This is such an exciting time of year! Not only is summer about to be in full swing, but children (young and old) are graduating from school. From elementary school to college, everyone is celebrating the completion of another milestone. High school seniors across Lawrenceville are eagerly awaiting that great day of independence.  Although many seniors have plans on attending college in the fall, there are some who have no plans at all. What does a parent do when their 18-year-old child has absolutely no plans and no job? It's obvious they won't have enough money to move out. And in this …

Most parents who have adult children look forward to having grandchildren. It's simply the perfect match-up. Grandparents get to show a great deal of mercy to their grandchildren, receive countless kisses and hugs, fill them up with sugary sweets, and send them back home. This is the ideal setup for most grandparents. Over the past decade, this situation has changed for many grandparents. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, over 6 million grandparents had grandchildren living with them in 2007. Of that 6 million, over 2 million were the sole caregiver for food, shelter and clothing of their …

As an adult should your parents stay out of your business? Once we leave the nest, get married and have kids of our own, things gradually change. And things that we disclose to our parents change as well. But at what point should they interject or say something when it comes to your personal decisions? I think that regardless as to how old you are, parents should have the liberty to share their wisdom/opinion. Not the parents who are just down right ignorant. I'm talking about the parents that genuinely care for their kids. Parents should not be completely left in the dark not knowing what is…

Over the weekend, I threw a birthday party for not only my son, but for my daughter as well. That's right! A two for the price of one birthday party! My children are not twins, but their birthdays are really close to each other. Literally ten days apart from each other. So instead of throwing two parties I throw one big shindig for both of them. Now throwing one birthday party for two completely different children can be a challenge. For instance, my son is three and my daughter is one, so it was important for the party to represent both of them. While my husband and I planned this party, we …

Summer is right around the corner and gas prices are gradually creeping up. What can be done to decrease spending and save? Here are a few things that can be done in order to maintain a solid budget within your family: #1 Unplug unused electrical items: Although you may not be using these items, if they are plugged into the outlet they are still sucking energy and adding dollars to your electricity bill. I saved $100 on my electrical bill just by unplugging kitchen items after each use. For example, after making that morning pot of coffee unplug it. Do the same thing for the can opener, …

Some may say that the stay-at-home-mom (SAHM) has it easy. She just sits at home all day, eating chocolate turtles and watching Oprah's Farewell Season. And somehow a magical fairy comes in and does all the housework before anyone gets home. This of course, is not true. Stay-at-home-moms have a plethora of things to do. If a webcam could be placed in every home in order to watch the true work of a SAHM, all the world could see how strenuous her job is. This is the kind of weekly information I share with my working husband when he questions what I have done all day. My husband and I have …

Parenting comes with it's ups and downs, but there is nothing like parenting with someone who loves you. The love from your spouse can soothe the most frustrating day and make parenting a great adventure. However, without the proper care and attention, a loving relationship can become dull and boring. While I was pregnant, one of my co-workers gave me some valuable information. She said, “Katha, once you start having kids, don't forget to spend quality time with your spouse because now that my kids are gone, my husband and I barely know each other.” I could see the disappointment in her face …

Yay! Spring Break is here! For those parents who have left on vacation… have fun! For those of us who have decided to save our dollars and work this week there is little fun on the horizon. No vacation on spring break can mean worry and concern for the working parent, especially when there is no one to watch their children.  Lack of supervision can be the cause of children getting into a lot of trouble while their parents are working. With this week being Spring Break, it is important for working parents to take extra precaution when leaving children alone. Without some form of supervision …

Most parents have done this either once, twice or do it all the time. What am I talking about? Argue. I'm talking about arguing, disagreements, debates, or as my husband and I call it “heated moments of fellowship." All parents across the world do this, but the question really is where do you do this and do you ever argue in front of the children? I find it difficult to hold all my emotions until some opportune time when the children are asleep or in a different room. I question whether or not I will remember all the negative points I intended to make. I remember early in my marriage, before …

High school can be a serious financial burden on families. I'm not talking about the cost of school, although depending on where you go, it can be costly, I'm talking about helping your child keep up with the latest fashion, phones and gaming systems. All of these things can be costly for a family that cannot afford to purchase these items. Public high school is like a fashion show that never ends with countless name brands and styles. And what are parents to do when that sweet face comes and asks for something that you know you can't afford? You save and work extra hours to get it. What is …

There’s a little joke that I’ve told a couple people in regards to sex. I always say there are a few things required in order to have sex legally… 1) an engagement ring, and 2) wedding bands and a marriage certificate. Without these items you are having illegal sex. I believe sex was designed for marriage, not merely for two people who happen to be in love.  In order to help teens stay abstinent, it’s important for parents to inform them of the bad and ugly parts of premarital sex. Tell them about contracting a sexually transmitted disease such as HIV or Herpes or the possibility of becoming …

On Thursday, March 3rd, Wes Leonard, a Michigan high school basketball player stepped on the court for the last time while playing in a tournament. Sources say that shortly after Leonard went up for a layup he collapsed onto the basketball court and died instantly. After an autopsy, it was said that Leonard died due to an enlarged heart. But he’s not the only teen who has died due to an enlarged heart over the last five days. Last Saturday, Matthew Hammerdorfer of Colorado died of a heart attack after a rugby match.  In Hammerdorfer’s case, he had several surgeries prior to repair his heart …

Last week as I turned on the television so my son could watch Sesame Street, the television was on a basic channel that was doing a documentary on Uma Thurman. Let's just say some explicit film footage was on the screen in the middle of the day. As I quickly attempted to turn the channel, because pausing the screen would not be the best move at the moment, I became upset that something like this was even on television. And that my children saw bits and pieces of it.  Now that my children are getting older. I've taken a greater role in monitoring what I watch while they are with me. Originally…

Somewhere there are students within Gwinnett County who do not attend school or drop out because of one or more reasons such as a debilitating illness causing them to remain in the hospital, disability, lack of childcare, peer pressure or the need to maintain employment. These are just to name a few. Issues like these can definitely influence a high school student to either postpone graduation or not graduate at all. But with a new high school opening this fall, some of these concerns may no longer be an issue. This fall, a brand new high school will open its doors to students residing within…

Being a mother can be a difficult, yet rewarding role. However, it can also be the most stressful time of your life. I remember the first time I was left alone with my son and my daughter. It was just me. My husband had returned back to work, our parents had returned back to Illinois and Tennessee and there I was with a newborn and a 2-year-old. It was a complete nightmare. People would always tell me to sleep when the baby is sleep, but when you have a 2-year-old who is wide awake, sleep is out of the question. As time progressed, I had difficulty adjusting to two kids, the dishes, the …

With the day to day bustle of kids, schools, cooking, cleaning and work, is there really enough time for love? Valentine's Day is less than 7 days away and falls on the worst day of the week...Monday. Surely husbands have ordered those roses for their wives and wives have ordered those sugary treats for their husbands. The restaurant has been reserved along with the babysitter. Your plans are set, but does Valentine's Day stop at the parents? Are the parents the only ones who receive that special little something of love? Of course not. Valentine's Day is not just a day for two well-deserving…

In elementary school, I remember a boy named Michael Green. It was an honor to have Michael in your class because his mom would always bring homemade cookies and cupcakes for his classmates. From elementary school through high school, Michael's mom continued to bring those delicious treats to special events, etc. Michael was not very outspoken or flashy with clothes, but due to his mother's outstanding baking skills Michael became quite popular and liked by others. Now some might say cookies can't do all that, but if you look at the results of Mrs. Green's actions you will see that cookies …

After a divorce, dating eventually protrudes its pretty little head out of the bushes. Like most newly single parents, dating has become completely foreign after a long unhealthy marriage. With so many responsibilities on the shoulders of the single parent, loneliness can easily creep in along with depression. Loneliness and depression are not things that the children should see, so it is important to connect with an encouraging friend or family member after a divorce. Do not think it strange that these emotions are erupting after a divorce. Regardless as to whether the marriage was good or …

Divorce is not some foreign or uncommon entity that is only for the poor at heart.  No couple gets married with plans to divorce later. Unfortunately, divorce becomes the outcome of many broken promises and dreams. Sadly the spouses are not the only ones impacted by a divorce, but so are the children.  So how does a parent decide to divorce their child's mother or father? And are the feelings of the children even taken into consideration? As a parent your role is not just as a mother or father, but also as a spouse if you're married. And truthfully if there is any separation between the two …

On Tuesday, the Gwinnett County Police Department arrested a Gwinnett man accused of tattooing 13 high school students.  Although it is illegal for minors to get tattoos in Georgia, many teens sneak around and find a way to get "tatted up". Whereas others simply ask their parents permission to get a tattoo and the parents assist them in doing so. While growing up in Chattanooga, I saw many tattoos appear on friends and family members. I knew good and well those tattoos did not come out of a cracker jack box.  Unlike a washable tattoo, raising kids has it's own share of ups and downs. The …