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My Daughter’s Graduation from Middle School

This past Friday I attended my daughter’s graduation from middle school. This ceremony was a bit more special than your average graduation. I say this because in most middle schools, the children move on together to high school. But my daughter attended a K-8 school where they are all going separate ways. These kids grew up together since either K-4 or kindergarten and so they had developed a very special bond. I think it’s a huge part of the reason that my daughter had so few problems in middle school. When we arrived at school, we were handed a pamphlet. … Continue reading →

Rare Dog Breeds: The Lundehund

Sometimes it’s fun to look at specific dog breeds, especially for those considering getting a purebred. It’s always good to know the characteristics of a breed before purchasing that type of dog, so one is aware of any potential health concerns. Those into rare dog breeds should be especially intrigued by the Norwegian Lundehund. It’s the rarest breed of dog in the world. The Lundehund is so rare because of its many unique characteristics. The website for the Norwegian Lundehund Club of America contains many details on this special breed. The Lundehund always sports at least six toes on each … Continue reading →

Charlie’s Got More than Luck

Most Disney Channel original series focus on the lives of their intended audience. Shows on Playhouse Disney often feature young protagonists learning to interact with the world. The plethora of Disney Channel’s tween and teen shows, the channel’s bread and butter, again usually focus on the lives and problems of its protagonists, whose ages usually match that of the channel’s target audience. Refreshing, then, is the Disney’s Channel recent hit series “Good Luck Charlie.” Although the series’ main character is arguably Teddy Duncan, a 15-year-old girl, the show really revolves around the entire family. The premise of the show is … Continue reading →

Classics and Small Children

Now, to me small children do not scream “classical education.” At the same time, I have an interest in classical education that does not always mesh well with our interest in play-based learning. I believe that learners need to learn how to create for themselves, whether this is in play or in rhetorical discussions. Perhaps it is because I am so supremely illogical that I value classics education. My husband is the step-by-step, logic-driven one in our family. I am the one who invents creative but often illogical solutions. Inspired by The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at … Continue reading →

Play Group Mama Drama

As a new mom, you may be looking forward to joining an organized group of other moms. After all, who else will listen to you discuss the consistency of your baby’s poop or be willing to give you support when you are having problems with breast feeding. But new mom beware. Play groups and mom groups can come with a lot of mama drama, from back biting to cliques. When you join a group, be clear to yourself why you are there. Is it to provide some socialization for your child? Is it to get out of the house? Is … Continue reading →

The Do’s of Swap Participation

Swaps are so much fun to be a part of. They let you be creative, have fun, make new friends and get really neat things back. However, there are definitely some rules when participating in swaps. It is simply called Swap Etiquette and almost any swap you participate in, is going to be the same as far as etiquette goes. Here are some do’s of participating in swaps. Do: Read all of the rules or guidelines for that swap. Pay attention to all details and be sure and follow what the swap hostess has asked. Save the original swap guidelines … Continue reading →

Is “The View” Getting A Male Co-host?

For weeks rumors have been circulating about who will fill Rosie O’Donnell’s large shoes on ABC’s daytime chatfest “The View.” Media front runners (their names have tossed around by the press, not by “View” execs) include Kathy Griffin, Whoopi Goldberg and Sherri Shepherd – all of whom have regularly filled in as guest co-hosts in recent weeks. (They’d be fools to let Shepherd get away—she’s hilarious!) But, today, New York is buzzing about two names that have not made the list of serious female contenders—Mario Cantone and Ross Mathews. Shocking? Hardly. The two men have been frequent guests on the … Continue reading →

Joiners and Loners

We all want what’s very best for our kids—we want them to grow and develop and experience life to the fullest. BUT, sometimes our own values about what that means might clash with our child’s temperament. We may think that an active social life is best while our child prefers to be alone or in one-on-one relationships. We might actually worry that if our child is too much of a loner, there are (or will be) big problems. It can go the other way too and a shyer, quiet parent might have a real hard time with a child who … Continue reading →

Celebrity Updates: New Babies and New Beginnings

GIRL POWER! They may have arrived two months early, but by all accounts, they are doing very well. I’m referring to the fraternal twin daughters “Desperate Housewives” actress Marcia Cross gave birth to two days ago. According to news reports, the girls named Eden and Savannah were born at a Los Angeles hospital without any major health problems. The girls are the first children for 44-year-old Cross and her 49-year-old stockbroker husband. The couple married last June and now, less than nine months later, they have successfully doubled the size of their family. Frankly, I was a bit shocked by … Continue reading →

DDR: Exergaming to Lose Weight

The next time your child wants to turn on the game system you should join in the fun. Plug in a dance mat for Konami’s Dance Dance Revolution. It’s a music game that will give you an aerobic workout. The dance pad has four or six arrows: up, down, right, and left (sometimes adding left and right diagonals). Arrows on the screen prompt you to follow the rhythm of a song. There are various levels of intensity. You can calculate the amount of calories burned or calculate your total running distance when the game is in workout mode. In addition, … Continue reading →