Category: Parenting

Soup, Stories, Snuggles & Sparkles

Tween is sick. Except not really. Poor kid has Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome, also known as abdominal migraines. Yup, migraines that seem to mostly bypass his head and move straight to vomiting. And cyclic, because he throws up every morning, whether or not he's eaten, until he's exhausted and his belly aches from convulsing muscles. Obviously he can't go … Continue reading Soup, Stories, Snuggles & Sparkles

Superhero

Tonight was Open House at Tween's elementary school, our last elementary school Open House ever. One year ago we toured Tween's class in under five minutes - his classwork hardly represented, his teacher avoiding eye contact, my stomach in knots. We moved quickly from his 4th grade classroom to the 5th grade classrooms. We closely inspected work by kids … Continue reading Superhero

100th Post: Pay It Forward

Guy bought a car last week since our household now claimed three drivers and two cars. We swore we would not buy a car, but this deal was almost too good to pass up. We almost passed it up anyway. The car was older and bigger than Teen wanted, had a lot of miles, and lacked a good … Continue reading 100th Post: Pay It Forward

Transitions

Eleven years ago today this Beautiful Boy was born: His brother wasn't yet three years old when we began praying/hoping/trying for Baby #2, and it took twice as long for this one's arrival on Planet Earth (+prayers, tears, too-many doctor visits, pain, and money). His brother was 5 1/2 years old when Lil' Guy surprised us with his five-weeks-early arrival; … Continue reading Transitions

Fit Kids

Dear PE Teacher, I remember the Presidential Youth Fitness tests from my elementary school days. Every year my classmates and I took fitness tests including running, sit ups, push ups, and chin ups. These tests took time away from playing the games we regularly enjoyed, like volley tennis or handball; they were boring; and worst of all, … Continue reading Fit Kids

Adventures in Parenting: We Have a Teen Driver

Once again I have allowed a major parenting event to sneak up on me. Teen has had his driver's permit for the requisite six months and actively practiced driving for the last four months. The license exam was scheduled about two months in advance, and we anticipated that he would pass. So why did it not … Continue reading Adventures in Parenting: We Have a Teen Driver

Talking with Boys in Cars

Long before Guy and I had kids of our own, let alone teenagers, we ran a youth group filled with young people we loved. One of the things we quickly learned: girls like to talk face-to-face while boys talk more openly when engaged in activity. Of course that's a generality, but we've seen it play out so many times … Continue reading Talking with Boys in Cars

Mommy Guilt

Sometimes the person we need to forgive, the one most in need of the gift of grace, is ourselves. We need to release our own guilt.  A few years ago I had the opportunity to speak to moms of preschoolers on social/emotional development. As I reflected on my children during the preschool years, the topic … Continue reading Mommy Guilt

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Irish Soda Bread (vegan)

The leprechauns stopped by to lead the boys on their annual treasure hunt. Our leprechauns don't come in the wee hours, and we have never tried to trap them. Their only mischief is to create silly clues that have the kids running from side-to-side of the house, laughing all the way. We started this tradition … Continue reading Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Irish Soda Bread (vegan)

Cell Phone Rules

Tween took a sharp turn onto the Adolescent Highway a few weeks ago. He figured out how to text. Silly parents, we thought we had years of innocent childhood left to go with this one before he hit Cell Phone Mania. We fought long and hard against the cultural mandate for kids to have cell phones. … Continue reading Cell Phone Rules