Childrens Activities

Tipping Chairs and Other Family Dinner Dilemmas

by Kate Fineske September 20, 2012

“For the LAST time! Please. Stop. Tipping backwards on those chairs!” This is one of those phrases that I say (way too many times a week) during mealtime that reminds me how much my life has changed since becoming a mother. Lately, it seems I hear myself lecturing far more than listening during our family [...]

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Yesterday and Tomorrow: Prioritizing Fitness as a Parent

by Kate Fineske August 9, 2012

~Yesterday you said tomorrow. ~ Nike Ad. It is Sunday evening, my feet hit the pedals and… I am off! The warm breeze on a sticky, hot day flies by, providing even more motivation to keep on going. A million thoughts about yesterday, today, and tomorrow haphazardly travel through my mind - thoughts that move [...]

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Electronic Devices: Unnecessary Evil or Man’s Best Friend

by Kate Fineske July 12, 2012

I consider myself a fairly reasonable person. And when it comes to my rules and beliefs for my personal parenting habits my motto often is: All things… in moderation. For instance: Ice Cream for dessert? Yes! Just not every night. (Although we do have much more ice-cream consumption in the summer!) Structure and schedule in [...]

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Happy Birthday?

by Kate Fineske June 28, 2012

My own children’s birthdays have a way of sneaking up on me. This could be because of my poor family planning the fact that all three of my children were born at very busy times of the year for our family (before and after the December holidays and just as the school year is ending). [...]

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The Forever Summer

by Kate Fineske June 7, 2012

“Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability.”~ Sam Keen My 2-year-old, completely enjoying the simplicity of rolling down the hill in our backyard. ~WARNING: I am officially in “summer mode,” and this is how I know: Last week, I nearly forgot to get my children up for school.Yep, I sure did! 8:10 a.m. rolled around [...]

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No Offense, I think We’ll Stay Home Tonight

by Kate Fineske July 21, 2011

3 different families + 3 different family schedules = 1 Major Challenge What follows is one of the most ridiculous conversations that I’ve ever had: — Yes, I’d like to make a reservation for 6 adults one week from this Saturday please… No openings? OK, how about the next weekend on Friday? What? You’re booked [...]

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Uninvolved vs. Over-involved: Is There a Happy Medium? Finding Balance with Your Child’s Activities

by Kate Fineske March 31, 2011

I have a burning question. And I need some good advice. Let me start from the beginning… A couple days ago my 14-month-old son hit a milestone. He started to communicate using more than one word at a time! “Awwl daa!” He exclaims, as he finishes eating… Translation: “All Done!” We have been working on [...]

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When Your Home is an Island: Tips for Enjoying Inside Playtime with Your Children

by Kate Fineske February 26, 2011

Remember Tom Hanks’ character Chuck Noland in Cast Away? He lived for years on an uninhabited island in the South Pacific with only his volleyball (appropriately named Wilson) for company. In my mind, winter at my hometown in Ohio can sometimes be the equivalent to getting stranded on a deserted island – the only thing [...]

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