One of the joys of parenting, at least in my opinion, is when your child grows up and turns into your friend.
Oh, I know it isn’t totally the same but in many ways my oldest daughter is an indispensable part of my social life – what little I have. At [...]
Recently I came across a letter my daughter wrote to a boy, now at the time I did not know what this was. She had asked me if I’d read her story, so once the kids were gone I went in and found it on her bed. Once I began [...]
Do you and your children realize that nothing you write via e-mail, Facebook and similar social media is private? Instead it has the potential of going public. When you write, what you consider a private e-mail to someone, you can be surprised to find they have posted it publicly on [...]
I promised, I know. Here they are, 10 of the best of Mrs. PiggleWiggle’s parenting tips. I have used these and I can tell you that Mrs. PiggleWiggle may be a fictional character but she rocks!
10Tips For Great Parenting via Mrs PiggleWiggle
Engage your child’s imagination: Whether [...]I was not parented in the healthiest way. I was adopted by an older couple and was an only child. There were a lot of issues in my family… and although I think my parents were incredible there was a lot that they just didn’t get about me. That probably [...]
When I wrote a post several months ago, about kids having weird hair color and styles, with and without approval of their parents, one grandmother asked what she should do because her daughter styled the grandchild’s and her own hair in unusual colors and styles.
Weird hair image: [...]
Someday my last child will be out of the house. I will be approximately 62 and by that time I hope to be completely immune to a unique virus. This malady is spoken of only in hushed tones and nervous whispers by those who have experienced the backlash of its [...]
I’m sure ya’ll remember the spit and wipe the face from your own childhood, or maybe the “brush your teeth before you leave” phrase. The question is do you do that?
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I’m almost one of those parents, I do ask them if they’ve brushed their teeth, combed [...]
Youngsters usually enjoy the study of weather, reading about it, viewing videos, performing experiments and finding out why things happen, especially violent incidents like tornadoes and hurricanes.
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During my substitute teaching recently, I spent three days with a second grade class, and they were focusing [...]
Do your youngsters give gifts to their pets at Christmas? This was a tradition in my family, when I was growing up, which my daughter also enjoyed with her dog and cat. The grandchildren find something for whatever pets they have…a rabbit, two hamsters and a dog. The dog even has [...]
There is a scripture that says that the power of life and death is in the tongue. It may sound a little weird until you think about the words that were spoken over you that still bring tears to your eyes thirty years later. As parents we must be aware [...]
Last month we talked about staying healthy while thinking of “SNOWBOARDS” and now Dr. Margaret Lewin of Cinergy Health wants to give you a few more tips. This time instead of thinking of boarding down a snowy hill you’ll think about the BEACH, now doesn’t that sound like fun.
[...] Pearl Harbor Day – December 7
We remember those who fought for our freedoms in World War II, those who gave their lives, those who took several years from their lives, and those at home who carried on when family members were away. Because of their sacrifices our country remained [...]
“He’s always so upbeat. Such a happy kid,” one of my grandson’s high school teachers remarked to me.
This made me realize that we are building attitudes at home. It’s too easy to be grumpy at home, to air our gripes and disappointments rather than looking for the sunshine. In our [...]
Grandparents have wonderful holiday memories to share with grandchildren if the middle generation (the children) will encourage this rather than considering it simply, “Grandma’s ramblings.“ Even those with Alzheimer’s can contribute to the memory lore. Sometimes we might say, “especially those with Alzheimer’s”, because those memories become very vivid for them [...]
A friend and I were talking the other day and the subject of music came up when I expressed that a Teen Panel had voted healthy and unhealthy songs for teens. I thought it was interesting that teens were doing this, she was concerned about censorship.
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This [...]
Youngsters can be inconsiderate when it comes to one another’s names.
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If it’s an unusual name, they might make fun of it. If an an adult mispronounces it, they may laugh and hurt a tot’s feelings.
I heard one principal handle this very well when youngsters were [...]
I figured out that parenting is how I chose to fill my time between high school graduation and retirement. People have different hobbies, mine just happens to be giving birth.
My name is Marye Audet and I have blogged for b5media for almost three years now. You may [...]
Many parents barely see their own children during the school week, then when they do they have to have their nose stuck in the book until bedtime or way past it. So, what should be done about this? Some may say get a routine, others may state you need to [...]
With Christmas and other holidays coming up, creating memory projects could be a fun project for your youngsters. There are several ways they could do this.
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Keep a journal and record the various holidays activities that are occurring in the family and at school. Take pictures of [...]
According to some statistics, the number of grandparents and relatives helping to raise kids has increased and is expected to increase.
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Many of these are doing it on their own when parents can’t or won’t. Some even are raising great grandchildren. This [...]
I know parents complain about their kids all the time, but for today I want to hear all those things you are PROUD of your child for. Did your child recently make it on the honor roll?
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Maybe he/she has upped his/her attitude and started doing all the [...]
Each month I feature 5 of my Parenting posts that are favorites of my readers and/or mine.
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Here are 5 for November:
Thanksgiving Becomes a National Holiday
Repurposing With Your Youngsters
Over the next month, I shall be reminiscing about favorite Christmas books of my childhood, of my daughter’s and grandchildren’s.
I’ll also look for books out there that children today would like.
Let me know what your favorites are and whether you read them to your children. My daughter and son-in-law have [...]
Cheating on tests via text messaging has become prevalent during this cell phone/iPhone age.
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Although teachers keep their eyes alert for cell phones (not allowed during school hours in most schools), they often find it difficult to keep up with all the latest texting technology.
In surveys of kids [...]
This year’s Thanksgiving surprise will remain in our memories for a long time.
We’d adjusted to the idea that our granddaughter, who attends college 500 miles away, wouldn’t be home for Thanksgiving. Imagine our surprise with her arrival Tuesday evening. She’d been able to arrange a ride with a classmate and his parents to their home [...]
Talk about the worlds best dad, NOT, this is more like the idiot of the month. A father, Donald Crawford of Indiana, actually left his 5-year-old child in his car and decided to visit a strip club nearby.
Ummm, first, who in their right mind would leave their child in a car [...]
Oh, I thought it was time for another post on how to keep healthy during this very cold season. I mean I’ve been sick for 5 weeks now, I would hate to see anyone else get sick. Since the holiday season is all about being around a ton of people, [...]
Either your kids are already off for Thanksgiving break or they will be tomorrow. What will they do with all that time? Thinking you’ll go insane as you wait for Thanksgiving with all the prepping and turkey dressing you’ll have to do, this shouldn’t be a problem with the list [...]
You should have seen the birthday cake Rick’s friend made our son for his sixth birthday. We held the party at an indoor soccer field and centered the party on a sports theme with game ticket invitations and goodie bags with miniature soccer balls, footballs, baseballs and basketballs. Rick’s friend [...]
Youngsters in second grade, where I substitute taught today, were studying a Weather unit.
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So I put together lessons that seemed to delight them. Am subbing there again tomorrow.
Perhaps I’ll have them write some weather related poetry. Kids, as well as adults, seem to enjoy my [...]
I don’t know about you but I love getting jewelry as a gift. It’s been a tradition in my family since I was a little girl and I always get excited when I see a small box under the tree. Something that is even better then plain jewelry is getting [...]
One friend mentioned she is compiling a journal of holidays.
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Some are memories of former days and some are a record of current celebrations.
What are your memories of Thanksgiving? Encourage your children (young and older) to recall their Thanksgivings. I recall driving to my grandmother’s farm, 45 mile [...]
Recycling has become known as “repurposing” to many people. Finding another purpose for items you might otherwise throw out.
This can become a game with your youngsters. How can they use items around the house and from daily living in other ways once these are empty or [...]
Are your children aware that a New Hampshire woman, Sarah Josepha Hale, was responsible for Thanksgiving becoming a national holiday?
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Yes, the first Thanksgiving, from which this holiday of thankfulness originated, took place in Plymouth, MA.
However, it wasn’t celebrated nationally until Sarah Josepha Hale, the editor [...]
Kids are tricky when it comes to figuring out what they will eat and what they won’t eat. One reason so many of us call our children picky or finicky eaters. How many of you have a picky eater?
Tonight I decided to introduce my children to a new meal, I’ve [...]
When my mom died and my sister and I divvied up her belongings that my father did not need, I ended up with the coveted “The New Fannie Farmer Boston Cooking-School Cook Book.” It was profoundly sentimental to me because it was the duct-taped book that my parents had used [...]
“I’m bored. There’s nothing to do,” so many kids exclaim when they don’t have access to electronics or parents restrict the hours they’re on computers, video games, wii, playstation and others.
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We as parents and grandparents can do much top open up a non-electronic world [...]
I swear every year at this time I have to fight and struggle to make sure all my kids are wearing their jackets outside.
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What is it with kids not wanting to wear a jacket when it is freezing cold outside? Today for instance, it is suppose [...]
My niece recently told us about her two teen sons preparing supper.
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The kitchen filled with smoke and the meal wasn’t gourmet by any means. However, as my daughter (her cousin) responded, “At least they tried! That was something.”
Perhaps the boys will give another try if [...]
The new school year has started and some parents are already having to keep track of where those library books their children bring home from school disappear too. Why?
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Simple, they don’t want to pay the ridiculous late fees that come with it. Recently my own daughter [...]
Okay, once again someone sent me an email asking when they should make their child go without a blankie. Does anyone know? My kids never had a binkie, blankie or a favorite stuffed doll. Don’t get me wrong I did try, believe it or not I thought I was doing [...]
The old saying, “Smile and the whole world smiles with you,” does have some truth to it.
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Do you ever notice how children respond to a smile? Even a baby who, you think, is too young to really notice people. Smile, and so often the child will [...]
I posted yesterday about a middle school in Goldsboro, North Carolina and how they were doing a fundraiser that allowed students to get a grade higher on a test score for a $20 donation.
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Well it seems not everyone thought that was kosher, it has [...]
Today is Veterans Day in the U.S. Do our children know what it really means, in addition to a day off from school, parades and flags?
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Do they realize that without the veterans’ service for our country, from the Revolutionary War forward, we might not be enjoying the [...]
Rosewood Middle School of Goldsboro North Carolina is giving out grades for money. The principal believes all is fair in this little game as it benefits the children.
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Exactly what benefits the children you may ask? Well, apparently they are trying to raise money for the school [...]
In response to my post, Do Families Become Closer in Tough Times?, Stephanie responded by sharing her family’s activities.
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We love family hikes. We live near mountains right now, so heavy duty hiking is only a short drive, but even the neighborhood does well for [...]
Reports are popping up everywhere that our children today are having far too much stress than we use to as children. While I don’t necessarily agree with this 100%, I can see how a child can become stressed.
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1. Grades. Yes, there are some of us parents [...]
Last weekend we hit another milestone. Truman went to his first Alabama football game. We were offered some posh seats in a skybox with a steady line of tasty snacks and a bottomless cooler of beverages. I suspect our son has been spoiled senseless. Wonder how he’ll react next time [...]
Today’s economic times have put stress on many families financially and emotionally. Does struggling and solving problems together bring families closer together?
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Are there activities they can do that don’t cost a great deal of money?
My husband and I grew up in homes where [...]
Now I know many are going to argue with me, in fact I argued it at first. I mean who were they to tell me Cookie Monster no longer ate chocolate cookies, that was the one thing he craved.
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I bet they were thinking the [...]Reports of children’s fingertips being amputated by strollers has triggered a massive recall. Maclaren Strollers in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, CPSC, issued the voluntary recall today, warning consumers that they should stop using the recalled strollers immediately because the stroller’s hinge mechanism poses a fingertip amputation and [...]
Do you know your grandchildren are watching you? That what you say and do set an example?
Just as they learn (good and bad) from parents, they also learn from grandparents. So it’s difficult to say, “Do as I say, not as I do.”
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We also continue to [...]
I was curious as a friend recently mentioned one of her children catching another sibling in the bathroom at what age do we stop allowing them to go in with us or even when they are big enough to go in a plublic one on their own. I know it [...]
When a High School Principal sent home a student for crossing dressing there was a big stir up. One question for you is how far would you let your child go to be an individual?
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Now what if that look actually distracted the students? That’s what [...]As more and more people (children and adults) use text messaging as a means of communication via their cell phones, will we find that correct spelling becomes obsolete?
Many young people use numbers and letters (4 instead of for, u for you) to speed up the process so they often don’t [...]
This category is full of everything from getting kids ready for school to picking out those summer fun activities. So it shouldn’t surprize you that when someone emailed and asked me:
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My son is 3 years old and refusing use his potty chair. Any recommendations?
My first [...]
I swiped this from my sister’s Facebook page. It’s a great feel-good video aptly named “Anti-Depression Video.” I think any parent would dig this.
For centuries, people have touted the benefits of laughter. Experts say that a good laugh can reduce stress by relaxing tense muscles and energizing you by sending [...]
Do you have “small treasures” made by children and grandchildren that you’ve saved over the years? Do these take on special significance for you?
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I’ve saved a number of these and find the memories joyful. ONe is a pincushion my daughter made by herself and gave [...]
Making Christmas gifts with your children can be a fun family project and one that creates happy memories, too.
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It’s not too early to start these projects so you’ll have plenty of time and won’t be rushed in December.
When my daughter was small, we were involved in many [...]
My daughter, Sarah, is 11 and in the 6th grade. She is a good student (just brought home a perfect report card), an athlete playing on both the volleyball and the basketball teams, and a musician with weekly guitar lessons.
IMG: Michelle Smith
She’s silly and funny, usually [...]
When I was 7, I learned the truth about Santa. Sort of.
My friend Emily said Santa was not some jolly old elf who appeared in the night and left presents under the tree, but was really my father who would crawl out of bed and pull toys from the closet. [...]
A friend described how his granddaughter was injured…in an auto accident because the faulty driver was texting on her cell phone.
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His granddaughter and her brother, who was driving, had stopped in a line of traffic at a red light.
They were rear ended and the granddaughter was [...]
I don’t care what they try telling you, mom and dad are soft spots for kids. No matter what they don’t want to see mom and dad vulnerable, hurt or sick, when they do it frightens them.
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I have been sick for over a week and [...]I used to roll my eyes at people who would get depressed during holidays. Seriously, what was there to be depressed about? And then my mother died. It’s not her absence that upsets me the most. It’s been 10 years since she died and I have learned to live with [...]
“You need to write your memories down, Mom,” my daughter said. “You’ve been researching family history, but you aren’t writing your memories down for us.”
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(Perhaps I didn’t consider myself history!) Actually, I didn’t think of my life and my memoris as that important until my daughter [...]
Each month I feature 5 of my favorite posts for the month. Here are the ones I’ve written at Blisstree’s Parenting section for October:
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Um… My neighbor just sent this video to me. Am I the only one here who finds this dancing baby video mildly disturbing? Regardless, dancing diapered babies is always a hit on YouTube, and this “Stanky Legs” piece is no exception. I’ll hand it to this kid. He/she has some [...]
During my substitute teaching activities, I recently discovered two books that second graders enjoyed. The teacher had left these for me to read if I had time.
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I selected The Scarecrow’s Dance by Jane Yolen and Crow Call by Lois Lowry.
They liked the rhyming in The Scarecrow’s Dance. Also, [...]
Christmas is less than two months away, which means you’d better get working on that Christmas list unless you want to spend your Christmas Eve fighting the masses at the mall. One of the luxuries of planning this far in advance is that you can get some really cool gifts [...]
During the course of my substitute teaching, I’ve encountered situations where some students and their families don’t celebrate specific holidays or occasions that the majority do. Or they might have holidays that are new to the other students.
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What do parents do?
Simply bring this to the attention [...]
WARNING: This post will turn your stomach!
This came across my screen early this morning and honestly I thought of not even posting it but I kept asking myself: How did these people allow this to happen? Why did no one stop it?
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That poor girl. I’m sure [...]
Here’s a newsflash. Makers of children’s cereals who advertiser to kids the most are the ones most likely loaded with sugar and starved of fiber. The obvious was revealed during a new study conducted by Yale University’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity. The study found that an average [...]
Do you have a young teen in your home? How many have a little girl that would love to dress like a stripper?
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Okay, maybe not a stripper but she’s been eyeballing that tiny maid skirt at Walmart for a month now hoping that she’ll somehow convince [...]
So, you’re best friend is making you feel guilty because you don’t scrap. She’s preserving her family’s memories in pink-and-blue borders with ballooned quotes with catchy subtitles for candid photos taken at every juncture of her children’s lives. Her camera costs more than your car, and her bookcases are filled [...]
Once upon a time it was easy to travel. My husband and I would wake up, shower, pack our bags and leave. I think we could pull the whole thing off in under an hour.
And then came Truman.
I can’t say we weren’t warned. Our friends with kids told that packing [...]
As I listened to youngsters learning a new song about global warming and the greenhouse effect, I thought, “Propagandizing in high gear!”
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It’s being forced on young minds with a catchy tune and repetitive chorus. Some of the lines of the song contained distorted or outdated information.
The chanting of [...]
With this economy everyone is getting hit in the pocketbook, which is a surprise when you head to the store and see that the Halloween Costumes are the same prices they were just last year and the year before.
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Yes, apparently the costume makers aren’t feeling [...]Ok, seriously, are these pregnant women really rolling on their big bellies? I so want this to be real, though I suspect some of those moves may be dangerous for both mom and babe. Fake preggies or not, the most important thing is the message this Oxfam “Flashmom: Pregnant women [...]
The minute my son’s tiny body squeezed out of me, I changed. I became vulnerable. Sure, I had loved before. My husband is testament to my faith in love. We need each other, and to lose the other would be devastating. But we are strong. We can survive on our [...]
With Halloween coming up, many children are involved in activities in preparation for this day.
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I worked with a class of second graders who wrote a poem on a Halloween topic…witches, bats, jack-o-lanterns, ghosts, etc.
Even though I teach poetry workshops for children and adults, this format was new [...]
A friend of mine recently asked me how she will be able to juggle multiple children, sports and school. First, she has her own children plus a few nieces and nephews that she came into.
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She explained that she has a nephew that wants to join [...]I woke to a news report that a body found in a Georgia landfill was likely that of missing Orange Park, Fla., girl Somer Thompson, who went missing Monday while walking home from school. I watched the anchor pitch to a package that showed the mother in full grief, sobbing [...]
I was rather disappointed in the web this morning, especially when I came across a post written by a mommy blogger that had expressed her feelings of anxiety about her daughter’s upcoming first day of preschool. Now I wasn’t disappointed in the post but the lack of sympathy from one [...]
Artist Georgia O’Keeffe, in a documentary I saw today, said she determined she wanted to be an artist when she was 8-years old.
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She wasn’t taken seriously nor had much encouragement. But she stuck to her dream anyway.
What if she’d been encouraged to pursue her dream? She [...]
My friend Wendi sent me this “Mother of the Year” YouTube clip (a commercial for Vicks First Defence (sic) nose spray) with the message, “Didn’t you do this with Truman once?” I’ll make no claims about the product (though I wish I had known to try it as I’m finally [...]
Some of my memorable and colorful photos have centered around children and pumpkins in the fall.
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Sometimes these involved Halloween costumes, perhaps midst colorful leaves. Other times the photos simply consisted of my daughter, grandchildren or nieces with pumpkins they carved or have ready to decorate.
My nieces sold [...]
This is a Guest post by Shauna Johnson, nutrition instructor at WellSpring Academies.
The experts at Wellspring (www.wellspringacademies.com) , the leading treatment program for overweight children and teens, have several recommendations for parents this year at Halloween:
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- Wait to buy your candy. We [...]
How many of you tend to snack off of all that Halloween candy? I know many of you probably sneak into your children’s bag of treats and take a few pieces.
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Others may actually just take the bag and divide it up for the kids, placing it [...]
More and more families use cell phones, iphones or similar, for personal use and business.
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They text intimate messages, post family photos, even place financial information on the most modern of these communication devices.
Have you considered how truly secure they are? Even after you think you’ve deleted the [...]
In just two weeks there will be little goblins galore roaming the streets and knocking on doors. Will your child be one of them?
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If you have children chances are you are either going with them this year or they are going in a group. [...]
It’s been widely encouraged for parents and children to communicate well with each other. But what if they just aren’t the talking type?
I’m inspired by one example from a friend of mine. She and her father are the quiet ones in the family. While [...]
This past Friday a Florida mom rode her horse to pick up. Why? Simple, it costs tons of money to wait in line with your car going at an inch every few minutes. This mom didn’t want to waste gas money that she didn’t have, so she hoped up [...]
When young people go off to college nowadays, there are so many ways to keep in touch – cell phone, text messaging, Facebook, instant messaging, e-mail and Skype (or a similar type of communication).
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One of the enjoyable ways we keep in contact with our granddaughter is [...]
I remember growing up when someone would ask “what’s your
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favorite subject” kids would quickly reply recess. In a way recess really is a subject of its own, this is a place where children get to be who they want from day to day, deal with [...]In the first three weeks of school, my son was home sick for four days. The second week of school he had strep throat. The following week he came home with a high fever, chills, and was lethargic and vomiting. Normally, I’d feed him Tylenol and baby him unless his [...]
How about the school district in Arlington, Texas. It refused to allow students the opportunity to hear President Obama’s speech to students Tuesday because it didn’t want to interfere with lessons. Yet the same school district sees no problem in interrupting classes to bus 500 of its students to attend [...]
Sonic Drive-In and DonorsChoose.org are both working together in order to give teachers back a great big thank you this month. September is “Limeades for Learning” over at Sonic, for every Sonic drink you buy you’ll be able to go and vote for specific teachers to win $200-$400 grants. [...]
He was the editor of our small town college newspaper. I was the Lifestyles editor. He was all hard news, always searching for the story that would excite people and motivate change. I was all frills and features, more interested in telling a story than shaking the tree. But he [...]
Jennifer Walker-Journey, Mary Emma Allen, Eliza Ferree, Brittany Dow, Marye Audet
