I had so much fun sharing my new songs at the CD Release Party. "For me, creating the music and working with my family is as important as the finished product." Be Nice to Mommy Volume 2: It's Elementary was a labor of love. Thanks to all of you who made the effort to come out to support me on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. For those who were not able to attend, watch the video below for the highlights, including snippets of the songs! Hope you enjoy wat...
Kids grow up and inspire new music
What have I been doing the last three years? Gathering inspiration for new material. When I produced Be Nice to Mommy Volume 1, I had twins in preschool and a first grader. Now my twin daughters are in third grade and my other daughter is in middle school. We are no longer potty training or remembering to wash hands now. We moved on to homework, after school activities, monitoring screen time and mending broken limbs. T
It's back to school time and I'm already anticipating the chaos of that first week. New schedule, new forms, new teachers. I've been through it before, a few times actually, so I know things will work out in the end, but I still get anxious about all the changes that inevitably result from school starting back each year. I remember the difficult adjustment the first year well, and hope to help others cope more easily by sharing some of my observations and ...
I try not to judge other parents as I don't like to be judged myself. However, on the rare occasion I hire a babysitter to go out to eat without my kids, I don't want to be surrounded by the same type of chaos I thought I left at home.
I really look forward to adult conversation and a quiet meal on those evenings.
It is extremely irritating to sit near a family with unruly kids when I've gone to great lengths to take a break from my own. And even mor...
"This year I'll do it right"
I'm certainly going to try anyway. I usually feel like it's a miracle when my kids get to school on time. With all that's involved with getting them dressed, fed and organized, my house is chaos in the morning. But I hear the hours before school doesn't have to be a mad dash. Here are some back to school tips for less chaotic mornings from other, seemingly more organized moms. I plan to put into effect for the 2019-20...
It's easy to understand why parents are stressed in today's fast paced world. Many of us are frazzled trying to juggle schedules, meals, homework and more, intent on providing our children with opportunities to succeed. At the same time, we work to achieve in our jobs and relationships as well. Some of us turn to yoga to destress which works well for many people. I've tried it, but for me, it's too slow. I make the effort to squeeze a class into my schedul...
I loved going to the library as a kid.
It was an adventure - a quiet one, but still an adventure. I spent hours leisurely looking through the shelves for interesting stories until I found a few special ones to bring home. My mom was very patient and encouraged me to take my time making my selections. These books transported me to all sorts of interesting places and introduced me to a wide variety of people. I remember feeling very grown up wh...
Ugh. My little angel picks her nose and eats it. So gross. Why does she do it? And what should I do about it?
Why Kids Eat Boogers
Behavior
First of all, nose-picking is entirely normal. This is particularly true for young children who do not have a firm handle on social skills that would otherwise prevent them from picking their nose in public. They learn what is considered acceptable behavior and what isn't as they grow and learn, often ...
My parents put both me and my sister in piano lessons as a kid. My sister was a natural; she played beautifully and it came easily to her. I, on the other hand, was definitely not a natural. My parents insisted I practice every day for 30 minutes, which I hated and did not seem to help me improve. Day after day, they patiently listened to my terrible playing without complaint. For five years they encouraged me to continue saying I would thank them someday...
If you are a parent who encourages their child to play outside, good for you. Children need to be outdoors in the fresh air and sunshine! But your child may not be happy about being dragged away from a favorite TV show or video game. When they ask for ideas about what they should do outside, be prepared with some good answers.
Things for your child to do outdoors
(this list includes some activities to do alone and some with friends)
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