Published April 2011: eHow Family & Relationships Finding the Perfect Mix for a Blended Family How to Achieve Harmony While Embracing Differences Article Excerpt: When Cherie and Steve Miller married 10 years ago, they knew it would be a challenge merging their existing families. Cherie had three sons, ages 12, 18 and 20, and Steve… Continue reading Finding the Perfect Mix for a Blended Family
Tag: parenting
The Hidden Veggie
The Hidden Veggie Stocking Up On a Healthy Lifestyle Article Excerpt: When her children were young, Antoinette Kuritz made sure they ate their veggies. In fact, she made sure they grew them, too. "We planted a huge garden, and they each had their own colander," said Kuritz, a California-based public relations specialist. "For each meal, they went outside and picked the veggie they wanted, picked how much they were prepared to eat, washed and drained it, and put it on their plates." For the Kuritz family, vegetables were a natural part of mealtime. However, in many households today, the closest thing to a veggie is a French fry. Adding much-needed nutrients to your kids' meals may be a challenge when high sugar, salt and fatty foods are conveniently within reach, but it's a necessity for maintaining their health. Before you'll have any success, though, you'll have to get to the root of the veggie stigma as a family.
Your Turn: Games to Foster Better Sibling Relationships
Your Turn: Games to Foster Better Sibling Relationships Create a Winning Match Through Play Article Excerpt: A squabble over toys or a disagreement about house rules may seem pretty typical between a brother and sister. However, when the arguing escalates and disrupts home life for the entire family, it may indicate that sibling rivalry is rearing its ugly head. According to New York-based Jane Greer, Ed.D., a nationally known marriage and family therapist and author of "What About Me? Stop Selfishness from Ruining Your Relationship," when children aren't taught to share, it results in severe sibling rivalry. Read the rest of the story at http://www.shannonphilpott.com
Putting a Pet to Rest
Article Excerpt: When Jodi Caroland's daughter was 3, she yelped out a blood-curdling cry in the middle of the night. Caroland, a licensed professional counselor in Troy, Michigan, rushed to her daughter's bedside and found her hysterically crying over Smimmy, her goldfish, who was floating at the top of his bowl. Understanding Grief The loss of human life is often viewed as more traumatic than the loss of a pet. However, the loss of a pet can be just as devastating for its owners. "There is a difference in how other people perceive this loss, in particular those who do not understand the human-animal bond, and that may be difficult for the family who lost a pet," said Linda Lawrence, clinical instructor and veterinary social work services coordinator at Michigan State University in Lansing. Read the rest of the story at http://www.shannonphilpott.com
Trust Me … I have a Plan
If you asked my family whether or not they viewed me as a planner, I can guarantee that the answer would be no, maybe even Hell No. This stems partially because I never seem prepared. I’m that mom in the carpool line digging through my purse fishing for quarters to pass out lunch money to my kids. I’m the driver scrolling through my GPS searching for directions on the way to my destination. And even worse, I’m one of those last minute appointment makers and birthday gift buyers (typically on the way to the party). The reality is, though, that I am a mental planner. My ADD-ish brain is constantly in planning mode. I’m brainstorming ideas for activities to entertain my kids, I’m sorting out an outline for my next freelance story and I’m planning out the beginnings of course activities that come together at the last minute. I’m planning newspaper pubdates, ad rates and AP quizzes more often than I care to admit. My brain is a planner – neatly writing out my life’s plan on its internal sketch pad. My actions may not always reflect the creative intentions my brain has planned, though. Unfortunately for me, the exterior does not always model the interior. But trust me, I have a plan. Share Shannon Philpott Blog Entry: March 18, 2011 © Shannon Philpott, 2011. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Shannon Philpott and shannonphilpott.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Silly Little Pumpkin Pie Deliciousness
I’ve never been crazy about pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread or even pumpkin-flavored ice cream treats, but I do have a fascination with the word “pumpkin.” Ever since my daughter was born, she has been my pumpkin. And when my son came along, he became my pumpkin pie. Twelve years later and I still call them my pumpkins. I text them with embarrassing lovey-dovey notes such as ‘How is my peppy slice of pumpkin pie deliciousness’ and ‘Mommy loves her pumpkin doodle.’ [More...] They act like they absolutely hate my terms of endearment, but when I see a smirk on their faces as they read it, there is no denying that they love the pumpkin-filled attention. The terms of endearment are not solely stemmed from the satisfaction of embarrassing two pre-teens – it is more about showing them that life can be silly, fun and a little more brassy and bright at times. We all need these random acts of silliness when life is too serious, whether it is at home, at work, in the newsroom or in the classroom. When deadlines and production gets the best of my newspaper staff, it always breaks the ice when someone says something off the wall and random (and that happens frequently). It helps to break out in song or dub a nickname, such as chick-a-dee or “the kavahn” to a random student. When students get extremely stressed about grades and assignments, I don’t mind being the one to break the ice and say something ridiculous and potentially embarrassing in front of a class of 25, just as it breaks up the momentum for my children when I tell them that they are the most fluffy, flaky and perfectly golden slice of pumpkin pie around. I’m not sure what ‘terms of endearment’ most have for me, but if it makes me giggle when life gets to serious, bring it on. - Shannon Philpott Blog Entry: March 6, 2011 © Shannon Philpott, 2011. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Shannon Philpott and shannonphilpott.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Paying it Forward for Spring Break
Published March 2011: eHow Family & Relationships Paying it Forward for Spring Break Pitching in for a good cause teaches important lessons Article Excerpt: As a clinical counselor, Susan Fee listens daily as parents talk about wanting their children to be more appreciative, selfless, independent and caring. "I often ask, 'What opportunities are you giving… Continue reading Paying it Forward for Spring Break
Coping With Divorce: Cultivating Your Child’s Feelings
Published February 2011: eHow Family & Relationships Coping With Divorce: Cultivating Your Child's Feelings Creating a United Front When Separation Occurs Article Excerpt: Divorce is never easy for adults. The stress of separation, emotional turmoil and physical loss often takes its toll. The reality, though, is that while adults are learning to cope, children are… Continue reading Coping With Divorce: Cultivating Your Child’s Feelings
Helping Kids With Their First Crush
Published February 2011: eHow Family & Relationships Helping Kids With Their First Crush Picking Up the Pieces When They Fall Head Over Heels Article Excerpt: When Terrina Picarello was in the eighth grade, she fell hard for a boy. Her summer crush was doomed to end -- the boy went to a different school --… Continue reading Helping Kids With Their First Crush
Child Care When You Can’t Be There
Published February 2011: eHow Family & Relationships Child Care When You Can't Be There What Parents Need to Know When Selecting a Daycare Article Excerpt: Julie Wells, a St. Louis mother of two, removed her son from a day care when staff members fed him snacks made from peanut products despite his peanut allergy. "They knew about his allergy, and I even packed his own snacks," Wells said. "But they were too lazy to get them out." Unfortunately, Wells' story isn't unique. Day care disasters can haunt even the most careful parents. Something to which Brandy Hamann can attest. Hamann, director of Lilypad Learning Center in Collinsville, Ill., and mother of three, decided to open her own center after hearing numerous such horror stories. One mother told her that a center wasn't feeding her child adequate portions. Still another complained of irregular diaper changes, Hamann recalled. "One 18-month-old child was kicked out of a day care because he was biting," she said. "While we don't want children biting, as day care providers we have to realize that this is natural and normal -- you have to find a way to help the child find another way to express himself. But child care outside of the home is often an unavoidable option when work and financial responsibilities loom. While worst-case, or even simply bad-case, scenarios abound, plenty safe options do exist. To find suitable options for their child, it would behoove parents to dig deeper into the practices of local day cares, take safety precautions, ask friends for suggestions and trust their intuition. Read the full story here. - Shannon Philpott
Shannon Philpott-Sanders 