Elizabeth McConnell
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Comments
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On the article Il Mondo Vecchio a Savory Choice on Madison's Restaurant Row
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On the article Attention Turns to Post-Storm Cleanup
Elizabeth McConnell
9:26 am on Wednesday, November 2, 2011
ReplyThey are chipping right now, one time only, so if you want to get your stuff to the curb to be chipped, do it NOW. Some roads are already done.
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On the article How Do You Find a Babysitter?
Elizabeth McConnell
1:23 pm on Wednesday, September 28, 2011
ReplyWe have contacted career services at FDU in the past which worked really well. We got one sitter who recommended a friend when she graduated and that chain was only recently broken. One thing that I liked about these girls was that I felt they got a little bit of home away from home spending time with us. And this summer we finally found someone who goes to college out of state but lives here and can sit when our FDU girl is home.
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On the article Extracurricular Activities: How Much Is Too Much?
Elizabeth McConnell
7:13 pm on Thursday, September 15, 2011
ReplyWe are down to Karate for everyone twice a week. I know we should do town sports and we will try to do basketball or softball/baseball, but with four kids it quickly becomes very complicated to get everyone to the right place on time. Throw in the kid who doesn't want to do it and I'm done! But I feel like I am failing as a mother -- what if I'm supressing the next star pitcher or piano maestro because I'm too frazzled?
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On the article What Are Your Kids' Favorite Summer Recipes?
Elizabeth McConnell
1:11 pm on Wednesday, August 17, 2011
ReplyFresh Fruit is such a great way to get my kids to eat healthy in the summer. They're wild for berries and stone fruit at this time. No recipe needed -- just wash and go! Berries are also a great way to get them to try a green salad. If there's something they know they like in there, they'll give it all a try. Grilled corn is also a huge summer hit. We also do a lot of what we call shakes but some say smoothies, with tons of hidden goodies like Kale and raw nuts and seeds inside -- I think they were doing something similar at Whole Foods last week to promote a blender of some sort. Buying, picking or even growing the food themselves makes a big difference in what my picky eaters will consider. Also, in my experience, they do outgrow the extreme pickiness. I have a shelf full of books on the matter collecting dust.
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On the article Where Can Parents Find Fun Local Activities For Kids?
Elizabeth McConnell
12:50 pm on Wednesday, August 3, 2011
ReplyOh the things you can do! When my kids were toddlers, we would take nj transit from Madison to Summit and walk to the playground that's about w block from the train station. We would walk to town for ice cream and then head home. This summer, we've gone to Philadelphia for the day, up to Mailon Dickerson state park in Jefferson to have a campfire, laser tag at funplex, fun Econ lesson at the consignment store (too small jammies can earn you a used wagon!) built a go kart with wooden boxes we got free from a store (can't divulge my sources!) Hit up Michaels and stop and shop for supplies to make cake pops. Looked up zumba on YouTube to work off the cake pops. Whew!
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On the article What Are You And Your Kids Reading This Summer?
Elizabeth McConnell
3:22 pm on Wednesday, July 20, 2011
ReplyMy husband and I read to all four of my children each night before bed. It started as a great component of our bedtime routine and continues as a special shared interest even though my two older kids can read themselves. For my 10 year old, we started reading the Harry Potter series when she was six and were determined to finish, even though she became a fluent and voracious reader in the interim. I also read books I really like again to the kids such as The Life of Pi or Michae Chabon's Summerland or even The Hunger Games. Right now I'm starting the Harry Potter series for the fourth time for me and the first for my six year old. As for reading on their own my 10 year old loves the Warrior series and my 8 year old is fond of Car and Driver Magazine (even the most exposure to literature doesn't always take!)
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On the article Anger Management - How Do You Keep Your Cool?
Elizabeth McConnell
8:37 pm on Wednesday, July 13, 2011
ReplySometimes, in the heat of the moment, when one of my kids is really trying my patience ("you never give me any sweets!" said by a child wearing a chocolate goatee for example) I say "don't pee on my leg and tell me it's raining!" which starts out really angry but we are all laughing by " raining". You can tell they are shocked by mommy's language, puzzled by the meaning of this expression, and amused, which breaks up a lot of tension.
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On the article How Can Parents Get Their Kids To Sleep?
Elizabeth McConnell
11:11 am on Wednesday, July 6, 2011
ReplyI agree that a regular bedtime routine is a big help. Over the years and as we had more children it has become more simplified -- I laughed when I recently found a 12 step note telling our sitter how to get our then four year old to sleep -- but its basic structure remains the same. When they were babies, I remember wishing for the day when I could just say goodnight at the end of the day without all of those rituals for each child, but now that my oldest is 10, I still read to her every night even though I often leave her reading her own book for a few minutes more. Ill be sad when there isn't anyone to tuck in!
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On the article How Can Parents Help Children Deal With The Loss Of A Loved One?
Elizabeth McConnell
1:04 pm on Wednesday, June 29, 2011
ReplyWe are also fortunate that no one close has died when the kids were old enough to understand. We were recently watching some home movies (are they videos now? recordings? is that out of date?) of my husband's grandfather shortly before he died which spurred a discussion about death. Generally, they reject the idea and I am honest but it is not hard to bring us all down with too much honesty! They often express the idea of immortality as well as of heaven (send me a picture when you get there mom!) but nothing seems to really kick in with them. I too am not looking forward to the day we have to deal with it.
Elizabeth McConnell
9:12 am on Friday, January 20, 2012
I love this review and that you somehow slipped in Abbie Hoffman by way of Rick Santorum and a tennis coach. Where else but Patch indeed? Also, I feel bad even putting my iPhone on the table there! Did people leer at you?