Tip for starting school: the secret of the kissing hand.

  The "Kissing Hand" by Audrey Penn.  My sons responded so well to this book. 

We had recently moved across country.  It was the night before they were beginning at a new school.  They didn't know anyone in their new classrooms.  I read it to them individually at their bedtimes.

In a nutshell, the story is about a little raccoon going to school for the first time.  His mom teaches him the secret of the "kissing hand."  She opens up his hand and places a kiss in his palm.  She then places his hand on his cheek.  She then explains, whenever he is at school and feels alone, he just needs to place his hand on his cheek to remember his Mommy loves him. 

When I read this book to my 6 year old son, I gave him a kiss in the palm of his hand and put it on his cheek.  He proceed to take my hand and place a kiss in my palm and put it on my cheek.  It was awesome!  I then read it to my 8 year old son.  When I kissed his palm he said "I just felt love go through my hand, go up my arm, and explode into my heart!"

 It's been over a year since I read this book to them and just about a week ago I was leaving one of my sons somewhere, and as we said goodbye he took my hand and placed a kiss in my palm.

What can I say?  I love this book.  I will definitely be reading it again to my kids the night before school starts this fall.  I know libraries have copies.  It's also printed in different languages.  If for some reason you can't get ahold of the book, you at least have a quick summary, and now you know the secret of the "kissing hand" and can share it with your children.

Keep up the good work Beautiful Mommies!

Love,

Rosa, Mommy Tips

"Let the little children come to me" lyrics with great music in the song "Like a child" by Beckah Shae. This blog is about helping your kids navigate through music.

Here I am with Beckah Shae!!!  

She is a Beautiful Mommy and an amazing "Dove" award nominated singer and song writer.  She and her husband Jack write and produce great music.  They've worked with artists TobyMac, Montell Jordan, T-Bone, Israel Houghton, Crystal Lewis and more...

Mommy Tips is focusing on guiding our kids through music in this blog.

As you know, I am a Mom.  I am also a dancer and zumba instructor.  I've had those moments when I'm listening to music with my kids and have to skip through the song because the lyrics are so nasty.  I really should not be listening to them myself, but the music is so good, aahh!  

I remember when my oldest son was 5, and started singing "I'm sixty and I know it."  I was amused and horrified all at the same time.  I enjoyed his innocence of not knowing the word "sexy" and  asked how he knew that song.  He answered he heard it when we went to the rodeo.  I had forgotten there was a DJ there.  I know we can't shelter our kids forever but we can help influence their choices.  Over the years I decided to let my kids know what I do: "there are some songs that have great music but really bad words so I listen to them rarely, and I try to find excellent music with good lyrics."  I do this because I really believe what we hear affects our thoughts.  Proverbs 2:2 says: "Let your ears listen to wisdom."

One of the artist I've come across is Beckah Shae!  I love her songs.  Her music is really catchy and good.  The lyrics are awesome!!!  I never feel like I have to turn them off around my kids.  They are very encouraging and uplifting.  She gives a good dose of positive thoughts to feed your brain.  My kids know a lot of her songs and I use many of them in my zumba classes.  A favorite song is "Life" the lyrics begin "Here I go, I'm on my way with my love glasses on..."

This is Beckah & I a few years ago.  Gotta love those "love glasses!"

This summer I had the privilege of performing with her on stage.  My friend Ana, another Beautiful Mommy of three little kids and I danced as Beckah sang.  Our kids were in the audience.  They had so much fun singing uplifting lyrics and dancing around.

As a Mommy, I find her "Scripture Snacks" an amazing way to feed the word of God to my kids (and myself of course).  These are short songs that are straight scripture.  They are musically excellent!  One of my favorite verses is Matthew 19:14: Jesus said "let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them."  Have a listen to her rendition of this verse and a couple of other verses in this scripture snack: "Like a child."

Check out her website at www.beckahshae.com 

Keep up the good work Beautiful Mommies!!!!

Love, 

Rosa, Mommy Tips