Articles written by Roberta Velyn - Page 2

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About me - Roberta Velyn

I identify first and foremost as a mother of three married to a father of three. We each have a child living abroad, so hope to do some traveling in the next few years.

I grew up on a farm in Saskatchewan (Canada) and attended a one-room school through grade

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Celebrations & Holidays > Valentine's Day Valentine's Day: A single rose or bouquet?: 2 of 17
I love flowers. I love growing them, I love giving them and I love receiving them. That said, a glorious bouquet of flowers is an expectation on certain occasions. When I've spent eleven hours, or even four, in labor and given birth to a child, I expect a bouquet of roses from my husband - a big bouquet. When the MS Society ... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs Testimonies: How I dealt with the embarrassment of head lice: 2 of 17
School was out and we had just spent the July long weekend tenting with several other families. The kids were young enough that girls and boys alike swapped sleeping spots in each others' tents, depending on who was playing with whom as bedtime approached, and several took afternoon naps on whatever pillow happened to be han... More..
Education > Education (Other) An overview of educational options for your children: 10 of 79
The first step in selecting a school for your child is one that is often overlooked by parents. Don't just assume that your youngster will naturally attend the nearest school because that's where all the neighborhood kids go. There are other options available, and you need to ask yourself, "What is best for this child?". How... More..
Creative Writing > Humor Humor: Lack of sanity: 10 of 71
Of my own sanity there is no question (except perhaps in regard to staying married). My husband's sanity, however, (let's call him John) seems to be diminishing in inverse proportion to the number of gray hairs on his head. John has decided that when he retires we will travel. In order to make our travels economical and conv... More..
Hobbies & Games > Kids Crafts Inexpensive and practical steps to better arts-and-crafts time with children: 1 of 7
Children are naturally creative. All that's needed in order to get them exploring their artistic talents is the opportunity and some stuff with which to create. Basic Supplies: Back-to-school sales and Dollar Stores are good places to pick up the tools and materials that will spur children to be creative: sculpting materials... More..
Food & Drink > Cooking (Other) Creative cheap meals for busy parents: 4 of 26
"Um, smells good," said my husband as he walked in the door after work. "It's meatloaf," I said, turning just in time to see him blanch. He took a very small helping and picked at it suspiciously, eventually relaxing enough to tell me that he'd always dreaded meatloaf because his mother's was so awful. Over time he conquered... More..
Education > Adult Education Adult education 101: 4 of 25
I delivered my car to the dealership to have some work done on it and was offered a courtesy ride back home. The driver was Rodney, a young man with whom I'd worked several years earlier when he was a student at the Regional College where I was Student Counselor. Rodney (not his real name) had dropped out of school in grade ... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Children's Activities (Other) How to find free and cheap children's activities for weekends: 1 of 6
When my children were small they were early risers. Finding things to keep them busy on Saturdays was easy: in the spring, summer and fall the bulletin board at the mall was always cluttered with flyers for garage sales and yard sales where the early bird gets the worm. I would check out the display the night before and jot ... More..
Home & Garden > Furniture Tips for finding the right recliner for you: 1 of 6
Recliners are like shoes - no matter how good they look, they're not much use unless they fit, and often, the more they cost the better they feel. Many furniture stores cater to a particular market, carrying items within a certain price range. At that price, most of the chairs will feel pretty much the same when you sit in t... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Energy Issues Tips to keep your energy bills under control: 11 of 63
The price of oil is at an all-time high. Never before has energy cost as much as it does today, yet many of us are becoming more complacent rather than more careful about our energy usage. To keep your energy bills under control, just listen to that voice in your head - the one that sounds just like your mother reminding you... More..