Articles written by S J

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About me - S J

Hi. I'm a 41 year old married mother of two kids. Before children, I taught elementary school. Since then, I have become a huge advocate of children with special needs, especially for my all-time favorite special-needs kid, my son, Wynn. I'm also Editor in

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Parenting & Pregnancy > Problems Parents Face The stay-at-home mom's guide to staying sane: 5 of 33

Staying home with children everday is rewarding, yes, but it is also challenging, exhausting and can literally make you crazy. But I am here as proof that stay-at-home moms can make it through to the other side (or at least until all the little ones are waving at you through the school bus windows)without losing their hair o...
Health & Fitness > First Aid Tips for removing a tick from yourself: 2 of 12

Ticks may be one of the smallest insects around, but their bite is anything but harmless. Lyme's disease is the most common ailment attributed to the tick, but the little pest can cause nine other major diseases including Ehrlichiosis, Babesiosis, Tick Paralysis, Tick-borne Relapsing Fever, Tularemia, Rocky Mountain Spotted ...
Jobs & Careers > Education Jobs Surviving your first year as a teacher: 3 of 12

Twenty-seven third graders all stared up at me at once. I had just been introduced as their new teacher, replacing an extremely popular teacher who had recently taken a maternity leave. My head spun and my throat felt dry. What was I thinking? Who on earth had convinced me that I could ever successfully manage a classroom an...
Education > Early Childhood Ed Best schools for toddlers: 1 of 4

The Mama's Lap is the Best School for Toddler School for toddlers? Honestly, what is the rush? When did academics become more important than childhood? When did schedules and calendars replace picnics and rocking chairs? There is something so pure and so precious about the toddler years. These early years are the ones that i...
Parenting & Pregnancy > Baby Sleep Issues The possible risks of co-sleeping with a baby: 1 of 4

There are certain topics on which parents have strong opinions. Co-sleeping, or sharing a bed with a baby, is one such topic. For whatever reason, most parents feel either stongly for or against the practice, and although co-sleeping has been practiced for hundreds of years in cultures all over the world, the topic is still ...
Parenting & Pregnancy > Baby Sleep Issues The Ferber method for developing sleep habits in babies: 2 of 7

Most parents have, at some time in their child's life, experienced the difficulties of getting a child to sleep. Usually, the most difficult and critical period is during infancy. Parents are often inexperienced and nervous about letting their baby cry, and so, often, unhealthy sleeptime patterns develop that are hard to bre...
Parenting & Pregnancy > Parenting Styles (Other) How birth order helps determine our personality: 5 of 15

Let's face it, we are really only looking for someone to take the blame. As children, we pointed the finger as the pet dog or the neighbor kid; in adolescence, everything was the fault of our ignorant parents; and as adults running out of excuses, we find ourselves reflecting back on the deeply ingrained characteristics of o...
Travel > Air Travel & Airlines Keeping kids entertained at the airport: 3 of 9

Airports and Children: Playing the Waiting Game As anyone who has traveled with children knows, you must plan ahead and be prepared for the worst case scenario. Always take more than you think you might need just in case. Here is this veteran mom's best advice: First, always take food, regardless how long you anticipate the ...
Parenting & Pregnancy > Childhood Development Raising children to be responsible adults: 3 of 9

I love my kids very much. They were very wanted and planned for by both my husband and myself. Everyday I feel blessed to wake up to the job of being their mom; of nurturing them, teaching them, and protecting them. My kids need me and I like being needed. But some day in the future, there will come a day when I won't want t...
Parenting & Pregnancy > Special Needs Living with and loving children with special needs: 10 of 20

My son, Wynn, turns thirteen-THIRTEEN!-on February 15. He doesn't want to be a teenager, and so I'm not allowed to verbalize out loud how old he really is..... At 13, I was in the 7th grade and was editor of our year book. I hot-rolled my hair every morning, and turned up the collar of my I-zod shirts. I polished my white Ni...