Children can learn how to have a great handshake and smile.  It’s important to teach them how to greet people warmly and with enthusiasm.

Mother-daughter relationships are so delicate. While moms are not solely responsible for how our daughters turn out, we have a huge impact on their level of confidence and solidity of their character.

My last post, 7 Tips for Relocating with Kids, included ways to stay sane and organized during a move. The funny thing is I wrote that in the midst of packing, just before our state to state relocation.

This year, for the very first time, The Boy Scouts of the America have decided to bar obese scouts from their annual Jamboree. It’s the organization’s biggest event of the year, so the announcement prompted a lot of discussion in the media. Agree or disagree, the decision wasn’t made in a vacuum.

Apparently, I am a nag and my sixteen year old son has coined names for the different levels of nagging I am guilty of. Here goes:

1. The Pre-Nag – A pre-nag is a nag that comes before my son is actually guilty of doing anything wrong. A pre-nag anticipates that he is about to do something slob related. For example: He’ll walk into the dining room after basketball practice and before he drops his gym bag, I’ll say “don’t drop your gym bag and sneakers on the floor. Take them to your room.” That my friends, is a classic Pre-Nag!

Over the weekend, my hubby and I had some friends over for a little BBQ cookout, fellowship and an unintentional playdate.  When it came time for dinner, my 4-year-old proceeded to eat his turkey burger, in hopes of garnering that special treat for his after-meal dessert.  His best buddy looked over at how my son was happily consuming his burger, and curiosity got the better of him.  The next thing we knew, he was shouting, “Mama, I want a sandwich burger too.” 

I called home on my return from a business trip.  My husband laughingly asked me to talk to my middle son about advice he received from his 5 year old sister.  His voice had no laughter in it as he indignantly shared, “She told me solve my own problems!” And then he added for the benefit of everyone in earshot of the phone, “She heard that from mom!!”

Raising a Healthier Generation: 

Preventing Childhood Obesity

Planning a birthday party for a loved one? Stew Leonard’s in Newington, Connecticut makes the planning process extremely easy, and offers a wide variety of options both in the store and for catering off the premises. We recently held our daughter’s third birthday, and first ever kid-party in the store’s smaller party-room. Since she is only three, the vibrantly decorated room easily accommodated her small number of close friends and her beloved teenage sitter. Cooking parties and other events for children over five and adults are held in a larger room.