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
"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...
Memories of when I would "go outside and play"
As a kid I was allowed to roam the neighborhood on my own by either foot or bicycle at a relatively early age. We did not have the safety net of gps tracking devices or cell phones. We had a limited area we were allowed to cover and we respected the rules. And we didn't wear helmets, though I admit requiring gear to protect your head makes good sense for both kids and adults.
Most of the time, we played...
Creativity takes time.
Children live very busy, scheduled lives these days, and moms, whether they work inside the home or out, also lead hectic lives. Free time to hard to come by for most of us. Creativity requires a block of time; it's not something that can be squeezed in between soccer practice and dinner.
It's no surprise American kids are no longer as creative as they once were. Besides being busy, we live in a world obsessed with ...
Adorable, easy and completely customizable. Did I mention delicious? Kids love fruit rollups!
If you are looking for a fun project to do with your children for Valentine's Day, this one is perfect. You will all get a little sticky, but the end result makes it worthwhile. You could even make these for the kids to hand out in school (if the school allows). Write a special note and place in a small clear plastic bag tied with red ribbon for a unique valentin
Bonus: They'll be happier adults too.
A friend recently confided in me that her son, age 7, is "such a softie." She cherishes his tenderness but worries he isn't learning to be, in her words, tough. In the current climate of individualism and look-at-me culture, it makes sense that parents would choose to groom their children in grit over politeness, but parenting experts say they need both. Mettle and resilience shouldn't develop at the expense o
I try very hard to let my kids fail so they will learn to cope with life’s difficulties with grace. I hope you try to do so too. When I say “try”, it’s because I am well aware how difficult it is to stand back while your child struggles. Hard as it is, it’s important; in real life there are winners and losers. Not everyone gets a trophy.
We all want our kids to be resilient. We also want them to have happy wonderful perfect lives. These two de...
It's not uncommon for a child to remain silent about being picked on at school. It's embarrassing. You may want to look for signs that can cue you in to a bullying issue.
My son was bullied in sixth grade. The boy using the locker next to his assigned one punched him in the stomach every morning for months before I found out. I was surprised he didn't tell me as we talked about this type of situation before school started and the importance of...
Get ready to have some fun in a blissfully climate-controlled setting. We'll be continually updating this list, so let us know about your favorites. Important note: Some pay-to-play centers may not be open on weekends because they host parties, so be sure to check on hours in advance.
Pay-to-play spots
CooCoos
This Plano attraction abounds with bounce houses of all shapes and sizes including giant versions of a gorilla, alligator and octopus.
There's a fine line between thoughtless or selfish actions and true bullying among young children.
If your child is a preschooler, their overly assertive actions may simply be a way of testing the boundaries of what's acceptable. They are still learning basic social skills and figuring out how to manage their own emotions. To some extent, easing and grabbing are part of every little kid's development. At this age, a kid acts less deliberately ...
