Recently, my daughter became the proud new pet-owner of two adorable bunnies from Ward's Berry Farm in Sharon. We had not planned on getting two bunnies, of course, as everyone knows what that can lead to...more bunnies! However, our first bunny was a rather charitable adoption, having come from a broken home and at risk of living with a kind but busy used car salesman who did not have time for snuggling with a bunny!  Within a week, our "planned addition" to the family was old enough to come home from the farm where she was born. As an only child, my daughter is totally used to having a …

Parents, how many of you went to sleep-away camp when you were kids? I admit that I did not, and was always jealous of my sister and other friends who’d come back home at the end of summer, taller, tanned and enrobed in friendship bracelets. Last summer, I spent my first week at sleep-away camp…as a camp nurse! I finally learned what I had missed, from my perch in the infirmary. I also learned how to drive a golf-cart like an ambulance! This summer, in just 2 weeks, I will head back to camp with my daughter, who is heading into second grade. She will be a “real camper” this year, sleeping in …

 In watching three minutes of American Idol, I am once again completely assured that my 7-year-old daughter is missing nothing but trash on mainstream television. Last week, a friend at the gym asked me as we lifted weights if I had seen American Idol this week. Rather than admitting that I live in a TV-free home, I just shook my head and said I hadn’t. My work-out buddy went on to fill me in on what I missed….Lady Gaga stripping down to lingerie and having mock-sex with a male stripper on top of a cliff while she sang a mercilessly unoriginal song called "At The Edge of Glory". It should …

The other morning I awoke to the meteorologist’s grim prediction that the sun would not be making an appearance on the New England landscape for the next 6 solid days. With almost a week of clouds and rain predicted, now was the time to get on the play-date bandwagon. There was no way that I could muster up the imagination that my seven-year-old has! Funny enough, not all seven-year-olds can either. The ones that do, however, make for excellent playmates that tend to encompass complicated dramatic play storylines, multiple character-roles and wardrobe changes. In order to accommodate such a …

Earlier this month, I described the joys of gardening with my daughter, and I hope that now that the spring weather has come, many of you have donned garden gloves with your little ones. This week, I wanted to add a little more information to the “Child-friendly garden” concept. If you are gung-ho, you may already have some broccoli, lettuce and beans in the ground. May 15 is the traditional “safety date” in New England, meaning that we can put the fear of frost out of our minds and plant things in the dirt! Teaching your children even this little tidbit of information can be a great way to …

Fellow mothers, does it irk you in the slightest that Mother’s Day is on a Sunday? Patriots and Laborers have long weekends off in their honor, and I’m willing to argue that mothers should have a day off, too. Let’s be realistic, most of us moms are doing laundry, planning lunches for the coming week, grocery shopping and housecleaning on Sundays. Without declaring Mother’s day a major holiday, life doesn’t stop for us to sit down and enjoy the Crayola-etched roses, does it?!  While we are at it, we should petition to remove the apostrophe from the word “Mother’s”.  All too often in this …

It is that time of year, moms and dads! Yes, with the snow finally melting into our memories and the sun waking us earlier and earlier each day, spring is finally here! There is much to celebrate, and much yard work to do. I would like to take this time to share with you a few pointers I’ve learned about gardening with children. Firstly, don’t expect children to want to do all of the assorted yard work that you, by default, have to do. Simply get your kids to go outside with you and proceed with the less glamorous yard work activities. They will look at you with a mixture of admiration and …

Q: Mike, it's been a few months since we first introduced you to ourreaders at Dover-Sherborn Patch. You've been on tour publicizing your latest e-book and you will be giving a lecture and book signing at the Dover Public Library on Monday evening April 11th. What will your fitness topic be about?A: Yes I've been doing a few book signings in the Greater Boston Area for "The Frugal Diet" book and I'm finally doing my book signing at the Dover Public Library that was rescheduled from January due to those unrelenting blizzards we had. Since it's now April, I'll be giving a quick presentation on…

I was quite a saleswoman when I was a kid. Every week, when I’d go grocery shopping with my mother, I would beg and plead for a quarter to buy one of the quintessential kid-products of the ‘80’s…slime.  Just one quarter and I’d be able to buy a plastic-encased gem of squishy, gushy gooey slime from the fortress of quarter-machines that lined the exit of the grocery store, as if demanding tithes from already haggard and spent parents.  With rapidity, the precious goo would get out of its little plastic bubble and onto more unfortunate surfaces- my hair, for example, the pavement, for another. …

You’ve got to love 7 year olds, especially your own. However, they can be quite emotional! Ever since we moved to a bigger house, my daughter has gravitated towards some new, less-than-appealing tactics to showcase her episodes of 7-year-oldly disdain. Tops on her list are utilizing the door-lock on her bedroom door. I am contemplating whether or not to take off these anti-social doorknobs. Do 7-year-olds have the “right” to privacy? Sure they do, but the concept has always been theoretical. Now, with a lovely locked door between us, I wonder if her tendency to lock herself in her room is …

I was a non-traditional undergraduate student at UMass Amherst, and was simultaneously beginning my life as a mother while finishing my life as an undergraduate student. One of the most important courses I ever took was during the overlap of th0se two periods, when I took Dr. J. Kevin Nugent’s “Theory of Child Development” course.  Among the 30 or so undergraduates in the course, I was the only one with a child. While child development theory is amazing to understand, it is even more vivid and tangible when you can relate it to your little one at home! There was the added factor that the …

For the last four years, my family has lived in a wonderful condominium.  There was an excellent pool, well-maintained grounds, and it was toasty and snug.  However, living on the second floor was becoming a major impediment to getting enough fresh air, and lugging my daughter’s bike up and down the stairs was a workout I did not particularly enjoy! I’ve since moved and it is my goal in life to spend a ton more time out of doors now that it is so convenient. I remember when I was a child, we would be outside as much as possible, cursing the street lights as they flickered on-our signal that …

As some of my readers may know, I am training to become a Nurse Practitioner.  I use every chance I can get to practice my health assessments on my 7-year-old, and usually she is happy to oblige. Of course, palpating lymph nodes is tickly business, and deep breathing for a lung exam can get her in a huff if I take too long.  Overall, it’s been a wonderful learning experience to inspect, palpate, percuss and auscultate my easy little patient.  However, in preparation for a big cardiac lecture next week, my practice exams turned into a much bigger lesson than I’d bargained for. What I’d been …

Well, it was bound to happen.  Although my first grader was healthy as a horse all through kindergarten and through the first-half of first grade, she finally broke her perfect attendance record. What kept her out was a tummy-bug. While many people refer to common gastrointestinal illness as a 24-hour stomach flu, this recent episode was a one-time event, happening in the middle of the night. Of course, my little one had the where-with-all to know she was feeling sick ahead of time. It is a rather saintly talent, being able to forecast such an ominous event with such clarity. She has never …

My daughter’s school is making strides to reduce the “junk food factor” at the elementary school. For example, this month marked the first time that ice cream was taken off the list of snacks sold at lunchtime. While progress is inching forward, policy by policy, overall nutrition in school-age children continues to be a major concern to parents, educators and nutritional experts. Children, however, are not so keen on the cutbacks. Although schools try to maintain a healthy nutritional atmosphere, with gimmicks like Veggie of the Month and snack limitations, there is little incentive to …

Hi Jeannie, I'd like to run something by you if I could. My daughter attended a two-year Registered Nurse associates program. She made it through the first year. The second year, she took Nursing III and didn't pass (D +). She took Nursing III again and didn't pass (C-). Needless to say, my daughter was devastated. Her three other friends passed and they made it through Nursing IV. They found out last week that they passed the RN exam. My daughter was contemplating attending an Learning Practical Nursing program but now she is having second thoughts about what she should do. She is currently …

The weekly snowstorms that have hit our area have led to an almost comical amount of weekly snow days. In fact, I don’t think my daughter has had a full week of school since before Christmas. This week, there was an early dismissal and a full snow day. As a work-at-home mom, it has been pretty darn near impossible to get much accomplished during these snow days. I have a feeling it is like that among my peers as well. My friend Amy puts it succinctly, “Pretty much anyone with a laptop is still working.”  In my case, it is pretty non-productive! It’s times like these that make me long for the …

Spoiler Alert: People still committed to the reality of the tooth fairy should not read any further. Parents, do you enjoy the Tooth Fairy motif as much as Santa? Both are figments of our collective imagination. Super-heroes of generosity, surprise, and fun…not always the first three words associated with us mere mortal parents.  My daughter is in first grade and in full belief of the Tooth Fairy, who has been a visitor five times now. What I don’t especially love about playing Tooth Fairy is the comparisons that come with the Tooth Fairies of other children. Teeth are not a stable currency. …

As a parent of a child who has had more ear infections than birthdays, I read with interest the recent shake-up over the Center for Disease Control's recommended wait and see approach to clinically diagnosed ear infections (known in medical circles as Acute Otitis Media). Since the 1980's, primary care providers have been encouraged to delay the use of antibiotics for ear infections, instead following up with the child's case in 48-hours to see if the ear infection went away on its own. While this is a commendable process, in theory, to stave off the over-use of antibiotics, it may have been …

Question: I'm in need of advice from a parenting expert! My daughter's been begging for an at home Valentine’s Day party. I've never tried the at home party. How do you handle it? Keep kids entertained? Any recommendations for numbers? Is it even feasible inside in an apartment? Do you manage on your own or elicit help? The last five girl play date I had at home alone ended with one girl being brought to the emergency room for stitches after not listening to me and having a scootering accident. I'm a little nervous to jump back in! Thank you!!!! Answer: First of all, thanks for asking me!  …