http://www.thoughtsonparenting.com/ Simple, creative, and effective ideas and solutions that help make family life easier and better for parents of young children. en-US Fri, 02 Jul 2010 14:44:24 -0700 http://www.typepad.com/ http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification ThoughtsOnParentinghttp://feedburner.google.com http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ThoughtsOnParenting/~3/xAI8xmoqxGg/living-in-the-moment.html http://www.thoughtsonparenting.com/2010/07/living-in-the-moment.html The kids (5 and 7) recently asked me to play basketball with them. Having turned into a lame adult somewhere in the last 8 years, I thought of a million reasons why I shouldn’t – dishes in the sink, laundry on the couch, packing for the upcoming move, an article I needed to finish up. The list, as most adults know, could go on for days and days and days. But something deep inside of me told me to seize this moment, so I headed outside to a perfectly beautiful summer day, a Gonzaga Bulldogs basketball my husband had bought... Age 3-4 Age 5-9 Parenting Elisa Fri, 02 Jul 2010 14:44:24 -0700 http://www.thoughtsonparenting.com/2010/07/living-in-the-moment.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ThoughtsOnParenting/~3/U5YntDKq430/face-your-fears-finish-strong.html http://www.thoughtsonparenting.com/2010/03/face-your-fears-finish-strong.html I signed the kids up for a 1k race the other day. It was supposed to be a 5-mile training run for me, but my husband had a prior commitment, so I thought, “Why should I have all the fun?” Without asking their opinion, I registered my little sweeties, hoped they would like the “free” t-shirt and started mounting one of the biggest PR campaigns of my life. Despite my feeling like I needed to really sell getting up early on a weekend morning to go run around as fast as possible, the kids met the idea with a lot... Age 10-12 Age 3-4 Age 5-9 Parenting Elisa Tue, 30 Mar 2010 16:31:23 -0700 http://www.thoughtsonparenting.com/2010/03/face-your-fears-finish-strong.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ThoughtsOnParenting/~3/OdvF2fGnEAE/how-do-you-spell-circus.html http://www.thoughtsonparenting.com/2010/02/how-do-you-spell-circus.html The usual chaos had been encircling us all day beginning long before we even started to run our errands. Errands are really something I try to avoid doing with the children at all costs, but sometimes it’s inevitable. On this particular day, I was hopeful that the presence of my laid back husband could have a positive influence and keep things sane. The morning had started with us tearing up all 2,000 square feet of the house we’re borrowing. Typically, this happens in conjunction with a lost shoe or a coat for one of the kids. This time, the stakes... Parenting Elisa Sun, 07 Feb 2010 09:56:46 -0800 http://www.thoughtsonparenting.com/2010/02/how-do-you-spell-circus.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ThoughtsOnParenting/~3/aA5s-SrRZvU/climate-change-and-your-family.html http://www.thoughtsonparenting.com/2009/10/climate-change-and-your-family.html Our family has had a very exciting summer, but unfortunately, I didn't take the time to write about it. Hopefully, there will be time for introspection later. But for now, it seemed like Blog Action Day would be a good re-entry point into the blogosphere. We drove over 5,000 miles this summer, passing through at least 14 states on a road trip that makes our Road Trip to the Edge of Sanity look like a little jaunt to Starbucks. Even though I had visited most of the places we went in my youth, visiting with my own children and seeing... Current Affairs Elisa Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:08:47 -0700 http://www.thoughtsonparenting.com/2009/10/climate-change-and-your-family.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ThoughtsOnParenting/~3/7wZBjYBW0co/education-and-creativity.html http://www.thoughtsonparenting.com/2009/05/education-and-creativity.html It's pretty clear from what we write here that Elisa and I have chosen to home-school our kids, at least for their younger years. What may not be so clear are the reasons for that choice. As with any important decision like education, the reasons are numerous and complex, but this talk from TED cuts to the heart of how I feel about education. Yes, education is a good thing. But for those kids who think differently, or can't sit still, or feel emotion more strongly than the rest of us, school can be - and often is - a... Age 0-2 Age 10-12 Age 13-18 Age 3-4 Age 5-9 Education/Homeschool Music Parenting Television duane Fri, 08 May 2009 08:33:55 -0700 http://www.thoughtsonparenting.com/2009/05/education-and-creativity.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ThoughtsOnParenting/~3/TQfEbgo5oCM/what-to-do-about-swine-flu.html http://www.thoughtsonparenting.com/2009/05/what-to-do-about-swine-flu.html Having just found out that all the local schools will be closed this week thanks to the H1N1 Virus, everyone in our town seems to be facing the reality of a real modern dilemma: What do you do if you have to stay home for a whole week with your children? At first I found the idea quite stressful. It was an unwelcome change in routine during an already highly stressful time (with moving and graduation coming up). As I thought about it some more, though, my perspective shifted. What an amazing gift that we are not often given these... Age 10-12 Age 3-4 Age 5-9 Current Affairs Games Parenting Elisa Sun, 03 May 2009 20:44:59 -0700 http://www.thoughtsonparenting.com/2009/05/what-to-do-about-swine-flu.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ThoughtsOnParenting/~3/VRFenzz3NOk/last-night-was-one-of-those-times-when-i-have-to-soak-it-all-in--again-to-remember-how-far-cate-and-i-have-come-to-look-at.html http://www.thoughtsonparenting.com/2009/04/last-night-was-one-of-those-times-when-i-have-to-soak-it-all-in--again-to-remember-how-far-cate-and-i-have-come-to-look-at.html Last night was one of those times when I had to soak it all in again. To remember how far Cason and I have come. To look at her baby book and remember when we first met. To look at her precious sleeping face at 6 ½ years old and wonder at the mysteries and beauty of life -- to behold the miracle of love. This past weekend was her first weekend away. I tried desperately not to be too over protective and blow this milestone out of proportion. I doubt I succeeded. I was the only parent neurotic enough... Parenting Elisa Mon, 27 Apr 2009 22:45:33 -0700 http://www.thoughtsonparenting.com/2009/04/last-night-was-one-of-those-times-when-i-have-to-soak-it-all-in--again-to-remember-how-far-cate-and-i-have-come-to-look-at.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ThoughtsOnParenting/~3/lfKTNnOTURQ/make-time-for-family.html http://www.thoughtsonparenting.com/2009/04/make-time-for-family.html Every family is busy these days, and ours is certainly no exception. With a father doing doctoral work full-time while holding multiple part-time jobs, a mom who freelances, home-schools and serves on the board of the kids' cooperative preschool, and two very active young children, finding time together is always a paramount concern. When the challenge came up to blog about finding family time in a freeway world, I decided it would be a good exercise to sit down and think about what we do to protect our time together. Since the beginning of our marriage, Duane and I have... Age 0-2 Age 10-12 Age 13-18 Age 3-4 Age 5-9 Parenting duane Thu, 23 Apr 2009 23:15:00 -0700 http://www.thoughtsonparenting.com/2009/04/make-time-for-family.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ThoughtsOnParenting/~3/UOoM2RmoPlQ/how-to-make-a-will-and-find-a-good-lawyer.html http://www.thoughtsonparenting.com/2009/04/how-to-make-a-will-and-find-a-good-lawyer.html So, how do you work toward the things we've talked about previously? The most important step is to get a “coach.” All of the other stuff we've talked about is just a head start on the real planning. You need to use an attorney who will work with you to create a plan that fits your family, not someone who just fills in the blanks on a glorified form. Ask questions and find an attorney who: charges flat fees (not by the hour). will help you coordinate what will happen to your money and who will have access to it.... Age 0-2 Age 10-12 Age 13-18 Age 3-4 Age 5-9 Books Parenting Elisa Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:00:04 -0700 http://www.thoughtsonparenting.com/2009/04/how-to-make-a-will-and-find-a-good-lawyer.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ThoughtsOnParenting/~3/iy_zX-IlzA0/protect-your-kids-part-ii.html http://www.thoughtsonparenting.com/2009/03/protect-your-kids-part-ii.html As the Coast Guard cutter worked its way meticulously through the search area, I thought of the woman who stopped us on the beach earlier that day. It was the first trip to the beach for my kids (that they could remember) and since the moment we got there, Mama Bear had been on high alert. The ocean is a great place to gain some perspective and be reminded of our small place in the world. While the kids ran towards the waves and screamed towards shore as the waves crashed in, a woman had stopped beside me, and wistfully... Age 0-2 Age 10-12 Age 13-18 Age 3-4 Age 5-9 Parenting Elisa Sat, 28 Mar 2009 14:42:27 -0700 http://www.thoughtsonparenting.com/2009/03/protect-your-kids-part-ii.html