Julie Rains's blog

Good, Clean Eating: What Works At My House

Posted 1 week 3 days ago by Julie Rains

Nutrition

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Is getting your family to eat a healthy diet beyond your reach? Despite my insistence on natural, not-overly-processed foods, my kids still love Frosted S’Mores-flavored Pop-Tarts and fast-food burgers. Tosca Reno, mother of three, shares her approach for encouraging healthy habits in her book The Eat-Clean Diet for Family & Kids. I’ll tell you what’s worked at my house.

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Six Secrets To My Sanity

Posted 4 weeks 2 days ago by Julie Rains

Wellness

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Does being a mom (or dad) ever drive you crazy? Here are my secrets to staying sane.

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What College Admissions Officers Won’t Tell You And More

Posted 18 weeks 2 days ago by Julie Rains

High School, Higher Education

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College admissions officers try to position their colleges as selective by spouting statistics that make acceptance seem elusive. They may tell you, for example, that the university received 12,000 applications for 1,600 openings in its freshman class. You may assume that the university has an acceptance rate of 13.33% but your math (though reasonable) would be wrong. I’ll tell you what college admissions officers won’t tell you and more.

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Are Mothers Of Boys (Only) Considered Real Moms?

Posted 24 weeks 11 hours ago by Julie Rains

Culture, Extra Curricular

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I’ll admit that as the mom of 2 male children and no female ones, I sometimes feel invalidated in my motherhood. Am I being overly sensitive or is there a bias against moms with sons?

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Should I Get My Kids Ready For College Or Life?

Posted 29 weeks 1 day ago by Julie Rains

Education

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A couple of months ago I went to a community breakfast with Dr. Mel Levine, developmental pediatrician, best-selling author, and one-time Oprah guest. Hosted by a private school affiliated with his Schools Attuned program, Levine told his overachievement-oriented audience that parents should focus on preparing their children for life, not college.

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Making A Memorable Valentine's Day Treasure

Posted 35 weeks 1 day ago by Julie Rains

Social Skills

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Looking for a creative, memorable, enriching, and fun Valentine’s Day activity? Here’s an easy one that will help spread kindness and appreciation.

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Waiting For The Impulsive Brain To Mature

Posted 37 weeks 1 day ago by Julie Rains

Discipline, K-8

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ScienceDaily reports “In youth with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the brain matures in a normal pattern but is delayed three years in some regions, on average, compared to youth without the disorder...” What does this mean for parents of overly active, somewhat impulsive, and imperfectly inattentive children?

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The Childbirth Resort: Hospital and Birth Center Differences

Posted 38 weeks 4 days ago by Julie Rains

Birth

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What’s the advantage of giving birth at a freestanding birth center rather than a community hospital? For me, it was a hot tub, Gatorade, and SWAT-team avoidance.

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Children's Consignment Sale Clears Closet, Yields Cash

Posted 40 weeks 4 days ago by Julie Rains

Finances, Pre School

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Want to get rid of clothing that your kids have outgrown, find bargain kids’ stuff, make money, and raise funds for your favorite cause? Participate in a children’s clothing consignment sale or organize your own.

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Phonics Resources At Your Fingertips

Posted 41 weeks 6 days ago by Julie Rains

Learning Tools

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Looking for phonics resources? Here are some ideas on how to find what you need and what worked for me.

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