When you live 10 miles to the nearest town, plenty of your parenting is done in the car. On any given day, you might catch me tooling down the highway doing a rundown of the ABCs, singing the “Itsy Bitsy Spider” or — during summer construction season — offering my vast knowledge of the inner workings of skidsteers and forklifts.
I repotted the spider plant about 10 days ago and it was immediately obvious that I couldn’t save it. Still, I’ve remained hopeful, putting it in a shaded corner of the deck and continuing to water it. I know I should give up the fight, but I’m not ready.
As the moon fades to last quarter on Aug. 3, dark evening skies prevail giving us a deep window into the starry heavens. This time of year, the Milky Way Band is most prominent for evening watchers. If you have a good deal of light pollution in your sky, alas, the Milky Way will be difficult to distinguish. A sweep with binoculars or a small telescope, however, will reveal an abundant increase in stars as your scan takes you over this far away band of light.
In a recent column I described how some parents verbally challenge their child to do the opposite of what they want.. This is training a child to defy. Bribes and threats also are ineffective as they empower a child to choose a reward when bribed, or say “I don’t care” when threatened.
More than 50 percent of first marriages dissolve in divorce. With a 60 percent failure rate, second marriages are no better. Can marital longevity and happiness truly co-exist?
Learning disabilities are not “outgrown” and can affect a person throughout his or her life, hampering academic and then career success. The good news is help is available, and the sooner a child gets assistance, the better. The first step is realizing there’s a problem.
Recent reports of bullying and its effects on the children involved are enough to put parents on full alert. Long identified by name-calling and teasing, technology puts a new spin on this old problem for children of all ages.
Doing homework is one of a student’s most dreaded activities and often one of a parent’s great challenges. With some guidance, however, you can help your child develop a lifetime of good learning habits
Bicyclists should obey the rules of the road and drive defensively to avoid accidents.
This week’s suggestions: Check out “Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore” or “Dinner for Schmucks,” celebrate Cheesecake Day, celebrate J.K. Rowling and all things Harry Potter, observe National Clown Week and get ready for International Beer Day.
Weekly financial Q&A, with advice on when to buy a house and being in debt to family members.
Five kids, one boyfriend (my daughter’s, not mine!) and one husband stuffed in the truck for a long road trip sounds like a recipe for disaster. With heavy doses of laughter, we survived the chaos of sharing close quarters with teens and toddlers.
Weekly family column, with shopping tips to save big on back-to-school supplies, a review of “Ramona and Beezus” and more.
Melissa and Robert Amos of Uniontown, Ohio, could have spent thousands of dollars on their wedding. They spent $20.
The hot summer months offer loads of opportunity to save on groceries and eat healthy at the same time. With backyard gardens in full bloom, lots of fruits and veggies in season and on sale and less of a need for heavy comfort-style meals, keeping it light has never been easier. Check out these favorite original recipes from the folks at the food blog Cheap Healthy Good.
Sometimes, there's not much you can do to make your child feel better after a thorough pounding on the ballfield.
Is your child resistant to your requests or directives? Do you feel like your child is controlling the house? Is he saying or doing inappropriate things? You may be training him to do just that.
Even uncooperative weather couldn’t sap the fun factor from our July vacation at Boyne Mountain resort. In fact, there were so many things to do, it was hard to fit them all in during our July trip up north. There were ziplines and sunset chairlift rides, beaches and outdoor pools -- and a water park and spa treatments when it rained. During our three-day stay, our family still didn’t squeeze in kayaking, tennis, golf, or mountain biking.
This week’s suggestions: Head to the theater for “Ramona and Beezus” or “Salt,” keep tabs on Comic-Con, watch the end of the Tour de France and celebrate Family Golf Month and National Tell An Old Joke Day.
Weekly financial Q&A, with advice on starting a small business on the side and when to get long-term-care insurance.
