The Facebook Motherhood Challenge

A Motherhood Challenge was going around Facebook in early February of 2016. It is entirely possible that it is still making the rounds (as these types of challenges tend to do). What may have been originally intended as a simple way to honor motherhood has run into a lot of controversy. The Facebook Motherhood Challenge had simple rules. A mom was to post five photos that represent their journey as a mother. The idea was to focus on the moments that brought joy. Next, the mom must tag five other mothers, who must do the challenge, too. On the positive … Continue reading →

Tips for Keeping Kids Safe on Facebook

Does your child have his or her own Facebook account? Are you letting your child use the account unattended? Facebook requires people to be at least 13 years old before they can create their own Facebook account. That being said, some parents make accounts for their kids who are under age 13 – and some kids make their own Facebook account without their parent’s knowledge. Either way, it is important to keep kids safe while they are on Facebook. Here are some tips for parents that can make their child’s Facebook experience a lot safer. Limit The Child’s Activity Does … Continue reading →

The Tough Job of Monitoring Media

Just as there are more tools to help monitor your child’s media use, there are also more opportunities for inappropriate material to sneak through. A prime time television program that is rated G may contain commercials for R rated movies. And a PG show, which most parents may consider harmless may actually imply promiscuous sexual activity. Programs aimed at preteens and teens are rife with young extramarital sex and bizarre out of the norm activity, such as partner swapping. A few shows may even introduce the concepts of voyeurism or even pedophilia. Take the recent Teen Choice Awards. While I … Continue reading →

Warning to Parents: Watch Your Kids… Especially at Chuck E. Cheese

At least that’s the message a TV station in San Antonio, Texas is trying to get out to parents. A local TV news crew there recently aired an investigative report illustrating dangerous lapses in security at nearly every Chuck E. Cheese restaurant in the city. At the heart of the investigation was the popular restaurant chain’s Kid Check program. Parents with young children are likely familiar with the service. Basically, when you visit the kiddie eatery, which is jam-packed with video games, indoor playground equipment and other toys, you get your hand stamped with invisible ink. When you visit in … Continue reading →

Why Parents Shouldn’t Feel Bad About Using Disposable Diapers

I’m sure this blog is not going to please all of you environmentally friendly parents who are staunch advocates of cloth diapers, but bear with me for a bit. No matter how bad they are for the planet this next story about disposable diapers has got to give pause to any parent (or any person for that matter) who values human life. True story: An 18-month-old boy is alive today because he was wearing a disposable diaper when he fell from a third-floor apartment window. According to news reports, the toddler climbed onto a sofa and crawled out of an … Continue reading →

Parade Safety Tips

Down here in the South we celebrate Mardi Gras or Carnival. In fact, the season just got underway. Tyler has been begging me to take him to a parade but I have been reluctant to do so. I definitely didn’t want to take him when we were in New Orleans. In the 20 odd years I’ve lived there, I can count on one hand the times that I’ve actually been to the parades. But since we are here in Mobile, where Mardi Gras originated, I’ve decided that maybe I should go ahead and take him. It’s definitely more family-oriented in … Continue reading →

Pulling In the Reins

This blog is about letting your kids make their own decisions and solve their own issues. Not in the traditional sense, no this blog is not about letting your kids decide what they want to do with their life, or what clothes they want to wear. It’s about letting them choose solutions for their misbehavior. It’s called pulling in the reins and it is a part of a larger set of techniques that fall under the heading of you solve it, or I’ll solve it and you won’t like my solution. Kind of blunt, but it works. This technique is … Continue reading →

Preparing Your Child To Make A 9-1-1 Call

One of the first things I taught Tyler as soon as he learned his numbers was how to dial 9-1-1 for emergencies. I explained how important it was that he dial the number only when there was a problem such as if I became sick and he couldn’t wake me. If you haven’t taught your child how to use this lifesaving service, you definitely should. Don’t know where to start? Here are a few tips: (1) Make sure your child knows what constitutes an emergency. What’s an emergency to a young child may not actually be one. Give concrete examples … Continue reading →

How To: Protect Your Child’s Vision

Protecting your child’s precious eyesight is an important task for parents. But do you know what steps you should take to protect your child’s eyes? How about common vision myths? The current issue of Parenting offers an eye-safety checklist, along with information on pinkeye, emergency care and vision myths and truths. First a test. True or false? Sitting too close to the TV will damage your child’s eyes? This is actually false. I tell Tyler all the time not to sit too close and my mother told me the same thing but there is actually no evidence that sitting too … Continue reading →

Teach Your Kids How To Talk To Strangers

As parents we spend time talking to our kids about not talking to strangers. We also talk to our kids about what to do if they get separated from us while we are out in public. Most of us tell them that they are to approach someone and ask for help. Many of us tell them to approach a woman since women are more likely to become emotionally invested in helping your child and are less likely to be sexual predators. Unfortunately some kids may be unable to approach a stranger and ask for help when they need it most. … Continue reading →