This Week's Top Parenting Links—4/29

It’s almost May, and the weather has turned to spring! We broke down and planted some color in our yard—I love this season. Although Mother’s Day is next weekend, I found out that the first Sunday in May is known as Bereaved Mother’s Day. I have many friends who suffer with infertility, and some who have lost children through miscarriage or stillbirth. Our family suffered a miscarriage between our first and second child, and it’s still difficult to talk about. Hopefully, we can start to break down the stigma attached with losing a child, and can celebrate being a mom through talking about the little ones we’ve lost. If you know a mom who has lost a child, consider making her a Mother’s Day gift this weekend. It will mean the world to her!

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Because Mother’s Day sneaks up on me every year, I’m trying to get ahead of the game and focus on it this weekend! Here are some sweet ideas to get your kids started early.

(Psst, moms, pass this along to whoever is in charge of your gifts)

Find more great ideas at Landeelu

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Check out Parenting by PJ Media’s featured Pinterest board.

Real Kids. Real Stories—for parents just like you.

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This was a great reminder to me that, as a Mom, I need to take some time for myself each day. Following the demands of busy schedules and meal planning can leave me depleted and frustrated at the end of the day. For just a few minutes everyday, I need to recharge my batteries so I can continue to serve the ones I love!

“God has given us each a unique story and purpose to live out. As moms, a huge part of our stories are the lives that we pour into every single day at home. And I know sometimes it is hard. And exhausting. And chaotic trying to keep up with it all. We all need that time to step back. Take a breath. Spend time daily with Him. Press pause. Whether it is first thing in the morning at home, on your lunch break at work, or in the carpool line at school, just a few minutes each day can help you center your heart and mind on what God has for you as His beloved daughter.”

Follow Ruth at The Better Mom, for more encouragement.

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Simple. Easy. Pretty.

I love Mother’s Day gifts like these. They are the ones that I cherish because they freeze a little piece of my kiddos in time, so I can savor them when they are grown.

Follow I Heart Naptime for more DIY ideas

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I’m a huge fan of the show Fixer Upper. My kids even like watching it with me! So, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that this sweet family has a blog, and that Joanna wrote a poignant Mother’s Day letter. I hope it is encouraging to you, in whatever season of Motherhood you are in.

“As a quick side note, when I started writing this post it was all about the joy of motherhood—but when I thought about all the strong moms around me, it didn’t take me long to realize the name “mom” isn’t easy to come by. These mothers have fought infertility, miscarriage or even the loss of a child. So whether you’re a mom right in the middle of raising your babies, or you find yourself in the throes of immense pain—this day is for all of us.”