In some ways, exercising was a lot easier when the kids were infants. First, they weighed a lot less. Second, they napped a lot more. Rides in the baby jogger would lull them to sleep. They also didn’t fuss too much – we gave them…
A friend who recently took his family to Disneyland shared this great tip with me: “A dad took a Sharpie and wrote his cell number on his son's upper arm. So if the kid got lost, all he had to do was show an adult…
A recent story on msnbc.com asserts that the children of my generation – those born between 1965 and 1977 – are among the rudest in history. “Today’s tykes: Secure kids or rudest in history?” claims that Gen X moms and dads have forsaken compassion and…
How do you celebrate Mother's Day when you are a mom and your mom lives close by?
Mother’s Day can be a lot of pressure – especially on dads and adult children. When the holiday comes around – and it’s happening this Sunday – people find themselves scrambling to find the perfect gift. They send flowers, buy chocolates, purchase certificates to the…
When parents talk about getting their babies to sleep through the night, crying it out or co-sleeping are the two options that are often mentioned. A column on Times Online, which is the website for The Times and The Sunday Times newspapers in the United…
Some kids “read” the newspaper long before they can actually read. While my husband and I take turns reading the Local and Business sections of the Sunday newspaper, the little ones at my house fight over the full-color Comics section. They love Dennis the Menace…
Great news for children and breastfeeding moms: Nursing your child in public in now a civil right – one that’s protected by Washington’s anti-discrimination law. In his article today, “Law protects mothers’ right to nurse in public,” Spokesman-Review reporter Rich Roesler covered the signing into…
Spokane Police are looking for a couple who punched a security guard at Safeway after trying to shoplift about $18 worth of diapers, according to today’s story in The Spokesma-Review, “Huggies theft may be linked to the recession.” The incident, which happened last week, is…
This excellent piece in The Oregonian – “Two parents, two kids, two jobs … and only 24 hours in a day” – shows in detail the day-to-day struggles of working middle-class families. The Garretts have to scramble just to survive. Dad works during the day.…
I’m a fan of hand-me-downs. Most of the stuff that my kids own – from winter coats and hats to toys -- have been used by others. In the last few years, my son and daughter have been the recipients of stylish, gently worn clothing…
Since I started working part-time from home almost two years ago, I noticed a disturbing trend: I’m constantly on the computer. I turn it on first thing in the morning after snuggling with my kids, then sneak a peek at Facebook, my three e-mail accounts…
When my son was almost 4 and my daughter was 13 months old, our family traveled to Nicaragua for a two-week vacation. Although we had flown before as a family -- to Alaska and Mexico and other places with our children, that flight to Nicaragua…
In today's paper, a few paragraphs sum up the lonely death of a year-old baby.No matter how many times I read stories like this it still takes my breath away. I think about this little boy. Did he cry for his mother? Of course he…
I once had a colleague who thought there were too many perks for moms. Single and in her early 50s, “H” just didn’t think it was fair that mothers got benefits that included maternity leave and other “advantages” that weren’t available to other employees. So…
In an article in this month’s Atlantic, contributing editor Hannah Rosin discussed a dilemma she faced when hanging out with other moms: “In my playground set, the urban moms in their tight jeans and oversize sunglasses size each other up using a whole range of…
When my son was 2, he used to play with dolls. Now at 5, he wouldn’t be caught anywhere near one. I never discouraged him to stop playing with dolls – in fact, I prefer them to the superhero action figures – but somewhere along…
I’m trying to put together a story about the “mommy brain drain” and the efforts of a local consultant – a mom of three children – to help companies become more family-friendly. Even during these tough economic times, there are businesses out there who value…
I went to my women’s group this morning and brought my kids along. Although my friends are very patient with me and my little ones, socializing at other people’s homes can be a lot of work. Instead of visiting with my women’s group today, I…
I am considering going back to work full time outside of the home. Our children are 12 (almost 13), 8 and 8. My husband works out of state on a 2-on and 2-off work schedule. Any advice? Childcare?
A friend asked me to post this question:What is the norm for tipping these days? A friend who works in the restaurant business says that 20% is now the norm. What do you tip your hairdresser, pizza delivery? How much do you pay your babysitter…
A friend asked me to post this question:Do parents structure their kids' days during the summer months, such as working with them on reading, math, writing, etc.?What are your ideas for planning your summer and fitting learning in?
For nearly three decades, Gail Lampert has been working with children and parents at the South Spokane Co-Op. She started out as one of the moms who brought her three children to the preschool. She grew to love the co-op so much that she became…
Across the country, child-care centers that were once full are now watching their enrollment numbers drop. With the poor economy, parents are pulling their kids out of child care or after-school care to save money. Some parents have lost their jobs and are now staying…
The Spokane County Child Passenger Safety Team will offer free car seat checks this Saturday (3/21) at Wendle Ford, 9000 N. Division, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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.
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