Lawmakers in Olympia are considering two bills that would allow school districts to have school only four days a week. The school day would be longer, of course, but kids get a three-day weekend. According to this story from The Seattle P-I, the bill would…
Prior to having our first child nearly two weeks ago, my wife and I were fairly oblivious to the vast world of baby-related retail products. As we prepared for our little one's arrival, we ambled blankly through Babies-R-Us and other stores, wondering, at times aloud,…
Last spring, we made several trips to the dump (the Waste-to-Energy plant, I should say), gave away clothes that the kids had outgrown and donated toys and other items to the Arc of Spokane. But here we are again – overwhelmed with stuff, especially toys.…
Earlier this week, Washington’s new schools chief, Randy Dorn, talked about his plan to replace the WASL with two new tests – the “Measurements of Student Progress” and the “High School Proficiency Exams” – beginning in the spring of 2010. According to this Associated Press…
The kids are off to school; think I’ll fix myself a nice breakfast with a pot of tea. I go to the sink, and start to clean up the dishes before I sit and relax. How about some music? I go to the bedroom to…
I've been going through some journals I kept when my three oldest were all under five. I'm not sure how I stayed awake long enough to write because in almost every entry I mention trying desperately to get some sleep.One of my favorite entries starts:…
I brought my children to preschool/childcare two hours late today. Instead of rushing out the door, we sat in front of the television to watch as Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of our country.I know my kids are perhaps too young…
I’m not sure how it happens, but somewhere down the line, some of us actually forget the pain of childbirth. The memory of those stressful first months – learning how to breastfeed, changing diapers every hour, figuring out a schedule for the family -- also…
Awhile back we talked about kids and cell phones. But what about parents? What do you use your cell phone for-- is it your business phone, your primary number, or only used for emergencies?I've found my kids don't have a real grasp on what emergency…
Regular exercise not only keeps our children healthy. It also reduces stress, helps them sleep better and prepares them for the academic and emotional challenges they encounter in school. All kids over the age of 2 should get at least 60 minutes of exercise almost…
About one in 200 kids are vegetarian, according to estimates based on a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study. In this Associated Press story published earlier this week, Mike Stobbe reported the findings as well as the growing trend of vegetarianism among adolescents.…
The color pink might be damaging to girls, a recent BBC story suggests. In “Should we not dress girls in pink?” writer Clair Bates interviewed several people who believe it’s not healthy for girls to be “obsessed” with the color.“We are creating little fluffy pink…
Sometimes, it is easier to measure how much a child has learned through scores, a grade or something equally tangible.But as many of us have discovered, the numbers or grades don’t tell the whole story. They’re a snapshot of a moment, perhaps, but they’re certainly…
In China, a growing number of moms and dads are reading “Harvard Girl,” a book written by the parents of one of the first Chinese undergraduates to receive a full scholarship from the prestigious school. According to the Boston Globe story, “Chinese aim for the…
After more than two weeks of vacation, kids in Spokane County are getting yet another snow day. Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich and mayors Mary Verner of Spokane and Rich Munson of Spokane Valley urged schools to stay closed because they were concerned about kids walking to…
Last week I found a scrap of paper in which I'd written about the last time I rocked my youngest child in our rocking chair. Those five paragraphs brought back a wealth of memories. You can read it here: http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/jan/01/take-a-moment-jot-it-down/Some parents are avid picture takers,…
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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