I bet you never thought that when you had kids you wouldn’t be able to take them out in public. That day has come, parents, and I have mixed feelings about this new trend. When my kids were younger, it was extremely difficult to listen to any bit of raised volume, let alone high-pitched squealing. There’s just something about a child’s shrill screams that can be bloodcurdling to parents, let alone others. Kids come with these boisterous antics that are part of the package — all parents deal with this issue at one point or another.   If I don’t want to hear it from my own kids, I know others …

I’m convinced that my 14-year-old daughter is a bat. A DNA test might prove my theory, but based on sheer observation, science isn’t necessary to convince me.  It’s 10 p.m., and the house is winding down for the night – everyone except the bat. She scurries around in her cave generating clatter to warn that her “day” is just about to begin.  Clanking noises and the sounds of furniture sliding across her bedroom floor echo into the hallway as she has a sudden burst of energy to rearrange her space.  Her door suddenly flies open, banging against freshly painted walls, and she makes her debut …

I feel as if I’m in a rut and can’t pass Go to collect my $200. When I made the decision to have kids, I knew that there would be compromise. No one expects to bring new life into this world without having to make major adjustments and sacrifices. It’s expected, and it would be foolish to think that you could continue with things as they were before. It's not possible. Your entire routine and responsibilities are flipped upside down, inside out and multiplied by infinity. You are now responsible for the well-being of another person. That’s big and overwhelming, but exciting and rewarding at …

The saying that it gets easier as kids get older is the biggest lie ever. I was in the grocery store skimming over coffee flavors when I overheard what sounded like a trainwreck heading around the corner.  I looked up to see a young mother, disheveled and out of breath, trudging behind one of those obnoxious kid carts that are nearly impossible to turn corners with (clearly not designed by a woman). With a screaming infant in the front lap seat, another child climbing out of the plastic car and an older child pleading for his mother to buy something she had no intention of getting, she had …

It’s as if I just woke up one morning to find that something had taken over my child.  My son had always been verbally and physically affectionate with me, often wooing admiring women at the grocery store. On his own accord, he would wrap his arms around me as I stood in line and say with his soft but confident voice, “Mom, I love you.” I could feel mothers and grandmothers around me melting at his sweet and self-motivated gesture. It happened on many occasions, and I was always very proud knowing that I was a coveted recipient and the envy of others. My child was not embarrassed to display …

Thumping around the house with one black heel on, I was on a quest to find its missing mate. I had five minutes to throw myself together and head out the door. After giving up on the search, I opted for a different pair of shoes and realized I had one minute to spare. Throwing my laptop case over my shoulder, I simultaneously reached into my purse to feel around for my keys. Women have an amazing way of sensing items with our hands. It’s as if we have a pair of eyes on our fingertips. Lipstick, eyeliner, pack of gum ... I moved to the other pocket. Suddenly, I felt something foreign, and I …

Just a few days ago, my daughter’s friend told me that she wants to lose 12 pounds by the end of the summer. My jaw almost hit the floor. She is a beautiful girl who has really come into her own in the past year. She’s 5-foot-8 with a petite frame and long, ash-blond hair. There is not an inch of extra skin on this girl, and I think she should put a few pounds on. What does she see when she looks in the mirror? My daughter is 5-foot-3 with a more muscular build like her father. She is strong, toned and athletic. She’s not as petite as most of her friends, but she has a very healthy frame. She…

It was the summer before my eighth grade year in middle school and I was spending the night at my friend’s house. Her bedroom was at the front of her house facing the street, making it easy for us to keep watch. It was around 11 p.m. and for us the night was just getting started. She’s a fellow redhead so we were always a dangerous combination. Volume cranked up on the stereo, we locked the bedroom door and started executing our plan. We slid out the screen of her old six-panel window. We had to pop out two of them to make enough crawl space to climb through. Once outside we dashed to the end…

Growing up, I never felt as if my twin brother and I were any less part of the family. There are obvious differences in our physical traits. My sisters are Italian and German and very tan. I on the other hand am a fair redhead with hazel green eyes and freckles. Our personalities are remarkably different as well. This has made me question whether personality is more strongly influenced by biological or social factors. The circumstances of my adoption never concerned me and I never really pressed to know the reason why.  I have had no animosity towards my birth parents for making the decision …

My daughter and her “pack” have already started mapping out their summer social strategy complete with sleep over schedules, concerts and many other time consuming plans.  As a kid I remember the smell of summer.  I remember deep breaths of freshly cut grass, the simmering asphalt and the burning of charcoal from backyard barbecues. I would get my first whiff as I walked out of school as the last bell rang. School was out and I was free.  Two months back then seemed like an eternity.  I remember falling asleep in my bathing suit after late night swims and waking up as late as I wanted. Those …

Nowadays items across the board are expensive. In these hard times, many of us are doing what we can to save a buck whenever possible.  But for some families, saving has been brought to another level, in fact to the extreme level.  Who knew there was a science behind finding the best deals on groceries, services, restaurants and even clothing to reach optimum savings?  A new television series called “Extreme Couponing” (on The Learning Channel), has brought the art of saving into the spotlight.  Highlighted shoppers are determined to spend virtually nothing upon checkout. For days they …

Suddenly you find that that you can’t jump in the shower when you want to because someone else beat you to it and there is no hot water left.  You may be picking up kids from school and running them to soccer practice instead of heading to the gym. You may be signing school papers you’ve never had to review before.  And suddenly have three times the amount of laundry to wash and fold.  Next you'll be telling your kids “no” more than you care to, because the budget is now much tighter.  And don't be surprised if your step children tell you, “I don’t have to listen to you." These are some of …

Fire and Ice. I chose these nicknames for my kids early on. They signify the differences in not only their hair color (flaming redhead and platinum blonde), but their completely opposite personalities and mental makeup. I learned early on, from my own household observations, that my parenting tactics would need to be “customized” for each child. I wondered which gender would be more challenging. John Gray, author of "Men are From Mars, Women Are from Venus" started an intriguing conversation that has continued to go on for over two decades. When did the differences between the sexes begin? …

Being the parent of a child with special needs is a very humbling honor. These children have so much to offer this world and have the potential to do amazing things. In many ways, they have an advantage in seeing life through different eyes and will be stronger individuals as a result. While there are many challenges and emotional hurdles to overcome, these kids can thrive with a strong family unit. Raising a child is difficult in its own right, especially in the world we live in today. But for parents of special needs kids it involves advocating educational needs, facing social stigmas and …

Not too long ago my daughter wanted to add bright blue streaks to her hair. She showed me photos of what she desired her end result to be, but I expressed that I didn’t believe the shade would take on her dark hair. I knew this would be money wasted and I tried to reason with her, but she really wanted to do this. Despite not being a fan of this look at all, I decided this would not be worth the battle.   I agreed, under the condition that I do this at home for her because it would be too expensive to have it professionally colored.  I also threw in the requirement that she had to keep it …

I don't recall my mom ever having to harp on us to clean up after ourselves, or to pitch in and help around the house, or tell us to do our homework.  With four kids in the house, if you left something out it was pretty much fair game for someone to claim. So we just learned early on to put things away when we were done using them. If we didn't, it wouldn't be long before our mom would tell us to stop what we were doing and get up to take care of it. We knew when we came home from school to put our backpacks, jackets and shoes in our rooms.  When we were finished brushing our teeth, we knew …

Last Wednesday began as a typical work day.  I was sipping my coffee and responding to work emails when I heard my cell phone buzz.  After a few minutes, I grabbed my phone and noticed that my daughter sent me a text. I assumed she had left something at home and needed me to run it to her school, but that was not the case. I could not believe what I was reading: “Police cars are all over the neighborhood and by the school. We are under lockout!” My daughter is an eighth grader at Seminole Middle School.  I immediately tried to reach the school’s front office, but all the lines were busy. It …

This past Sunday evening, I intentionally kept things low key.  I winded my kids down early so they could get a good night’s rest. The dreaded week of FCAT, the state’s comprehensive assessment test, began that Monday morning. I wanted my kids to be alert, full and ready to focus.  My goal was to keep their anxiety about the test as minimal and stress free as possible. Schools all over the state are undergoing the FCAT. Over several days students will have to take the standardized test used in public schools for third through 11th grades. It’s a mandated exam by the Florida Department of …

We don’t always get it right when it comes to parenting.  We often learn as we go and make the best decisions we can, for our children at the time.  When it comes to the topic of parenting, Lisa Hein of Seminole has certainly walked the path. She offers strikingly candid, real and compassionate advice based on her experience raising her son.  Now an acclaimed parenting author, radio talk show host and speaker, Hein reaches out to help other families by sharing the mistakes and struggles she endured during very trying times.  Her gift is her message to other parents that they are not alone in …

“Maybe later, mommy isn’t feeling well right now.”  I can’t count the number of times I’ve said this to my kids, especially when they were younger.  Raising children today can be exhausting for anyone who’s balancing schedules, schoolwork, a household, career, relationships and extracurricular activities.  Managing all of these responsibilities can be both physically and mentally draining.  For healthy parents this can be difficult, but for a parent living with a serious or chronic illness this is even more challenging.  This is an issue close to my heart because I live with this struggle …