Thanks, Mom - Donna Koehn

Going to bed hungry

2009-09-22T16:07:24+00:00

My daughter used to play with a sweet little girl who stealthily ate food out of our kitchen cabinets. I didn’t mind, but I asked her grandmother what was going on.

She and her husband had taken in the four siblings after a chaotic home life in which the kids…

Fostering a love of reading

2009-09-18T18:14:00+00:00

We’re a family of geeks who love reading for run. I’m at my happiest if I have at least one good book in hand and another in waiting.

One of the coolest things about having teenagers is sharing the books they’re assigned for class.…

Falling off a blog

2009-09-03T15:31:22+00:00

As I’ve said before, you can usually tell when one of us parenting bloggers is going through a lot of parenting-related stuff because like every other mom and dad, we have to prioritize. That often means the blog is the least pressing of our duties.

Back to…

Pregnancy and the Swine Flu Vaccine

2009-07-29T20:36:54+00:00

If you are pregnant, the Centers for Disease Control recommends you be one of the first to get the swine flu vaccine.

The Web site for National Public Radio has posted a must-read article based on a report in the British journal The Lancet that describes what happened…

It’s just a peanut…

2009-07-27T17:50:36+00:00

Like a growing number of children—an estimated 6 to 8 percent—my son suffers from food allergies. We carry an Epi-Pen wherever we go, in case he accidentally eats soy, tree nuts or any of the other foods to which he could have a fatal reaction.

But a new study suggests…

Important Changes to Bright Futures

2009-06-30T14:59:58+00:00

If your college student receives a Bright Futures scholarship, you’ll want to make sure he or she is aware of changes to the program beginning in the 2009-2010 term.

The state Legislature has decided that students will have to reimburse Bright Futures for any courses that are dropped…

Rats! No Pepsi for Mom

2009-06-11T19:14:28+00:00

OK, the study involved rats. Let’s admit that upfront.

I’m sure it’s also going to be annoying to hear yet another thing you’re not supposed to do during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. (If you’re reading your sister’s copy of “What to Expect When You’re Expecting,” you’re probably already expecting…

Mom, I’m Bored

2009-06-08T14:45:47+00:00

It’s the first week of summer vacation and I hope you’re not already hearing that “I’m bored” refrain.

When my kids were in elementary school, we started getting serious about signing up for summer camps in March. This year, however, we’re hearing that enrollment at many popular camps is down…

That First Paycheck

2009-06-01T15:35:01+00:00

It’s a sad sign of the times when you have to know someone to get a job at McDonald’s.

My daughter, who turns 18 this week and graduated from high school on Friday night, started her job at the Golden Arches today. She filled out applications all over town for…

Teens and Prescription Drugs—Free Program

2009-05-18T19:08:00+00:00

We’ve all been hearing about the newest trend in teen drug abuse—raiding Mom and Dad’s medicine cabinet.

To help parents recognize the dangers, Tampa General Hospital is presenting a free program at 6:30 p.m. Thursday (May 21) at its education center in Hyde Park.

The lecture will include information on…