Lain Ehmann's blog
About Lain Ehmann
Lain is mom to three and a transplanted Californian living in a converted barn in New EnglandLain Ehmann's profile
Posted 16 hours 5 min ago by Lain Ehmann
Home Life
Matching your sofa upholstery to the shade of the P in your kids' PB&J sandwich may not be your idea of high style, but you could do worse. According to interior designer Debbie Wiener, author of "Slob Proof: Real-Life Design Solutions" (Alpha, 2010), "Real-life design isn't art -- it's smart!"
full story
Posted March 17, 2010 - 10:47 by Lain Ehmann
Planning
We've been thinking about having another baby. Problem: Are we too old?
full story
Posted March 12, 2010 - 12:55 by Lain Ehmann
Entertainment
With the plethora of book-based movies recently released and coming out this spring for kids (A Christmas Carol, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Coraline, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, and Alice in Wonderland, to name just a few), the question is, do you make your kids read the book before they see the movie?
full story
Posted March 12, 2010 - 11:07 by Lain Ehmann
Learning Tools
Even the youngest kids gravitate naturally towards books -- especially if they're widely available in their home space. This week, we cover a variety of ways to encourage kids of all ages to crack a book every now and then -- just for fun!
full story
Posted March 9, 2010 - 19:22 by Lain Ehmann
Relationships
Whether your spouse is on the road for business, an older sibling is heading off for sleep-away camp, or an ever-present grandparent goes on an extended trip, even a temporary break-up in the family unit can make things scary for the little ones left behind.
full story
Posted March 8, 2010 - 08:27 by Lain Ehmann
Nutrition
Got a bottomless pit at your house? This guide will show you the ins and outs of keeping your teenage boy's fire stoked.
full story
Posted March 6, 2010 - 05:03 by Lain Ehmann
Learning Tools
Science fair season has arrived! Here are our tips for keeping your sanity while helping Junior earn his lab coat.
full story
Posted February 28, 2010 - 12:59 by Lain Ehmann
Announcements
Walt Disney Studios has offered Parenting Squad readers an opportunity to win an Alice in Wonderland prize pack. Read on for how to enter.
full story
Posted February 27, 2010 - 09:18 by Lain Ehmann
Entertainment
Picking a bedtime story isn't as simple as grabbing any old book off the shelf. From the parent's end, you don't want something too long (skip the Lord of the Rings trilogy) or difficult to read (some of those Dr. Seuss books are real tongue-twisters!). And you want a bedtime book that's going to put your kid to sleep, not rile her up. The kids want something interesting and vivid, but not too scary right before bed.
full story
Posted February 26, 2010 - 13:27 by Lain Ehmann
Entertainment
As winter continues to wreak havoc on outdoor activities across much of the country, parents are looking for ways to keep their kids entertained inside (after all, you can only watch so many hours of the Olympics...). Here's a round-up of some sure-fire ways to get the kids out of your hair and off each others' backs, at least for a few minutes!
full story
Posted February 25, 2010 - 18:19 by Lain Ehmann
Safety, Home Life
Infant mortality is down, violent crime against kids is at one of the lowest rates in decades, and there hasn't been a single -- not one! -- documented case of poisoned Halloween candy. Ever. So why are today's parents so crazy about keeping their kids safe?
full story
Posted February 23, 2010 - 07:55 by Lain Ehmann
No Children Zone
Take a scoop of Steve Carell's "Dan in Real Life" (2007) add in a couple helpings of Steve Martin's "Parenthood" (1989) and what do you have? "Parenthood," 2010-style, a new drama series from NBC launching this March.
full story
Posted February 19, 2010 - 09:03 by Lain Ehmann
Education, Learning Tools
The Olympics are a great opportunity to talk about more than athletic performance with your kids. Here are some great tips from some of our favorite bloggers that will help you expand the conversation -- and the learning.
full story
Posted February 12, 2010 - 07:18 by Lain Ehmann
Sex & Relationships, No Children Zone
Parenting and romance don't always go hand-in-hand, but it is possible to eke out a little "us" time between the diapers and the hockey practices. This week's round-up includes tips for adding a little sparkle to the most important relationship in your life.
full story
Posted February 11, 2010 - 11:01 by Lain Ehmann
Education, Entertainment, Learning Tools, Home School, Pre School, K-8, High School, Higher Education
If your vision of a library is a series of cobwebby stacks guarded by a dragon-lady librarian, it may be time to recheck your assumptions. Today's public libraries are chockfull of resources for you and your kids, most of which are free or at very low cost.
full story
Posted February 10, 2010 - 08:36 by Lain Ehmann
Announcements
Announcing our new Twitter contest!
full story
Posted February 5, 2010 - 09:57 by Lain Ehmann
Entertainment
Time to pull out the red and pink tissue paper and heart stickers and get crafting! Here is a quick list of some easy crafts that will let your kids feel like Van Gogh without making you want to cut off your ears or poke out your eyes with a pipe cleaner.
full story
Posted January 30, 2010 - 08:06 by Lain Ehmann
Entertainment
Couple the Unibomber with Barney, and what do you get? The dreaded Webkinz killer that is rumored to be coming to Webkinz World.
full story
Posted January 29, 2010 - 11:52 by Lain Ehmann
Nutrition
If I am what I eat, then I'm a Diet Coke can lookalike! Thankfully, my kids eat a little better... and with today's round-up of blog posts, I've got some great ideas for revamping ALL of our food selections. Read on for the latest in kids' nutrition.
full story
Posted January 26, 2010 - 16:46 by Lain Ehmann
Entertainment
As an already-overwhelmed mom, I figured there had to be a way to offer my kids the lessons of pet ownership without taking on another living thing I'd have to care for, oversee, and otherwise manage. With that goal in mind, I did a little research and came up with the following pets (or pet substitutes) that will help your kids gain all the benefits of pet companionship without the drawbacks.
full story