Articles tagged: parenting experiences
parenting: Parents: Shake up your back to school routine with these tips
Posted: Sep 09, 2011The signs that school is back in session are all around us — kids waiting at the bus stop, requests to volunteer at school and forms to complete. My kids seemed to ease into their ... Read more »
parenting: Playing chess with the kids can be a 'no-win situation'
Posted: Jun 22, 2011“Your move, James,” I said to my son as we sat on the sofa one night playing a game of chess. We were surrounded by a gallery of younger spectators. And we both knew from ... Read more »
parenting: 'Big Van on Campus' - Dad taught me a priceless family tradition
Posted: Jun 14, 2011Even though we needed gas, I was hoping no one would notice the sign as we blistered by at 75 miles an hour. Maybe, I thought, they were asleep. Maybe they would forget. I had ... Read more »
parenting: 'Home Economy' - Getting nickeled and dimed in my own home
Posted: Jun 08, 2011Not long ago one of my daughters came looking for me. The boys told her that I was working —“making money” — up in my home office. She slipped in quietly, wiggled up onto my ... Read more »
Parenting: Stay out of (my kids') business! There's no rush to toilet train your toddler
Posted: Jun 03, 2011A good friend of mine recently visited with her adorable 2-year-old kiddo. As we were driving around, I commented that toilet training must be something that she is starting to think about. She mentioned that ... Read more »
parenting: 'Garage Fail': A place for everything but the cars
Posted: Jun 01, 2011“Please close the garage door,” Alison warned me just as I was climbing into bed, clearly put off by my recent habit of keeping it wide open. “People take stuff.” I quickly dismissed her concern ... Read more »
parenting: How do you teach children independence and responsibility?
Posted: May 26, 2011It was time for my son to travel on a four-day camping trip with his sixth grade class. As we packed, he checked off items from a list provided by his teacher. The items included ... Read more »
parenting: 'Birthdate': Getting the most free stuff out of our family birthdays
Posted: May 18, 2011The kids and I went around the dinner table talking about what makes Alison so special. “She gives us lots of kisses.” “She’s a great cook.” “She’s really pretty.” “Without Mommy,” Peter said thoughtfully, “none ... Read more »
parenting: A word of advice: Please 'do not call' the home landline
Posted: May 11, 2011“Do you like unicorns?” “What are you having for lunch?” “Are you coming to my birthday party?” she continued, never mind the party wouldn’t be for another eight months. Maryanna, our 5 year old, was ... Read more »
parenting: Chasing the ever-elusive 'date night'
Posted: May 09, 2011Joe and I could only hope to look this put-together when we finally get out for a date night. Sometimes, my pre-parental perspective on things feels downright quaint. For instance, in the months when we ... Read more »
parenting: 'Home Court': Mom's love extended beyond the walls of our house
Posted: May 04, 2011The air was thick with the scent of a fast approaching Michigan summer — stifling humidity mixed with the sweetness of fresh-cut grass and the oily pungency from a neighbor’s fresh sealcoating. My parents had ... Read more »
parenting: Seven small children make any trip a 'working vacation'
Posted: Apr 27, 2011The kids pressed snugly up to the glass at the aquarium, smiling and watching the fish casually glide by while I, for the umpteenth time, stood and counted them. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7. “Look, Daddy,” someone said, “it’s ... Read more »
parenting: Videogames: the common thread between Dennis Rodman, my boys and me
Posted: Apr 06, 2011The directive from Alison was as clear as a thunderbolt echoing down the basement stairs. “You guys have 30 minutes.” Growing up, my mom imposed few limits on our Nintendo games. In those days it ... Read more »
parenting: Son's seatbelt fiasco illustrates dangers of 'driving while under the influence of children'
Posted: Mar 31, 2011As I browsed through a collection of books at Barnes & Noble, one particular book caught my eye. The book was titled, "Driving While Under the Influence of Children" by Rick Kirkman and Jerry Scott. The ... Read more »
parenting: The family flu: What goes around comes around
Posted: Mar 23, 2011“But Daddy, didn’t we already have Chex for lunch?” asked one of the kids. “Yeah, and for breakfast?” asked another. It’s true, we had been eating a lot of Rice Chex, and the tone of ... Read more »
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