Long gone are the days of formal parlors, the living room that has carpet that never seems to lose its clean vacuum lines and brand new furniture that is nearly as old as your kids. These days, most homes are equipped with multi-purpose or great rooms, used for social gatherings, homework, play, TV and relaxing: that is a lot to accomplish in one room! That...
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We’ve heard the expression, “Parenting doesn’t come with a manual.” Some days, that seems so much truer than others. Whether you are having one of those “HELP!!!” days or an ideal day, stick around because it will probably change. So consider adopting Love and Logic’s rule: “Take good care of yourself by setting limits without anger, lectures, threats or repeated warnings”. While it may make...
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Does life seem to fly by? Days turn into weeks and although you flow through somewhat smoothly, you find yourself not organized, forgetting, neglecting and procrastinating? When life hits rough patches, we need the structure of planning and routine to keep us on track. Structure doesn’t mean you can’t be creative or flexible, but it reassures you that if life’s details are taken care of,...
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Do begging, pouty lips and puppy-dog faces send you over the edge of giving in? While thinking that giving in every now and then won’t hurt, you could be creating a habit of easily giving in way more than you intended to. I don’t think too many parents make plans to spoil their kids. However, it is easy to feel guilty. And, we tend to...
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With the recent issues in the “friendly skies” with irate passengers and reclining seats, it leads me to wonder if the reports are true that the use of manners is on the decline. This pictograph shows the sad decline in the use of manners in our society today. But as parents, I don’t think we have to be part of this trend. Simple things like...
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Kathy Jenkins joins Paige Trevor for this article published on Washington Parent {dot} com. Parents tend to see most aspects of child rearing as a matter of getting our words right. In order to teach our kids how to do everything from dressing themselves to packing their backpacks to cleaning their rooms, we talk: we explain, direct, coax and remind. When none of that works,...
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Lazy summer days will be gone before we know it and the routine of a new school year will quickly be setting in! As parents, we always want to make transitions from one thing to another as easy for our children as we can. And, the end of an unstructured summer transitioning back into the demanding routines and pressures of school is no exception. Here...
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Organization is an important part of a functional kitchen pantry. Using a solution like the interDesign’s® Linus Storage Binz makes storage and organization instant and easy. It is easy to customize and organize your pantry and kitchen cabinets for your exact storage needs. Made of high quality, BPA Free, clear plastic, these storage bins make it easy to see what’s inside. The containers will keep...
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You took the time to create an organized food pantry, but what things can you do to keep it that way? Here are our top tips: Arrange cans, bottles and boxes on the shelves with the labels facing out. If you use a turntable, keep taller items near the center to keep items from falling when spinning. When you are adding newer purchased items, move...
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Whether you are planning a family vacation or a romantic get-a-way, having the comforts of home in spite of where you go or what you do makes your vacation a memorable experience. And, whether you enjoy traveling in luxury or enjoy “roughing it”, a little planning goes a long way for the time that you are away from home. PLAN & PACK First, decide what...
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