Well another weekend has come and gone. I can’t believe it will soon be the end of July! Gosh time is passing quickly. Sometimes it seems like there are just not enough hours in the day and you can’t get everything done. Another time the day just drags on endlessly! So instead of cleaning house this weekend like I normally do, I decided to just not get all stressed and flustered and worry about how clean my surroundings are. Instead I took my two younger ones to the pool to have some f...

My kids are back in school. My son started Middle school; my daughter is now a high school junior. Last Thursday it was orientation for my son. It was pretty busy at his new school. Throughout the entire summer he kept asking me if he had grown an inch or more yet. I kept replying nope, or I would tell him maybe he did because he looks a little taller to me. He loved that because it made him feel good. I can’t lie to him now. Then he would make the following comment and questi...

At some places of work people with children can take time off, they have flex time, leave early, and come in late, use sick time freely, perhaps better benefits and/or other perks? Uncle Sam gives each parent a Tax Credit for each child. Should someone who is childless feel left out or jealous? I’ve heard a grumble or two sometime ago from those who are childless that they put in more time than those with kids. Is that really being fair to someone who is a parent though? Of course ...

First there’s the kiss, then comes marriage, then comes the baby carriage. When the baby carriage arrives life as you know it is over (i.e., your freedom to move about the world as you so feel; buying luxury items; indulging in your whims). You’re now the proud parents of little Johnny and you’re a parent for life. As parents, we dedicate all of ourselves to growing our children, making sure that they’re well fed, and healthy, both in mind and body; we make sure that they don’t have ni...

Sometimes I feel as if she is my first and only child. Because she is such a bundle of tumultuous energy that cannot be defined or confined. She’s currently ruler of our household and loving it. One minute she’s queen of her kingdom, the next she’s running for cover yelling “Mommy” when her frustrated brother and sister makes after her for doing something naughty to them or their possession. Recently my oldest girl came to me wailing, “Mommy Amanda has put water in my makeup, all of...

Oh boy, I thought I was up to date and knowledgeable about what goes on in parent land. I guess I must be sleeping; perhaps I’m imbibing too many cappuccinos lately. Ahem…let me put my mug down. So now I’ve heard that parents are outsourcing the care of there children to other people. Yep, just like an employer will outsource a job, parents can and do outsource taking care of Ben and Mary or little Johnetta to somebody else. If Ben wants to learn to ride his bike, it’s not mom or dad...

I remember the days of my youth when I could go off either on my own or with my siblings and roam free without my parents worrying about us. We could go from one neighborhood to the next, and back in the day as a very young child I didn’t live in a Subdivision (in those days it would be what’s that?) however, we lived in close proximity to have a neighborhood of kids that could play and hang out together. Everyone knew everyone’s business and you couldn’t do anything bad because we had “a v...

Is driving me crazy! If there was a time when I needed a trip to the other side of the world, it would be now. The constant bickering; the yelling; the possessiveness; the competition, why oh why?! When they are friends they are the best of friends. When they fight, it’s all out war and I have to be the referee. I’m tied of it. I’m tired of talking and now my talking as turned to yelling and threats. I’m exhausted. If one has something, the other wants it. If one gets a pr...

Sometimes it might seem that I complain about my kids a lot. I don’t consider writing two or three articles about what I don’t like or trying to get them to adhere to certain rules at home complaining, that’s a typical parental discussion. From time to time I’ll mention my kids and I have said good things about them, they are fairly well-behaved and good children. Except for the few times that I have to be at my wits end because of a disagreement or something, typical kids stuff. Tho...

I’ve read that a parent shouldn’t stress over a messy room. OK. I’ve relented a bit since reading that, and even after a past discussion with the pediatrician. Some times I just close their door and ignore it. I’ve even gone inside to clean up myself if it’s too much. Or resorted to cut backs on toys, games or something that is beloved just to get the rooms cleaned up. But after a while that tactic doesn’t work anymore. At least not for my oldest daughter. She’s a sweet child. Sh...

At this stage of having been a parent for let’s see, 21 one or more years, I didn’t think it would still be this difficult. I thought it was supposed to get easier the older they get?! Apparently the books have it all wrong. The easy part is when they are babies, when they can’t talk back, when they look at you with goo goo eyes and worship the ground you walk on. When they eat everything you put in front of them without question, at least most of the times anyway! Ever had a one y...

This year’s shopping for Homecoming was a lot different than last year's. This year my daughter has been working part time and could fund her own outfit. She was pretty proud of herself and I was of her too. We spent Friday evening at the mall, second evening, because she couldn’t find what she wanted to wear. Finally she settled on a nice blouse that had a jewelry attached. It looked great on her too. What was great about it was I chose it after she was ‘spinning’ around for so many ho...

My daughter and her friends are enjoying Homecoming tonight. She’s supposed to be having a sleepover. One of the teen that is supposed to be there is not. She is supposed to be sleeping in my home. She won’t be. Why you might be wondering? Because she’s being quite devious! I spoke to her mom two nights ago and assured her that I’m in agreement with the sleepover and they will be fine. After the Homecoming everyone is supposed to go to a party at one of the girl’s home. The...

The other day my four year old was talking to a boy who passes by our store sometimes, he’s the child of another store owner. He’s a very polite child and is very friendly. He plays with my son, and they are around the same age I think, (my son is 11years old). So I’m sitting on a bench watching as he is at her level, because he was kneeling and she’s there grinning widely and laughing at whatever he’s telling her. He looks over and tells me hello before he says goodbye. Then m...