School Years

Bullying is a problem. It's a simple sentence. But there is not a simple solution. Almost one third of all kids will report being bullied. With the new avenue of social media, cyberbullying is a new and particularly burdensome...

As a mom of four life is hectic. And, by the time May rolls around life enters a whole new level of chaos. Between soccer, baseball, swimming and other activities Monday-Thursday evenings are maxed out. Many of those nights work bags are exchanged for sports bags and we head out the door within five minutes of entering. 

Anyone with kids knows, time flies. So that’s why, for years, I’ve been trying to prepare my daughter (and myself) for 4K. We’ve read books like “All You Need to Know Before You Start School,” bought a fun glittery...

If you are like me, you have had “THOSE DAYS”. “Those days” are the days that the kids decide to see how long my patience will last. At every turn, I have a child who is distracted, bored or just plain tired. And speaking of tired, there are “those days” that I am just plain tired. Maybe I am not feeling well, or traveling, or just in need of a break.

Yes, I know supply lists can be long and can get expensive. There also are often items that are very specific and difficult to find. BUT, the teacher has placed those items on the list for a reason - for your child to use while learning. If you decide to make negative comments about the supplies, how much money it’s costing, etc., your child may hear that their supplies are not important. Depending on what you say, it may just be subtle, but it’s not sending a positive message regarding school before school has even begun.

Parent - “How was your school day?” Child - “Good.” Parent – “What did you learn today?” Child – “Nothing.” Does this sound familiar? It is something I know happens in many households! After a full day at school, kids are tired and...

You could spend a day there! We thought we'd buzz around for an hour and we barely skimmed the surface!  We did a few photo ops, watched the ESPN guys for a bit and tried out a few football activities they had set up. We didn't even set foot in the atrium of the north end of the stadium where tons more was set up!  We easily could have spent 5 hours there. So pack some waters and some snacks and make an afternoon of it! 

Now that school is over (shhhhh…I already know that supplies are already out in Target, Walmart, and other places - but I refuse to acknowledge that as an elementary school teacher who just finished summer school), you may find...

If you are already in a rut packing lunches or are just looking for fresh ideas, here are some foods to send with your child!

Our reasons might be varied, but the sentiment is the same – back-to-school isn’t all fun times and freedom for emotional mothers. But take heart! There are steps you can take to beat the back-to-school blues.