Raising boys? Read this!

Hello? Anybody out there? I'm really not sure if this is reaching many people, but I'm going send a shout out to the great void anyway.

So, as many of you know, I have four boys. We have lots of boy fun. I love my boys. They are so straightforward. They wrestle and fight a lot, but they get over things quickly. There is very little drama (okay, maybe not very little, but a small amount comparatively). There is one downside, though. There is a trend sweeping the ranks of boyhood and manhood worldwide. Boys are becoming lazier. The statistics are quite telling.  Boys Adrift, by Leonard Sax, explains five factors that are effecting boys' motivation.

In a nutshell, we currently face a lot of environmental factors that didn't exist 30 years ago. Things like plastic bottles, phalates, pesticides, and video gaming are relatively new factors.  Manufactured products contain things like BPA and artificial hormones that interfere with the motivation sensors in the male brain, as does video gaming. After reading this book, I felt a little bit overwhelmed with what I could do to change any of this, even with the suggestions listed in the book. (I think limiting my kids to 40 minutes of video gaming a day is the hardest part!) As a result, I began exploring ways to purify my home and the food that my children eat. In short, I looked for effective ways to "go green."

After my initial reaction of trying to ban all plastic from my home and buying organic everything, I realized I needed to find a balance because I couldn't afford all the changes that I wanted to make. Luckily, around the time I made these changes, I also discovered Doterra Essential oils.  I don't want this to sound like a commercial, but I have found so many alternative solutions for cleaning that I had to share.

I am a clean freak. After years of using harsh chemicals and products like disinfecting wipes, my hands were thrashed and I knew that by inhaling the vapors and coming into contact with ingredients I couldn't even pronounce I was potentially putting myself and my children at risk. (Read more about harsh chemicals and cleaning agents here.) I remembered reading an article in a Family Circle magazine that talked about alternative cleaning products, namely Melaleuca (tea tree oil), and I just so happened to have recently purchased Melaleuca. I read about the antigermicidal, antifungal, antibacterial and immune-boosting properties of Melaleuca and decided to try it on my shower. I mixed several drops of Melaleuca in a water bottle, sprayed it on, and watched it get rid of the mildew and mold on my shower floor (I had just cleaned it with Tilex with no results.) Now, I spray my shower with it daily and the mildew has not returned.

I also use lemon oil because it also has cleansing qualities and I love the smell. I use it instead of Lysol wipes on my countertops and floors. It has also replaced Windex for me. It is fab-u-lous. The most exciting about lemon oil is it breaks down impurities so I use it to clean my fruits and vegetables when I can't afford to buy organic. I also put a little in my water each day to cleanse my system and it's great for tummy aches!

My new favorite cleaner is a special Doterra blend called Purify. It contains a blend of different oils and can get rid of nasty odors. Case in point: many of my friends get to hear me complain about the smell that three boys leave in a restroom. The caulking around my toilet is disintegrating because of the urine (sorry to gross you out, but if you have boys you know what I'm talking about). I can't get rid of the smell and I have used many different cleaners. This week I tried Purify and am happy to report the smell is gone and doesn't come back as quickly as when I use harsh cleaners. I will never be without it!  The best part about all of this is that these oils contain no phalates, pesticides or synthetic fillers unlike other brands you can find at the store.

I feel so empowered in my home. That is a great feeling. There are also oils to help with other issues that boys face, such as ADD and ADHD - which can be worsenend, according to the author of the book, by prescriptions such as Ritalin.  I want to empower other mothers to take control of their homes, and this is why I wanted to share. This is just the beginning of my love affair with Essential Oils.

Now, I'm going to turn off the Wii...their 40 minutes are up!

P.S. I just wanted to add this because not all oils are safe to ingest!  Doterra Essential oils are pure and safe to ingest because they contain no synthetic fillers, pesticides, weeds, etc. If you'd like more info about Doterra oils click here.

Books for boys (and maybe girls, too)

My boys LOVE to read. I attribute this to starting them early on books. We're talking eat-the-book early. My oldest child could turn a page before he could roll over. Nine years later, we find him awake hours past his bedtime with his nose stuck in a book. Makes me proud (until I have to roll his too-sleepy rear out of bed the next morning).

That's a story for another time.

Today I wanted to share our favorite books. These are obviously my boys' favorites, and to be fair, I have no idea what girls like. Not true, I'm a girl and I like them, so you be the judge!

Books for babies and toddlers

Look and find books: My kids love the large Look and Find books. Ours are falling apart due to the use they've gotten, but we have Dora, Lightning McQueen, and Batman.

My First Word books (also falling apart).

Ages 3 to 5

The Froggy Books by Jonathon London. There is a predictable pattern to these stories so the kids enjoy the familiarity of the storyline.

The Berenstain Bears by Stan and Jan Berenstain. So many lessons to learn!

The Scrambled States of America by Laurie Keller. We can't get enough of this one. The kids learn where the states are, to boot!

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr., John Archambault and Lois Ehlert. Honestly, this book seems so simple that it's popularity amazes me.

Ages 5 to 9

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S Lewis. We started reading these to our boys when they were around five.

The Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne. I'm not one to read a book twice, but that doesn't seem to bother my kids because they like to read these over and over.

The Adventures of Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown. This is a great book for readers who are ready to start chapter books. The chapters are short and the story is easy to follow.

The Tale of Desperaux by Kate DiCamillo. Do NOT read the movie version. It's just not the same.

Ages 8 and up

Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan. My son has read this series twice and I'm pretty sure he'll read it again. It's amazing how one story can bring a subject into popularity. My kids are interested in Greek mythology after reading these books.

A Long Way From Chicago by Richard Peck. This is one of my all-time favorite books. My son and I spent hours laughing at Grandma Dowdle.

Schooled by Gordon Korman. This book mentions The Beatles. My son was in heaven.

The City of Ember series by Jean Duprau. I love the sleuth-like nature of this book. It makes it a suspenseful read.

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull. Although my children haven't read this yet, I've had several pre-teens tell me they love it. I don't usually like fantasy-type books, but these were very entertaining.


These are all series I have personally read and I feel good about recommending them. They are clean and most of them teach a moral lesson. Gotta love that.

Other books that didn't make the top list for my boys, but I like 'em!

How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell

Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins (yes, she wrote the Hunger Games and this is NOT gory).

Wolven by Di Toft. I've only read the first one, but it is a series.

The Candy Shop Wars by Brandon Mull

As a side note I do NOT recommend Diary of a Wimpy Kid. I feel that it teaches children to be dishonest and is not appropriate for my children's ages. The older brother introduces inappropriate subject matter. They are banned from our house. I didn't read them until my children had read all of them. Now, I read their books first. I suggest this become a practice in your home also.

Happy reading!
Jacquie