Do You Take Your Kids to Funerals?

I was asked that question last week by a friend whose second cousin unexpectedly passed away from cancer. She was debating whether or not she should bring her preschooler and toddler along to the funeral or leave them with a sitter. My answer: It depends on whose funeral it is. For example, I would, without question, have my preschool daughter attend the funeral of any member of our immediate family. And by immediate family I mean my own parents, siblings, and grandparents, in addition to cousins, aunts and uncles. It is inconceivable to me that she would not be present … Continue reading →

Never Say Never!

Easter 2009 was one for the record books (or at least the family scrapbook). Not because our family celebrated a birth, mourned a death or scored the winning lottery ticket during a late night gas run (darn Powerball). Rather, this Easter will live in infamy thanks to a series of events that taught me an important lesson in parenting: Never say never! “NEVER. EVER. EVER. AGAIN!” Those were the exact words I used in a blog I posted a few days ago addressing my distaste for public Easter egg hunts. After a nightmarish experience two years ago where my then … Continue reading →

How Young Is Too Young for Make-Up?

My preschool daughter isn’t much for primping. I’m lucky if we get out of the house with her teeth brushed and her hair combed, minus a major meltdown and my stock lecture on the importance of personal hygiene. However, during a recent trip to Wal-Mart my observant 4-year-old spied a unique sight: A little girl getting a pedicure. (All Wal-Mart’s come with in-house Korean nail salons, right?) “Mommy!” she exclaimed while violently tugging on my coat pocket. “That little girl is getting her toes painted!” I must admit I was a bit taken aback by the sight of what looked … Continue reading →

Parents Against Daylight Savings

I highly doubt that I am the founding member of the PADS club. However, I am one of the most outspoken. Parents Against Daylight Savings (PADS) doesn’t discriminate when it comes to membership. If you have a child, who refuses to go to sleep because “it’s STILL light out, Mommy!!!!,” then you have a friend in us. “Us” being myself and my core group of playgroup moms, all who have children ranging in age from 6 months to 6 years old… and all who are forced to deal with the barrage of bedtime complaints, moans and groans that are triggered … Continue reading →

Parental Dilemma: Big Birthday Parties for Little Kids

With the economy in the dumpster, families around the world are keeping a very close eye on spending. But, what do you do when it’s your child’s birthday? It’s not as though you can overlook such a momentous occasion. My 4-year-old just got an invitation to her friend’s birthday party… along with the rest of her class. The party is being held at a local roller rink and lunch will be provided. I’m sure my daughter will have a blast… along with the other 25 kids from her class. Her having a good time is not what I am worried … Continue reading →

Major Milestone Delayed

She can walk, talk, sing, dance, print words, read (some) books, heck, she can even beat an egg better than most of the guys I dated in college. But, there is one major age appropriate milestone my 4-year-old has yet to achieve: Blowing her nose. It’s true. One of the great givens of life is more than just a challenge for my darling daughter. Not only has she not mastered the art of nose blowing, she routinely turns the process into a major ordeal. A major ordeal… complete with tears that beget more mucus, which begets additional frustration and misery. … Continue reading →

Halloween and Young Children: Trick or Treat?

The school supplies are long gone at area stores; swiftly replaced by Halloween everything. My preschooler, who is absolutely petrified of anything that howls, hoots or hangs crooked, bursts into tears each and every time we get near the Halloween area at Wal-Mart and Target. (I don’t even attempt to visit places like Halloween USA or Halloween Express when my daughter is with me.) This understandable, yet at times inconvenient fact (inconvenient because these days obtaining a tube of toothpaste now requires taking a six aisle detour around the Halloween madness) is not unique in families with young children. Likewise, … Continue reading →

Charity and the Preschooler

“Mommy, I thought charity was a girl.” That was my 4-year-old’s response after a man from our local St. Vincent de Paul non-profit thrift store helped unload the last bag of donated goods from our car. For weeks we have been organizing, purging and de-cluttering our home all in the name of charity. After I tackled the kitchen and living room I moved on to my daughter’s room. While she was busy crashing her remote control Jeep into towers of wooden blocks I dumped out a gigantic container of stuffed animals and asked her to help me make two piles. … Continue reading →

Are you Raising a Mini Fashionista?

Thankfully (for my sanity as well as my wallet), my preschool daughter is much more interested in flinging her body off furniture than she is in fashion. She would rather craft than discuss clothing trends and she could care less about the latest and greatest hair accessories. In fact, save for her sparkly tutu and matching pink heels that she dons when watching “Dancing with the Stars” she really has no desire to dress up at all. My current situation (as fleeting as it might be) makes it hard for me to relate to parents who (whether they realize it … Continue reading →

Is Your Child Ready to Answer the Phone?

It’s a question I asked myself a few weeks ago when my 4-year-old begged to pick up the phone while I was in the shower. Here’s the answer I came up with: If your child still holds the phone upside down and can’t figure out why grandma sounds so far away OR He or she tries to shove a freshly colored picture of Elmo into the receiver so grandma can see how well he or she stayed within the lines, then your child’s phone skills need some work and you might want to hold off on using him or her … Continue reading →