We have all done things, as teens and young adults, that we are not proud of. Maybe we regret them, or maybe not. The question at hand, is whether or not you are honest with your kids, when they ask about your youthful trespasses. If your kids ask about sex, drugs and rock n’ roll, do you disclose your past? Why or why not?

My children love, love, love pulling pranks on my husband and I. We have found salami slices wedged between our underwear, raw eggs in the ice dispenser (only after drinking egg yolk,) and have suffered countless other practical jokes at the hands of our offspring. The scary thing is, it wasn’t even April Fool’s Day! So you can imagine why I am walking around with the eyes in the back of my head wide open and my underwear pre-cut (ready for the wedgie fest that shall commence after school today.)
Am I the only one who is more afraid of my children’s …read more

For those of you who have not heard, my family and I are slated to appear on Supernanny in early March. While I cannot answer reader questions, as of yet, I do want to pose a question to you. What is your opinion of families who chose to allow their personal lives to be captured and broadcast on national television? Do you find it inappropriate, or do you find it commendable? The reason I am curious to get your opinion on this matter, is that the ABC message boards are always buzzing with viewers opinions after the show. Many times, the …read more

In my grandmother’s day, being a housewife meant being a wife who stays in the house. She cleaned, cooked, managed finances and looked after the children. Sure, she had the occasional cup of coffee with Mrs. Smith down the street. But there were no such things as ladies’ night out, play groups and chat rooms. I asked my grandma if the women back then ever shared their burdens and struggles, as mothers. She thought for a minute and then admitted that nobody really talked about those things. “We swapped recipes and talked about the next church pot luck. But nothing …read more

 
 The following is an article that I had published over at the Crazy Hip Blog Mamas. It is an important lesson for parents and children alike!
 “Mom, I don’t have any friends at school,” my four year old complained on the way to school one morning.
“Well, in order to make friends, you need to be willing to introduce yourself. Tell them your name and ask if they would like to play.”
Without hesitation, he replied, “But Mom, I’m too scared to do that.”
“I know it can be scary, honey, but it is the only way to make a new friend.”
Later that day, …read more

Starbucks tests $1 cup of coffee
Free refills are also on tap as the Seattle coffee giant responds to increased competition and braces for an economic slowdown that could blunt consumer spending. (The Wall Street Journal)
Three cheers for Starbucks! Hip, hip, hoo…what? Surely they can’t be serious! Are they really selling their delicious white chocolate mochas and caramel frappuccinos for a mere 100 pennies (51 pence)? Before you get all excited, let me elaborate. Only the regular old coffee will be one dollar. Everything else will still cost one day of college tuition for your children.
I ask you, how many people really drive …read more

“When I was a kid, we didn’t have fancy things like fresh drinking water!” I can still hear Dana Carvey spoofing the age old tradition of elderly story telling. It was a very funny Saturday Night Live skit, until I heard myself echoing those very same sentiments the other night. After I picked my jaw up off the ground and checked for newly sprouted gray hairs, I returned the the kitchen conversation between my nine year old and my husband.
“But Dad, all the girls at my school have cell phones! When can I have one?” Marlie stood with her arms crossed, trying …read more

Are you a multi-tasker? Are you raising a multi-tasker?
I’ll admit, I’m guilty of doing a zillion things at once in order to get them all done before my favorite shows come on at 8:00 PM. I want to be able to kick back, relax and enjoy the evening watching television with the family. But to get there, I find that I overextend my brainpower most times and begin making little mistakes.
A prime example occurred yesterday. I’ve prepared this particular meal hundreds of times, but because I was trying to do 6 things at one time, …read more

Sometimes I find myself just shy of calling on Supernanny myself.  Living in a house of four teenagers now has it’s rewards, certainly, but there are those enormous challenges that we face almost daily.
I’ve never been a big fan of negativity.  Especially inside the home.  I feel we deal with enough negativity on the outside that we should try our best to be nice to one another when at home.

Several of the recent episodes of SuperNanny and conversations with a few close friends and relatives has really put me into a deep thought mode as of late.
Is there REALLY a difference between the jobs of a woman and man when it comes to raising a family and maintaining a household?
This topic is very wide, I know!  This topic covers financial support of the family, keeping the home clean, healthy, warm and fed.  What I want to know is am I the only one who feels that men have not evolved out of the Ward Cleaver era while women are …read more