PARENTING & RELATIONSHIPS

Single Moms Make Money Going Back To School
For four years, I have had a free education and earned money as a single mom going to night school. It's easy to get grants and funding, especially through community college or the University of Phoenix.

Best and Worst - Toddler Birthday Parties
Having run a day-care center, I have been to lots of toddler birthday parties. Here are some warnings about places and situations to avoid with some recommendations on more suitable places for toddler parties.

Festival of Ice in Down Town St. Charles, Great Family Event - Were you there? See Photos
Each year St. Charles, Missouri hosts an Ice Carving Contest in Historic Down Town, See the awesome detailed sculptures and those who created them as well as the crowded streets and activities around the event.

Fun Idea for Bonding with Your Teen - Old Blockbuster Movies for $2.99
Ever rent a movie and watch it only to realize you saw it before? Here are some awesome all-star movies worth watching again that we bought at Blockbuster for just $2.99, each brand new. My teenagers had a great time watching these with us.

Baby Names Beware - These Names are Typically Reduced to Nick Names
If you don't want your child's birth name to be reduced to a simplified nick name that could be the source for immature taunting, you may want to avoid these names that can be easily shortened.

Romantic Peaceful Getaways in St. Charels Wine Country - Not just for Honeymoons, here are some great ideas for a Valentines Weekend or any other occasion. One place looks like a great stress reliever.

Functional Family Vs. Dysfunctional Family
By looking at the qualities of the functional family, you can more easily assess the abusive patterns of a dysfunctional family. The biggest mistake parents make is not validating their children.

Make Your Teenage Daughter Feel Special
When your daughter turns 14 she will become more independent than ever. Be sure you still show her how much you care by providing her with emotional support and love or she will try to fill that void somewhere else, usually with the opposite sex.

Toddler Activity: Making Play Doh Characters Using Mr. Potato Head Parts
Finding fun activities to keep your toddler busy can be challenging. Making Play Doh characters with Mr. Potato Head Parts can be super fun and keep young ones occupied for hours.

Snacks for Kids - Sharing Cherries with Your Toddler
Making snack time an event with your toddler can encourage them to eat foods that are not only fun, but good for them. Cherries provide lots of health benefits for you and your child, and create opportunities for learning and fun.

Teens with the Munchies like These Yummy Quick Foods
If your teen is having a party or just having a group of friends over on Friday night, you need to stock up on these awesome treats recommended by my sons friends who are all 15 to 17 years old.

Getting Your Teens to Talk
Getting your teenagers to talk to you about their personal agendas doesn't have to be like pulling teeth. Creating an open and honest relationship of mutual respect is the best way to get your teenagers to open up to you.

Toys to Keep Toddlers Busy
I have found there are several time tested items that children, ages 2 to 3, never seem to get bored with. When shopping for your toddler, here are some great ideas that seem to engage and hold a toddlers attention.

Family Fun: Things to Do in St. Charles, Missouri, in December
There's no need for you and your family to be bored when you live in St. Charles, Missouri. Here's a list of 31 fun things to do for the entire month of December. Includes traditional holiday, active fun, movies, shopping and more.

Creating Romantic Excitement in Your Relationship: Fun Adventure-Starting Tactics
If you want to keep the one you got, try making your relationship fun and exciting with these fun, adventure-starting tactics.

How to Get Your Wife into Bed After a Busy Day
Guys have no idea how to get a woman to feel sexy. A woman must feel appreciated. Without much effort, here is how you can make your woman feel sexy.

Fun Stuff for Teens to Do on School Break In and Around St. Charles, Missouri
Your school break doesn't have to be boring. Don't sit on the couch watching TV or waste away in front of your Facebook page talking about how bored you are. Get out and have some fun. Here are some great places to go with friends.

Toddlers Love Blankets with Tags
My child became obsessed with tags when he was 6 months old. I made him a blanket with tags to keep him from digging in his clothes. Now, he can't live without it.

Finding Age-Appropriate Xbox Games for a 2-Year-Old
After learning how to play preschool games online, my toddler has now graduated to playing the original Xbox system that my older son no longer uses. Finding age-appropriate games for him on the old system was kind of a challenge.

Teaching Children to Love Learning Through Hands-On Experience
The College School in Webster Groves, Missouri, just outside of St. Louis, offers "experiential education" instead of the traditional, sit at your desk, classroom setting offered by Missouri public schools.

Cardboard Boxes - Fun for Kids, Sanity for Moms
Kids are crazy. They spend more time playing with the cardboard boxes than they do the expensive toys we buy them for Christmas. Here's some of the things they did with our moving boxes.

Using Recyclables to Make Christmas Ornaments
Another rainy day at Miss Lisa's Daycare. Today we made Christmas ornaments from our recyclables.

Breakfast for Lunch - Getting Kids to Eat the Meals You Serve
Getting kids to eat what you serve them is sometimes a challenge. Most kids typically like breakfast foods. If you are having problems getting your child to eat lunch and dinner, but they love breakfast, try serving them one of these...

What to Play Indoors when the Weather is Cold, Rainy
Today we played inside because of the cold, rainy weather.

Don't Let Winter Weather Trap You and Your Toddler
The winter months can create a challenge when trying to find an outlet for your child to exert extra energy. Because the park is out of the question, try one of these amusement venues for full a day of fun.

Carefree Field Trips for Toddlers
By asking yourself these simple questions before taking your toddler on a field trip, you can avoid accidents, tantrums and total frustration that could cause your trip to end abruptly.

Web Sites that Help Your Toddler Learn to Use the Computer
Learning computer skills at an early age is as important as learning how to count or say the alphabet. It will be expected from your child as early as kindergarten. Here are some Web sites and tips to help prepare your child.

Great Gifts for Your Teen Girl Don't Have to Be Expensive
Girls are easy to please with basic gift ideas. The Dollar Tree offers a lot of basics for teen girl gifts and gift baskets with everything for $1 each. See these great ideas my teenage daughter rated for you.

10 Things to Do with Your Toddler at the Beach
The beach is an amazing place for toddlers to experience. It is full of magical and mystifying activity. There is so much for them to learn and enjoy at that age. Here are 10 things you can do with your toddler at the beach.

Toddlers and Technology
Technology has advanced so much in the past 30 years. If you don't believe me, just ask my 2-year-old son.

What Are My Teens Doing on Facebook?
Concerned about the amount of time your teen is spending on the Internet? My daughter added me as a friend on her Facebook, and I was surprised at the content and blogs. See what teens are talking about.