Are you a staunch advocate of the “five-second rule?” Do you teach your kids that it is a no-no to double dip? In a previous blog I discussed the merits of letting things slide in an attempt to preserve one’s sanity as a parent. What I failed to mention is that sometimes when we tweak the rules we do our children a disservice. Case in point: The “five-second rule,” as it applies to food dropped on the floor. As a young mother I was a fervent follower of the “five-second rule.” I would never dream of allowing my precious baby … Continue reading →

They can send a man to the moon, but they can’t design a bandage that doesn’t cause pain when it’s removed? Parents the world over know the torment that’s triggered when their child’s bloody bandage needs to be replaced. When my daughter was a toddler, she would scream like a peacock on fire when I would come within 10 yards of her bandaged knee. Now, the wails don’t start until I’m four yards away. Baby steps. At 8 years old, the kid is still deathly afraid of any discomfort she may have to endure during the bandage-changing process. The crying, … Continue reading →

Fall is officially here, and with the debut of sweaters, colorful leaves and chilly temperatures comes an increase in fires–campfires. The season’s cooler weather sparks many families to light-up and gather around open flames. Whether you are hosting a marshmallow roast in your backyard fire pit or attending a fall fling at a beach bonfire, there are certain precautions you should take, especially if young children are part of the festivities. For starters, be aware that kids are attracted to flames. The bright dancing lights are hard to resist, especially for youngsters who don’t comprehend the injuries they can sustain … Continue reading →

Summer is finally here. The season of sun, sand and surf officially arrived just after 6 p.m. Central time, making June 20th the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Many families celebrated the summer solstice with picnics, bonfires, and trips to the beach. Goodness knows they had ideal weather for their outdoor adventures. Currently, much of the country is baking under a mini heat wave. Today’s high in our neck of the woods reached a sizzling 94 degrees. Throughout the Midwest and along the East Coast, Mother Nature showed little mercy, frying those who ventured outdoors in … Continue reading →

Thankfully, there are very few parents in this world who ignore the law to the extent that Josh Powell did when he intentionally blew up his home killing himself and his two young sons yesterday afternoon. That kind of incomprehensible evil goes beyond the realm of laws, rules and morality. However, a new study shows that an alarming number of parents often ignore laws designed to protect their children, without giving it a second thought. The research, which was just published in the journal Pediatrics, reveals that 25% of parents don’t use car safety seats for their children ages 4 … Continue reading →

I went to our local strawberry farm and all I got was this nasty bee sting. Not exactly a winning t-shirt design, but 100 percent true, nonetheless. A couple of weeks ago our entire clan headed out on our annual trek to the u-pick strawberry patch to pluck my daughter’s very favorite fruit. After two hours in the blistering heat, we came away with about 10 pounds of the sweet and succulent summertime treat. In addition, I scored a bee sting that turned my shoulder as red as the ripest strawberry. While I am not allergic to bee stings, for … Continue reading →

A couple of weeks ago a 13-year-old rural Pennsylvania boy went outside to help his dad with some farm work and died in the blink of an eye. Not exactly the type of story you want to hear about in the middle of summer when your own kids are running amuck in the great outdoors. According to news reports, the boy was killed by lightning while he was helping his dad bale hay. Authorities say the teen was walking near a baler in the family’s open farm field when his dad heard a loud clap. When the father turned around … Continue reading →