Raising kids is hard. Raising a pre-teen boy makes me want to pull my hair out most of the time. I am new to this adventure of pre-teens -- it is complete with mood swings, BO, and preferring a smart phone over a conversation.
Pre-teens think that they are old enough to make their own decisions but struggle with asking for help when needed. We like to encourage smart decision-making, and our son is responsible for his schedule. So if he wants to go to an after school activity, he needs to make sure he asks permission, arranges transportation and reminds said parent that is transporting him to pick him up the day of. Now you may think this is...
Have you ever received the dreaded phone call or note home from your child's school? You have that gut wrenching feeling in the pit of your stomach because you know it's rarely a heart warming message about how awesome your kid is. You suddenly have major parental anxiety. When we receive this type of behavioral information from our children's school, how do we decipher what is true and what could be a teacher's personal issue or misunderstanding?
Two Sides of a Coin
My oldest often claims foul play and insists his teacher has it in for him. As a teacher and a mom, I know what it is like to hold both sides of the coin. I have been known to lean on...
The child's birthday party. Gone are the days in which cake, candles and balloons are considered an adequate celebration of a birthday. Nowadays it seems that a birthday party isn't complete without pulling out all the stops. In the past few months we've received countless invitations to birthday parties. With each envelope opened, it seems that parties keep getting more and more elaborate. From exciting venues to expertly printed invitations birthday parties have gotten out of hand, and I for one refuse to compete.
Several years ago, I hosted a beautifully orchestrated first birthday party for my sweet daughter. As my guest list grew, so did my menu and my budget. Before I knew it, I was hosting a party...
Parenting changes as the years go on ... the newest toy, dance moves and fashion trends keep us all on our toes when we are raising pre-teens and teenagers. Currently the biggest discussion in our house with my pre-teen is technology -- when, where, how he can have his iPhone so he can snap, tweet, and Instagram all day log.
My son is almost 12, and he has had an iPhone since he entered middle school this past August. We have a few technology rules that has made this transition a little easier.
1. No Electronics on School Nights
There are a few reasons for this rule - first it gives time for homework, bath time, and chores. Second, we can eat dinner...
Life is so dang busy. If you're reading this, I'm going to assume you're a mom. And if you're a mom, I'm going to assume you know exactly what I mean. Twenty-four hours each day is not not nearly enough to accomplish all of the things on my list and still have any time left for me, myself, and I. And that's considering the fact that I only sleep about six hours each night. In fact, sometimes I become so overwhelmed by my list that I end up paralyzed. Unable to do anything except aimlessly scroll through Facebook and Twitter. So here's a handy-dandy list of 12 things I would love to do, but can't seem to find/make/have time...
Around Baton Rouge
Mardi Gras From the Perspective of a Krewe Dancer
Mardi Gras From the Perspective of a Krewe Dancer
It's that time of year we have been working towards all year long. Preparing three to...
