Tuesday, May 21, 2013
As you give your child an extra hug, send out your thoughts to Oklahoma and share what makes the educators in your child’s life special.
Last week, I had the opportunity visit with a few children at the Excelsior Farmers Market. Not surprising, they knew the exact number of days left until summer break. While many of our kids in Minnesota are eyeing the calendar with anticipation for summer break, I was reminded this week how much we owe our educators. As parents, we send our children off to school each morning expecting another typical school day until we pick them up. It becomes a parents worst nightmare when unexpected tragedies and circumstances hit a school – situations that seem to have been all too common nationwide during the 2013-2013 school year. Yet, time and time again, we hear about educators that put their life on the line to save those students they are …
Friday, April 26, 2013
Which have you used to cover your baby?
No matter how old your kids are – diaper changing always seems to make its way back into the rotation as friends and family bring new little ones into their lives. And, I have yet to change a baby wearing cloth diapers. Most of my friends and family have opted for the convenience of a disposable diaper. However, it appears the cloth diaper continues to be a popular choice for many. For example, a group of Twin Cities parents that joined together recently for the “Great Cloth Diaper Change” event – or the Burnsville-based business that sells cloth diapers. So, before I continue to share my parenting “wisdom” with family and friends with little ones – which do you choose for your child? Disposable or cloth? SHARE: Which is better – cloth …
Thursday, March 28, 2013
What are your tips?
Whether you are a stay-at-home parent, working full or part time, finding enough hours in the day can be tough. Honestly, my parents made it look so easy. Or, maybe I just didn’t appreciate at the time the planning and coordination parenthood can take on a daily basis. And, trust me. It doesn’t stop when your kids are teenagers. So, what is a parent to do? How do you plan your day with some sense of organization? Huffington Post recently posted a new article, “Time Management: 6 Tricks For Parents To Stay On Track” with tips such as encouraging parents “schedule serendipity space” and “don’t fall into the multitasking trap.” My favorite tip, however, is to “pause before saying yes.” Four simple words, yet difficult to follow – at least …
Thursday, December 13, 2012
The winter break hiatus from school is coming up soon for kids. How will you embrace the break?
I’m assuming most youth attending school – from elementary to high school – are ready and waiting anxiously for the upcoming winter break. While kids of all ages tend to look forward to a break from school, sometimes it can be a little challenging for parents. From finding alternate daycare to combating the “there is nothing to do” phrase or just being the sole source of transportation, winter break from school can be both a blessing and a curse for parents. This week, we’re asking parents to help out each other this holiday season. SHARE: What ideas do you have for kids and families to do during winter break? What are your favorite “go to” places in the winter months? How do you handle daycare challenges? Share your ideas and thoughts in …
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Are parent’s attitudes from the stands rubbing off on players?
During one of the first years my son played baseball, I remember a parent from an opposing team who routinely sat as close as he could to the field and constantly yelled at his son. No matter what his 9-year-old son did, apparently it was wrong in his father’s eyes. I felt bad for the kid, his teammates and, well, pretty much everyone that had to listen to it. I couldn't wait for the game to be over. Fast-forward to recently and we hear of incidents of player infractions such as recent fighting on the field during a Totino-Grace High School and Prairie Seeds Academy boys varsity soccer game. The competition in youth sports has seems like it is at a point where more parents are trying to “coach” from the stands and players might be taking …
Thursday, September 6, 2012
If a child is convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, should the parent be held accountable as well?
As I check out the news each week, it’s not uncommon to hear news about juveniles being cited for breaking the law. Whether it’s allegations of underage drinking, drug possession or a variety of other crimes, there is no ignoring that some of our juvenile population are causing some trouble (as are adults). According to the U.S. Department of Justice 2009 data, U.S. law enforcement agencies made an estimated 1.9 million arrests of persons younger than 18 years old. In this week’s Parent Talk, we ask for you to take our poll and share in comments – should parents be held accountable for their children’s delinquent behavior?
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Is there a toy you avoid buying because it’s too creepy or scary?
I swear it was possessed. Furby. That furry little menace always sat idly and quiet on my daughter’s shelf when she was younger. However, the minute I walked into her room or even just walked by, Furby would start talking and doing his creepy thing. It wouldn’t have been a toy I would have ever brought into our home willingly – just the gremlin-like look of it was disturbing enough. It was one of those gifts from a relative that you try to tolerate – for a while. Eventually Furby happened to find its way into the bottom of the box of toys during a move. To this day, I’m still fairly certain I removed Furby’s batteries before it went into the box. The minute we loaded the boxes in the van, we could still hear Furby trying to interact with …
Thursday, March 22, 2012
A Prevention of School Bullying task force is studying bullying in Minnesota, but can new policies and laws help prevent the problem?
When I was in junior high more than 20 years ago, bullying existed. I remember two girls in my seventh grade junior high choir class – and yes, I can still picture their faces and remember their names – which routinely made it their mission in life to pick on others. I, like many others, just tried to avoid these two girls as much as possible – which didn’t always work. Fast-forward more than 20 years and it doesn’t seem like a lot has changed. We still hear stories of bullying incidents time and time again. I do think some schools are being more proactive in telling students and parents what to do about bullying incidents. But, I don’t know if the culture has changed much in some schools. There are still circumstances where some schools …
Thursday, February 16, 2012
We teach our children about “stranger danger” but some organizations and schools encourage kids to sell products door-to-door to raise money.
Each year at this time, we get the knock at the door. It’s the Girl Scouts, selling their cookies. Don’t get me wrong, I can chow down a Thin Mint like nobody's business. But, the selling process leaves something to be desired. In fact, I tend to turn away most youth fundraising requests that appear at my doorstep for two reasons: I don’t think I’m alone in my safety concerns. In fact, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children says that while door-to-door solicitation may be a confidence builder for children, it causes “potential risks for child safety, even within the confines of your own neighborhood.” The safest thing is to prohibit your children from participating in door-to-door solicitations, the organization says on its …
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Does an uncommon baby name, like the name celebrity parents Beyonce and Jay-Z gave their new daughter—Blue Ivy—have lasting influence in adulthood?
When the celebrity couple of Beyonce and Jay-Z recently had their new baby and named it Blue Ivy Carter, speculation as to the source of the unique name was across the board, Huff Post Parents reported. The couple, like thousands of parents nationwide, probably went through a phase during pregnancy of deciding on their baby’s name. But, does the uniqueness of a baby's name have an impact on the child later in life? According to an article on LiveScience website, parents are picking more unusual names for their children than they were decades ago. And, the shift in baby names could influence kids into adulthood. "If you're choosing between a relatively likeable, common name and one that is really odd, that definitely could have an impact…
yomammy
7:00 am on Tuesday, April 30, 2013
hint....skip the diaper genie---they reek. if you get the morning paper (gasp) the paper comes in a small plastic bag. perfect size for disposing individaul diapers. that and wal mart bags. more ›