Wednesday, January 9, 2013
There has been recent talk of longer school days, but one mom doesn't believe it's the right option for children.
Lately there has been a lot of talk about increasing the length of time that students spend in the classroom each day. Recently, it was announced that a pilot program will be introduced in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Tennessee and Colorado that will allow some cities and towns to lengthen the school day. The goal is to determine if the move to a longer school day will help students to achieve more academically. Here in Massachusetts, two towns, Lawrence and Fall River, are expected to participate in the program which will add approximately 300 hours of learning time to the school year. The pilot program is expected to continue for approximately three years. Now, let’s face it. As moms we do joke around a lot about dying for …
Thursday, January 3, 2013
The recent tragedy at Sandy Hook serves as a reminder that life is short, and 2013 is a great time to enjoy and appreciate the people in your life.
Every year, New Year’s arrives, and we as moms feel obligated to make promises to change our lives. We vow to stay ahead of the laundry pile, to make healthier meals for our kids, to keep our home completely clutter free and, of course, to fit back into our skinny jeans. This year, however, I don’t think I’m alone is saying that I’m tired of the same old pressure to make the New Year a perfect one. As a matter of fact, I’m very content to admit I’m not perfect and simply move on. Yes, it would be nice to wake up every day knowing that no one would need to rifle through the laundry basket to find clean socks and underwear for the day. It would be incredible to realize that an unexpected knock at the front door wouldn’t mean that I needed …
Thursday, October 4, 2012
While moms always make sure their children take care of themselves, they don't always remember to think of their own health as well.
It’s hard to get through the month of October without realizing that it is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It seems that for 31 days everyone wants to wear pink in support of breast cancer education, research and awareness. Originally founded over 25 years ago, Breast Cancer Awareness Month is, as their website explains, “a collaboration of national public service organizations, professional medical associations, and government agencies working together to promote breast cancer awareness, share information on the disease, and provide greater access to services.” With a number of collaborating organizations including The American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists…
Thursday, September 20, 2012
When the cell phone breaks, it takes away a major method of communication between parents and children.
Last weekend I had what could possibly be one of the most harrowing experiences that a “work form home” mom could possibly have. My cell phone stopped working. Ok, it might sound like a simple fix to some of you out there but when your cell phone is your lifeline to both your job and your kids, losing it is anything but simple. Let’s face it the facts here. Text messages, emails, and calls are probably the most important forms of communication that we have at our disposal these days. Being able to take those communications everywhere we go is simply a “given” these days. Yes, I return emails between innings at little league games and yes, I respond to text messages while I volunteer at the Pop Warner snack shack. Mobile communication is …
Saturday, August 18, 2012
As Red Sox Nation mourns the loss of Johnny Pesky, Christine MacKenzie says the team has lost a true hero.
For as long as I can remember, I have been a baseball fan. My dad was a baseball fan, my uncles were baseball fans and, yes, they inspired me to become a baseball fan. Some of my best memories of growing up involve heading to Fenway Park with my father and his brother, Joe. My son has inherited the same love for baseball. Despite the fact that my father died many years before my son was born, I like to think that, somehow, baseball and my father are still one in the same. I like to feel that, even though they never met, my son and my father share a very special bond in the game of baseball. Yesterday, Boston lost a Red Sox Legend when Johnny Pesky passed away at 92 years old. Pesky, who wore jersey number six, was the first player in Red …
Friday, July 20, 2012
A pair of sports quotes serve as a reminder for one local mom.
As parents we try to help our children become successful. We teach them to set goals, work hard and achieve the best. Sounds simple enough, right? Well, reality is, just like every other aspect of parenting teaching our kids to find success isn’t always an easy task. Let’s face it there’s a fine line between encouraging success and simply pushing kids too hard. How, exactly, do you encourage kids to have goals but, at the same time, remind them that they may not reach each and every one of them? As the mom of a 12-year-old boy I find that many of the lessons I try to teach come in the form of sports references. Ironically, this weekend, I came across two quotes that were simply worth sharing. The first was on Tewksbury Congregational …
Friday, July 13, 2012
Though summer trips are fun, they can also bring plenty of stress with them.
For many of us we spend all year waiting for our summer vacation. That one chance to get away with no cooking, no cleaning and a little peace and quiet, right? Well, perhaps it isn’t quite that simple. Truth of the matter is that, sometimes, family vacations can be more stressful than just staying home. Small children, faraway places, long car rides and too little sleep can be a recipe for vacation disaster. Right after my son was born we began our annual pilgrimage to Martha’s Vineyard. Sure it’s close to home but, reality is, the trip can be somewhat grueling. I’ll never forget the first year we went and all the mistakes we made. First and foremost was timing the travel days. As anyone who frequents Cape Cod knows traffic on a weekend …
Friday, June 29, 2012
What are your thoughts on this Marlborough mom's actions? Let us know in the comments section below.
By now we have all seen the latest viral video to hit You Tube. The scene was hectic as a Marlborough hockey mom, upset that the referees weren’t responding to a fight quickly enough, walked out onto the ice, pocketbook and all, to take matters into her own hands. It seems that hockey mom, Gina O’Toole, had seen enough and decided that if she didn’t step out onto the ice and set the referees straight, the situation would continue to get out of hand. As a matter of fact she even went so far so far as to “order” the referee off the ice. Needless to say he wasn’t impressed. In an interview with ABC News she explained, “What concerned me was the feeling of the blows to the back of the head and a child going down to the ice with maybe a …
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Children go through stages but what do you do when that stage means they don't need mom as much?
As moms we know all to well that children go through stages. Not every child goes through every stage but, reality is, they all have ups and downs. There are babies who can’t bear to give up binkies and bottles, toddlers who want nothing to do with anyone but their mom, kids that cry every day as they leave for kindergarten and an endless variety of daily crisis that only a mom can fix. No two kids are the same, no two stages are the same and no two moms handle things the same way. Somehow we all survive and, as if by miracle, seem no worse for wear in the long run. Yes, it’s a dark little secret and no one likes so say it out loud but sometimes, even the best moms, feel a bit smothered by our kids. We love our kids and we would do …
Thursday, May 31, 2012
While BBQs and baseball are fun, it's important to remember why days like Monday are so important.
This week we celebrated Memorial Day, the unofficial start to the New England summer. We often associate Memorial Day with the weekend the pool gets opened, the first trip to the beach for the summer, a chance to cookout with family and friends, the green light to resume wearing white for the summer and, of course, three days without school or work. For my family it was a weekend filled with a Little League tournament and a trip to Fenway Park to watch the Red Sox. What struck me this weekend, however, is that many of us have also forgotten the real reason we celebrate Memorial Day. Sure, the parades and the cookouts are fun, but shouldn’t we take a little time to remind our kids what the holiday is really all about? Originally named “…
B Springer
10:04 am on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
I would not like to see our school days increased although I understand that some cities have had success with such programs, especially in neighborhoods where there is no safe after-school refuge. Personally, I'd rather have my kids home with me earlier in the day. Having said that, if they lengthened the school day but eliminated homework, I may feel differently!! more ›