Before you know it, the next gift-giving occasion will be upon us.
Easter is coming soon, followed quickly by Mother’s Day.
For a limited time you can order annual subscriptions of a variety of well-known magazines for a few dollars each.
Titles include Marie Claire, Good Housekeeping, Esquire, Maxim, Parenting and Working Mother.
The mags are already discounted, but during February you enter a coupon code (MAGFEB50) at checkout for an additional 50% off.
Just visit Amazon.com and add the titles to your shopping cart for an inexpensive and stress-free shopping experience.
For this Valentine’s Day weekend, my husband and I did something we hadn’t done in almost a year.
We spent a day together. Alone. No kids. It was heaven.
My parents are down from Massachusetts and shooed us out the door at 10 a.m. with lots of “Have fun!” and “Don’t come back until dinnertime!”
We didn’t need to be told twice. We jumped in the car and headed to the new Tampa Museum of Art. The exhibition was a disappointment, but the freedom of being able to wander through at our own speed was liberating. We poked through the gift shop, wandered down to the riverfront, then moseyed back to our car, discussing the best options for lunch.
We headed over to Ybor City where we enjoyed a great Spanish meal at Carmine’s, a place that has more atmosphere and buzz than the art museum did. It had been a while since we had gone out to eat without the kids, long enough to appreciate the novelty of adult conversation and not having to cut up anybody’s food but our own.
We stopped in at Joffrey’s for coffee and hot chocolate, people watched for a while, then drove over to the Florida State Fair. We pitied the parents who were struggling to push strollers through the mud or pulling tired toddlers past the rides. We were free, free to make our own plans, and better yet, to change them as desired.
On the way home, we did some shopping for Carter’s birthday. It was a spontaneous decision; it wasn’t even on the way. How wonderful.
We didn’t need candles or candy or flowers. The romance was in the re-connecting.
It was one of the best Valentine’s Day ever.
If you have a birthday, and really, who doesn’t? You can now visit one of Tampa’s top attractions for FREE on that date.
Just present acceptable proof and you’re in.
Alternative free days are offered for those born on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day, days the zoo is normally closed.
If times are tough and you can’t afford to take your child to a dentist, here’s a reason to smile.
Children in Pinellas County can get free dental care on Friday if they are uninsured, meet income requirements and are between the ages of four and 17.
Here’s the information:
On Friday, Feb. 12: Children can receive dental screenings, X-rays, cleanings and sealants.
On Friday, Feb. 26 and Saturday, Feb. 27: Children will receive follow-up care if needed.
Here are the locations:
Pinellas County Health Department Dental Health Clinics
Clearwater: 310 N. Myrtle Ave.
Largo: 2420 130th Ave. N.
Pinellas Park: 6350 76th Ave. N.
Tarpon Springs: 301 S. Disston Ave.
SPC Dental Hygiene Clinic
7200 66th St. N., Pinellas Park
PTEC Dental Assisting Clinic
901 34th St. S., St. Petersburg
Johnnie Ruth Clarke Clinic
1344-22nd St. S., St. Petersburg
UFCD Seminole Satellite Clinic
9200 113th St. N., Seminole
For more information, go to http://givekidsasmile.ada.org/ or call 727-210-4222.
February is the American Dental Association’s (ADA) Children’s Dental Health Month. ADA expects to treat more than $314,000 children through the program.
Sexting, texting, bragging, bullying - it’s all part of your child’s online world. And it’s not just teenagers who are exposed to it.
Dozens of parents went to Wilson Middle School Tuesday night to hear about the dangers lurking online, and ways to keep their children safe. Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Detective Phil DuBord told them some scary stories, including one about a church deacon who he said posed as a teenaged boy and befriended a 16-year-old teenager online, then copied her picture, put her head on nude photos and threatened to post them if she didn’t send him pictures of herself naked. Read the full story
Miss the meeting, but want to know what you can do?
Here is a list of Web sites that can get you started:
www.safeflorida.net/safesurf:The Florida Attorney General’s Web site with tips for parents and advice for teens.
www.missingkids.com: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
www.ikeepsafe.org: Features Faux Paw’s Fun Zone, which uses games and videos to teach children about internet dangers.
www.netsmartz.org: Offers advice for kids, caregivers, law enforcement and more.
www.staysafeonline.org: National Cyber Security Alliance
www.wiredsafety.org: Includes help for cyberstalking, cyberbullying and cyberabuse.
www.protectkids.com” Includes youth rules and tips to empower parents.
www.getnetwise.org: Includes blogs, how-to tutorials and more.
www.webwisekids.org: Offers interactive simulations based on real crime cases.
And here is a list of monitoring software you can use:
I admit it. I microwave chicken nuggets at least three times a week and give my kids hot dogs at least one night a week. I give my preschooler a small bowl of cheerios with a “special treat” before bed every night. Sometimes, it’s a couple of jelly beans, other times it’s two cookies. I’m hoping his teeth won’t fall out.
It’s so easy to fall into the trap of giving fast food and sugary snacks to kids. Is it any wonder the latest stats show 32 percent of American kids are overweight?
Michelle Obama launched her “Let’s Move” campaign today to tackle the obesity epidemic. Two things in particular caught my eye because I know so many parents who do this:
- Hit the fast-food drive-thru rather than cook a balanced dinner.
- Let their kids lounge in front of their TV, computer or video screens instead of riding bikes or taking a walk.
“This isn’t about inches and pounds. This isn’t about looks; it’s about how kids feel and how they feel about themselves,” the First Lady says.
We can blame the food companies that make the sugary snacks and schools that have vending machines stocked with candy bars and soda, but in the end, it’s up to us to teach our kids how to eat right. My husband and I don’t eat a lot of junk food. As a result, we don’t buy a lot of junk food. Our kids know that snack time means yogurt or raisins or fruit. They know that in addition to their chicken nuggets and hot dogs, they have to eat their vegetables. And they know that when they get home from day care, they get one episode of a children’s TV program and then we’re going for a walk around the block with the neighbor’s children. That’s their routine. They don’t even think to question it.
I babysat my friends’ children a year ago. I served hot dogs, green beans, strawberries, string cheese and milk. The boy, then 8, said to me, “I don’t like this. I want pizza.”
“I don’t have any pizza,” I said, taken aback.
“Well, you can order it,” he told me.
“No, I can’t,” I said.
Don’t let your kids dictate what they should eat. We’re the adults; we’re the ones that have to make the right decisions and teach them that eating healthy won’t kill them.
Eating badly could.
Need some ideas on how to begin? Here are 30 Kid-friendly veggie meals from Parents.com.
More parenting news: TBO Moms page
If you’ve got the time and inclination, stop by Denny’s tomorrow (Tues. 2/9) for a free Grand Slam breakfast.
The offer is good from 6 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Whew. My 4-year-old is normal. For a second, I thought he was just put here to drive my crazy.
We’re deep into the “I can do it myself!” phase. Another name would be, “Let Mommy close her eyes and count to 10.”
I love that Jay’s independent. I love that he wants to try to do things himself. I love that he’s learning so much every day.
I hate that it takes so freaking long to get anything done.
I also hate it when that dreaded phrase comes out at moments he CAN’T do something himself. Like at the zoo, when he wanted to go into the bathroom by himself.
“No Mommy, I can do it myself!”
“Um, no, honey, you can’t go into the men’s room by yourself, but come with me in here and I’ll stand outside the stall. Then I’ll give you extra bubbles when you wash your hands.”
Compromising with a preschooler is an art form.
Jay loves to help around the house but doesn’t understand why I won’t give him the Glass Plus bottle or let him unload the glasses and knives from the dishwasher. The proud proclamation of “I can do it myself!” quickly deteriorates into an “I CAN DO IT MYSELF” scream followed by the ever-popular “I’m not going to be your friend anymore.”
Deep breath. Count to 10. And focus on all the skills he has mastered through trial and error: drinking from a regular cup, getting dressed, strapping himself into his car seat. He even brushes his teeth without a fuss, although he raises his foot to let me know when he needs to spit, which I think is a little odd.
Babycenter.com informed me today that Jay’s behavior is right on schedule. It’s nice to have the affirmation. I’m proud of him and proud he wants to do more. I just hope my patience level matches his learning curve.
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We’ve all been there. It’s 2 a.m. and your baby is crying non-stop and you have tried everything: feeding him, changing him, cuddling him, rocking him and singing every song you know. Yet nothing works and the wailing is about to drive you mad.
There’s an iPhone app for that.
The Cry Translator promises to identify why your baby is crying. You just hold up the phone and voila! Less than 10 seconds later, it tells you whether Junior is hungry, sleepy, annoyed, stressed or bored. Then you can take the appropriate action and everyone’s happy – and quiet.
I’m skeptical. As a mother of two, I know it’s not that easy to figure out why your screaming baby won’t shut up, even though he’s clean and fed and healthy.
The maker of the Cry Translator says it tested it on 140 kids and boasts a 96 accuracy rate. A quick check on iTunes shows 33 people rated the app, and more than half gave it just one star, the lowest rating possible. One person wrote, “Doesn’t work.”
But if you’re willing to part with $29.99 for the chance it will bring you peace of mind and peace and quiet, go for it and let me know what you think.
Watch a video demonstration | Best iPhone apps for parents
More from the blog Laptops and Lost Socks
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United Skates is partnering with the United Way to raise donations for the Haiti relief effort.
On Tuesday, February 2 from 6:30 - 9:00 p.m., for a $5 monetary donation or in-kind items (see below) you can skate the night away.
The donation covers both admission and skate rental or you can bring your own skates.
In-kind donations being accepted are: hydrogen peroxide, alcohol pads, adhesive bandages, gauze bandages, Ace bandages, medical tape, canned baby food, distilled bottled water, sheets, blankets, 5-gallon buckets, large heavy duty garbage bags, liquid soap and disposable diapers. All items must be new and unopened. All medical supplies must have a min. of 18 months left on their expiration dates.
United Skates is located at 5121 N. Armenia Ave. in Tampa.
You can have the world’s best husband and kids, but every woman knows that it’s your girlfriends who get you through each day.
A year ago, I was in a bad spot. My husband was recovering from a heart attack and the disappointment of losing his job of 16 years, I was working full-time plus nursing a six-month-old baby and trying to give my older son the attention he deserved, plus trying to keep up with all the housework and laundry and family birthdays and the millions of other details that go into day-to-day life. At one point, I saw a counselor because I never felt like I could get my head above water. I remember her teaching me a one-minute breathing exercise and saying I needed to find a quiet time to practice it twice a day – just one minute each time – and I thought to myself, “I don’t have a spare minute to even breathe.”
Now things have turned around. My kids are older, my husband is healthy, and I’m getting more than 4 hours of sleep a night. And I’ve realized how important it is to make time for myself. I did three things for myself in the past three days that I hadn’t done in months: I had lunch with two friends who are also working moms and can totally understand what my life is like; I went to my neighborhood group’s “Chick Choice” dinner with 12 women who are fun and funny and shared stories that made my side split; and I got kidnapped for a shopping trip with four of those same girls who gave me their honest opinion about clothes and shoes and made sure I didn’t just buy the same old navy and black tops I always do. Oh, and we stopped to have a glass of wine and appetizers.
I feel great. It’s not just that I got more than six hours of sleep. It’s that my soul feels rejuvenated.
I don’t make new year’s resolutions often, but I’ve made two this year. One is to reclaim myself and my identity. I think I forgot all the things that made me “me” last year because I was just trying to get through each day.
The other is to pay it forward. It’s nice to feel like I’m finally in a spot where I can help my girlfriends who are going through their own troubles, just as they helped me last year.
Here’s to girlfriends – thank you for reminding me that I’m worth making time for!
I write about bad stuff every day. You can’t avoid it when you’re in the news business.
Now that I’m a mom, it strikes so much closer to home. I was watching the “Today” show this morning and Meredith Vieira talked to Diena Thompson, whose 7-year-old daughter Somer was kidnapped and killed while walking home from a Florida elementary school last fall.
It brought me to tears when she said, “It’s the worst pain that you could ever experience. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.”
She’s raise $65,000 for a reward for information that helps catch her daughter’s killer and has a message for all parents.
“I just want parents to know you’re basically living on borrowed time and to tell them that you love them. And when they want to cook with you and you don’t want to clean up the extra mess, it’s worth it. It’s worth cleaning up the extra mess or tripping over their bike or picking up their dirty laundry, it’s all worth it, because at any moment it can be taken away from you.”
Click here to watch the interview, and then hug your children.
I am so excited! Cypress Gardens is going to reopen as Legoland Florida in October 2011. I jumped on the Legoland site this morning, and these folks know just what little kids and their moms want!
Legoland California has 19 rides and play areas with no height restrictions. It has another seven rides featuring fire trucks, pirate ships and planes that are perfect for toddlers and pre-schoolers who are at least 34 inches tall.
There are eight more rides designed for kids at least 36 inches and then others for kids 40 inches and taller, which is the average height of a 4-year-old. Plus, they have game areas, walk-through exhibits and interactive games for kids of all ages.
The California park has a playgroup one day a week, which seems perfect for stay-at-home moms looking for a fun way to entertain their little ones. Here’s their “What To Do If You’re 2” list of fun activities.
I just talked to one mom who had been to the California theme park and she said it’s great for kids who might be a tad too young to really enjoy Disney. In California, they charge $67 for a one-day adult pass and $57 for kids 3 to 12 and adults over 60.
What’s Legoland like? Click here to watch their promotional video.
More from the blog Laptops and Lost Socks
More parenting news: TBO Moms page
When I saw the headline “The Top Employers for Gen Y, Baby Boomers and Working Moms” on AOL this morning, I immediately clicked to open the story.
It gave lists of the top companies for each group, plus a snapshot of what each wants from the workplace. Generation Y workers value frequent feedback, regular training on new skills, and a management style that expresses sincere interest in the individual, the article said.
Baby Boomers value face time, collaboration and in-person communication, a get-the-job-done attitude, and public recognition of their good work.
What do Working Moms value, according to the article? Fewer hours, a flexible schedule and the ability to take unpaid days off. I was offended, because I think that description makes moms sound like slackers. Moms want frequent feedback, training opportunities and all of the other things mentioned above, same as other employees.
I just did a quick poll with some managers here to get their perceptions of working moms. One said, “Honestly, there’s not that much difference between moms and dads. Both are working, and it’s just who can swing it” when a sick child needs to be picked up at school.
“People who have kids appreciate it when you can work with their schedules, but they don’t expect it,” another manager said.
“They’re so guilt-ridden, it’s not as if you’re not going to get your 40 hours out of them,” one said.
“Ditto,” said another. “If somebody has to leave three hours early one day, they’ll make it up.”
Working Mothers magazine put together a list of the best companies for working moms. The top companies offer great benefits, including paying for fertility treatments or adoption, paid maternity leave and discounts on day care. They also offer networking and mentoring opportunities, telecommuting and brown-bag training lunches. Guess what? Everyone would enjoy most of these benefits.
Maybe it’s time we get away from the working mom title. The key to managing men or women, career veterans or newcomers, parents or non-parents, is simple: treat them with respect and consideration, establish clear goals, coordinate training opportunities and give lots of feedback.
Women earn more than husbands in 20% of homes
More from the blog Laptops and Lost Socks
More parenting news: TBO Moms page
