Mariel

A New Father’s Day Tradition (and Competition!)

by Mariel May 26, 2011

One of my most favorite things about being a mother is coming up with new traditions for my family. Traditions are a great way to create memories and give the family something to look forward to. However, if I have one piece of unsolicited advice on this subject, it’s to be flexible. If the fun [...]

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Family Dinner and Movie Theme Night

by Mariel May 12, 2011

My kids are always itching to do something fun. I don’t blame them, so am I. Bike rides, theme parks, bowling, laser tag, you name it. Fun is great. But, sometimes Mom and Dad are lacking in the energy department. One of the easiest, most non-energy-needing ways to perk up my gloomy kids is to [...]

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The ‘Teaching Children Table Manners’ Game

by Mariel April 28, 2011

Table manners?? What are those? The man-of-the-house is all for America adopting the burping is a “compliment to the chef” cultural tradition. The kids would like to add wrestling, fork stabbing, and feet-in-the-face to that. Now, there’s something to be said for having fun and goofing around as a family, I’m all about a good [...]

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Encouraging Optimism In Your Family

by Mariel April 14, 2011

The sky has been falling on a regular basis, in my home… “This cut will NEVER heal!” “I will NEVER figure out these Math problems!” “I CAN’T eat at that restaurant, they won’t have anything I like!” Oh, puh-lease, right? I know. In my mind, I imagine saying, “you have NO idea how hard life [...]

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Helpful Tips to Appease Picky Eaters

by Mariel February 24, 2011

As a mother of 5, it’s inevitable that I will have at least ONE picky eater. And, I do. It’s bad. Bad, as in: hates chicken nuggets, hamburgers, pizza, cheese, fruit, veggies, ketchup, mustard, pretty much everything. Really, everything. Yes, I accept hugs from strangers. I was browsing Redbook, the other day, and read about [...]

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