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Weigh In Wednesday. . . Today, I could really use your help. Although I have had 3 babies, it doesn’t take long before you begin to forget what was really useful during those days (and nights) of constant feedings, diaper changes, and lullabies. What baby items did you use for your babies that would make […]
My children and I love routine. They get excited about the things that we repeat week after week. When school started this year, we started Pizza and Movie Night on Fridays. It is something we look forward to all through the week. Because it has been so successful, I have given additional thought to including […]
My community has begun to cultivate a parent community through a series of workshops held in a local school. I went to the first one and came away with several things that I have stored away. One of my favorite things we did was to participate in an exercise where our facilitator asked us what […]
We spent all day on Sunday creating our Valentine cards.We went straight to one of our favorite resources for cool and easy crafts – FamilyFun.com! My oldest chose the Animal Lovers design. My son thought the V-alien-tine cards were “totally cool!” And my youngest girl fell in love instantly with Guppy Love. While we stuck […]
The last couple of years, I took the easy route when it came to Valentine’s Day. I bought whatever box of popular commercial cards was on sale in the store and called it good. This year, I want nothing more than for my children to choose their own unique style of valentine card and make […]
If you caught my last post, you probably noticed that my baby boy has been under the weather this week, but I am happy to report that he has recovered just in time for his 6th birthday today! I have started working out of the home recently and so this has been the first birthday […]
My children do not get sick very often. They do not have any chronic illnesses that cause them to see the doctor once a month. In fact, the last visit we had was for physicals for all 3 children about a year ago. However, that does not mean that we have not had enough practice […]
I have recently started working 2 days a week and it has upped the level of intensity during the hour between wakeup time and off-to-the-bus time. However, I do find that I try to streamline that hour a little bit more since I like very much to come home to a decent looking house (not […]
Yesterday, we got over a foot of snow here in Maine. It snowed from sun up to sun down, and since we needed to go out in our cars today, we had to put the snowblower into action. While the drive and sidewalk were being cleared, the kids and I put on our warmest winter […]
Monday is Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday and a great day to thank him for all the good he accomplished in his years of service to America and the world. Because of his courage in trying to promote equality among all men and all women, we enjoy a greater emphasis on an individual’s rights. He […]
I am taking the plunge and going back to work – at least part-time. I didn’t think I would want to do it, but now that I have the job and have worked a few days, I find myself really enjoying it and even looking forward to the days I work. However, it does mean […]
Now that Christmas is over, many people are beginning to receive bank statements and credit card statements and wondering, “What happened?” Even some with the best of intentions just could not seem to reign in the “Spirit of Giving” during the joyous holiday season. It is a great thing to give, but it is an […]
Up until last year, I had a dilemma concerning sibling gifts. I wanted my children to know the joy of giving to their siblings, but I had a terrible time trying to figure out how to work out the shopping trips alone and control the cost of the gifts. I read in a magazine how […]
Though it becomes increasingly difficult to round up your children when they get a little older and have started to become involved in so many activities outside of the house, it is still important that they see that living in a family is like being on a team. Everyone works together. Everyone contributes. By making […]
My little sister. She used to be a pest! She always told on me! She said I was mean, when I KNOW I was not!! She always said I had to have my way – Hmph!!! But you know what? Despite all of that, she has turned out pretty well – thanks to me, I’m […]
Once children begin school, they begin to learn some self-discipline. They have more responsibilities at school, so they should also be ready for more responsibilities at home. When a child reaches school age, they are ready to become more accountable for their own space and more understanding of their role at home. Below is a […]
Even when children are young, a certain amount of responsibility gives children a sense of place in a family. Everyone should be given the opportunity to learn what it means to contribute to the success of a family. Though scrubbing toilets may not be an appropriate task for a 3-year-old, there are several chores a […]
Although a 20-month-old is only learning how to be self-sufficient, he or she will welcome the chance to follow mom around with a dusting cloth or use a little handbroom to help sweep the floor. Young children consider chores to be a form of play. Who are we to take away a child’s fun, right?! […]
I once read an article about a woman who talked about her family’s tradition of giving at the holidays and how it began. Her son was a wrestler on his high school’s team. One day, the meet was against another school in a more impoverished district of the city. She recalled watching her son’s team […]
Today, Claire and I are headed to the Topsham Fire Station with our playgroup. I’ve taken my children almost every year since my first child was 18 months. I’ve never had a bad experience. The firefighters understand that it is part of their civic duty, to not only battle raging fires, but to educate our […]
Every family has their own set of values. Some things that are important to one family may not be quite as important to another family. Nothing demonstrates the differences that can arise in people’s ideologies like an election. We see people lining up on one side or the other, agreeing with one candidate’s philosophy and […]
Halloween is a time for you and your child to explore imagination and use creativity, but in case you are having a little trouble, here are some of the most common Halloween costumes for this year. Boys Batman Joker Iron Man Star Wars Harry Potter Transformers Spider Man Indiana Jones the Hulk Pirate Girls Hannah […]
Guest Blogger – Christina Poulsen As a stay-at-home mom on a budget, one of my favorite places to go with my daughter during the week is my local library. As I have mentioned before, I live in the country, and I need to drive a good 20-30 minutes to get to the nearest store. The […]
The month of October has the distinction of hosting Breast Cancer Awareness Month. No matter your age or your gender, breast cancer affects us all because of the devastation it wreaks on friends and loved ones. There are many ways you can show your support of the women, and even men, who have been diagnosed […]
Guest Blogger According to the Centers for Disease Control, hand washing is one of the best ways to limit the transfer of germs such as bacteria, viruses and microbes. That’s why it’s essential to wash your hands, especially: After using the bathroom After changing a diaper (Wash the diaper-wearer ‘s hands, too) After touching animals or […]