Preschool (3-5)

There aren't many moments outside of sleep where my boys are still.  The only things that slow them down are allergies and illness.  It stinks to see their pep stolen by runny, itchy noses and eyes.  They aren't in real school yet, but there are definitely days where their allergies get in the way of what they may have wanted to do.  I'm sure if they were in school, bothersome symptoms could have a drastic effect on their grades and overall performance.  I see them get distracted, irritated, and lethargic when their allergy symptoms are bothering them the most. Allergies definitely affect their sleep, too...runny noses equal lots of sniffling and nose-wiping in my house.  Restless nights don't stop them, but they sure slow down the boys. They love life, and I want to do anything I can to help them continue on with their joyful life as normal!  Kids are only kids once. I don’t want to let allergies rob them of it.   Read more >

I used to think I was "lucky" that I had a child who, nearly three years in, hasn't exhibited any food allergies. I really felt for fellow new mothers who were painstakingly and scientifically cutting food groups out of their own diets as they struggled to figure out what in their breast milk was adversely affecting their babies. I quaked over the stories of Urgent Care visits and EpiPen deployment that were required to deal with surprise vomit attacks, hives, swelling and breathing issues. And while other mothers sought out allergen-free crackers and cookies, snacks and meals, I bought whatever I wanted. With all the stresses that motherhood brings, going blind reading the cramped and excruciatingly tiny-fonted list of ingredients in order to make sure I don't send my child into anaphylactic shock wasn't one of them. And I felt lucky.  Read more >

We attempt to watch what we say around them and make sure to mute the TV when they toddle into the living room after hours to ask for "just one more good night kiss." Yesterday while driving home from work/school/daycare, I was attempting to foster a sense of family time by asking my five-year-old diva how her day went. She proceeded to dish about how another little girl had said "the S-word" at preschool. My six-year-old responded, "You mean the word that dad always says? "Bull s-word?"  Read more >

Around the hippy-dippy side of the parentosphere I see a lot of discussion of what I call "Say YES!" parenting. Kids hear a lot of no. They're faced with a world of restrictions, what they can't and shouldn't do -- what better way for us to loosen our grips and empower them than with letting them hear YES. Unless they're in danger, hurting themselves and/or others, most of the reasons we say no are pretty flimsy. What they want to do is messy, inconvenient, annoying. Those are our problems, not our children's. Let it go. Say yes. It sounds dreamy.  Read more >