recent posts
December 19, 2012
When you dropped your child off at school today, did you take an extra moment to notice the lock on the front door? The security doors in front of the office? Did you double check the entrance to the main school building and think, “how easy would it be for someone to get in?” I know I did. Or were you simply blocked from entering your child’s school, when you were once a welcomed visitor?
All across the country, parents and school officials are struggling with ways to handle the fallout from the Newtown tragedy: Emergency meetings to review and improve security...
September 13, 2012
Baby #2 was a born sleeper. When he was a mere 4 or 5 weeks old, he was pulling seven-hour, through-the-night stints, and by 2 months old he was giving us eight or nine hours of blissful uninterrupted sleep. It was a miracle, especially considering that our first has never been a great sleeper. (Don't hate me, just keep reading.)
When our friends remarked at how well-rested I seemed for a mom of a newborn, I’d brag at his superstar sleeping patterns, adding that I was fully aware that anything and everything is subject to change at a moment’s notice when you’re...
August 16, 2012
The recent recall of the hugely popular Bumbo baby seat is the latest mass recall causing a collective gasp among parents nationwide. These foam-rubber seats are perfect at propping up little baby bottoms, with just enough space for chubby legs to squeeze through, so they can sit up like bigger kids. Unlike many other baby products, they take up little space and can be easily moved throughout the house, so it’s no surprise that they’re a fixture on most baby shower registries. But apparently, they’re not so perfect, as little ones have been hoisting themselves out of the...
July 26, 2012
By now, “mommy wars” has become a household phrase. We all know the battles and opposing sides: working mom vs. stay-at-home mom, breastfeeding mom vs. bottle-feeding mom, attachment vs. free-range … the list goes on. We’ve all taken our various sides and have our own personal battle scars from living with our choices and facing the upturned noses of those who chose differently. And the Internet, bless its soul, has helped us dig in our heels, wage ugly words, and fire judgmental accusations against each other at lightening speed.
But I’m kind of over that. And...
July 11, 2012
We’re getting ready to put our house on the market, trying to follow all of the golden rules of selling a home: de-clutter, de-personalize … did I mention de-clutter? … and overall simplify the entire place. With two small children who require nothing short of an entire Target store’s worth of toys and gear (Not to mention clothes. Oh man, the clothes!) preparing for showings is a Herculean task. I’m endlessly searching for an inch of spare space under the bed, in the closets, anywhere out of sight to stow those stray items we simply had to have at one point or...
May 13, 2011
Coming off the heels of the big royal wedding recently, many of us got a glimpse at the princess that may live within each of us: The giddiness at the sight of the stunning gown, the jewels, the horse-drawn carriage, and of course, Prince Charming waiting at the end of the aisle. Every girl’s dream, right?
Except now that I have a little girl, that dream kind of freaks me out. Of course I want her to find love and romance and happiness, and live her happily-ever-after, but on her own terms as a strong, independent woman. So I dodge the deluge of perfect princess characters that abound...
October 29, 2009
Costumes and candy and crepe paper, oh my. You’ve been preparing for weeks, and now the hour is drawing near for the big night! Before your little tricksters head out for their treats, make your Halloween a green one. It’s not too late to make it a healthier celebration, for you and planet Earth.
September 10, 2009
President Obama had a big week this week, with two speeches that grabbed a lot of attention and headlines. First, he stirred up a batch of controversy and ruffled some feathers when he directly addressed children and told them to work hard and do their best in school. Obviously a very touchy subject not meant for the President to meddle in. (What? Did I miss something here!?)
August 13, 2009
Yes, you read that right. No, she didn’t have some weird delivery complication or medical condition, she was tweeting, as in, posting on Twitter. You know, that fun little social networking site where you can instantly alert all of your “followers” of your every thought and move (in 140 characters or fewer, of course). And when the tweeter (or eh hem, is it twit?) is none other than Twitter CEO’s wife and baby mama, the tweets were heard ‘round the world.
July 16, 2009
It's finally here! The latest installment of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, has hit theaters by storm, with midnight showings, record-breaking ticket sales, and perhaps even the impending accolade of the biggest movie of all time.
8 Printable Thank-You Cards for Teachers
Allison McDonald
Aliki
Jessica Efird
Family Education Staff