How to Discipline Without Raising the Decibel Level

Effective Alternatives to Yelling at Our Kids I was chatting with another mom at school pick-up recently, and she was telling me a story about how her daughter was screaming so loudly that she was worried about what the neighbors would think. I was secretly relieved to hear this because it made the sometimes overwhelming noise in my house seem normal, too. Some days the decibel level reaches such an alarming high that I feel the need to keep up and start yelling, too just to be heard. This is very frustrating to me because, as a teacher, I...

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Real Moms, Real Solutions: How Do I Help My Kids Deal With Back to School Nerves?

The Keys to Calming Back to School Jitters! Anticipation! Those butterflies in my stomach have set in. My kids are beginning to get nervous about the first day of school. Will they like their teacher? Will they be able to find everything? Will they have friends in their class? The questions keep coming. I think a majority of children (and lots of us parents) go through this as the school year approaches. What are some ways we can help our little ones deal with the stresses they might be feeling about the unknowns coming up? How To Help Your Little Ones...

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Real Moms, Real Solutions: To Attend or Not Attend? The Dilemma of Children’s Birthday Parties

Should You RSVP Yay or Nay to All Those Children’s Birthdays?! My son came home from school this week with the class news. At the bottom, there was a list of birthdays for September. There are 16 children in his preschool class and 3 children have birthdays in September. All I could think of were dollar signs! It’s only natural for parents to want to celebrate their child’s birthday with a party. However, that is when I start to feel the pressure of attending these events with my children. In addition to thinking of these as joyous occasions, I also picture the cost...

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Real Moms, Real Solutions: How Do I Establish My Child’s Homework Routine?

Happiness During Homework Time?… Yes, It Can Be Done! School has arrived! We are getting into our routines of getting up earlier, eating a healthy breakfast, and making it to school on time. However, the one routine that might be a little harder to establish is getting your child to do his homework after school. Homework has been around for as long as we can all remember and is a part of each of our child’s lives. Homework is meant to establish responsibility and teach your child to manage his time, but it is often viewed as a chore by...

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Real Moms, Real Solutions: How Do I Help My Kids Get Ready to Learn?

Bella Breakdown Let’s face it – we all slack off with making sure our kids are keeping their brains from turning to mush over the summer. With school a few weeks away, do your kids a favor and get them ready to begin learning again. Although summer is for fun, it’s important that your child not lose all of the skills they gained during the school year. You can accomplish this (and make it FUN) by reading to them or having them read to you each day.    Bedtime is such a wonderful time to snuggle with your child and...

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