My Favorite Distractions
Since I posted the other day about being told I work too much, today I thought I would share my favorite distractions, in order of how distracting they are. Distraction #1 Looks so sweet and innocent,...
View ArticleLetting Kids Own Their Time
I’m like a lot of parents in that I usually nag my kids to get the things done that they’re supposed to. They’re kids, they dawdle, sometimes to an amazing degree. It’s exhausting and frustrating...
View ArticleHow to Cope with Snow Days When You Work at Home
It’s wonderful when the kids reach school age and you’re working at home. Suddenly you have all this time to work on your job or home business. But then winter comes, and sometimes that means you get...
View ArticleHow to Prepare for Summer as a Work at Home Mom
Summer break is really getting close for schoolchildren. It starts June 2 for my son, June 14 for my daughter. That means all too soon the kids will have many extra hours in which to express their...
View ArticleA Reminder About Water Safety
It’s just about summer, kids are starting to get out of school, and lots of people are looking to cool off in the water, whether it’s in their own pool, a community pool, lake, the ocean, or whatever....
View ArticleWhen Can You Let Your Kids Stay Home Alone?
One of the big events for most kids as they grow up is when they’re first allowed to stay home alone. It’s a mark of maturity and parental trust. The hard part for the parents is deciding when it’s...
View ArticleDon’t Insult Working Moms
I came across an article the other day in support of working moms. It came about due to a forum thread that said the lack of stay at home moms is what’s wrong with the U.S. No explanation of what...
View ArticleAre You Your Child’s Parent or Just Child Care?
There was an article the other day on the New York Times’ Motherlode blog that really has people talking. It’s about how the U.S. Census Bureau(PDF) tracks how children are cared for in the home....
View ArticleHow Much Independence Do You Give Your Kids During the School Year?
School is starting back up really soon here, and I’m eager for my oldest two to get back into it. Working at home with just my youngest is always a challenge, but it’s so good to know the older two...
View ArticleSilent Kids
Here’s another song. Not work at home this time, but a situation all parents know – just why are the kids being soooo quiet? Silent kids, quiet kids, Wait a minute, that’s not good. Walking down the...
View Article30 Days of Keeping Kids Busy During the Summer Starts Tomorrow
One of the challenging parts about working at home is dealing with the kids when they’re on summer break. It’s long, hot, and kids get bored. Not good for productivity. So tomorrow, I’m posting one...
View ArticlePainting – Day 1 of 30 Days of Keeping Kids Busy During the Summer
My kids like to paint. I think most do. The key to kids painting without a big fuss is having a great place to do it and plenty of supplies. We have a plastic cover for the table so the kids can paint...
View ArticleLegos, K’Nex – Day 2 of 30 Days of Keeping Kids Busy During the Summer
Construction toys such as Legos and K’Nex are great for keeping kids busy. There are sets for many ages and interests. My own favorites are the basic sets where you aren’t trying to build something...
View ArticlePlayground – Day 3 of 30 Days of Keeping Kids Busy During the Summer
One of the things I dislike about where we live right now is that the playground isn’t close enough. It’s about a mile away, up a steep hill and across a very busy road. Not so bad in some weather,...
View ArticleBubbles! Day 4 of 30 Days of Keeping Kids Busy During the Summer
Most kids love bubbles from an early age, and it keeps going for years. While having them blow bubbles while holding a small container of bubble solution can be a pain (how often will you refill it...
View ArticleBikes, Skates, etc. Day 5 of 30 Days of Keeping Kids Busy During the Summer
I’m a big believer in getting kids to play outside as much as possible. Too many spend way too much time in front of one screen or another. Sending them out to ride bikes, skate, skateboard, whatever...
View ArticleMake Music: Day 6 of 30 Days of Keeping Kids Busy During the Summer
Music lessons are very good for children. They appear to help academic performance. Depending on the instrument, they can be pretty hard on parental headaches, but overall it’s usually worth it....
View ArticleSensory Bin – Day 7 of 30 Days of Keeping Kids Busy During the Summer
A sensory bin is wonderful for preschool age children. Older kids might mess around a little in it, but it generally won’t hold their interest. My youngest loves the one at her preschool. They’re also...
View ArticleFly Kites – Day 9 of 30 Days of Keeping Kids Busy During the Summer
Kites are wonderful toys. One of the most popular party favors I ever gave out were the $1 kites I found at Target. Didn’t include much else for party favors, and the kids were still just in awe. The...
View ArticlePlay in Sprinklers – Day 10 of 30 Days of Keeping Kids Busy During the Summer
One way to handle that chronic complaint of “it’s too hot to play outside” is to let the kids play in sprinklers. A Slip N Slide and other such toys can work too. Just give them the chance to get...
View Article