Today's post is brought to you by MPMK's newest sponsor, Upromise, a company dedicated to helping parents find small ways to do a really big thing- save for college!If you're not familiar with how the Upromise program works, here's a quick 1-minute video to get you up to speed on how the things you already do every day, from shopping online to ordering pizza for movie night, can earn you money for your child's college fund.Check out the Upromise program today and then check out these … [Read more...]
Parenting Styles: Navigating The Eye Roll, Seven Years Early
With all the different parenting styles, it can be no joke figuring out how to discipline a toddler.Jessica is here today with our parenting section, newly re-named Parenting Styles, with some great insight on what to do when your toddler starts acting like a teenager. I read this great article the other day that was wildly reassuring to my future self, the one who's a mom of a teenage girl.It covered the many purposes that the ol’ eye roll serves in the life of an adolescent. And they … [Read more...]
8 Best Books for Raising Financially Responsible Kids
If your child has ever suggested you just pay with your credit card when you said you couldn't afford something or wondered why your family vacations are less grandiose than the neighbors (or cousins!), you know how early money education can and should start.There's so much you want your child to know about money before they leave home, whether it's about spending and saving, investing, interest rates, and real estate. And frankly, if you're like me, there are some of those things you're a … [Read more...]
Friday Find: “Screenagers” Documentary
The "Screenagers" documentary poster on a wall outside the theater at Sir Francis Drake High School in San Anselmo, California, on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016.Photo: Connor Radnovich, The Chronicle Have you guys seen the preview for this new documentary? It looks amazing (and also a little terrifying).As a mom who started having kids at almost exactly the same time that the smartphone was born, the issue of kids and screens is one that I think about A LOT. I agree whole-heartedly with the … [Read more...]
Parenting: The Ongoing Lesson of Appreciation
When each of our four kids was born, we set up a savings account in their names.Every month, we toss in a bit of money – and I mean a bit, especially now that it’s split four ways – with the idea that one day, when they’re older, we’ll gift them each with whatever we’ve managed to put aside in their name.We haven’t thought out the particulars – maybe it’ll help them pay for their first car or part of a college education, or maybe we’ll just surprise them with it after graduation – but … [Read more...]
Parenting: When Modeling Good Behavior Backfires
It sounds like such a great parenting philosophy – modeling good behavior. Treat others as you want to be treated, and show those little hurricanes zooming around the house what it means to live consciously and kindly.Show them what it means to be patient, to be kind, to be generous. Show them how to have a healthy relationship with food and fitness and technology. Show them how to be a happy, healthy, functioning person.It’s what I strive for, and boy, I’m constantly falling short. I … [Read more...]
Parenting: The “Summer Baby” Kindergarten Conundrum
It's January and for many parents that means it's time to start thinking about school registration for next year. Jessica's back today with a parenting topic that strikes close to home for me- when to officially start your "summer baby" in school. Our middle child was born in July so we wrestled with this ourselves and were surprised by the factors that came into play... academic readiness and social readiness, definitely, as well as if kindergarten will be full day or half day.What it … [Read more...]
Parenting: When Kids Dish Out (Your) Attitude
Image Credit: © Donnie Ray Jones | Elsa's Getting Mad | CC by 2.0It’s a startling thing to see this whole parenting thing – specifically, your whole parenting thing – from the perspective of the kids you’re parenting. Kids are sponges, I know, but it turns out, their innate talent for picking up on your curse word slip (whoops) is the least of it.Our oldest son is eight, and our oldest daughter is six. And we are dealing with all kinds of attitude these days. I’m hip to the testing … [Read more...]
12 Ways To Make Mornings With Kids Easier
I am not a morning person. Anyone in my family (or extended family) can attest to that. In fact, I know this sounds crazy... but getting up early is one of the things I dreaded most about having children.I mean, I am a CHAMP at sleeping. I can sleep until late afternoon if no one wakes me up.But alas, they do. Every. Single. Morning.And now that the school year is in full-swing, there's just now way around it.The good news? I've learned a few tricks over the years. Tricks that … [Read more...]