Ready for the Carefree Days of Summer

I am counting down the days…three and a half more of school. And then this school year is officially over with. Sometimes I wonder if I get more excited about the end of school than my children. There are so many things I won’t miss for the next three months. Take last Friday. I spent 20 minutes trying to wake up one of my children. When we were finally down to the wire, my voice was now in stereo and it was no more Mr. Nice Guy. So that child put everyone else behind in getting ready. I had a … Continue reading

Mothers: A Sorority of Complainers?

(Sweeter than a Dyson.) You are looking at one of the lovely Mother’s Day gifts I was presented with yesterday by my adorable daughter. As you can tell, it can’t be used to suck up strewn Cheerios from hardwood or carpeted floors, nor can it separate dust by cyclonic action and spin it out of the airstream with the simple press of a button. Also, it doesn’t rhyme with Dyson. Regardless, I love my card, especially the handwritten note scribbled in bright pink crayon inside. It will forever help me remember Mother’s Day 2012. The holiday has come and gone … Continue reading

Not-So Carefree Field Trip

My parents live 5,000 miles away from their only granddaughter. Despite the miles that separate them, my mom and dad are a huge part of my daughter’s life thanks to multiple daily phone calls and video chats. When my dad doesn’t hear from us each evening he gets nervous. He’s always been protective of his “girls,” but I didn’t realize the extent of his concern until late last week when we missed calling him due to my daughter’s final field trip of the school year. The entire school scored a trip to a medium-sized amusement park located about 40 miles … Continue reading

Homeschooling Groups and Resources in Georgia A-G

To succeed in homeschooling, it is in your best interest to get involved with other homeschoolers. You should join a homeschool network or group near you. In Georgia there are many homeschooling groups as well as many homeschooling classes, and programs for students. This first installment covers homeschooling groups and resources in GA covering A-G. AAEN – Atlanta Alternative Education Network has park days, classes, trips, testing, sports, and cultural events. Artios Academies assists homeschoolers in the upbringing of their children through education in the arts. Their goal Artios programs is to raise up educated, spiritually discerning, culturally literate, servant … Continue reading

When Parents Act Like Children

And people wonder why helicopter parents exist… I am THAT Mom when it comes to school field trips. My second grader has yet to take a class trip without me. I will chaperone school excursions until she graduates from high school, if the school allows it. And if there comes a day when school administrators put the kibosh on having parents supervise students, I’ll probably still show up because you can’t stop moms and dads from being present at public venues, right? Hovering be damned; I refuse to allow this to happen to my kid… or this: According to news … Continue reading

What Makes a Mother?

(Am I a “real” mom?) “It feels like you’re really officially, really truly a mother when you have two kids.” Really? I’m pretty sure actress Jessica Alba regrets having uttered those words during an interview with PEOPLE magazine. Then again, maybe she stands behind each and every syllable. Alba’s comment went viral months ago, yet whenever I conduct an online search for information about transitioning from a one-child household to a two-child home, the Hollywood mom’s infamous quote still pops up. Seems as though parents of singletons don’t much care for the movie star’s opinion on what it takes to … Continue reading

Developing a Back-to-School Plan

Whether your kids are in high school or just starting kindergarten, it’s important to start off the new school year with a plan in place. Kids don’t typically embrace the end of summer with enthusiasm; so to ensure that the transition from carefree playtime to structured class time is problem-free, consider familiarizing your kids with the following points before the first day of school: FIRST DAY BLUES To avoid back-to-school blues and quell uneasiness about the new year remind your child that she is not the only student who might be anxious about the first day of school. Make your … Continue reading