Parenting - Everchanging Manual

Moving to the dorm...is he ready? Am I ready?

2009-09-01T06:41:00.000-07:00

The day is here...my baby...18 years old... is moving out of the house...to the dorm...20 miles away. Ok, ok quit laughing at me! LOL This is hard for me, we are a close family, but I know this will be good for him. Plus, he is really excited about the experience of living on campus this year. He's been attending the U the last 2 years, so he knows the campus well. At least that helps calm some of my fears ;-)

Smaller Cereal Boxes...General Mills & Kelloggs...get real! Thank you Malt-O-Meal!

2009-08-12T18:16:00.001-07:00

Smaller cereal boxes...General Mills & Kelloggs...get real! Thank you Malt-O-Meal!

After months of seeing the cereal boxes shrink in size, and the price per ounce increase, I've had enough! As a Mom of 3 teenagers, I want answers. An 8.7 oz box of cereal will maybe be enough for 2 breakfasts...and no, I'm not talking all 3 teens eating 2 breakfasts. I'm talking 2 teens eating 1 breakfast!

Add to that the fact that in our neck of the woods these cereals are going on SALE at $1.97 - $2.50 each. Yes, that's the sale price for many cereals that are as small as 8.7 oz.*thud* At seven days a week x 3 teens, that's 21 a week. Rounding up to 22, that's 11 boxes of cereal a week...at sale price we're talking appx $22 - $28/week...just for cereal!

My kids have grown up on your cereals, and have been eating them for 17 years! The very first cereal they had as toddlers was General Mill's Cheerios. I think this is most kids' first cereal :-)As they got older we started allowing what we call the "sugared" cereals. Today one of their favorites is Kellogg's Fruit Loops. Of course they also like Kellogg's Raisin Bran, Mini Wheats, Frosted Corn Flakes; along with General Mill's Lucky Charms, Trix and Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

However, being the frugal person that I am, I have taken to buying the big bagged cereals from Malt-O-Meal. They offer a very nice variety of my kid's favorite cereals, at a price that is typically much lower per ounce. And after many taste tests, they are overall better tasting than the store labeled generic brands. I've heard they are supposedly made by the big name cereal companies, but we have noticed a lower quality in taste and consistency with some of them.

I'll continue to watch the ads, and I'll continue to clip and use coupons. But I can no longer promise to support the big brand cereal companies who feel the need to squeeze out the little life-long family of consumers.

Get your teen off the couch and on to volunteering

2009-07-30T04:51:00.001-07:00

Get your teen off the couch and on to volunteering

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Goal! No, we're not talking hockey

2009-07-30T04:50:00.001-07:00

Goal! No, we're not talking hockey

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Dream Analysis...Midgets...Really???

2009-06-26T16:48:00.000-07:00

I'm not normally one to document or talk about my dreams with anyone other than my husband. Mainly because they're stupid, or I just don't remember them.

But...last night was one of the most bizarre dreams I've had. We went to a funeral for a dear friend, who happened to be a midget / little person. The son was also a midget / little person, and so was the wife.

After arriving and giving our condolences the wife looked at the high-healed boots my two daughters and I were wearing, and then asks us to remove them so we'll be shorter. We obliged. End of dream.

I'm very glad I don't try to analyze, because I wouldn't even know WHERE to begin with this one LOL

Calvin Klein Billboard - How Do We Stop It?

2009-06-18T05:54:00.000-07:00

By now many of you have seen or heard about the provocative Calvin Klein billboard that is in New York. The one with 3 boys and 1 girl (all appear to be late teens, maybe early 20's)...engaging in...well...PDA. PDA=Public Display of Affection. No, I will not be posting the picture here.

In this case it is PDA gone way-over-board.

Yes, most of us over 40 remember the Brooke Shields commercial of yesteryear when she says "You want to know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing." It was cutting edge cute at the time. Today it would be quite tame.

There is particular outrage amongst Mothers...both those who see it in person, and those of us on the Internet. In this world of trying to protect our children, especially our daughters, we are disgusted by this "promotion" of sex...add to that the connotation of sex with multiple partners.

So what can we do about it?

First off...if your kids have seen the billboard in any way, talk to them about it. Hopefully they will find it as inappropriate as you do. Keep in mind the age of your child when getting into detail. The younger they are, the more general you should be.

Second...call Calvin Klein. That's right...tell them how you really feel. 1-866-513-0513

Third...stop buying Calvin Klein. I've now heard of Father's Day gifts being returned, because they were a Calvin Klein branded item. I've also heard others say they are no longer buying CK items at all.

Fourth...let's ask ourselves why our society is driven to think that this kind of advertising is OK, and why do advertisers think this is what we want to see to entice us to buy their brand?

And finally...let's hope our children grow up and change the face of this kind of advertising for future generations.

The Emotions Of Graduation

2009-06-07T19:18:00.000-07:00

Friday was the big High School Graduation Ceremony. Leading up to it I was fully prepared to be a blubbering idiot during the commencement…I’m a sap. I also invested a lot of time and emotion into raising our children to be great students, and really good people.

To my surprise I didn’t shed a tear! I had this huge pile of Puffs in my purse, and only touched them to move them to an outside pocket of my purse, for easy access. I had worn the waterproof mascara also.

It probably helped that it was chaotic just to get into the gym. The seating was first-come, first-choice on seats. The doors were to open at 6:30...we arrived at exactly 6:30...you should have seen the huge lineup of people outside waiting! My hubby dropped my daughters and I off so we could get a spot in the line while he parked the car.

As we made our way to the gymnasium I kept thinking “Please let us get good seats to take photos from!”

Of course, all of the premier seats were taken by the mass of people in line ahead of us. We did manage to find seats pretty close to the front, but pretty high up.

So, back to the topic…why didn’t I cry?

Maybe it was the lady in front of us who was crying at everything…and I mean everything! The student speeches, the choir’s 1 song, the School Board member’s speech….everything.

More than likely it was seeing how truly happy our son was to be there. As he walked in and took his seat he was looking for us. He really wanted to find where we were. In the masses he finally saw us, and has the best smile on his face! And when he accepted his diploma he looked at us a waved a few times on his walk back to his seat.

The good news is that when we go thru this 2 years from now with our twin daughters we will be the ones “in the know”, and we will be at the head of the line. I wonder if that’s the time I be a blubbering idiot?

“What does Tyler want for Graduation?”

2009-06-07T19:01:00.000-07:00

“What does Tyler want for Graduation?”

Want to guess how many times I was asked this by our immediate family members leading up to our son’s High School Graduation? These are family members who have known him for all of his 18 ½ years, and either see him frequently (or frequently enough), and are (or can be) in touch often via phone &/or email.

Don’t get me wrong…we appreciate their interest in wanting to get something he will use or like, and something he doesn’t already have.

Part of the frustration is the answer I gave them all is “I don’t know.”

Am I a bad parent? Should I be upset that they don’t know our son well enough to think of something? Is it right for them to tell Tyler “We asked your parents but they were no help, so we hope you like what we got you.”

I wish people, especially immediate family members, would remember how very stressful Graduation time is for the parents. And with this being our first one I feel like I am beside myself with worry or stress…wondering if I’m covering all the bases regarding the Graduation Ceremony and the upcoming Open House.

Bottom line…it’s not rocket science. Go with your gut, go with your heart…and you can’t go wrong.

Teens, Parties and Late Nights

2009-05-31T06:10:00.000-07:00

Yes, I'm dragging this morning. Our twin daughters are turning 17 next week. We were not going to have a friend party for them. After all, we gave them a small, low-key but fun 'Sweet 16' party last year...been there, done that.

We caved.

For about 8 hours yesterday we had 8 of their friends here. They played XBox Guitar Hero, Bean Bag toss, Poker, and Pictionary...to which there were ROARS of laughter coming from the lower level. So much laughter it made us smile and chuckle upstairs LOL And there was pizza, pop and cupcakes. What is it with kids and cupcakes? There are none left!

The hardest part...staying awake. I dozed a few times in my chair between 10 & 11, and when hubby gave me the ok to go to bed I took it. I think he probably fell asleep on the couch until all the friends left at midnight.

The best part was when one of the friends (a boy our girls have known since 3rd grade) told me in the kitchen "Thanks for having this party."

I'm glad we caved :-)

Top 5 Food Items...What Do You Run Out Of?

2009-05-26T10:59:00.000-07:00

I do a lot of my shopping online, but not grocery shopping. Some weeks I feel like I am at the grocery store 2 or 3 times. This is most frustrating for me, as I like to get my lists(s) made, errands done in order of location, bing-bada-boom...all done! So when one of the kids says "We're outta..." I cringe. At least at the teenager age I know they can live without certain items for a day or two. Yes, at younger ages they could live to, but at the teenager age it's more of a mental challenge than a physical one ;-) Call it their punishment for not giving me the family rule of forewarning when there is only 1 gallon of milk left in the fridge downstairs, or only 1/2 loaf of bread in the drawer.

Thinking about this, I've decided to see what are the top 5 food items your household always seems to be running out of, or is constantly replenishing.

Ours is as follows, in no particular order...

*Milk

*Bread

*Raisins

*Fruit

*Frito Lay Cheese Sauce - I hate that I am addicted to this! It's my son's fault LOL

Jon & Kate Plus Eight...Love It or Hate It

2009-05-17T05:49:00.000-07:00

Many of you either watch, or have heard of the 'Jon & Kate Plus Eight' reality show. The story of a couple who have a set of twins and a set of sextuplets. And now with tales of infidelity, they are in the media even more.

It's one of those shows where you either Love It or Hate It...I hate it!

I disliked the show from the beginning. Why? Here is a couple who is blessed (with the help of fertility drugs) to have beautiful twin daughters. Then the wife decides she wants "one more baby"...and they have 6 more, again with the help of fertility drugs. Fine, you are blessed many times over, and very fortunate that none have severe health issues.

The final straw is this ongoing reality show. I've only seen bits and pieces over the years, and like many I think Kate is a bitch & Jon is a wimp. Yep, no sugar-coating. I know the importance of being a strong parent, but I also know it is a team effort and you have to earn and show respect to the other team member(s).

With this latest infidelity scandal, all I can do is think of the children. What the hell are these parent's thinking?!?! Even IF Jon isn't cheating, and she's "just a friend". DUDE...you are a t.v. reality "star", and the paparazzi follow you! And Kate...gee, maybe if she didn't doll yourself up so much and dress like a *insert your own word* while out without her hubby, people wouldn't "assume" she's having an affair with her bodyguard. And her arrogance is disgusting...a whole lotta Humble pie is needed.

Because of all this recent fodder I saw a before-and-after picture of Kate. The before was shortly after she gave birth to the sextuplets, the after was a recent photo with her blonde peacock-do. The article talked about how the show paid for her tummy tuck, tanning sessions and a personal trainer...basically her overall transformation. What I find utterly sad is that this transformation has turned this mother into a material-money grubbing-media star. Even Jon admits in a recent magazine article they are doing Season 5 because of the material benefits. Material benefits are NOT what make a family a happy family! It's the non-material things that set a solid foundation to build on, and to grow in a positive & healthy way.

I do love that her own brother said in a recent interview that they shouldn't let fortune and fame destroy their family.

Jon & Kate have truly lost touch with reality.

Holidays and Exhaustion

2009-04-13T05:41:00.000-07:00

Why do Holidays wear me out so much? Is it the cleaning, the food prep, the stress of having someone over? Maybe it's the procrastination of doing some of those things that makes it build to a level of insanity on the day...nah, that couldn't be it.

The good news is we now have leftovers for at least 2 meals this week, and extra meat to put in the freezer. Our main level is a bit more organized and somewhat cleaner.

We could see it is not only wearing on humans...all 3 dogs were passed out yesterday after our guests left. And our oldest dog is still exhausted. Here she is in her favorite spot -- keeper of the laundry. At least I can drink caffeine to get thru the day...I think I'll just let her sleep it off.

Oooops....Overslept....on the Couch

2009-04-08T05:18:00.000-07:00

I like to wake up slowly. The radio alarm comes on and I listen to a country song, the DJ's talk about the latest fun headlines, and I sometimes try and guess the trivia question. This morning was no different, other than my hubby turning the radio off and the t.v. on...geez that is BRIGHT at 5:30 in the morning!

*blink blink* Make my way to the bathroom to retrieve my robe and slippers.

Enter the hallway to hear someones alarm screaming...it is our son's. He's not in his bed, so I assume he had gotten up before the alarm and forgot to turn it off. It is a mid-term day, and this usually means up late/extra-early rise.

Head downstairs to main level. Kitchen light is on, his dog is in her bed, and all is quiet. Open basement door to brightness of lights and son laying on the couch. "Hey, your alarm is screaming upstairs...did you sleep down there?" Son groggily sits up, and with cobwebs in his brain says "Yeah, I guess so.....oh crap!"

I'm not sure the last time I saw him move so quickly. Not only did he get up 1/2 hour later, he had planned to drive to the U this morning, to get in extra study time. This meant that he had to get ready in 20 minutes, in order to beat the morning rush heading downtown. He ate a small breakfast, said he had to skip the shower, and I think I smelled mouthwash as he ran out the door. He arrived at his destination safely, and said he will eat another breakfast when returning home later this morning. I'm betting that he'll probably pass out on that same couch afterwards.

There is another mid-term tomorrow...rinse (hopefully shower) and repeat.

I Refuse To Look Old. Gray Hairs...I'm Talking To You!

2009-03-20T10:07:00.001-07:00

When we're younger we had fun teasing our parents about their newly acquired gray hairs. And of course their response was it was our fault for giving them those gray hairs. So...can I blame my kids for mine? Or should I blame the economy for my sudden throng of them LOL

I noticed my first one a few years ago. Sure, it was somewhat of a shock, and a little funny. After a quick *pluck* it was gone. Hubby told me "a gray hair is better than no hair." Fine, I started cutting them down instead of plucking them out. And the occasional highlight/lowlight foils seemed to help push them back to the color they really should be. The other thing about it that made me feel "ok" about them was they appeared near the crown of my head. Not to many people look at the top of your head, and especially near the back. There was no more than 3 at a time, and always in the same general area. Over time they did appear to be growing faster, and of course they always stand out, away from the other hairs, as if to say "Hey, look at me!"

Why do gray hairs bother me? The first reason is I don't feel my age. Not that I know exactly what a 43 year old feels like, but I feel really good. My hubby and kids keep me laughing, even while sometimes contributing to my acquiring gray. The second reason is I'm often told I don't look my age. Sure some people are just saying it to be kind. I don't care...I'll take any compliment that comes my way :-) The final reason these gray hairs bother me is because I'm a little vain about my hair. Ok, ok...I'm really vain. Hubby claims that early on in our marriage it would take me 2 hours just to do my hair. Not so...he has no proof. I'll fess up to maybe an hour tops. It doesn't take near that long now, but I still want it to look good, and feel good about how it looks. No, it doesn't have to be perfect...just look good :-)

So you can imagine my dismay just two days ago, when I saw "them"! While waiting for our daughter to come out from school. I pulled down the visor to look at, what else, my hair...it's still in that re-training stage from a fresh foil and trim. After a quick glance I looked back again, and those pesty gray hairs had snuck all the way to the front!!! I looked closer, and counted 10...in the first inch of my hair from my forehead! *GASP* As soon as I got home I got the hair scissors out and cut them all way down, so I can go back to being in denial.

My only question now for the gray hairs is, where in the heck did you come from...I just got a foil 2 days ago!!!

Kids and Books...Read Read Read!

2009-03-17T09:48:00.000-07:00

We recently went out with some very dear friends, and the discussion turned to their 1st grader. They told us he is doing good in school, and got really happy when they told us he is one of the top readers in his class. They said he didn't used to be, but recently there was a reading challenge given to his class. As with most classrooms, there is a boy in his class who is somewhat of a nemesis on certain things. During one of the classroom reading minute updates, our friends' son saw this other boy had a lot more minutes read. That's all it took...he went home, told his parents about it, and told his parents he was going to get more reading minutes than the other boy. That night he began reading more than ever before!

Not only did he win the reading challenge, he greatly improved his reading skills, and was recently given the only speaking part from his class at a recent school event! I could just feel the pride as his parents told us this story :-)

For anyone who knows us, books have always been a large part of our lives. Our kids have always had books to read. The only downside is we have a hard time getting rid of them...still need to get some book shelves *sigh*

Some of our favorite places to get books:

Barnes and Noble: we purchase the annual membership, and easily save more than that with the books and items we purchase both in store and online. I really, really love using the online site, especially at Christmas when our DD puts together her book wish list.

Garage Sales: Another fantastic idea is to look for books at garage sales...summer is coming and there are sure to be many sales with books for all ages! I found many books this way for my kids when they were younger. And it was even more fun when the kids found them themselves...it was like they had found a secret treasure LOL

Libraries: Many school libraries do a turnover once every 2-3 years and will have a book sale. The prices here are super on these books, and there is normally a large variety to chose from.

Don't forget that books make wonderful gifts as well. No child is too young to have a book -- I even give them for Baby Shower Gifts. Hey, Dr Seuss will never be out of style ;-)

Family Traditions...Creating Your Own

2009-03-13T14:02:00.001-07:00

Does your family have any traditions...either for the Holidays or for Birthdays? Like many families we all have some favorite things our parents or grandparents did, that we have carried forward for our own children. And there are some we have chosen not to...like eating Lutefisk during the Christmas season.

Creating new traditions for your family doesn't have to be elaborate or expensive. Sometimes it's a special phrase you may say to each other at bedtime or when one leaves for the day. It could also be something you didn't even realize had become a habit or tradition. It's quite endearing when these things mean a lot to your children, as they do to you. Here are just a couple of our examples.

*Birthdays

~The Birthday person gets breakfast in bed on their birthday. If, for whatever reason, it is not convenient for the Birthday person or for the rest of the family, we postpone it for another day in the week.

~The Birthday person gets to pick out what we have for supper that evening. In our house the kids have chosen my meatless Taco Salad 90% of the time.

*Friday Movie & Pizza Night

~Every Friday (a few times it is delayed until Sat) we have movie and pizza night. And this means that whomever's friends are over, they join us as well.

Please share your own traditions...we'd love to hear them!

Sleep....and coffee...need more please!

2009-03-13T04:14:00.001-07:00

Granted I don't remember a lot about my teen years, but I really don't remember being able to function on very little sleep. How do these kids do it?!

Teenage Dating in Today's World

2009-03-11T11:01:00.000-07:00

Let me be honest...this is something I've been "fearing" since my kids were little...the age when they are old enough to date. And since all 3 are so close in age I am now at the height of anxiety, as all 3 are dating!

*deep breath*

They have all discovered that dating can be pretty expensive. For two to play two games of bowling it is near $30! To see a movie it will probably run a couple close to $30 as well, by the time you figure in the tickets, beverages and snacks. And while it was traditional in the past for the boy to pay for everything, we believe that dating can be a shared expense. As long as both people contribute somewhat equally, I think it takes a huge pressure off the whole dating scene.

With kids starting to date at a younger age, there is also a transportation issue. They either don't have their license yet, or they are still in a restriction period of not being able to drive anyone else around that is not a family member. And there are plenty of us parents who just won't allow our child to ride with a newbie driver. Parents don't have/want to take the time to drive kids back and forth every weekend.

Solution...the kids hang out at each other's houses. Our main rule is there must be at least one parent home, and they must stay on the main levels, no bedrooms. Most of the time it turns into watching a movie(or 2), playing video games, foosball, shooting pool, or board games. And yes, sometimes they actually hang out in the same room as us *gasp*...we must be somewhat cool then, right?

This solution actually helps bring my anxiety level down. We know where the kids are, what they're doing, and we get to know their friends better. It's a win-win for everyone.

Of course my anxiety level will go back up a little this weekend...we have invited a young man over who wants to date one of our daughters. If he passes our "tests" we will probably allow them to see each other outside of school. Haven't asked hubby yet if he'll be sharpening his Battle Ax when the young lad arrives...oh yes, he really does have one ;-)

Don't like your child's friend(s)?

2009-03-10T05:00:00.000-07:00

It's a challenge most of us face at least one time -- not approving of our child's friend, or group of friends.

When our children are at a younger age, toddlers to elementary school, we can have great influence on whom they see, and ultimately whom may become their best friends. But as they get older we see them less, and they become more independent. It is part of the maturing process, and picking friends is part of that process. We may still want to jump in, but knowing how and when is key.

My husband has a lot more tolerance than I do, and often reminds me that many issues or childhood habits that bother me are quite minor in the big picture of life. And over the years I think I have become more open minded if a friend of one of our children does something off beat, or has an annoying habit. What we have found works best is the open communication...talk to your child about the friends "issue" that is bothering you. Maybe there is another side or aspect you were unaware of. And maybe your child was unaware themselves.

Of course all of this depends greatly on the issue. If it is something dangerous or illegal you must take a harder stance...for the safety of your child. Many times your child may actually take that message and try to discuss the concerns with their friend. Nobody likes to see a friend take the wrong path. On the lighter issues...clothing, hair, piercings (ok, I admit this one is still edgy for me), speech, etc...try to let them go. It's still ok if you want to discuss it with your child, but don't make it accusatory.

A good point that Dr David Walsh (Author of 'No: Why Kids of All Ages Need to Hear It and Ways Parents Can Say It.') makes is that "forbidding friends can backfire". Your child may continue to see that friend and delve into the behavior or habit you don't like themselves. More of his interview can be seen here on WCCO news 'What To Do If You Don't Like Your Child's Friends'

In the end the best thing to do is focus on your own child's behaviors and habits. Bring them up to be positive role models to their peers and younger children. Hopefully their good habits and behavior will be the one that many of their friends emulate.

It's just a hat and gloves, right?

2009-03-09T07:31:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning:

DD's: "We need to Lettering bars on our Letterman's jackets - can you please drop them off at the Sports Shop to have that done?"

Me: "Yes, get the jackets ready & we'll bring them this morning." Translation: empty out the pockets, etc.

Monday morning:

DD: "When you pick up our Letterman's jackets, can you make sure I get my hat and gloves...I'm pretty sure I left them stuffed in the sleeve."

Me: "WHAT?!" Translation: these are her favorite set, given to her by us for Christmas '07, and I've already had to restitch one of the fingers. I cannot believe she didn't remember they were in there, and I cannot believe we didn't feel the bulge when we dropped them off.

Hopeful: Maybe they were stuffed into the sleeve that doesn't need the patches, or maybe the shop will move them to that sleeve for safekeeping.

In the end: It is just a hat and glove set...things could be worse ;-)

Pacifiers / Thumbsucking

2009-02-19T16:47:00.000-08:00

Does your child use a pacifier, or suck his/her thumb? How often do they rely on it for comfort or habit? And how long do you let them us it?

We have experienced both the pacifier and thumbsucking situations. It was a long journey to be successful at breaking our son of thumbsucking. We did intermittently use a medicine. It wasn't the cure-all, but did help...along with being very persistent at reminding our son that we didn't want him to suck his thumb anymore. And even though he was under 6 we discussed with him the possible effects to his teeth. Did he understand? Probably not...but it did make him feel a little more grown up, and involved :-)

Our girls used pacifiers, and around 12 months we stopped them cold turkey. It only took a few days/nights of extra comfort & distractions from us and they were over it.

I definitely believe that the longer you wait, the harder it is. The longer a habit is ongoing, the longer the cure. Also, as a child gets older & starts attending pre-school, kids may start to tease. Trust me...kids can be cruel about anything and everything. Make the cure as positive for all involved. As a parent you may need all the patience you can grab hold of.

Finally...make sure all caregivers for your child know the situation and the rules/instructions involved. This includes both parents, older siblings, day care providers, and especially Grandparents ;-)

From the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry:

Most children stop sucking on thumbs, pacifiers or other objects on their own between two and four years of age. No harm is done to their teeth or jaws. However, some children repeatedly suck on a finger, pacifier or other object over long periods of time. In these children, the upper front teeth may tip toward the lip or not come in properly.

How can you help your child break the habit?

Excessive pressure can do more harm than good. Here are a few tips to consider:

Instead of scolding your child for sucking, offer praise for not sucking.
Remember that children often suck their thumbs when feeling insecure or seeking comfort. Focus on correcting the cause of the anxiety instead of the thumbsucking, and comfort your child.
Reward children when they avoid sucking during difficult periods, such as being separated from their parents.
If your child is older, involve him or her in choosing the method of stopping.
Your dentist can encourage children to stop sucking and explain what could happen to teeth if they do not stop.
If these approaches do not work, remind your child of the habit by bandaging the thumb or putting a sock over the hand at night. Your dentist or pediatrician may prescribe either the use of a mouth appliance or a bitter medication to coat the thumb.

From WebMD:

Usually, treatment can be done at home and includes parents setting rules and providing distractions. It may be helpful to limit the times and places that your child is allowed to suck his or her thumb and to put away blankets or other items your child associates with thumb-sucking. Offering praise and rewards for not thumb-sucking may also help your child break the habit. As your child matures, usually around age 5, he or she may be able to take a more active role in treatment.

Talk to your child openly about the effects of thumb-sucking.
Put gloves on your child's hands or wrap the thumb with an adhesive bandage or a cloth. Explain that the glove, bandage, or cloth is not a punishment but is only there to remind him or her not to thumb-suck.
Develop a reward system, such as putting stickers on a calendar or otherwise recording each day that your child does not suck his or her thumb. After an agreed-upon number of days, have a celebration for your child.

Use a special nontoxic, bitter-tasting nail coating, such as Thum. Apply it like fingernail polish to the thumbnail each morning, before bed, and whenever you see your child sucking his or her thumb. This treatment is most successful when it is combined with a reward system.

Please share your experiences ~ it may help others who are currently going thru this.

Banking

2009-01-10T05:48:00.000-08:00

It is important to teach children the value of money, starting at an early age. When your child gets money, do you let them spend it all? Do you have them put half aside?

Saving and spending habits start to root as soon as your child has it in their hands. By the time they are teens you can tell which children were allowed to do what they want with their cash versus the ones who had reinforcement from home about saving and spending wisely. Sure we all goof up once in a while, but if your foundation is solid enough you won't tumble.

When your child is able to understand the basics of saving and spending, open up a joint savings account for them. Many banks have special accounts where no minimum balance is needed, and having your name on the account insures safety of the account's activities...especially as your child gets older. Let them be part of depositing money they've received, and watching their balance grow. Only allow for withdrawals after you have discussed with them the whole picture...what is the item, why do they feel they should withdraw for it, & do they realize what their new balance will be? Sorry, money really doesn't grow on trees, and it will not magically reproduce in your account after you take some out ;-)

I would suggest only allowing withdraws for items that are substantial...meaning not for toys, movies, etc. My first big purchase was a stereo system. It was a very proud moment that I was able to purchase all the components and still have a sizable amount left in my account.

An important reminder: In many cases, once your child turns 18, the "no minimum balance required" rule goes out the window...and normal bank fees may apply. Yes, we just had this happen on our son's account - DOH!

Daughter takes a stand over plagiarism

2009-01-09T04:34:00.000-08:00

As you may, or may not, know...we have taught our kids to stand up for themselves, and for what is right. When they were younger we had to do much of this for them, but slowly began to have them help, and gradually learn how to do it on their own.

Yesterday I received a call from one of our daughters that she had to meet with a teacher after school. She had planned to stay after anyway, but because of this last minute meeting she was unable to do the strength & endurance training session. Ok, so far I'm on board, but I'm wondering why this meeting was so important.

She had to do a group project for this class. Now I don't know about you or your kids, but all 3 of ours HATE 99% of group projects. Because our kids do their very best, others in their group assume they can slack off. Or they are just natural slackers to begin with. Either way it is very annoying and disruptive. I knew about this project that was started this week, and knew my daughter was doing her fair share of the work, without being taken advantage of. The last night, 2 of the 4 girls were supposed to put the final paper together. At the beginning of class yesterday our daughter decides to look at the final paper before it is handed in. The girls didn't use much of her notes, but instead used sentences from the book...word for word! Plagiarism at it's best! Our daughter was immediately alarmed and spoke with the teacher briefly, & then set up the meeting. He thought her coming forward was brave, and earned even more respect from him. She even told him that she would rather take the chance of a lower grade, then be accused of plagiarism.

We've had the discussion on plagiarism with our children repeatedly. It started in Elementary school. These kids are Sophomores in High School. One of these girls has gotten caught by this teacher for plagiarism earlier in the year. What is she thinking??? In college they will kick you out if you are caught for plagairism! I honestly hope these 2 girls are given severe penalties.

I'm very proud our daughter stood up for herself, and what is right :-)

Welcome to the New Year!

2009-01-06T05:31:00.000-08:00

Did the Holiday break feel like a really long time to anyone else? Not only were the kids off of school, but my husband took a lot of time off as well. A week and a half felt almost like a month!

Don't get me wrong...I loved the time together. We spent a lot of time as a family unit, playing games, watching movies, baking holiday cookies, etc. I haven't quite put my finger on why the time appeared to be much longer.

My husband went back to work yesterday, and the girls went back to school. Our college son slept until 10:30 -- hey, why not? LOL He still has another 2 weeks off. I did have him go to the grocery store with me -- after all, I love having a helper to bag my groceries ;-) And I made him help me make supper of Emeril's Creole Onion Soup. I believe he actually enjoyed it, and I feel it's important he learn recipes other than burritoes and quesadillas.

Wait until he hears what I have planned for him today!

Secrets revealed...trying to sneak a peak at Santa

2008-12-18T04:51:00.000-08:00

Last night our children revealed to us that when they were younger they would get up in the wee hours of Christmas morning to see if they could sneak a peak at Santa Clause. They knew their stockings were empty when they went to bed late the night before, and magically full the following morning.

They said that one at a time they would go into the upstairs hallway, and sit on the floor. This view has a direct line to where the stockings are hung ;-) They would whisper among themselves, wondering if he had already come, or if this year they would actually see him. You see, from their viewpoint they could only see the backs of the stockings thru the stairway pedestals...and you could not tell if anything was in them. They did this at different times of the night, and each time only 1 of them was up first, but the other 2 were soon alert to it and they also got up. As soon as they would hear us getting up, they quickly went back into their rooms, and waited to make their official wake-up before coming downstairs. It's no wonder they were always soooo tired Christmas morning LOL

Normally I would be upset that my children did not stay in their rooms as instructed. We were always nervously filling those stocking every so quietly in the very late hours of Christmas Eve. We would wait a little while after they went to bed, in hopes they were sound asleep, and our bustling would not make them stir.

It's a very touching feeling to know that Santa Clause really did exist, and as far as we're concerned he still does...in our hearts :-)

'Let's Get Ready For...' Book Series

2008-12-16T07:06:00.000-08:00

Here is another great series of books we received thru our Toys 4 Tots Drive. We were so impressed we wanted to share our review with you!

Let's Get Ready For Kindergarten/Let's Get Ready for First Grade

By: Linda Desimowich and Stacy Kannenberg

Published by: Cedar Valley Publishing

These books are designed to please both the young child and the parents. The pages are full of colors and pictures that are sure to entice a young mind, and are laminated to resist tearing, and staining.

In the back of each book is a tips page for Parents and Caregivers.

Included in the Kindergarten book the child will (with some adult help):

*Learn to share & take turns

*Recognize and learn their full name

*Learn basic shapes, colors, numbers & letters

*Learn their address & phone number

*& much more!

Included in the First Grade book the child will (with some adult help):

*Write full name and phone number

*Learn upper and lower case letters

*Count to 100

*Recognize patterns

*Know money and value

*Read basic sentences

*Learn to read the calendar

*and more!

We are a family that is HUGE on educational items, and especially quality books. If our children were in this age range I would certainly purchase these books for them!

Book smart does not = common sense

2008-12-16T06:12:00.000-08:00

I have always been neurotic when it comes to our children being out in cold weather..."wear your coat, zip your coat, put on your hat and gloves, and don't forget your boots."

As with many things I've loosened up a bit as the kids got older, and tried to instill in my brain that it is NOT the cold that makes them sick. However...I still believe the cold temps decrease your immune systems ability to fight over those nasty germs as they try to invade your passages while you're in the cold ;-)

Ok, back to the topic...

Scenario this morning: -17 temp with windchills hovering around -30. We affectionately call this "snot freezing weather". When it's this cold it is best to breathe thru your nose. When you do, you suddenly feels all those little hairs in your nostrils freezing up ;-)

Reaction this morning: one daughter says goodbye for the bus with the proper attire of coat, boots, hat, gloves and a scarf around her face. Other daughter has the coat, boots and scarf around her neck, but...NO gloves and NO hat! HELLO...what are you thinking?!?!

She obliged me by grabbing her Hot Fingers gloves and putting them on while walking down the driveway. The hair was great this morning, so there was no hope of a hat.

btw - the other day we argued about who owned the blue pair of Hot Fingers gloves. I finally gave in and said they were hers...in hopes it would somehow sway her into wearing them more ;-)

Christmas traditions...have any?

2008-12-11T13:04:00.001-08:00

*~*Merry Christmas*~*

There's a rumor that Christmas is only 2 weeks away! Ok, my calendar shows it too ;-) And Hanukkah is only 12 days away!

I would love to hear any Holiday traditions you have...food, Santa, gifts, games, etc. Was it a tradition you remember from childhood; do you continue it; have you started any new traditions?

I think the one consistant thing we do each year is on Christmas morning. First off, you must stay in your p.j.'s, preferably as long as you can LOL Everyone gets to empty their Santa Stocking at the same time...unlike the night before where only one gift at a time is opened. Then we have Christmas Bread, otherwise known as Cardamom Bread. My Mom & Dad make it, and I swear I could eat a whole stick (loaf) myself! It is braided which makes it even nicer :-) After warming it in the oven you put a mix of sugar, cinnamon, and a little coffee (makes a "paste") over the top. Part of the fun is licking this mixture off your fingers as you eat it. My preference is to dunk it a little in my coffee. The kids don't yet see the delight in this.

The pictures are two of my all time favorite Christmas time pictures of our kids...from a "few" years ago.

Suspicious?

2008-12-04T10:23:00.000-08:00

One of our daughters took it upon herself to not only empty the dish drawers, put the dirty dishes in, and then proceed to hand wash the dishes we don't put in the drawers. And...she dried them and put them away.

Her sister asked her "What did you do?"

I asked "What are you wanting to do?"

She says she did it "just because" ;-)

Dr. Hippo Book Series

2008-12-03T14:48:00.000-08:00

As you know, we recently had a Toys for Tots Drive, both online and in person. We received some impressive children's books, and wanted to let you know about them.

Dr. Hippo Story Series - The Hippocratic Press

Sadie's Sore Throat

Katie Caught a Cold

Peeper Has a Fever

The Little Elephant with the Big Earache

By...Charlotte Cowan, M.D.

I am very impressed with this series of books, and wish they had been around when my children were little. The stories are set in real scenarios of what the children may be feeling and showing symptoms of common illnesses, and how they and a parent may react. The story takes the reader to the Dr's visit, and the questions and possible tests the Dr may do. The writing is an easy read, for older children to read on their own, or as a oral story. The illustrators use animals as the characters -- they are drawn well, with vibrant colors.

In the back of the book is a pull-out Parent Guide. It is well laminated, with more detailed information to help inform the Parent or Care Giver of symptoms, home remedies, and when to call the Dr's office for a visit.

Dr. Cowan is a pediatrician & Mother, so her approach to these stories is both professional and personal :-)

Dr. Hippo Books

Getting back to it...

2008-12-02T10:43:00.000-08:00

Yes, I am still here :-)

Last week was extremely busy with our son's 18th Birthday, Thanksgiving, and gearing up our website for Holiday Shoppers. Plus everyone was home for 4 days in a row...which, quite honestly, is very distracting to me. I love having them here, but my daily routine gets thrown off.

We survived all the celebrations, and even braved some Black Friday shopping. I'm not a crazy 5 am shopper...more like late forenoon. Son and I went looking for his Birthday gift. The stores weren't too bad at that time.

While I appreciate the stores trying to have plenty of employees on hand, they need further training on who and how many times a customer is asked if they need help. In the short 20 minutes we were at Best Buy we were approached 7 times. I think I'm going to come up with a rotating pin I can wear that says "If I want help, I'll find you", "Yes, I've been helped" "I cannot be helped"

2008-11-23T05:30:00.000-08:00

Helpful hint: Staying up until almost 1 a.m. does not guarantee sleeping in later.

A Special Birthday

2008-11-21T18:39:00.000-08:00

A special birthday deserves a special cake...our son is turning 18!

I used to make themed Birthday cakes when they were little, and have only occasionally done them while the kids have been in their teens.

We love to watch Ace of Cakes, and I got the idea to do this cake for our son. Of course it took much longer than planned (6 hours total, w/cakes from scratch), and it was not near as easy as they make it look on t.v. ;-)

To see our son's reaction...totally worth it :-)

2008-11-21T09:23:00.000-08:00

Excuse me Mr. Milkman Delivery Company...if your signage was better on your truck I might order from you. As it is now, all I read as you zip by on the street behind us is 'Milk Delivery'. It's cute that your truck is painted like a cow, but I can't get the milk if I only see the cow ;-)

Who What Where When Why

2008-11-21T04:55:00.000-08:00

"Mom, can we go to the after-party tonight? We don't know where it is." "When can you pick us up from the party?" "What are we going to get for supper tonight, and who can bring it to us?" "Why is the straightener still plugged in?" -- oops, that one was me ;-)

Ah yes, the never-ending challenge of balancing schedules. One would think it might get easier as the kids get older, but it is just different, sometimes crazy-different.

With the regular school schedule, work and extra-curricular activities, & hanging out with friends, it can sometimes be a very hard challenge to balance the kids' schedule with the few committed things on my calendar. That is one of the reasons I am so thankful to work from home. Many times my schedule is flexible, and the times I've had to change an appointment the schedulers are quite patient in listening to me blabber about why. Or at least they pretend to listen, which is fine with me. Maybe I should have been a circus performer, with all the juggling I can do.

It does help that our son can drive himself, and sometimes helps by driving his sisters. That's got to be a few points in the credit column of me driving myself crazy, right?

Parents should have a united front

2008-11-20T08:53:00.001-08:00

There will be many times when you and your spouse/partner do not agree on the rules, of dating, friends, curfews, etc. It is in the best interest of everyone involved to NOT hold these 2 sided discussions in front of your teenager(s).

We have blown that rule a few times, and it only causes bitter feeling amongst the two of you.

Sometimes your opinion "wins", and sometimes it doesn't. And if the winning opinion of the other parents ends up later to not have been the right one.....you can go ahead and rub it in with a neener-neener ;-)

2008-11-20T05:41:00.000-08:00

If you call to speak with one of our kids, please do not simply ask if they are here. We will tell you "yes" and then wait for the proper question of "Can I speak with them?" Hubby especially likes catching kids off guard with this one LOL

Sock Fairy

2008-11-19T18:26:00.000-08:00

I'm convinced that there is some kind of Sock Fairy that is living in our washer & dryer.

This Fairy randomly choses single socks, without discriminating on age or gender, and delightfully carries them away to his hideaway. He uses them for bedding, clothing and perhaps gifts to other fairies. This explains why he never seems to take the holey socks that we would not miss.

We have a nice collection of the orphaned socks he has created. Every once in a while he does give a few of the stolen socks back, either out of guilt or he just didn't care for the content or pattern.

*sigh*

2008-11-19T12:52:00.000-08:00

I love that hubby and I are more connected to our teenagers with enjoying the same genre of music, video games and movies.

Being Pregnant

2008-11-19T11:55:00.000-08:00

I truly enjoyed being pregnant :-) It was the healthiest times of my life, because I was eating healthy, and treating my body with kid gloves. After all, I wanted to help ensure healthy babies.

Not only did I take my pre-natal vitamins, I ate Spinach salads, almost every day. I did not drink any caffeine, or any alchohol, was never a smoker, and only took medicines that were ok'd by my OB/GYN. And I was very lucky to not have any morning sickness with our first, but got hit super hard with the twins...all those extra hormones, plus the stomach flu at the same time in the first trimester. Yeah, loads of fun there!

After the morning sickness passed with the twin pregnancy, I often ate 2 lunches at work LOL Being frugal I would always bring snacks and a lunch with from home. Well, that first lunch was gone by about 11 a.m., and by 12:30/1 I was hungry again...and headed to the cafeteria.

I didn't gain a lot of weight, even with the twin pregnancy, and was fortunate (or unfortunate) to have only gained in my belly area. Seriously, my husband said that from behind you could not tell I was pregnant!

From the front it looked like I had a HUGE globe under my top...now I am left with the wrinkly map that never does fold up flat again ;-)

Bedrooms

2008-11-19T05:06:00.000-08:00

When I was growing up, my mother was very strict. One of the rules was to make my bed every day, and keep my bedroom neat and organized. Actually, the whole house was neat and organized. Somehow I didn't "inherit" that trait from my Mother ;-) We believe our house should look "lived in" ;-)

While we are strict with our kids in many ways, we do let them have their personal space...aka bedrooms. Of the 3, one is better than the rest in regards to being somewhat organized, in her own special way. One has piles that can be cleaned up in the course of a weekend. The last one...well, it looks like a disaster area! And when prompted to actually go thru it...can take days. I think she gets sidetracked with all the neat things she finds buried in the piles.

Most of the piles is dirty laundry, extra pillows from the bed that never get back on the bed, paperwork or books from school, and I don't even want to know the content of the other piles.

My husband is the one who had to teach me to let their rooms be their comfort zones. Everyone needs a place where they can chill and destress.

Yes, their bedroom doors stay closed so I don't see them as I walk by. And we also don't let Grandma go upstairs.

2008-11-19T04:08:00.000-08:00

Has anyone invented a caffeine-drip yet?

2008-11-18T17:49:00.000-08:00

Don't you just love it when your own sarcastic humor is passed onto your children?

Proud Parent Alert

2008-11-18T17:04:00.000-08:00

I went out to lunch today with our son. Not that we haven't done that before, but today was special. He was chosen Rotary Student of the Month in our city.

How cool to have top business owners and organization members honor outstanding academic students once a month. It shows great interest in the youth, who will be part of the future. And in return the youth get to see their interaction and part of the happenings of the Rotary and it's members.

It was also very cool that our son told us we were also invited...he didn't have to ;-)

2008-11-18T08:37:00.000-08:00

How productive is "We are studying for a Spanish quiz" while talking on the phone with the boyfriend?

Guess we'll find out once the results are posted ;-)

Hair

2008-11-18T04:59:00.000-08:00

We all know kids go thru phases, from minor to extreme. Thankfully most of the ones our kids do are pretty minor.

My recent PYB moment was when our son got the call Saturday night that the City Rotary Club invited him to attend their weekly luncheon today, Tuesday. We had been waiting for the invite (the Principal of his HS chose him as the Rotary Student of the Month for October), but we didn't know when they would call, or for which meeting.

My first question, after congratulating him again on the honor, was "Are you going to get a haircut?"

He has two styles...buzz cut (which is normally reserved for summer), and a longer look that brings out his natural waves. You guessed it...the girls love this look. It's not long in the sense that it is down to his shoulders. It is long enough that when a baseball or knit cap is on, the waves are showing around the edges by an inch or so.

After he replied with a 'no', I took a deep breath and realized it was not worth debating. In the grand scheme of things it is not his hair that makes him who he is.

Just wait until the Grandparents find out that this is the hair style he chose to have for his Senior Pics ;-)

Dating for Moms & Dads

2008-11-17T15:52:00.000-08:00

Prior to having our kids someone wise told us the following:

Keep your marriage strong and vibrant, remain each other's best friends. After your kids are grown and out of the house it will just be the two of you, and you don't want to be living with a stranger.

What are some ways to do that?

*Keep having dates -- if you don't have a lot of time, even once a month works. And they don't need to be long or expensive. Since we don't eat out much we make sure and have a mini-date every Sunday morning at Caribou Coffee :-)

*Communicate -- ask each other about their day. Don't assume how someone's day went, aske them. You can share in their joy, or comfort them if it was a downer kind of day.

*Have fun -- laugh and enjoy, even if silly little things. Laughing is one of THE best stress relievers!

*Compliment -- remember how good it felt when you were dating to hear even the littlest compliment on your hair, or clothing? Well, I'm pretty sure you would still feel good to hear things like this, and so would your spouse.

*Little favors -- for me, it is sometimes the act of a little favor that really makes me feel good. Now don't laugh, but emptying the dishwasher, some cleaning, changing the bedding...all save me time and are really appreciated when I've not even asked for help.

*Intimacy -- we won't get too detailed here, as I'm sure you know what I mean ;-)

*Renew your vows -- we did this for our 10th Wedding Anniversary, and our three children were our attendants. We are planning on doing it again for our 25th in a few years.

This is only a rough draft of things we have done. And there are many households where there is a single parent, or partners. We would love to hear everyone's ideas on what works for you.

Boys vs Girls

2008-11-17T10:39:00.000-08:00

I told myself I would NOT be like my husband, and feel differently about my girls starting to date versus when our son did. But...I cannot help it, I DO!

After much thought, I think it is because we know we brought up our son to respect females. He has to live with 3 of us, so he gets a healthy dose of us every day. I would hope this helps him have a better understanding of our gender.

At the thought of our daughters dating, my husband joked he was going to buy a Battle Ax, and be sharpening it when any boy would arrive to pick a daughter up for a date LOL Guess what...he now has one. He hasn't yet had to bring it out, as only 1 daughter has dated. We know her boyfriend and family, and there is more of a calm nature in that. However, I think hubby has shown it to him in jest, to let him know it does exist.

The other day our other daughter was preparing for the musical at school. Our girls don't often wear make-up, but have to for this production. She was delighted to tell me afterwards that many of her guy friends, and other boys in the musical said she was "hot". WHAT?!?! *thud* After inquiring with many of my Mom friends from coast to coast, it appears this is the terminology the boys use now to compliment a girl's appearance.

I actually think that affected ME more than my hubby...not fair.

Seeing the world thru your children's eyes

2008-11-17T10:32:00.000-08:00

If there is one thing that stands out as a favorite thing to do, especially when my kids were younger, is to see the world thru their eyes.

All of their "firsts" are so intriquing to them, and some possibly scary. Most of these things we take for granted, whether it be an action, a thing, or a person. Let them sit and just watch what their eyes focus on, and the reaction they have. Watch how they feel a new object with their hands, or taste it...hopefully food only ;-)

Smile with them, comfort them, or share a good belly laugh!

Monday...another one

2008-11-17T10:22:00.000-08:00

It's a typical November morning, woke up with it being pitch black outside and a chill to the air. I so miss the sunshine early in the mornings!

The kids do too...it was hard for them to get up today. Normally they are up before me, but today I had to rouse them up.

The weekend included all of us going to see the new James Bond Movie. It was a beautiful new theatre, and the screen was enormous! We were very happy to get our favorite type of seats, you know the kind with the rail in front, so you can prop up your feet? We were shocked that nobody else was in that row! We soon found out why. With that enormous screen it was often times hard for our eyes to adjust to the action on the screen, and you literally had to turn your head side to side to see certain things. The chairs were oober comfy, so we leaned back as far as we could, to try and help the visuals. And heck no, we were all too stubborn to move LOL

Hope you were able to do something fun with your family this weekend. Maybe it was jumping in leaves, going to the movies, or playing a board game or video game.

Let us know by leaving a comment :-)

Advocate

2008-11-14T15:51:00.001-08:00

YOU are your child's best Advocate...until they become their own

One of the hardest things for many kids to learn, is how to be an advocate for themselves. Heck, many parents aren't comfortable being the child's first and strongest advocate. But you HAVE to!

Just as with picking your battles with your children, you must do so when being your child's advocate. One of the most important areas is school. If at anytime you feel something is not "right", or if your child complains to you to the point that you know it really bothers them, speak up.

Discuss the issue first with your child. A valuable tip is to not always assume your child is telling you the whole story. Yes, we all want to think our children are perfect. Reality check...they're not ;-) Ask lots of questions. Give ideas of why the situation is what it is.

If you still feel something isn't right, contact the appropriate person at the school. Remember to be polite, but firm. Let them know you may not have all the facts but you want to know all the facts so the situation can get resolved.

Stay on top of it until it is resolved, and always thank the school official(s) who helped get it resolved. Be a good example to your children on staying calm, achieving good communication with them and the school, and following thru. Over time they will take on these responsibilities themselves. Yes, you may need to intervene, or support them, but that's ok :-)

Manners

2008-11-14T15:48:00.000-08:00

Manners...start teaching when they're young, and reinforce

I believe that manners can be taught very early, as early as your child says their first words.

When our children were forming their first words (the traditional Mama & Dada) we taught them Tata. This was used by them to say 'Thank You', and in return we used it to them. It takes time, and it takes patience, but it is so important that children learn manners. It's a good base for a lifetime of being a good person, a proper person. Use the word(s) back to them, so they know it's an accepted word(s), and helps them to follow by example.

Even though our children have long since learn and use the words 'Thank You', we still find the word Tata used every once in awhile. It's like a loving term that shows the parent-child bond that started so many years ago.

Money

2008-11-14T15:38:00.000-08:00

Kids and Money - Given or Earned?

We have never given our children an allowance. Handing over cash for doing nothing makes no sense to us. Sometimes they would receive money as a gift from a relative, and they would learn to spend it wisely, save it, or do a little of both.

As they became grade-school age we did start to pay for grades on the Report Cards. It wasn't a lot, but to them it meant the world. They have always worked hard to obtain outstanding grades. Yes, getting the good grades is an accomplishment in itself, and the money is like a bonus.

The older they get in school, and the harder the classes become, the more the letter grades earn. We only pay for A's and B's, with a significant difference in the two. And as they hit the High School years we give an additional bonus for a Report Card with All straight A's, or a mix of A's. No bonus if there are any B's.

Some of you are thinking we are way off base. Perhaps you think we are overly pushy with our children and their grades. Is life going to be any easier on them? Will they not be pressured in their jobs to do their absolute best? When they are adults is someone just going to magically hand them cash once a week, for doing nothing?

One of the best results is our kids are A students. Our son was #1 in his class of 400 for his Sophomore year, and #2 in his Junior year, and the same year became a dual-enrolled student and attends the University full time. As you can imagine, we are SO proud, and better yet...he is very proud of his accomplishments!

***Recently I read this great article in Newsweek, by Newt Gingrich. His ideas are not far off from ours.

Welcome

2008-11-14T15:27:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my blog, Parenting - the Everchanging Manual

We've all heard that parenting is the hardest job you'll ever do, and one of the few that doesn't have a manual. That doesn't mean we cannot create our own manual. It will have varying ideas, and many changes along the way. It can sometimes change daily, or even hourly. Parenting certainly is a day-to-day "job", and can be rewarding and frustrating, sometimes at the same time. My purpose is to share what things have (and some that have not) worked as we raise our 3 children.

We have an 18 year old son, and twin daughters who are 16 1/2. Yes, that's 3 in a matter of 18 months ;-) And believe it or not, I still have all my hair, and only a few gray ones!

I like to think of this as a "progressive" blog. It won't be in order of years, meaning baby to teenage. It will be jumbled, as I know the things I want to post will not come pouring out of me all in one sitting.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy.

Mama Bear