Youngsters in second grade, where I substitute taught today, were studying a Weather unit.
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So I put together lessons that seemed to delight them. Am subbing there again tomorrow.
Perhaps I’ll have them write some weather related poetry. Kids, as well as adults, seem to enjoy my [...]
I don’t know about you but I love getting jewelry as a gift. It’s been a tradition in my family since I was a little girl and I always get excited when I see a small box under the tree. Something that is even better then plain jewelry is getting [...]
One friend mentioned she is compiling a journal of holidays.
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Some are memories of former days and some are a record of current celebrations.
What are your memories of Thanksgiving? Encourage your children (young and older) to recall their Thanksgivings. I recall driving to my grandmother’s farm, 45 mile [...]
Recycling has become known as “repurposing” to many people. Finding another purpose for items you might otherwise throw out.
This can become a game with your youngsters. How can they use items around the house and from daily living in other ways once these are empty or [...]
Are your children aware that a New Hampshire woman, Sarah Josepha Hale, was responsible for Thanksgiving becoming a national holiday?
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Yes, the first Thanksgiving, from which this holiday of thankfulness originated, took place in Plymouth, MA.
However, it wasn’t celebrated nationally until Sarah Josepha Hale, the editor [...]
Kids are tricky when it comes to figuring out what they will eat and what they won’t eat. One reason so many of us call our children picky or finicky eaters. How many of you have a picky eater?
Tonight I decided to introduce my children to a new meal, I’ve [...]
When my mom died and my sister and I divvied up her belongings that my father did not need, I ended up with the coveted “The New Fannie Farmer Boston Cooking-School Cook Book.” It was profoundly sentimental to me because it was the duct-taped book that my parents had used [...]
“I’m bored. There’s nothing to do,” so many kids exclaim when they don’t have access to electronics or parents restrict the hours they’re on computers, video games, wii, playstation and others.
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We as parents and grandparents can do much top open up a non-electronic world [...]
I swear every year at this time I have to fight and struggle to make sure all my kids are wearing their jackets outside.
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What is it with kids not wanting to wear a jacket when it is freezing cold outside? Today for instance, it is suppose [...]
My niece recently told us about her two teen sons preparing supper.
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The kitchen filled with smoke and the meal wasn’t gourmet by any means. However, as my daughter (her cousin) responded, “At least they tried! That was something.”
Perhaps the boys will give another try if [...]
The new school year has started and some parents are already having to keep track of where those library books their children bring home from school disappear too. Why?
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Simple, they don’t want to pay the ridiculous late fees that come with it. Recently my own daughter [...]
Okay, once again someone sent me an email asking when they should make their child go without a blankie. Does anyone know? My kids never had a binkie, blankie or a favorite stuffed doll. Don’t get me wrong I did try, believe it or not I thought I was doing [...]
The old saying, “Smile and the whole world smiles with you,” does have some truth to it.
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Do you ever notice how children respond to a smile? Even a baby who, you think, is too young to really notice people. Smile, and so often the child will [...]
I posted yesterday about a middle school in Goldsboro, North Carolina and how they were doing a fundraiser that allowed students to get a grade higher on a test score for a $20 donation.
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Well it seems not everyone thought that was kosher, it has [...]
Today is Veterans Day in the U.S. Do our children know what it really means, in addition to a day off from school, parades and flags?
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Do they realize that without the veterans’ service for our country, from the Revolutionary War forward, we might not be enjoying the [...]
Rosewood Middle School of Goldsboro North Carolina is giving out grades for money. The principal believes all is fair in this little game as it benefits the children.
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Exactly what benefits the children you may ask? Well, apparently they are trying to raise money for the school [...]
In response to my post, Do Families Become Closer in Tough Times?, Stephanie responded by sharing her family’s activities.
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We love family hikes. We live near mountains right now, so heavy duty hiking is only a short drive, but even the neighborhood does well for [...]
Reports are popping up everywhere that our children today are having far too much stress than we use to as children. While I don’t necessarily agree with this 100%, I can see how a child can become stressed.
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1. Grades. Yes, there are some of us parents [...]
Last weekend we hit another milestone. Truman went to his first Alabama football game. We were offered some posh seats in a skybox with a steady line of tasty snacks and a bottomless cooler of beverages. I suspect our son has been spoiled senseless. Wonder how he’ll react next time [...]
Today’s economic times have put stress on many families financially and emotionally. Does struggling and solving problems together bring families closer together?
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Are there activities they can do that don’t cost a great deal of money?
My husband and I grew up in homes where [...]
Now I know many are going to argue with me, in fact I argued it at first. I mean who were they to tell me Cookie Monster no longer ate chocolate cookies, that was the one thing he craved.
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I bet they were thinking the [...]Reports of children’s fingertips being amputated by strollers has triggered a massive recall. Maclaren Strollers in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, CPSC, issued the voluntary recall today, warning consumers that they should stop using the recalled strollers immediately because the stroller’s hinge mechanism poses a fingertip amputation and [...]
Do you know your grandchildren are watching you? That what you say and do set an example?
Just as they learn (good and bad) from parents, they also learn from grandparents. So it’s difficult to say, “Do as I say, not as I do.”
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We also continue to [...]
I was curious as a friend recently mentioned one of her children catching another sibling in the bathroom at what age do we stop allowing them to go in with us or even when they are big enough to go in a plublic one on their own. I know it [...]
When a High School Principal sent home a student for crossing dressing there was a big stir up. One question for you is how far would you let your child go to be an individual?
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Now what if that look actually distracted the students? That’s what [...]As more and more people (children and adults) use text messaging as a means of communication via their cell phones, will we find that correct spelling becomes obsolete?
Many young people use numbers and letters (4 instead of for, u for you) to speed up the process so they often don’t [...]
This category is full of everything from getting kids ready for school to picking out those summer fun activities. So it shouldn’t surprize you that when someone emailed and asked me:
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My son is 3 years old and refusing use his potty chair. Any recommendations?
My first [...]
I swiped this from my sister’s Facebook page. It’s a great feel-good video aptly named “Anti-Depression Video.” I think any parent would dig this.
For centuries, people have touted the benefits of laughter. Experts say that a good laugh can reduce stress by relaxing tense muscles and energizing you by sending [...]
Do you have “small treasures” made by children and grandchildren that you’ve saved over the years? Do these take on special significance for you?
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I’ve saved a number of these and find the memories joyful. ONe is a pincushion my daughter made by herself and gave [...]
Making Christmas gifts with your children can be a fun family project and one that creates happy memories, too.
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It’s not too early to start these projects so you’ll have plenty of time and won’t be rushed in December.
When my daughter was small, we were involved in many [...]
My daughter, Sarah, is 11 and in the 6th grade. She is a good student (just brought home a perfect report card), an athlete playing on both the volleyball and the basketball teams, and a musician with weekly guitar lessons.
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She’s silly and funny, usually [...]
When I was 7, I learned the truth about Santa. Sort of.
My friend Emily said Santa was not some jolly old elf who appeared in the night and left presents under the tree, but was really my father who would crawl out of bed and pull toys from the closet. [...]
A friend described how his granddaughter was injured…in an auto accident because the faulty driver was texting on her cell phone.
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His granddaughter and her brother, who was driving, had stopped in a line of traffic at a red light.
They were rear ended and the granddaughter was [...]
I don’t care what they try telling you, mom and dad are soft spots for kids. No matter what they don’t want to see mom and dad vulnerable, hurt or sick, when they do it frightens them.
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I have been sick for over a week and [...]I used to roll my eyes at people who would get depressed during holidays. Seriously, what was there to be depressed about? And then my mother died. It’s not her absence that upsets me the most. It’s been 10 years since she died and I have learned to live with [...]
“You need to write your memories down, Mom,” my daughter said. “You’ve been researching family history, but you aren’t writing your memories down for us.”
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(Perhaps I didn’t consider myself history!) Actually, I didn’t think of my life and my memoris as that important until my daughter [...]
Each month I feature 5 of my favorite posts for the month. Here are the ones I’ve written at Blisstree’s Parenting section for October:
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Um… My neighbor just sent this video to me. Am I the only one here who finds this dancing baby video mildly disturbing? Regardless, dancing diapered babies is always a hit on YouTube, and this “Stanky Legs” piece is no exception. I’ll hand it to this kid. He/she has some [...]
During my substitute teaching activities, I recently discovered two books that second graders enjoyed. The teacher had left these for me to read if I had time.
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I selected The Scarecrow’s Dance by Jane Yolen and Crow Call by Lois Lowry.
They liked the rhyming in The Scarecrow’s Dance. Also, [...]
Christmas is less than two months away, which means you’d better get working on that Christmas list unless you want to spend your Christmas Eve fighting the masses at the mall. One of the luxuries of planning this far in advance is that you can get some really cool gifts [...]
During the course of my substitute teaching, I’ve encountered situations where some students and their families don’t celebrate specific holidays or occasions that the majority do. Or they might have holidays that are new to the other students.
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What do parents do?
Simply bring this to the attention [...]
WARNING: This post will turn your stomach!
This came across my screen early this morning and honestly I thought of not even posting it but I kept asking myself: How did these people allow this to happen? Why did no one stop it?
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That poor girl. I’m sure [...]
Here’s a newsflash. Makers of children’s cereals who advertiser to kids the most are the ones most likely loaded with sugar and starved of fiber. The obvious was revealed during a new study conducted by Yale University’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity. The study found that an average [...]
Do you have a young teen in your home? How many have a little girl that would love to dress like a stripper?
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Okay, maybe not a stripper but she’s been eyeballing that tiny maid skirt at Walmart for a month now hoping that she’ll somehow convince [...]
So, you’re best friend is making you feel guilty because you don’t scrap. She’s preserving her family’s memories in pink-and-blue borders with ballooned quotes with catchy subtitles for candid photos taken at every juncture of her children’s lives. Her camera costs more than your car, and her bookcases are filled [...]
Once upon a time it was easy to travel. My husband and I would wake up, shower, pack our bags and leave. I think we could pull the whole thing off in under an hour.
And then came Truman.
I can’t say we weren’t warned. Our friends with kids told that packing [...]
As I listened to youngsters learning a new song about global warming and the greenhouse effect, I thought, “Propagandizing in high gear!”
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It’s being forced on young minds with a catchy tune and repetitive chorus. Some of the lines of the song contained distorted or outdated information.
The chanting of [...]
With this economy everyone is getting hit in the pocketbook, which is a surprise when you head to the store and see that the Halloween Costumes are the same prices they were just last year and the year before.
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Yes, apparently the costume makers aren’t feeling [...]Ok, seriously, are these pregnant women really rolling on their big bellies? I so want this to be real, though I suspect some of those moves may be dangerous for both mom and babe. Fake preggies or not, the most important thing is the message this Oxfam “Flashmom: Pregnant women [...]
The minute my son’s tiny body squeezed out of me, I changed. I became vulnerable. Sure, I had loved before. My husband is testament to my faith in love. We need each other, and to lose the other would be devastating. But we are strong. We can survive on our [...]
With Halloween coming up, many children are involved in activities in preparation for this day.
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I worked with a class of second graders who wrote a poem on a Halloween topic…witches, bats, jack-o-lanterns, ghosts, etc.
Even though I teach poetry workshops for children and adults, this format was new [...]
A friend of mine recently asked me how she will be able to juggle multiple children, sports and school. First, she has her own children plus a few nieces and nephews that she came into.
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She explained that she has a nephew that wants to join [...]I woke to a news report that a body found in a Georgia landfill was likely that of missing Orange Park, Fla., girl Somer Thompson, who went missing Monday while walking home from school. I watched the anchor pitch to a package that showed the mother in full grief, sobbing [...]
I was rather disappointed in the web this morning, especially when I came across a post written by a mommy blogger that had expressed her feelings of anxiety about her daughter’s upcoming first day of preschool. Now I wasn’t disappointed in the post but the lack of sympathy from one [...]
Artist Georgia O’Keeffe, in a documentary I saw today, said she determined she wanted to be an artist when she was 8-years old.
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She wasn’t taken seriously nor had much encouragement. But she stuck to her dream anyway.
What if she’d been encouraged to pursue her dream? She [...]
My friend Wendi sent me this “Mother of the Year” YouTube clip (a commercial for Vicks First Defence (sic) nose spray) with the message, “Didn’t you do this with Truman once?” I’ll make no claims about the product (though I wish I had known to try it as I’m finally [...]
Some of my memorable and colorful photos have centered around children and pumpkins in the fall.
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Sometimes these involved Halloween costumes, perhaps midst colorful leaves. Other times the photos simply consisted of my daughter, grandchildren or nieces with pumpkins they carved or have ready to decorate.
My nieces sold [...]
This is a Guest post by Shauna Johnson, nutrition instructor at WellSpring Academies.
The experts at Wellspring (www.wellspringacademies.com) , the leading treatment program for overweight children and teens, have several recommendations for parents this year at Halloween:
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- Wait to buy your candy. We [...]
How many of you tend to snack off of all that Halloween candy? I know many of you probably sneak into your children’s bag of treats and take a few pieces.
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Others may actually just take the bag and divide it up for the kids, placing it [...]
More and more families use cell phones, iphones or similar, for personal use and business.
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They text intimate messages, post family photos, even place financial information on the most modern of these communication devices.
Have you considered how truly secure they are? Even after you think you’ve deleted the [...]
In just two weeks there will be little goblins galore roaming the streets and knocking on doors. Will your child be one of them?
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If you have children chances are you are either going with them this year or they are going in a group. [...]
It’s been widely encouraged for parents and children to communicate well with each other. But what if they just aren’t the talking type?
I’m inspired by one example from a friend of mine. She and her father are the quiet ones in the family. While [...]
This past Friday a Florida mom rode her horse to pick up. Why? Simple, it costs tons of money to wait in line with your car going at an inch every few minutes. This mom didn’t want to waste gas money that she didn’t have, so she hoped up [...]
When young people go off to college nowadays, there are so many ways to keep in touch – cell phone, text messaging, Facebook, instant messaging, e-mail and Skype (or a similar type of communication).
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One of the enjoyable ways we keep in contact with our granddaughter is [...]
I remember growing up when someone would ask “what’s your
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favorite subject” kids would quickly reply recess. In a way recess really is a subject of its own, this is a place where children get to be who they want from day to day, deal with [...]In the first three weeks of school, my son was home sick for four days. The second week of school he had strep throat. The following week he came home with a high fever, chills, and was lethargic and vomiting. Normally, I’d feed him Tylenol and baby him unless his [...]
How about the school district in Arlington, Texas. It refused to allow students the opportunity to hear President Obama’s speech to students Tuesday because it didn’t want to interfere with lessons. Yet the same school district sees no problem in interrupting classes to bus 500 of its students to attend [...]
Sonic Drive-In and DonorsChoose.org are both working together in order to give teachers back a great big thank you this month. September is “Limeades for Learning” over at Sonic, for every Sonic drink you buy you’ll be able to go and vote for specific teachers to win $200-$400 grants. [...]
He was the editor of our small town college newspaper. I was the Lifestyles editor. He was all hard news, always searching for the story that would excite people and motivate change. I was all frills and features, more interested in telling a story than shaking the tree. But he [...]
Midst the controversy surrounding President Obama’s nationwide speech to school children, perhaps the discussion, even though heated at times, hasn’t been a negative experience. Perhaps this has held the President more accountable when he interacts with our young people. Was his speech changed due to the controversy? [...]
President Obama is doing a planned speech to all the kids at
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school, that are able to recieve it. Already this speech that hasn’t even been aired yet, has recieved a lot of criticism from parents/teachers and news stations around the US. Why? No one knew what [...]
The swine flu, aka H1N1, only goes back to april 2009 but it has
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already marked itself in our history books. So far there have been 1,154 deaths from the Swine flu around the world. (according to a CNN report from August 5th, more have died [...]
It has been announced that on September 8, 2009 all schools will turn their televisions on in the classrooms for the children to tune in to President Obama. Apparently he plans on addressing all the students and wishing them a great new year, encouraging them to stay in school and [...]
I must admit I was a bit shocked when someone sent me an
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instant message asking if I’d heard about the man that slapped someone else’s child for not shutting up. What’s worse is the child was only a [...]Sitting at work – or at your desk – pretending to be productive even though you don’t feel like doing a darn thing? You have my permission to occupy your mind with this cute-kids-flogging-themselves video. That baby and teddy bear thing at the end is the best.
Video, YouTube.com, shonpawar
[...]One-room schools existed throughout America in its early days and still are in operation in a few rural areas. I attended one of these during my first four years of schooling and have fond memories of teachers and friends. I thought it fun to discuss these schools in conjunction with [...]
On Tuesday, September 8, the first day of school for many students, President Obama plans to address the nation’s school children, piping his speech from the White House into all schools (that have the technical ability). This has raised a furor among many parents.
They are wondering [...]
I was a bit shocked this morning when I woke up and saw the
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world was talking about “Swine Flu Toys.” Yes, I said toys and not just the swine flu. While many are freaking out and trying to go germ free, others are wondering [...]
Years ago, when I hoped time would make minds forget, I promised Rick that Truman could have a dog for his sixth birthday. The idea was that our then-baby would be old enough to participate in his puppy’s care and I would not be solely responsible for the pup. [...]
A friend recently told me that her child’s school actually had a
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change in the bus route but never told them. Shouldn’t parents be one of the first ones to know about such changes? Here’s what happened:I got the oldest out to the bus stop at [...]
I’m no food Nazi. I’m not going to force my son to eat if he’s not hungry. I think that can only instill a natural desire to overeat in adulthood – or even earlier. So I was absolutely mortified when my girlfriend told me the principal at her kids’ new [...]
Each month, I select a round-up of five of my Parenting posts here at Blisstree. I hope you’ve enjoyed all of them. Here are five that gained attention during August.
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Parenting Parents on Less Social Security
What would you do if you packed your child a meal every day only to find over half of it was never touched? Many may not think anything of it. But when she is coming home every day asking to eat because she is hungry or tired and wants to [...]
It happened. My son pulled out his first baby tooth. We weren’t there to see the hallowed event – he was with his favorite sitter, Jessica. Truman was mindlessly wiggling his tooth while watching SpongeBob when his tooth just slipped out. He was a little shaken up about the little [...]
It amazes me watching the “Wife Swap” or any of those swapping
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television programs. While some can’t help but watch and wish that they could swap with some other family, others watch in horror and want to scream, “Why?” I have found myself in both of these positions [...]
Our daughter is an only child. A very lucky only child where we, as her parents, have the ability to provide for everything she needs and wants (love, support, money and otherwise).
We have always wanted her to appreciate what she has as we know that not all [...]
Are you in the process of weaning your baby? Do you know what kind of feeding bottles to get so that your baby doesn’t reject it?
I’ve collated a list of things you need [...]
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Since our daughter turned 12, we’ve noticed that she’s become more volatile and easily irritable. I suppose it’s a combination of the onset of raging puberty hormones and her nearing the “teenage” phase of her life.
We’ve realized that the tactics that we’ve tried in the past [...]
I agree with Eliza that Moms need a break from family life. My Husband and I adhere to do this as we take turns doing things on our own without needing to worry about the needs of the family all the time.
I am fortunate to have [...]
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If you’re planning a trip away, you may have an instant headache as you think about the hours you’ll spend in the car with the kids.
It’s time to think differently. Here are ways to get you to think ‘outside the square’:
Consider the holidays as though they [...]
For most students, it’s back to school, whether they’re attending classrooms or being home schooled. At our household, our granddaughter has entered college in another state and grandson entered high school. Big changes in their lives and ours.
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In your home, there must be excited youngsters who [...]
Stop and smell the roses — that’s if the kids haven’t trampled them. If you are raising boys you know what I mean!
The old saying, ‘the older you get the faster time flies’ is starting to make sense to me now – but I am in denial that I am [...]
When my husband was a little boy, he plopped his freshly yanked tooth onto his mother’s palm. She shrieked and tossed it out the window. It seems her reaction is not that unusual … at least not in some countries. And all this time I thought the Tooth Fairy was [...]
My baby nephew is now 18-month old and he is a joy to behold. As his godmother, one of the things I do to bond with him when I look after him while his parents go out is to dance with him. It’s such a fun and easy thing to [...]
Truman has his first loose tooth and the thing is wiggling like Jell-o. I’m ready to get that tooth out and start playing Tooth Fairy, so I scoured the Internet for some of the best ways to yank a tooth. Some are old favorites from when we were kids. Others, [...]
Laura Dekker, 13-years-old wants to sail solo around the world for two years. Many of you would probably be jumping up and saying, heck no about now. Am I right?
I mean who in their right mind allows their child to sail solo around the world for two [...]
One of my son’s last temper tantrums happened when he was outside and I was inside working on dinner. Just before walking out the door he said, “I’m going to make a hot tub,” and I said something like, “OK. Have fun.”
A few minutes passed and my son called out [...]
My daughter, her husband and children have a great deal of enjoyment with geocaching as they explore new places (even locally) and often learn about history of the area. This would be an ideal activity for History Theme Week.
I’ve accompanied my family several times and have been [...]
With the threat of N1H1, strep throat and a host of other germs swarming around, it’s more important than ever to teach your children the importance of washing their hands. If your kid is anything like mine, getting him to sit still and sudsy up long enough to sing the [...]
Jennifer Walker-Journey, Mary Emma Allen, Eliza Ferree, Brittany Dow
