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Our Experience With a Sleep Consultant

Sleep is important. We can all agree on that right? We feel better when we get enough sleep. From the beginning days of being a parent, sleep is something you think about, worry about, dream about. How can I get my child to fall asleep? Stay asleep? Let me sleep? Is my child getting enough sleep? The questions are endless.

We have always been those parents who valued sleep, implemented routines, strictly adhered to bedtimes, etc. One of our daughters has never particularly wanted to go to bed early. She has had trouble for much of her life to quiet her brain and fall asleep. In the fall we decided to start giving her melatonin and it felt like we’d been given a new lease on life. She was falling asleep within 30 minutes, we had our evenings back and all felt right in the world.

Fast forward a few months and things started to go downhill. She was still falling asleep well but she was waking up so scared. And when she woke up scared, she was awake for hours. It was like she had lost the ability and confidence to put herself to sleep. One night, my husband was at work and I was home and she woke up at 9pm and was awake until 3 am! Much of this time she was screaming and hyperventilating if I wasn’t sitting up beside her. Even if I was sitting with her she was calm but not going to sleep. This was the proverbial “straw that broke the camels back” and I knew we had to get to the root of the issue and off the melatonin. Helping her conquer these fears and learn to quiet her soul was too important to just glaze over. That night, I remembered a lady I follow in instagram mentioning her Christian sleep consultant and so I reached out that night.

We used the Sleep Wise Consulting (you’ll see my girl’s sweet face there on their homepage) and our consultant’s name was Monica Maldonado. You can click here to go to her instagram profile. Monica was just the sweetest lady who became the biggest blessing in our lives. There is no denying God’s hand in this matter. That I would remember Monica specifically being mentioned and reach out to her directly in the middle of the night. If I had gone through the website I’m sure I’d have been assigned someone different but Monica was the exact person that both Hailey and I needed. She was gentle and soft spoken and loving. She made the effort to connect with Hailey and she spoke soothing and encouraging words to me. I honestly feel like she is a kindred spirit. Having a fellow believer to help in all this was amazing as I knew this was a work God was going to have to do in Hailey’s heart to help her sleep peacefully and without fear. Monica sent videos of herself reading scripture she chose to Hailey, spoke to her of God’s faithfulness and protection, and prayed for her. What an absolute blessing this was. Hailey and Monica formed a special connection where Hailey would want to call her, wrote her a poem, and still asks about her and occasionally keep in touch. Special, Godly adults in your kids lives are a huge blessing!

As for the process, I reached out to Monica and she scheduled me a 15 minute free consult to see if we were a fit and to explain the process. Once we decided to proceed, I filled out a questionnaire about Hailey, what was going on, and what we wanted from the process. Monica then created a 12 page sleep plan for Hailey and went over it with all of us on a video chat. She helped us implement the plan and we chatted every couple of days for the 3 weeks until we had reached the desired outcome. She gave me understanding and encouragement as I struggled with some of the changes (a later bedtime) and she spoke life and encouragement into Hailey when I was feeling too tired to do so. I won’t share all the changes she made in Hailey’s nighttime routine as that’s her job to do specifically for your child. I will say that peace has been restored to our home. We get some alone time with Hailey in the evening where we read together and when it’s time for her to go to bed she walks to her room, tucks herself in, and goes to sleep. We don’t see or hear from her again until morning and she wakes up well rested. It seemed impossible a few months ago that we would be at this place again, but here we are!

I want to encourage you whether you are the parent of an infant or an elementary school child, don’t settle for inadequate sleep for any of you. Good sleep is so imporant to their moods, develpment, health, learning, etc and good sleep is also important for us parents. You dont have to dread bedtime and you don’t have to be fearful of how many times you will be woken up at night. You don’t have to be exhausted and neither does your child. Reach out to a sleep consultant, commit to following through on the process, and reap the rewards.

(And might I add that my girls share, not only a room, but a bed! Monica was able to work with us to allow them to keep bedsharing as that is their desire.)

Our family loves, and is so thankful for, Monica and Sleep Wise!

(this is not an ad! Just the joyful review of a well rested mom!)

This is a very old photo (Sophie doesn’t have a lulu anymore) but I still love seeing them snuggled up together!
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About Me

Hi I am Kristin Stewart. I consider myself so lucky to be a homeschool mommy! Before I was a mother, I was a teacher in both public and Christian boards and I loved teaching so much. However, once my first daughter was born I knew God was calling me to be at home with her. So when it was time for her to start school, homeschooling was a natural fit for us. Read More…

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from_kristin_homeschool

Kristin Stewart
✨better together✨ Another week of school done ✨better together✨
Another week of school done and enjoying the beach on this beautiful Friday afternoon.
1ish week of school to go.
#raisingreaders #alwaysbringabook #raisingreaders
#alwaysbringabook
Homeschool perk- the freedom to travel. Packed up Homeschool perk- the freedom to travel. Packed up our books and brought them to the land of the red sand. The beach is calling, we must go!
Friends, popsicles, butterflies and tiny pools…. Friends, popsicles, butterflies and tiny pools….we love summer ❤️
Starting our study of Numbers today for Bible time Starting our study of Numbers today for Bible time. It’s important to me that the girls understand the importance of looking at a whole book of the Bible for context and understanding of how each event fits into the bigger picture of Gods salvation. 

The Bible Handbook from @thedailygraceco to overview and introduce the book.

The Story of Numbers by @readkaleidoscope writes it geared toward kids.

And not pictured, our Bibles. We frequently go over checking back to our Bible if we arent sure about something in another book. 

What are you studying?
Cheers to the other mamas just finally getting the Cheers to the other mamas just finally getting their quiet time at 10:15 am because they’ve been in diffuse and correct mode all morning. 

Here’s to the mamas with a child who needs a little “extra” in the regulation department. (If you know what I mean, you know). 

To the ones taking deep breaths and calling on the fruits of the spirit to help her deal with the current “explosion”. 

To the mama who wonders if she’s doing it right but knows it’s worth it. 

God chose me to mother her and He chose you to mother yours. He did that purposefully and He will equip us. If you are a Christian, you have the fruits of the spirit and the help of the Holy Spirit. 

Take a deep breath, a quiet minute and ask God for wisdom and help for this day. It’s an honour and a privilege to have this job of mama.

Hard doesn’t equal bad. 

Here’s to you mama! Keep going. ❤️
All About Reading tip: give them last years reader All About Reading tip: give them last years readers for independent reading.

 She always wants a few minutes to read on her own before bed and she likes to read last years AAR readers because she knows she won’t get a story that’s too hard. 

There’s nothing wrong with letting kids independent reading material be below their instructional level.
It’s a great way to build fluency and confidence and avoid frustration.

Thankful for these readers with interesting stories and colourful pictures @allaboutlearning ❤️
We had a great hike adventure on this beautiful sp We had a great hike adventure on this beautiful spring day!
A look through, and long explanation of, Learning A look through, and long explanation of, Learning Language Arts Through Literature grade 4. 
Let me know if you have any questions!
Sharing the math manipulatives I used today in my Sharing the math manipulatives I used today in my stories. My youngest really thrives when she learns hands on. These are from amazon, except the animals that are from the dollar store.
Read with your kids! 👏🏻Read to them. Let the Read with your kids! 👏🏻Read to them. Let them read to you. Take turns share reading. Read your own books beside each other. READ!

The benefits of reading to your kids are staggering. Not only are there crazy academic benefits, there are also relational benefits. Reading together is such a bonding experience. It helps calm your tiny ones and it brings your older kids to you. 

She’s almost 10 and she’s been reading since she was 4. She’s a voracious reader, reads constantly. I might need a job just to keep her in books. She can read as well as people twice her age. Some might naturally think there’s no point in reading to her anymore. She doesn’t need me to, she’s capable on her own. 

I disagree! We always have a book on the go together. It’s so bonding to be mutually enjoying a book and into it together. It allows her to relax or draw while I read to her. It gives us something to do just the two of us when we have time but I’m tired. Sometimes we just snuggle up like this reading our own books, pausing when she wants to talk about her book. Benefits here are we are physically connected and I get to know what shes reading and be available for discussion. 

All that to say, read with your kids!! Even when they’re older!! 

Together, she and I are loving the Tuesday’s with the Castle series. We’re on our last one!! What are you reading with your big kids?
What a great fsmily hike today to the southern tip What a great fsmily hike today to the southern tip of our island! 75 ish min hike for the whole crew!
Mystery of History Level 1. This is the history p Mystery of History Level 1. 
This is the history program we are using this year and I love it. This is likely what we will use for the next few years. I think this level will last us 2 years since we don’t do History daily.
This is a Bible based curriculum. It begins with creation and goes through history chronologically from there. Each lesson is short with a lesson in the text to be read (I read it out loud) and then a selection of activities. Each lesson has an activity for younger students, middle students and older students. 
There are some written components you can choose, such as matching characters with descriptions or answering comprehension questions. But as the teacher you can pick and choose what you want your kids to do. It can all be oral if you prefer. 
You can order timeline images and work throughout this whole curriculum to make a timeline. This is neat as it allows the kids to see how it all first together.
I love using this resource to learn together as a family!! 

#mysteryofhistory #homeschoolhistory
Merriest Christmas from our house to yours!! Looki Merriest Christmas from our house to yours!! Looking forward to this week off of school and next week we will be back at it!! My plans this week are mostly to read! How are you spending this week?
We are all so excited to see the snow and hope it We are all so excited to see the snow and hope it stays for Christmas
Grumpy mom goes to the beach. If you hear report Grumpy mom goes to the beach. 

If you hear reports of a crazy lady walking Stanley beach in the downpour and singing at the top of her lungs, have no fear, ‘twas just me. 

Do you know the best part of homeschooling? Being with your kids all the time. Getting to make so many memories and develop a strong bond, laugh together, train them, shape their character, disciple them, see them grow up….

Do you know the hardest part of homeschooling? 
Being with your kids all the time. All the mess, all the noise, all the discipline and discipling and correction. Not being able to outsource the tiring and hard parts of parenting. 

Homeschooling isn’t neat and tidy that’s for sure. It’s loud and messy and tiring and hard. And it’s beautiful and rewarding and bonding and the best decision we ever made. 

Doesn’t have to be one or the other. Both can be true. I can love it and think it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done all at the same time. 

So that’s what brings me in my raincoat and boots, worship music blaring out of my pocket and out of my lips, to the beach…getting myself ungrumpy and ready for another week of the hardest and best thing I’ve ever done. I wouldn’t change it for all the money in the world. ❤️

@valmariepaper a nod to your grumpy mom takes a holiday book. ❤️
“I believe in God the Father, I believe in Jesus “I believe in God the Father,
I believe in Jesus Christ,
I believe in the Holy Spirit
And He’s given us new life.
I believe in the crucifixion, 
I believe that He conquered death.
I believe in the resurrection
And He’s coming back again
I believe.”

Last Sunday our oldest daughter publicly declared her saving faith and allegiance to Jesus through the act of obedience through believers baptism. What a glorious day! And for her daddy to do the honours was even more special. 

We will continue to disciple her as she grows in knowledge, understanding and love for God. 

You do not need to share my beliefs to be welcome here. I’ve got a seat for you at my table regardless of your religious views. But may where my belief, love and allegiance lays never be in question. 

We love you Hailey girl ❤️
One row of carrots and a few onions harvested. Abo One row of carrots and a few onions harvested. About 1/3 of what’s there so lots more work to do.
Thank you God for this harvest and it’s provision for our family
I accidentally cut myself off! Here is part 2! I a I accidentally cut myself off! Here is part 2! I also forgot that there are usually individual white boards down below with the binders but they used them this morning and they’re not put back yet!
Showing the rolling cart we use for school this ye Showing the rolling cart we use for school this year
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