Study: Kids Raised by Single Moms do as Well as Kids Raised by Two Parents

A study that was published by the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology found that children of single mothers are no more likely to suffer later in life than kids raised by a mother and a father “in terms of parent-child relationship or child development.” Researchers from the University of Amsterdam looked at 69 “single-mothers-by-choice.” By that, they meant women who knowingly chose to raise their child alone. The researchers also looked at 59 mothers from heterosexual two-parent families. All of the parents in the study had children between the ages of 1.5 years of age and 6 years … Continue reading

Why Kids and Smartphones Don’t Mix

No one said using a smartphone is a sure-fire way to avoid making stupid mistakes. I’ve covered the not-so wonderful side of technology in previous posts.  However, this latest gem goes beyond falling down manholes or setting expensive texting records. If you are a parent, you now have another reason to safeguard your smartphone when your kids are around. Paul Stoute is living proof that protecting your cellphone from little fingers is one of the smartest parenting moves you can make. The Oregon dad is the new owner of a vintage car, thanks to his toddler daughter’s cellphone skills. Or, … Continue reading

Kids Can Barter Too

“You mean I can trade chocolate cake for Lego Friends?” my daughter asked following our conversation about the benefits of bartering. “If you can find a Lego-loving chocoholic who’s willing to part with some of her sets, then you’re in business.” Little did I know that my response would turn my 8-year-old into the next Kyle MacDonald. Cash is tight for my third grader, but the kid makes up for her empty wallet by coming up with some solid bartering bargain chips. Or, in her case, cake. Bartering is not just for adults; rather, kids can get in on the … Continue reading

The Worst Cities for Kids With Fall Allergies

Some places are not as healthy to live in as other places are. WebMD has a list of the ten worst places to live for children (and adults) who have fall allergies. This list is for 2012. There is potential that your child is especially allergic right now because he or she lives in a place that is filled with Fall allergens. Has the past few weeks been really difficult for your child? It’s not unheard of for someone who has allergies to be miserable in the weeks that the air is filled with an allergen that he or she … Continue reading

Score One for the Mama Bear

When was the last time you unleashed your inner Mama Bear? Unless you are Caroline Ingalls, there’s a good chance you’ve let her roar on more than one occasion. Typically, moms turn from wise owls to angry bears when they feel their children are in danger and need protection. Apparently, that’s what compelled Florida mom Felecia Phillips to go ballistic on a kid accused of bullying her son Terec Smith. According to reports, when Terec told his mom he was being harassed by another kid, she escorted him to the school bus stop to confront the alleged bully. When she … Continue reading

Keeping Kids Humble

We have a saying around our home: “Miracles do happen… to other people.” Okay, so it’s not featured on a needlepoint canvas and displayed in a wood frame in our entryway, but I’m pretty sure I utter the phrase at least seven to ten times a day. In fact, I just said it again a little while ago. ABC News just ran a story of a New York teen who hit it big on a $2 scratch-off lottery ticket. Eighteen-year-old Robert Salo is one very, very lucky kid. The teen scored a million bucks just days before his high school … Continue reading

Freakazoid Parents Ruining Easter for Kids

I will never subject my sweet, innocent little lamb to another hare-raising event like it ever again. NEVER. EVER. EVER. AGAIN! I wrote those words on April 9, 2009, on this very blog. They were inspired by a bunch of freakazoid parents who decide to “help” their kids at a public Easter egg hunt. And by help I mean run over, elbow, flatten and otherwise traumatize innocent little children whom they did not give birth to, so they could get their grubby adult hands on plastic eggs and hand them to their offspring. So much for egg “hunting,” not to … Continue reading

Score One for the Kids

Since becoming a parent I try very hard not to judge other moms and dads. However, there are some things that I simply cannot reconcile being done to children regardless of circumstances: severe beatings, starvation, mental abuse… and leaving a kid alone in a vehicle. I realize that many, many parents routinely leave their children unattended in vehicles during quick pit stops at stores, the post office, gas station or when picking up older kids at school. I once met a mom who left her 6-month-old strapped in an infant carrier in the back seat of her vehicle while she … Continue reading

Things That Could Affect Your Credit Score

Keeping your credit score in good shape is as easy as carrying as little debt as you can and paying your bills on time, right? While most of the time those two simple rules – simple to understand but not always simple to execute – will keep your score at its best, there are some things that you may not be aware of that could be making your credit score lower than it could be. There are things that most people know will affect their credit score such as applying for loans and credit cards, but there are other things … Continue reading

Stress-Free Black Friday with the Kids

I’ve said it before, and I will say it again… and again: I don’t know what kind of parent takes young children shopping in the wee hours of Black Friday. Clearly, we can deduce that the parent is frugal, as he or she is willing to do whatever it takes to score a sizeable discount on Black Friday merchandise. In addition, it is probably safe to say that said parent is a law-abiding citizen, especially if the only other option she has is to leave her baby home alone or locked in an unattended car. Both could lead to an … Continue reading