The HomeSchool Mommy blogtalk radio program covers a variety of topics for home school families. Homeschoolers really have an amazing network and are a tremendous help to each other. Dana Carroll's program is fun, informative and a real blessing to its' listening audience. So I was thrilled when… Continue

At 10 ½, Olivia is moving full-steam ahead into tweendom and yes, I often find myself taken aback when I or her brother or Loverman find ourselves face-to-face with one of her seemingly unprovoked funk-isms. Sure, I understand she’s maturing, growing, changing, but like my grandmother used to say… “Miss Thing is really smelling herself these days!”

One unexpected upside of this new and not-so improved Miss Olivia is her desire to earn some extra cash. I’m not one to pay for things she should na… Continue

1. Let your kids come home from trick or treating and eat at least 10 pieces of candy.

2. Raided their bag for a few pieces you REALLY wanted.

3. Fell asleep before they did, unable to monitor further candy consumption.

4. Allowed them to eat candy as an appetizer to breakfast.

Hey, it's one time a year.. can't hurt that bad, can it?

We take homework very seriously in this household--- come in the house after school, grab a snack and get down to the business of homework before any other activities commence. This has been the Mango Tribe’s m.o. since Olivia started kindergarten six years ago.
At first, I’d sit with Olivia and make sure she… Continue

I've figured it out... it's not that I don't want to write anymore, and it's not that I don't have anything to write about. Crap happens to me on a daily... most times hourly... basis. It's just that by the time I get around to writing about it, I'm sidetracked by four kids, three dogs, a psycho cat, or whatever.



So, I figure, I'll just write about things as they happen.



Thus this letter written at four a.m.



I'll give you a hint... remember a few years back when all of the smoke detecto… Continue