parent hacks

Parent Hacks admin: Finding a new way

As many of you know by now, I've recently started home schooling my 10 year-old son (hence, yesterday's "mad scientist" photo!). We've been on a rocky path through the school system for the last few years, and it has finally deposited us right where we began...at home.  

Time to be humble all over again.

Parenting, for me at least, has been a process of stripping away preconceived notions about who people are, how they grow, and what they need. At each turn, what I thought was simply "right" was more like one of several options. My ideas of nurturing, of communication, of development, of discipline have all had to change to accommodate the needs of my kids.

And now, I'm doing the last thing I ever thought I'd want to or even could do: I'm letting my son learn at home. We're muddling along, finding what's interesting, questioning a lot (including each other), exploring. In theory, it's fun and exciting, but right now, it feels a lot like yet another bumpy transition. For him, for his sister (who's in 1st grade at the neighborhood school) and definitely for me. A good transition, but not an easy one.

If you notice that a few days go by between updates here at Parent Hacks, that's the reason. I expect that as we get settled into our respective routines regular posting will resume, but I just wanted to give you a heads up in the meantime. Thank you as always for being the remarkable and supportive people you are.

Photo by Kitonlove

Life Scoop caption contest: Ends tonight at 5pm!

Turns out I have to take my son to the doctor, which means I can't choose a winner at 11:30AM PST as I had planned, which means you get a few bonus hours to jump in the running! Leave your best caption idea in the comments at Lifescoop for a chance at a $50 Amazon gift card! (See my post at Lifescoop for details.) We'll choose the winner this evening around 5PM PST. The contest is closed and we have our winner! Thanks to all who entered.

Related: Lifescoop featured post: Websites for budding scientists (AKA all kids)

links for 2010-03-10

• Momversation - on Hulu!
  If you're a Hulu fan, you can now catch all the episodes of Momversation there!

Life Scoop: Websites for budding scientists (a.k.a. all kids)

My next post for the Intel-sponsored site Life Scoop shares some of my exciting Web finds around science learning. My son is a self-described scientist, so one of my first inclinations has been to see what's online. What I'm finding is thrilling, and it's teaching me that all kids, not just the "science-y" ones, will find something to love about science.

Click on over for some pointers, and share your own favorite science websites! I'd love to build up a great collection for us all to use.

Websites for budding scientists (a. k. a. all kids)

Related: Here's a picture of my son in full-on mad scientist mode. What the heck is he doing? The author of the most creative caption wins a $50 Amazon gift certificate! (Enter before 11:30PST on 3/11/10)

Lifescoop caption contest: Win a $50 Amazon gift card!

Mwah ha ha! Eeeee-vil mad scientist! Leave your best caption idea in the comments at Lifescoop for a chance at a $50 Amazon gift card! (See my post at Lifescoop for details.)

Related: My Lifescoop featured post: Websites for budding scientists (AKA all kids)

Momversation: Sexual abuse: how do you talk to your kids about it?

Thanks to Jen for broaching the topic, and D for expanding upon it in the comments of this post, my topic for Momversation this week is talking to your kids about sexual abuse.

I wanted to be able to open up the amazing conversation we've been having here with a broader audience. I invite you to watch the video and jump into the comments over at Momversation.com. While our coverage barely scratches the surface, it exposes the deep fear we all have of sexual predators...fear that runs so deep it even keeps us from talking about it.

Jen and D: I want to thank you again for your bravery and your trust in the Parent Hacks community for sharing your questions and thoughts here. Because of you, lots of parents are talking with their kids, and, hopefully, protecting them.

Related: My past Momversations

Turn a Kabaclip contact lens case into a sanitary earplug holder

Dawn's smart solution for keeping track of earplugs (especially expensive fitted ones):

Just recently my daughter had tubes put in her ears for chronic ear infections. She now needs to wear ear plugs in the bath and for swimming until the tubes come out.

One week after the surgery I lost one of her fitted plugs. Frustrated by not having something secure/sanitary to keep them in I found the Kabaclip contact lens case. Unlike a traditional lens case it has a u shaped clip (to place it on your bottle of contact cleaning solution) but also a small hole at the end of the U shaped clip that can be attached with a string to anywhere in the bathroom. As an afterthought, I purchased a second case and I attached a small chain (like the ones that come on the zippers of bookbags etc) and attached it to the inside zipper of my swim bag for the summer. Problem solved. No more lost plugs and the case can be washed and cleaned to keep the plugs clean and dry!

More: Health tips for kids

Life Scoop: Favorite iPhone Games for Kids

I have an arms-length relationship with my iPhone. In fact, it isn't even mine, and it isn't even a phone. It's my husband Rael's cast-off, and I use it with no phone plan (just as a wireless device to sync my contacts, Google Calendar, and to use the to-do app Things).

As such, my next post for the Intel-sponsored site Life Scoop withholds the rah-rah "My IPhone Contains The Solution To Every Problem!" gushing I often hear elsewhere. And, by "elsewhere," I mean "my husband."

Fact is, there are a bunch of wonderful kids' games for the iPhone. And sometimes, when the kids are unraveling in the dentist's waiting room or on a long car ride, a good iPhone game can be your ace in the hole.

Favorite iPhone Games for Kids

Related: Life Scoop: Create a "possibilities" calendar

links for 2010-03-02

• Dad Gone Mad: A Better Man
  This is why everyone should read Danny Evans's blog. Prepare to be surprised every time.
• Children Teach Themselves to Read | Psychology Today
  Interesting food for thought. My 6 YO daughter insists its easier to learn to read "by herself" than in her reading group at school.

links for 2010-02-26

• What I learned as a camp counselor | Manic Mommies® Media, Inc.
  Kristin recalls how her motivational and organizational skills as a camp counselor are perfectly put to use as a mom (when she remembers). Great reminders.

20 minute dinner: Chicken Dumpling Soup

The only thing that saved us from takeout this last night was that no one could agree on what to eat. Good thing, too -- I had all the ingredients for this delicious soup, and it probably took less time to make than we would have spent ordering food. (Certainly a lot less money.)

CHICKEN DUMPLING SOUP

Bring chicken broth* to a simmer, and then add one or all of the following:

- 7-10 frozen chicken dumplings (Traders Joe's, YUM)
- thinly sliced vegies (green onion, carrot, celery, asparagus, water chestnuts, baby corn, cabbage, peas, bamboo shoots...anything else in the fridge)
- diced breast of chicken, frozen or raw (the soup will poach the meat)
- a few frozen shrimp
- cubes of tofu
- leftover rice
- a few cilantro leaves
- soy sauce to taste

By the time you set the table, the soup yummies will be cooked and ready to eat!

Serve with cooked edamame (boil frozen edamame for five minutes in salted water) and some crunchy bread.

* I'm a fan of Pacific chicken broth -- organic and it comes packed in an aseptic box. Also "Better Than Bouillon" concentrate. Otherwise, use whatever broth or stock you prefer.

Related: 20 minute dinner: Pasta with creamy marinara sauce

Last day to vote for Parent Hacks in the About.com Reader's Choice Awards!

Parent Hacks is one of five finalists for the About.com Reader's Choice Award for Best Parenting Blog -- and today is the last day to vote! If you're inclined to lend a click, head over to the voting page and click Parent Hacks (no registration required). It would be an honor -- thank you!

links for 2010-02-24

• How To Support a School Project Without Micromanaging | GNMParents
  Oh, yes. Thanks for this, Megin -- great stuff!

Fashion a bandaid out of leaves

Sounds like something from The Jungle Book or Lost! Awesome. From Brock:

While out walking with the family, my 4 year old son's finger started hurting (from him picking his fingernails). He wanted a band-aid (now!), crying was immenent, and we were a 15 minute walk back to the car. I grabbed some long leaves from a nearby tree, and tied them around his finger. It was a great game, a novelty, and worked perfectly. No crying. My 1 year old also wanted one, and my wife and I were also made to wear them.

Alternately, there are these pickle bandages.

More: Health/development tips

Pack lunchbox condiments and dressings in medicine dosing cups

Kimberly's got a great lunchbox tip:

We all have several of the dosing cups that come with our children's medicines tucked away in a drawer somewhere. I've come up with a great re-purpose idea for them: if you pack sandwiches in your lunches, but don't like putting condiments on them until you're ready to eat, these little medicine measuring cups are the perfect size. Fill a medicine cup with whatever condiments you like and then cover with plastic wrap and pack it in your lunch. No more soggy sandwich bread! This is also an excellent way to carry salad dressing for your salads.

Re: the plastic wrap choice -- have you ever tried Glad Press 'n Seal ? It's expensive, but for times when the tightness of the seal is more important than the overall coverage area, I find that it works really well.

Related: Serve lunchbox condiments in a medicine syringe
More: Food/feeding tips