Moms Talk: When Can Children Stay Home Alone?

And what precautions should we take to keep them safe on their own?

Every mother has heard horror stories of bad things that can happen when children are left alone without parental supervision. Whether it's a short walk to the bus stop to pick up siblings, several minutes required to run an errand, the time gap between when school lets out and you're off work, or long days during summer vacation; at some point, our kids will be able to stay at home, which makes life much easier on the parents. But, how do you judge when the children are ready to stay at home by themselves? What are the main dangers (real or imagined) that you worry about when you venture out of the house and leave the kids behind?

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Maplewood Motherhood: Notes from the Field

Blaming Teachers for Poor Students is Unfair

Achievement gaps are not created by public schools. They are simply detected there.

It is no secret that the Maplewood Richmond Heights community has been working hard to increase the academic standing of its schools. Americans nationwide lament that K-12 students are poorly educated in public schools. Many blame teachers and teachers' unions. I agree that administrators must be allowed to fire a truly lazy or abusive teacher without facing untold thousands of dollars fighting a lawsuit against someone hiding behind a union shield. That said, is it realistic to wave goodbye to the kids on the schoolbus each morning, and then place all responsibility for their educational achievement in the hands of a teacher that has 20 to 30 kids per class? That seems illogical to me. It's simply passing the blame. Children are at school…

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Moms Talk Q&A: How Does Your Family Prepare for Emergencies?

Do you have a natural disaster family plan and emergency kit?

In light of the recent tornado that tore through Lambert-St. Louis International Airport and the surrounding communities, we thought we'd bring up the topic of emergency preparedness for this week's Moms Talk Q&A feature. I won't forget the lesson taught in my 10th-grade physical science class. Mr. Floyd Koehler offered us extra credit if we assembled emergency kits with our families. My kit had flashlights, batteries, water, granola bars and, most importantly, cans and cans of Spaghettios (I'm sure I made room for first aid supplies too). Does your family have an emergency kit? If so, what was it like putting the kit together and what supplies did you include? What other emergency plans did you make with your family? Please share your …

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Becky Slatin

9:35 pm on Thursday, April 28, 2011

We actually do have an emergency kit that my mother gave each of her children for Christmas 1999 to prepare for the millennium and then updated it for post-9/11. It's probably due for another update. We do have a battery-operated radio, lantern and flashlights in our basement that we've put to use multiple times during power outages. After the latest storms here in St. Louis and the devastation …   more ›

Moms Talk Q&A: How Does Your Family Stay Physically Active?

With so many families constantly on-the-go, what do you to make time for physical activity?

Between school, sports, extracurriculars and Xbox, kids might sometimes forget about making time for physical activity, even if we all recognize the importance of exercise. What do you do as a parent to encourage physical activity? How do you make the time? And, most importantly, what tips can you share for other moms and dads in the community? Please jump in and offer your thoughts in the comments box below. Our Moms Council members will share their stories too. And if you missed last week's Moms Talk Q&A, we talked about what shocks parents in today's society.

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Denise Lee

10:25 pm on Wednesday, April 20, 2011

We like walking. Actually our dog Koa likes it when we take him walking. The nature trails rank ten plus tail wags. Sometimes we see an interesting critter (to chase) like a groundhog or a fox. Although we haven't seen any yet, some of our neighbors have seen deer in the woods. Koa is hopeful for an encounter. In the summer time you will find us all at the Brentwood Swim Club. An evening swim is …   more ›

Maplewood Motherhood: Notes from the Field

A Birthday Cake Refutes the Fears of a "Tiger Mother"

Sometimes sloppy work is acceptable.

I haven't yet read Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua. But I have heard the tizzy it has stirred up about parents that are relentlessly tough on their children in the pursuit of vicarious excellence. It makes me nervous that I sometimes walk precariously close to that line. My job is not to be my child's best buddy. I will never drive my adolescents around the neighborhood to throw toilet paper in their friends' trees, nor will I ever have a beer with my teenager. I know me, and I suspect that I will always watch their grades like a hawk, make them practice piano before playtime, censor the clothes they wear to school, monitor their computer time, and make them speak using correct grammar. I worry that I will become a Tiger Mom. …

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Moms Talk Q&A: What Shocks You as a Parent?

And how do you address the situation with your children?

Today is far different from the good ol' days and parents must address new family issues each day, whether it's modern technologies, new lifestyles or something different. What has shocked you as a parent? Do your children do or say anything that makes you feel like kids today are very different from your days as a child? How do you handle these situations? Please jump in and offer your thoughts in the comments box below. Our Moms Council members will share their stories too. And if you missed last week's Moms Talk Q&A, we talked about how peer pressure affects both kids and parents.

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TP

3:27 pm on Thursday, April 14, 2011

Whether you're a parent or not, life is just shocking. * It shocks me that the little blobs of joy I carried home from the hospital became such complex thinkers and independent little people overnight. * It shocks me when adults would rather sit on the sidelines and critique those trying to make a difference than put a little skin in the game and lend a hand. * It shocks me every time I read an …   more ›

Moms Talk Q&A: How Does Peer Pressure Affect Children and Parents?

And how do you approach the subject with your kids?

We live in a culture that places value in fitting in. Most kids like to feel accepted by their peers, but the same is true for parents as well. What kinds of peer pressure do your kids experience and how do you talk to them about it? And do you feel peer pressure as a parent to have your kids participate in specific activities or act a certain way? We'd love to hear your thoughts. Please jump in and share your stories in the comments box below. Our Moms Council members will offer their wisdom too. And if you missed last week's Moms Talk Q&A, we talked about how families discuss major headline disasters, like in Japan or Libya.

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Becky Slatin

5:47 pm on Friday, April 8, 2011

Peer pressure is everywhere no matter how old you are. I love the messages Victoria shares with her children. I’ve tried to teach my own child to treat others with an open heart and appreciate our differences. All we can do as parents is set a good example for our children. It’s OK to let them know that even as an adult you some times feel like you’re wearing the wrong clothes, don’t have the …   more ›

Maplewood Motherhood: Notes from the Field

Rain, Rain, Let's Go Play

How do you thwart your kids' cabin fever?

Have you ever awakened in the morning hearing the rhythmic drumming of rain on the house and felt a content anticipation of the day? I used to. Rain used to mean I had an excuse to curl up with several cups of coffee and get lost in a really great book for hours. However, with small children around, I have no quiet rainy days in which to settle in on the couch and become engrossed in anything. Oh no, as a parent you must be constantly on your toes. So now, when I wake up to rain, my mind starts filing through a list of potential activities to keep the kids busy. I always seem to run out of ideas, so readers, please chime in with your ideas. One thing that kids like to do is help cook. Mine are too short to see the stove, so obviously …

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Moms Talk Q&A: When Do You Talk to Kids About Sex?

What age is appropriate?

The birds and the bees. As difficult as it may be, it's a subject that every family must talk about. When should parents start talking to their children about sex? Does it depend on the parent? On the child? Maybe you don't talk about it at all? We'd love to hear your thoughts. Please jump in and share your stories in the comments box below. Our Moms Council members will offer their wisdom too. And if you missed last week's discussion, we talked about how many extracurriculars are good for children.

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Denise Lee

11:32 pm on Wednesday, March 23, 2011

When I was pregnant with our son, our 4 year-old daughter asked how the baby would get out of my tummy. We explained the process using terms a child would understand and without a lot of graphic detail but with perhaps too much information. Our daughter looked at me incredulously and said "You're kidding?!" Clearly it was a case of TMI (too much information). Like TP, we've always let the kids …   more ›

Maplewood Motherhood: Notes from the Field

Opting Out of Childhood Vaccinations is a Gamble

Vaccinated Americans are both figuratively and physically immune to the suffering that many diseases cause.

I was sipping coffee while watching my kids play at a playground in the Maplewood-Brentwood area when I heard testimony about a vaccine causing autism. It wasn't my choice to eavesdrop. The conversation was impassioned, as are most parents' conversations about their children.  Conspiracy theories thrive on the Internet, perpetuating the beliefe that diabolical scientists are poisoning our children with vaccines. This disconnect between what medical scientists actually do and what the general public suspects they do can endanger children's lives, particularly when parents believe that vaccines are worse than the very diseases they were developed to prevent. In 1998, one report merely mused (without supporting data) about a possible …

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