Tag Archives: Reliability

Green Kids Crafts

Today I spent most of the morning with my two youngest kids creating crafts for the fall season. We’ve made pumpkins, leaves, hand turkeys, and even a friendly trick or treater or two. In the process of these crafts, we’ve gone through some paper, some glue and some crayons. It got me thinking about whether or not we are being responsible about all of these crafts. The answer, as you might expect is somewhat. We make use of paper that is already printed on one side, so we are making an effort to get the most out of each piece … Continue reading →

Spare Your Children—Stay Away From Licorice

Do your children struggle in school? Are you sick of teachers categorizing your son or daughter as “test challenged?” Yes? Blame licorice. No kidding. The next time your child complains about failing yet another exam, consider how much licorice you consumed while you were pregnant. A new study published in the Journal of Epedimiology found that women, who consumed about 100 grams of pure licorice a week during their pregnancy, have children who perform poorly on tests. So, pregnant women + licorice = dumb kids? Kind of. According to researchers, glycyrrhizic acid found in licorice root is about 50 times … Continue reading →

Frugal Lunch Box Ideas

Okay, we are into October now, long past the time when back to school lunches were new, and I could get away with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Plus, my son is starting to talk about some of the cool snacks that some of the other kids bring. I want to be able to keep my son happy, while providing a nutritious lunch and snacks, and also saving money. On a recent trip to Target, I asked him to point out some snacks and lunch food that he would love to see make it to his lunch box. Mind you, … Continue reading →

When Did Babysitting Become a Crime?

Apparently, when you live in Western Michigan and you agree to watch your neighbors’ kids for a few minutes each day. According to authorities in the Great State Lake, watching your friend’s children for about 40 minutes each morning as they wait for the school bus is not considered “babysitting,” it’s called running a daycare. Or, more accurately, in the words of Michigan authorities, your good deed is known as “operating an illegal child care home.” You say tomato, I say tomahto. Lisa Snyder calls her situation “outrageous,” and frankly, I agree with her. The Middleville, Michigan, mom is being … Continue reading →

No Free-Range Kids for Me?

You may have heard the term, “Free-Range Kids.” Author Lenore Skenazy has written a book about this topic. I admit that I haven’t read this book, so I can’t review it directly, but I know several parents who have. One thing about the book and the whole “Free-Range Kids” idea is that it is definitely controversial. Skenazy’s website gives a bit of detail about her thoughts and advice. Basically, she advocates for allowing kids more freedom from parents, such as allowing a child to walk alone to school or ride a bus alone. She calls it, “sane parenting.” Here is … Continue reading →

A Common Playground Practice Can Break Your Child’s Leg

I have to admit that I have seen my share of kids getting injured at a playground. From little ones being unsupervised on equipment that is too large, too complicated or too high for them, to innocent bystanders who get in the way of the metal merry-go-round, it pays to be vigilant when it comes to watching your child play. But here is a little known but all too common cause for injury. Toddlers and preschoolers who get their shinbones broken when they go down the slide. And this time, it isn’t lack of supervision or a freak accident. This … Continue reading →

Early Day Care Will Not Reduce Illness Later

One of the reasons many parents say that they put their children into daycare or early preschool is so the kids will be exposed to more germs and therefore get their illnesses over with before they reach school age, when absence from school may have more of an impact. I knew a mom once who firmly believed in the idea of exposing her kids early to illnesses. In fact, she ran a day care, and if a child came in sick, she would make sure that her children were playing with that child and sharing toys, in order to increase … Continue reading →

Saving Money Assignments for Families

Saving money and living a frugal lifestyle should involve the whole family. When one person is in charge of reducing waste and finding new ways of stretching the budget, it can be overwhelming and frustrating. A family working together is more likely to accomplish their savings goals, I think. Everyone in the family should take on some responsibility for saving money. Even the youngest members should be able to help out (as long as they can walk and take direction). Here is a guide to some of the ways that you can create money saving assignments for the whole family. … Continue reading →

Disciplining Other People’s Kids

Back when I was growing up in a tight knit community in Queens, New York, we kids took it for granted that any adult we knew might feel free to discipline us for bad behavior. Today, parents aren’t quite so sure. We wonder if we have a right to discipline someone else’s child, even if that child is getting away with something that we would never in a million years allow our own children to do. We often ignore the bad behavior in someone else’s child, leaving our own kids bewildered. I think there may be two big reasons that … Continue reading →

Top Ten Signs You Are a Dedicated Parent

Have you earned your parent wings? Of course you have! Here is a humorous look at the top ten ways that you know you have gone from single sophisticate to dedicated parent. 10. You pack yourself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. You already have the ingredients out on the counter anyway, and let’s face it, in your sleep deprived state it would just take too much effort to try to assemble something else. 9. You carry hand sanitizer wherever you go. A good cold was once a good excuse for staying home from work and indulging in a day … Continue reading →