This will be our tenth Father’s Day since the divorce. Like every other year, I’ll take my two sons to the store and help them pick out gifts for their father. Some years I’m surprised I didn’t get lock jaw from forcing myself to smile as I helped them wrap their presents, and I can’t say I’ve never stooped to passive aggressive gifting. (Please don’t ask me about the garden gnome.) It wasn’t always a joy to spend money on my ex-husband, particularly since I was mothering on a … [Read more...]
Parenting Styles: 9 Ways to Squeeze in One-on-One Time with Your Kid
Some days when I'm at work, I feel guilty that I'm not with my kids. And some days when I'm with my kids, I'm feeling guilty that I'm falling behind on my workload. As I've gotten older, I've learned to be present. At least, I'm getting better at it. When I'm at home, I'm trying not to think about work. And when I'm at work, I know my kids are going to a great school they love and they're being influenced by their wonderful teachers. In an effort to be present, I'm trying to squeeze in … [Read more...]
Parenting Styles: When You’re the Last One Standing
We’ve been hammered around here lately - pneumonia, a broken arm, miserable weather and the start of our kids’ insane new sports schedule. As we all know, moms aren’t allowed to get sick, or maybe my obsessive hand-washing and frantic hand waving gestures whenever someone coughed their infectious germs right in my face actually did the trick. Whatever the reason, I got stuck running this pneumonia-and-broken-bone-ridden show solo, after my poor husband wound up sicker than he’s been probably … [Read more...]
Parenting Hacks: 4 Must-Dos Before Hosting Your Kids’ First Sleep-Over
As exciting as it is to host a kids’ sleepover for the first time, it can also feel a little overwhelming to imagine your home filled with a group of children you need to feed, entertain and—somehow—put to bed sometime before the next sunrise. But don't worry, with just a little bit of planning, you can make your child's first sleepover a rousing success. #1 - Get Creative with the Sleeping Arrangements A large part of hosting a sleepover is understanding how many kids you can … [Read more...]
Good Idea: Start a Family Spring Cleaning Tradition
Spring is in the air! Or at least right around the corner for most of us. With the arrival of warmer temperatures, blooming foliage, and Little League Baseball, your house might still be crowded with the remnants of winter. Are there still cardboard boxes from Christmas in the garage? Are the blinds heavy with dust after months of the windows being closed? Have the kids’ toys begun to take over the house? It’s time to kick spring cleaning into gear. Sure, Mom and Dad may be motivated … [Read more...]
Parenting Styles: Better Than Me
Image Credit: © Alton Jefferson II | Horse Stance | CC by 2.0 My kiddos are suddenly old enough to be better than me in certain things, and I’m as humbled about it as I am impressed. I’m not particularly competitive with my children, but as I sat watching my daughter at her martial arts test a few weeks ago, I realized that there is no way I could do what she’s doing. She’s eight. And she’s on the small side for an eight year old. But her Thai kicks are insanely high, her punches are … [Read more...]
Parenting Styles: Hot/Cold Friends Are the Worst
I have two daughters, and once upon a time I was a grade school girl myself. I knew girl drama was in the cards, but I was deluded enough to think that between an almost-nine-year-old and a three year old, I had years before we’d be dealing with that. Surprise! Seems everything starts earlier these days, because third grade has been rough. There are twelve or thirteen girls in my daughter’s class, and G has known most of them since kindergarten. One new girl - older and with a mean streak … [Read more...]
4 Keys to Picking the Right Summer Camp
Image Credit: © Camp Art Nature | Summer Ete 2017 | CC by 2.0 I know it sounds nuts, but summer camps really are already starting to fill up! I also know that sending your kids away to summer camp can be stressful for parents, especially newbies. Below is a helpful checklist from a bonafide summer camp aficionado to ensure that you choose the right camp for your family, so you can relax and enjoy the summer... and speaking of summer and camps, don't forget to also download our free … [Read more...]
How 5 Rings Are Going to Make Me a Better Mom this Year
How many of you resolved to yell less at your kids this year? Actually, let me amend that, to just be nicer to your kids? I ask because I've seen a whole lot of stuff going around the web lately about how to stop yelling. Apparently yelling is the new spanking for our generation. I get it. Yelling at your kids totally sucks. Even while you're doing it you are already regretting it, yet you can't seem to make it stop. Nobody wants to parent that way - for sure. But I'd bet that most of … [Read more...]