I’ve seen it so many times. We will be playing at a park, shopping in a store or at a school function and we see a child who is being a complete brat. The mom will flush and say something like, “He has ADHD.” Oddly enough, that same child will be seen eating junk food for lunch and is known for the ability to quote whole episodes of Transformers. Hello? If the kid really does have ADHD, why isn’t he on a restricted diet? Why is he obviously consuming way too much television, known to worsen ADHD symptoms? I know why and so do you. It is an out…a way for parents to justify the bad behavior and not have to put effort into parenting. Now, before you get hot under the collar and yell at me, know this: I do believe... [Read more]

Sorry for the delay in announcing the winner of our bloggy giveaway #3, the Microderm Abrasion Buffer. The winning comment was submitted by Suzanne B. (Crunchy Green Mom): “I would love this, I just turned 35 and I need all the help I can get ” Congrats, Suzanne! I will contact you shortly to get your mailing info. In the meantime, check back for our awesome fall bloggy giveaway contest in the coming months. Thank you to all who participated in our contest! [Read more]

Yep, you’re going to see a whole lot of back to school posts around here for the next few weeks! My kids are gearing up to face their return to school in only six more days. One of our biggest struggles is keeping track of the hundreds of school papers that come and go every week. It seems that some of my kids are great at keeping track of everything, while others struggle to find the homework that was in their back pack, just five minutes earlier. The solution? Making an easy system that all kids can use and mom can manage without a huge hassle. Here at home, we have been through a trial and error method of finding the perfect system for us. We have five kids in school, which adds up to a lot of duplicated school newsletters, book... [Read more]

My husband and I are constantly on our kids about their inconsiderate acts. If they walk in and leave the door open, they have to go back and shut the door immediately. If they slam the door, they have to practice gently opening and closing it, ten times. If they leave the fridge open, the get a warning. The second time, they have to write a paragraph about why the door should stay shut. They are taught to say please and thank you. They are expected to use proper telephone etiquette. We generally frown upon precociousness and bad manners. It was how we were raised and it is how we are choosing to raise our kids. Apparently, there are people out there who do not practice these habits, disciplines and standards. I cannot tell you how many times... [Read more]

With a new school year just a sneeze away, many parents are getting ready to put their children back on the medication that they’ve taken a summer break from. Some of these parents, along with others who have children that display behavioral problems but do not take medication, are concerned with ensuring that their kids can focus and not be disruptive during school hours. What many of them do not realize, is that what you eat greatly affects brain function, concentration, hyperactivity and behavior. The following is a list of ingredients that, if eliminated from the diet of children, can be of assistance in controlling a child’s behavior and academic performance: Any kind of food dye, especially red. Any processed foods (lunch... [Read more]