Education

About a week ago, before the 2016 Presidential election, my kindergartner came home one day and announced that his class had held a vote. "We voted for our favorite cookie," he said proudly. "We voted for chocolate chip or Oreos. I voted for chocolate chip, and we won!" He was really, really excited that the cookie he voted for won the class election. Then, on Election Day, my husband and I loaded the kids up into the minivan and headed to the polling place and told our boys that Mama and Daddy were going to vote. We would have let them go into the voting booth with us, but during last year's gubernatorial race Noah, my kindergartener, was in the voting...

You know what they say about the word never. "Never say never!" These were the lyrics sung by a cartoon mouse and bird in one of my favorite childhood movies, "An American Tail" but the irony of the statement escaped me until I was older. There were plenty of things I said I'd NEVER do, especially with regard to parenthood. These NEVER statements began early. "I would NEVER have a c-section." I'm now the proud bearer of a c-scar.  "My kid would NEVER use a pacifier" was amended to "past age 1" and then again to "except at night." NEVER would I allow my children to watch more than a certain amount of TV. You can read about how well...

Off you go on this new adventure to kindergarten – you will learn a little more about the world around you and how things work. I have learned a few things since sending your brother off to kindergarten a short six years ago. Here are a few things, as your mom, I hope you remember. I won’t always be your best friend. Goodness that was hard to write. You see since you were about two years old, I have ALWAYS been your best friend, maybe even your best friend in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD, as you say with your eyes wide open! I know that the time will come soon when you start meeting friends your age, and you will...

Disclosure :: World Breastfeeding Week is recognized August 1 – 7, 2016. This year, the World Breastfeeding Week theme is about how breastfeeding is a key element in getting us to think about how to value our wellbeing from the start of life, how to respect each other and care for the world we share. Our World Breastfeeding Week is sponsored by Woman’s Hospital. I have always wanted to breastfeed. There was never a doubt in my mind. Sure I would casually say to my friends and family before the birth of my first, "I mean, I'm going to try. If it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out." But in my head I was saying, "Oh, it's going to work out. It.will.work.out." I took...

My oldest child is starting Kindergarten this month. I know that for many, this particular season of life is viewed with fondness, as a child transitions out of toddlerhood. Some moms even jump for joy at the opportunity to send their kids off to school for the day. But I've got to be honest with you - I'm not one of them. In fact, I'm dreading Kindergarten, and not just because it means my baby is growing up. Nope, I've got downright, selfish reasons why I'm looking at this new chapter of our life with disdain. 1. I'm going to have to start waking up a lot earlier. I am NOT a morning person. If it were up to me, I'd...