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In my family, we’ve got birthdays galore at the end of May + all of June — I’m talking May 30, May 31, June 7, June 14, June 20, June 22, and June 26. Whew! A few of these special days belong to kids, which means themes are in order. Well, for the girls, anyway — the boys don’t seem to care. So, this year, for one special 5-year-old celebration, there will be a party featuring a hair station, a nail station, and a tattoo station (temporary, of course!). There will also Read More...

By now, you’ve probably seen the TIME magazine cover featuring a mom breastfeeding her preschool-aged son. It's attention-grabbing… to say the least. While my first instinct is shock and pity for the future teenage boy who will never live this cover down, I do see the beauty in a mother’s ability to provide food and nourishment for her child – while creating an intense bond. But doing so on the cover of a national magazine seems to objectify the natural sweetness of a tender Read More...

There's a new movie coming out this week that makes me think back on my pregnancy days. What to Expect when You’re Expecting stars Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez and a ton of big stars highlighting the highs and lows of those fascinating 9 months. It looks hilarious. And makes me realize how far we've come – publicizing those "unspeakable" pregnancy quirks and emotions previous generations never shared. Now we learn about the very real birthing experience from movies Read More...

Do you know how to properly use the words I and me? Consider the sentence, “He is taking my friend and me to a fancy restaurant tonight.” Is the use of me correct? Or should I have been used? I offer some guidance over at Just Edits. Read More...

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It’s hot here in Florida — already. We’re talking temps in the 90s, lots of sunscreen, and kids who seek water and air conditioning after a good chunk of time outdoors. Inside time is important in the heat of summer (I know, it’s not summer yet, but, still, scorching days have arrived), but how do we keep our kiddos engaged NOT in electronic zombie-like activities, to which they often seem pulled like magnets. One idea: Set up a puzzle on a card table in the middle of your Read More...

Mother’s Day is right around the corner, and I don’t know about you, but I’m more than ready for a relaxing day with my family, some pampering and maybe even some time to myself. Whether it's breakfast in bed or just a sweet note from my kids, I personally enjoy any type of special treatment. But sometimes the day that celebrates us Moms doesn’t always feel like a break, does it? We’re (probably) still getting up early to get everyone ready for a "nice" brunch. Read More...

So I’m checking out at Rural King…you know, the K-Mart for farmers, and I’ve got one hundred and sixty pounds of ground corn cob for my guinea pigs to play in, a small bag – forty pounds – of potting soil, some last minute veggie plants all heading to school. So there I am, at the check out lane…so glad it went without a hitch, because my precious and wonderful son called from Detroit on his way back to Germany so he can be home for his son’s Read More...

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Mother’s Day is less than two weeks away (May 13 is the big day!), and that means it’s time to get clever, either by way of shopping or crafting or writing that special letter or poem. There’s a bunch of ways to tell mom you care — what’s your favorite? Read More...

Normally, I am slightly suspect of people who are chronically ill. Those who simply always don’t feel well; those who dwell entirely on the self as a virus abused individual; those who can’t stop medicating; those who are ten years their own senior because they have been raked over the sick coals. You know the type. As for me and my house – I’m never sick, and I think it has a lot to do with H2O, sleep, a fairly good diet and being active. Also, I think it has Read More...

"But how did the baby get in her belly?" This was the question a 3-year old boy asked his nanny. They were at a play date with the boy’s friend and her nanny, who was pregnant. There was a lot of baby talk. But the boy wanted to start from the beginning – how did it get there?! As funny and innocent as this question may seem, the nanny still felt a good deal of fear – and dread. "How do the parents want me to handle this?" "It grows inside the mommy’s Read More...

Need a healthy snack to add to your line-up of good grub? Here’s one that is currently satisfying the sweet teeth in my family: One snack cup of sugar-free vanilla pudding topped with a sprinkling of shaved almonds and a few mini chocolate chips. That’s it. Easy. Easy. Easy. And only 60 calories in the pudding cup. Add a few more for toppings. Mmmm — for kids and adults alike! Read More...

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I think they might be happy the FCAT is finished. Read More...

I hear the conversation all the time: "I can’t believe she did that." "No, please tell me she didn’t!" The villain they're referring to? The Mother-in-law. We all know how the in-law relationship is often strained. And it only gets worse when grandkids come into the picture. In-laws "swoop-in," give unsolicited parenting advice, comment on how over — or under –protective you are. But they also babysit, buy the babies necessities, and love us Read More...

Had a yard sale last weekend, and boy, oh boy, am I glad we aren’t knee deep in the madness this week. It wasn’t all bad, though, and, actually, I sorta like the process — the preparation, the organizing, the sign-making, the mingling with customers, the money. The clean-up, not so much, but overall, it’s a satisfying endeavor. Still, it’s tiring — both physically and mentally. And by mentally, I mean it’s pretty wearing to spend all day negotiating with Read More...

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Tweet Tweet Preschool teachers and daycare providers can help children learn to recognize and write the letter K through fun activities that support clear learning objectives. Implementing activities that support clear learning objectives, preschool teachers can create brilliant lesson plans that help young children learn the letter K. Learning Objectives The students will identify the letter K. The students make and recognize the K sound. The students will Read More...