The Ziploc Barf Bag

Oh my gosh, where was this idea when I was in my child rearing years?! A friend of mine told me about this, as her kids were ALL just sick with the stomach flu, and I thought it was genius: using Ziploc bags for barf bags. How many times in my children's youth did I have to clean out the barf bucket by the bedside because things came on too quickly to make it to the bathroom? With a Ziploc bag you can zip it up and throw it out. No mess, no stench. This is even more perfect if you have kids prone to motion sickness in the car when a bathroom just isn't available...and at less than 10 cents a bag that's the perfect solution in my book! Road trip anyone?

Helping Your Daughter Into Puberty

 Guest Writer: Amy Hamblin

Amy Hamblin, one of our MIA guest writers is back! She is moving quickly into the next stage of parenting with her oldest - a teenage girl. Let us all have a moment of silence for Amy.......

In her first post back on Family Strong she is sharing a book that has helped her greatly in easing that bundle of hormones into puberty. If you have a daughter about to make the great journey, this just might be the ticket for you. 

10 Ways To Teach Kids Gratitude

We have incredibly blessed lives. When you really take the time to look at the world around you it's easy to see just how many blessings you have: a roof over your head, shoes on your feet and food on the table seem like insignificant things, but they are luxuries that many don't have. I think it's important for us to teach our kids gratitude for the things most take for granted. Here are 10 suggestions to help.

Have A Cooking Day With The Kids

Saturday, September 13th, is "Kids Take Over The Kitchen" day. This is an awesome opportunity for kids to get their hands dirty and learn from start to finish what goes into preparing a meal. There are several reasons why getting your kids into the kitchen is a great idea, and I go over the most important (in my opinion). So, get out the aprons and let the kids do the cooking this weekend.

I Was Spanked As A Child

I am here to admit that I was, in fact, spanked as a child. I am opening up to my parents abuse of me. What cruel, mean and amazing parents. I deserved every single spank I ever got. I grew up balanced, loving and caring for others. I am not a bully. I am not aggressive. I am not an abusive parent. I am just the way I should be. And, yes, I spanked my kids.

If You CatchYour Kid In A Lie

I'm posting a great video today on the topic of kids lying. We have always had an open book policy in our home, and the kids could come and talk to us about anything - and we tried not to freak out too much. However, it didn't keep them from lying occasionally, usually to keep from getting into trouble. There are many reasons a child will lie to you: this video is awesome in giving some great ideas in dealing with it.

Don't You Dare Do It! But, Let's Talk.

Don't stay out past midnight! Don't drink! Don't take drugs! Don't hang out with that crowd! Don't color your hair blue! Don't get a tattoo or body piercings! And, for God's sake, don't have sex!!!

This is what many teens face with their parents: I did. Not open for discussion. Period.

I raised my kids a little differently than this.

I Think I Can, I Think I Can

By Amy Hamblin
 

Do you ever have those days where you try and try but your kids just kept getting the best of you?  I have one child who just always challenges everything I say.  It is completely exhausting.  Sometimes when this child walks into the room I tell myself, “be patient, be patient.”  Sometimes it works but sometimes…not so much.

11 Rules Your Kids Will NOT Learn In School

We have somehow, in our quest to raise confident children, created a world in where all kids are wrapped in bubble wrap: instead of confidence we have given them a warped sense of reality. "Everyone wins", "I'll drive you, it's not safe to walk or ride your bike anywhere", "If you go to college you will make $100K plus in life"..... this certainly wasn't how I was raised. I rode my bike EVERYWHERE, my parents couldn't be bothered with taking me places. I NEVER got a trophy or an award unless I earned it and I certainly didn't think I was going to be making that kind of money unless I worked my ass off and worked my way up in the world.

Pet Benefits

by Amy Hamblin

I come from a long line of pet haters.  If you told any of my family members that they were pet haters they would deny it:  we all know, however, that they would be lying.  They would give excuses like, “as long as they are outside pets” or “if I didn’t have to feed them or pet them”.  Yeah, my family is full of pet haters.  I have to admit that I am one myself BUT a few years ago read about the benefits for kids of having pets. After that we went to the Humane Society and bought our cat Tiger.

The Man Cave: Letting Go as a Parent

I'm not going to lie: I don't really have a strong topic today. Just some random thoughts and feelings (wait...do feelings belong in the Man Cave?) about when and how to start letting your kids find their own way through life.

The Man Cave: Strength Through Struggle

I hear people all the time pose the questions "If God is exists, why does he allow so many evil things to happen in the world?"

If God is there, allowing bad things to happen, I like to think it's because he is a wise parent.

Let Them Cook For You Once In A While

Guest Writer: Amy Hamblin

I remember back when I was in fourth grade:  It seems like the world was a different place then, or  maybe it was just my world because of the situation that we lived in.  With a single Mom and 4 or 5 kids still at home everyone had no choice but to do their part.  I do not regret the experience though because I learned so many amazing skills at such a young age. 

I'm Taking My Little Girl To College Today

We are climbing into our vehicle in just a few short hours for the drive to Jess's new home. As I type this I have butterflies in my tummy. This is certainly going to be a new adventure for both of us, but most especially Jess. Will tears ensue? Only time will tell.

The Man Cave: The First Ten

Regular Man Cave readers already know I'm big on spending as much time with kids as possible in order to seize teaching opportunities when they occur. Since it's the kids who choose them they can be tough to predict, but I've found certain moments to be more likely than others.

Especially the first ten.

The Goal In Parenting Is For Your Kids To Leave

As you know, I just spent the last two days at Central Washington University with Jessica at her freshman orientation. I really have mixed emotions going on right now about my baby leaving home. We are very close and I will miss having her around me, but I am also very excited for her to grow into the woman she was meant to be. I had an eye opening moment while there I would like to share.

Schools Out And You're At Work

Guest writer: MJ Smout

Ahh, summertime is here again!  This can be an enjoyable, relaxing time of year unless you are a single parent and your children are too old for daycare.  Then it’s:  ‘Now that school is out what will the kids do for the next two months?’  Well, with no money for day camps and no family nearby who could take kids all day, we had to make our own plans.

The Man Cave: Top 10 Things I Want My Graduating Senior To Know

It's that graduation time of year. High school seniors across the country are celebrating their accomplishment by donning funky hats and gathering in gyms, arenas, and stadiums to listen to speeches prepared by their fellow classmates. This year, my daughter Jessica is among them. The speeches she will hear at her commencement ceremony will be full of bright-eyed optimism and youthful exuberance, and that's great, but before she goes out into the world there are a few things I want her to hear from me too. You could call this my commencement address to the Cheney Class of 2011.

Dealing With Bullies: Reader Response

Meet Corrine. Corrine is one of my best friends and the inspiration behind my post "Dealing With Bullies". No, not because Corrine is a bully, but because her son is having a hard time with bullies at school.

Josh is one of the most kindhearted kids you will ever meet, but he is different and the kids at school know that: Josh has autism. Here are Corrine's words on what it is like to be a parent of a bullied child.

Dealing With Bullies

I hate bullies! Always have... not that anyone loves a bully, but I have a zero tolerance for one person exerting their "power" over another. I can never sit idly by when I see a person being cowed by someone else: no matter what the situation is. 

It's important to teach our kids how to treat others around them, even if they are different: to be able to stick up for the kids being bullied, even if it's difficult: to be able to know what to do when being bullied, even if it's scary.