The Warren & the World Vol 4, Issue 32

The Warren & the World is Story Warren’s weekly newsletter, providing a round-up of our favorite things from around the web as well as a review of what was on our site over the past week. We’re glad you’re here!

Around the Web

The one word that changed everything

As we get close to the start of the school year, the demands on our time and energy can be immense. Shauna Niequist guest posts at A Holy Experience about the power of learning the word “no.”

The word that changed everything, of course, is No.
I’d been saying yes and yes and yes, indiscriminately, haphazardly, resentfully for years.
And I realized all at once that I’d spent all my yeses, and in order to find peace and health in my life, I needed to learn to say no.
People love it when you say yes, and they get used to it—they start to figure out who the people are who will always say yes, always come through, always make it happen.
If you are one of these people, it does cause a little freak-out when you begin saying no. People are not generally down with this right away. That’s okay.

Learn more.

6 Ways to Early Years You Won’t Regret

Sarah MacKenzie writes about things she’s learned about the early years of life and schooling.

One of the (many) benefits of having children spread across several years is the gift of perspective. With our first three, I felt like I had just figured something out only to find that we were now into a whole new season! There is gift in that too (of course- because only God knows the way He most wants to shape our family size), but I must say- I tremendously enjoy this second batch of babies.
For one, they are are scrumptious.
For two, I get a do-over, with that gift of perspective as a guide. 🙂
Our oldest three are 14, 12, and 10. Our second three are all 4 and under. One of the questions I get at least once a week is this: what would you do differently in those first years of school?

Learn more.

Why Every Mother Wears a Crown

In this piece at her blog, Sarah Short reminds us of the queenly role of every mother.

I was checking out at Target today and glancing at magazine covers and I began thinking about Kate Middleton.
I mean, how could I not, right? She’s on the cover of almost every news outlet and the world over celebrates every moment of her growing family – a future king and his little sister, a princess in pale pink Mary Janes.
I was imagining what it must be like – to dream of and decorate a nursery and playroom with no budget or limits. No old, builder-grade “just a shade off” carpet or creaky floorboards. To have the very best designers in the world at her disposal ready to create dreamlike, perfect spaces for her prince and princess.

8 Lies Parents Believe about Raising Kids

Sarah Hamaker reminds parents of some truths of parenting.

Do you believe lies about parenting? Sometimes, we’re so focused on listening to the advice coming from all corners that we forget to investigate the counsel to see if it’s truth or lies. Many of the lies we believe about parenting sound like good recommendations, but closer scrutiny reveals the suggestions as false. Here are eight lies parents believe about raising kids—and why believing these falsehoods will derail your parenting.

Around the Warren

Tell Me A Story

Guest Jessica Deagle writes about the narrative of our homes.

Our children love to hear us tell stories. Stories really are the language of home. Home movies, scrapbooks, Shutterfly books and the like all tell a part of our family histories. On their birthday we always sit down and tell each child the story of their birth– the anticipation we felt as new parents, the sudden dash to the hospital and all of the events surrounding their homecoming to awaiting siblings and family. They love to hear that they are part of the larger story itself. At bedtime during family vacation, when cousins are all together, our kids beg for stories about when my sisters and I were little girls. They hoot and holler to hear about the scrapes we got ourselves into and the antics we didn’t get away with! They never grow tired of hearing the same ones over and over though I may grow tired of telling them.

Perseverance and “Magnificent Thing”(s)

Laura Peterson reviews The Most Magnificent Thing and what we learn about perfectionism and creativity in it.

I think it’s really fun when stories encourage kids to be inventive and exercise their problem-solving skills. (See: all the parts in the Series of Unfortunate Events when Violet Baudelaire tied back her hair into a ponytail and got to work inventing something.) In the spirit of that creativity, today I want to recommend the picture book The Most Magnificent Thing, by Ashley Spires. I got to read this book aloud to a group of kids when I was volunteering with an afterschool program, and I was just as delighted by the plot, illustrations, bits of visual humor, and ending as they were. Magnificent Thing features “a regular girl” who likes to make things. One day, she has an idea for “the most magnificent thing” and sets to work making it. She wrenches, smooths, cuts, trims, glues, hammers, nails, measures, etc., while her “assistant” (adorable dog) tries to be as helpful as possible by tugging, wagging, growling, pouncing, etc. The trouble is, the thing keeps turning out not right. For anyone who has ever been frustrated when they can’t turn the plans in their head into a reality, the emotions that the girl expresses here will surely resonate. (The book’s dedication is to “for all the little perfectionists of the world,” which I thought was spot-on. The author clearly knows what it’s like to want to get something just right and keep trying and trying.)

Something to Do with Your Kids

I know a few people who have started school already, but many of us are looking forward to it in the next few weeks. Spark some creativity and help your kids get ready for the school year with this homemade pencil holder.