School Aged Children

Dreams, Goals and Graduations – A Mother’s Letter by Staci Morris

by Kate Fineske August 1, 2013

College for my kids seems so far away…However, as I write that sentence I am thinking: So did middle school. My oldest daughter (unbelievably) has only one more year left of elementary school. Soon she’ll be off to a bigger school, with brand new teachers and a dramatically different experience as a 6th grade student. [...]

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Our Child’s First Teacher

by Kate Fineske May 23, 2013

~ When my husband and I first met we had this ongoing debate: Ketchup? Or ranch? My husband likes ranch with everything. He dunks french fries and vegetables, chicken and burgers – honestly nearly anything that he feels needs a little extra boost of taste – into ranch. Everything tastes better with ranch! (Or so [...]

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Keeping the Peace (Family Dynamics in a Household of Young Kids)

by Kate Fineske November 1, 2012

NOTE: On Wednesday, November 14th, the National Association of Mothers’ Centers will be hosting a webinar entitled: The Ultimate Tool for Success - Emotional Intelligence. Imagine being able to go through life equipped with the ability to understand yourself and others and communicate effectively. It is this line (written in the webinar description) that caused [...]

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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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A Bag of Mixed Emotions (A Back to School Reflection)

by Kate Fineske September 6, 2012

~With a much heavier heart than I anticipated, I forced a smile on my face. The school year had begun, and my two oldest children were off to school again, excitedly stepping up into their big, yellow school bus. With mixed emotions and a million-and-one conflicted feelings racing through my mind, I watched them both [...]

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The Golden Years of Parenting

by Kate Fineske February 2, 2012

Note: On Wednesday, February 15th, the National Association of Mothers’ Centers will be hosting a webinar as part of their Parenting and Family Webinar Series entitled: Staying Connected: Maintaining the lines of Communication with your Teen. This upcoming webinar inspired me to reflect on those small moments in the present, where I’ve contemplated the future. [...]

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Diary of a Neat Freak

by Kate Fineske January 12, 2012

~“Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing.” ~ Phyllis Diller I have something to admit… My daily “degree of sanity” often has a direct correlation with how organized and clean my surroundings are. There. I admit it. I am one of those people who [...]

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Because It’s the “In” Thing (Life from the “Fashion Files” of a 10-year-old)

by Kate Fineske August 18, 2011

What would I be when I grew up? Such a profound question to ask at around age 10. Yet I have strong memories of a childhood friend and I sitting together one sunny, summer afternoon, imagining what we wanted to be when we grew up. It was the mid 80′s and my girl friend and [...]

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The Daily Tattle Battle

by Kate Fineske August 4, 2011

News Flash! We are interrupting your regularly scheduled programming to bring you breaking news! Reporting to you LIVE from the top of the stairs is… my middle child – here to tell you all about … How-his-big-sister-just-kicked-him-out-of-her-room-in-the-middle-of-afternoon-reading-time. AND How-it-wasn’t-fair … AND How-she-is-being-SO-mean… AND How-it’s-“JUST-NOT-FAIR-mom! She-WON’T-let-me-into-her-room!” Or, whatever else my middle child might have said… because, [...]

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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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