anaveciana-suarez - Profile | Pictures | Blog - What a Life
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User: anaveciana-suarez
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Joined: Mar 14 2008 - 01:50:39 PM
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Can you teach gratitude? | Moms Miami Can you teach gratitude?
Thanksgiving is about more than turkey. It's about family and gratitude. Yet, over the years I've found that while gathering the family together is easy, instilling the latter is no walk in the park, particularly in these times of entitlement. But I just read some tips by Stacey Boyd, CEO of Savvy Source, that are worth sharing: 1. Gratitude is an attitude. It’s a choice, a decision each...read more...Grab a dark chocolate bar -- now! | Moms Miami Grab a dark chocolate bar -- now!
Chocolaholics, rejoice. A new study has found that people who rated themselves highly stressed to begin with had lower levels of stress hormones after eating chocolate every day for two weeks. And they munched on my favorite kind -- dark chocolate. The scientists, led by Sunil Kochhar of the Nestle Research Center in Switzerland, found lower levels of the stress hormones cortisol and catecholamines in the...read more...Dreaming of Cinderella for that rock on your finger? | Moms Miami Dreaming of Cinderella for that rock on your finger?
There's no accounting for taste, but I know what I like and I'll stick to it. In other words, I would turn up my nose at an engagement ring that was inspired by a Disney character. But apparently there's a market for such stuff. An industry journal reports that Disney and Krisite Kelley have debuted a line of six engagement rings with matching wedding bands that correspond to six Disney heroines, Cinderella, Snow...read more...More than a crime | Moms Miami More than a crime
Can you imagine being the parent of the teenager who was doused with alcohol and set on fire? Horrible. But it's got to be nearly as horrifying to be the parent of one of the five teens who stands accused of doing it. What would possess a young man to seek revenge in such a heinous way? Some of my friends say that as this story progresses we'll find out enough about the home life of these boys to figure out why they're...read more...Halloween is no longer for kids | Moms Miami Halloween is no longer for kids
Trick of treat? Sure, but only if you're a grownup. I've been getting catalogs for costume shops in my mailbox for the past few days. Most of the pages are filled with costumes for adults. A couple of pages are devoted to children. Is this another sign of commercialism taking over? read more...A renewed appreciation for staying healthy | Moms Miami A renewed appreciation for staying healthy
My mother always used to say that health was the greatest wealth. Of course, when you're healthy, you don't pay much attention to such words. For the past two months, though, I've thought plenty about the idea. I've been in physical therapy since recovering from shoulder surgery -- a minor procedure, really, in the grand scheme of illnesses. Yet, I've been surprised how something like this can change your life....read more...Tummy time | Moms Miami Tummy time
One of the benefits of being a grandparent is the fact that you become privy to the new set of parenting rules. One of them is doctors' orders to have babies sleeping on their backs instead of on their tummy. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommended the change in the 1990s to prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. It worked: the rate of SIDS has dropped by about 50 percent. But the good news comes with a price....read more...Spare the rod | Moms Miami Spare the rod
Plenty of my generation grew up with parents who thought sparing the rod meant spoiling the child. In fact, that's an ingrained value in some societies. Now a study says that smacking kids when they're very young can make them more agressive. Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20090915/hl_hsn/earlyspankingsmakeforaggressivetoddlersstudyshows read more...Preparing kids for life | Moms Miami Preparing kids for life
Every time I sent a kid off into the world, I worried if I had taught him (or her, in the case of my daughter) what he needed to know. It went beyond study skills for college. Would he know how to behave in certain social situations? Had he learned enough about personal cleanliness, vitamins and eating right? Well, now we've got a primer. Check this story out. It's amazing. I wish I had something like this before for my...read more...When a man cheats | Moms Miami When a man cheats
How would you react if you discovered your husband was having an affair? What would you do if it became VERY public and everyone you knew had front-row seats to your pain? We've seen the drama of heartache play out various times in the past couple of years with wives of elected officials. Think of the Mrs.(s) Spitzer, Clinton, Edwards, etc. Unfortunately I've also watched this heartache closer to home, with a couple of...read more...What makes pain bearable? | Moms Miami What makes pain bearable?
I had shoulder arthroscopic surgery 10 days ago and am going through physical therapy two hours a day, three times a week. Those sessions take an incredible amount of energy and forebearance because they are quite painful -- and this from a woman who delivered her children without benefit of any drugs. I've been told it's a long, long process, but there's one thing that makes things a teeny bit better: At the end,...read more...Keeping tabs on teenage boys | Moms Miami Keeping tabs on teenage boys
My youngest son, 16, was a couple of hours late from football practice. After calling his cell phone repeatedly and leaving messages, hubby and I went on all out attack. We texted, phoned his friends and spoke to the mothers of his friends. During this ordeal I was crazy with worry. Why does the mind go so speedily to the most gruesome scenes? As it turns out, he had gone to dinner with some football buddies and didn’t...read more...Love flows downward | Moms Miami Love flows downward
Who do you love more -- your parents or your children? My father has this theory that people love down. In other words, the intensity of our emotions is strongest to the next generation. I agree. I love my children more than I love my parents, even as I admit I’m eternally grateful for everything they’ve done for me. I also love my grandchildren with more earnestness – and delight – than my own...read more...Would you kill to have a baby? | Moms Miami Would you kill to have a baby?
Talk about maternal tug. Some crazy woman slit the stomach of a pregnant woman and stole her baby. The mom, of course, died. Now police have made an arrest at a homeless shelter. Read: http://www.miamiherald.com/772/story/1162133.html?storylink=omni_popular I've heard about baby stealing at hospitals, but this has to take the cake. How do you punish a person who does something so hideous? read more...Leftovers: yummy or yucky? | Moms Miami Leftovers: yummy or yucky?
Do you eat leftovers? Do your kids? I do, and I don't mind. In fact, leftovers are usually my lunch du jour. Sometimes I mix and match different leftovers into one meal, so I was surprised to read a survey for ShopSmart magazine that reported only 10 percent of women do the leftover thing. What do they do with the rest of the stuff? Throw it away and waste it? While I'm the leftover queen, my family, on the other...read more...Do kids play outside anymore? | Moms Miami Do kids play outside anymore?
It's summer. School's out. So one would expect to see kids riding their bikes, playing hide and go seek, or cooling off with the lawn hose. Ha! That bucolic scene is so a generation ago. These days I rarely see children playing outside, though parents swear up and down that it's a healthy form of entertainment, one they want to encourage. Now everybody is in some structured setting -- at camp or day care -- or willingly...read more...Hitting the road | Moms Miami Hitting the road
The youngest of my five kids got his driver's license last month, so he's cruising around all the time. Which makes me nervous. So when I read some tips online, I figured I would share these with all those moms who think of a car as a weapon as well as a means of transportation. I've pasted some here: Draw up a driving contract for your teen, and be prepared to stick to it. A driving contract is a...read more...Ditch the husband? | Moms Miami Ditch the husband?
If you had to do it all over again, would you marry The Hubby? Does he meet your needs? Does he still get that ole heart all a'flutter? Apparently a majority of wives would ditch their mates, according to a survey in the current issue of Woman's Day. The survey by the magazine and AOL sampled 35,000 women on the state of their marriages, and 57 percent said they regret marrying their husbands. Other numbers: 52 percent say...read more...On vacation and working harder than ever | Moms Miami On vacation and working harder than ever
Like a good abuela, I've taken two weeks vacation to help my daughter with her baby, Kyla -- who, by the way, is absolutely, incredibly adorable. (I am not biased, really really) Last night I slept over their house so the new, exhausted parents could get some sleep. And this is what I learned: there's a reason mother nature intended for YOUNG people to have children. Need some zzzs. read more...I'm an abuela again | Moms Miami I'm an abuela again
To add a little pizazz to our summer, Kyla Renee, my third granddaughter, was born Tuesday. I heard from a good source that her first word to her parents was: "Abuela!" She joins her 20-month-old twin cousins in the pantheon of cuteness. Mother and Father have not slept for two nights -- one night when the labor pains started and the second night because they were afraid she would choke on the mucus (a warning from a...read more...Go ahead, hug | Moms Miami Go ahead, hug
The men in my family tend to be physically affectionate, probably more that I am myself. In fact, I watch my son with his daughters and the uncles with their nieces and there are plenty of hugs and kisses and squeezes going around. I know that not all families display love this way. When I went off to college, I was amazed at the reserved manners my roommates had with their parents. Apparently that's changing and dads...read more...Managing electronic media during the long days of summer | Moms Miami Managing electronic media during the long days of summer
Summer usually means one thing for children -- more screen time. I've been battling the spike in TV watching, not to mention video game playing, during school vacations for years. So I found a press release I received very interesting. The Smart Television Alliance says TV viewing by kids spikes 150 percent during the summer. To manage the boob tube effect, the organization also provides tips and resources on its website....read more...Love transcends age | Moms Miami Love transcends age
A woman from my gym told me the other day about how her mother, who is 87 years young, was worried about dating an older man. The gent was 96. We had a good laugh about the twilight of love, and it made us wonder why at that age lovebirds still act like infatuated teens -- holding hands, preening and making googly eyes at each other. Love apparently has no age barrier, which may be a good thing for people in happy...read more...Hey, you need a hug | Moms Miami Hey, you need a hug
One of the many things that make South Florida different is our greeting habits. Everybody here hugs and air kisses, even casual acquaintances. I think it may be the Latin influence. Now comes a story about how high school kids have adopted hugging as the preferred choice of greeting. This is really cute:...read more...In the final throes of senioritis | Moms Miami In the final throes of senioritis
MY 18-year-old graduates tonight, but he left high school a few weeks ago -- mentally, that is. After taking his AP and IB exams, he was pretty much done with 12th grade. So were his teachers; they had taught him what he needed to know already. Every morning he'd call begging to be signed out early. In other words, it was a severe case of senioritis all around. Which leads me to a couple of question: For the students who are...read more...Parents behaving stupidly | Moms Miami Parents behaving stupidly
A Minnesota judge has issued an arrest warrant for a mother and her teenage son who has cancer. Last week he had ordered the family to restart chemo for Daniel Hauser, 13, after doctors reported the family to authorities. The parents wanted to treat the cancer with alternative medicines and diet -- a good complement to conventional treatment but certainly not a cure. With chemo, however, the kid has a 95 percent survival chance....read more...Making ends meet -- in more ways that one | Moms Miami Making ends meet -- in more ways that one
Looking for a way to stay home with your kids but still have an income stream? Consider porn. Okay, so I'm kidding and exaggerating. But a Boca Raton mother of two is pleading guilty to charges that she hooked up men to porn stars and centerfolds for an evening of companionship. The fee? $50,000 a night. She did this all through that convenient thing called the Internet and apparently made millions of dollar. What an...read more...To pay or not to pay? | Moms Miami To pay or not to pay?
Like in all homes, our house needs some work -- nothing big, just a little primping and touching up. Should I pay my kids to do it (it's not part of their regular chores) or tell them I've added it on to their to-do list? They already receive an allowance. I"m of two minds on this. On the one hand, I don't get paid for anything I do around the house, and it's often more than the standard...read more...Preserving the past for our children | Moms Miami Preserving the past for our children
So now, once again, there's talk of a rebirth at Hialeah Racetrack. I hope it works out. Like so many of us who grew up in Miami, I have fond memories of that park, particularly the flamboyant flamingoes. I wish my kids could've known it in its splendor. Of course, it's not just Hialeah's renown track that has gone to waste. We live in an area that has no respect for the old and the venerable. We tear down without...read more...What I REALLY want for M-Day: Chapter 56,901 | Moms Miami What I REALLY want for M-Day: Chapter 56,901
I fired off an email earlier this week to my five children: No gifts Sunday. I have more than my fair share of stuff. What I want from them is a little labor -- some work around the yard that I find hard to do unless I want to suffer through days of back pain. Of course, what I REALLY REALLY want on Mother's Day and every day before and after is a bit more complicated: for them to study and get good grades, become decent and...read more...Is Father Alberto being treated fairly? | Moms Miami Is Father Alberto being treated fairly?
Friends and acquaintances are abuzz with the news of Father Alberto Cutie. He was photographed frolicking in the sand with a young woman. Tuesday he was removed from his Miami Beach parish, though I know he's beloved by young and old there. Everybody I've spoken to is very forgiving. They say he's only human. They also point out that the Catholic Church's requirement of celibacy for priests is antiquated and...read more...Moms vs. Dads | Moms Miami Moms vs. Dads
So who do you love more -- Mom or Dad? And if you had to take care of either one of them in their old age, who would you prefer? I just read about a new national survey that shows adult children would overwhelmingly chose their mom over their dad -- seven out of ten -- to move in with them if their elderly parents could not take care of themselves. Daughters are much more likely than sons to move mom in -- which...read more...Prepping for Grad Bash | Moms Miami Prepping for Grad Bash
Two of my high school seniors are off to Grad Bash today -- my niece and my son. Both have been looking forward to this break from studying. Tomorrow they'll return in the a.m. exhausted from being up most of the night, but I'm sure that won't bother them a bit. And if I had ANY doubt about the difference between boys and girls, that was once again put to rest. My son's only concern for the day was his eating plans....read more...Is your kid addicted? | Moms Miami Is your kid addicted?
Here's a study that confirms my suspicions: Nearly one in 10 youth video gamers display similar traits as gambling addicts, according to a study conducted by the National Institute on Media and the Family. What are some pathological patterns of play? They displayed six out of 11 symptoms of damage to family, social, school or psychological functioning, including being diagnosed with an attention problem, spending twice as much...read more...Gambling and education: we've heard it all before | Moms Miami Gambling and education: we've heard it all before
Somehow, some way, our fearless leaders always manage to screw our most vulnerable citizens -- the children -- even as they're reaching for our wallets. The latest shell game is the propoganda being spread that the Seminole tribe's offer of millions of dollars to the state -- a generous offer, by any measure -- should be rubberstamped quickly because it will provide much-needed funds to our schools. Haven't we...read more...An orchid by any other name | Moms Miami An orchid by any other name
Here's a good idea for Mother's Day: The National Parkinson Foundation is auctioning off the naming rights for a hybrid orchid. Michelle Obama and Martha Stewart both have orchids named after them, so Mom and Abuela can now have one, too. Go to www.parkinson.org for more information. read more...Uniforms have my vote | Moms Miami Uniforms have my vote
My sons' high school is taking an important vote this week -- whether or not to require uniforms. Hear, hear, I'm all for uniforms. In fact, I think everybody should wear uniforms, even to work, because that makes mornings so much easier. Believe it or not, uniforms are also cheaper. However the vote turns out, it will only apply to one son -- the other graduates in June -- but I think the idea is a great one. They...read more...Brother, do you have a job? | Moms Miami Brother, do you have a job?
I've got three teens looking for summer jobs. The two oldest have already started to apply at various nearby businesses -- shoe stores, restaurants, etc. They say they'll do anything. But they haven't gotten one call back or an interview. I've suggested they keep hitting the pavement, but I also suspect that most businesses aren't hiring. And if they are, the likelihood is that they can get more experienced people...read more...Treasures in my back yard | Moms Miami Treasures in my back yard
For Easter, I packed my twin granddaughters a tiny basket with items I thought they would enjoy: Dora magnets, some chocolates and a board book each. They paid attention to that stuff for about five minutes, then emptied the basket and went to play outside, In the yard they collected dried leaves, dead snails, twigs, seeds etc. and promptly dropped all these precious items in their basket. They were delighted with their finds. Next...read more...Baker, vet, candlestick maker or soldier | Moms Miami Baker, vet, candlestick maker or soldier
Do you know what you want to do when you grow up? Lots of adults I know don't -- and if you're middle age, you probably have doubts about your chosen career anyway. Now, though, I have to ask this question of my high school senior. He has to declare a major when he registers for classes at UF next month. He thinks he wants to do a five-year master's program in accounting, but... I suspect he may change a few times in the...read more...Time to fess up, ladies | Moms Miami Time to fess up, ladies
Have you ever told your child a little white lie to cover your tracks and had it backfire? Did your kid survive despite your parenting boo-boos? Well, here's your chance to fess up. I'm looking for mothers' true confessions … funny, poignant and downright embarrassing … for a story on mommy misdemeanors. Please email me your tale, your name and phone number to aveciana@miamiherald.com .read more...Busy, busy interfaith family | Moms Miami Busy, busy interfaith family
My husband is Jewish and I am Catholic, making us one of the many interfaith couples in our area. This week ends up being the busiest in our social season. Starting today -- with Passover at my sister-in-law's -- we have an "event" every night this week. We do the second day of Passover at our house, then we have Good Friday (with my sister and her husband coming over, along with some cousins) and then Easter on...read more...Grandparenting vs. Parenting | Moms Miami Grandparenting vs. Parenting
I broke a record this weekend -- four entire days without seeing my twin granddaughters. By Sunday evening, though, I was crawling the walls. I desperately wanted to hear their giggles and watch their funny walk. Most of all I wanted to hold them tight. A friend who was a grandmother for the second time a few months back says she was surprised by how much she absolutely adored her granddaughter when the first one was born....read more...My kids don't want to friend me | Moms Miami My kids don't want to friend me
The idea of Facebooking and MySpacing has never appealed to me. I have more than enough REAL friends, but I also understand that I've got to move into the current century. So reluctantly I am fleshing out my Facebook and LinkedIn profiles. I told my children. They were appalled. They don't want to friend me. Which, of course, immediately made me suspicious. They claim that it's not because of what they post on their...read more...Check the s**t | Moms Miami Check the s**t
One of the strangest duties a parent is called upon to do is check the baby's doo-doo for strange objects. My son and daughter-in-law filled this role admiringly and discovered plastic end pieces from the wire-meshing shelves in one of their daughter's poop. Intact. This story will haunt the poor child for life. read more...College majors -- how important? | Moms Miami College majors -- how important?
We're in the home stretch of college app season as schools around the country start notifying students whether or not they have been admitted. My son is waiting to hear on three out-of-state schools, but with the economy -- and the uncertainty of my job -- it is very likely he will head to the University of Florida. (It's free for him and close to home AND good, so you can't ask for more.) The kids talk about...read more...How do you spell freedom? | Moms Miami How do you spell freedom?
Is there an Emancipation Proclamation for mothers? If not, anybody willing to help me write it? Hubby and I were gone for less than two days over the weekend and I came home to find a sinkful of dishes and few chores done. The culprits aren't really kids. Two are 18-year-olds, one is almost 16 -- and the other is my 80-year-old father. I guess they figured that once the indentured servant -- that would be me -- returned home,...read more...We were happy before kids... | Moms Miami We were happy before kids...
Children, says a friend and mother of three, are hell on a marriage. It starts with the toll a baby takes on a couple's sex life and a mother's sleeping habits, builds up to resentment during the terrible twos, and then hits rock bottom during the teenage years. I think there's a huge grain of truth in this, particularly in this era where children-parent boundaries have become too blurred. So it came as no surpirse...read more...Are you being too critical of hubby? | Moms Miami Are you being too critical of hubby?
Compliments go a long way, especially if you want more help around the house and with the baby. A study from Ohio State says that a mom's words of criticism or encouragement directly affect how involved their husband or partner becomes in the day-to-day care of their infant. If, for instance, a mother criticizes her partner's child-care efforts, it usually causes him to lose confidence. Many even withdraw from caring...read more...Senioritis season is upon us | Moms Miami Senioritis season is upon us
It may not be a legit medical condition studied by our best and brightest doctors, but I know beyond a reasonable doubt that there is an ailment called senioritis. It afflicts 17- and 18-year-olds in high school, usually during the second half of the year and it is particularly prevalent in the spring -- kind of like allergies -- after the initial college acceptance letters have arrived. The symptoms are many and frustrating, but...read more...Hurrah for big families | Moms Miami Hurrah for big families
Are five children too many? How much is too much when it comes to the size of a family? Apparently, the latest fad is to pile scorn on large families -- this a result of Octomom's irresponsibility. I have five kids. I am one of five, too. While my siblings haven't had as many children as I did, most of my cousins are part of large families -- six children, seven children. It was a blast growing up. Now having lots of...read more...Daylight Savings Time messes me up | Moms Miami Daylight Savings Time messes me up
I HATE the change in time, whether it's springing forward or falling back. I hate it, hate it, hate it. It takes my body forever to adjust. I can't fall asleep at night -- or wake up in the morning when the alarm goes off. The rest of the day I just dr-a-a-a-g. I doubt the country truly saves money -- or any form of energy -- when the powers that be fool around with the clock. I wish the feds would just stick to one...read more...The Gender Divide | Moms Miami The Gender Divide
I just read about a book that explains a trend I've long observed. Why do girls outshine boys in the classroom but then don't climb up the workforce ladder as quickly or effectively? Is it the glass ceiling or are there other factors involved? In "The Sexual Paradox," Susan Pinker argues that women’s brains aren’t inferior, but they do vary considerably from men’s, and this explains the...read more...Being the Mom-in-Chief | Moms Miami Being the Mom-in-Chief
Can you learn something about parenting from Michelle Obama? Should you transfer some of your skills from the boardroom to the play room? Jamie Woolf thinks so. She's the author of "Mom-in-Chief: How Wisdom from the Workplace Can Save Your Family from Chaos." Here are some tips: 1) Motherhood is a leadership job. Think of yourself as a leader who happens to be a mom. You're in command. 2) Focus on the big...read more...What are boobs really for? | Moms Miami What are boobs really for?
How long should you breastfeed? My theory is simple: as long as you want. I think breastfeeding is the best thing you can do for a baby. However, there's been quite a dustup over breastfeeding in public (Salma Hayek) and some websites are nixing videos of proud mommies. Too bad our society is so uptight about boobs that it fails to recognize the benefits for baby. Now we have something called extreme breastfeeding,...read more...Health is the biggest wealth | Moms Miami Health is the biggest wealth
Two good friends of mine will find out important medical news about a child and a grandchild today. Both kids have been diagnosed with serious, chronic diseases, and I find myself thinking about them constantly. I wish there was something I could do for my friends beyond the usual of praying and offering an ear and shoulder. I'm open to suggestions. My mother always used to say that good health was the best gift of...read more...A lesson we don't want our boys learning | Moms Miami A lesson we don't want our boys learning
What is it with some teachers and teenage boys? Yet another story about a young woman and her even younger lover is making the rounds. The teacher, 24, and her 15-year-old pupil (in more ways than one) were found in West Virginia. Apparently they had fled after the boy's parents complained to the school about the inappropriate relationship. Used to be that we just worried about male teachers. Now equality has been...read more...Happy birthday, Barbie | Moms Miami Happy birthday, Barbie
Barbie turns 50 this year and she looks fabulous. Apparently, all kinds of festivities are planned for this momentous occasion -- including, of course, new accessories. Remember, though, when this anatomically impossible babe was getting trashed because she was suspected of making little girls pine for her top-heavy, wasp-waisted body? My, how times change. Of course, for those generations (moi included) who grew...read more...Let's get real about sex ed | Moms Miami Let's get real about sex ed
I"m no fan of Sarah Palin, but I must say that I think her daughter Bristol, an unwed teen mom, was quite frank and relevant in her recent interview. The younger Palin said motherhood -- she must mean those 3 a.m. feedings -- is not glamorous. Hear ye, hear ye. They should play that clip in sex ed classes everywhere. By the same token, she admitted that abstinence is not realistic at all, either This statement may be a...read more...And he doesn't even shave yet | Moms Miami And he doesn't even shave yet
My daughter-in-law sent me this jaw-dropping story about a 13-year-old boy in England who got his 15-year-old girlfriend pregnant. (Yes, you read their ages right.) Their baby was born last week. Actually, the boy impregnated the girl when he was only 12 and it was his first sexual encounter. We read about children having children and teen pregnancy, but this takes the cake. Read more:...read more...Waiting breathlessly for UF's nod | Moms Miami Waiting breathlessly for UF's nod
University of Florida will send out electronic announcements of admission tomorrow after 6 p.m. Don't try to go on its website around that time because practically every high school senior I know -- including my son -- will be logging on to see if his/her application got an aye or a nay. College admissions has become a competitive sport, and with the economy doing so badly, state schools are quite the bargain. I'm curious...read more...The housing bust is good news -- really | Moms Miami The housing bust is good news -- really
It's getting pretty darn hard to live in South Florida. A couple of years back, buying a house was so expensive that most people I knew couldn't afford to buy in a neighborhood with decent schools. And even before the property values shot through the roof, there were the ungodly expenses of homeowners insurance and taxes. Now we're mired in a huge housing bust and experts predict it won't get any better until...read more...Can it get any weirder? | Moms Miami Can it get any weirder?
The story of Nadya Suleman and her octuplets gets weirder by the day. Now rumors are running rampant that she had plastic surgery to her face. Judge for yourself: http://www.theimproper.com/Template_Article.aspx?IssueId=11&ArticleId=3099 If so, was she preparing for stardom? Sick all around. read more...Babies as status | Moms Miami Babies as status
I'm the mother to five and grandmother of identical twins, and I can tell you that twins are a LOT of work. The labor of caring them can be daunting, but they're cute and I hang the stars and the moon over my granddaughters' sky. So I was really fascinated by an article about how twins are the hot status symbol in New York. And sadly, for all the wrong reasons -- they attract attention and moms feel you can get...read more...Throw the book at him | Moms Miami Throw the book at him
Turns out that the driver who plowed into a minivan stopped at a red light, killing three little kids, was drunk. WAY drunk. He also had had over 20 tickets to his name, most of them moving violations and one including a DUI. Read: http://www.miamiherald.com/460/story/879376.html I say throw the book at him. He deserves to rot in jail. I can't imagine the pain that poor family is going through after losing children. read more...Sayonara, State Farm | Moms Miami Sayonara, State Farm
Except for my life insurance, I do all my business with State Farm -- house, umbrella liability and the fleet of cars owned by hubby, my children and me. It's been so for decades, and I've spent tens of thousands of dollars with them. Now the company is planning to pull its homeowners business out of Florida. Too expensive, it says. That means millions of us will have to scramble to replace it. Read: ...read more...Thank God Kennedy is out of the race | Moms Miami Thank God Kennedy is out of the race
I'm glad Caroline Kennedy withdrew her name from the New York senate race. Though rumors flew that she was the frontrunner to be appointed by the New York governor, I always thought she was a poor choice to replace Hillary Clinton. Why? She has no real experience for the job. I thought the same about Sarah Palin. Discussing this with other women has gotten me in hot water. Some claim I'm...read more...| Moms Miami The Bush twins wrote an open letter to the Obama girls, sharing the lessons they learned. It's cute. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090120/ap_on_re_us/inauguration_twins__advice You have to wonder, though, if Malia and Sasha have any clue how their lives have changed. What's more, their lives have changed forever because they will be defined -- by the public in particular -- by what they say and do at the...read more...A pink cigar | Moms Miami A pink cigar
The family is blooming with little girls. My daughter, who is due in mid-June, found out yesterday that she was having a girl. This is the third princess in that generation since my son has identical twin girls. Pink will be in for a long time in our family. That's quite a change. My daughter was the only girl in a family of four boys. Friends ask me how I feel in this sea of femininity. How AM I supposed to feel? A...read more...I've got a craving for Thin Mints | Moms Miami I've got a craving for Thin Mints
I think the girls who used to come around to sell Girl Scout cookies have grown up or moved away. They haven't knocked on my door and I'm hankering for Thin Mints. I've loved those cookies for years, and more so when my daughter -- now 30 and pregnant -- began to sell them herself. Of course, those years turned out to be a little expensive. I, along with the rest of the family, ate more than we sold to others. ...read more...Who gets what in a divorce | Moms Miami Who gets what in a divorce
We all know divorces can get messy and mean. The person you swore allegiance and eternal love to a few years back becomes the devil incarnate, complete with horns and tails. But now a doctor is putting a twist on the contentious split. He wants his estranged wife to return a kidney he donated to her four years ago. The wife apparently cheated on him with her physical therapist -- talk about ungrateful! -- but let's be...read more...First Granny moves to D.C, | Moms Miami First Granny moves to D.C,
Michelle and Barack Obama and their two little girls aren't the only ones moving in to the White House. So is Obama's mother-in-law. Hurrah! I think having the First Granny around will be wonderful for the two Obama daughters and it will affirm the arrrangement of many families -- like mine -- who have three generations under one roof. I come from a long tradition of in-laws living with parents and children,...read more...Field trip to reality | Moms Miami Field trip to reality
I went to a meeting last night at my son's school -- before the college national championship game, of course -- to discuss a weekend trip he and his classmates in the International Baccalaureate program are taking to Fort Wilderness. It's meant to be a bonding experience, expecially as they prepare to spend about 2-3 months taking the rigorous IB exams. It's not all fun and games and parks. These...read more...Praise, don't criticize | Moms Miami Praise, don't criticize
Moms, listen up: A study published in the Journal of Family Psychology reports that when a mother criticizes her partner's child-care efforts, he withdraws from caring for the baby. But when a mom praises dad's efforts, he takes a more active parenting role. So, Moms, bite your tongue. read more...The first step to independence | Moms Miami The first step to independence
My twin granddaughters started day care for the first time yesterday. They're 16 months old and will be attending five mornings a week. As expected, there was a teary goodbye with the parents and the grandparents. (Of course we had to attend this momentous occasion.) Having been through this with my own children, I know that there will be an adaptation process for both children and parents, with the children's process...read more...Return to structure and routine -- hurrah! | Moms Miami Return to structure and routine -- hurrah!
I had a wonderful holiday season full of fun, family, gifts and stress. But I sure am happy to go back to my routine. The kids returned to school this morning and I to work. I'm the type of person who works best with some structure. I'm more creative when I'm on schedule -- a deadline to meet, a place to go, a job to do. It's not even a matter of getting older. I remember being a kid and...read more...Barbie is getting a makeover | Moms Miami Barbie is getting a makeover
The way I figure it, Barbie is well into her post-menopausal years. Heck, she may even be over the hot flashes and the night sweats. So....how about a makeover? Mattel isn't saying what will happen to the doll with the physics-defying body measurements, but apparently the company thinks she is due because older girls are dumping her for -- of all things -- video games. Read more: ...read more...Staying home and loving it | Moms Miami Staying home and loving it
After a well-deserved vacation, I'm back -- and ready to party again. New Year's Eve is right around the corner, and I intend to spend it the way I most enjoy it. At home. With my family. Getting a good night's rest. I've never been one to party hearty on this big day. Too many fools trolling the streets. Now the economy is forcing people to stay home, too. Suddenly there's recognition even among...read more...The season for graduations | Moms Miami The season for graduations
Used to be that May and June were the graduation months. No longer. December is now a favorite pomp and circumstance time as well. I've had three relatives earn their diplomas just in time for Christmas this week -- my son (his second degree, this one from FIU), my other son's girlfriend (from UM, and just before kicking off her master's degree) and my niece (from Kaiser College and also just in time to take her boards...read more...Can you REALLY study with the TV on? | Moms Miami Can you REALLY study with the TV on?
My kids are in the throes of intense studying for mid-terms. I'm so proud of them for hitting the books seriously. Yet one thing about their studying habits really, really bother me: They have the radio or television on while figuring out calculus or tracking European history. I need a modicum of silence to concentrate and learn, but they claim they can study with this background noise. I find it hard to believe. read more...What happened to Caylee Anthony? | Moms Miami What happened to Caylee Anthony?
Stories about missing, abused and neglected children always leave a hole in my heart. This is true for the six-month saga of Caylee Anthony in central Florida. The newest revelation is that police have found a body of a young child and they believe it may be the little girl. I was hoping against hope that she would be found alive, but maybe I'm a ridiculous optimist. (Read more: ...read more...Do prestigious universities equal career success? | Moms Miami Do prestigious universities equal career success?
My son is in the process of putting together the last of his college applications. A few months back he started with what I thought was a too-long list of potential colleges. We pared those down when I figured out how much it would cost me for applicaiton fees alone. He's busy writing essays and making sure his transcripts and test scores are sent to the right places. My job? I looked up the cost of each of the...read more...My way of getting into the Christmas spirit | Moms Miami My way of getting into the Christmas spirit
I spent most of Saturday putting up Christmas decorations and wondering how in the world I had managed to accumulate so MUCH. I grumbled through the first half of the chore then caught myself when I was laying out the village. Each ornament or house brought back a memory of a Christmas past and I began to smile. I put on Christmas carols and began to hum along. No, my teen kids don't help with decorations. They...read more...What does turning 18 really mean? | Moms Miami What does turning 18 really mean?
Two residents of my house -- my son and niece -- will be turning 18 in the coming days. They will be official grownups from now on. They can fight a war and be held responsible for their actions in the eyes of the law. Yet, they won't be able to drink (at least not legally.) I'm of two minds on this. If they can kill for their country, should they also be able to drink a beer? I'd like to hear from...read more...Is spending better for the economy? | Moms Miami Is spending better for the economy?
I don't go crazy shopping for Christmas presents. In fact, I'm somewhat of a Scrooge. The season has turned way too commercial for me. This year, though, I feel as I MUST spend a few bucks, certainly more than I normally would. I won't go into debt for the splurge, of course, and I will only spend what I can afford. But maybe this time around, consumerism is about as American as mistletoe and eggnog.read more...Cheating our way to the top | Moms Miami Cheating our way to the top
My kids' high school has a very strict cheating policy -- a necessity, one counselor told me, because students are lifting material off the Internet and each other. I was surprised because the special magnet they attend is small and tight-knit, a collection of good teens. But it's also very, very competitive and apparently kids will do anything for the A's these days. Now a new study reveals that 30 percent of high...read more...| Moms Miami Just in time for Thanksgiving: We're doing the right thing for children. A judge ruled that the 31-year-old ban on gay parents adopting children is unconsitutional. That was a brave and moral ruling. Read more about it here. On a different note, I'm taking an informal poll on who has the most people coming over for Thanksgiving. I win hands down among my friends. Because my older children are bringing their in-laws...read more...Why people should have their children young | Moms Miami Why people should have their children young
I think there's a very good reason why biology encourages us to have children young. We should heed it. I'm 51 and still raising three teenagers - I'm TIRED. It's much more challenging, both physically and emotionally, to deal with adolescents than with babies. I speak from ample experience. So if you're putting off having kids (I didn't, but I had a large family), do some math. Add 13 to...read more...We've got to do better | Moms Miami We've got to do better
The March of Dimes delivered some bad new: The U.S. is failing hundreds of thousands of kids as soon as they are born, and Florida faces a crisis level of premature births that is driving up health care costs and special education budgets; preventive action is needed starting now. In its first Premature Birth Report Card, the nation received a “D” and not a single state earned an...read more...Boys are different, Chapter 6983 | Moms Miami Boys are different, Chapter 6983
After hobbling around on a sprained ankle to make pre-homecoming festivities fun and welcoming, I was eager to hear the details of the party itself. Who wore what. Who danced and who didn't. What food was served. You know, the details that make an evening spring to life. But my boys were their usual uncommunicative selves. All I can conclude from my endless questioning was that they had a good time. I now have to wait...read more...Privileges increase with age | Moms Miami Privileges increase with age
This weekend is homecoming for my two youngest sons. The senior and his friends are renting a room near the homecoming venue, a tradition that still makes me nervous despite the fact that my older kids did this with their friends. I have to remind myself that these are good kids with usually sound judgment. All week my 10th grader has been lobbying to be included in the hotel group. I've stuck to my guns: absolutely not. For...read more...Election energy | Moms Miami Election energy
I stayed up late last night watching the election returns and figured I'd be dragging this morning. Wrong! I was re-energized by my children's enthusiasm for Obama as they got dressed for school. At the gym everyone was talking about the elections, too, about what will happen and how their lives will improve. Hope floats, as they say. I'm also excited that the season for sleaze is over. Some local races were horrendous...read more...Sexy TV = teen pregnancy | Moms Miami Sexy TV = teen pregnancy
If you needed any more confirmation that parents should be monitoring what their children watch on TV: A Rand study just released reported that teens who watch the raciest TV shows are TWICE as likely to get pregnant or father a child within three years. Too often we drop our guard as kids get older, but I've always believed that parental involvement, especially after school, should spike during the teen years. In fact,...read more...Halloween as an adult holiday | Moms Miami Halloween as an adult holiday
If I needed any more confirmation that Halloween has become an adult extravaganza, all I must do is look out at my immediate family. My twin granddaughters will be dressing up as pirates, but their parents and uncles and aunts are also dressing up in a big way. For weeks, costumes have been discussed, bought, exchanged and paraded for the big night. I wonder if it's a return to childhood -- or simply an opportunity to be...read more...How heated is the election getting? | Moms Miami How heated is the election getting?
It's so heated that a friend told me all the Obama signs in her neighborhood were spray painted red. I don't understand that kind of vandalism. If I were an undecided voter, I would not be swayed into McCain's camp with such shenanigans.read more...The economy slaps college dreams around | Moms Miami The economy slaps college dreams around
I am in the process of walking the college application tightrope with my fourth child. He is putting the finishing touches to the app for University of Florida due Saturday. This is the first of several applications he'll be sending out. But since our last conversation about schools, a lot has changed -- primarily the economy. Our college savings have been sinking, maybe not as fast as the rest of the economy but...read more...Grandbabies popping all over the place | Moms Miami Grandbabies popping all over the place
The daughter of a good friend of mine delivered a baby yesterday, which prompted me to make the comment: "We're at that age." Funny thing is that neither of us necessarily feels like a grandmother -- or what we thought our grandmothers were like. We're both active, with plenty of interests outside the family and manage to hide our gray relatively well. We don't even use rocking chairs. So I don't know if...read more...The economy hits home -- literally | Moms Miami The economy hits home -- literally
Walking the dog last night I ran into our homeowners association president and his wife. Found out that at least one of the homes in our wonderful development -- I call it the last of the Leave it to Beaver neighborhoods -- is marching into foreclosure. The family walked away from the house. We had noticed the grass had not been mowed and the electricity was off. Well, there was a reason. The association has now taken over the...read more...Congratulate me | Moms Miami Congratulate me
I'm going to be a grandmother again. My daughter called me yesterday in the middle of the day. "Are you sitting down?" she asked. "I'm pregnant." Come next year I'll be grandmother to three. Last year my son had twin girls. And, believe you me, everything they say about grandchildren is true -- and more. They're precious, entertaining, funny, and they give one a sense of both peace and hope. read more...Children's laughter is the best antidote | Moms Miami Children's laughter is the best antidote
I got to watch my twin granddaughters overnight on Friday and for part of Saturday and every time they laughed or giggled I thought: How can I tape this wonderful sound and play it whenever I need a pick-me-up?There is nothing as pure and beautiful as children's laughter. It is truly authentic and happy.read more...Telling it like it is | Moms Miami Telling it like it is
I think there should be a stable of speeches -- two or three -- that every parent must be able to give to their children at least once. In some instances, the parent will probably have to deliver the same speech and the same message several times for it to stick. An attaboy speech, for instance, may work once for a child who is temporarily upset over a setback. Another kid might need to hear it more. Yesterday I delivered one...read more...You know things are bad when... | Moms Miami You know things are bad when...
...even your big-spending teenagers feel the hit to their pocket. All of a sudden my teens are interested in economics. As we tighten our belts, they find they have less disposable income to spend, too. One is having a hard time finding a job. Another can't find people interested in buying what he sells for his company. Hey, welcome to the world. Discretionary spending among teens has dropped 27% since last spring, according to...read more...Politics and drinking games | Moms Miami Politics and drinking games
I heard that college kids were turning their interest and drinking games to politics. Every time Sen. McCain uses "my friend" in a debate, they take a shot. Ditto for Sen. Obama's use of "change." Is this true? If so, there are lots of hangovers this morning. read more...Teen drivers and parental anxiety | Moms Miami Teen drivers and parental anxiety
Getting a driver's license is a huge rite of passage for teenagers. It's also a very scary moment for parents. I've always told my kids that with the set of wheels comes a set of reponsibilities. Driving a car give you independence, yes, but it'also gives you a weapon. Now The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has launched a Web site for teen driver safety, so teen drivers can share their...read more...Matchmaking for cheaters | Moms Miami Matchmaking for cheaters
I just read about a website that actually encourages people to cheat on their mates. Its slogan: "Life is short, have an affair." It has more than 2 million members who have paid a one-time fee of $49 for the matchmaking services. The site was created by a married father of two. Is this sick or what? read more...Good parenting comes in all sizes and shapes | Moms Miami Good parenting comes in all sizes and shapes
Florida has a ridiculous law on its books. It won't allow gays to adopt children. They can be foster parents, mind you, but not offer children permanent homes. Somebody please explain that convoluted thinking to me! A North Miami man is now challenging this and he may win. (Read more here) Wise people know that sexual orientation has nothing to do with good parenting. read more...Cellphones in school | Moms Miami Cellphones in school
I had to pick up my son's cellphone in school after it was confiscated when he was reading a text in class. Apparently this happens all the time -- not to my kid but all around the schools. I think the teacher was absolutely right in taking it away. In fact, I think the kids who do this should get slapped with a detention. I'm wondering if it wouldn't be a good idea to ban cellphones from school campuses during class...read more...Who calls the shots in your house? | Moms Miami Who calls the shots in your house?
Who wields the power in home, sweet home? According to a new study, the woman usually does. The report from the Pew Research Center’s Social & Demographic Trends project says that in 43 percent of couples women make the decisions in more s pheres of domestic life, from managing the family finances to deciding what to do on the weekend or what to watch on TV. In 26% of couples, it is the man who takes the lead...read more...Too skimpy? | Moms Miami Too skimpy?
Girls these days wear pretty skimpy clothes, by anyone's measure. Sexy has always been "in," but we're truly in the slutty section now. Not all is lost, however. The University of Idaho has switched cheerleaders' uniforms when the U got complaints that the new two-piece flashed more than school spirit. "A number of fans were concerned that the uniforms were inappropriate," said Bruce Pitman,...read more...Why men cheat | Moms Miami Why men cheat
The Today show had a segment this morning about why men cheat. Experts enumerated the warning signs: spends less time at home, doesn't want to have sex as often, won't take your calls, criticizes you more, etc. None of that was surprising. Here's the clincher, though: Straying men said it wasn't the sex or the looks of The Other Woman that was the deciding factor. It was the emotional attachment. ...read more...Switching foods | Moms Miami Switching foods
My twin granddaughters are graduating to table food and Mom and Dad report it has not been a happy transition. Apparently neither the taste and texture is all that appealing. Mom asked me what I had done with my kids, and, embarrassingly, I couldn't remember how well they had switched (or maybe how badly.) Has it been that long ago, or is this like labor -- when you erase not-so-good experiences? ...read more...Religion in politics | Moms Miami Religion in politics
"So what if he is Muslim?" my 23-year-old son asked me this morning. "It shouldn't matter." We were discussing politics before work and he was complaining about the e-mail that keeps circling around about Barack Obama being a Muslim. First of all, let's make sure that this blog does not perpetuate that lie. Obama is actually Christian. Yet, the question my son posed is a valid one. Why the...read more...The cost of child-care | Moms Miami The cost of child-care
If you have young children, you probably feel economically squeezed. And no wonder. A new report reveals that the price of child care is rising faster than the average rate of inflation. The report, entitled Parents and the High Price of Child Care: 2008 Update, was released by the National Associaiton of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies. It showed that over the course of a year, the average price of full-time center...read more...Raising the driving age | Moms Miami Raising the driving age
A new study confirms what we parents of teenagers have long known. Teens crash more than older drivers. According to a report from the Insurance Insittute for Highway Safety, 16-year-olds are most likely to crash. The organization suggests raising the age at which teenagers get their license. That age varies according to state. Here in Florida it's 16. I'm not sure that raising the age will necessarily change matters,...read more...Toys powered by imagination | Moms Miami Toys powered by imagination
My twin granddaughters just celebrated their first birthday and I was amazed by the toys people gave them. Everything beeped and popped and twirled and shone. So my husband and I made a vow: Whatever we get them won't need batteries. Let our toys be powered by the force of their imagination. Is this totally naive?read more...Hurricanes and divorced couples | Moms Miami Hurricanes and divorced couples
A good friend of mine who lives in New Orleans evacuated for what we now know was a so-so hurricane. Her five older children are either married or out of the house in some way. Only her youngest is still at home. His father -- her ex -- asked her to drop the teenager at his house. He lives alone in a safer part of the state. She was incensed that he didn't offer to put her up as well, since she has no family close by. Should he...read more...Who comes first in your life -- spouse or children? | Moms Miami Who comes first in your life -- spouse or children?
A friend and I were discussing an age old question: What comes first in your life -- spouse or children? Experts, of course, recommend putting your marriage first. I agree completely. But I also think that is an evolving question. When the children are young, a family tends to be more child-centered. Doesn't mean you don't go out, but, in my book, it's not a good idea to leave for Europe for two weeks if you have a...read more...Too many school meetings | Moms Miami Too many school meetings
I've been a mother too long. Every little school meeting -- the millionth of my career -- gets on my nerves now. Been there, done that. I know I'm writing heresy, what with all this talk about getting involved with your children's education. But enough is enough. I know how the AP classes work, how to apply for college, even the importance of a rigorous curriculum and the FCAT. So why can't I get special...read more...Pushing the chicks out of the nest | Moms Miami Pushing the chicks out of the nest
At the gym this morning everyone was talking about trips to college -- not theirs, but their children. Apparently we have all gotten to that age, the time in life when children fly the coop. It was interesting to note the difference in reactions. Surprisingly (or maybe not and I'm just being sexist), the men seemed to have a harder time letting go. The mothers were, yes, a little anxious but also relieved. I'll be...read more...The Chore Wars | Moms Miami The Chore Wars
For years, I've tried to organize the endless tasks around my house in different ways. One of my favorites: Giving each kid a list of their extra chores -- that is, above and beyond the regular daily or weekly ones, such as throwing out the trash. I try to hand the lists out Thursday night. When I did this last night, one of my sons drew up a list of his own. Mom's To-Do Buy Ben clothes. Give Ben money. Leave Ben alone....read more...Married sex | Moms Miami Married sex
Okay, let's start the day by talking sex. I want to pass on a survey about married women and the dirty deed. (It's kind of depressing and makes me wonder where all the babies are coming from, but anyway...) Momlogic interviewed 2,500 married women and this is what the website found: (1) 50% of women find sex either depressing, embarrassing or a hassle: 54% of married women admit they're the ones who...read more...The other sound of wind events | Moms Miami The other sound of wind events
As survivors of Hurricane Andrew, we tend to go a little overboard preparing for "wind events." So yesterday while I worked my husband and sons put up the window shutters and brought in the stuff from our pool patio. Now I sit in this tomb-like house, listening to the occasional moaning of the wind. If I didn't know any better, I would think it's a relaxing, almost spiritual, sound.read more...School postponed | Moms Miami School postponed
My kids had mixed feelings about not starting school. On the one hand, they wanted to see who was in their classes. On the other, they were all too happy to sleep in one more morning. Is this day going to be made up later in the year? read more...The land of lawsuits | Moms Miami The land of lawsuits
Here's another example of how there are way too many lawsuits. The parents of a gay California teenager who was shot and killed in class have filed a personal injury claim against the school district for not enforcing the dress code. They're asking for unspecified damages. The family of Larry King maintains administrators and teachers failed to enforce the school's dress code when the 15-year-old wore feminine...read more...Teaching how to save | Moms Miami Teaching how to save
One of the many "virtues" I've been working on with my children this summer is a rare one these days -- saving your pennies. The three teenagers had summer jobs, and I suggested they save half of their pay and spend the rest on whatever they wanted. I'm not sure that has been the case, with conflicting stories from each of them. Two owed me money -- traffic tickets I had to pay earlier -- so they had already...read more...We need more fundraising concerts for education | Moms Miami We need more fundraising concerts for education
I've long admired the way Gloria and Emilio Estefan have handled their public and private lives. They're a long-time married couple, a rarity in show business, and close to their families. Now I'm glad to read that Gloria will be singing in a fundraising concert, with money going to education organizations in South Florida. Can you imagine if other local celebrities did a Live Aid-type concert for education? Surely we...read more...Counting down the days until school starts | Moms Miami Counting down the days until school starts
Most parents I talk to are bummed out that school will be starting in a week. They dread the mad rush and the homework hassles. Well, I'm counting down the days. When school's in, everybody is in a routine and it's easier for me to keep track of three teenagers. I don't hassle about homework anymore, either --it's their job, not mine. They go to bed at a decent hour because they have to wake up at the crack...read more...Happiness: Life beats it out of us | Moms Miami Happiness: Life beats it out of us
According to a recent study, older men end up happier than older women. We start out more upbeat, it turns out, but don't hit as many of our goals, thus putting a kabash on our happiness. The study suggests that early on women are more likely to fulfill their family life and financial goals, but then the tables turn. Here are some age milestones found in the study, detailed in a forthcoming issue of the Journal of...read more...Saving for college | Moms Miami Saving for college
I'm always looking to save a buck, so whenever I find a worthy tip, I try to pass it on. I got an email from a reader who had just finished reading a story that I wrote about back-to-school money saving tips. One of those tips included using a credit card -- if you must -- that offers reward-rebates to a 529 college savings plan. The reader added this: Freshman Fund is like a registry for college savings. Parents...read more...Vote YES for The Children's Trust | Moms Miami Vote YES for The Children's Trust
You won't read a lot of political stuff on this blog. Promise. But there is one cause that I think deserves our full support: The Children's Trust. On August 26, we in Miami-Dade have an opportunity to continue the good work this agency has done for the health, education and safety of our children. We can vote YES to continue the authorization of the Trust's work. As a journalist, I get to see firsthand this...read more...Large families: boon or bane? | Moms Miami Large families: boon or bane?
As a mother of five, I've often gotten some funny -- and snide -- remarks about having such a large family. It never seemed "large" to me until, of course, college costs made a dent on my bank account. I'm one of five, too, and in those ancient times it was a lot more common to have more 2.3 children per family. In fact, among my extended family we were the smallest in size. One uncle had six kids; an aunt had...read more...Morning bliss | Moms Miami Morning bliss
I love the quiet of the a.m., when everybody else in the house is asleep. Ah, the precious, precious silence. I have been at work at my computer for about an hour, enjoying the promise of the new day and it has occurred to me that this is a sign of true maturity. My teenagers will sleep until the afternoon if I let them. I probably did the same, though I doubt my mother would've allowed it. But with age -- and babies -- comes a...read more...Hard times for our children, too | Moms Miami Hard times for our children, too
If you think you're the only one suffering in these tough times, think again. Children are affected too. I just read a report, Foundation for Child Development 2008 Child Well-Being Index, an annual comprehensive measure of how kids are faring in the U.S., and it reports that the quality of life of American children has been stalled since 2002. The index has been calculating the overall status of American children for every...read more...Teen friends: birds of a feather flock together | Moms Miami Teen friends: birds of a feather flock together
Over the weekend friends were discussing how much teens depend on their circle of friends for EVERYTHING. Not being able to see their friends is perhaps the biggest punishment you can impose. Teens will do without food, sleep and family just to hang out with their best buds. When my oder kids were teenagers, this bothered me a lot. Now I've learned to work the teen crowd, and I lobby and cajole my teens' friends for support...read more...How about World's Greatest Pervert? | Moms Miami How about World's Greatest Pervert?
Here's something to turn your stomach: Police arrested a 33-year-old Michigan man on charges of child sexual abuse and using the Internet to attempt child sexual abuse when he thought he was meeting a 14-year-old girl. He was of wearing a "World's Greatest Dad" shirt to the rendez-vous. Though a spokesman for Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox could not confirm whether Everett has children, the AG said...read more...A celeb-crazed society is missing its values | Moms Miami A celeb-crazed society is missing its values
Unless you live under a rock, you've probably already heard that Brangelina gave birth to twins in France over the weekend. Whopee! People magazine is reportedly paying the movie stars $11 million for photos of the cherubs. That turns my stomach. What kind of society have we created? At least Brangelina is donating the money to charity. read more...Rehabilitation or punishment? | Moms Miami Rehabilitation or punishment?
A 12-year-old Broward boy has accepted a plea deal (read the story here) in the killing of his baby cousin. Police say he beat her with a baseball bat because her crying wouldn't let him watch television. He'll be in a high risk juvenile center for 18 months. Is that fair? Will he be rehabilitated? Or will he be released, anger unchecked, to go on to a life of crime? I'm hoping he gets a lot of counseling...read more...Beer pong for children? | Moms Miami Beer pong for children?
Unfortunately, I'm quite familiar with the party game "Beer Pong." It was one of the many things I was introduced to when my older children returned from college. Now I come to find out that there is a video game made of this frat entertainment and it has been rated okay for kids. Read here . When some parents complained, the name of the video was changed, but BP still appears. Who do they think they're fooling?read more...The neighborhood is changing | Moms Miami The neighborhood is changing
I live in a neighborhood where most of the neighbors know each other. We've all lived in our homes for quite a few years and seen each other's children grow up. While that's a wonderful experience, it can also be bittersweet. This Fourth of July there were no kids around to set off the block's fireworks display. They were either out of the house or had their own plans. Though I'm glad we older parents now have...read more...working moms vs. stay-at-homes | Moms Miami working moms vs. stay-at-homes
For as long as I've been a mother -- which is a long time -- there has been a debate about who does a better job of mothering and taking care of the family: stay at home or work outside home. I doubt that argument will ever be settled, but it turns out the two groups have a lot more in common. This story http://www.momlogic.com/2008/07/sahm_wahm_happiness_poll.php?icid=100214839x1204880052x1200231518 talks about what...read more...What's happened to all the lemonade stands? | Moms Miami What's happened to all the lemonade stands?
Driving home from work yesterday, it occurred to me that I never see lemonade stands by the side of the road anymore. Is that true in other neighborhoods? When I was growing up and long past then, kids manned stands to sell everything from lemonade to mangoes. No more. I wonder if it's because so many kids are in camp or because parents are fearful. read more...Too much free time for teens? | Moms Miami Too much free time for teens?
These may be the lazy, hazy days of summer for our children, but they sure aren't any more relaxing for those of us who are working. I find school-less days particularly disconcerting. I still have to put in my hours, but my teenage children are free to roam and stay up until all hours -- with reduced supervision. Too old for camp and too young to work full-time in a real job (not the chores I assign them), these teens...read more...Let's talk flexibility, Boss | Moms Miami Let's talk flexibility, Boss
I've long thought I have the perfect job, and one of the reasons I appreciate it to so much is because I telecommute. In other words, I work mostly from home. The arrangement has done wonders for both my mental sanity and job production. Yet, it came as no surprise to read a report that says the U.S. lags behind other developed countries in its flexible work offerings. Read more here...read more...Following dad's lead | Moms Miami Following dad's lead
Listen up, moms. We can learn plenty from stay-at-home dads who aren't tied up in knots about keeping a perfect house. Tunrs out that male primary caregivers spend less time on housework and cooking -- and more time on leisure activities, according to a time use study. Married stay-at-home moms spend 1.61 hours a day on housework and 1.41 hours on food prep and clean-up, while their male stay-at-home counterparts spend just...read more...Makes me feel like a slacker | Moms Miami Makes me feel like a slacker
I'm a relatively high-energy person and get a lot of things done in my day, but there are some people who make me feel like a total slacker. Prime example: The mother of 1-year-old sextuplets trained and ran a real marathon recently. The Marathon Woman, Jenny Masche, said she practiced after the babies went to sleep about 7 p.m. (And she wasn't exhausted after a day of dealing with not one but six babies?!) Her husband...read more...We're responsible for WHAT? | Moms Miami We're responsible for WHAT?
If you chaperone your kids' field trips, you need to read this: A court in Hawaii ruled that a mother chaperoning a cheerleading trip to Hawaii had to pay the parents of one of her wards $690,000. The case involved an 18-year-old high school student who fell to her death from a Maui hotel balcony. According to an AP story, "Lauren Crossan, of Randolph, N.J., had traveled to Hawaii in 2004 with Susanne Sadler, Sadler's...read more...Competition for college | Moms Miami Competition for college
Worried about your kid's college future? Well, worry some more. The Today Show featured a kid who got into seven Ivy League colleges as well as a long list of others. More amazing -- he learned English only five years ago, when his family came from Poland. He is headed for Harvard. I think he exemplifies the quality -- and high stakes -- of the full contact sport known as "getting in" As I listened...read more...Sexual equality? Don't think so | Moms Miami Sexual equality? Don't think so
I don't think this is what our foremothers meant by sexual equality, but something strange -- and creepy -- is going on. Two Pennsylvania mothers were arrested after a co-ed party they were hosting/chaperoning/whatever turned sexual. According to police, after the girls left, one of the mothers had sex with two boys, 14 and 15. The other mom allegedly did nothing about it. What's with all these women having sex with...read more...Can you drown-proof your child? | Moms Miami Can you drown-proof your child?
Parenting involves a lot of worry as we all know, but few things trouble me as much as backyard pools. Yesterday during a Father's Day barbecue, we had my twin granddaughters, 9 months, in the pool. They splashed and they giggled and had a grand time. We talked about the best waterproofing classes for children that age. I took my own kids to "swim" lessons before they were a year old. Of course this wasn't a...read more...A bittersweet Father's Day | Moms Miami A bittersweet Father's Day
Father's Day at my house tends to be a bittersweet affair. My children's father died more than 13 years ago, and the holiday is always a reminder of his absence. Yet, my second husband has become a wonderful pinch-hitter. For all intents and purposes, he has raised my two youngest. He serves as a male role model for the three older ones. This year we'll add a little more sweetness. My eldest son celebrates his first...read more...Are we spending our time wisely? | Moms Miami Are we spending our time wisely?
Mothers are doing more paid work -- 14 hours more, to be exact -- than they did 40 years ago, according to the American Time Use Survey, a time diary collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. We've swiped those hours from housework. We do less of it. My abode is the perfect example. I don't keep as neat and clean a home as my mother did. On weekends I try to improve my domestic talents, but usually attempts fall by the...read more...Throw this teacher out of the classroom | Moms Miami Throw this teacher out of the classroom
A kindergarten teacher in Port St. Luice asked her students to say what they didn't like about one of their classmates, a 5-year-old who is in the process of being diagnosed with autism. After they went around the room, she then took a vote -- and the poor child was voted out of the class 14-2. The student's mother filed a complaint and the school system is investigating the case. This is such a heartbreaking case. The...read more...Summer: enrichment or relaxation? | Moms Miami Summer: enrichment or relaxation?
Every ad I see for summer camp seems to promise the undeliverable: making your child the next Einstein. And if not the next math genius, then the next star baseball player, star equestrian, star dancer or star something. My children are long past the age of summer camp, so that gives me a little hindsight to analyze if all that money I spent for camps was well worth it. I was working most of those weeks, of course, so I...read more...How many kids REALLY went to school today? | Moms Miami How many kids REALLY went to school today?
I confess. I allowed my 17-year-old son to do something today that I never let his older siblings do. He got to stay home on the last day of school. Because he had already taken his AP tests, most of his classes had pretty much wound down for the year days ago. I know he isn't missing anything. Nonetheless I feel guilty, very guilty. After all, I always preach that half the job is simply showing up. So I negotiated a...read more...Best punishment? Unplug your kids | Moms Miami Best punishment? Unplug your kids
More than 50 percent of young people say they can't live without their cell phones, according to a survey I read. I suspected as much. I had to punish my youngest and what did I take away? The phone. Actually, I took away more than that, but it was all electronic. I think the absence of the phone will hurt him most. According to this study, the most popular features on the kids' cell phones are text messaging, taking...read more...Tipping the scales | Moms Miami Tipping the scales
Here's some good news for parents worried about their children's weight. After 25 years in which the percentage of overweight children kept rising, new figures suggest the climb may have peaked. Statistics released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for 2003-4 and 2005-6 show a leveling off, with roughly 32 percent of children overweight or obese. Of course, 32 percent is way, way too much. We need to watch...read more...Sleepovers and the unintended consequences | Moms Miami Sleepovers and the unintended consequences
As a kid I never got to sleep over any friend's house. At bedtime I was in my bunk under my parents' roof, no two ways about it. I've allowed my children to sleep over friends as soon as they felt comfortable enough to do so. Of course I vetted the parents thoroughly. Now, however, I'm thinking of pulling back from such a practice. Every time my kids stay over, they return home super grumpy. They don't sleep the...read more...Are today's kids smarter? | Moms Miami Are today's kids smarter?
I had the honor to be a presenter at last night's Silver Knights and as always I was impressed by these students. They are incredibly inspiring, not only for their community service but their academic success. Backstage we adults discussed these accomplishments and concluded that back in the day our friends weren't nearly as gifted or driven. This opinion was backed up by two former Silver Knights, one an ambassador and the...read more...If you make more money than your hubby... | Moms Miami If you make more money than your hubby...
...or even if you don't, here's a summary of a survey taken aout marriage happiness for female breadwinners. A survey conducted last month by BettyConfidential.com revealed that most women in this role are simultaneously proud of themselves and resentful of their husbands. “Perhaps because of what we’ve witnessed in popular culture – with couples like Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe – I...read more...Counting down the days... | Moms Miami Counting down the days...
...to the end of the school year is what my kids are doing. I think they're even counting down the hours. They claim school is pretty much over because they've already taken their APs. Finals (supposedly) are a breeze after those exams. Of course I know that's not true. I see them working on projects and poring over the last part of their textbooks. Physically they're present, but their minds are elsewhere. This...read more...When you want to kill your teen | Moms Miami When you want to kill your teen
I need drugs. Really. I need something to get me through the adolescence of three teenagers, all of whom think they don't have to follow the rules. I started my day bright and early with an email from my son's history teacher about how he was disrupting class and making disrespectful comments. I was livid, appalled, ticked off. He has been doing this more and more because he thinks he's hot stuff. That's my take on...read more...Cutbacks and touchdowns | Moms Miami Cutbacks and touchdowns
Read or listen to the latest economic news and you'd probably conclude that the world is going to hell in a handbasket. At least I feel that way with the relentless stream of layoffs, firings and budget cuts. The toughest cuts have been, I believe, in our local public schools. Dozens of psychologists and other valuable personnel will be let go. Programs will be trimmed and transportation to magnet schools cut. A sign of...read more...Mother's Day Hangover | Moms Miami Mother's Day Hangover
When my children were younger, my friends used to tell me that we were an "instant party" because when I brought all five of them, the real excitement began. Same is true today. When they gathered to fete me yesterday, the real excitement began. Yet, during all this merriment and food, I found myself thinking about my own mother and how much I missed her. How much she had influenced me. How much she had made me the woman...read more...Pools and babies | Moms Miami Pools and babies
We are babysitting my twin granddaughters tonight and I'm so excited I can barely get my work done. They're like a sprinkle of glitter in my work week. At eight months, they're really showing their personalities -- and experimenting with everything. They've been standing by themselves for the last month, which I think is pretty precocious (brag, brag), and they play with all their toys. But because they're...read more...Mother's Day -- a real holiday? | Moms Miami Mother's Day -- a real holiday?
I'll be blasphemous here: I don't want all the commotion I will be getting Sunday. I don't want any attention. I don't want any gifts. No jewelry. No perfume, No flowers. No clothing. Nada. Really. I just want to be left alone. Actually, better than that. I want everybody in my family to do what they're supposed to do. Pick up their rooms. Put away their laundry. Clean up after themselves. Complete their...read more...Are you in business? | Moms Miami Are you in business?
I've always wondered what it would be like to own my own business -- but I've never figured out what kind of business that would be. Then a friend pointed out the obvious I hadn't seen. I AM my own business. As a writer and novelist, my product is out there in words. I just don't have employees or a shop. Hmm. Here are some more interesting facts about mompreneurs, according to a QuickBooks survey commissioned by...read more...Should you read your kids' notes? | Moms Miami Should you read your kids' notes?
My son was using my computer last night and left his IMs open when I went upstairs to use it. For about half a second I told myself that I should just close the window and mind my own business. I didn't. There was nothing offensive or revealing. I mentioned what I did to a friend who said I shouldn't have. I was barging into his privacy. Really? read more...The AP frenzy | Moms Miami The AP frenzy
My house has become command central for the final frenzy of year-end tests. Both of my sons are cramming for APs. In addition, my 11th grader has some International Baccalaureate exams coming up. Can you spell stress? I can't remember it being so exhausting and rigorous when I was in high school. Back in the Stone Age, students took one or two APs, and they were good to go. I'm not saying it was better back then, but I do...read more...Prom night -- bigger than ever or simply more dangerous? | Moms Miami Prom night -- bigger than ever or simply more dangerous?
Friends stopped by last night and we ended up talking about their son's preparations for prom. Mom was appalled (and worried) about the fact that her son and a group of other students were renting a suite at a hotel. A parent had advanced them a credit card. She was worried about what they would do -- namely drinking and sex. "We never did that when I was in high school." My older kids, all of whom went to the prom...read more...Can parents ever really get away? | Moms Miami Can parents ever really get away?
When my children were younger, traveling without them was like preparing for D-Day. I planned my getaway for days, lining up full-time sitters (usually my mom), rides to games, pick ups after practices etc. The return was just as frantic, catching up with mail, homework, field trip handouts and whatever else had happened during my absence. I figured once they were older, once they could more or less fend for themselves, it would be...read more...Pushing teens out of the nest | Moms Miami Pushing teens out of the nest
This has been a good day -- namely because I haven't had an argument with one of the three teenagers who live with me. I remember the good old days, when they loved hanging out with me. So what happened? Hormones, I suppose. Peers. Search for independence and, of course, the need to break away. The skirmishes I have with my teenagers over messy bedrooms, sloppy homework, inappropriate language is all part of growing up and away....read more...
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