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A Playdate for the Girls Part III

Lunch time was a the most hectic part of the girls’ play date. They all wanted to eat at once, which is no great surprise when three infants are involved. This whole situation was slightly stressed by the fact that we only have one high chair and a tableless bumbo. The most upset girl got the high chair. I gave her some bits of cheese and frozen organic cheese to tide her over while I made her peanut butter toast. My daughter seemed to be the least upset (and it is no wonder being in her own house) so I … Continue reading →

When Play Dates Go Wrong, Part 2

Yesterday, I discussed a few ways to handle play dates that become nightmares. Here are some more tips to help you survive. Take a break: If your group is meeting weekly in the same setting it is possible the children are reacting out of boredom. The novelty of the new setting may be wearing off and now they are ready to push boundaries. Perhaps taking a week off will do everyone some good. It will also send a message to your child that acting poorly will result in not playing with his friends. If your child is not the one … Continue reading →

Let’s Play! How to Bond with Your New Stepfamily

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Not being much of a bowler myself, I was a little surprised when my then-boyfriend suggested that he take my daughter out for a few frames one Saturday afternoon. It was one of the first weekends I had invited him to visit when my daughter wasn’t with her Dad. (After many years of single parenthood, I continued to be very wary of involving her in my romantic liaisons when I wasn’t yet sure where they were headed). This weekend had been discussed between us at length; our relationship had become serious, and we were starting to talk about a future … Continue reading →

Play Dates: Make Them Happen

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Parents of children with special needs know all too well, that for their child, play dates can be rare, if they exist at all. But, with a rise in inclusive education, friendships and play dates between kids with and without disabilities could be on the rise as well. Or at least we can hope so. About a year ago, I spoke with the father of a boy with cerebral palsy who is in the classroom alongside his peers on a daily basis. Instead of being “the kid in the wheelchair”, his son is a friend who regularly plays with his … Continue reading →

Playing the “Dancing with the Stars” Guessing Game

Which celebrities will be shimming and shaking their way to the shiny mirror ball trophy on the upcoming season of ABC’s hit show “Dancing with the Stars?” Michael Jordan, Dan Quayle, Anderson Cooper, and Rachael Ray’s names have been thrown around, but big wigs at ABC will only say that the official cast will be revealed on August 25th and the dance competition will premiere on September 22nd. So let the guessing game begin. Yesterday several publications named singer Toni Braxton as one of the contestants for the seventh season of the reality TV show. In Touch magazine reports that … Continue reading →

When Your Child Makes Bad Grades…

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Many parents worry about their child’s progress in school. It is a parent’s responsibility to ensure that their children are getting the education that they need to succeed in life. Part of this responsibility includes keeping track of grades. Many parents will ask teachers for grade updates through progress reports. In some cases, children may get upset about their parents intense involvement in their education. Some children even change their grades or lie to parents when they receive bad grades. In most cases, it is very ineffective to punish children for getting bad grades in school. Doing so typically only … Continue reading →

Should You Play Matchmaker?

It is getting very close to Valentine’s Day. It is a time of the year for love and romance. It is also the time of the year for matchingmaking and setting up blind dates. It can be very hard to see friends and loved ones alone this time of the year. No one wants to think of anyone, especially those that they are close to, of being alone on Valentine’s Day. However, there are many things to think about before you begin to play cupid. Setting up your friend or family member may seem like a great idea. Yet when … Continue reading →

Celebrity Updates—Ozzy’s Suce$$ful Garage Sale

In a previous blog I told you that Ozzy Osbourne was cleaning house. Like many stars before them, the rocker and his wife Sharon put hundreds of items up for bid in an online auction. But, no one could have predicted (auction experts included) that the Osbourne family’s excessive would make history. According to Julien’s Auction House, which ran the charity sale over the weekend, heavy metal fans were outbidding serious art dealers who specialize in high–end auctions. Ozzy’s loyal metalheads snatched up items, including a coat with embroidered bats, sneakers with skulls on them and one-of-a-kind sculpture by a … Continue reading →

Teaching Typical Kids How to Play with Developmentally Delayed Peers

Most neuro-typical children love to be “helpers,” and they make very good teachers to their peers. As a parent, the more exposure your child has to other kids his own age, and the more age-appropriate interactions that take place between them, the better. I once read an article which suggested that play dates for developmentally delayed children should happen at least four times a week. That can be difficult to arrange. However, if your developmentally delayed child has siblings, cousins, neighborhood playmates, or other children who are willing to regularly “play” with him, you’ll be doing him a great service … Continue reading →

Dream Dates

Ask any person you know what their dream date is and you will get as many different answers as there are people you asked. To define a dream date, one must imagine exactly what it is that would be perfect for them. They also have to answer the question, what makes that date so perfect? What special quality does it possess? Since everyone is different, his or her idea of a dream date is also different. Some imagine spending an evening with their favorite performer, really talking to them and feeling important and noticed by their idol as the dream … Continue reading →