Teaching Kids About Where Our Food Comes From (And Why We Should)

Let's go back a couple of decades to when I was about 16. I had a friend over and my mom had made burgers. The conversation after dinner blew my mind. It went something like this:

Friend: Thanks April (my mom), that was the best burger I've ever eaten.
Mom: We really like venison burgers, so I thought you would too.
Friend: A what burger?
Mom: Venison, deer meat.
Friend: You fed me Bambi?

After this, my friend always asked what the meat was because we could have venison, wild boar, wild turkey, anything in our freezer. Did she not realize that bacon came from Wilbur and beef came from Ferdinand?

Dad didn't hunt because he grew up having to hunt for food in the mountains of West Virginia. However, he liked the meat, so he would cover the processing fee when friends would get an extra deer or hog for us.

This was life for us.

Lately, it seems to be going further than that. It seems that more and more kids think our food comes from the grocery store. This is disturbing in that there seems to be a lack of traditional knowledge and common sense. What are these kids going to do when they grow up and have to find a way to feed their families besides just what is on the shelf? Are they only eating produce that is chemically processed and sprayed with dyes to look ripe?

Our kids know where food comes from and we talk about it a lot. We don't want them freaking out because someone fed them Bambi (actually, they've never seen Bambi). We had burgers one night and were explaining that's why you see cows in fields all over our community. Actually, there is a pasture across the street. I took them to the top of the yard and we talked about cows and moo'd at them. 

If a friend gets a deer, boar, or turkey, they will sometimes come by the house and let the kids see it. We explain that it will be eaten and the kids tell the animal thank you for the nourishment. Many times, we will get a pack of meat off that animal (hunters appreciate that we are teaching the kids like this) and we talk about it again. 

The kids learn that there was a sacrifice made so they can eat. It has really stuck with them.

We also grow a garden with turnips, green beans, peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, blueberries, blackberries, and more. The kids love helping out and eating fresh picked produce. They get involved from the beginning. 

They learn that there is a sacrifice of time and energy made so they can eat. 

When we are walking around the property, we show them the things that grow naturally that can be eaten. They have tried wild blackberries, muscadines, figs, dandelions, pigs ears, and more. 

They learn that God provides for us by putting these plants there for us to eat. 

We make it a point to have these conversations with the kids and to stress that food doesn't just appear in front of you. That there is so much more involved, including the cooking. The kids have learned to appreciate what they have and be grateful because so much has been put into it. 

One of the biggest things that my kids have gotten from learning these things is not to waste. In fact, if there are scraps, Tbomb always reminds me to put them in the scrap bucket, which we take to the edge of the woods each night for the wildlife. So, after we eat, we are feeding stray dogs and cats, deer, raccoon, opossum, foxes, and other animals. Even when we clean out the freezer and have things we can no longer use, this food is taken to the woods. They especially love it when we put the trail cameras out on the food so they can see what animals come to eat. 

I encourage you to have these conversations with your kids in one way or another

Book Review: Britfield

Disclaimer: I received a book to review. All opinions are my own.

Tbomb is an exceptional reader. He reads his bible (New King James Version), Nat Geo Kids' Almanac, and more. He will read for 30 minutes or longer at a time and comprehends what he reads exceptionally well. However, he is not a fan of reading fiction. Getting him to sit and read a fiction book has been near impossible (unless it is Spider-Man), but it is something we have been working on. Britfield is changing that! He really has enjoyed it, although his favorites are still nonfiction.

Tom has spent most of his life locked behind the cruel walls of Weatherly Orphanage, but when he learns that his parents might still be alive, Tom knows he must do what he can to find them. He can’t leave Weatherly without his best friend Sarah, so armed with a single clue to his past, the word Britfield, the two make a daring escape by commandeering a hot air balloon. Now they’re on the run from a famous Scotland Yard detective and what looks like half the police officers in England. Tom and Sarah’s journey takes them from Oxford University to Windsor Castle, through London, and finally to Canterbury. Along the way, they discover that Tom may be the true heir to the British throne, but even with the help of two brilliant professors, it looks like Tom and Sarah will be captured and sent back to the orphanage before they have a chance to solve Tom’s Royal mystery.

Tbomb has enjoyed the idea of reading a mystery and trying to figure it out. I love that because it is a mystery, it really makes him work on his reading comprehension. Plus, there is history, geography, critical thinking, and so much more. More than anything, I love that there is a good, Christian based story within it. What more could a mom want? Britfield & The Lost Crown is a good book for your chapter reader all across the board.

Guess what? You can win one! Just click the picture below!

Tbomb and Snapper's First Concert: Home Free in Agusta, GA

Our whole family just loves Home Free. They are an a capella country group. Not only do they have amazing talent, but they really care about their fans as well. My husband, MIL, FIL, and I went to a concert in July 2018 at the Peace Center in Greenville, SC. We knew that we absolutely had to take the kids. The kids love their music and the concert was very family friendly.

I had the opportunity to get VIP tickets (just for a Q&A session), so I bought 3. I gave these to my MIL, FIL, and Tbomb. Tbomb loved the experience and even got to ask a question. I got my hubby, Snapper, and I tickets just a little further back. We weren't sure how Snapper would do, so we didn't want her to sit so close up (they were in the 2nd row!).

It was a wonderful concert as always and a wonderful experience for both kids!

When they came out on stage, Snapper took off. I caught her and asked what she was doing- she was going to see Tim and give him a hug (the bass singer). I explained that she couldn't go up there, but she could see him at the signing line after the concert- she pouted for the first half of the concert, but he made it up to her. Tbomb even got a hug from his favorite- Rob!

Agusta is a beautiful city and the drive home was a fun adventure in itself!

This concert was March 1, 2019, in Agusta, GA. My husband and I went to Charlotte to see them on May 8, 2019, and treated my inlaws to backstage passes for their anniversary. We cannot wait to see them again- Just waiting for an announcement about them being close enough.

Easy No Churning Homemade Icecream (And Its The Best Icecream EVER)

My mother in law makes me the best ice cream in the world every year for my birthday. It is creamy and delicious- with a texture similar to soft serve, but oh so much better!

I'm going to share how to make this super easy ice cream with you (but I am leaving out her secret). Don't worry without her secret, it will be just as delicious!

What you need:
2 Cups Whipping Cream
1 Can Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 Cup of Flavored Syrup- Your Choice
Plastic Container
Cling Wrap

How to do it:
1. Beat whipping cream until peaks are formed
2. Fold in condensed milk and syrup
3. Pour into a plastic container
4. Cover with cling wrap
5. Freeze for several hours until it is the consistency you desire.

Seriously, can it get any easier?????

Tips:

Experiment with syrup flavors. We have tried chocolate and strawberry- they are both delicious!

Try out different mixins (Reese's cups, M&Ms, Peanut Butter Chips, Chocolate Chips, etc)

Get the whole family involved!

Tips For Keeping Children Safe this National Internet Safety Month

By Ken Huening, Founder, MiLegacy

The internet is a world of opportunity. But like the real world, it is often populated with risks and predators. This June is National Internet Safety Month, a moment in the year when it is important to think about the dangers posed to children on the internet and to offer some critical tips aimed at keeping your kids safe online.

Sadly, children can be the most likely people to be victims of crime on the internet. For instance, they are up to 35 times more likely than adults to have their identities stolen online. Sixty-five percent of children aged 8 to 14 have been exposed to incidents of cyberbullying and law enforcement officials estimate more than 50,000 sexual predators are active online at any given time.

According to BroadbandSearch, 95 percent of teenagers are connected to the Internet and 85 percent are using social media, meaning that virtually no family is immune to the dangerous threats posed online.

These statistics aren't meant to be salacious or to scare anyone. They are merely a reality we all face and an opportunity to have a discussion about what it means to be safe online. To help keep children and families safe, here are a few tips parents can use to protect their children.

• Spend Time With Your Children Online — As with many of the risks young people face, having an adult help them understand those risks goes a long way toward avoiding them. Point out potential threats by identifying what suspicious contacts would look like and educate them about what information never to reveal. By providing a first-hand analysis, your children can ask questions and interact with the screen.  

• Explain Security Risks — While schemes like phishing and malware are quite complex to understand, explaining them in basic terms that children can understand will provide them with a baseline of the potential threats. 

• Talk Openly About Social Media — Discuss the benefits that social media provides but also the dangers, like cyberbullying. Give your children the tools they need to be able to spot the signs and feel empowered to walk away.

• Address Risks Related to Computer Camera — Explain that there is technology out there (Malware) that can use the camera to identify a child or key information through the picture, so urge your kids to remove the camera cover only when they are connecting with someone that they know. 

• Explain The Permanency of the Internet — Ensure that your children understand that once something is posted online, it is likely there forever, so encourage them to think twice before that quick click.

There are no foolproof ways to keep anyone safe online but these tips can surely help to keep risk to a minimum. One other important thing to consider is where your child spends their time online. Not all social media platforms are created equal. Some have better parental controls than others, and some are simply just not appropriate for children of certain ages to take part in.

This is part of the reason we began MiLegacy — a social media platform aimed at preserving our memories. We felt that the tenor of the conversation on so many social media sites didn't fit the kind of social media experience we wanted to have. MiLegacy is an opportunity for people of all ages to share the most important moments of their lives, the wisdom they've gleaned from years of experience, and the connections they cherish, in a safe environment that promotes inclusivity, rather than division.

With MiLegacy, users can choose what they see and who has access to their profiles, providing an added layer of protection for young people, and giving users of all ages the positive social media experiences they crave.

National Internet Safety Month is an excellent time to have a conversation with your children about internet safety and to renew the vigilance necessary to keep them safe for the rest of the year.

Easy "Homemade" Poptarts

So here's the confession of the day: my kids love pop tarts. I mean really, really love them. We take them on vacation, have them for breakfast in the car, send them for sleepovers, and even eat them for breakfast at home on those days that I choose not to have the breakfast battle.

I know, I'm horrible. I should be cooking a breakfast of eggs, grits, bacon, biscuits, gravy, and whatever else my mom and grandmothers cooked every morning. However, I don't. That will change this year when Snapper starts kindergarten, but for now, the pop tarts work.

A few years back, when Tbomb was being tested for ADHD, we took all the sugar away from the kids (well, all sugar that wasn't natural). What in the world was I going to do for a quick breakfast when we had an early appointment? I was getting peanut butter for Snapper and looked over to an epiphany! No sugar added jams! Holy Moly!

I grabbed some strawberry and apple no sugar added jams, then proceeded to grab their favorite bread (they love that Pepperidge Farm wheat bread that is small), and grabbed some sugar-free icing and some sprinkles. (I know sprinkles are sugar, but they have to have some fun!

Seriously, the only thing that could be easier than this is opening a package of pop tarts!

1. Put jam in the center of the bread

2. Put the top on the sandwich

3. Using a fork, seal the edges

4. Toast it in the oven

5. Spread a little icing on top while it is still hot

6. Do some sprinkling

With the apple jam, you could even sprinkle cinnamon on top. 

Seriously- too easy!!!