Wednesday, September 21, 2011
This weekly column focuses on discussion. We'll have one topic or question, and we'll talk.
My grandfather used to make me a half-milk and half-coffee drink, chock-full of sugar. Maybe not the best thing for me as a youngster, but that's what grandfathers do -- give stuff to the grandkids that their parents don't. But you're not gonna give a cup of Joe to your kindergartener. That's crazy (though granddad did give me a half-cup). But, as they get older, mainly in high school, they are going to want to start going to coffee shops, maybe drinking coffee, maybe coming home and wanting a cup in the morning. So, when would you allow the kid to start drinking java? Is 16 too young? Is 18? When they are out of the house? What do you do when your 15 year old wants his or her coffee, black?
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
This weekly column focuses on discussion. We'll have one topic or question, and we'll talk.
School is around the corner and the back to school shopping may have already commenced. You're probably looking at jeans and t-shirts, dresses and hair ties, paper and pencils, but another item you may or may not be looking at is a cell phone. So, is this the year you buy Bobby a cell phone? Is he finally old enough? How did you determine it was time? And what kind of rules have you put in place? Or, plainly, do you think a kid shouldn't have a cell phone? Why or why not?
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
This weekly column focuses on discussion. We'll have one topic or question, and we'll talk.
It's the Woodward Dream Cruise, so let's talk about wheels. Your kid has a bike, all kids do. But for a period of time, two wheels is hard to balance. So, you get training wheels. After a year (or longer), those wheels will have to come off. When do you do that? How do you do it? What's your process?
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
School isn't back yet... but soon.
Before you know it, your child will be starting a new grade. Summer vacation is nearly over. There have been weeks and weeks of bike riding, video game playing, trampoline jumping and whatever else kids do these days. Maybe some kids attended some sort of summer school, maybe some kids had a summer homework program in place but, if any kids were like me growing up, they probably didn't think about school, played in the dirt, scuffed up their knees, stayed up later and caught a frog or three. So, now what? How are you planning on whipping the kids back into school shape? Early bed times? Have them read a book? Freshen up on some math problems? What do you do to get them back into academic shape? (And, as always, dads are welcome to join in …
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
This weekly column focuses on discussion. We'll have one topic or question, and we'll talk.
I get annoyed when I hear Christmas music or see Christmas lights before the Thanksgiving turkey has even been stuffed yet. I also get annoyed when I see ads for Halloween costumes when the leaves are still a bright shade of green. And Valentine's Day displays and the Christmas trees aren't even down yet? Ugh. I do, however, wish Cadbury Eggs were sold year-round. But this sets up the question: When does the "back to school" mindset start for you and your family? Have you already started shopping for pencils and Trapper Keepers (do they even have those anymore?). Have you already bought a new pair of shoes for Joey? A new dress for Suzy? When does the shopping, the preparing, the mindset of "back to school" begin?
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Let's talk about the sun.
When I was a child, I was always in the sun. My mom told me stories about how people would call me the Coppertone baby (of course the Coppertone baby was a girl and I was a boy, but you get it). In any event, I was tan 4-year-old. I never remember my mother putting sun tan lotion on me. If anything, I think it was baby oil -- or maybe it was butter? Anyway, these days, things are different. So how do you deal with your child in the sun? SPF 1,000? Minimal? Hats? Umbrellas at the beach? Does your daughter or sun lay out too much? Do you tell them to get out of the sun? As far as sun protection goes, what do you use? Brands? What SPF level? Talk to us.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
This weekly column focuses on discussion. We'll have one topic or question, and we'll talk.
For all the wonders the Internet provides us, it can be a minefield for children. When I was growing up, my mom was only worried about any late night HBO movies that came on. These days, moms and dads have the Internet to contend with. So, what do you do to keep the kid off of the sites that would make Lenny Bruce blush? Do you monitor every minute? Is there particular software you use to block particular sites? Let's share.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
This weekly column focuses on discussion. We'll have one topic or question, and we'll talk.
School is out and the kids are home more than ever. Most of them don't have homework, maybe a few have a job, and there is a lot more hanging out in the summer than the winter. So, this question may be more for the parents with teens than the parents with the not-teens but what's the curfew situation? Do you extend it in the summer? It's daylight longer and the sun sets after the streetlights come on. And, for that curfew, is it that? Why is it 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. or later with stipulations? Tell us what you have set the curfew at and why?
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
This weekly column focuses on discussion. We'll have one topic or question, and we'll talk.
Onions. Broccoli. Stuffed Cabbage. Anything green. Fish. Everything grandma cooks. A picky eater. They are the worst! Just kidding, not the worst. But difficult. So, what do you do with them? Accommodate them? Tell them they can't leave the table until all of their beans are gone? Start them eating traditionally picky food items early in their lives? How do you combat the picky eater? Tell us about it in the comments.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
This weekly column focuses on discussion. We'll have one topic or question, and we'll talk.
It's summer. School is out (or nearly out). Kids aren't waking up super early, maybe staying up a little later. No more homework. Probably a summer vacation or two, but for the most part, they are sticking around the house, hanging with friends. But with the invention of video game consoles, home computers and 300 plus cable channels, getting kids out side seems to be harder now than ever before. So, how do you deal with that? Do you regulate video game, computer and TV time? Do you tell them to go outside, play ball, ride a bike or catch bugs? How do you get the kids out of the house during the summer?
Amy Francis
8:35 pm on Thursday, September 22, 2011
Exactly. No 20oz cups here. They get milk with a splash of coffee. Both my boys were adopted from Central America (where it is not unusual to see children drinking coffee), so my youngest had coffee before we adopted him. My oldest usually prefers tea, which actually has more caffeine than the amount he was getting from coffee. Either way, I'm sure I'll have lots of things to worry about when … more ›