Life Skill


Money Saving Tips for Frugal Families 2

Groceries: Only buy what produce your family will eat before it goes bad. Write a shopping list before you go to the store. Based on the meals your family likes, buy produce that is in season and on sale. Stock up on non-perishable items when on sale or on a coupon at warehouse stores, or […]


Infant Sleep: Two children, Two Opposites 1

Sleep is a personal and charged topic. Who doesn’t need more sleep? You’d be hard pressed to find a new parent who *isn’t* tired. I’m here to tell you that it’s OK to want more sleep. While newborns are impossible to “sleep train,” at some point you’ll have an older baby, and you’ll realize that […]


Potty Training Experiences: Two Stories

Potty training, like everything, has turned out to be quite individual, adding to my assessment on parenting advice. If someone tells you their method works for every child, be skeptical.   First Child My first started potty training at 25 months, based on my initiative. We had done some early potty sitting at 15 months, […]


Top Ten Toothbrushing Tips 1

Cavities are the number one chronic disease among young children, and therefore, toothbrushing is critical. (http://www2.aap.org/oralhealth/) 10. Adult teeth are under the baby teeth, so cavities can spread to them. 9. You need to brush as well until your child is old enough to brush thoroughly. Test your child with a teddy bear. 8. Brush […]


fireman squirting toothpaste from a hose

Coaxing Our Kids to Brush Their Teeth, A Tale of Diversions & Tribulations

One of the biggest challenges we hear parents talk about – and our own experience reinforces – is getting our children to brush their teeth. When they are little it can be just the beginning act of getting them to open their mouths long enough to get those first furtive but all important cleanings in […]


Overcoming Toothbrushing Challenges with Young Children

When my son got his first tooth, I proudly brushed his teeth with a finger brush and some fancy organic toothpaste. He loved it, like a real live mouth massage and his sore gums. Then, some time before 2 yrs old, “I do it myself” kicked in, and he refused to let me brush his […]