If you have been following this blog, you would have known that I have two children, J and K.

2009 is a new chapter for me and my kids.

This is a common scene.

Two siblings screaming at each other wanting the same thing. That thing could be a toy. Or in my case, a bunch of leaves!

Christmas Shopping for Kids

Christmas is a truly magical season that is enjoyed by many but no one enjoys the Christmas season more than kids. It might be the prospect of some well deserved time off from school, the allure of the lights and decorations, the beauty of the snow that often accompanies Christmas or just the anticipation of Santa and his sleigh filled with toys that is so exciting for children but it is evident that most kids are truly enchanted by Christmas. For this reason many adults truly enjoy shopping for kids and Christmas time. 

It’s time of the year again and kids love Christmas. Here’s a list of activities you can do with or for your child.

I recently read an excellent article that I have to share with you.

Here are some of the nuggets of parenting wisdom from the write-up:

There is more pressure than ever on today’s married couples. Things like children, work, finances and much more can put enough strain on a marriage as to make the couple seriously consider a divorce. Nobody enters a marriage with divorce on their minds for the future, but it is still happening at an alarmingly high rate. Happily ever after now just seems like a sad cliché rather than a serious commitment. It is almost as if no one even thinks of marriage as permanent anymore. However, there are many things that you can do in order to stop your divorce before the subject even comes up.

Here are some tips that you can use to keep your marriage running smoothly:

Many parents make the decision to homeschool their children, and in doing so are privy to some clear benefits. Homeschooling allows you to tailor a specific education to your child's individual needs, something that is often lacking in the public or private school systems. Homeschooling also allows you and your child to learn together, creating not only a valuable learning experience but strengthening family bonds. Add to this the fact that it is often prohibitively expensive to send multiple children to private schools, and we can see why homeschooling has become increasingly popular.

A 56-year-old woman who gave birth to her triplet granddaughters a month ago is recovering from a Caesarean section and hopeful that one of the girls will be home from the hospital by Saturday.

Jaci Dalenberg, 56, of Wooster in northeast Ohio, offered herself as a surrogate when her daughter, Kim Coseno, and her husband, Joe, were waiting to adopt. Coseno had two children from a previous marriage but was unable to have another baby because of a hysterectomy.

Her ovaries could produce eggs, so she and Joe Coseno, her husband of three years, tried in vitro fertilization. The embryos were implanted in Dalenberg's uterus.

Dalenberg said she wasn't frightened to be pregnant at her age.

Full story: Ohio Grandma Gives Birth to Daughter's Triplets

Everyone knows that it’s more expensive to eat healthy foods than junk foods.  A limited budget contributes to poor eating habits in many ways.  Junk food costs less at the grocery store than healthier choices.  Even when you’re dining out, it’s cheaper to dash through a greasy hamburger joint than it is to go to a restaurant that offers fresher, healthier options.

When it is time to go to bed, adults have our routines: a cup of tea, a good book, watch a little TV, brush your teeth, or take a relaxing bath.  No matter what routine you have, it helps you to sleep better.  Babies are no different.  They need a routine to help them get to sleep as well.  It is up to you to find out what works best for your baby. 

My friend’s 13-year-old son has a girlfriend. Many would think he is too young to be dating. It is natural for a child to be interested in someone of the opposite sex as a friend.

Teens are curious about relationships. They want to know about dating and boy-girl relationships. As they are developing sexually, they are naturally interested to know what it is like to be intimate with another person.

The milk production in the breasts, much like so many other things, work on the shear principle of supply and demand.  The more breast milk your baby consumes, the more your body will need to make.  

Breast pumps are generally used to insure continued production of breast milk when you cannot feed your baby - whether you are back to work, traveling, taking medication, or just out of town.

Halloween Activities for Children

Until children are old enough (about six years old) and mature enough to distinguish between make-believe and reality, they should not be told frightening stories. Young children take all of the words that adults say literally. If they are told that there are ghosts and goblins that will "get" them, they believe it to be fact.

All of those self-help books are great, but when it comes to parenting YOUR child, you have to trust your own instincts too.