Your Family | Simple Mom

by Robin Dance on March 27, 2013 • 68 Comments Kids: Developing Character Your Family

Parenting teens: consequences, peer pressure and making a way out

Two painful truths I’ve learned in parenting teens are:

good kids “do” (where the “do” manifests itself in many ways, shapes, and forms), and
your children will make choices that disappoint you.

This shouldn’t come as any big surprise, but when (not if) something happens, we’re still bewildered.

Maybe all the signs were there, but you missed them. Work or marital issues or financial stresses or any number of distractions are blinding. And sometimes we simply don’t see what we don’t want to see.

Hear me clearly: this is no message of condemnation or finger pointing; it’s one of understanding, and, if you’re willing to receive it as intended, cautionary counsel. It’s at minimum a foolish posture to presume “My child would never do that!” – and potentially dangerous.

Disappointing choices come in broad spectrum, from academic under-achieving to zany videos on youtube. The consequences are equally diverse.

One of the most important goals in parenting is training your children to consider the consequences of their choices before making decisions, followed by allowing them to bear the consequences of poor decisions without bailing them out.
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by Crystal on March 20, 2013 • 27 Comments Your Family

The basics of single parenting

In my daily life I have to continually refocus my efforts on the essentials. It’s an ongoing process of learning the difference between what I should do and what I can do.

My friends, family and therapist have to remind me of this often. I tend to think that I should be able to accomplish and stay on top of an unreasonable amount of projects and responsibilities.

The theme on Simple Mom this month is “back to the basics.” I’m no expert, but when I think about the basics of single parenting, I think of two things: community and self-care. As always, I realize these can apply beyond the realm single parenting, but that’s my focus here.
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by Tsh on March 15, 2013 • 60 Comments Family Bonding

On taking a regular Screen Sabbath

kids at the lake

Confession: our TV is on almost daily. It’s not on all day, and we’re super selective about what gets watched. We do Netflix and Hulu instead of traditional television, so we’re not inundated with ridiculous ads, and it’s never on just as background noise (music is almost always on when the TV isn’t). We’re big believers in not watching much TV.

But still… there it is. Our TV is on at least for a few minutes, six days per week.

The other day? It’s off—no iffs, ands or buts. The kids know this in advance, we grownups write it on the calendar, and so even though the youngest still asks, “Can I watch a cartoon?” out of habit, the rest of the family knows this TV-free day is written in our weekly calendar.

Games on the smartphones are off-limits, too.

As are the ones on the Internet.

And screens anywhere else, for that matter.

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by Nish on March 1, 2013 • 28 Comments Going Outside Your Family

Little kids and snow: the essentials.

I‘ve had snow in my yard since before Christmas.

Crazy, right? I know. Between the intermittent snow storms that keep rolling in, the inversion, and the cold temperatures, the snow around here hasn’t melted in months. We’ve had a couple of warm streaks here and there, but nothing long-lasting enough to make it go away.

It makes going outside a bit of a production. Snow boots, waterproof insulated pants, gloves, hat, warm coats… it’s a lot, especially just to go outside for a quick play session in the middle of the day.

I don’t really mind all that much, but when I need to take my newborn along, it’s a lot to do. I’m a fan of making things as easy and simple as I can, especially where my kids are concerned. Less fuss, the better.

But kids take a lot of effort and the snow requires a lot of gear – and when it comes to gear, what are the best and most important pieces to have, especially for kids under five?
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by Katie Fox on January 28, 2013 • 99 Comments Kids: Learning Anywhere Your Family

Education: the agony and the ecstasy

The following is a guest post by Katie Fox.

It’s January 28, which means that I’m in the thick of my annual agony regarding my children’s education. Every year, for the past three years and counting, I face two deadlines in late January: the deadline to re-apply for financial aid at our current private school (which we LOVE), and the deadline to apply for a public school transfer (because we need a back-up plan).

Because what if we don’t get enough financial aid at our current private school? Or what if we decide that we can’t commit to the commute anymore? (Yes, we are currently That Crazy Family that drives their child across the city for a better education. At least I know we’re crazy, right?)

It doesn’t stop there. I need more back-up plans. What if we don’t get chosen in the public school transfer lottery?

So, next week I’ll be attending an info meeting for a charter school near our home. And I just signed up to join the email list for a new university model school that is opening in the fall. And I’ve been researching homeschool curriculum. And…and…and…someone save me from this madness!
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