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Don’t Miss Out! Just What Your 5th-6th Grader Needs!

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Spring has sprung and so have the family life talks at school! I have the perfect complement to “all those talks” they are having at school — either in the classroom — or inevitably on the bus or at the lunch table.  Bork and his Real Deal book, along with Corky and her Whole Scoop, give growing girls and boys everything they need to know (but only what they need to know) about puberty and the basics of reproduction.  With rave reviews from moms, you’ll find it a welcomed resource. Including all the basics told in a light-hearted and humorous way, these books “lighten” up and clarify all the information they are getting in school.  Check them out.  You’ll be glad you did!  

Spring Has Sprung! Has Your Teen?

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Spring. Spring Break. And How to Get Your Teen to Spring Up With It. Whether Uncle Sam is leaving you with a little extra spending money this spring, or he’s collecting his dues, there are lots of different ways you can enjoy the burst of spring — and the break it brings — with your kids (and maybe even get your teens to spring up too). There is the typical travel to the typical destinations (who doesn’t love a spring break trip?  WooHoo!).  Yet check out these 5-Under-The-Radar-Spring-Break-Getaways. Many of these are in specific locales, yet similar venues exist in numerous geographic areas . . . perhaps even yours. Having a spring break staycation? What a perfect way to re-group. While you’re staying and cationing, maybe there are some jaunts you can take to spring up your teen and get the springtime endorphins flowing throughout the family. Consider an IMAX theater showing. In various science centers, museums and other locations, IMAX movies can offer a delight into nature and adventure, and can generally appeal to …

I Must Have THE TALK (and other prose)

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In honor of National Poetry month, and inspired by Marvin K. Mooney . . . Dr. Seuss . . . and all the moms, dads, and pre-teen kids who read my books, I share this with you: It’s Time for THE TALK, But I Don’t Know How The time has come. The time is now. I must have THE TALK, but I don’t know how. My kid’s at that age — that she just needs to know. My dear, oh dear, just how will it go? There’s growing and shaving; all the puberty stuff too And where do babies come from! WHAT’S A MOM TO DO? That’s when I found Corky and a dude called Bork To help tell the kids: IT’S NOT REALLY THE STORK! Just click right here and you’ll have ALL YOU NEED To help you complete this pre-adolescent deed You made it through potty training and the terrible twos It’s just the next stage of life in your mommy dues Trust me when I say the books make it fun Some …

1 of the Best Animations I’ve Seen

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Mr. Peabody and Sherman is one of the best animated movies I’ve seen. Full of intellect and humor, it’s a heart-warming display of parental love and guidance, intertwined with vivid, entertaining history lessons and a glimpse of peer pressure, getting along, and standing up for yourself. We laughed, we smiled, our hearts sank here and there while we were taken back in time in virtual reality to the French Revolution, ancient Egypt, Italy in the Renaissance, the Trojan War and more. We left the theater feeling good all over, having laughed while endorphins ran through us, and feeling just a little more in tune with history. And let me not sign off without mentioning the adorable little tail wag at the end, signifying it all — the bond between a father dog and his human son. (And speaking of parental love & guidance, peer pressure, and getting along, check out my books . . . they touch on all these things too.)

An Amazing Reminder That Discipline is Love

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Love = Discipline. It’s hard to remember, and sometimes harder to enforce. My daughter and I saw an amazing thing the other day . . . at a horse rescue farm . . . that has served as a remarkable reminder that loving means disciplining. I’ll set the stage: We’re looking on – into a small horse corral. In it there is a lively colt and his human handler. The colt quickly moves from lively to uncontrollable. While the handler is proficiently directing and leading the colt out of the corral, the colt refuses any attempt to be guided or led through the gate. After many attempts, the colt will have nothing to do with walking through the gate. He insists on charging toward the wooden barracks, at an unsafe and uncontrolled pace. He is jumping and thrashing, while putting his head up toward the handler as if to say, well, _____ you! He didn’t stop there. That little colt even stomped his hoof right at the handler, in timed cadence, protesting each of her …

Parents: ON STRIKE

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I’m a loving parent. And I’m going on strike. I’m striking against Lack of Appreciation. Otherwise known as Not Knowing How Good We Kids Have It. It’s not that I’m looking for a thank you (although who am I kidding, that would be nice) or increased pay or more days off (now THERE‘s a concept). I just want to lay a little low, and do remarkably less, so these wonderful, developing kids of mine appreciate what they have. It would look something like this: Instead of the plate of eggs, toast, fruit and juice awaiting the sauntering teen in the morning (what is it about the compulsiveness of us parents to fill ’em with the good stuff?), my teen would find me (quietly on strike), sipping her coffee, reading the paper. As I see him come in, I might say, “Could you pour me a little more coffee, while you’re up?” And he’d be on his own. On his own, at least (albeit in those wee early school morning hours), to find his own breakfast. …