Parenting Ideas & Suggestions

Score One for Mom (Learning to Kick Fear to the Curb)

by Kate Fineske January 7, 2014

~Have you ever noticed that parenthood has a way of magnifying our own individual fears and shortcomings? Especially when we see our own anxieties mirrored through our child’s actions. As parents, above and beyond all else, we want what is best for our kids, and sometimes in order to model what’s best—we have to kick [...]

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A Mother’s Journey Through Books and the Top 7 Book Group Literary Escapes

by Kate Fineske December 10, 2013

The following list was compiled by members of the Mothers’ Center of Central New Jersey Book Group. A special thanks to Eileen Marriott for coordinating the book group’s efforts to gather article content. Additional thanks to MCCNJ member Anna George who’s essay (originally written for their group’s newsletter) was edited to become the post’s introduction. [...]

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My Own Family Dinner Project

by Kate Fineske November 11, 2013

On Wednesday, November 13th the National Association of Mothers’ Centers will be hosting a webinar entitled: Connect with your Family… One Meal at a Time presented by John Sarrouf, director of The Family Dinner Project. To help highlight the event we are sharing a family dinner story from Grace—a social worker and Family Dinner Project [...]

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Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone (The Benefits of Diversifying Your Parental Support Network)

by Kate Fineske November 4, 2013

How often do you find yourself surrounded by others that are just like you? When I first joined my Mothers’ Center Group I was looking to find friendships with other moms. WAIT. That’s not exactly true. If I were being completely honest (and maybe a little more specific) I was looking for… Pin It

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The Good Enough Mother (Silencing the Inner Critic)

by Kate Fineske October 24, 2013

What parenting “shoulds” have recently made your list? Maybe you’ve found yourself contemplating how you should be … Calmer and more loving Better disciplined and patient Stronger and wiser and wa-aaaa-ay more in control of your emotions Regardless of what your own “should-list” looks like, one thing remains constant: It can sometimes be hard to [...]

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There’s an App for That! {35 Useful Tools for Busy Mothers}

by Kate Fineske September 23, 2013

~How do you survive your day? Some days my answer to this question is: I just. Get. By. However, if I can find a tool to help keep me better organized and on top of my family of five’s busy days of: school, work, extracurricular activities, errands, meetings, and so much more… then sometimes it [...]

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Becoming the Mother Your Child Needs

by Kate Fineske September 16, 2013

~On Wednesday, September 25th the National Association of Mothers’ Centers will be hosting a webinar entitled: From Scattered to Sharp – the 5 “S” System to Grow a More Focused, Productive and Creative Brain presented by Lisa Grace Byrne author of Replenish: Experience Radiant Calm and True Vitality in Your Everyday Life and founder of WellGrounded [...]

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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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Great Expectations (A Mothers’ Day Story)

by Kate Fineske May 9, 2013

~ “Come on, it’s Mothers’ Day. Please? Can you NOT argue?” (I heard myself say for what felt like the millionth time to my children.) It was May 8th, 2010 (Mothers’ Day three years earlier) and I was trying with all my might to replace the downward turn of my frown with the upward movement [...]

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Honor an Amazing Mom (And Also Your Own Amazing Moments in Motherhood)

by Kate Fineske April 18, 2013

~ Note: Consider honoring a mom in your life by donating to the National Association of Mothers’ Centers’ Mile for Mothers Walk - a campaign to raise funds which underwrite a 35-year-old program that puts mom 1st by supporting her wherever her walk through motherhood takes her. Learn more about the Campaign and donate to [...]

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