• Last updated 10/23/12 by emilyfrischmann

One of the most frequent questions I get is, How do I get my child to listen to me? What lingers in the roots just beneath this question is, How do I get her to respect me? The two are intimately entwined. As so often happens with Life’s sticky questions, sometimes we can unstick things a bit by turning the question around: rather than How can I get my child to listen to me, we can get far more traction with How can I make myself more “listenable”? The fact is, you can never “make” your child do or be anything! Oh sure, we’re lulled into the comforting... read more

• Last updated 10/8/12 by SavvyHomeschool

In this episode, we chat about our new fundraising group, how to talk to family members who may be against homeschooling, creating an all inclusive curriculum, and extracurricular activities for homeschoolers. Art Class Swim Lessons Spiral Scouts Soccer T-Ball Kid Yoga Some links from this episode: Homeschool Fundraising Co-op History for Music Lovers Pass the Bean Dip blog post from Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers Succinct Answers to the question “Why do you homeschool?”   To see the full show notes, including a LOT MORE links to all the... read more

• Last updated 10/23/12 by emilyfrischmann

Most parents have never heard of the Heartland Institute, and their name sounds harmless enough.  But that seemingly innocuous name hides a political agenda.   The Heartland Institute is one of a handful of organizations funded by the fossil fuel industry to undermine how climate change science is taught in schools across America.  Most recently, they were in the news because of a public outcry when they put up a billboard comparing anyone who is concerned about climate change to the Unabomber.  Even before that, it had become public that the Heartland Institute... read more

• Last updated 8/24/12 by Mothering Editorial

By Sharon Lake-Post Web Exclusive - January 1, 2008 We don't usually divide so neatly along gender lines in my household, but tonight, my husband and two boys ages eight and ten, went to see a minor league baseball game, while I stayed home for a "Girls' Night" with my three-and-a-half-year-old daughter. The cliché of the stereotyping inherent in this division suffocates all that I know and want and have dreamed for myself and my children. As a child, I loved climbing trees, and exploring the fields and woods near our house, often accompanied by our family dog. I was... read more

• Last updated 10/23/12 by emilyfrischmann

I feel honoured and privileged that Pinky Mckay agreed to read, and endorse my new book!  Here is what she said about it. “This is a book that will confront and challenge: to many, parenting without control equals being ‘out of control’. That can be terrifying.   The good news is that parents have nothing to fear when they trust and honour the innate goodness of their babies and children.   This engaging book does not offer ‘one size fits all’ solutions.  Instead, it shows through science, wisdom and love, as well as practical strategies, how... read more

• Last updated 10/18/12 by emilyfrischmann

By Susan Finch Web Exclusive - March 24, 2009 Gone are the days when a trip to the grocery store meant stopping by your neighbor's house to see if they needed a gallon of milk or an errand run while they tended to a new baby. Front porches are no longer used as an opportunity to invite friends up for an evening chat and glass of lemonade. And children no longer linger in yards littered with games, unsupervised play, and laughter. But a new movement with old roots has taken hold in communities across the country. While some of us watch old movies with a wistful... read more

• Last updated 1/24/13 by Peggy O'Mara

Issue 127 By Peggy O'Mara  At a meeting I attended recently, I mentioned an article we wanted to solicit entitled “Instead of Hitting.” One woman asked what the title meant. Another said, “But doesn’t the Bible tell us to hit our kids?” Later in the conversation, when I questioned the wisdom of time-outs, people were even more confused. Well, if we don’t hit or punish—I could hear them all wonder silently—then what are we supposed to do? These are legitimate concerns. When I was a new mom 30 years ago, I had these same questions. I started out hitting my kids. I... read more

• Last updated 10/23/12 by emilyfrischmann

The concept of emotional freedom was introduced to me about six years ago. Few ideologies have impacted me more, before or since. Recently, however, I’ve realized that this way of thinking does not come easily to my children. In hopes of equipping them well before their adulthood, I’ve been searching for practical ways to explain emotional management to kids that not only make sense, but that empower them and give them tools for handling everyday situations. The PIE approach is just the tool I’d been looking for. First things first, allow me... read more

• Last updated 10/23/12 by emilyfrischmann

Do you believe in the importance of rituals? I do. I’m not talking about religious services necessarily but the repetitive actions that bind us to our history and humanity; the kind that help us stay grounded and present in our gadget-rich, consumer-driven, busy busy busy lives. Between shuttling kids around, being a loving partner, working, scaling the laundry mountain and trying to stay on top of life, it can be difficult to find a moment’s peace or a timeless place. Although I am a feminist, I may make some who ascribe to this label upset when I say that... read more

• Last updated 10/8/12 by SavvyHomeschool

In this episode we chat about surviving the heat, E-books vs printed books, and homeschool field trip ideas! Some links from this episode: Perseid Meteor Shower Field Trip Factory Free Entrance Days for National Parks Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (Vallejo, CA) Homeschool Day 2012   To see the full show notes, including a LOT MORE links to all the resources mentioned, please visit our website: The Savvy Homeschool Moms, episode 13. To subscribe to or download our show, check us out on iTunes, or our website. You can also now find us on Pinterest and on Instagram we... read more