Brooke Blogs This

The past two days we have been snowed in (well, snowed in for Tennessee) and I have been amazed: by my daughter. At six years old, Shiloh still prefers NPT (channel 8 around here) programming to the Disney Channel.  She would rather watch "The Cat in the Hat" than "Jessi".  She would rather watch "Word Girl" or "Super Why" than "Austin and Alley" or "I Didn't Do It".  If you had asked me a week ago, I would have said those programs were beneath her. That she was too old for such programming.  Hmmmm, maybe not.  Maybe, I'm the one pushing her to grow up. What is more, she actually prefers to NOT watch TV.   What? She would much rather be working a puzzle, drawing, baking or playing make believe.  Electronics really are a last resort for her.  Hmmmmmm. These past two days are really making me re-evaluate my parenting with her.  Obviously she is not a mini-ME.  She does not have the same passion for movies an...

We've had a lot of  "snow"days since Christmas.  A. LOT.  Snow days are one thing when there is actually snow on the ground and the kids want to go out and play. But it's something completely different when it's just cold.  Possibly raining.  And the kids are bored and stir crazy. Plus you still have weekends/holidays/afternoons to keep your kids buys inside as well. And you have little or no money. What to do. What to do. Here are 20 things we have done/plan to do this winter: 1. Have an indoor picnic. Simply eating on the floor can completely change a meal. 2. Build a tent/fort indoors. 3. Go to your mall's indoor play area 4. Go to story time at the library 5. Introduce your kids to the cartoons you watched growing up via Youtube. My kids love "Bobby's World"and "Muppet Babies" 6. Do something touristy in your own town.  Tour a museum or historic building. Many of these are free/low cost. Sometimes eve...