Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Parents, Patch wants to hear from you on the questions that get families talking.
Welcome to "Hey Mom and Dad"—a weekly feature in which we ask our Facebook fans to share their views on parenting. Every week, we get the conversation started by taking a look back at a question we asked parents the week before on Patch Facebook pages from around the area. Many parents assign their children certain chores or other duties around the house in exchange for a regular allowance as a good way to instill work ethic and responsibility. But the range of money paid and work performed can vary significantly from house to house. That brings us to this week's question: Take a look at what people had to say and join the conversation in the comments section. Julie Hallock Howard: We take a hybrid approach. Our philosophy is that chores …
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Parents, Patch wants to hear from you on the questions that get families talking.
Welcome to "Hey, Mom and Dad"—a weekly feature in which we ask our Facebook fans to share their views on parenting. Every week, we get the conversation started by taking a look back at a question we asked parents the week before on Patch Facebook pages from around the area. Many families have resolved to try to eat better in the new year. However, this can often be easier said than done, with picky kids prone to pushing vegetables around on their plate and each dinner turning into a battle of willpower between you and your child. That brings us to this week's question. Take a look at what people had to say and join the conversation in the comments section. Eddie Komrska: I'll let you know after I grill salmon tonight how it goes 2 of the …
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Parents, Patch wants to hear from you on the questions that get families talking.
Welcome to "Hey, Mom and Dad"—a weekly feature in which we ask our Facebook fans to share their views on parenting. Every week, we get the conversation started by taking a look back at a question we asked parents the week before on Patch Facebook pages from around the area. As Halloween approaches, the movie channels start screening old horror movies and new slasher flicks are in plentiful supply at theaters. Your kid asks to go see a scary movie at the theater with friends, but they're barely out of grade school. Do you let them go? That leads us to this week's question: Take a look at what people had to say and join the conversation in the Comments section. Cathy Fischer "It depends on the kid..I'm still not old enough, lol!" — Darien …
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Sugar isn't the only ingredient in soda that shakes our kids up.
On a recent vacation, we struggled to find healthy-ish foods for our son to eat. It's hard enough for adults to mind our, ahem, girlish figures, let alone feed our kids. I'm not opposed to the drive thru from time to time. I don't expect Jenny Craig to hand me the bag through the window. However, it surprises me how many places don't serve plain white milk. McDonald's is one place that has stepped up with making meals healthier. Our son loves the apples, certainly more than the fries. He drinks milk almost exclusively. While on this trip, we met another guest at the inn—a body builder. (Did I say body builder? What I meant is that he was by far the largest man I have ever seen, and that includes several pro football players.) We got to …
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
A new study links spanking to mental illness later in life.
Don't underestimate the power of children's desire to please their parents, I read somewhere in a parenting book. For the past two years, that has been my key parenting tool. Now, a study claims to show that spanking children leads to mental illness. That is no surprise to me. I've never been a big fan of spanking. A friend once casually announced that she takes a switch to her daughters if they don't do well in school. The girls shape up right quick, she said. I got the chills. I've never been opposed to a good old fashioned swat on the butt from time to time. It just doesn't seem to be very effective. I also tried slapping Liam's hands. That's a waste, too. Sometimes, I count to three. However, Liam's 2 years old, so he counts right …
Thursday, February 2, 2012
What's the big deal? Kids can learn as much or more at home.
Homeschooling, like most things, is a personal decision each parent will make. Most families don't have the luxury of the option. Those who do should seriously consider it. Socialization is one of the main excuses I hear from people who are anti-homeschooling. I think that's a bunch of hooey. Children who have brothers and sisters must learn how to be part of a family, to take turns and to be considerate. Those are incredible socialization skills. Also, there are lots of ways kids can learn to be social outside the home. Team sports, group activities, music lessons are all ways to be part of a community. How easily we overlook church activities and volunteerism as social structure. When my nephew started kindergarten, he was adding and …
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Telling a mom to calm down when she is afraid for her children may earn you a smack.
The "don't worry your pretty little head" attitude is alive and well in 2011. Yes, it is better now than in the recent past. Still, the occasional arrogance of male superiority still rears its ugly — and certainly little — head. As moms, we are genetically inclined to be on the front line of defense for our children. Few things make me see red like when a man is condescending. That angst is exponentially worse when the situation involves my children. Such was the case after the birth of our baby Grace. She was born Coombs positive, which indicates a high bilirubin in her blood, causing jaundice. This is fairly common. When treated, it's no big deal. When untreated, it can lead to blindness, cerebral palsy and brain damage. My brother-in-…
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
What traits do parents need to look for when we decide our children are old enough to be left by themselves.
A friend told this story. It's scary, but true. It was about a woman who was starting to leave her son at home alone for short periods of time. He was about 9 at the time. She would run quick, 30-minute errands during the day. While she was gone one time, the electric company was working on a line near the street. In a freak accident, a current came charging into her house and the neighbor's. Both homes started on fire. Luckily, she had arrived home in time. The fire started in the basement. She went in to find her son standing in the middle of the house screaming his head off — but not moving. The house burned to the ground and they lost everything. Had she not come home in time, her son would have died in the fire. Hearing this freaked …
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Today is National Pot Smoker's Day. Patch tells a true story of one mom who thought it was safer to grow her own for her 14-year-old to keep the teen from buying off the streets.
This story is absolutely shocking, and it's true. There is no Brady Bunch here. A couple I know ended up taking in a 14-year-old boy into their home. We'll call the boy Bobby, which isn't his real name. Bobby was taken away from his mother, Carol. Carol admitted she was Bobby's pot dealer. She said she would rather Bobby get his drugs from her as a quality control issue. Apparently Carol was growing it at home for them both. She said if Bobby bought the marijuana on the streets, it could be laced with something deadly. Carol's way was safer, she claimed. Meanwhile, Bobby's dad, Mike, was out of the picture. Mike and Carol were divorced. He lived out of state. Bobby also has a 21-year-old brother who lives on his own. We'll call the …
Lisa Hoffer
3:05 pm on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
My girls earn an allowance ($3-$5 per week) only if they complete a chore that they select and were NOT asked to do. Cleaning your own bedroom does not count unless you do a major overhaul or some serious purging. They don't have a whole lot of need to purchase things for themselves hence the small payout. It's a lesson on developing initiative and being solely responsible for earning your money. more ›