Parenting Squad

Review: The Secret Mountain Books

Jason White — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:43:19 -0500

I had the opportunity to review three childrens books from The Secret Mountain. Each beautifully illustrated hardcover book is accompanied by an audio CD. My family enjoyed all three titles, and each offered a unique literary and musical experience for our kids.

Down at the Sea Hotel

This was a cute bedtime story, but the best feature of this book was the 14-song CD included featuring lullabies written by such well-known artists as Billy Joel and Don Henley. The CD is good enough to be sold on its own, but the fact it is included with such a beautifully illustrated bedtime story makes this a great package for any little one.

Dream Songs Night Songs: From Belgium to Brazil

I must say I was impressed with the Dream Songs Night Songs series, which introduces children to a variety of international lullabies presented on audio CD in their native language. My family's favorites were "Acalanto" (Brazil), "Die blumelieine sie schlafen" (Germany), and "We are the boat" (United States). This is a wonderful way to expose children to other cultures, and led to discussions about other countries featured in the book and audio CD.

A Duck in New York City

While we enjoyed all three books, A Duck in New York City was by far our favorite. Winner of the Parent's Choice Gold Award, A Duck in New York City follows the story of a brave duck whose dream is to do a "ducky dance" on Broadway. It is a big dream for a little duck, and of course there is no shortage of naysayers telling him reasons why he cannot do it. Ignoring their pessimism, the duck takes off for New York and encounters several bumps along the way. He also meets someone very special who believes him and helps him along the way.

A Duck in New York City is an inspirational tale that teaches children to believe in their dreams, to ignore negative people who tell them they cannot achieve something, and to surround themselves with people who believe in them. The book also featured a CD with whimsical songs such as "If You Love a Hippopotamus" and " The Alligator Waltz."

To view these and additional titles visit TheSecretMountain.com.

Permalink | Comments | Jason White's blog | Channel: Entertainment

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Dealing with Pregnant Loved Ones in the Midst of Your Infertility Battle

Lori Kerrigan — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:38:03 -0500

By Lori Kerrigan

What do you do when EVERYONE around you seems to have exactly what you want, but no matter what you do, you can’t get it for yourself? In my case, pregnancy is the culprit.

So, as I sit in a quiet corner of a small airport, heading back home after spending two weeks in my home town, throwing a baby shower, learning from the last two people I expected to be pregnant that they are newly pregnant, and looking at my little nieces and nephews day-after-day and being continuously reminded that I nor any member of my family will look at them and say, you are a just like your mother, or you look just like your uncle….. if it sounds like I am wallowing in self pity, you are correct. I am. I have a blessed life, an amazing husband, a career I love, my health, a roof over my head, and a close nit circle of loved ones, but I can’t stop thinking, “WHY ME!” and “Its not fair”. I can’t snap out of this battle with self-pity and just be happy for the “Fertile Myrtles” in my life.

I know I am not alone in this battle of self pity, so I ask, what do you do about it? There is nothing I can do to speed this up. My counselor recently told me, “Lori, control what you can control, the rest, find a way to deal with.” AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I can’t control much in this crazy process, but, according to my intelligent and experienced counselor, I can deal with it. I have excused myself from my pity part before, and step-by-step, I can do it again.

1. You have to want to. I have realized until the desire to feel better comes from somewhere deep down and genuine, regardless of my circumstances, I can’t feel better. Sometimes it’s more comfortable in my circumstances being bummed. It’s easier to be depressed or angry, than it is to muster up enough energy to fight through the comfort that comes with self-pity and misery to reach that ability to be content in any situation.

2. Acknowledge it’s not fair and move on. It does not seem fair to me that every month I watch another close loved one, move on to the parenthood phase of life as I get yet another visit from “Aunt Flo”, but life is not fair….and whether life is fair or not fair, life goes on. I have had a fear that if I stopped feeling sorry for myself, somehow, it would be the same as me saying, “it’s okay that this is happening to me”. It’s not okay, but regardless of its okay, life is going on around me, and I know I want to be a part of it, and I am sure you do to.

3. Start feeling better. Thoughts like, “Its not fair”, “Why Me” and, “I’ll Never Be a Parent” are going to come in to your frame of thought. But leave them there. Change your focus to something positive. If you are a person of faith, focus on a verse or promise from your faith. If not, or if that does not work for you, focus on a positive or motivating quote. Think about all the times life has been tough and you made it through to the other side of the mountain, and usually with an even better ending than what you ever imagined.

If you cannot change your thought process by refocusing in the above way. Leave the room, change your scenery, go do something that you enjoy or that makes you feel more in control of your life or like you are moving forward in some aspect of your life. For me, working out, scrapbooking, walking around outside, and writing work best.

4. Acknowledge the positive. Every journey has some type of positive to it. My journey with infertility has had countless blessings come out of it. There are points where I don’t know if I would do my life differently because I am so grateful for the blessings that have been created. There are also many days where I would give my right arm to snap my fingers and have a child, and where nothing makes it better. Regardless of that, I have experienced blessings throughout this journey. Focusing on that can help you realize, your path may not be the same as your sister or friend, but different is not 100% bad, it can be uniquely good, and often times, much more special.

5. Congratulate your friend/loved one while keeping your feelings in perspective. It’s not “fair” for us to take away from our loved ones joy for their newest little miracle. However be honest. Let them know that you are happy for them, but because of your own battle, it brings up emotions that are difficult for you to deal with. Let them know it does not take away from your joy for them, but that you need a little space/time to come to terms with your own emotions.

If that does not work, let them know they have every right to be excited, but out of respect for your pain, minimize the excitement, or pregnancy complaints when around you and maximize them around others that don’t have the emotional turmoil you are going through. I have found this works about 95% of the time. The 5% it does not, I realize, it’s my job to steer clear of these painful situations. This step can help you be true to your feelings, enhance your relationship with your loved one, as well as minimize the ever present feeling of helplessness found on this journey.

As my wise counselor says, control what you can control. You may not be able to control when you have a baby, or whether or not your friend who is not even thinking about entering the phase of parenthood becomes pregnant, but you can control little things along the way. Spread the word that you are looking to adopt, get a second job so you can save more money for when you do have the baby, read up on parenting books, and go on a “baby moon” with your spouse. Do what you can do, you may be surprised like I was, this journey is not the end of a dream, it’s the creation of new dreams and life paths.

Permalink | 1 comment | Lori Kerrigan's blog | Channel: Planning, Conceiving, Pregnancy, Birth, Adoption

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Guilt Tripping

Margaret Garcia-Couoh — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:56:21 -0500

By Margaret Garcia...

Like most stay-at-home mothers I know, I don’t really stay home. With one preschooler and one kindergartner, I’m up early getting lunches made, husband to work, children dressed with some sense of style and co-ordination, and me off to the gym to work off what I feel is my butt and the chair I write from becoming one. Around noon I do a mad dash of errands, pick up the monkeys, post office, etc. Somehow I also manage to teach classes online and one or two in the flesh. Once a week I get to practice the craft of writing fiction and poetry. I try to get to a number of civic things as well and spend time with that guy, what’s his name? that I married six years ago who comes home about 6 pm expecting something that resembles food to be on the table.

This all works fine for the most part. He bathes the kids and puts them to sleep and I jump online to work. But anytime this universe is altered it seems all manner of levels of hell break loose. I had to be gone five days last week. The universe came to an abrupt halt. My husband and mother decided I could go be a writer for a week, collect an award, do a reading, and have some time away. But the week leading up to my leave was the most strenuous ever. Buying groceries for a week I wouldn’t be there in the vein hopes that my husband would make something other than Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup and Gogurts consumed me. Doing every last bit of laundry and labeling outfits for the kids in days of the week on the dryer didn’t fill me with confidence in the husband/mother take over either. Oh my goodness, why did Picture Day have to be that Friday?! There was of course, my own packing and preparation (Should I read this story or that one? Does that dress make me look fat or is it my fat making me look fat? ).

But the worst part of all was leaving the kids. Not that I don’t trust my husband and mother. She’s a Virgo. I was quite certain they wouldn’t die or end up wallowing in their own filth with my mother around. My husband I knew would give them plenty of love and attention even if he did forget to brush their teeth or make sure our son’s homework was done. I did some good yoga breathing. Practice letting go. He knows what to do. Exhale. Inhale. He’s their father. Exhale. Yikes.

I left at the last minute. In the morning after I’d gotten off the plane, I called home. My son missed me and cried at night much to the cranky dismay of father and daughter. “When are you coming home mommy? I miss you. I love you. Come back soon.” What a sweet child that boy is. “What should I bring back from the trip,” I asked him. “Maybe a Power Ranger!” Okay. I can do a Power Ranger, I thought. And then he broke my heart. “I just really want you to come home, mommy. ” With that I really was ready to come home. They could send the prize money by air if they wanted. Who was I to say no to Diego ever so sweetly missing me?

I could feel myself caving in and looking for ways to fly back. I asked to talk to my daughter. She got on the phone and in typical 3 year old style she said:
“Hi Mommy. You’re staying with Grandma right? She has a store by her house with a red circle and a red dot [Target]. Go there. In the toy section towards the basketballs they have. They have Fischer Price doctor kits. I want one. Get it for me please because you went away on a trip. We need trip toys. Get some Power Rangers for my brother.”

The guilt totally set in.

Of course I did my the obligatory trip to Target, made worse by the throngs of children in there yelling the word Mommy. I don’t know how many times I turned around only to see someone else’s 3 and 5 year old cajoling them into purchases, not my own. I spent at least double what I planned to (tucked half a way as Christmas presents).

To make matters worse, I showed up at my grandparents’ house only to have my grandmother look around me and squat low and squint. I was staying with the other grandmother who knew my plans, but the behavior of grandma two said it all. “Mi’ja,” she said, “where are the kids? Why would you come without the kids?”

By the end of my five days, I wasn’t exactly sure why I didn’t bring the kids. Of course I wouldn’t have been able to have those two late nights partying with my girlfriends and they would have missed a nice chunk of school and more than likely interrupted my reading and I wouldn’t have been able to run errands for my grandmothers as efficiently. I know my excuses. Still. life seemed unusually dull and boring without them.

When I showed up back at my house on Sunday? Big hugs all the way around. They felt great. But I don’t think I was in the door when Paloma said, “You got the presents, right Mommy?”

I know of course, that I won't have the stamina or the guilt free mindset to go away again any time soon. But why is it my husband can go away, miss us, we miss him, and that's that? Why is it that there's something nearly unnatural about mommy going away? Why is it impossible for the house to be just as clean as I left it? Why does time out for oneself feel like bad mothering? Is it just the partriarchy weighing down on my head or is it something else?

I go away again in May. I hope before then I strike some sort of chord of balance and guilt free living. I'll probably come back with bigger presents for those two weeks in May. Who knows? But I wish I could shake it off and just come back with a smile, a hug, and a thank you for being good boys and girls.

Permalink | 2 comments | Margaret Garcia-Couoh's blog | Channel: Time Management, Work Balance

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Hey Moms! Go with Your Gut!

Linsey Knerl — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 09:50:24 -0500

By Linsey Knerl

Awhile back I told you how I was almost always the Mom in the middle. I'm not sure if I’m overreacting to most things, but more than likely certain that I’m too laid back for my own good. A trip to the ER this weekend gave me confidence in my decision–making abilities as a mother. (And reaffirmed that you really don’t want to mess with me when the kiddos are involved.)

The rash from hell. It all started Monday night when I was changing my 3-year-old. H had almost fully mastered the potty-training thing, and for some odd reason was refusing to use the bathroom. I removed his 50-pound soaking pull-up to find the most unusual rash on his bottom and the back of his legs. It looked like bug bites, but several of them were bruises already. This was really weird.

“Mama, I can’t walk!” Later that evening, the little guy starts crying that his legs hurt. He says he doesn’t want to walk, and insists that I carry him everywhere. I’m convinced that it’s another flu bug making its way through my home (we had all just suffered a month ago.)

Baby’s burning up. Not too much later, he develops a low-grade fever that turns into a higher-grade fever. I’m a little concerned now.

Tuesday through Friday, he seems to be better. I keep an eye on the spots, as they appear to be going away. Friday afternoon, however, he starts scratching at them, and I notice a few on his arms. I wisk him away to our local clinic to see the only doctor within 20 miles. The guy has no idea what we’re dealing with, but only knows it is not contagious. He proceeds to flip through a dermatology book, holding up pictures against my son’s skin to “compare” afflictions. He finally decides on some generic papule invasion (uh, you think?) and tells me that it should go away on its own. (He basically ignores the aching legs, low fever, and now excruciating stomach pains that my son has developed.)

That evening, I’m sitting in the living room, and notice that my son is crying again. He is really uncomfortable. It is almost 11 pm, and he is demanding that I hold him on the couch. He squirms and cries, and I look at this body. I see that each of the small reddish-purple bumps are now quarter size in some places. There is blood forming under his skin in strange ways. He is writhing in pain.

I hit the internet, googling for anything that might make sense. (Note: I know. Googling is a way to freak you out for no good reason. I did come across all kinds of freaky diseases… typhoid fever being one. I’m not stupid, and I didn’t for a minute think he had typhoid fever.) I did, however, have a year’s experience working in a dermatology clinic, so I knew the difference between a papule and a pustule. I came across the most unusual but fitting disease and wrote the name down. Then I headed out the door to the (not nearest) ER.

The nurse greeted us almost 90 minutes later. She asked what was wrong, downplayed my concerns, and upon showing her the name of the illness I was concerned about, brushed me off. “Oh, those dermatologists are always coming up with crazy diseases. It’s nothing.” Excuse me? I was starting to feel like one of those crazy moms who make up diseases to get attention, and I was not happy.

We meet our doctor. A young guy with an awesome smile, comes in rather cheerful for working the night shift. I show him the spots, describe the symptoms, and mention that the “pooling” of blood under my son’s skin was concerning. He almost drops his clipboard. “Interesting that you should use that word: pooling. I’ll need to discuss this with you in a minute.” Then he left. I was freaking. Was he calling social services on me for being paranoid?

He comes back. He explains that he believes my son has Henoch-Schonlein Purpura, or HSP. (Funny, that’s the exact same Googled disease that the nurse mocked me about.) He acknowledged the same concerns that I had: possible indication of a more serious viral or bacterial disease (including meningitis and Epstein-Barr) and a possibility of renal complications. He sensed my fear, and immediately put me to ease. “We’ll run tests tonight, get you the results in 45 minutes, and hopefully, you can go home knowing that your son will be alright.” I love this man.

Almost 2 hours later, we were going home. Walking out, the nurse handed me our discharge papers. “Oh, see there… it’s just a case of purpura. I told you not to worry…. What?!? He has Henoch-Schonlein Purpura? Well, that’s the disease you told me about and…and I haven’t seen a case of that in my 40 years of nursing…..” she trailed off.

My guy is healing nicely. Except for the nighttime arthritis, which leaves him crying and has me carrying him to the bathroom, he seems to be getting better. Eight weeks should hopefully bring the end of this weird condition.

If there was a moral to my very, very long story, it is this: Moms (and Dads), you know your kids better than anyone. You are of at least moderate intelligence, and you better be prepared to use it. If you have a gut feeling that something isn’t right, keep talking until someone listens. Your kids rely on you to protect them, whether you finished college (like the nurse at the hospital) or not (like me.)

For more info on HSP and this particular kind of vasculitis (which affects roughly 20 in 100,000 kids per year), visit the Wiki site and the Mayo Clinic page

Permalink | 4 comments | Linsey Knerl's blog | Channel: Health, Social Skills, Conflict Resolution, Healthcare, Diseases & Disorders

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Secret Keeper Girl Fiction: A Book Review

Linsey Knerl — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 12:26:35 -0500

By Linsey Knerl

If you have a tween girl at home who craves fiction, this series by Dannah Gresh might be a healthy alternative to chick lit books geared toward the teen crowd.

We received the first book in the series by Christian author Dannah Gresh. I had already been familiar with her work; Ms. Gresh has developed books, blogs, and seminars designed to offer support to growing girls in somewhat scary times. In Dannah’s words, a Secret Keeper Girl “values modesty, she surrounds herself with wise friends and she embraces Godly beauty. But, the most important thing for you to know is that a Secret Keeper Girl is a masterpiece created by God.” This series sounded right up our alley!

The storyline of the first book, Danika's Totally Terrible Toss: The Legend of the Purple Flurp was simple. It explored issues of popularity and true friendship with language that could only be described as “Tweeny.” (You know, words like ginormous and fab.) The book itself was short, capable of keeping any girl’s attention, and offered a moral compass that I doubt any parent (regardless of beliefs) could argue with.

Even though my daughter wouldn’t rate this as her top book choice (she is geared more towards historical fiction or sci-fi), it was a read worth its weight in paper. It is also worth mentioning that the book contains a short activity at the end for Moms and daughters to share together. If your tween girl likes peppy fiction that presents difficult life choices in an appropriate manner for girls as young as 8, you’ll find the Secret Keeper Girl fiction to be a safe read. (And it just might give you a pass to talk about more pressing issues!)

Permalink | Comments | Linsey Knerl's blog | Channel: Home Life, Education, Shopping, Learning Tools, Culture, Relationships

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Tough Lessons from Life and the Election

Linsey Knerl — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 18:12:20 -0500

By Linsey Knerl

It has been a difficult few months for my family. Homeschooling, 6 cases of the flu, working from home, and keeping up with a rather heated political battle has left this mama a bit worse for wear. While I can count a few more grey hairs as a result of this mega-dose of “life”, I’m also very thankful for the opportunity to teach. Where textbooks have traditionally failed, I have had the blessing to share real life with my children.

I remember sitting in my elementary classroom, slightly aware of the election. I had read all about the electoral college, studied the history of the vote, and knew on a intellectual level that we all had “duties,” “rights,” and “opportunity.” On the home front, my parents were very, very active. As a farming family in the 80’s, there was no other way to be. I can remember staying up late with my parents at rallies, coloring in the cartoonish candidate representations on homemade buttons, and listening to my folks talk about “fighting the good fight.” We attended Farm Aid. We met Willy Nelson. I thought it was all glamorous and exciting.

This year, I had the blessing to share politics with my own children. Four of them, ranging in age from 1 to 10, all heard Mommy react to talk radio, tv news reports, and the Twitterings of so many varying viewpoints on the election. This year, my kids watched us pray at the table for guidance and wisdom in our choices for the next President, as we watched family and friends from our own churches disagree on the fundamental basics of what made a good President.

This year, I explained racism to my daughter. I watched in wonder and excitement, as she genuinely could not understand how anyone would be judged by the color of their skin.

This year, I explained sexism to my children, how women were created with beautiful and unique gifts and abilities, but that they often went unappreciated.

This year, I explained economics to my children. How money is earned, and money is saved, and how even with the best intentions, it can all disappear in the blink of an eye. We studied sustainable lifestyles, bought a goat, loved on our chickens, and carried firewood.

This year, I cried when the campaign ended. I let my children see my sorrow and disappointment in the outcome of the election. I also shared my resolve to continue doing what we were doing, teaching what we were teaching, and caring for our friends and neighbors in the same way (if not more) than we had before.

I’m not sure if we “fought the fight.” We did what I think most American families do when they select and support a candidate, and I'd like to believe that I did it with as much grace as possible. We didn’t get our way in this election, and it won’t be the last time we’ll be disappointed. The love and honesty, patience and kindness that I’ve tried to show others during this election may not get me an electoral vote, but it will go a long way towards my children’s lifelong education.

Permalink | 3 comments | Linsey Knerl's blog | Channel: Education, Social Skills, Learning Tools, Culture, Home School

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Are Glide Bikes Better Than Training Wheels?

Carrie Kirby — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:43:34 -0500

By Carrie Kirby

Running alongside your child's bike as she is balancing herself and doesn't even realize you've let go. It's one of the quintessential images of parenthood. But is there a better way?

I recently got the opportunity to review one of these new-fangled glide bikes, the Playskool Glide to Ride Bike . The idea behind them: Instead of putting training wheels on a kid's bike -- which some experts assert does not really teach them the balance they need to ride -- get one of these low-to-the-ground, pedal free bikes and let them push themselves along until they get the hang of it.

In this forum, a few parents share their stories of how the glide bike really worked. Apparently, taking off the pedals and lowering the seat is an old trick in the parenting genre -- the glide bikes being marketed now are just bikes packaged to mimic what some parents were already doing.

How did my daughter like it? I posted a detailed review and video here. Let's just say, she's not the most athletic of kids, and a child who's highly motivated to ditch the training wheels might take to the glide bike better.

Her baby sister, on the other hand, is a pretty physical kid, and I wouldn't be surprised to see her cruising around on that thing by age 3.

Note: This post contains an affiliate link.

Permalink | Comments | Carrie Kirby's blog | Channel: Shopping

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I Want Obama for My Daughters

Carrie Kirby — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:21:08 -0500

By Carrie Kirby

We all want the best for our children, and when I take them with me to the voting booth tomorrow, there are so many reasons that I know a vote for Barack Obama is what's best for them.

Here are a few:

1. I want them to be safe.

I don't want my daughters to be the first generation of women drafted into war. I was against the Iraq War from the start, and so was Barack Obama. John McCain appears to view Iraq as a do-over for Vietnam, and he's determined to stay there until he "wins" it.

It took 18 years and 58,000 American lives for US forces to figure out that Vietnam was unwinnable.

I also want a government that fulfills its role of protecting its citizens' health and safety in the marketplace. Under eight years of Bush, we have seen every government agency eroded until they are powerless -- and disasters have cropped up in all directions. The Food and Drug Administration was shaved, and we have suffered outbreaks of E. coli and Mad Cow disease. The Consumer Product Safety Commission was stripped, and we have babies dying unnecessarily because lethal cribs were left on the market after authorities knew about them. I don't want my children to be the next victims of a natural disaster because a friend-of-the-president federal appointee couldn't manage an evacuation. They will already suffer because of the disaster in the deregulated financial market. McCain has called himself a deregulator time and time again.

I also know that Obama is the candidate most committed to ending global warming, who will not put the demands of corporations ahead of the needs of people like us who need this planet for living on. I've been changing my ways to combat global warming, but I want an Obama administration to lead us into a a greener future.

2. I want them to be healthy.

The most striking difference between the two presidential candidates is in health care. Both recognize that the American health care system is broken -- we pay more than any other nation for worse results. McCain's plan seeks to change the health care system by dismantling it -- by taxing employer health benefits and encouraging individuals to shop around, he will weaken the employer-based system and add 5 million people to the uninsured, according to the journal Health Affairs.

Obama, by contrast, would build on the employer-based health insurance system, making the premiums more affordable and filling in the gaps to work toward an America where everyone is covered.

A lot of Democratic campaign literature, like Obama's half-hour TV spot last week, focus on the plight of the working poor. My family is not poor, we are middle-income, regular people. We have done what we can to cushion our family from possible hard times. And yet, McCain's health plan scares the heck out of me, not just for the uninsured -- for whom we end up paying when they turn to emergency rooms for needed care -- but for us.

It's a tough economy out there -- no time for us to venture into a new system that puts our benefits at risk when we may need them most. Like most workers, my husband worries about losing his job. Suppose he is lucky, and if he loses his job he gets another one within a few months. I am pregnant. I have no guarantees that the health carrier at my husband's new employer would accept me with the "pre-existing condition" of pregnancy. And what about my daughter's asthma? Obama promises to stop insurance companies from denying coverage, but McCain does not. Suppose McCain's taxation of work-based health benefits had already taken effect, and my husband's new employer decided to just stop offering health coverage. Would I be able to find an insurance company willing to cover my delivery? What if I need a cesarian section or other expensive intervention?

Now, I know that even if Obama does win, any changes in health care policy would come too late for me and my current pregnancy. But do not want my daughters to grow up to work as hard as we do and still worry about losing everything to a health crisis.

The details of the plans aside, I have confidence that Obama cares more about families' health. This became crystal clear during the last debate. Listen to Obama reach for common ground with the Right on reducing abortions. Then listen to the derision with which McCain mentions "the mother's health." Pro-life or pro-choice, I think most people can pick out, from that exchange, which man really cares about the health of American women AND their children.

3. I want them to be inspired.

I grew up in a cynical time -- the Reagan 1980s. The atmosphere was a shrug and a sigh -- there's a trillion-dollar defecit, but we're all going to get nuked anyway so who cares? I envied the heady politican atmosphere in which my parents grew up, with their Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. I want it to turn out better this time, so much better.

I want my little girls to grow up hearing that yes, they can. I want a leader who will challenge them to serve their communties and change the world, and I know that Obama will do that. And I want a president I'd be proud to see my children emulate -- who wouldn't be proud to see their child get an Ivy League education, then spend their time working on behalf of the poor and fighting for civil rights?

I have and heard of so many Republicans, Pro-Life Christians and others cross over to Obama during this campaign, and I understand why. Occasionally in the course of history an exceptional human being crops up, and even if you don't agree with him on every issue, it's easy to see Obama is one of those exceptional people. I want Obama's America for my girls. Now I have to go make my get-out-the-vote calls to help make it happen.

Permalink | 6 comments | Carrie Kirby's blog | Channel: Culture

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Scott Common Sense Giveaway

Lynn Truong — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 13:36:44 -0500

By Lynn Truong

The Scott Common Sense Community is a great place to connect with others and share tips and ideas for moms just like you.

Trying to balance the stresses of out-of-town visitors and holiday cooking, while getting a head start on your shopping? Not only does Scott Common Sense have tips to help ease holiday stress – they want to give one lucky Parenting Squad reader a year's supply of Scott Bath Tissue and Towels* and a $100 Visa gift card to help you out with your holiday meals!

*A year's supply of Scott Bath and Towels breaks down to:

Scott Towels: (30) Mega Rolls
Scott Bath Tissue: (10) 12-Packs
Approximate Retail Value: $144

To enter the drawing, leave a comment below sharing a tip you have to keep the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday stress-free. Scott Common Sense is also doing a similar drawing on their site. After entering here, visit their site and enter their drawing!

Drawing closes on 11/23/08 and is only open to U.S. Residents.

Parenting Squad will not sell or use your email address for any purpose other than to contact the winner.

Permalink | 169 comments | Lynn Truong's blog | Channel: Shopping

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Bella Sara Trading Card Game Introduces Baby Bella

Lynn Truong — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:49:08 -0400

By Lynn Truong

I grew up collecting baseball cards and playing Magic: The Gathering. But I wasn't a tomboy. I liked dresses, dolls, and Sweet Valley High as much as the next girl. There just weren't a lot of choices when it came to card collecting or trading card games.

Now there is. Bella Sara's horse-themed fantasy based trading card game has been wildly popular among girls (I'm so glad it's not a trading card game based on dress and jewelry shopping). And on November 6, Bella Sara is kicking off a 10-day celebration to welcome Baby Bella cards into the family.

Just like the Bella Sara cards, Baby Bella cards are interactive with Bella Sara's site. Girls enter the code of each card into their online account and their horses come to life in the virtual world of Bella Sara, a magical online land of North of North.

Join the Baby Bella Birthday Party starting November 6 at Bella Sara. The 10-day promotion will feature games and daily giveaways. Visitors will be able to download Baby Bella birth certificates and participate in contests and games.

Baby Bella Card Packs will retail for $2.99. Each pack comes with 7 collectible cards and will be available at major retailers like Target, Toys "R" Us, Wal-Mart, Barnes & Noble, Borders, as well as regional booksellers and toy, hobby and equestrian shops. I'll be picking up a few for stocking stuffers this year!

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