A Note from Sandie – November/December 2008
No sooner does the flurry of back-to-school activities and fall sports start winding down, than you are caught up in preparations for upcoming holidays.  Starting with Halloween and stretching through the end of the year, we know that you will sometimes feel frazzled and overwhelmed by the demands this season puts on you.  What's a busy parent to do?  Instead of adding to your stress, this issue of Parents’ Source contains information that will allow you to plan ahead and use your limited time in a way that fits in best with your family's schedule.       

One way to find more family time is to get everyone in on the responsibilities of taking care of your home and each other (otherwise known as chores).  In Children and Chores you will get some practical tips on how to get your children (whether they are toddlers or teenagers) to pitch in around the house.  The article points out the importance of teaching your children how to do each chore and then being patient while they practice it.  When they can do it on their own, they gain confidence knowing that they have mastered the task.  Of course, it is important to build variety into the schedule, so there is a chart of age-appropriate chores.  If the family works together to get the chores done, there will be more time for other types of family fun.

The humor article in this issue deals with a rite of passage that most parents can relate to – when our sweet, gullible kids start to question staples of childhood fantasy, such as the Tooth Fairy, or in the case of To Believe or Not to Believe – That’s My Daughter’s Question, a certain red-suited old man…  I know there are different schools of thought out there about whether parents should encourage their children to believe in such figures, but if you are looking for an authoritative discussion of the pros and cons of the arguments, this article is definitely not the place to find it!  Instead, you will encounter a lighthearted essay about a mom who is both proud of her daughter’s clear-headed thinking and nostalgic for the days before all the questions…       

As you go through this busy time, let Parents’ Source help you find a local family event or activity that is just for fun - check out our pages for all the ways that you can enjoy the season. 

As the New Year rolls in, I hope you will be able to look back on a blessed and happy 2008!

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