Swine flu hits, and mom loses control

By Myrna, Silicon Valley Moms Blog

OK … so the pig flu hit my son’s school. Over 200 kids are out sick. Sorry, I can’t control the gathering of 1,000 students. I certainly cannot oversee how each student sneezes, coughs, picks their nose, washes their hands, or if they stay home when they are sick. So … thanks, my son is now sick and my daughter is now banned from her school. Because she’s a junior in high school, a day off isn’t the free pass it used to be. Obviously she’s not happy about the ban, especially since she’s not sick.

Silly me, I thought the doctor’s office would be the place to go if my son was sick. Guess again. The operator said, “Your son has a fever, aches and pains and a cough? Gosh, he...

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Children’s Tylenol and infant Tylenol recalled

NEW YORK — Johnson & Johnson’s said Thursday it is voluntarily recalling 57 lots of infants’ and children’s liquid Tylenol products because of possible bacterial contamination.

The products being recalled were made between April and June and include nearly two-dozen varieties of the products.

Johnson & Johnson said it has contacted wholesalers and retailers about the recall. An inactive ingredient didn’t meet internal testing requirements, the company said, and B. cepacia bacteria were detected in a portion of raw material that went unused in the finished product.

Consumers with questions should call (800) 962-5357. A full list of the 21 recalled products and their lot numbers can be seen at: Read more

Five tips for moms returning to the workplace

McClatchy-Tribune

Given the current economic conditions, lots of stay-at-home mothers are contemplating rejoining the work force. Many haven’t worked in several years and are finding the tools being used for job search have changed. Job search engine, Juju.com, has put together a quick list of tips to help moms make their job search easier:

• New tools: A few years ago, job boards like CareerBuilder and HotJobs were the first place that many job seekers looked when starting the search for a new job. Those sites, and others like them, are still extremely important, but today job seekers are increasingly turning to specialized job search engines like Juju.com as a starting point for their research. Search engines like Juju allow job...

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Black-and-white film fest honors Frumpy Mom

By Marla Jo Fisher, The Orange County Register

When I was a baby, my mom was driving our family car with me lying on the seat next to her, when she dropped her cigarette onto my head.

I promptly showed my disapproval of this, in an age-appropriate fashion.

My mom then freaked out, tried to get the cancer stick off my head, and crashed her car into a tree.

I bring this up, because my kids act like I just dropped a cigarette on their heads when I try to make them watch a black-and-white movie. And then crashed the car.

In the spring, I wrote about “Stuff That Old Moms Like,” and I said the kids detest B&W flicks, though when I actually ignore the weeping and wailing and force them to watch one, they usually like it.

After...

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‘Falcons on the Fly’ gets students on the move

In its third year, the “Falcons on the Fly” program has become a moving experience for students.

Each day, the 700 children in grades kindergarten through fifth grade at Firelands Elementary School have the option of running or walking one lap, or walking or running for their entire 20-minute recess.

“It’s great for kids who need an extra outlet for their energy,” according to Valerie Schuster, a counselor at the school.

And there are other benefits as well.

“Studies show that exercise enhances oxygen levels and the ability to focus and concentrate,” Schuster said. “The kids really see it as a fun activity.”

This year’s program got started in fine fashion last week when the Firelands High School Falcons Marching Band, football team...

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Parents learn school photo prices vary

By Aisha Sultan, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Usually, the biggest drama surrounding school pictures involves a bad haircut or sudden breakout. But in an affluent, West County elementary school, some parents recently discovered that a priceless photo may carry a heftier price tag than they realized.

Due to a paperwork mix-up, a few photo order forms from Festus Elementary school ended up in the hands of parents at Mason Ridge Elementary school in Town and Country. The school serves a community of homes mostly residing on one-acre home sites, with household incomes triple the national average.
One parent, who asked to remain anonymous, said she noticed the problem while filling out orders for two children in two different classrooms.

“Wow,” she...

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Yes, I have a favorite child

By Emily Hill, Rocky Mountain Moms Blog

If you were to ask me about my children I would give you a rundown on their ages, interests, unique personalities and my buttons they most like to push … and then I would proceed to tell you which one is my current favorite. Yes, I just admitted to you that I have a favorite. (Right now it’s George. It used to be Livi but Livi lost her “favorite” status when she discovered how nice pencil marks look on the hallway walls.)

I am not ashamed to admit out of four children, one is my most favorite. Don’t get me wrong, I love my children, but depending on their attitude, hormones, penchant for mischief and stage of life it changes.

Sometimes a child can hold his or her position as favorite for...

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Toddler shares dad’s love for water

By Mark Erickson, Daily Press (Newport News, Va.)

My wife, Miriam, comes from thrifty, self-made stock, and she’s good at spotting bargains.

But she didn’t dream how much we’d be repaid when — many months into her pregnancy with our little boy — she stooped down and pulled out a brand new baby swimsuit and shirt while sifting through some yard-sale items at a friend’s house in Gloucester.

Bright yellow fish swam across the squirt-sized pair of ocean-colored trunks, while the lime-green top buttoned in back just like the rash guards from my boogie boarding days. So even at 10 times what we paid, this cool little sponger’s outfit was a steal.

Little did we know then how loudly Owen would bellow when he had his...

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What’s new and cool in shoes for kids

By Rod Stafford Hagwood, Florida Sun Sentinel

OK, Mom and Dad, this is what your kid finds fabulous in footwear this fall … and how much it’s going to set you back.

We canvassed shoe stores and online retailers to find out what’s kicking in kicks in order to make the whole process a little bit easier for you.

Flats/ballet shoes/slip-ons: From prim Mary-Janes to plaid slip-ons, there are classic preppy touches added to the casual ease of these don’t-try-so-hard comfy shoes.

Hightops/sneakers: This is where the artistry of shoe design shows up. From dazzling sequins to colorful cartoon prints, the embellishment is bumped up a few notches this season. And Back-to-School means old school. “From skater sneaks like Skechers to Converse...

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Best, cheapest learning toys for kids

By Ashley Grimaldo, www.freeshipping.org/blog/

All new parents will quickly learn that an attractive, award-winning toy may or may not make the grade for your toddler. Usually, the more expensive your purchase, the less of an impression it makes on Junior. After several repeat episodes of buying toys designed by “experts” to “stimulate” this or that part of the noggin, we are sadly disappointed with a banished toy and empty wallet.

The ugly truth is most of us seek out gizmos that will occupy our kiddos to give us extra time to “get stuff done” around the house. Many of the great classic and even good modern toys aren’t that expensive, but require more direction from parents. This means you can check your child at the toy...

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