It was 5:55 p.m. on a Wednesday.   I had managed to make the trek from work to pick up my 10 year old, get her to gymnastics for team practice—while of course helping her to tackle homework during the drive—and made a quick run to the grocery store.   As far as I was concerned, I was on my "A" game. Hubby was out of town that particular week, and a family friend had been helping me with school pick-ups for child number two, the 6 year old. There was simply no way I could be on two sides of town at once, so thankfully, my girlfriend picked up the wee one from school every now and then so that …

Sometimes something I say or do will strike a nerve among my real life and online friends.  After my previous article, "Keeping Up While Laying Back," readers requested more educational websites that they could use during the summer. From the article: Indeed, the notion that learning stops in May and begins again in September has been quite the controversial conversation in my mommy circles over the past few years.  In the book "Outliers," by Malcolm Gladwell, (which I humbly believe should be required reading for all parents), the author states, “For its poorest students, America doesn’t …

As I found myself running down the hallway, my hand open and swatting in a fit of rage last night, I realized that it was almost time for summer break. No need to call social services, there wasn't a child in my sights, (yes, that is what some of you adults-still-recovering-from-childhood-spankings were thinking), it was a mosquito that was causing me so much aggravation.  In the south, just as the red leaves ring in fall and yellow pollen signals the beginning of spring, pesky flying and stinging creatures tell us that summer is approaching.  With summer comes other little beings, not quite …

Who Says Going Green is Only for Adults?  Kids Can Go Green, Too! By Jennifer Freeman Ok let’s be real. Effective parenting doesn’t always manifest itself immediately or when we want it to.  Every word, every action, and every moment spent with our child, teenager or young adult, is absorbed and molds them into being compassionate, disciplined, productive, community servants and purpose-driven.  Envision an infinite amount of seeds being planted, watered, fertilized to spring forth new life; all colors, shapes and sizes.  What do you see?  Effective parenting inspires you to look beyond – go …

Recently, my six year old saw a pay phone on a corner. She looked at me, eyes full of innocence and asked, "Mommy, what's that?"  With all of the control I could muster, and in my very best serious voice I replied, "That, my dear, is a telephone." "Oh" she replied, looking at the wretched metal box covered in graffiti as if it were a part of the dinosaur exhibit at the Fernbank.  And then she returned to watching a movie on my iPhone.  If I didn't feel old before...... Last year, the American Dialect Society voted the word "app" as the word of the year for 2010.  Although the society says …

Is it me or is it safe to say that the “Pollen Season: has arrived? I don’t know what’s worse; having to watch the yucky yellow stuff accumulate on our car before its wash & wax or hurrying home after a long day at work to remove my contact lenses to relieve my itchy and watery eyes. I’m wheezing, sneezing, and coughing. Something’s got to give. We cannot wait until fall for these symptoms to disappear. We need help. Whether you suffer from seasonal or food allergies, these tips will help you and your family  find relief during the springtime and throughout the year to enhance your quality of…

Since it is officially spring break, I am more than likely sitting in a dark closet, hiding...ummm....working as my children run through the house singing "mommy, what are we going to do nooooooooowwwwwww?"  I don't know about you, but getting out and about is the primary focus for our family during breaks from school.  Here are some quick ideas, (no time for a lengthy article, this closet is getting cramped and you may very well be hiding...ummm....relaxing in your own as you read this).  Have a great week! Test Your Survival Skills:  Sweetwater Creek State Park This is a true gem in our …

Last week, my 5th grader asked me to check her language arts homework.  Happy that she didn't ask about math, I eagerly rushed to assist. Would it be more help with vocabulary, brainstorming a persuasive topic for an upcoming paper or any of my other favorites? She handed me a worksheet about gerunds. I felt a knot form in my stomach. She was entering into the deep caverns of the parts of speech that went beyond the basics and for the first time, I couldn't look at the homework and immediately give her the help she needed. Being a resourceful mom, (aren't we all), I quickly said, "You know …

Can we say HOPE Scholarship?  Oops, sorry, not too loud. I don’t want to ruffle too many feathers.   As an African-American parent, I may get my hands slapped for saying this, but I’m going to say it anyway. I would like to see and hear some new initiatives on how to modernize ways to engage the “new face” of parents inside and outside the educational environment.  I know the new bill brings out a lot of emotions in the community, but as I continue to get an understanding of how the bill will work, and who and what is being left behind, I have chose to take this stance; until I have read all …

There is always that parent, who never forgets the camera. They never run out of batteries or room on their digital card, and they always seem to find time to not only print but frame those great photos of their kids.  Then there are the rest of us, who sometimes rely on grainy cell phone images, the kindness of others with working cameras or the last resort, box camera.  Even when we do snap a fantastic photo, it never makes it out of our computer, sometimes not even out of the camera itself! My mission today? To give you a few simple tools that will allow you to become the keeper of your …

It seems like only yesterday we were in an age when we sat around the dinner table talking about how our day was; having face-time, play-time and bonding-time.  Now as we go about our busy lives of convenience—with the mobile phone, the Internet, iPad, laptop, etc.—somehow, some way, our mini-mes  have been reduced to automated, talking heads on steroids.  Imagine this: TV on, headphones in ear, studying, doing homework, texting BFF while on Facebook—all at the same time. Is this a picture of your future leader of tomorrow? The danger that lies within this reality: bullying (face-to-face and …

In the year 2000 I became a mom. Not an aunt. Not a "play auntie." Not a babysitter. But a real, true-blue-responsible-for-another-human mother.  When my husband and I arrived home with our new daughter, I was certain that this new chapter in my life would be a piece of cake. I mean, I had read every magazine on parenting that existed.  Over the previous nine months I had purchased tons of child-rearing books and they were all kept at arms reach.  If I needed advice on feeding...there was the  Super Baby Food book, because all good mothers make food from scratch for their little angels, right…