Home with the Kids Newsletter

Why Manners Matter

2008-07-01T04:34:00.000-07:00

The Editor's Desk - From Beneath the Clutter

Ok, ok, I'm back. Sorry about that big gap in newsletters. Things just piled up at the end of the school year. Stomach flu, a rather nasty cold and just to make things really interesting, I found out I'm pregnant.

Which explained the continuing exhaustion and nausea.

We're surprised and delighted. Timing could be better, but people say that about a lot of pregnancies. I'm getting more energetic again and if not getting rid of the nausea yet, coping with it better.

Why Manners Matter

"...the principle of civil reciprocity is a solid one, for which reason it is occasion for total, staggering dismay that it appears to be on its way out." Lynne Truss fumes in her wonderfully, hotheaded bestseller, Talk to the Hand #?*! The Utter Bloody Rudeness of the World Today, or Six Good Reasons to Stay at Home and Bolt the Door.

Come read the rest at http://www.homewiththekids.com/newsletter/2008/070108.php

See you next week!

Stephanie

Summer and the Library

2008-06-03T04:03:00.000-07:00

The Editor's Desk - From Beneath the Clutter

Finally? Maybe?

We've been working on potty training my 3 year old. He's still not done, but this week has been the one in which he's finally shown signs of figuring it out. Such a relief. I am very, very ready to be done with diapers.

Of course, i'm also very, very ready for the networking to finally work out so my husband gets a job. He's working hard at that and I think he has plenty of motivation these days. He's helping out at a conference this week so that he can network there. It's almost odd having him out of the house!

Feature Article
Have You Tried the Library?

Summer break is coming or even here for many families. With that comes the eternal whine: "I'm boooored!"

Come read the rest at http://www.homewiththekids.com/newsletter/2008/060308.php

See you next week!

Stephanie

What Not to Say to Your Kids

2008-05-27T00:46:00.000-07:00

The Editor's Desk - From Beneath the Clutter

Wild weather we're having here. Monday a week ago we were over 100 degrees F. Suddenly we went to cold (in southern California terms) and damp. Some areas even got some pretty serious rain.

I know what caused the change. We had to have some major plumbing work done which involved cutting a hole in the kitchen wall. It didn't start raining here until the plumber was delayed in fixing that. The hole is fixed now, so the weather is free to warm up again. So far the weather report disagrees with that conclusion though.

Feature Article
10 Parenting Tips - Things You Shouldn't Say To Your Children

Do you use phrases that edify and encourage your children?

Sometimes we don't say things that edify or encourage our children.

Come and read the rest at http://www.homewiththekids.com/newsletter/2008/052708.php

See you next week!

Stephanie

From Idea to Business

2008-05-20T03:22:00.000-07:00

The Editor's Desk - From Beneath the Clutter

Less than a month left in the school year, and the weather already feels like deep summer. We've had several days in the high 90s to solidly over 100 here lately. Today's supposed to be significantly cooler, though, and I'm certainly ready for that.

So of course my husband had the rich sense of timing to set the inflatable pool up today. Should've checked the weather report, because if that's right we won't be breaking 80 degrees for at least a week. That water's not going to really warm up enough, but now we'll have to watch the kids in the back yard.

At least we can reuse the water in the garden, so it's not all wasted.

Feature Article
From Woman With A Good Idea To Woman With A Thriving Home-Based Business

According to the Center for Women's Business Research, "There are 10.4 million women running successful businesses in the U.S. Of those 10.4 million, 85% of them are running businesses out of their home."

Come read the rest at http://www.homewiththekids.com/newsletter/2008/052008.php

See you next week!

Stephanie

Organizing Kids' Rooms

2008-05-13T04:21:00.000-07:00

The Editor's Desk - From Beneath the Clutter

I hope all the moms out there had a great Mother's Day. We had an extended family picnic out at Mission Bay. Lots of fun if a bit cooler than it's been most years. We had a serious case of May Grey going on.

And then I had one of those "already??" moments talking to my daughter's kindergarten teacher. She pointed out that we have just 4 Mondays left in our school year. Hard to believe summer vacation is approaching so quickly. Time to start thinking on how to keep the kids busy all summer long.

Feature Article
Organizing Kids' Rooms - Eight Quick Tips for Moms

I always know that it's time to reorganize my home when I spend more than 20 minutes each day helping my kids to look for puzzle pieces or some other small object just so that they can continue their play. This morning, my son and I combed the carpet in the playroom and searched the toybox for the tiny helmet of his Lego policeman.

Come read the rest at http://www.homewiththekids.com/newsletter/2008/051308.php

See you next week!

Stephanie

Strong Willed Children

2008-05-06T00:59:00.000-07:00

The Editor's Desk - From Beneath the Clutter

Phew! Survived my daughter's 6th birthday. I learned an interesting thing, though. After school birthday parties can actually work pretty well. The kids were a bit tired from school, so they were generally well behaved and by the end of the party had settled down to coloring. Only catch was having to watch a couple of the kids until their parents got off work, but even that went well.

And they all had a blast!

Feature Article
How To Get Cooperation From A Strong Willed Child - 5 Useful Tips

Getting cooperation from strong willed children can be extremely difficult at times. You know you have a strong willed child if you constantly feel angry about their behaviour.

Read the rest at http://www.homewiththekids.com/newsletter/2008/050608.php

See you next week!

Help Your Child Learn to Read

2008-04-29T04:45:00.000-07:00

The Editor's Desk - From Beneath the Clutter

Well, if summer's going to be this hot in my area, we're in for quite a year. Two days in a row already breaking 100 degrees F outside. Thank goodness today is supposed to be significantly cooler. That's quite a relief. This weather has been hard on the garden and made it a bit more challenging for the kids to sleep.

Feature Article
Be Involved in Helping Your Child Learn to Read

One of the really great things about my daughter's kindergarten class is how much her teacher encourages the parents to read to their kids. 4 nights a week they have a book brought home to be read first by the parent, then by the student, then returned to school and read to a volunteer in class.

Come read the rest at http://www.homewiththekids.com/newsletter/2008/042908.php

See you next week!

Stephanie

What to Know About Bullies

2008-04-22T00:02:00.001-07:00

The Editor's Desk - From Beneath the Clutter

We can definitely tell it's spring around here. The weather goes from sunny and warm one day to sunny and chilly the next. But we've been enjoying it. We found the fields near where we live have some good hiking areas. The kids love it, and are preferring it many days to going to the playground, which really surprises me.

It's one of those cases where you know the kids are hooked because you can threaten them with the loss of their evening walk, and they start behaving better immediately.

Feature Article
What Every parent Ought to Know about Bullying

Bullying is a form of aggressive harassment that cuts across geographic, racial, and socioeconomic segments of society. It is a range of behaviours that include seemingly harmless teasing to threats and actual physical violence.

Read the rest at http://www.homewiththekids.com/newsletter/2008/042208.php

See you next week!

Stephanie

Kids on the Internet

2008-04-15T04:23:00.000-07:00

The Editor's Desk - From Beneath the Clutter

Happy tax day... or not. It probably depends on if you're getting money back or paying in.

As for me, it's been a busy week. Had a major downtime some of you may have noticed over the weekend. My husband can tell you that I was a little nuts for most of that time. It's hard having nothing that you can do to solve a problem, especially when the wait is long. But everything seems to be alright now and my sanity is slowly returning.

Feature Article
How to Keep an Eye on Your Kids Online

Children today learn to use the Internet very young. My 3 year old loves watching funny cat videos on YouTube, and my 5 year old loves to play games online. Their habits are easy to control right now, but as they get older, I'll have to help them use it appropriately.

Come read the rest at http://www.homewiththekids.com/newsletter/2008/041508.php

See you next week!

Stephanie

Green Basics

2008-04-01T00:52:00.001-07:00

The Editor's Desk - From Beneath the Clutter

Happy April Fool's Day! I hope you're enjoying it.

My daughter is wondering what I'm going to do today. She's convinced it could be something, even though I told her it might not be anything. She just doesn't quite know which way I'm "tricking" her. Kids are fun that way. I may pull a small joke on her, just because she seems to want one so badly.

Feature Article
Going Green Doesn't Mean You Have to Have Your Own Backyard Compost

Wouldn't it be great if everyone in this world pitched in and lived a totally green life? The earth would be so much better off. While it's not likely that this scenario would actually occur, but the more people who pitch in with the little things, the more we can make a change for our planet's future.

The rest of the article is available to you at http://www.homewiththekids.com/newsletter/2008/040108.php

See you next week!

Stephanie

Need More Time?

2008-03-18T05:21:00.000-07:00

The Editor's Desk - From Beneath the Clutter

We're still on the job hunt. Tonight my husband and I go to talk to an executive recruiting firm, to see if it will be worth using them to get him some work. My understanding is that we only pay if they find him a job, and they try to work their cost into his salary, so it could be a really good deal.

Especially if they help him to really upgrade his career.

I've been telling my husband that he really needs to think more on other areas. The job market here is quite frankly in poor shape, and even first interviews are scarce.

Feature Article
10 things you must do to have more time

One of the most common goals my clients tell me about is that they want more time.

If you can relate, I have good news for you - if you put just one of these tips into practice, you will save hours every week:

Come read the rest at http://www.homewiththekids.com/newsletter/2008/031808.php

See you next week!

Stephanie

Pretend Play

2008-03-11T11:52:00.000-07:00

The Editor's Desk - From Beneath the Clutter

Here in California a lot of parents are watching to see what happens with the next budget. They're talking about a huge cut in the budget for schools - about 10%. In the school district we're in, they're talking about cutting about 150 teachers due to that.

All this makes for some interesting times for parents. I'm sure a lot more will be concerned about the quality of their children's education. The current issues a lot of states are having with budget probably means parents in many other areas are facing similar issues.

Makes me glad to be in a situation where I can really keep an eye on how things are going.

Feature Article
The Real Benefits Of Pretend Play

Watching children play offers an enlightening experience into their individual learning process. Pretending is one of the many ways that children learn about life and themselves. Children imagine what they would do in certain situations and consider a variety of scenarios their imaginations dream up. So, what kind of skills can children learn from pretend play? Let's take a look at a few.

Come and read the rest at http://www.homewiththekids.com/newsletter/2008/031108.php

See you next week!

Stephanie

Make Your Kids Smarter

2008-03-04T10:17:00.000-08:00

The Editor's Desk - From Beneath the Clutter

I think I've finally got all of us past the bug that's been going around. I sure hope it lasts!

Meanwhile, my husband's job hunt continues. We're definitely learning the value of networking, as we've had lots of people offer to send his resume to people they know. Now all we need is for something to turn into an actual job, and we'll be in good shape.

Feature Article
9 Ways to Make Your Child Smarter Today

You know all the usual ways to foster intelligence--from educational toys to books to classical music. Here are nine ways you probably never thought of. Try these ideas today and watch your child's mind grow.

Come read the rest at http://www.homewiththekids.com/newsletter/2008/030308.php

See you next week!

Stephanie

Kids and Achievement

2008-02-18T23:26:00.001-08:00

The Editor's Desk - From Beneath the Clutter

Yawn! Dealing with sick kids is such a delight, really. But they're on the mend, I think, which is nice. The constant complaints about the slightest touch one gives to the other gets old really fast, as do the complaints that one is merely too close. On the other hand, the constant need for snuggling with mommy is very nice.

Now if only I could still get work done at those times. But these times number among the reasons why I work at home.

Feature Article
How Much Achievement is Good Enough for Your Children?

Soccer moms - yikes ! As soon as I say that, it conjures up an image of a hyper-competitive mom, racing around in her minivan from one practice to another and yelling at the coaches if her kids don't play enough. We live in a very competitive world. That's good - and it's bad. When I talk about extraordinary kids, I don't mean raising the next quarterback for Notre Dame or the next Beethoven. If your kids have a passion for music or sports or anything, then by all means give them every opportunity to enjoy it and become really good at it. But how many people end up playing in the Super Bowl?

Come and read the rest at http://www.homewiththekids.com/newsletter/2008/021908.php

See you next week!

Stephanie

A Stay at Home Mom's Sick Day

2008-02-12T05:09:00.000-08:00

The Editor's Desk - From Beneath the Clutter

Ooooh, I will be so glad when my husband finds a new job. He's been getting some interesting leads, so with any luck something will happen soon. One would even involve moving out of the area we're in now, which is not ideal, but the pay would be good enough. The ideal is to still stay in this area. We really like where we are.

But, as anyone who has been unemployed knows, it's rough looking for work, and rather stressful. I've been spending some of my working time helping him to look, just a little. One never knows what a different pair of eyes will see, after all.

Feature Article
A Stay at Home Mom's Sick Day

Blerg. It's a drag being sick when you're a stay at home mom. There's really not such a thing as a day off, after all. Even if your husband is home, the kids are used to asking YOU for everything.

And of course, odds are they're sick, about to become sick, or just getting over being sick. Most of the usual bugs do love to run through the entire household.

How do sick days go? Let's see...

Come read the rest at http://www.homewiththekids.com/newsletter/2008/021308.php

See you next week!

Stephanie

When the Kids Are Sick

2008-02-05T04:36:00.000-08:00

The Editor's Desk - From Beneath the Clutter

Here it is, Super Tuesday in the United States. I'll be heading out to vote later today.

Hauling along one slightly sick little boy. Nothing too bad, but enough to inspire this week's article. It's just a little more tiring to work with a sick child to care for, especially one who clings so much under normal circumstances. Gets worse when he's sick. But at least I can be there for him.

Feature Article
Working at Home with Sick Kids

Being able to be there for your kids is one of the big advantages to working from home. But it also falls into one of the challenges.

Come read the rest at http://www.homewiththekids.com/newsletter/2008/020508.php

See you next week!

Stephanie

Coping in this Economy

2008-01-29T10:25:00.001-08:00

The Editor's Desk - From Beneath the Clutter

Rough week last week. My husband got laid off from his job.

Thank goodness for the severance pay, though. That will give us some flexibility in how long he can job hunt before the money problems get serious. That's of course also time for me to work on bringing in more money.

He's searching hard right now. We know some jobs he could pretty easily get if they're available, but they aren't what he wants to do. I told him that he needs to take some time to see if he can upgrade his career, rather than staying on the same path. What better way to cope with being laid off with no warning?

It's a bit hard getting the kids to understand. They're a bit stressed since they know there's something really odd about Daddy being home so much more. They aren't really old enough to get the money aspects, although Ariel has gotten a few hints. But money is still pretty abstract to her.

Feature Article
Working at Home in a Tough Economy

Money is tight right now for my family, as for many others. My husband has been laid off from his job, making my home business our main income. It's not the best of situations. And this is better than many stay at home parents are dealing with as more people get laid off.

Come and read the rest at http://www.homewiththekids.com/newsletter/2008/012908.php

See you next week!

Stephanie

Brain Exercises

2008-01-22T08:28:00.001-08:00

The Editor's Desk - From Beneath the Clutter

Lately I've been working on being more productive. LIfe's been pretty crazy lately, mostly in good ways, such as my daughter getting a lot of playtime with friends. But all that does make it harder for me to get things done, and so I put a little extra emphasis over the past few days on getting things done.

It feels good to get on a good schedule. Much less frustrating than wishing I had gotten other things done.

Feature Article
6 Brain Exercises For Children

As children are growing up they are developing thinking, as well as behavioral, patterns. Using these 6 brain exercises for children is one way to help them develop these skills for better functioning and mental abilities for life.

Come read the rest at http://www.homewiththekids.com/newsletter/2008/012208.php

See you next week!

Stephanie

How Do You Value Being a Stay at Home Mom?

2008-01-08T09:12:00.001-08:00

The Editor's Desk - From Beneath the Clutter

It feels good to be back after the holidays. I'm still trying to get back into my usual routines since things aren't fully settled down around here, but we're getting there. Especially now that school has started back up.

Feature Article
How Much Do You Value Being a Stay at Home Mom?

There have been a variety of reports through the years on how much a stay at home mom's work is worth. I don't pay too much attention to those because, frankly, moms who work outside the home do much of the same work. How much of it they do may vary, especially if the kids are in daycare. But any good parent works very hard for their family.

Come to read the rest at http://www.homewiththekids.com/newsletter/2008/010808.php

Happy new year and see you all next week!

Stephanie

Holiday Balance

2007-12-18T04:27:00.000-08:00

The Editor's Desk - From Beneath the Clutter

Here we are, one week from Christmas.

I think this will be the last newsletter of 2007. Just can't picture doing one for Christmas Day or New Year's. It's time to relax and have more time for family for all of us.

I hope no matter what holidays you celebrate at this time of year, you and your family have a wonderful time.

Feature Article
Seven Steps to Holiday Balance

Do you believe "holiday balance" is a pipe dream or a possibility? If decorating, shopping, baking, and holiday preparations now eat up every spare moment, balance may seem elusive, something to save for your New Year's wish list. I believe it is not only possible to enjoy balance during December, but it's an essential ingredient in a happy holiday. The secret, as perfectly demonstrated by a circus tightrope walker, is to make small shifts and slight adjustments when necessary. This time of year, it may take more frequent adjustments to maintain balance. Here are seven steps to help keep you on your high wire.

Come read the rest at http://www.homewiththekids.com/newsletter/2007/121807.php

Until next year!

Stephanie

Baking with the Kids

2007-12-11T04:33:00.000-08:00

The Editor's Desk - From Beneath the Clutter

We had a really fun day yesterday. Went up to the local mountains because we had noticed snow. The kids were just delighted because they hadn't seen it before, although they were a bit disappointed in the quantity and that it was too hard to make snow angels where there was enough snow to do that otherwise.

Feature Article
10 Tips For Baking Up Memories With Kids!

The kitchen is a terrific place to bond with children. Whether you're planning to rustle up breakfast, or decorating cookies, you can create memories that will last a lifetime. Here are 10 super suggestions for making cooking with the kids fun for everyone!

Come read the rest at http://www.homewiththekids.com/newsletter/2007/121107.php

See you next week!

Stephanie

Making the Holidays Happy

2007-12-04T04:48:00.000-08:00

The Editor's Desk - From Beneath the Clutter

No idea how many of you saw it, but I had a doozy of a downtime for this site over the weekend. Somewhere around 19 hours, and due to a disc going bad on the server I'm hosted at. Drove me completely nuts waiting for my site to come back up and to see that everything was, indeed, fine.

On the plus side, the company I host with is generally extremely reliable. Aside from this particular, highly unusual event they've had less downtime than anyone else I've ever hosted with. That counts for something. I'll be shocked if I ever have something that bad happen with them again. I'm just glad it happened over the weekend when fewer people are trying to visit my site anyhow. If it had to happen, better then than other times.

Feature Article
Making The Holidays Happy For All!

For us grown-ups the holidays are a festive time. We travel to the homes of family and friends, or invite them into our own. There we show off our children, and indulge in recipes from our own childhoods.

Come and read the rest at http://www.homewiththekids.com/newsletter/2007/120407.php

See you next week!

Stephanie

Maintaining Your Self Identity

2007-11-27T04:19:00.000-08:00

The Editor's Desk - From Beneath the Clutter
Christmas coloring ebook

Whee! All done with Thanksgiving and the craziness of the rest of the holiday season is just beginning!

Actually, I'd say we keep things pretty calm in my family. Name draws between my sisters and I to minimize the individual shopping lists and help keep budgets under control. I try hard, really hard to keep the gifts for the kids down. That part is a bit tough, since we don't buy them a lot of stuff during the year.

But I do have something for my readers. A free Christmas coloring book that NorthPoleStation.com is allowing me to offer you. I hope at least some of you will enjoy it. It's a fair size file, but we're offering it in zip format. Just click on this link to download.

Feature Article
Stay-at-home Moms Can Maintain Their Self Identity

Many mothers who are stay-at-home parents lose their sense of self in the process of caretaking for their children. A woman’s natural instinct to “protect her flock” may come into direct conflict with developing a strong self-identity.

Come and read the rest at http://www.homewiththekids.com/newsletter/2007/112707.php

See you next week!

Stephanie

Show Your Family You Love Them

2007-11-20T04:32:00.000-08:00

The Editor's Desk - From Beneath the Clutter

Here comes Thanksgiving! I'll be having dinner with my inlaws, always a nice time. My daughter has the entire week off school, which she seems to be enjoying. Both the break and school itself, I suppose I should say.

Feature Article
5 No-Cost Ways to Show Your Family You Love Them

At this time of year you are probably busy shopping and planning your gift-giving for your family, searching stores and online shops for the perfect, unique gifts to express to your family how much they mean to you. Our families know that we love them - not by the amount or largeness of the gifts we purchase for them - but by the littler things we say and do for them all year long. If you are overwhelmed with holiday shopping or looking for a way to get your feelings noticed on a limited budget this holiday season, here are 5 no-cost ways to show your family you love them:

Come and read the rest at http://www.homewiththekids.com/newsletter/2007/112007.php

See you next week!

Stephanie

Paying Bills Effectively

2007-11-13T04:26:00.000-08:00

The Editor's Desk - From Beneath the Clutter

Just got back home from a quick trip to see some relatives. It was a lot of fun and my kids got to spend some time with cousins they don't get to see very often. It was especially interesting seeing how Gage interacted with his male cousins - all the local ones are girls, so he hasn't played with other boys as much as with girls. He enjoyed it pretty well, although the other boys did have to be reminded that Gage is younger and hasn't played that rough before. By the end of the trip he was thinking about it, though.

Feature Article
Pay Your Bills On Time - 6 Steps For Creating An Effective Bill Paying System

1. Sort Mail- As soon as you bring the mail in, or at a designated time (each day or week), open and sort through your mail while tossing junk mail and unnecessary inserts and separating your pending bills, invitations, etc. Immediately place your pending bills and invitations in the area you have designated. Keep your pending bills together in one area

Come and read the rest at http://www.homewiththekids.com/newsletter/2007/111307.php

See you next week!

Stephanie