Love Shak, Baby

We Sometimes Gripe

Kathy T. — Wed, 16 May 2012 01:07:24 +0000

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!

Great Books for New Readers

Kathy T. — Tue, 15 May 2012 00:30:00 +0000

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.

Girls Learn Early that Women Aren’t Equal

Kathy T. — Fri, 11 May 2012 02:21:06 +0000

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…

Wordless Wednesday: House Elf

Kathy T. — Wed, 09 May 2012 23:20:25 +0000

Photo from Tumblr.

Mother’s Day Gift Idea

Kathy T. — Wed, 09 May 2012 01:59:52 +0000

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!

Eat Your Vegetables!

Kathy T. — Tue, 08 May 2012 01:33:15 +0000

Since the assumption that when your kid gets hungry enough, they’ll eventually eat their vegetables is probably not great advice, try these other tips on inspiring kids to eat good stuff from Dale A. Wunder of Kids Advice,

If you can’t make them eat it, make them drink it. Pour some vegetable juice over ice and add a straw, a cocktail umbrella or a stick of celery and watch them drink it up. Your kids may not get as much fiber as eating the entire vegetable, but getting them to drink their vegetables is better than not getting any vegetables in their system.

Although my own kids won’t drink vegetable juice, there are several great tips here!

Friday Fun Video: Set Up an Email Account for Baby

Kathy T. — Fri, 04 May 2012 23:02:23 +0000

I’ve heard for years about people buying domain names for their newborns to snatch them up while they are still available. Now thanks to this innovative dad we can see why getting an email account for baby would be a great thing.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Mountain Dew and Beauty Queens

Kathy T. — Fri, 04 May 2012 01:23:50 +0000

I read an article earlier about how energy drinks are bad for a person’s teeth. That led me to a discussion with a friend who told me about a national news story a couple of years ago that focused on “Mountain Dew Mouth,” a condition of rotted teeth caused by an addiction to the popular soda. I had no idea this was happening!

Parents evidently put the soda in baby bottles and children do not brush their teeth because it’s too painful. The kids are resigned to eventually having dentures because that’s what their parents and grandparents have. The good news is a massive educational effort is underway helping people to understand the dental problems caused by the soda addiction.

Then I read an article with information about Vanessa Williams condemning the parents of Toddlers and Tiaras. Besides forcing the kids to perform, another problem cited was “go-go juice,”

“I think they don’t know what they are doing,” Williams says. “But when the child is screaming and saying, ‘I don’t want to do this, I don’t feel like doing it’– when they are using special juice to get them hyped…”

“Go-go juice,” Cooper chimes in, referring to a supposed mix of Mountain Dew and 7UP that parents serve the girls to get them all hyped up.

Sorry but hyper kids is not my idea of a fun time. Ever. And believe me I’ve seen some wild kids!

By the way, I thought to spare readers from seeing a photo of “Mountain Dew Mouth.” We’ll keep it at a happy tooth holding a toothbrush, please!

Wordless Wednesday: For Double Set of Twins

Kathy T. — Thu, 03 May 2012 03:05:50 +0000

Photo from Houzz.com.

Once Upon a Time There Lived a Princess

Kathy T. — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 23:41:14 +0000

I have always told my daughters stories. I’ve told them stories about being pirates on a forgotten sea. I’ve told them stories about being a princess in the talk, green trees. I’ve told them stories about my own experiences growing up. I’ve told them about the experiences of their ancestors – particularly the cranky great-great-great grandfather who once robbed a train. Although it might sound romantic, it wasn’t. He looted a train after it wrecked. (Family embarrassment!)

The art of storytelling sparks imagination and helps families bond. And as “a naptime novelist” tells us, it is a lost art.

Spontaneous storytelling with children is a delight. It is also something of a lost art, I suspect. In our home, a board book is always within reach, and we read, rather than tell, stories. (My stories with Clare and Kate are the exception, not the rule.) It makes me wonder what we’re losing, if we are indeed losing it.

I will look forward to telling stories to my grandbabies someday.