June 3, 2013 by Allison Hendrix

10 Things to mail your child at Summer Camp

My kids LOVE #1 and #8. Crazy Things to mail your child at Sleep Away Camp | the House of Hendrix #campcarepackages This afternoon I put my daughter on a plane to sleep away camp. It was the first time she has flown by herself. Two months ago when we made the plane reservations, it sounded like a cost-effective way to get her there. She would read a book and two hours later be there. She was fine with it.

Sensing a bit of anxiety in her this morning, we intentionally laughed our way through the airport.

After pizza and ice cream, they called her to pre-board. They told me to say my goodbyes because I was not allowed on the boardwalk. In an instant my heart sank. It felt as if they were taking her through the double doors into surgery. I did the worst thing a parent could do in that situation. My eyes filled with tears, drawing instant insecurity across her face.

I watched as they shuffled her down the boardwalk until she turned the corner. I could no longer see her long blond hair. I uncharacteristically freaked.

They had not begun boarding the rest of the plane when I asked, “May I please meet the flight attendant assigned to her?” “No ma’am. He is not allowed to get off the plane.” I explained I

Honest post on letting your child fly alone.

would just like to lock eyes with the person I have entrusted my daughter to, a gesture I hoped would evoke an element of accountability for my 11-year-old. The ticket clerks launched into a lengthy protocol of airline policy regarding unaccompanied minors.

As they insisted the man who signed off to watch this child had 20 years of experience, my tears resurfaced as I meekly said, “But this isn’t just SOME child…this is MY child.” They froze as I peered out the window towards the plane which eventually departed. “She’s not just a child! She is MY child.”

There it is. My love for Lily demanded more than just standard protocol for her life. I wanted a higher standard over her…to protect her, comfort her, and keep her from harm. Isn’t that how God feels about us? We’re not just another person. We are HIS children. He wants more for us. He wants to protect us, comfort us, and keep us from harm. Then I remember our conversation after finding a great parking spot right by the airport elevator. I said in my delight, “Yay! God’s hand is all over us today”. She replied, “Totally Mom. He’s massaging us with His goodness.” With that I remembered, she was going to be just fine.

10 crazy things to send your child at SLEEP AWAY CAMP

(affiliate links have been provided)

A LETTER FROM YOUR PET-The big worry in sending a letter to camp is not wanting to make them miss home. Last year our letters were all sent from our hamster, Pumpkin Muffin. We gave my daughter an update but it was from his perspective. She loved it and read the letters to the girls in her barn. This year her bunny is writing them.
A BOX FILLED WITH WIGS, TUTUS, and one of these CRAZY HATS- Camps usually have several costume parties and everybody loves a ridiculous wig or pair of crazy glasses.
MAD LIBS
NFL Playing Cards – Does your child have a favorite sports team? Order playing cards with that team.
NIGHTTIME FUN KIT- Glow in the dark body paint, bracelets, and shoe laces
Crazy Creek Chair – This is the ultimate cool chair at camp. From sitting around the camp fire to the gatherings at night, this chair goes everywhere.
BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS -Here is a book list for middle schoolers. For younger kids here are cute books all about camp.Click image for full list.
BOOK LIGHT – Every reader needs a light for quiet time especially in a room with a dozen other kids.
PRE WRAP!!!- my daughter’s favorite!! We make headbands, bracelets, and all sorts of fun creations with this gauzey, lightweight material.Our camp doesn’t allow duck tape for obvious reasons, but pre wrap is fabulous!
Insanely Cool Spheres – These balls start out small but expand in 2 seconds to enormous spheres. The glow-in-the-dark factor even makes them cooler. We learned about these at the Science Center.
QUIET TIME KIT – deck of cards. a book with a book light, friendship bracelet kit
STATIONERY –pre-addressed and stamped envelopes with colored pencils and stickers…but do something funny on the paper. Start the letter for them in a humorous way like, “Dear Mom and Dad, I haven’t brushed my teeth or taken a shower since I got here” or something your child would find funny.
COLORED ZINC – Worry about them not wearing sunscreen? Throw in some colored zinc and they are sure to decorate their faces in all sorts of ridiculous fashion.
TEMPORARY HAND TATTOOS – great to share with lots of kids too. Can’t you imagine a cabin of boys and a “Shark Attack” with these?

SOUVENIR TO DECORATE– a pillow case, white towel, or plain white t-shirt with fabric markers so everybody can sign. You could even send a t-shirt for each child in the cabin.

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May 22, 2013 by Allison Hendrix

10 ways to Show Respect on Memorial Day

10 Ways to say thank you on Memorial Day

I am naive to think I understand the meaning of the word sacrifice. It means “a giving up of something for something else”. I have often sacrificed my time, my money, and many a desire, but I have never risked my life for your rights or my own? I have never seen death on the battlefield nor the loss of a loved one serving our country, yet I reap the benefits on a daily basis.

Freedom is my norm and I take it for granted. I open my Bible without fear of persecution. I speak my mind with no concern for punishment. I do not fear living my life. No words can express the depth of our gratitude towards those who have risked their life or lost loved ones to protect our own, but I think it is important we try.

Teach your kids how to show respect through these simple ideas (the House of Hendrix)

Here are 10 simple ways children and adults can show respect to those who have sacrificed to protect our freedom:

Use your phone – If you know a veteran or family of a fallen soldier, call them and say thank you. Let them know you appreciate what they have done for you as an individual and for our country.
Tweet! If you use the #wearegrateful hashtag, comments are screened, printed out on postcards, and distributed to troops worldwide.
Fly a flag half-staff until noon. Memorial Day is a national day of mourning. Great way to show the United States of America some respect and pride.
If you know somebody who is actively serving, write them a letter or send an email. Younger children can draw a picture of a flag.
Attend a parade to pay tribute to those who have sacrificed their life. They are our heroes and should be treated as such.
Make patriotic cookies for a service family. Many retirement facilities have large numbers of both veterans and widows living there.
Pray for the families who have lost a child, spouse, or parents protecting our rights. The grieving doesn’t stop. The “National Moment of Remembrance” is at 3:00pm.
If you own a business, give a discount to veterans.
Visit a cemetery or grave of our fallen heroes. Leave flowers or a flag.
If you live near a family of one who is serving, take your kids over and offer to do yard work, repaint a fence, or plant some flowers.
Do something. We so often, don’t know what to do or say, the opportunity passes. Even fumbled words and messed up gifts show the gratitude of our hearts.

Have you endured the ultimate sacrifice of losing a loved one in service? I would love to read your story and honor them in the comment section below.

(picture below) In honor of my brother – and in memory of his friends who have lost their lives defending our country.

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

Don't make Memorial Day just another long weekend. Teach your children what and who we are honoring - (the House of Hendrix) For more ideas, check out these Pinterest boards : All things Kids, Intentional Perenting, Celebrations

May 4, 2013 by Allison Hendrix

Great books for your Tween daughter…about being a tween.

Help your tween/ teen navigate through those ackward years of insecurity and change. My oldest is 12. She is all things first child; rule oriented, orderly, and driven. Over the years her strong will has served her beautifully as she has developed into a compassionate, servant-hearted, and intentional young lady. I adore her.

About 3 months ago we started to notice a few changes in her moods. Because I am homeschooling her this year, I get to experience these swings first hand throughout our days… so I have a vested interest to understand just what is going on inside her head. I was shocked that she felt incredibly comforted when I explained to her that her moods were a result of hormonal changes and were completely normal. Her intellectual mind could handle a physiological explanation much easier than not knowing why she felt so…off.

Because she is quite introverted and loves to read, I knew she’d prefer to fill in the gaps through books. Most of these are from a Biblical perspective but regardless of your spiritual beliefs, I think you’ll find some great insight.

Here is a list of our favorite tween books and affiliate links for your convenience and mine.

10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know – by Kari Kampakis This book is written in a big sister format to your daughter. My daughter has read through it 3 times and gone through it with a small group of friends. It has questions at the end of each chapter. It addresses topics like popularity, their unique design, friendships, and passions. You can read my full review of it here. We loved this book.

Perfectly Unique – by Annie F. Downs The author takes you on a thoughtful, funny and spirit-filled exploration of the way God created you different from every other person in the world, and He did this on purpose! Great perspective addressing body image and each of our unique set of talents. At an age when conformity can be the goal, this perspective can help our daughters build confidence and strengthen their faith through embracing their unique design. My 12 year old loved reading this!

You’re Already Amazing by Holly Gerth – (best suited for moms of tweens or actual teens) We, as moms, need to get our own thinking straight before we can be of any help to them. The author helps you understand and embrace the truth that as a woman, you do not need to do more, be more, and have more—because you are already amazing just the way God created you to be. When my daughter was on a club soccer team significantly above her skill set, principles in this book helped me teach her that she could walk on that field with no fear or apologies. I didn’t need to be nervous either. She didn’t have to be anything more today that she already was. She is Already Amazing! It helped us find that balance of striving to do your absolute best while knowing your identity and worth is not determined by the results.

Graceful – Letting go of your try-hard life by Emily P. Freeman – (I’d recommend this for an older teen or the mother of a tween) – This book is written to the good girl who tries to do everything perfect from sports to schoolwork. It’s also written to the girl who feels like she can’t do anything right. The ultimate message in this book is you don’t have to be perfect. My daughter often strives to be perfect and is discouraged by correction, so this book was a good fit. It is written a little above her comprehension level so we went through it together.

BeTween by Vicki Courtney – My daughter just finished going through this book in small group with her friends. It is a magazine style book filled with articles, games and lists. It’s targeted towards the 8-12 year old reader. The book wisely encourages girls to enjoy being their age rather than succumbing to modern culture’s temptations to grow up too fast. It addresses topics like popularity, friendships, texting, fighting with siblings, and your attitude with your mamma. It’s irresistibly fun and an easy read.

Soul Surfer series by Bethany Hamilton – Have you seen the movie Soul Surfer about a young girl named Bethany Hamilton who had her arm bitten off by a shark while she was surfing? Well, we have…like 30 times! It started a surfing craze in our home. My daughter has read and reread the book and devotionals dozens of times. Bethany speaks teen to teen about overcoming your fears and living out your faith. I ripped out a few pages from the devotional for issues my daughter hasn’t been exposed to yet, but still recommend it.

The Lily Series – by Nancy Rue – (for the younger tween) – We started these because my daughter’s name is Lily and it was just too cool to find something called the Lily series. There are several characters in them who each represent a different type of girl. We were surprised by how applicable these were to everyday decisions. They are short and each book addresses a different topic – “the Uniquely Me book”, “The Body Book”, “The Blurry Rules Book”, “The Walk the Walk Book”

*** NEW*** More books added.

5 Conversations you Must have with your Daughter by Vicky Courtney – From the cradle to college, this book walks you through how to tell your daughters the truth about life before they believe the culture’s lies.

6 Ways to Keep the Little in your Girl: Guiding your daughter from her Tween to her Teens Years By Danna Gresh Studies show that the foundation for an emotionally healthy teen girl is built between the ages of 8-12 and that a good relationship with mom is one of the most important factors. So when the world wants girls to grow up too fast, how does a mother help her young daughter navigate the stormy waters of boy-craziness, modesty and body image, media, Internet safety, and more?

Caring and Keeping of You: the body book for younger girls(American Girl) and now a Volume 2 The Body book for Older Girls. Best Selling books from American Girl. The first volume is for girls 8 and up and answers questions about your changing body, from hair care to healthy eating, bad breath to bras, periods to pimples, and everything in between. Once a comfort level is established, Volume 2 goes into greater details on periods and their changing body as well as addresses topics on peer pressure and social issues.