DS (5) has shown an interest in reading. He can sound out very simple words, but I don't really know where to go from here. Does anyone have book recommendations or does anyone know anything about hooked on phonics, except that it's expensive? Thanks.

Hi, I will be traveling from Florida to China next month with my one-year-old son alone (mother can't go). Any tips/suggestions/warnings you guys could provide? Only thing I could think of is to fly as few hours as possible. And of course, pack enough diapers, formula... (maybe he doesn't need...

I have a 6yr old son who when he's in school has the behavior of his criminal biological father. My son is a great kid (normally) but recently he has started to lie and be disobedient. When he was in kindergarten last year he acted out and that was attributed to some things going on between my...

I once went to my local nursery school to find them teaching the Good Word to the children, but they had grossly simplified the Word of God and were using videos of animated vegetables with strange versions of the tale. Whats wrong with giving them the Old Testament? The first thing I ever...

My three-year-old son qualifies for an itinerant teacher if we can find a preschool for him, because of his... ah... poor social skills. (He's also in the 99th percentile for cognitive and language skills, we found out, if a mother may be forgiven for bragging.) Do any of you have experience...

Our son, who is turning four next month, has been going to pre-school since September. He only goes twice a week for two and a half hours. Our problem is that he begins crying on the schooldays the minute he wakes up and realizes its a school day and continues until he is dropped off at 9:15. It...

This weekend, we are giving the 6yo a party in her honour. It is her first ever party for her friends: her birthday is in August so the school holidays have always got in the way. However, we want to do all the normal party things: ie games, a party tea, a cake. I'm not quite sure what to do...

What to do when you can't readily walk out? I was in the hospital urgent care with DD today and DS was begging for attention. He just couldn't keep still and was an embarrassment to be around. TBH, I don't quite blame him for not being able to keep still for 5 hours straight. That's tough for a...

updated 4:58 p.m. ET, Tues., Nov. 6, 2007 LANSING, Mich. - A federal appeals court has upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit nicknamed “Roe v. Wade for Men� filed by a men’s rights group on behalf of a man who said he shouldn’t have to pay child support for his ex- girlfriend’s daughter. A...

I wondered how many peoples kids run through the house? How old are they? If it happens, how do you react/handle it? Does it happen when they are alone or only in groups? Are some houses 'run free' :-)

Ollie (14 months) got a great set of wooden blocks for Christmas from his Mormor. We both like playing with them, but after a few minutes he starts throwing them. He doesn't throw them at me; he throws them at the floor, but it's still annoying. Any suggestions on how to get him to stop? I've tried...

The "food police," i.e., the folks at the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)--read all about them at http://www.consumerfreedom.com/activistcash/org_detail.cfm?ORG_ID=13 --are at it again. This time it's not "junk" food itself being blamed for our "obesity epidemic," it's the...

If you use as a measuring stick the success you have enjoyed and the ability to retire in your early 50s, Catholic elementary school in the 1950s and Catholic high school in late '50s-early '60s sho nuff worked for me. It contributed at least significantly, albeit not totally. It wasn't for...

For those who might be around both, I had posted a little while ago about having some sort of help around the house as far as daily life goes (ie, putting dirty dishes in the sink, picking up dirty laundry, toys, etc.) and that doesn't seem to be helping. Now, though, this all brings me to a...

Jamie has a low-level tummy bug. Several runny nappies since yesterday which now seem to be resolving, and basically fine in himself apart from occasional bit of whinginess. The La Leche League meeting is tomorrow, and I'm wondering whether I should go or not. No problem as far as Jamie is...

Having read this group for so long, you sort of get the impression that most moms out there are "in the know." That they read the parenting books and magazines, are up on the latest info, and are trying to do their best for their child. Well, the last is probably true anyway. So I'm playing an...

I am having some trouble with my wife. We have two boys, one is 2 months old and the other is 19 months. I work and my wife stays at home. Lately my older son has been whinning and crying. He does this with her, but not as much with me. It's driving my wife nuts and now she wants to sent him...

Am I Mrs. Mylastname? I'd feel funny being Miss Myfirstname. I even feel funny being Mrs. Mylastname. It's so formal. I like being Myfirstname, but that's too informal, if I have to call the teacher Miss Herfirstname, which I figure I have to, since she introduced herself that way. What is the...

Hi group, For those of you with older girls, did you have a particular age that you started letting your girls shave their legs? What did you factor in your decision to start letting them shave, other than the maturity to handle it? Thanks so much. -- Sue (mom to three girls)

Doan wrote: It has been over seven weeks now since LaVonne posted "studies that have not been discussed in this newsgroup". I challenged her to debate me on these so-called studies. Why is she so afraid to take me on? Doan I bet she's seen the Light! --