Search Results for: blog a new kind of playdate

A Playdate for the Girls Part II

After the initial tumbling introductions, the girls begin to play… but not with each other. The girls were all clad in cute girly attire and new shoes. My sister’s daughter, who is the oldest at fourteen months, just got her first pair of sparkly tennis shoes two weeks prior to our playdate. By now she is a very accomplished walker even though she did not start to walk until after her first birthday. With her advanced walking skills she kind of assumed the role of queen bee. My husband’s sister-in-law’s daughter had also recently gotten a new pair of shoes … Continue reading →

A New Kind Of Playdate

Okay parents repeat after me, ALCOHOL AND PLAYDATES DO NOT MIX . But apparently a group of women in Philadelphia disagree with me. In a case of “now I’ve heard everything”, I was shocked to read in the Chicago Times a story about a group of eight mothers who formed a group five years ago that meet weekly, mostly on Fridays. While their kids are playing they sit back and drink! They discuss their problems, eat pizza or hot dogs, dance with their kids and drink. Welcome to the world of Happy-hour playdates. The article went on to talk about … Continue reading →

Learning By Example

My daughter is a quick study. She has been developing new skills and abilities at an almost alarming rate; much quicker than her brother did. She has always been an observer of all activity in her sight. I think a big part of her rapid growth is due to the example she receives from the children around her. My son never cared for toys as a baby but his sister loves toys. She likes to watch her big brother playing with all different kinds of toys and follows his example. At barely five months she was grabbing toys and discovering … Continue reading →

Homeschool Groups and Resources in Illinois P-Z

Getting involved with other homeschoolers is very important to a family’s success in homeschooling It is important to join a homeschool network or support group in your area, There are also many homeschooling groups as well as many homeschooling classes, and programs that your students can enjoy. In this series, we are covering homeschool groups and resources across the country. This installment is part 1 for Illinios P-Z. Also see A-h and G-N Peoria Area Homeschoolers (PAH) The mission of Peoria Area Homeschoolers is to enhance the home education experience. PAH provides an an opportunity for members to provide support, … Continue reading →

Stretch Out Your Kids Clothing

In the Home Blog, I’ve been discussing how I am in the middle of switching out sizes and seasons for my kids clothing during this weekend. But did you know that there are some items that you can actually stretch out or remake to get an extra year or two? And if you have too much of one kind of item, such as a zillion onsies, make them over into something you can use. Whether the clothing is too small, too worn or two stained, don’t throw it out. Instead, create a new wardrobe and save on the cost of … Continue reading →

Are Play dates Overrated?

It used to be that the mommies got together and the babies played. But it seems these days that scheduling our children’s lives from even infancy is a big focus of the parenting game. Babies need socialization–or so I’m told. They need to make friends–so sayeth the experts. I must confess that it leaves me scratching my head. Now don’t get me wrong. I enjoy the occasional park date with other moms who have similar aged children. I definitely love the social time and of course the kids love going to the park. But my babies needing to socialize and … Continue reading →

Let Kids Friendships Develop Naturally

As adults we tend to forget how important making friends can be to our kids. Tyler has been worried the past few weeks that he won’t make friends when we return to New Orleans. He’s especially concerned about being the “new kid” in the class. School starts after Labor Day but there’s a chance we may not return until school is in session because my house is not quite ready. The plan is to homeschool him until we return. I have assured him that he will make friends. He has the kind of personality that draws kids to him. Just … Continue reading →

Men Who Drink Are At Risk For Sleep Disorders

A new study from the University of Wisconsin at Madison found that men who habitually consume alcohol are twenty-five percent more likely to have a sleep related breathing disorder than those who do not. The study looked at both men and women, but there was no significant relationship between alcohol consumption and sleep related breathing disorders. This may have been due to the fact that the 645 women in the study tended to generally drink less habitually than the 775 men in the study. Further studies are planned to look at the relationship between alcohol and sleep related breathing disorders … Continue reading →

Update: 3-Year-Old Wanders On Interstate

Here’s an update to a blog I wrote about what I considered to be an example of bad parenting. It involved a 3-year-old Indianapolis boy found wandering down Interstate 465, clad in a t-shirt and diaper. You can read the blog here. The mother was charged with four counts of child neglect and the kids were placed in state custody. Initial reports stated that the boy’s sister was found eating spaghetti off the floor, in fact she was eating canned spaghetti out of the trash (the can had been placed in the trash the night before, according to the mother). … Continue reading →

Another Example Of Bad Parenting

It’s always disturbing to read about parents who don’t take their responsibilities as a parent seriously. I wanted my first blog of the year to be about something happy, but this is far more important an issue to me. This past Sunday yet another parent was negligent in her responsibilities as a mother when she allowed her 3-year-old to escape from their second floor apartment and wander off, ultimately finding his way to a busy interstate. According to police reports, the 3-year-old Indianapolis toddler was found playing on the busy highway, wearing nothing but a diaper and t-shirt, while his … Continue reading →