Since my son was born, I feel I have always been that “comparison parent” who likes to know if my son’s growth development is right in line with others. [Read more...]
289 total views, 56 views today
Welcome to the Parent Club. Now, Have a Seat!
April 29, 2013 By 12 Comments
My world had been very different before I had a baby. The freedom! Oh I could do absolutely anything I wanted at anytime. I worked really hard (sometimes too hard) and played really hard too. I didn’t have anyone else to think about except myself.
Now she’s got one. As Bart Simpson would say: “Heh,heh.” [Read more...]
3,008 total views, 6 views today
What Is Anxiety In Children And When Would It Be A Problem?
April 22, 2013 By 19 Comments
Anxiety is expressed in three interrelated ways: cognitive, physiological and behavioral symptoms. The cognitive component is the way the person’s thoughts process the dangerous situation. It’s that worrisome, pessimistic voice, forecasting doom and failure. “You’ll never pass that test.” The physiological, or biological, symptoms of anxiety are the body’s instinctive gear-up for “fight or flight.” Changes may include nausea, headaches, muscle tension, rapid heart rate, palpitations, hot flashes, etc. This is the cause of the stomach aches that assail your daughter every morning five minutes before the bus pulls up. [Read more...]
4,211 total views, 3 views today
Parenting Perspective Before Parenthood
April 21, 2013 By 23 Comments
My world had been very different before I had a baby. The freedom! Oh I could do absolutely anything I wanted at anytime. I worked really hard (sometimes too hard) and played really hard too. I didn’t have anyone else to think about except myself. [Read more...]
3,830 total views, 3 views today
Shocking Child Care Practices in the Bygone Age
April 14, 2013 By 20 Comments
I’ve recently started watching a show set in England during the 50s, called “Call the Midwife,” which has shocked me beyond belief at the parenting styles of the time. I had to call my mother-in-law, who’s English and ask her if this was all true, because I really could not believe it! [Read more...]
3,413 total views, no views today
The Dad Who Went Through a C-Section
April 10, 2013 By 17 Comments
The anxiety of labor pains in the living room was quickly replaced by enthusiasm at the at the admissions desk. For him, it had been nine months of excitement and nerves laced with awkward moments of phantom symptoms and helplessness. Forty weeks intertwining the role of supportive husband with that of expectant father. As involved as he was in the process of preparing his emotional and physical world for the child to come, without a baby in his belly he couldn’t help but always feel more a passenger than a driver. [Read more...]
3,171 total views, 12 views today
How to Overcome Potential Defeat As a Parent
April 6, 2013 By 10 Comments
Parenthood is full of twists. As your children grow so do your adventures. The unique indoor tantrums, the mishaps, the funny moments, and all the wonderful events that make you think, “what was I thinking?” while at the same moment you know that deep down you wouldn’t change any part of it for anything in the world! [Read more...]
3,964 total views, 1 views today
How to Not Lose Yourself in Your Role as a Working Parent
April 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Note: For the purposes of simplicity, this article assumes fathers occupy most often the role of “working parent”; while mothers are more frequently “staying at home”. It is understood these role are not only interchangeable, but are becoming less defined and more intermingled. Also – again, solely for the purposes of clarity – this article defines “working parent” as the parent who devotes the majority of the work week to tasks outside the home, not directly related to child-rearing. It is understood raising children constitutes ‘work’ as much as any for-income profession. [Read more...]
1,749 total views, 9 views today
Children and Grief: Embrace or Hide It?
April 2, 2013 By 2 Comments
When my mother died last month, I wasn’t sure what I might do to help my ten-year-old son. I made the choice not to hide my grief. I could see Zed struggling with ways to comfort me. Extra hugs. Extra I love you’s. Three days after her death, we went to visit my father in Oregon and Zed saw for himself that she was gone. His grief was intense, his tears coming as he lay alone in the quiet of his bed. My father was a comfort to him, helping him experience his emotions and then finding a way to rest his tears for another day. I write about the impact of that experience in my My Boy’s Grief. [Read more...]
3,537 total views, 1 views today
10 Wonderful Excuses You Can Have Just for Being a Parent
March 21, 2013 By 1 Comment
Being a parent really has its advantages. It’s not just the kids who can make up excuses, but parents as well. Here are 10 helpful parenting excuses I’ve heard so far: [Read more...]
3,411 total views, 9 views today
How to Raise Creative Children
March 10, 2013 By Leave a Comment
When you become a parent, ideas swirl in your head of what you will and won’t do with your children.
I’ll raise strong, independent, motivated kids who think for themselves and are successful.
I’ll raise free-thinkers who don’t follow the beaten path but forge their own in this world.
I’ll raise children with amazing manners who are caring, kind and full of heart. [Read more...]
6,727 total views, 2 views today
How to Effectively Be a Work at Home Parent, While Keeping Your Sanity
March 3, 2013 By 7 Comments
Being a parent isn’t always easy, especially when a job is involved. I currently have four kids and three businesses. I learned early on that although it was difficult, there are some great tricks that make things easier. I’d like to share three of those with you today. [Read more...]
6,787 total views, 2 views today
20 Ways to Date Your Child
February 26, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Our society has so many distractions that it can actually be a challenge to ignore the emails, resist the urge to text message, or stay off our iPhone for carved out periods throughout the day. Regardless of age, our children need our undivided attention and the following ideas can help parents and children savor quality time without the interruption of technology. Use some of these day date ideas to fill your child’s love tank and help you to remember the meaning of true quality time with your little ones. [Read more...]
5,495 total views, 16 views today
The Best Time to Parent is Now
February 20, 2013 By 5 Comments
In those first moments of motherhood, life seemed so simple. My baby ate, slept and pooped. Quickly the years passed, the kids multiplied and my home now holds four daughters from preschool to high school. [Read more...]
2,747 total views, no views today
Creating a Productive Working Relationship With Your Child’s Teacher
February 18, 2013 By 9 Comments
Many parents think no news is good news when it comes to your child’s education. While this is often the case, it’s always a good idea to establish a productive working relationship with your child’s teacher, so if concerns arise, they can be handled in the best interest of your child. [Read more...]
5,296 total views, 1 views today
Enduring the Unthinkable: A Story of Loss from a Dad’s Point of View
February 11, 2013 By 6 Comments
I wish I had known how my life would change after losing a baby I never met. My wife was only 16 weeks pregnant, and we had just seen the doctor for a check-up two weeks earlier. Besides taking a bit longer than normal in finding the heartbeat, the appointment went well. My wife was over 35 in 2011, so we had done an early ultrasound, which showed no markers for any chromosomal abnormalities. In fact, her risk factors were characteristic of someone who was 20 years old, so we were confident. [Read more...]
3,985 total views, 1 views today
How to Become a Successful Supermom
February 6, 2013 By 2 Comments
Many women are mothers but not all are Supermoms. The Supermoms are an elite group of women who take their roles as mothers very seriously and place it highest in their priorities. The role of “mommy” is their main role.
More often than not, women seek the desired title of Supermom but can’t quite seem to achieve it. Due to the critical nature of women, many really are Supermoms but they just don’t realize it. Being a Supermom isn’t as hard as one may think but it takes perseverance, dedication and patience at a level which surpasses that of an “ordinary” mother. [Read more...]
3,235 total views, 2 views today
How Moms Can Maintain a Positive Attitude
February 5, 2013 By Leave a Comment
A mother’s attitude is everything. A mother’s attitude will affect the entire flow of the rest of the family. When something has upset a mother, not only does the spouse feel it but the children do too. When a mom is excited about something, the kids are typically thrilled about it too, even if they don’t understand it. Many times, the “secret” to maintaining positive energy in the home is for the mom to keep her mood in check and maintain a positive attitude. Some may say that under their own personal circumstances, this is nearly impossible if not entirely difficult. While it may be that for some mothers, due to the trials of life, it is harder for them to not be pessimistic, it is not impossible for them to make an effort and see what happens. [Read more...]
5,061 total views, no views today
7 Ways to Thrive with Multiple Little Children
January 15, 2013 By 2 Comments
Life with little ones can be hard. No, it IS hard. In fact, life with multiple little ones can seem like more than we can bear.
As a mama to three little ones under four years old, I can sympathize. I have an 8 month old, a 2 year old, and a nearly-4 year old. We have certainly had our rough times. I can say with certainty, that it gets easier! [Read more...]
1,594 total views, 2 views today
Four Ways Single Moms Can Stay Happy
December 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment
A happy Mommy has happy children. It is important to enjoy life so you can teach your children to also enjoy life. Being a single parent, or any parent for that matter, is not easy. There are all kinds of stresses to bring you down: work, bills, loneliness. Here are a few of ways to stay happy. [Read more...]
705 total views, 5 views today
5 Innovative Ways Parents Can Use a Kitchen Timer to Restore Order
December 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Parenting is a challenging job any day…but when your kids are fighting with each other and can’t seem to get along, here’s a quick fix solution that can restore balance and harmony to their day and yours.
All you need is an old-fashioned kitchen timer. In each instance, add one minute to the age of the youngest child involved and set the timer. For example, your son is eight and your daughter is six. They have been arguing about who will get to go first in the game they want to play…and even though you have admonished them, they are starting to push each other. You will be setting the timer for seven minutes…six plus one equals seven. [Read more...]
925 total views, 1 views today
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