappropriate. That was her mistake and she eventually apologized to me. But the damage was done. I was blackballed by many members of the OSC.

In a way, this freed me to be more myself. I don’t think it hurt my husband in any way since most of those wives’ husbands didn’t work directly with mine. And I still had a few friends on my side.

Attempt #2:

A different base. A new group of officers’ wives. Different everything. My husband deployed for almost seven months. I became a key spouse because it made my husband look good. The monthly meetings and quarterly trainings just about killed me. I didn’t feel like I did a very good job since no one was really interested in even talking to me. Most of the enlisted spouses wouldn’t communicate with an officer’s wife. I felt I neglected my kids since I had to get a babysitter when I went to the functions.

I joined the OSC on the prompting of the group commander’s wife. Kinda hard to say no. It wasn’t really a request. And I just hate the whole pay-50-bucks to join a group that feels like a sorority (and no offense to you sorority girls, but it’s not my thing). I attempted to attend the weekly mommy play group and monthly preschool field trips. Again, I did not fit in. These mommies were just itching for the day they could send their kids to a school, any school, for all day long so they could play. (I am not judging moms who send their kids to school, but these moms weren’t kind about my choice to home educate.) They did not appreciate that I am with my four kids all day, every day, and I enjoy it. I chose this! I couldn’t take the judging comments disguised as polite questions about my kids’ welfare. If my kids had enjoyed the play groups, then I would’ve suffered silently, but they didn’t really like the other kids. So I quit going.

I wasn’t missed.

I didn’t renew my membership.

Now, we have a new base. More new commanders. New wives. Another attempt?

Not gonna happen.

I’m just tired. I’m tired of trying to fit in. I’m tired of being on the outside looking in.

Do you ever feel like you don’t fit in?

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Just the Right Size

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October 28, 2014 By Jennifer Lambert 1 Comment

Why can’t I feel comfortable in my own skin?

My own space?

With my own voice?

With my long feet that I stumble over and fall up the stairs and knock the toes against the furniture…

How I want a bumper sticker to proclaim that I’m the best at something, anything.

Thirty eight years of sucking in my stomach and pushing up my nonexistent breasts and trying, trying, trying to walk like a model in heels without falling over.

Stifling the anxieties, pasting on that lipglossed smile that doesn’t quite reach my eyes…attempting hairstyle after hairstyle, trying to find who I am in a bottle from the salon.

Swinging wide on the pendulum of too much and never enough, desperate for balance but afraid to get off the seesaw.

Realizing that I’m failing miserably to hide my lessthan, nevergoodenough despite all the effort to appear ok.

When love is mere imagination, romance in books, a fantasy in movies, discussed at length in the Bible and at church…it’s hard to learn and practice when you don’t know what it looks like, how it tastes, the sound it makes, the exquisite scent of it, or how it feels.

Constantly looking over my shoulder to see who’s watching and listening is exhausting. Even thousands of miles away, the voices remind me that I am worthless.

And I still believe it.

They’re often louder than my present. They’re often overwhelming in their nearness.

And when I hear that tone in my own voice?

They succeed in destruction.

How I equally shrink into myself to not inconvenience others yet rail against everything to be noticed.

Accepting that I am just the right size for this space where God wants me.

It’s a concept that I must relearn and practice and remember every moment of every day.

So I can teach it to my children.

That they are important and loved and noticed and complete.

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No More Shaming

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October 27, 2014 By Jennifer Lambert 5 Comments

I did something differently this morning.

I didn’t shame my kids. I made a decision to be gentle and not angry.

I chose relationship over dysfunction.

I opened the dishwasher and noticed some of the dishes weren’t clean. A large plate blocked the spinny thing from spinning.

Ordinarily, I would be angry and take it out on my daughter (she loaded the dishwasher last night).

But I realize that she really doesn’t know sometimes. And I expect her to just know without my taking the time to teach her. And then I get upset. When it’s my fault for not teaching and guiding.

No More Shaming | http://royallittlelambs.com/

Shaming isn’t healthy nor does it produce any good results.

So, I calmly asked my daughter to check the dishwasher.

She went and looked and came back to report that it was fine.

I asked her how the dishwasher worked.

She waved her hand in a spinny motion.

I asked her to check the spinny thing.

She came in and lied that it spun just fine.

I still didn’t get upset.

I asked her to check the big blue plate that might be blocking the spinny thing. If the spinny thing didn’t spin, then the dishes wouldn’t get clean.

She went back to recheck. She admitted that it didn’t spin and asked if she needed to rerun the dishwasher.

I told her to take out the blue plate and go ahead and load the breakfast plates since there was lots of room. And rerun the dishwasher. And be more aware in the future instead of loading the dishwasher to block the spinny thing.

It was much better than our usual exchanges.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Psalm 32:8

Read my other posts: 31 Days of Dying to Self and 31 Days of Servant Leadership

Linking up: Enchanted Homeschooling Mom, My Joy-Filled Life

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