http://blog.mlive.com/neurotic_mom/Parenting Advice, Tips and NewsenSun, 28 Jun 2009 18:02:22 PDTMovable Type Enterprise 1.52 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/noParenting Advice, Tips and Newsneurotic_momhttp://feedburner.google.comhttp://blog.mlive.com/neurotic_mom/2009/06/back_to_work_after_three_years.htmlWork/life balancejeyerSun, 28 Jun 2009 18:02:22 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/neurotic_mom//1443.3072937I'm working outside the home again for the first time since Wes was born almost three years ago, and it feels pretty good. It's also been pretty busy. For the two weeks prior to starting, I was consumed with finding...http://blog.mlive.com/neurotic_mom/2009/06/kids_bowl_free_all_summer.htmlActivitiesjeyerMon, 15 Jun 2009 17:12:10 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/neurotic_mom//1443.3013764Here's something to file away for a rainy-day this summer: Select bowling centers and schools around the country are participating in the first ever "Kids Bowl Free" program. This program is designed by bowling centers to give back to the...http://blog.mlive.com/neurotic_mom/2009/06/effective_deetfree_bug_repella.htmlHealthjeyerTue, 09 Jun 2009 18:47:26 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/neurotic_mom//1443.2972727Joe Reilly's ode to the mosquito, which Belle can sing by heart, is all well and good in theory: "I know you did what you did so you could feed your kid, and I ain't tryin' to starve-a mother and...http://blog.mlive.com/neurotic_mom/2009/06/looking_foward_to_summer.htmlActivitiesjeyerFri, 05 Jun 2009 04:49:13 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/neurotic_mom//1443.2937236Who knew that the end of the school year would feel as busy as Christmas? Class picnic, Ice Cream Social, end-of-the-year class party, Field Day, and all-school popsicle party, plus wrap-up parties for extracurricular activities, like Daisy Scouts and soccer...http://blog.mlive.com/neurotic_mom/2009/05/sitter_abundance_a_sign_of_the.htmljeyerMon, 22 Jun 2009 18:07:18 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/neurotic_mom//1443.2881510I recently started looking for a sitter to watch the kids part-time over the summer. I've never done a blind search before -- we've always found occasional sitters, usually high school girls, through word-of-mouth. But since this was to be...http://blog.mlive.com/neurotic_mom/2009/05/weve_been_having_some_interest.htmlActivitiesjeyerSat, 23 May 2009 05:25:06 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/neurotic_mom//1443.2816540The girls listening intently as the firefighters explain their gear.We've been having some interesting Daisies meetings this past month: A team of firefighters visited and talked to the girls about authority; we visited a local cat shelter and socialized with...http://blog.mlive.com/neurotic_mom/2009/05/letting_your_kid_be_the_boss.htmlActivitiesjeyerWed, 20 May 2009 18:42:32 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/neurotic_mom//1443.2758359It's a satisfying feeling to indulge Belle in one of her "big ideas," even if it means doing something very differently than I would, from the way it "should" be done. Usually it also means all through the process I...http://blog.mlive.com/neurotic_mom/2009/05/when_your_library_doesnt_have.htmlMediajeyerSat, 09 May 2009 18:04:38 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/neurotic_mom//1443.2725081OK, this is way too cool. I was just searching the Ann Arbor District Library site for a book that I want to read (Unequal Childhoods: Class, Race and Family Life), and they didn't have it. Then, for the first...http://blog.mlive.com/neurotic_mom/2009/05/spring_fever.htmlBehavior and disciplinejeyerFri, 26 Jun 2009 16:31:47 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/neurotic_mom//1443.2643709I am ever-so-slightly dreading volunteering in Belle's class tomorrow. Every Tuesday morning I help with their "centers" for about 45 minutes, and although I normally enjoy it, the past couple of times have been ... challenging. The kids can't seem...http://blog.mlive.com/neurotic_mom/2009/04/chore_charts.htmlBehavior and disciplinejeyerTue, 28 Apr 2009 17:20:18 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/neurotic_mom//1443.2638029These custom chore charts from DLTK's Crafts for Kids are awesome. I initially came across them when planning a Daisy Scouts lesson for the girls to earn their orange petal (responsible for what I say and do). Working off an...http://blog.mlive.com/neurotic_mom/2009/04/early_bedtime_gets_mixed_revie.htmlSleepjeyerMon, 27 Apr 2009 17:48:39 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/neurotic_mom//1443.2635980As I feared, Wes woke up at 3:30 this morning and wanted to get up. I managed to convince him that it wasn't morning yet, and he stayed in bed, but he was awake for about 45 minutes. He did...http://blog.mlive.com/neurotic_mom/2009/04/hes_asleep.htmlSleepjeyerMon, 27 Apr 2009 17:48:25 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/neurotic_mom//1443.2628974Yes! It's 7:30, Wes is asleep, and all is well. Crossing my fingers that he'll sleep peacefully until morning. The thought of putting him to bed so early, just as we're heading into summer, is a bit of a drag....http://blog.mlive.com/neurotic_mom/2009/04/when_naps_hinder_bedtime.htmlNapsjeyerMon, 27 Apr 2009 17:48:01 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/neurotic_mom//1443.2625392We are in that frustrating no-man's land with Wes, between napping and not napping. If he does take a nap, he's up until 9:30 or 10 p.m. (like right now). If he doesn't nap, he either falls asleep at 5pm...http://blog.mlive.com/neurotic_mom/2009/04/havent_heard_that_one_before.htmlThe things they sayjeyerMon, 27 Apr 2009 17:47:44 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/neurotic_mom//1443.2616850Yesterday, Belle and Wes were painting together outside. I had run in to get something, and I heard Belle yell and Wes start to cry. I came out and asked what was wrong with Wes....http://blog.mlive.com/neurotic_mom/2009/04/a_watch_that_teaches_kids_to_t.htmlCool productsjeyerMon, 27 Apr 2009 17:47:27 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/neurotic_mom//1443.2587919On the advice of a friend, we bought Belle a new watch, the Timex Kids analog version. This watch is ingenious. The hour and minute hands are different colors, corresponding to the hour and minute numbers on the watch....nonadult