Like most couples, my husband and I argue. We don’t go behind closed doors though; we don’t believe that’s the best thing for our children, despite what other parents might think. When my husband and I argue, we have loud disagreements. We don’t spit out profanities but our voices naturally rise. Our children know we are fighting. The thing with our disagreements though is that we always talk through them and they don’t last very long. We come full circle. We start with something that upset us, we vent about it, and we calm down, talk about it and then … Continue reading →

Scentless flowers and smelly jeans; what is the world coming to? Today, I rushed into a local flower shop to purchase a bouquet of roses as a thank you for a sweet woman who went above and beyond to help my daughter with a school project. I was in a hurry, so I grabbed the first dozen roses I saw in the display case. When I got to the check-out counter, the florist was busy creating massive bouquets featuring three to five dozen of the most gorgeous roses in a variety of colors, including pale pink, lavender and a stunning … Continue reading →

(Let my kid cruise around NYC solo? Fahgettaboudit!) This weekend I had the chance to see the mega-hyped movie: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Without spoiling it for you, I will say: Yes, you’ll go through a lot of Kleenex watching the movie. Yes, young Thomas Horn’s big screen debut is phenomenal, and yes, it will make you want to hug your kid when you get home. While the tearjerker starts out slow and somewhat convoluted, the ending more than makes up for any of the earlier scenes that tend to drag a bit. What’s more, the last 10 minutes … Continue reading →

Most college kids get a bad rap for being cocky, selfish, indestructible party animals who think they have life by the tail. Then, there’s Ariane Noelle Patterson. By all accounts the Gardner-Webb University student was as humble as they come, even making public displays of her gratitude to God via Twitter. On January 17th the religious studies major took to the social media platform to post this message: “Thank you God for another year of life.” The 17th was Patterson’s 21st birthday and she had a lot to celebrate. According to the North Carolina Christian college, Patterson was a hard … Continue reading →

Earlier I joked that my daughter’s New Year’s resolution should be doing the dishes every night without being told. What I should have suggested was that she brush her teeth twice a day without whining and complaining. Then again, that would be more of a miracle than a resolution. Regardless, she wasn’t very receptive to either proposition. That’s the thing about New Year’s resolutions; you have to want to make a change in order for them to work. Still, there are many kids out there, who are more than willing to take on a New Year’s resolution, especially if they … Continue reading →

Last month my 7-year-old decided to join the Girl Scouts. Oh joy! And by joy I mean Heaven help me. I’ve got nothing against the popular youth organization that has become an institution in its own right. Girl power! However, any parent with a Daisy or Brownie knows that 97% of the work involved with being a member of such a dedicated non-profit falls onto mom or dad’s shoulders. I’m guessing more moms than dads bear the brunt of the chaperoning, fundraising, sewing badges on vests and other Brownie-related tasks, but I could be wrong… though I doubt I am. … Continue reading →

Most parents send their children to school with the expectation that their offspring will learn something of value and apply those lessons to better their future. It’s too bad that some schools can’t deliver on this reasonable assumption. Apparently, Will C. Wood High School in Vacaville, California, has different ideas on how to educate kids. Actually, I take that back. Apparently, Will C. Wood High School health teacher Steve Cuckovich has different ideas on how to educate kids. And by educate I mean mess with their heads in order to promote to his own twisted agenda. Cuckovich is making headlines … Continue reading →

Can you live a clutter-free life when you have young children at home? I just saw a life and parenting coach (whatever that is) on CNN discussing ways parents can model behavior that will encourage their children to pick-up after themselves minus the whining, kvetching and maniacal meltdowns. The so-called “expert” recommended that moms and dads keep their bedroom as clean as they want their child’s room to be. Because it would be totally hypocritical to expect your child’s room to be cleaner than the rest of the house, right? Wrong. When a toy tornado rips through your home and … Continue reading →

This summer my 7-year-old daughter got her first taste of the Smurfs. I took her to see the little blue creatures’ movie in 3D and my brother purchased her Seasons One and Two of the animated 80’s show on DVD. I knew she wouldn’t count Smurfette as one of her favorites, but was surprised her fascination with Vanity Smurf. “Why does that Smurf always look in the mirror?” my daughter asked after watching an entire episode in which Vanity stared at and subsequently kissed his reflection more than a dozen times. Hmmm… how does one explain the habits of a … Continue reading →