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Mommas, is that kid drinking beer at the Trop?
Hey Mommas, thought you might want to venture over to the Tom Jones' 2-cents blog where there is a discussion going on about whether or not a kid was actually drinking a beer at a recent Rays game. Some folks claim it's a hoax. Others wonder what's the big deal. Well, if it's really a beer and if that's really a kid, it's illegal. But go take a look and decide for yourself.
Parents speak up, and the School Board listened
I almost wanted to put BREAKING NEWS in that headline that for once parents made a point of lobbying their elected officials and they won one. Yesterday the Pinellas County School Board backed off its plan to make major changes in school start times in order to save money. Some elementary schools would have started an hour earlier, some as late as 9:20 a.m., which would mean working parents would have to pony up the cost of before care, about $60 a week.
I don't have a dog in this fight since my kids' schools weren't affected. My only concern all along has been how poorly the school district and even the PTAs at those schools have been in informing parents that changes were coming. Who is advocating for the parents? ... Read more
Learn CPR for your dog too
Most people are encouraged to learn infant CPR when their kids come along, but what about the family pet? I never fail to drop jaws at a dinner party when I tell this story of how my friend Leah and I performed CPR on my drowned dog and saved his life.
I'm still not quite sure how the dog ended up floating lifeless in my swimming pool. He had epileptic seizures a few times in his life, so we are guessing he had one and fell in the pool. Regardless, I found him with no pulse, his eyes vacant and glassy. My friend Leah was thinking on her feet better than I at that moment and said "Quick, let's do CPR." She laid him on his side and did chest compressions on the side of his rib cage, closer to his heart. It took a few tries for me to figure out that the way to blow air into his lungs was by closing his mouth and blowing in his nose. I blew and I could hear water gurgling. ... Read more
Leave fireworks fun to the professionals
As we approach the Fourth of July holiday, we should want to keep it fun and entertaining for the whole family. There are plenty of fireworks displays to see throughout the weekend. But there will be those who want to light a firecracker, sparkler or maybe something a little more explosive to get their kicks.
Before you light up -- or let someone light up something around you and your children -- you should know that in 2008 (the last year that numbers were available from the U.S. Consumer Product and Safety Commission), seven people died and an estimated 7,000 people were treated in emergency rooms for fireworks-related accidents. The majority of those accidents occurred between June 20 and July 20. More than 40 percent of those injured were children under 15 years of age; more than half (58 percent) of the injuries involved people ages 20 and younger.
It seems with all the damage that fireworks can do -- whether it be to eyes, ears, hands or some other part of your body -- it would be a good idea to keep your kids away from them. Back in 2008, my friend Sharon came up with these tips to ensure that your family would have a bright but safe July 4th. Prevent Blindness America has a few more: ... Read more
Double standard for female teachers and sex with students?
A lot of readers are weighing in this story about teacher Stephanie Ragusa, who got 10 years in prison followed by five years of sex offender probation for having sex with her students. If a man had done the same thing would we say oh how lucky that girl was? As one reader said, "I think it's more our tendency to see women as weak and non-predatory. If the boys had been molested by a male teacher we'd have bonfire with a man-sized spit ready to roast them before a judged ever had a chance to see the case."
Maybe it's because I'm the mother of boys but I do think it's more similar to workplace sexual harassment cases where a person in power needs to keep their hands off their subordinants. Don't you think we have a double standard when it comes to a hot teacher?
--Sharon Kennedy Wynne
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Disney makes summer nights fantastic!
There are more than wishing stars lighting up the night sky over Disney World this summer.
“Summer Nightastic” was recently unveiled at the Magic Kingdom, and features a new fireworks show and a revamped Main Street Electrical Parade.
It’s tough to improve on your basic fireworks display, but Disney has elevated the experience with the “Summer Nightastic! Fireworks Spectacular” by not only synchronizing the show with a narrated story and music, but increasing the viewing perimeter by 25 percent so no matter where you are in the park, you will be surrounded by the display on all sides. ... Read more
Stock up on pool toys for summer
I really like the review of pool toys at the end of this story on pool prep work we need to do as summer approaches. I can never understand how anyone gets through a Florida summer without a pool. And when our kids came along, I added pool toys to my growing list of must-haves.
Now is a good time to take inventory of your beach and pool toys, chuck the ones that are worn or broken and check out some ways to play in the water besides a rousing game of Marco Polo. And this might be a perfect weekend to go before you have the gang over for a Fourth of July party.
I agree with my colleague Patti Ewald in that review on the ones worth checking out:
Baby Spring Float Sun Canopy ($17.99 to $19.99 from Swimways)
The lowdown: A safe haven for baby — but only while being closely monitored by an adult. The float features a mesh play area for babies to splash or play with toys and the canopy protects tender skin from the sun.
Toypedo ($9.99 from Swimways) ... Read more
Free and cheap things to do with your kids
It's not the heat or the humidity, it's the cost of everything that makes us sweat. Chill out with some of these cool deals we found that you can do with your kids this week:
NASCAR fans can get a close look at the Cheerios NASCAR show car. Bring your camera for pictures. Free. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Winn-Dixie Madeira Beach, 15200 Municipal Drive , Madeira Beach. (727) 392-1003.
... Read more
Camp under the moonlight -- in your own backyard!
Dust off those tents and unfurl those sleeping bags, summer is here and it’s time for a campout.
The National Wildlife Federation is hosting the sixth annual Great American Backyard Campout, an event to encourage families to get out and enjoy the great, and not too far away, outdoors.
This Saturday all across the country folks will literally get out for a night by taking part in a campout that could certainly be at a local campground or park, but not necessarily. Your own backyard is a perfect place location.
Here in these neck of the woods, late June can be a little on the warm side so you may want to consider a handy battery-operated camp fan. Livestrong.com even suggests a large box fan placed in front of a block of ice to make instant air conditioning, but you’ll probably be fine with a tent set up in the shade and just dressing in light, loose clothing with a sheet or thin blanket rather than a bulky sleeping bag for comfort in the heat without defeating the spirit of camping.
Back in 2008, the Times told you how to make the most of this very special evening. You also can get more tips and information on the NWF website to make your kids happy campers this summer.
-- Tracey Henry, Suburban Diva ... Read more
Minivan? I want a Swagger Wagon
As my 13-year-old Honda Accord nears the end of its life, I’ve been dreaming of an SUV – for years. My plans for something sporty and small changed when I learned that my husband and I are expecting twins in the fall. We already have a 2-year-old. Now, we’d need something that could accommodate three car seats.
I just knew the answer was a GMC Acadia with third-row seating. My family headed to a car dealership recently, took one look at that SUV and decided it was not the move. The salesman suggested we walk across the lot to the decidedly less cool, but more practical automobiles. And, then, I did it. I test drove a minivan.
Let me just say that I have never seen myself as the minivan-driving type. That will take a mental shift. But when I slid into the Chrysler Town N Country, well, I loved it. I went right home and began doing Internet research on SUVs versus minivans. I Facebooked friends who drive minivans and quietly told my hipster friends what I’m considering.
I love the idea of a luxury SUV, but the practical me is taking over. I don’t want a gas guzzler. I want cool amenities such as a DVD player and a rearview camera to come standard. I want lots of seating and storage. I want doors that open with the push of a button. Oh, my goodness.
Maybe what I want is a minivan, uh, I mean a Swagger Wagon.
~ Sherri Day, Times mom ... Read more
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Raising children isn't easy. Whoa, Momma! is here to help you with parenting tips and discussion of all parenting issues. We think there's no such thing as TMI, so our blogging moms aren't shy about the hot topics and won't back away from a good debate. Bottle or breastfeed? Public, private or homeschool? And sex -- it's all open for comment. Don't sit on the sidelines -- pull up a bouncy seat and join the chat.
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THE AUTHORS
Sharon Kennedy Wynne has sunscreen in her blood. She may have been born in Buffalo but she got here as fast as she could, in time for kindergarten. She grew up in St. Petersburg, graduated from the University of Florida journalism school, and even got married at Sunken Gardens. She's one of the few adults we know who actually loves taking her kids to the beach. She has two sons and with 10 years of parenting under her belt, she's starting to feel a little less out of her league. She comes from a large family and loves to debate, so brace yourself when the hot topics come up.
E-mail Sharon Kennedy Wynne:
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Freelance writer Courtney Cairns Pastor wasn’t so sure about having kids and how she would balance child-rearing with her journalism career. It turned out that her journalism training went to good use. As the mom to a funny, active toddler, she learned to handle him like she did her sources. Never ask yes or no questions (the answer will always be no), get him to be specific (are you crying because you’re wet or your tooth hurts?) and be prepared for anything because no two days are the same. When she’s not playing trucks, Courtney crams for her book club, trains for races and occasionally bursts into showtunes. E-mail her at 
Suzannah DiMarzio has it bad for the Mouse. Although she grew up outside of Boston, she took her degree in tourism management down to Orlando just to work at Disney and the travel industry. Of course, when she married her high school sweetheart, the reception was at Disney. She’s now a seasoned stay-at-home mom to two tweens and a toddler – and yes, that is as crazy as it sounds. Suzannah has her own blog, Comment Policy
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