Parenting

First, "Dry Clean Only" means wear it until it stinks, then hand it down to your cousin...we're not "Dry Clean" people. Second, complaining about the laundry is a great way to inherit the chore of doing your own laundry.

Usually this is not a holiday that I partake in, but this year I've been debating whether or not to prank my daughter. She's taken to the habit of scaring me lately e.g. sneaking up behind me and saying, "Hi daddy!" in a loud voice. Pretty mild as far as pranks go, but it still gets under my skin. The last time she did it, I warned her that April Fool's Day was coming soon and I might have to work up some elaborate scary prank.

I know we're just barely into Spring, but it's already time to start thinking about what to do with the kids when they get out of school for the Summer. I'm a big fan of things that keep them off the couch and lie somewhere between free and cheap. Pricewise, the "Kids Bowl Free" title says it all. You'll only be out 2 bucks for shoe rental.

So, for today's parents, do you have an age in mind that you will demand your kids be on their own? I don't mean that you wouldn't give them a place to stay if they needed it or let them starve or any such other cruel thing.

The two nerdiest nerds I can recall from my own past were Willard and Myron. It's almost as if their parents knew they would end up being the eggheads in school. Football captains have names like Trent or Trevor...not Eggbert or Cornelius.

This is a note to parents of teens to warn them about the latest internet challenge. The "48 Hour Challenge" encourages teens to disappear for 48 hours in hopes they may have their pics posted as a missing person on social media.

Dance is my girl's thing. I am grateful that she has something that she works to get better at. It's good physical exercise and has many lessons (dedication, reward, etc.) that translate into lifelong, beneficial concepts. However...IT'S EXPENSIVE! Not only the tuition costs, but the costumes, travel, admission to performances, etc. I try not to complain too much. I assume if she had chosen a sport there would be plenty of cash to drop on that, too.

Corporal Punishment is not permitted in Montana and hasn't been for a number of years.  There was a push to get it back in 1997, but the measure was defeated.  Most parents it seems, even the ones who still spank their kids, don't believe the schools should have that kind of power. Growi...

Parents teaching their young children to like the things they like is nothing new, but the internet makes it a lot easier these days. Personally, I've had my kid watching the same cartoons that I grew up on, thanks to youtube. She's checked out He-Man, The Smurfs, Peewee's Playhouse and more...

You might work in the hardest profession ever, maybe you pull in long hours at the office. Still, nothing, and I mean NOTHING is more stressful than helping your children get their clothes on, sit down for breakfast and arrive on time for school.