Search Results for: blog were all parenting the kitten

Meet a Families.com Blogger – Kori Rodley Irons!

Today I am joined by one of our most prolific bloggers here on Families.com, Kori Rodley Irons. Kori, thanks for visiting with me today. How long have you blogged for Families.com? Since December of 2006, 1 year and 3 months, I suppose. What topics do you blog about? Parenting, Single Parenting and Home Business. What is your favorite thing about blogging for Families.com? I enjoy the discussions and comments, and the fact that we touch on so many different subjects and interests here. What do you like to do when you’re not blogging? I work a lot! When I am … Continue reading →

Gentleness can be a Great Parenting Tool

Perhaps you do not think of yourself as a gentle person by nature; I know that I don’t. If I were asked to describe myself in a dozen words–or even fifty words, I would probably not choose the word “gentle” as one of my personal adjectives. Even if you are more rambunctious, jovial, and outgoing as a person, you can still tap into gentleness in your parenting… Think of it this way, what happens when you reach down to pick up a tiny kitten, or a brand new baby for that matter? Chances are you become a very gentle person. … Continue reading →

We’re ALL Parenting the Kitten

I had not realized that letting the little abandoned kitten my daughter brought home from downtown live with us would be such a lesson in caretaking, parenting and responsibility for my teenagers. I think we often think of how great pets can be for younger children, but it isn’t always something we think of for the older set. I am here to tell you, however, that I have witnessed all sorts of development and maturity going down in my house–all centered around Toby, the tuxedo kitten… Since Toby came to us when he was only a few weeks old, he … Continue reading →

“I Thought You Were Everybody’s Mother”

My eldest daughter was teasing me. I was complaining that while my middle child, my other daughter, has rescued a kitten and brought it into our family fold—claiming that it was HER kitten and she would do all the care and work, the little wild one usually turns to me for food, reassurance, and sneaks into my bed at night. I was staunchly declaring that I was “not his mother!” when my daughter put an arm around me and said, “I thought you were everybody’s mother.” Well, no, but there are definitely days when it seems that way! I never … Continue reading →

Splash into Summer Reading

Forget about raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens. Never mind about cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels, doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles. If you ask my six-year-old to name a few of her favorite things here’s what you’ll hear: books, books and more books. Oh, and candy. What I did in a former life to birth a bookworm, I’ll never know, but I’m not complaining. My kid is a voracious reader. She eats books up like they’re candy, which is why I am stocking up on new titles for the summer. Studies show that children, … Continue reading →

Do You Warn People Before They Come To Your House?

A few years ago, I started adding a little “disclaimer” to any invitations I sent out: “Our home houses kids and cats, please let me know if you are allergic to either.” This disclaimer was in response to a few grumbling people and an invitation I received to a barbecue that said “No dogs or children.” I was aggravated and offended, but I realized that there were plenty of people out there who didn’t like kids or animals (I am SO not one of them) and that it was only fair that everyone should know the score before they crossed … Continue reading →

Can’t We Ever Have Anything Nice?

You know how there are things you say so often that they become part of the family lore? Your words become ensconced in the family vernacular and you hear them parroted back at you by your children—either in jest or just because it becomes the way the family speaks. My children like to tease me for one of my phrases that I have been saying so long it has become the pat response to messes and chaos… “Can’t we EVER have anything nice?!” I tend to keep a fairly neat house and I love to have things clean, fresh and … Continue reading →

The Newest Spoiled “Baby”

We have not added a new infant person to our family, but my middle daughter did bring home an abandoned kitten a few weeks ago. He is an adorable little black and white tuxedo moppet and has gone from being small enough to fit in a coffee mug, to turning our entire household upside down with his kitten-ness. It has been interesting watching my teenagers spoil the new “baby” however… It has been a few years since we added a new animal member to our mix and this is the first one with my kids all being as old as … Continue reading →

“Look at Me!”

I was working from a café table in an airy coffee shop outside our local library and there was an incredibly active 3 year-old and her mother at a nearby table. The child reminded me a great deal of our newest family member, a rambunctious kitten named Toby as both were up, down, and all over the place—all the while wanting to make sure that they were being watched. The patient young mother answered reassuringly each time, “I see you” and “What a brave girl you are!” Perfect. Most of us know that our children tend to vacillate between stages … Continue reading →