Marla Walters's blog

About Marla Walters

Cringing my way through the college years . . .Marla Walters's profile

Anatomy of a Thank-You note

Posted December 10, 2009 - 17:00 by Marla Walters

The season of gifts has arrived. As the Parenting Squad’s resident curmudgeon, I feel it is an appropriate time to review an important form of etiquette, unfortunately in decline: the thank-you note.

Six Steps for Dealing with a Sick College Student

Posted October 20, 2009 - 07:06 by Marla Walters

Healthcare

My husband and I have survived phone calls from our daughter with the themes: “I’m lost,” “Uh, it’s 2:30 a.m., and…” and my personal favorite, “Oh, I’m in a night club.” The call we hate the most, however, is, “I’m sick.” Having a sick kid, miles away, at college, can be pretty hard on a parent. Here are six things you can do to help de-stress the “sick student” situation.

Sew Easy to Save

Posted September 21, 2009 - 08:30 by Marla Walters

Finances

One way to keep your clothing budget in check is to sew some of your kids’ clothes, yourself. But be careful: there are hidden costs.

Forced to Fund-Raise?

Posted September 10, 2009 - 07:13 by Marla Walters

Education

Are fund-raisers cropping up at your children's school, yet? Do you want them to pitch in? How do you, as a parent, feel about the reasons and the pressure?

Get 'Em to School on Time!

Posted September 3, 2009 - 05:53 by Marla Walters

Time Management

Keep movin’, movin’, movin’, Though they’re disaprovin’, Keep them dogies movin’, Rawhide! Don’t try to understand ‘em Just rope and throw and grab ‘em Soon we’ll all be living high and wide . . .(Frankie Laine) When I think about the process of getting a child to school on time, this song comes to mind. I guess my word association makes me think of herding cattle.

The Casserole Club Makes a Comeback!

Posted August 25, 2009 - 15:25 by Marla Walters

Home Life

Little League game? Soccer practice? Orthodontist appointment? As a parent, your days go by fast. If you are interested in saving time, money, and eating better dinners, maybe it’s time to think about forming a Casserole Club.

Snazzier School Lunches

Posted August 10, 2009 - 09:20 by Marla Walters

Nutrition, K-8

It’s that time again, parents. Bring out the brown bags! School, for most, is back in session and it’s time to deal with making lunches. Here are some ideas for when you hear about how sick they are of sandwiches.

Puleeeeze Can We Get a Pet?

Posted July 31, 2009 - 06:40 by Marla Walters

Chores

"I'll feed him." "I'll take care of it." Please, can we get a (fill in the blank)? Maybe you'll successfully teach responsibility to your children. Or not . . .

Medical Emergencies: Navigating Your Options

Posted July 9, 2009 - 07:00 by Marla Walters

Health

How many of us are really good in medical emergencies? If your child were hurt right now, where would you go? Take a few minutes to research your options, make some preparations, and you can alleviate a lot of stress.

Let's Go Clubbing: What's the best organization for your child?

Posted June 26, 2009 - 07:07 by Marla Walters

Extra Curricular

Should your child join a club? How do you choose the right one? In this article we’ll look at some of the more popular kids’ organizations.

One Year Down: An Interview with a College Sophomore

Posted June 8, 2009 - 08:16 by Marla Walters

Higher Education

Although we did a lot of reading, internet researching, and talking to other parents, we still had a lot to learn about the college freshman year. Hopefully, this interview will shed more light for parents of college-bound children.

Pretentious or Productive? The Parent-Child Book Group

Posted May 11, 2009 - 07:14 by Marla Walters

Education

With summer reading time just around the corner, parents may be anticipating trips to the library and bookstore. Should you consider forming, or joining, a book group with your child?

Etiquette 101: One of the UN-fun Jobs of Parenting

Posted May 3, 2009 - 15:56 by Marla Walters

Etiquette

Were you born in a barn? Raised by wolves? Do you want people to think YOUR child was? Odds are, you don’t. Here are some etiquette basics to teach your child.

Beyond Laundry: Five Life Skills Your Child Needs Before College

Posted April 29, 2009 - 08:52 by Marla Walters

High School

Sorting the “whites” from the “darks” is great . . . but when money or time runs short, they’ll just throw it all in together in the washer, anyway. Here are five real-life skills that will better serve your college freshman.