Author: Sarah Lyons
School mornings are busy, but an experienced mom knows the real rush is after school, when the evening is packed with extracurricular activities. One child has scouts, another has piano lessons, and two have soccer practice on the opposite sides of town. As a mom of six, I have survived busy weeks full of extracurricular activities and a calendar that can only be described as complicated. Whether you have two or 10 kids, here are some tips from a mom with a busy family: Limit Activities The best way to keep your calendar from getting too full is not to fill it. Try cutting back on…
If you have school-age children, you are most likely dealing with an ever-growing stack of school papers and artwork. Some of the papers may go straight to the recycle bin, but what do you do with the important papers and special artwork you would like to keep? Start by SortingBefore you can start organizing your child’s paperwork and art projects, you need to decide what to discard and what to keep. Set aside papers that show your child’s writing skills and artwork that you feel is unique to their personality. Discard worksheets or daily papers. Make another stack of papers that…
After your baby is born, you will visit the pediatrician often. In the first year, your baby will have seven well visits. In fact, studies show that first-time parents may visit their child’s pediatrician up to 16 times before the baby’s first birthday. Your child’s doctor plays an important role in their life, and therefore, you will need to find one that is a good fit for the parents and the child. It can be challenging to find a pediatrician who is right for your family. Here are some tips to get you started on your search: Start with Recommendations…
Adjusting to having a new baby in the house can be difficult for the whole family. Sleepless nights and a change in routine can leave mom feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. Offering support to a family with a new baby can help them adjust to their new normal. But often, when you ask, mom can’t think of the exact way she needs help. Here are some ideas: 1. Stop by the Store Going to the store with newborns and possibly older children for the first time can be a daunting task. Offer to pick up a few things the family needs.…
Sunshine, blue sky, warm sand between your toes, and the calming sound of ocean waves hitting the shore. Doesn’t it sound wonderful and relaxing? Add a toddler or preschooler to the picture, and it may not sound quite as relaxing, but a beach vacation with young children can still be wonderful with some patience and a little bit of planning. Choose the Right Location for Your Family When picking a spot to set up for a day at the beach, choose wisely. Make sure that the area is family-friendly. It is also wise to make sure there are public restrooms…
The day your child was born is a day to celebrate and make them feel special. Birthday parties are fun, but they can be a lot of work and the costs can quickly add up. If you decide to skip the birthday party, it doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate big. Here are some ideas to make sure your child’s birthday is special: Create Anticipation As the birthday approaches, build anticipation by talking about it and planning what the day will hold. You can create a special countdown by making a paper chain and tearing off one chain per day, or…
When I look back at each important moment in my life – the day I learned to drive, my graduation, my wedding, the birth of my first child – she is always standing in the background, smiling and cheering me on. More importantly, she was part of the other not-so-monumental moments in my life, like when I got stung by a bee, when the kids teased me, and when I cried my way through my first broken heart. My mom was always there to support me through all the moments, big and small. Now that I have been a mom…
Playdates are an important part of childhood. They offer time for kids to interact socially without the structure of school or extracurricular activities. They also help kids learn to share, socialize, and play freely while still having support from their parents as needed. Children with special needs are no exception and benefit from playdates as much as their peers. While they may take a little more planning and patience, it is well worth the effort for everyone involved. Here are some tips for hosting a playdate with kids with disabilities: Be Open Our natural reaction may be to avoid talking…
Children learn to read at their own pace but if your child is struggling to make significant progress as compared to their peers, it may be possible they have a reading disability called dyslexia. According to Mayo Clinic, “Dyslexia is a learning disorder that involves difficulty reading due to problems identifying speech sounds and learning how to relate to letters and words. Dyslexia affects areas of the brain that process language.” Symptoms of dyslexia may include: Speech delay, trouble learning words, problems forming words correctly or reversing sounds or words that sound alike. Reading well below the expected level for…
Last year my husband and I set a goal to set up our will and estate plan. This forced us to look at who would become guardians of our children, what would we do in the event of one spouse’s death, when and how would our money be allocated, and more. These conversations were tough, simply because of the subject matter. Although this process wasn’t enjoyable, I’m so glad we checked it off our list because we can both rest assured that our kids will be taken care of, and our affairs are in order if needed. As we begin…