I have seen the cutest cutest cutest photos of babies lately!  It seems there is no limit to how a parent can show how delightfully beautiful and whimsical their children are with the right photographer.  Today this one caught my eye,

When I was growing up, three very distinct toys come to mind as my favorites:

1.  Chatty Cathy Doll.  Oh how I loved my Chatty Cathy. Her eyes opened and closed as she tilted back and forward. I would pull the string in her back to make her talk, “Will you play with me?” and “I love you!”  So sweet!

Photo from here.

2.  My next favorite toy was my Suzy Homemaker Oven. I waited all year for Christmas to roll around and get my dream oven. How exciting to bake my own cakes!

Photo from Etsy.

3.  Finally my favorite toy of all time was my purple banana seats bicycle. I rode it EVERYWHERE. Back then parents just didn’t worry about all the bad people out and about like we do today. This was my bike, minus the basket and streamers.

Photo from le tour babe.

What were your favorite toys?

I am an avid supporter of our local task force that does not tolerate crime, including human trafficking, gang awareness, or synthetic drug use.  Synthetic drugs have become a real problem for modern society.  The child of my friend once tried “Molly’s Plant Food” under the assumption that because it was legal to sell in local quickie marts, it was legal to use.

My friend said his heart raced and he kept clacking his teeth as a result. She called our friend who is an EMT and he was rushed to the hospital. He barely escaped death after just one use of the drug.  My own state legislature is paying attention to the growing problem of synthetic drug use and working to make it illegal.  Meanwhile, stores are sneaking around to sell it.  They hide it under the counter or in their safes – they are the newest drug dealers of this generation.

How can you tell when a store is potentially selling synthetic drugs?  Look for stores that also sell glass pipes or houka pipes.

Kids and adults are also disturbingly using other things to get high.  Whether drinking hand sanitizer or huffing paint, these items can be lethal.  Parents need to be aware that even the best kids can be tempted. If you suspect something, talk to the child.  If you see a store selling synthetic drugs – even labeled not for human consumption – nag your lawmakers into taking action and talk to the police.

The future of our children may depend on you!

Photo from This is Smyrna.

I so get this. My daughter used to have a pacifier in her mouth, clipped to her onesie, and one in both hands.  Yes, I get this!

It’s that time of year again when high school graduation invitations start pouring into the mail box.  Nieces, nephews, neighbors, friends … all want to announce their 12 year (13 if you count kindergarten) marathon to get out of school is almost over!  AND you can send them presents – money, photo frames, or the popular Dr. Seuss book Oh The Places You’ll Go,

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…

This book is a fantastic gift for graduates, except it is so expensive! I’d love to buy about 20 of them and just hold on to dole out as people in my life reach graduation!

Two things today.  The first is this link to a GREAT post about a Dad who disciplined someone else’s child in a museum.  The little kid twerp deserved it.

1) Keep an eye on your kid at all times

2) If your kid isn’t socially mature, highlight #1, select ‘Bold’ typeface, select 72 point font, print it, and stick it on your fridge.

3) If your kid exhibits ‘bullying’ behavior, take the F care of it right then and there. This isn’t through hugs and kisses either…

Read the link. While there is some strong language, it’s hilarious!

Second, if you invite yourself to someone else’s party (read: crash a party uninvited) and bring a three-year-old child, do NOT reprimand the hostess when she says a wirty-dord that is a mule-like animal in front of the three-year-old child, who was also not invited. Remember you are at that person’s house and it’s extremely rude to shush that person at their own party at their own house.

That is all!

We at Love Shak, Baby dedicate this post to the memory of Maurice Sendak, the author who thrilled children around the world with his popular Where the Wild Things Are.  Thank you for sparking the imaginations of poorly behaved children everywhere, for letting them know that having it was okay to feel frustrated sometimes.

It was one of my favorite books to read to my children, but as they began to read on their own there were some books better than others to start with.  From Delightful Childrens Books, they recommend some of the best ones to start with including,

Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey. While author Robert McCloskey did not intend Make Way for Ducklings to be an early reader, he chose names for the eight ducklings in this story that are perfect for your budding reader to sound out: Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Oack, Pack and Quack. Once your child has mastered the duckling names, she can try reading the captions.

Quack, Jack.  And thank you Mr. Sendak.

It looks like even after women fought for the right to vote, for the right to own property, for the right to equitable pay, we are still not equal.  A high school team in Arizona forfeited a championship baseball game because there was a – gasp! – girl on the other team!  It seems like cooties are something someone should have outgrown in elementary school!

From NBC Sports,

Mesa had beaten OLS twice during the regular season in games that Sultzbach sat out in respect of the other team’s religious objections. But when the state championship rolled around, Mesa Prep was no longer willing to turn the other cheek.

The girl’s Mom said,

“This is not a contact sport, it shouldn’t be an issue,” Pamela said. “It wasn’t that they were afraid they were going to hurt or injure her, it’s that (they believe) that a girl’s place is not on a field.”

Paige played softball and volleyball in junior high, but because Mesa Prep does not have a girls softball team, she decided to try out for the boys baseball team, with the coach’s encouragement.

Shaking my head…

Photo from Tumblr.

With Mother’s Day coming right up this weekend, it’s time to put together a nice gift for Mom.  This is an inexpensive, precious idea that any Mom would cherish.

From Pinterest, create a memory jar,

No instructions necessary!