“Mommy, Mommy, I want to have a play date with Jessica today,” your daughter says in a whiny voice while pulling at your brand-new, expensive shirt. “Today is not a good day; Mommy has to go to the doctor,” you say. Your daughter drops to the ground, screaming and yelling…
Living with a teenager is challenging in and of itself; trying to assist a student who may not want help is even more difficult. Teens desire nothing more than independence from their parents. They crave autonomy even though they still want parental feedback and approval. Teens are known for testing…
None of us want “spoiled” kids – kids who are bratty, self-centered, demanding, inconsiderate. So, what spoils children and what doesn’t? When I was raising my children, I was often told that I would spoil them if I didn’t let them cry – if I held them a lot. Fortunately,…
Kids are getting played when it comes to taking a break at school. Yes, they’re there to learn reading, ‘riting and ‘rithmetic – but what about that fourth “R,” recess? Many schools are doing away with kids’ sole opportunity to give their brains a break during the day in favor…
You’ve got the reading and ‘riting down – but what about that last R, ‘rithmetic? Math has changed since those days when future moms completed worksheet after worksheet and worked out addition, subtraction, multiplication and division tables – without the aid of a calculator. Math, thankfully, has become more hands-on…
More women than ever are the sole caregiver for their children, and that’s really OK. If you’re one of the many single moms out there, then you may worry about whether or not you’re giving your children everything they need – emotionally and in other ways. Experts say not to…
Dessert takes on a new meaning when you try to work the word “healthy” into it. You can tell by the looks on your husband and kids’ faces that they have visions of dry, hard, granola bars and vegetables masquerading as dessert. But you can spin a lot of healthful…
It’s never too early to start teaching your children about the value of heart health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated one in every four deaths can be attributed to heart disease. February marks National Heart Health month, and it’s important to teach your children…
Being a parent can be chaotic enough, but having a spouse who’s reluctant to help with the kids and chores can really up the stress meter. Dividing chores and responsibilities is one of the challenges of living with a partner, and not surprisingly, it’s one of the things couples bicker…
Grandparents Day began with the idea of honoring the elderly and championing the cause of the lonely in nursing and retirement homes. Marian McQuade, a housewife from West Virginia, brainstormed the idea, which was later to become a nationally recognized holiday, thanks to Jimmy Carter in 1978. Now the holiday…