Search Results for: bring the best friends of your kid home from us

Why Your Pre-Teen Quit Playing Sports

Posted on by

One way to encourage your child to get a healthy amount of exercise is to make it fun. Sports offer kids the ability to exercise while having fun, the chance to learn how to play as a team, and a good way to develop athletic skills. Despite these benefits, 70% of kids quit sports by the age of 13. Here are some reasons why that happens. It stopped being fun. Have you ever watched kindergartners play soccer against another team of kindergarteners? What happens is both adorable and amusing. They sit down when they get tired, and start playing with … Continue reading →

Gas Tank Getaway: Six Flags Great America

Don’t let high gas prices keep you home this summer.  There’s no need to sweat it out in your backyard when extreme family fun is less than a tank of gas away. If you live in Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan or Illinois, a mecca of mind-blowing adventure awaits at Six Flags Great America.  The popular theme park is located in Gurnee, Illinois; less than an hour’s drive from Chicago, Milwaukee, and a host of other major Midwestern cities. Great America’s convenient location is a major timesaver, but the savings don’t stop there.  In addition to banking gas money, you can continue … Continue reading →

Thrift Store Treasures

If you are a single mother, chances are money is pretty tight around this time of year, well let’s face it, money is tight all year round! With the holidays right around the corner you may be feeling the financial pressure weighing on your shoulders. It’s hard to provide Christmas for your children when you are already struggling to make it on your own. However, there are lots of things that can make this time a little less stressful for a single mother. Yesterday afternoon Logan and I went to a local thrift store with some friends of ours. We … Continue reading →

Growing Kids? Here are 5 Inexpensive Sources for Great Clothing

When the pants get too short and the shirts get too tight, you know it is time to invest in a whole new wardrobe for your kids. It can be a tough thing to swallow, spending lots of money on outfits that they will grow out of within a few short months. Things can get costly. Parents on a tight budget should take note of some off the beaten path sources for great kids clothing that will have the kids looking chic while the parents save money. 1. The clearance racks In July, you will find summer clothing marked from … Continue reading →

Splat Says Thank You!

How do you know if your child understands the true meaning of Thanksgiving? Before digging into their Turkey Day spread, many families go around the dinner table and share moments of gratitude. Kids are then put on the spot and forced to share one thing they are thankful for while a gaggle of extended guests stare them down. The end result: Typically, a long stretch of silence followed by a string of “ums,” “ers,” “ahs,” and more silence. If you are lucky, you’ll hear a barely audible, “toys” or a regurgitation of whatever the person ahead of your shy child … Continue reading →

Be Present and Connect With Your Child

Posted on by

I live a busy life. As a single mother with a full time job, I don’t always have the time to do what I would like to do. One of the things that is most important to me is connecting with my daughter. I want to be present for Hailey’s life, I want to be involved, I want her to know that, not only do I care about her, but that I’m interested in her as a person. The challenge is always, how to find the time to really connect with my child. Time is precious but so is a … Continue reading →

Be Careful What You Wish For

Has anyone ever told you to be careful what you wished for? I was reminded of that when I was first divorced and Hailey would go to her father’s for the weekend. I remember so many times thinking, I wish she would be quiet for just a minute, it’s so noisy in here I can’t even hear myself think! Then her father picked her up for that first weekend visit. Suddenly the house was too quiet, and I was at an absolute loss as to what to do with myself while she was gone. It got easier as time went … Continue reading →

Make a List and Check It Twice

Now that Thanksgiving is over and the countdown to Christmas is officially underway, it’s time to fine-tune your list-making skills. This is especially important if you are a parent. The holidays can add even more stress to an already busy life juggling kids, career and a home. Still, no parent wants the season to slip by without making lasting memories with their children. Participating in Christmas-themed activities with your kids is a great way to bring the holiday to life and underscore the true reason for the season. The following are just a few of the many fun and meaningful … Continue reading →

A Fun Home Based Business Idea

Being a parent can bring out all kinds of personality traits that you may have never known that you had. If you have been blessed with the ability to get silly, to let loose and be a little goofy, then chances are good that your kids absolutely love it when you do. If your kids love your animated antics and silly shenanigans, there is also a good chance that their little friends would too. In other words, you just might be a great birthday party entertainer. Being an entertainer at children’s birthday parties is not for the faint of heart. … Continue reading →

Better Safe Than Sorry

With the economy still in the dumpster and job loss at a record high, it’s no surprise that parents across the country are doing whatever they can to pinch pennies. In addition to cutting back on family vacations, dining out and throwing mega-parties for their kids, a new survey found that an increasing number of moms and dads are shopping at consignment stores or accepting hand-me-down items from church groups, neighbors and friends. Recycling gently used children’s gear is a great way to save money; however, experts warn that not all hand-me-downs are safe, and they are warning parents to … Continue reading →