Labor Day is the last hurrah before summer officially ends. But after Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, not to mention all the other summer parties, how can …[Read More...]
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10 Things Happy Moms Do Differently
"Today's feminism isn't about women doing it all. It's about women NOT having to do it all." - Gloria Steinem I began buying into the myth of "doing it all" at an early age. In my 20s, I had my checklist life in mind: start a lucrative career right after college, meet someone and fall in love, get married by age 30, get my career to a successful enough point that I …[Read More...]
Back to School Safety Tips for Younger Kids
TGIS – Thank Goodness It’s (almost) September! Parents rejoice, children groan. No matter how you feel about the end of summer va-cay, it’s definitely time to start gearing up for the start of a new school year. So, in between shopping for endless supplies (do I really need to buy more glue sticks?!) and the latest must-have fashions, take a few minutes to review some back …[Read More...]
Learning About Strangers – Educating Our Children Without Scaring Them
What provoked this “talking to strangers” conversation with my children? It was months ago when a high risk pedophile moved about a mile from our family. The man charged had kidnapped a child and harmed him. As a community we were scared and upset. We started petitions to help tighten Vermont laws that allowed these offenders into our state and neighborhoods. They …[Read More...]
It’s Ok To Let Our Kids Settle For “Good Enough”
When it comes to my kids, one of the things that stresses me out is this whole idea of “specializing.” Since my daughter was four or five, I've watched as many of her friends have streamlined their focus on piano or guitar, on club soccer or volleyball teams, on ice skating or acting or singing or swimming or tennis or dance. The stakes seem to get really high really …[Read More...]
10 Ways To Help Your Child Become A Better Writer
If your kids are like mine, they don't take well to their parents giving them advice on much of anything -- academics, athletics, you name it. In many ways, I am thankful for this. My kids are independent and have learned to do their homework on their own. But writing is a different story. But I had to step in recently to help my middle-schooler with a term paper that …[Read More...]
Kissing Kids on the Lips: Fine or Not?
I recently read an article that says that parents should not kiss their babies on the mouth, because it can be "sexual" or "stimulating." Well, look at this: Here is why I think this is fine. And not just me, plenty of other people think it's fine, too. People are hypocritical. In this article, a woman says that kissing …[Read More...]
Childhood Cancer – Fear Unlike Anything You’ve Ever Known
We partnered with Northwestern Mutual on this post. We had what many would see as the perfect life. Married with two young boys. A beautiful rural home with picturesque views and the calming peace that nature can bring to a person. The biggest nuisance we had to deal with was the morning sickness that I was experiencing after finding out only weeks earlier …[Read More...]
The Stranger You Know: How to Spot a Child Molester’s Tricks
Do you think you would be able to tell if a sexual predator was using deceptive “grooming techniques” to gain access to your child? In many instances, the red flags can practically be under our noses. Yet often, parents who learn that their child has been victimized will share the same reaction… “I had no idea… He was so nice… He didn’t look like a molester.” FACT #1 - …[Read More...]
Six Reasons to Have Six Kids
When people hear that I have six kids, the reaction is usually entertaining. Sure, there are some days when I wonder what I’ve gotten myself into, worry about the world they’ll inherit, and/or consider the environmental footprint of a family like mine. But most of the time I just celebrate how awesome it is to have six kids. Here are a few reasons why: 1. It’s …[Read More...]
Warning Signs During Late Pregnancy
As your body nears the end of your pregnancy, your mind will turn to the practical matters that need to be completed before your baby makes her arrival into your family. Preparing the nursery, the nesting instinct of cleaning your home and making lists of things to do and people to contact when your labor begins all help take your mind off the changes in your body and …[Read More...]
Bullies Don’t Take Summers Off
You’d think that once school ended, kids would get a break from bullying. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Bullies don’t take the summer off. In fact, many things that are hallmarks of summer are what can set up kids for being bullied which can take things from bad, to worse. Many places that kids hang out during the summer become a prime place for bullying: whether it …[Read More...]
Is My Child Being Bullied? How Do I Help?
When I walked in to my daughter attempting suicide due to extreme bullying, I was horrified and heartbroken. Most of all, I was surprised and felt guilty that I had missed that anything of this magnitude was happening in her life. Bullying has been around forever, heck, I was bullied as a kid, but bullying has changed so much. Social Media has made escaping bullying nearly …[Read More...]
How to Save Your Kid from Drowning
I Want To Tell You How It Feels To Be The Mom Of Bullied Kids
I want to tell you how it feels when your heart breaks as your beautiful child looks up at you and asks, “Mom, what’s wrong with me? Why doesn’t anyone like me?” I want to tell you how it feels when your daughter looks at at you with tears in her eyes and says, “He only asked me to dance to make fun of me.” I want to let you know how many excuses you can …[Read More...]
Trouble Eating During Pregnancy
To support the growth of your baby, you need to eat healthy, but sometimes your body throws you a curve ball, making it difficult. You may find yourself craving milkshakes and cheeseburgers instead of your usual nutritious fare. Other times, you may not want to eat at all. Though you may experience trouble eating during pregnancy, it's important to find ways for you to …[Read More...]