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Parenting

Mini Putt Putt Golf

When my kids were little, they loved playing mini golf. In fact, I’m pretty sure they still enjoy it! So I love the idea of setting up a mini golf course at your own house, so your kids can play any time they want to – and you get to save some money. On my guest post on My Kids Adventures today, I share three really fun mini golf courses you and your kids can design, create, and play. Plus, there’s a cute printable scorecard to make your games seem like the real thing. So pop over to My Kids Adventures and let me know what you think!

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Parenting

Toddlers and ADHD Medication

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common behavioral disorder of childhood, yet experts are worried by statistics that show very young kids are now getting powerful medications to treat the problem. Some 10,000 toddlers across the U.S. are being diagnosed as hyperactive and receiving drugs such as Ritalin and Adderall, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced in a new report. The 2- and 3-year-olds — especially those whose families who are on Medicaid —are getting the drugs even though the American Academy of Pediatrics doesn’t even have guidelines for ADHD in children under 4. “We’re giving Adderall to 2-year-olds? I mean, that’s nuts,” said Dr. Lawrence H. Diller, a behavioral pediatrician. “There’s no evidence that it works. There’s no evidence that it’s safe. These are desperate measures.” An excerpt from Today.com Before I say a word, I do want you to know that I understand that parenting a toddler is at times tiring, exasperating, and frustrating. Little ones have big energy. But that’s normal. Their little bodies and minds are growing and often at odd times. What does that mean? It means that their curiosity may be exploding and driving impulses, but their self-control is just forming and hardly …

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Parenting

How to Know When Your Child is Ready to Make Choices

Every child must learn to make choices on the path to adulthood. Little children make little choices and are rewarded by being given bigger choices. The problem arises when little children are given the opportunity to make big choices or lots of choices—or worse, they contest a choice their mothers have already made—difficulties may arise. Here’s an example: MOM: Honey, we’re going to the zoo, so please put your sneakers on. CHILD: I don’t want to wear my sneakers. I want to wear my sparkle shoes. MOM: But we’ll be walking a lot, and your tennis shoes are comfy. CHILD: So are my sparkle shoes. MOM: I don’t think they are . . . and we need to go. CHILD: But, Mommy! MOM: Okay, okay. If you think you will be okay, wear them. Two things could happen here… To read more of this post, visit my guest post on my hubby’s blog!

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Parenting

Easter Fun Ideas with the Kids

One of my favorite new sites for kids is My Kids Adventure. They are big on family. Today, I have a post on their blog that was an idea from my friend Nancy. How do others celebrate Easter and how can we make that international experience fun for kids? She found some interesting Easter goodie traditions from around the world and Andy from our office and his little bits made them. I wish I still had some little bits, sigh, sad face. Here are some Easter fun ideas for you to check out and have some cultural fun this weekend!

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Parenting

No More Perfect Kids

I’ve always been impressed with my friend, Jill Savage. And I can’t help but take a second to brag on her a little bit. Jill gets the whole “mom perfection” thing – the way we are so hard on ourselves about doing everything just right, every day. Now in her latest book, No More Perfect Kids, Jill gently shows us how we can let go of the perfect kid idea too. Jill encourages moms to let their children become who they were designed to be. In Jill’s words, “We want them to fully come into their own.” That sounds a whole lot better, healthier, and freeing to me than the pressure of trying to raise perfect kids! To celebrate the release of No More Perfect Kids we’re giving away two signed copies. To enter to win your copy, just tell me in the comment section below how you are trying to break the “perfect kid / perfect mom” habit. Winners will be selected on Monday, March 24, and announced Tuesday, March 25, 2014. And if you haven’t let go of the perfect mother idea yet, Jill’s book No More Perfect Moms will help you trade perfection for peace. Thank …

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Parenting

I Should Have Listened

My son was just 4 years old. It was his first year in preschool and the very first week. I got a phone message from a mom inviting him over to play with her son. “This is wonderful!” I thought. “He is being sought out and may already have a friend at school.” I immediately shared the good news with him and got back an equally immediate, “I don’t want to go.” Yikes! I thought, “He just does not have the maturity to understand the importance of having good friends at school.” So, I explained to him that while his sisters also had felt a little intimidated by all the new people at school, he would feel more comfortable after he got to know some of them better. He looked at me unmoved and expressionless and said flatly “I don’t want to play with him.”

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Parenting

Tag Team in Parenting

When we were little, we all enjoyed playing the game of Tag. We’d run barefoot through the grass, laughing and trying to “tag” anyone we could. Tagging them meant passing on responsibilities, taking turns being it. Now that we’re all grown up, we aren’t as likely to be found running around and screaming in our front yard. But who says the game of Tag has to end when we become parents? Today on my husbands blog I discuss 3 Ways to keep the game of Tag going with Tag Team Parenting.

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Parenting

Is Your Teen Ready to Leave Home?

Over the years, we’ve said many things to our kids… From “Time to wake up, sweetheart” to “Time for bed.” From “You lost your first tooth!” to “You lost your homework, again?” From “Shhh, Mommy’s trying to sleep” to “Shhh, it’s okay, honey.” The thing we dread saying the most, but the one thing we eventually have to say to our kids, is goodbye. But before saying goodbye to your teen, be sure they are ready by sharing these 3 simple truths with them: 1. They are special: Filling your child up with encouragement is the best way to create confidence in them for the future. So write a letter to your teen listing all the special things you love about them. This way, they are able to take your letter of encouragement with them when it does come time to leave home. Tell them how wonderful and awesome and unique they are! Then be sure to share specific things you love about them—such as their kindness towards their younger siblings or their leadership on their baseball team. 2. They are human: Set your teen up for a win by being sure they know that they are only human. Change their expectations …

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Parenting

An Uncommon Family’s Adoption Story

I have to smile when I hear people talk about blended families. “Every family is blended!” I think to myself. When you take a man and a woman from two different families, and they get married – boom! You have a blended family. My family became even more blended when we adopted two children. And though blending can be beautiful, it can also bring new challenges. In her new book, Uncommon Marriage, my friend Lauren Dungy shares how blending her family through adoption brought challenges, but also new insight into her relationship with her husband, Tony. A married couple needs to focus on both partners’ passions and desires. Otherwise, one of the spouses may be forgotten. It can be so easy to forget that what is important to one partner might not be as important to the other. I had always been supportive of Tony’s career in sports. We sacrificed, made adjustments, and moved around the country because that was what needed to happen. He was passionate about his job, and I loved supporting him. I think Tony felt the same way about my desire to adopt at that point in our lives. He might not have been as …

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