Moms

You want your kids to play electronics less often? Don’t put video game consoles in their bedrooms. And while you’re at it, remove the TV from their bedrooms too. They won’t like it but everyone will be better for it. As kids get older, they are becoming more independent. They are spending more time online and rarely play with toys. This is more the reason for you to keep the video game console in the living room or other common area. Kids need parents less When kids become tweens and teens, parents don’t hear about their days like we used … Read more

Here we go again. Summer break is coming. Moms are getting worried. Very, very worried. We want our kids to have a healthy balance between electronics and other activities. We’d love to have some easy house rules that are easy to enforce and easy to follow. Moms don’t want to nag. We don’t want to be the time keeper. We really don’t want to deal with a big checklist of Things For Kids To Do Before They Can Do Electronics. How can we limit electronics use during the summer? Keep kids off electronics over the summer Engrossed in video games … Read more

My gosh. We all have so much stuff. Here’s the #1 thing with a white elephant gift exchange: Give something you would like to receive. Strive to be the one who brings the gift everyone wants to steal and take home. Gift something unique. You will be the hit of the party. Don’t be the person who brings the bad gift. White elephant gift exchange ideas Everyone is busy and stressed out under normal circumstances. Over the holidays, it ramps up.  Everyone is exhausted from running around shopping, baking, Elf-ing, tree trimming, sending gifts to faraway family, and more. Maybe … Read more

Do our kids have too many opportunities? A dear friend asked me: Do I think our kids have it better than we did growing up? At first, it was easy to think in terms of economics. My kids have food, clothing, and shelter. They have toys and their own bedrooms and a safe place to live. They get to go to school. We live in a “safe” area. My kids have all the necessities and aren’t necessarily going without — even if they think they are because they don’t get everything they want. However, my friend asked me this question … Read more

There are so many reasons to get involved at your child’s school. You will be volunteering your time but you will be the one who will reap the most rewards. In whatever time constraints you have, chances are, there is something in the school you can help with. Due to moving, we’ve been in five different elementary schools, in five school districts. They were all very different in the kind of help they wanted and needed. No matter what, you can get involved if you want to. Many times, there are volunteer jobs you can do from home, which helps … Read more