Now that the holidays are behind us, our home is once again full of toys.In the past, we tried to encourage our children to get rid of some of their stuff by donating a toy or two before bringing something new into the house. I…
At my house, gift-opening can be chaotic -- especially during the holidays. As much as I try to get my kids to pace themselves, they end up ripping through boxes and gift wrap so quickly that it's sometimes hard for me to keep track of…
Getting ready to ski can be downright painful.It's hard enough at times to get myself outfitted for the weather, but it becomes even more challenging when I have to cajole my 3- and 6-year-olds into long underwear, snowsuits, gloves, helmets and other ski gear. My…
My eldest child's baby book is chock full of information -- from ultrasound pics and our family history to minute-by-minute details of his birth as well as photographs and copious notes on the first time he did anything.Then our daughter was born three years later.…
With so many people afraid to lose their jobs, some moms who work outside the home feel as though they have no choice but to skip their kids' sports games, winter concerts and other events.If a child needs to go to the doctor's, they tell…
The other day something happened, can't remember what, but I said, "Oh crap." "Mom," my 8-year old son said, "you're not supposed to say that." Well, it was better than what I really wanted to say. While attending a Christian boarding school, I knew that…
While some tech-savvy kids have been using the computer since preschool or even toddlerhood, there are still a significant number of children out there who have limited access to technology. These are the kids who stay after school to use the computers or who have…
Lots of families have tighter budgets this year. For many, that means fewer gifts under the Christmas tree.Instead of feeling guilty or worried about not being able to buy your children the toys and other stuff on their wish list, experts say use this experience…
People expecting a child can now get professional help as they design their nursery, baby-proof their home and even shop for maternity clothes.Baby planning services are apparently growing in popularity, according to a recent Associated Press story. The article noted that as many as 60…
Some preschoolers in home-based daycares spend as many as two hours a day in front a television, according to a study that was the focus of an Associated Press article last week.Seventy-percent of the home daycares and 36 percent of the centers acknowledged that they…
Students in Washington state aren’t required to take a personal finance class to graduate, but with the current economic crisis, more people want to make it a priority.In response to an article I wrote this week for The Spokesman about financial literacy and children, Matt…
When your child is struggling with homework, what do you do?All parents want to help, of course, but once in a while, it's not unheard of for a mom or dad to give too much help. Instead of guiding their kids along, they end up…
I used to dread going to restaurants with my children. They could never sit still, even if I brought books and toys or paper and crayons. After five minutes, they would want to walk around or stand in the booth and bother the nearby diners.…
It's become a common question when planning for family dinner parties, playdates or even when sharing snacks on the playground: Does your child have any allergies?I always ask. At my daughter's preschool, peanut butter isn't allowed. Teachers also offer soy milk to the kids who…
With the economic downturn and the mounting pressures at school, kids are experiencing more stress these days than in the previous year, according to a new national survey released earlier this month by the American Psychological Association.Parents, however, remain unaware of their children's stress levels.According…
I love math. Really, I do. I think there's something comforting about the exactness of numbers and the way certain patterns are predictable.I also love science and teaching my kids about the natural world. That's why I was a little dismayed to see this Intel…
Laurie Rogers, one of the original members of The Spokesman-Review's Parents' Council, requested that we post this information on the blog:"Spokane Public Schools is undergoing a high school mathematics curriculum adoption process. District administrators have been intentional about inviting public comment before formal decisions are…
At my house, my husband is the fun guy – the dad who lets the kids climb trees, take risks and get a little wild. I’m the nurturer, I’d like to think, but I know my son thinks I’m a little uptight compared to his…
When a friend of mine found out that she was pregnant, she wanted to tell everyone –friends, family, even strangers on the street. But despite all her excitement, she decided to wait a little while before sharing the news at work. She knew that her…
As a kid, I would always have a pillowcase full of candy after trick-or-treating on Halloween. I would dump it out and sort through my heap, creating smaller piles of KitKats, Hersheys and other candybars. I also would have a miscellaneous pile for Jolly Ranchers,…
A friend recently passed along this New York Times article that made me really think about my actions as a parent. In “For Some Parents, Shouting is the New Spanking,” writer Hilary Stout explores the way some parents punish their kids by yelling.“I’ve worked with…
When most moms think of pregnancy, they have memories of food cravings, weight gain, fatigue, maybe stretch marks and bloated ankles. As much as I loved being pregnant and feeling my baby kick in my womb, there were also moments toward the end when it…
Poor Falcon. In this YouTube video, as his father gets interviewed by the Today Show, the little boy who was part of the balloon hoax last Friday literally starts vomiting on camera. His brothers look horrified as he pukes all over them. His mother, meanwhile,…
We all make sacrifices as parents. Some of us put careers on hold. Others postpone education, trips and other opportunities. Most of us go without some of the luxuries we once had before kids in order to pay for preschool, save for college, or sometimes,…
Every once in a while, my husband takes my kids to McDonald’s. We’ve talked a lot about fast food – how it’s fattening, unhealthy, bad for the planet, etc. But it’s no longer a mystery to my kids. At 3 or so, it seemed that…
This blog is intended to provide a forum for parents to share knowledge and resources. It's a place for parents young and old to combine their experiences raising families into a collective whole to help others.
