Articles by J Gardener on ArticleSnatch.com

Sharing the Joy at Christmastime

Fri, 24 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500

Terri is one of those women other mothers either envy or resent. With two boys, both under six, she's always sunny and upbeat, even as she goes about the many daunting tasks required of a working mother as the holiday season approaches. While her friends look at the calendar and see two months of shopping, cooking, house-cleaning and party-planning-and they wonder how they'll get through it all with any resemblence of sanity-nothing seems to slow Terri down or dampen her enthusiasm for this time of year. She feels so blessed to have a wonderful family and a satisfying career, and she anticipates the joy of the season rather than the work and the drudgery of the preparation. No matter where she goes or what she does, Terri tries to share the joy she feels, but she finds that many of her friends only see the holidays as a hurdle to be conquered. Last autumn, as she and her family sat in church, one November Sunday, Terri suddenly realized that there were others who might appreciate her particular brand of holiday emotion. **End Summary** Topics: family issues]]> holidays]]> family activities]]> family holidays]]> families]]> family fun]]> children]]> child]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Brought to you by Imaginary Greetings, a regular contributor of valuable family oriented articles. To help create the perfect family holiday, for the best selection of Christmas trees, lights, decorations and everything else Christmas, visit Santa's Depot .

On the Plane with Kids

Fri, 24 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500

It's not "over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house", anymore. Your new and growing family lives a thousand miles away from your childhood home, so a visit to your childrens' grandparents is a long trek that a horse-drawn sleigh won't cover. Still, your parents live for the visit at Christmastime that you promised you'd make. And that means a plane flight-the bane of all young parents. Traveling with children has never been easy, but with all of the airline restrictions and security measures in place today, flying with kids is more difficult and stressful than ever. And it's not just your kids and their comfort and safety that you worry about-you remember what it was like, when you were single, to sit in front of a crying child, so you worry about the other passengers and what they'll think if your own kids are tired and cranky, on-board. Forget about that. All of us-even the passengers in front of you-were kids, once, too, and annoyed someone. If you worry about everyone else's comfort, you'll only make the trip a nightmare for yourself. Your kids may have a few moments of discomfort or boredom, and act out-so what? **End Summary** Topics: family issues]]> holidays]]> family activities]]> family holidays]]> families]]> family fun]]> children]]> child]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Brought to you by Imaginary Greetings, a regular contributor of valuable family oriented articles. To help create the perfect family holiday, for the best selection of Christmas trees, lights, decorations and everything else Christmas, visit Santa's Depot .

Caroling at Christmas

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500

You're still young, by any standard, but your little ones can make you feel old, at a moment's notice. And the holiday season seems to have more than its share of those moments. Like tonight-your family's been invited to a potluck get-together with friends. There are games and activities for the kids, while the adults are spending an all-too-rare evening, socializing and catching up. It's relaxing, enjoyable, and fun-until some idiot opens their big mouth and announces aloud their bright idea about the perfect way to cap off this perfect night: "Let's all go Christmas caroling!" The kids cheer, as one, at the prospect of this adventure. You and the other parents look at each other, fake smiles of fake excitement barely hiding your inner sighs of disappointment. What sane person would choose to wander the neighborhood, after dark, in the cold-singing? Didn't Ben Franklin invent his stove, in the first place, so we could stay warm, inside, during the winter? As you bravely don your cold-weather apparel, you can't help but wonder-what kind of sadistic mind ever conjured up such a barbaric way to celebrate the season? **End Summary** Topics: family issues]]> holidays]]> family activities]]> family holidays]]> families]]> family fun]]> children]]> child]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Brought to you by Imaginary Greetings, a regular contributor of valuable family oriented content. Learn how to truly light up your child's eyes this holiday season like never before with a personalized phone call from Santa .

Presents Vs. Time

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500

It's hard enough for most parents to arrange good, quality family-time, under normal circumstances. But in December, with holiday preparations dominating so much free time, and talk of Santa's arrival dominating so much conversation, parents are lucky to keep up with their children's lives. One complaint that parents have had since Santa became a part of Christmas is the cost of the season. And today, with Christmas advertising aimed at children beginning before November, parents must deal with the onslaught of their kids' begging, sooner and longer. One result of all of this pressure is that parents today often find themselves in the position of buying their children's Christmas gifts early and often-sometimes way too often. It's a common refrain, heard from parents today: "Are we spoiling our kids, by buying them too much?" There are many reasons that parents today wind up buying so much for their children. Often, it can be as simple as wanting to give their kids the best Christmas possible. But many parents today feel the pressure of their own peers-other parents-when shopping for their children, knowing that their kids will brag about their loot to all their friends. **End Summary** Topics: family issues]]> holidays]]> family activities]]> family holidays]]> families]]> family fun]]> children]]> child]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Brought to you by Imaginary Greetings, a regular contributor of valuable family oriented content. Learn how to truly light up your child's eyes this holiday season like never before with a personalized phone call from Santa .

Parents Can Help Each Other At Christmas

Tue, 21 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500

The first few years that they were parents, Gail and Darin dreaded the stress of the Christmas season. The difficulty of shopping with a child in a stroller made an already arduous task even more tiring. The only way to avoid taking their baby daughter with them was to do all of their shopping seperately, while one spouse stayed at home. They avoided Christmas parties, caroling with their friends, and many of the activities they would have loved to take part in. They weren't bitter or begrudging-they loved their daughter and loved being with her-they just found that the constant attention a child requires prevented them from enjoying many of Christmas's traditions. By the time they had their second child, a son, their little girl was in preschool, and Gail and Darin knew some of the other school parents-parents with the same Christmas-time issues. But, along with the other parents, they developed a solution, by forming a babysitting pool. Around Thanksgiving, the parents share their planned schedules with each other via e-mail-which nights they've been invited to parties or other holiday functions which might not be enjoyable for their kids, etc. **End Summary** Topics: family issues]]> holidays]]> family activities]]> family holidays]]> families]]> family fun]]> children]]> child]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Brought to you by Imaginary Greetings, a regular contributor of valuable family oriented articles. To help create the perfect family holiday and for the best selection of animated lighting visit Santa's Official Holiday Lighting Shop .

Planning for Christmas Past

Tue, 21 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500

Your child's at the age, now, when she understands that Christmas is coming, and that it's a very special day, so you're going out of your way to make sure you don't disappoint her. You've planned everything perfectly, because you want it to be a day the whole family will remember. But have you planned a way to make sure you remember the day? Too often, as families grow and family traditions are followed, or new ones take hold, memories of individual Christmases blend into one another. You can't remember which years it snowed, or which year Aunt May knitted that blue sweater that came without a gift tag and fit no one in the famly. Each year that passes, you wind up lamenting that loss of memory perspective. A friend, I hadn't seen in a long time, sent out DVD's last year as a Christmas card. I was excited, as I popped the disc into the machine-I hadn't seen their kids since they were little, and they were in high school, now. This DVD/card was a perfect and ingenious way to catch up. **End Summary** Topics: family issues]]> holidays]]> family activities]]> family holidays]]> families]]> family fun]]> children]]> child]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Brought to you by Imaginary Greetings, a regular contributor of valuable family oriented articles. To help create the perfect family holiday and for the best selection of animated lighting visit Santa's Official Holiday Lighting Shop .

Enjoy the Snow

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500

Remember how your parents always seemed old to you, even before they reached middle age? They could never relate to you, they could never remember what it was like to be a kid. Now, you're an adult with children, but you've made a pact with yourself-no matter how old you get, you're always going to think "young". You'll always be able to relate to your kids. Right? Here's a quick test of your resolve: The weatherman just predicted freezing temperatures and heavy snow-what's your reaction? You groaned, didn't you? Your first thoughts were about hazardous driving conditions, shoveling snow, high heating bills, and whether or not you remembered to insulate your water pipes. Yup. You're officially a grown-up. Now, look at your kids' reactions. Sheer joy, at the possibility of a snow day, filled with sledding, snowmen, and snowball fights. You remember what that was like, but you can't really relate, any more, can you? You're thinking about the potential hazards they face-frostbite, injuries, and pneumonia.You groan, again-it's gonna be a long week. Look, you can't change the direction of that storm front. You're going to be socked in. **End Summary** Topics: family issues]]> holidays]]> family activities]]> family holidays]]> families]]> family fun]]> children]]> child]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Brought to you by Imaginary Greetings, a regular contributor of valuable family oriented content. Learn how to truly light up your child's eyes this holiday season like never before with a letter from Santa .

Host a Santa Letter-Writing Party

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500

So, it's that time of year, again. Your son is being bombarded with thousands of commercials, touting all the "must-have" toys and kid-gadgets available this Christmas. He's at the age now, when he pays attention, and of course, he wants everything he sees. And he's obsessed with getting the word out. Time for the tried-and-true letter to Santa Claus, when parents learn each year just what's expected of them, to make their child's Christmas merry. All your friends with children are facing the same situation, right now. Now you all have to find the time to sit down with your children and help them compose their letters, following "Santa's rules", this year-i.e., how many special gifts can be requested in one letter, what your children wish for others this holiday season, etc. Then you'll have to scour the ads in your Sunday papers or spend time online, searching for the exact brands of toys your children want, and hope that it's not too late to find them-and hope that you can still afford everything. Since you and your friends are all in the same seasonal boat, why not combine your efforts? **End Summary** Topics: family issues]]> holidays]]> family activities]]> family holidays]]> families]]> family fun]]> children]]> child]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Brought to you by Imaginary Greetings, a regular contributor of valuable family oriented content. Learn how to truly light up your child's eyes this holiday season like never before with a letter from Santa .

Dazzle Them with Odd Christmas Facts

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500

You're dashing with your kids, from store to store, madly trying to finish your Christmas shopping. You know that it's only a matter of time before the clock runs out on your children's patience, and they start to crash. They're tired of the Christmas CD you've been playing in the car, and the games you've brought along have run their course. You've got three more malls to hit today, and your biggest fear is trying to shop with bored children. Here's one way to keep them entertained-dazzle them with your knowledge of odd little Christmas facts. For instance: When you hear the Gene Autry classic "Here Comes Santa Claus"- for the fiftieth time, today-ask your kids if they'd like to visit the real Santa Claus Lane someday. That'll make them think, at least for a minute. Though they may be disappointed at the lack of snow and ice, if they do visit Santa Claus Lane. See, every year since the 1930's, Hollywood Boulevard has been officially re-named Santa Claus Lane, during Hollywood's annual Christmas parade. More semi-useless, but attention-grabbing facts: What's the most popular Christmas song of all time? Bing Crosby's version of "White Christmas". **End Summary** Topics: family issues]]> holidays]]> family activities]]> family holidays]]> families]]> family fun]]> children]]> child]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Brought to you by Imaginary Greetings, a regular contributor of valuable family oriented articles. To help create the perfect holiday tree, visit Santa's Ornament Shop for the best selection of personalized ornaments .

Make a Deal with Santa

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500

Your daughter: "Mommy, mommy, I want Santa to bring me a (insert the name of this year's most popular toy) for Christmas!" You: "But you got a (insert the name of last year's very similar most popular toy) last Christmas." Your daughter: "It's old now! I hate it!" You take a look around your daughter's room and you sigh. It's crammed full of "old" toys and dolls, last year's most-desired Christmas must-haves. And you realize that the cycle has begun, again, and that you're going to pay premium holiday prices to clutter her room even more, until someday, you won't even be able to find the bed, the floor, or your daughter, for all the hated, obsolete toys crammed in. And you think, what a waste, until you look at your own room or closet, and you realize that it's full of old, obsolete stuff, clothes that you'll never wear again, or gifts that you'll never utilize but just can't bear to part with ("Aunt Carol gave me that!"). You're a classic pack-rat, and your daughter is following your example. **End Summary** Topics: family issues]]> holidays]]> family activities]]> family holidays]]> families]]> family fun]]> children]]> child]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Brought to you by Imaginary Greetings, a regular contributor of valuable family oriented articles. To help create the perfect holiday tree, visit Santa's Ornament Shop for the best selection of personalized ornaments .

Good Deeds & The Santa Factor

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500

Looking back, it may seem a little like cheating, but my friend Annie found a way, several years ago, to instill in her young kids the habit of performing random acts of kindness. She didn't call them that at the time-this was before the phrase became popular-she called these acts "good deeds". And here's the kicker: her kids, young as they were, were tickled to learn the habit, becoming anxious and even competitive in finding ways to help others. And the habit has stuck with them, as they've grown into teenagers. They're two of the most compassionate, caring, helpful kids you'e ever imagine meeting. How did Annie do it? By teaching them The Golden Rule? By finding a magic empathy elixir? By forcing them to watch endless reruns of Touched By An Angel? Nope-she accomplished this amazing feat through the clever and devious use of a terrifying threat guaranteed to chill the heart of any young child-if they didn't do it, Santa would be upset. Of course, it helped that she intitiated them into kindness, right after Thanksgiving, when they started seriously contemplating the possibilities of a magical Christmas morning. **End Summary** Topics: family issues]]> holidays]]> family activities]]> family holidays]]> families]]> family fun]]> children]]> child]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Brought to you by Imaginary Greetings, a regular contributor of valuable family oriented content. For safe, family-friendly games and activities visit the official Santa Claus Home Page .

Rudolph & Frosty: The Beginning

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500

You grew up, learning and loving the stories children are told at Christmastime, stories that have become a part of our cultural consciousness. And, now, your children are falling in love with the same stories. But you're at the age-finally-that when you hear the story of Rudolph or Frosty, for the zillionth time, you're asking yourself, "Where did this stuff come from?" The childrens' Christmas stories we hear every year seem to have been around forever, but some of them are actually fairly recent inventions, in the timeline of Christmas history. "Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer" was, originally, purely a marketing tool. The Montgomery Ward chain of department stores used to buy coloring books, each year, and give them away to children, as a way of drawing parents to their stores. But in 1939, the chain decided that creating their own in-house books would save money, so a young Montgomery Ward copywriter, Robert L. May, was assigned the task of creating their new giveaway booklet for kids. **End Summary** Topics: family issues]]> holidays]]> family activities]]> family holidays]]> families]]> family fun]]> children]]> child]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Brought to you by Imaginary Greetings, a regular contributor of valuable family oriented content. For safe, family-friendly games and activities visit the official Santa Claus Home Page .

Help Your Child Help Others At Christmas

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500

Whether you celebrate the holidays for their religious significance, or as a time for the fellowhip of friends and family-if you have small children, you know that Santa's visit is definitely the focus of their attention. It's not unhealthy, according to most experts, for children to learn to relate to the season from an inherently "selfish" point of view. As every parent knows, in early development, kids regard what is satisfying-whether it's a hug or a meal-as special, so if a holiday promises pleasing rewards, then children learn that it must be special, too. But there's another aspect to childhood development that adults are less aware of: the desire of children to comfort others. It can be as blatant as a two-year-old being upset when her older sister cries, or as subtle as a one-year-old pointing to a cuddle toy, an object that gives him comfort. Well-loved children instinctively want everyone around them to feel the same safety and love that they feel. Parents can nurture and further develop this natural empathy in their children, which can then develop into positive lifelong habits. **End Summary** Topics: family issues]]> holidays]]> family activities]]> family holidays]]> families]]> family fun]]> children]]> child]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Brought to you by Imaginary Greetings, a regular contributor of valuable family oriented articles. To help create the perfect family holiday, for the best selection of Christmas trees, lights, decorations and everything else Christmas, visit Santa's Depot .

A Little Bit of Christmas Trivia

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500

He wants to know everything about everything, this five-year-old genius of yours. And he expects you to have the answers, right now. After all, he figures, you're so old, you must know just about all there is to know, right? So he's going to pester you, this holiday season, with questions about all that goes on and all that he sees and hears. You need to have a few obscure facts at hand, to dazzle and distract him with, as you rush from mall to mall. You might even catch him off-guard, and zing him before he has a chance to challenge your intellect. For instance, as he unwraps his umteenth candy cane of the season (no, it's probably not good for him, but it keeps him occupied), you can hit him with this: The candy cane was invented in the late 1600's, by a German choirmaster, who wanted to keep the children at his Christmas services quiet. Originally, these were straight sticks of sugar candy, but the choirmaster made them in the shape of a shepherd's staff as an homage to the season. **End Summary** Topics: family issues]]> holidays]]> family activities]]> family holidays]]> families]]> family fun]]> children]]> child]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Brought to you by Imaginary Greetings, a regular contributor of valuable family oriented articles. To help create the perfect family holiday, for the best selection of Christmas trees, lights, decorations and everything else Christmas, visit Santa's Depot .

The Legend of Santa Claus

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500

OK-it's that time of year, again, when you're no longer The Most Influential Adult in your kids' eyes. You've been replaced, at least temporarily, by The Fat Man, The Jolly One, The Old White Beard, himself. In some ways, it's actually a good thing, because as Christmas approaches, you find it a little easier to enforce your rules and affect some unexpectedly good behavior: "You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, I'm tellin' you why¦" That song alone can shut down a five-year-old's tantrum faster than cotton candy. You even find yourself, at times, wishing that Christmas would come around, at least once a month. Who's the genius that invented this guy? He's only part invention, and you've probably heard this at some point in your life, but chances are, you've forgotten. The modern version of Santa Claus can trace his lineage back to Bishop Nicholas of Smyrna-in what is now Turkey-who lived in the late 3rd century, AD. Legend has it that he was very wealthy, and dedicated to helping the poor, especially poor children. Supposedly, he often tossed toys and gifts in through the windows of their homes. **End Summary** Topics: family issues]]> holidays]]> family activities]]> family holidays]]> families]]> family fun]]> children]]> child]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Brought to you by Imaginary Greetings, a regular contributor of valuable family oriented content. Learn how to truly light up your child's eyes this holiday season like never before with a personalized phone call from Santa .

Gingerbread Men

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500

Quick-picture the last gingerbread house you saw, in your mind. Now, without thinking about it, what was the season when you saw it? Chances are, it was Christmas-time. Few treats are as closely associated with Christmas as gingerbread, and rarely do we see it, any other time of the year-which is amazing, since your kids can't seem to get enough of it, when it's offered. As well, we seem to have it embedded in our cultural consciousness that gingerbread is somehow inherently English and Victorian. But the history of gingerbread goes back much further than nineteenth century Europe. The word ginger probably comes from an ancient Sanskrit word-"sringavera"-which means "horn-shaped root". All ginger comes from a rhizome we call ginger root, native to Asia, but grown extensively today in Jamaica. In ancient China, it was used as a medicine. In ancient Rome, it was used as a spice-and was heavily taxed. Ginger first became popular in Europe during the Middle Ages, probably brought in by returning Crusaders. **End Summary** Topics: family issues]]> holidays]]> family activities]]> family holidays]]> families]]> family fun]]> children]]> child]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Brought to you by Imaginary Greetings, a regular contributor of valuable family oriented content. Learn how to truly light up your child's eyes this holiday season like never before with a personalized phone call from Santa .

Golden Oldie Toys

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500

It's the season of giving, the season of joy, the season of peace and love for all mankind, the season to give thanks for family, friends, and all the blessings we share. But if you're the parent of a small child, and your child watches commercial TV, it's also the season of frustration, befuddlement, and ear plugs. The frustration comes when when you realize that Christmas advertisers have been wooing your kid since September. The befuddlement is what you feel about the electronic gizmos and video-doodads the advertisers are pushing on your kid. And the ear plugs are what you need, as said kid orders you-starting in early October-to make sure Santa brings him, on Christmas morning, the latest version of the New, Improved, Most Expensive Widget, or he'll die of a badly broken heart. You can't blame your child-that Widget looks so beautiful and perfect on that commercial, and the child-actors playing with it look like the happiest children in the world. Who wouldn't want a new Widget? But then the next commercial convinces your son he needs a Whatchamacallit, too. Or he'll die. **End Summary** Topics: family issues]]> holidays]]> family activities]]> family holidays]]> families]]> family fun]]> children]]> child]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Brought to you by Imaginary Greetings, a regular contributor of valuable family oriented articles. To help create the perfect family holiday and for the best selection of animated lighting visit Santa's Official Holiday Lighting Shop .

Remember Your Pets This Holiday Season

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500

In the Martin household, last Christmas Eve was typical, for a family with two children under six. Marci and Dan got the kids to bed as early as they could manage- which really wasn't early at all, considering all that pre-school adrenaline pumping at the thought of actually catching Santa in the act of dropping down the chimney. Then the young parents spent the next three hours assembling dollhouses and bicycles, installing batteries in video consoles, pushing their inquisitive dog, Jazzy, out of the way, boxing and wrapping new childrens' clothes, and leaving milk and cookies for Santa. By the time Marci and Dan got to bed they were as exhausted as¦well, as parents on Christmas Eve, and they slept like babies, until¦ "Mommy!" Marci woke, as if she'd been slapped-as any mother would. Five-year-old Gina stood by the bed, her eyes wide with excitement. "I hear him! I hear Santa!" Marci sighed, started to tell Gina to go back to bed, then she heard it, too. Something downstairs. She poked Dan-he grunted and rolled the other way, still snoring. She jumped up and rushed down the hall to Josh's room. **End Summary** Topics: family issues]]> holidays]]> family activities]]> family holidays]]> families]]> family fun]]> children]]> child]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Brought to you by Imaginary Greetings, a regular contributor of valuable family oriented articles. To help create the perfect family holiday and for the best selection of animated lighting visit Santa's Official Holiday Lighting Shop .

Snow: The Easy Explanation

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500

Your five-year-old's at that stage-you know the stage-where he's discovered his own brain. And he realizes that the world around him is full of stuff he doesn't understand. But, like the genius you hoped he'd be, he sees no reason why he shouldn't know everything there is to know-today. And naturally, he expects you, since you're older, presumably wiser, and the donor of half his DNA, to explain everything to him. Today. You faked your way through the explanation of why leaves change in the fall, you managed something reasonably logical, but probably wrong, about why the wind blows, and you totally made up something about how cars run, before changing the subject, really fast. But now it's winter, and today, it's snowing. You tried keeping the blinds closed, you tried to interest him in playing a video game, you even tried to capture his attention with candy-but you failed. He stares out that window at the big, fat flakes, falling from the sky, and you know he's trying to work it out (he watched the snow last year, but that was before he discovered his brain). **End Summary** Topics: family issues]]> holidays]]> family activities]]> family holidays]]> families]]> family fun]]> children]]> child]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Brought to you by Imaginary Greetings, a regular contributor of valuable family oriented content. Learn how to truly light up your child's eyes this holiday season like never before with a letter from Santa .

Flying With Kids: The Airport

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500

When you were single and traveling, you'd watch those families, whose small kids were already screaming, before your flight boarded, and you'd pray that your seat on the plane was far from theirs. Then you promised yourself that you'd get traveling out of your system, before you got married and had a family of your own-you'd never fly with little kids. Too much hassle. Did you really think you'd get away with such a ridiculous dream, considering your parents live a thousand miles away? Welcome to the holiday season, the stuff of your single-life nightmares. With extended families spread out across the country and even the world, more parents will be traveling with young children this holiday season than ever before. Since 9/11, which necessitated the implementation of the most stringent security procedures we've ever known, just the pre-flight time in the airport has become a difficult process, even to the most carefree single travelers, much less parents, whose small ones can't begin to understand the need for all the lines and procedures. **End Summary** Topics: family issues]]> holidays]]> family activities]]> family holidays]]> families]]> family fun]]> children]]> child]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Brought to you by Imaginary Greetings, a regular contributor of valuable family oriented content. Learn how to truly light up your child's eyes this holiday season like never before with a letter from Santa .

Spoiled Rotten Angel

Wed, 08 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500

You really lucked out, in the child lottery, didn't you? Just look at her, that daughter of yours. She's beautiful, obviously-everybody says, she's going to have movie star looks, when she grows up. She's healthy-just the usual childhood illnesses, and she's in the ninetieth-percentile of height, for her age. It goes without saying that she's smart-she was the best thing in the kindergarten Thanksgiving pageant last year, (O.K., so she flubbed a couple of lines; at least you could hear her!). But, if she's so perfect (and she has such perfect parents), what's that nagging fear, in the pit of your stomach? "BUY ME THAT DOLL!!! NOW!!!" Oh, right. It's the fear that maybe, just maybe, she might be the teeniest, tiniest bit¦spoiled. But what a voice, huh? Kids today are blasted with advertising, from the time they're cognizant. From TV ads, warning them that they can't live without the latest new and improved ¦whatever¦ to billboards at the soccer field, young children are the focus of multi-billion-dollar campaigns to separate parents from their dollars. So, how do you say "no" to an angel? The best way is to start when she's young. **End Summary** Topics: family issues]]> holidays]]> family activities]]> family holidays]]> families]]> family fun]]> children]]> child]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Brought to you by Imaginary Greetings, a regular contributor of valuable family oriented articles. To help create the perfect family holiday, for the best selection of Christmas trees, lights, decorations and everything else Christmas, visit Santa's Depot .

The Dreaded Stage-Mother

Thu, 02 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500

"I dread it," Barbara tells me. She's the head of the local community theatre, and is preparing to direct the group's big Christmas show-The Sound Of Music. "By the time the show opens, I'm gonna hate it!" I assume she's talking about the difficulty of directing a big musical with non-professional talent. "I'm looking forward to that!", she replies, "It'll be a challenge! It's the stage-mothers I'm dreading. From the first audition in September, to the final performance in December, they're going to drive me crazy! 'My daughter should have more lines, my son should sing that song!' I'm insane to do a show with kids!" Stage-mothers have probably been around since the first time an ancient Greek producer put on a show with children. Every person who's ever worked in theatre is familiar with the type. But stage-mothers can be found anywhere children are involved in group acivities, away from the classroom. You see them at spelling bees, dance and music recitals, sports activities-and especially at children's beauty pageants, which wouldn't exist without the patronage of mothers who want their daughters to shine. **End Summary** Topics: family issues]]> holidays]]> family activities]]> family holidays]]> families]]> family fun]]> children]]> child]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Brought to you by Imaginary Greetings, a regular contributor of valuable family oriented content. Learn how to truly light up your child's eyes this holiday season like never before with a personalized phone call from Santa .

Sideline Dad

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500

You scored great seats for this game-right on the fifty. Now, it's nail-biting time. Your team's down by six, but they're on the fifteen, inside the red zone-it's third-and-five, with thirty seconds left. It's now or never, as your quarterback keeps the ball, slips around the end, dodges one tackler, bowls over another, lunges for the pylon-he's in! Your cheer lifts you out of your seat, you spill popcorn everywhere. Then you see it-the yellow flag. Offensive holding-no touchdown. The clock runs out. But wait a minute-a fellow fan storms the field, going right for the ref. A scuffle takes place, then another fan goes for your team's coach-screaming something about boneheaded play-calling. It starts to get ugly, when Security rushes in to break things up. Thank goodness this field has Security. It has to-this is Pop Warner Football, after all. No telling, what these crazy fathers are capable of. The "football" or "baseball" or "sideline" father is the male equivalent of the infamous stage-mother. He prowls the sidelines at his son's games, screaming advice at the coach, curses at the ref, and criticism at his own son. **End Summary** Topics: family issues]]> holidays]]> family activities]]> family holidays]]> families]]> family fun]]> children]]> child]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Brought to you by Imaginary Greetings, a regular contributor of valuable family oriented articles. To help create the perfect family holiday and for the best selection of animated lighting visit Santa's Official Holiday Lighting Shop .

Adjusting to a Second Child

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500

Nothing changes the dynamic of a couple's life together like the news that they're expecting their first child. And, later, nothing will change the dynamic of their young family's life more than the news that a second child is on the way-especially if the first-born is still very young. Most couples are surprised-having been through it, once, and believing that they're experts, now-at how unprepared they feel, once their second child is born. The problems of time management, sleep deprivation, and even budget concerns are magnified to a much greater degree than they expected. One of the most important things parents can do, to make their lives easier as they anticipate their second child's birth, is to prepare their first-born for the transition. Up until now, the first child has been the center of the family's life-every decision has been based on how it will impact that child's care and development. To the child, the world has revolved around him (or her), and-no matter how young he still may be-he's grown to expect all of his parents' attention. But that's all about to change, and often, it isn't an easy passage. **End Summary** Topics: family issues]]> holidays]]> family activities]]> family holidays]]> families]]> family fun]]> children]]> child]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Brought to you by Imaginary Greetings, a regular contributor of valuable family oriented content. Learn how to truly light up your child's eyes this holiday season like never before with a letter from Santa .

Christmas Shopping with Kids

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500

Remember when Christmas shopping was something you could put off until the last minute, and then rush through, in one evening? Alone? Ahhh-those were the days, weren't they? Now you have little shoppers, and you can't rush through anything, anymore, and a trip to the store-any store-is an operation which requires military-style planning. You can't wait until late at night. You can't slide and squeeze and speed your way through the crowds. And, most of all, you can't dawdle, examining something on the shelf-when you're shopping with small children, dawdling is definitely forbidden. You know you have to keep them moving, keep their attention engaged, keep them guessing; a few seconds' rest can put the brakes on your master plan: "Mommy, I want that!" "Daddy, I'm hungry!" "I have to go to the bathroom!" "Tommy touched me!" "I want to go home!" By the time Christmas rolls around, you never want to see the inside of a retail store, again. The good news is, you're not alone. Parents of small children all over the world are sharing your pain. The bad news is, there's no easy way to shop for Christmas, with small children. **End Summary** Topics: family issues]]> holidays]]> family activities]]> family holidays]]> families]]> family fun]]> children]]> child]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Brought to you by Imaginary Greetings, a regular contributor of valuable family oriented content. Learn how to truly light up your child's eyes this holiday season like never before with a letter from Santa .