I’m not a “young” mom by any stretch of the imagination.  Oh sure, I had grand dreams of three kids before I was 30, but I was blessed with two wonderful boys who both showed up when I was 30 and 35.  That doesn’t qualify me as an “old” mom either, but I think it does put a different spin on the parenting stuff.

A couple of weeks ago, I came across an article in the USA Weekend magazine in my local paper written by Philip Lerman.  He wrote a great piece on why being an older dad is so much better in his case.  And, a lot of what he said rang true for me, too (even though, obviously, I’m not a dad!).  Here are a few of his points that I found especially close to my own parenting style… Read more…

There are certain qualities I want to see developed in my boys.  I want them to grow to be respectful of others.  I want them to practice tolerance and patience.  I want them to learn our beliefs as a family and in our church.  And, I want them to be givers. Read more…

We just achieved a new milestone in our household: our older son, almost 8, just finished a week at Cub Scout day camp.  He is excited, he is exhausted, and he has an amazing sense of accomplishment.  And that’s exactly what it was - an accomplishment!

Spending hours away from home can be a bit stressful for children, especially with their first experience.  Granted, my son had been in public school all year, so he was accustomed to a longer day away from the laid back nature of home.  But camp is different.  The rules are different, the kids are different, the adults are different, and the activities are (thankfully) different.

How can you prepare your child for their first “camp” experience?  Read more…

We’ve been struck by the sick-bug in our house this month.  Both of my boys have struggled through strep and upper respiratory infections.  Needless to say, all of the “grand plans” I had for them have fallen by the wayside.  We had to go to Plan B (and C and D…).

One of the main things kids want (and need) when they don’t feel good is some good, old-fashioned extra loving and attention from their parents.  And, attending to a child who doesn’t feel well for long periods of time can leave you exhausted.  One of my most trying places is the pediatrician’s office.  Here are a few ideas to keep your child occupied when they’re not up to snuff (and help save a bit of your sanity, too!)… Read more…

Preschool isn’t just about play
Children expected to reach kindergarten with certain skills
By KURT MOORE
The Marion Star
I came across this article while preparing to present an inservice session to a group of preschool teachers.  And, as a pre-kindergarten teacher, I found it most enlightening.  According to Mr. Moore’s piece, federal and state (Ohio) governments are more willing to fund preschool programs that have more of a focus on the academic end of learning, and not merely on play.  In fact, I was left with the impression that academics were pushing “playtime” into a very minor role in the classroom.

I have an issue with this.  A BIG issue. Read more…

There are lots of things that appeal to me about shopping at my favorite store in town.  It is the fresh smell when I walk in the door, the attractive decor on the walls and in the windows out front, the friendliness of the staff, and the product that is for sale.  Read more…

Getting a sunburn is no fun - it is painful, uncomfortable, and can make a “normal” day seem every bit not normal.  Having a child with a sunburn is downright miserable - for everyone.

Here are some tips to taking care of that pink (or red) skin on your little munchkin: Read more…

Where I live, the sun is pretty potent all year long.  However, in the wintertime, it is easy to let those sun protection habits slide since clothing covers so much of my body.  As the weather warms up, and it REALLY warms up here, the clothes become lighter, the pants become shorts, and the skin is once again exposed to the harsh rays of the sun.

This is where Sun Safety 101 comes in handy. Read more…