Parenting is a very special job. Find great tips here on how to make your job easier – or at least take comfort in knowing that others are going through the same thing!
Naming a newborn; it’s one of the most challenging and controversial decisions parents are faced with during their lifetime. Challenging because you are in sole control of strapping a child with the moniker he will likely live with until he’s six feet under. Controversial because the world is your judging your choice, and we all know how cruel others can be. I’m not big on parents who purposely call attention to themselves by bestowing strange names on their innocent offspring. Remember: Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii, ESPN and Peanut? Who does that to a child? Of course, I wonder … Continue reading →
Who says it’s not easy being green? How about going green? Just in time for Earth Day, everyone’s favorite pink-tastic princess puts her rosy stamp on a disgusting dump to show young readers the benefits of recycling. Emeraldalicious starts off with Pink and her little brother Pete heading to their favorite park. They frolic for a bit on the lush lawn crafting a cape and crown from colorful flowers, but soon the brilliant green grass gives way to a stinky garbage-filled space void of flora and fauna. Fortunately, Pinkalicious is able to piece together an extra-special wand from stray sticks … Continue reading →
I love to shop. Unfortunately, I don’t have the money to support this passion. Consequently, I’m often put in a situation that’s all too familiar to parents: kicking pride to the curb. Admit it; you’ve done some pretty gross things since becoming a parent. Goodness knows I have learned to exercise an immeasurable amount of humility since giving birth. For example, I never thought I would willingly stretch out my hands to catch another person’s vomit. Ditto for plucking poop out of the tub with my bare hands. I also never imagined I’d allow my shirt to be used as … Continue reading →
Racing against the clock is a futile exercise most parents endure while raising children. If time kicks your butt getting out the door in the morning, consider the consequences if you choose to ignore it when disciplining your kids. To be effective, discipline must immediately follow a child’s transgression… or so claims numerous childhood experts. Easy enough if you are dealing with a toddler whose actions are fairly simple to monitor. Not so when your kids hit an age when they would rather you not be a constant presence in their lives. Or present at all. Parents of school age … Continue reading →
Any semblance of peace that may blanket your home tonight will be shattered once dawn breaks on Easter Sunday. Kids will be running around like Energizer bunnies looking for sweet treats left behind by the holiday hare, and once they hit pay dirt, they’ll be even more amped thanks to the endless amount of sugar coursing through their little bodies. However, sugar highs only last so long. So, how do you stay calm when your kids start to crash? Say “No” without saying “No”: Your preschooler wants to polish off an entire family of Peeps before you leave the house … Continue reading →
Time outs don’t work with my kid. Sorry, Supernanny. I understand the method behind the discipline technique and follow the directives explicitly; unfortunately, sitting in a chair and allowing my child to simply think about her poor behavior doesn’t yield positive results. So, what’s a parent to do? Ramp up the punishment? I am by no means a permissive parent, but I’m not a super strict one either. I’m somewhere in the strict zone hoping not to tip the scales too far in either direction. However, I am more concerned about entering the overly strict zone. I don’t want to … Continue reading →
Not your little guy’s break from school, your older one. You know, the one who begged you to let him head down to Cabo with a bunch of friends for spring break, and now you are sitting at home praying that the next call you get isn’t from a Mexican prison. Keeping children safe is the utmost priority for most parents, but you can’t expect your college-age kid to want to spend every school break at home so you can monitor his every move. Sure, viewing Facebook photos of your son at the bottom of a beer bong and your … Continue reading →
When Peter Cottontail’s cousin comes hopping down the bunny trail this Easter he’s sure to leave behind a smorgasbord of sugary treats, much to the delight of your children… and their dentist. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with indulging in a few Easter goodies, parents may want to supplement their kids’ saccharine-laced haul with a couple of holiday treats that won’t cause cavities. Easter-themed books starring popular children’s literary characters are a wonderful alternative to gigantic jelly beans, colossal chocolate creatures and marshmallow menageries. What’s more, you won’t have to go into debt purchasing these fun-filled page turners that are … Continue reading →
It’s Halloween in spring; otherwise known as Easter. Only, instead of going door-to-door to collect sweet treats, kids run around like decapitated chickens hunting for plastic eggs filled with chocolate goodness under bushes, in trees and behind rocks. If parents are lucky, their children will actually make it back to the hunt’s home base with at least a few pieces of uneaten candy to show for their efforts. The unlucky moms and dads are left to pluck their kids from wherever it is they decide to plant their tiny tushes mid-hunt and picnic from a basket bulging with marshmallow chicks, … Continue reading →
What happens when March Madness turns into March sadness? Today, the 2013 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament tips off, with four play-in games taking place to whittle the field of 68 teams down to the traditional 64. Millions of people the world over have spent hours upon hours putting the finishing touches on their game brackets. Meanwhile, the players, coaches and families affiliated with the teams vying for the national title are getting ready to experience the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat. The latter can be a heavy burden given the monumental stakes at hand. However, it’s not … Continue reading →
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