ParentLife Blog

Homeschooling

We heard such positive things about our August Back to School issue that we wanted to share the article from ParentLife's former Editor in Chief Joy Emery for any of you who missed it. We thought it might encourage those of you who are homeschooling to see Joy's story.

We had no problems with our public school. What led us to consider the homeschool option was our family’s unique situation. While we live in Tennessee, Chris works with the North American Mission Board (NAMB) which is located in Alpharetta, Georgia. He is a regional team leader for the states of Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa. Because much of his work involves travel to his assigned states, along with a week on-site in Atlanta each month, we decided to pray about whether or not to venture into the homeschool arena in order to travel with him.
 

Considering Each Child’s Needs
When making any family decision, consider how each person may be impacted. Our three children vary in need and personality. Our oldest, 12-year-old Jackson, is a high achiever and people pleaser. He pushes himself and aims high. Kristen, our 11-year-old, is an average student who enjoys the social part of school. She is our practical child — the one who is best at problem solving and organization. Our 7-year-old is Brandon — our ball of energy. He is very bright and loves sports, drama, and the outdoors. He is a confident child and is not scared of new adventures.

When considering our children’s needs, there was one in particular who seemed to be best-suited for the homeschool environment. Kristen had always struggled with reading and comprehension as well as in mastering math concepts. I always had wondered if she might find greater success with a homeschool program. Jackson was at a transition time into middle school. It would be a year of transition for him regardless of whether we homeschooled or not. Brandon would lack the daily social contact with peers but would continue to have that interaction at church.

Gathering Information
To make the decision to homeschool, we had to gather information. One of our most useful resources came through conversations with experienced homeschool families. We learned that each family has to find what fits the family and that what fits one child might not fit the others.

Conversations with homeschool families helped us better evaluate our options and gave us direction. We also gained the confidence that we could be successful in homeschooling our children.

Homeschool Support
We made our decision to homeschool and enrolled with an umbrella school which keeps our school records, serves as our parent/teacher advisor, and operates as a testing facility to measure the children’s progress. The umbrella school also coordinates events and field trips for the children to meet other homeschoolers.

School at Home and on the Road
We have enjoyed many different on-the-road learning experiences. My contribution as the primary teacher of three varied students means a lot of preparation on my part, but I truly believe that my children are getting a well-rounded and personal education plan as we learn together at home and on the road. We are thankful we listened when God began to lead us in this direction. It makes each day a new adventure and broadens each child’s life experiences in a way a typical classroom never could.

To view the entire article, download this pdf document: My Homeschool Story.pdf

Fun Friday Photo -- August 28, 2009

Friends Olivia and Benjamin take a break from feeding the ducks.

Thanks to Heather H. for this great photo!

Photos wanted! Send us your funny, cute, or just plain fun pictures for our Fun Friday Photos. Each Friday we will post a new "Fun Friday Photo." E-mail your photo and a suggested caption describing the photo to parentlife@lifeway.com. Visit the blog each Friday to see if your photo was chosen!

From Bottle to Cup

I can honestly say that my little boy, Jack, has been an easy baby so far. He may be busy all the time and in constant motion, but he is fairly laidback when it comes to changes in routine and environment. He made the move to baby food without any complaint. He gave up his pacifier completely on his own around 9 months. The swtich from formula to milk was a breeze. And now baby food is history and he is eating table food. That's why I assumed that moving him from a bottle to a sippy cup would be a piece of cake.

Well ... I was terribly wrong. We tried for one weekend to offer him milk in a sippy cup to see how it went. Each time, he got excited when he would see his milk but he took one drink and pushed it away. He had no desire to drink his milk in anything but a bottle. More concerned with the amount of milk he was getting then the cup, I caved each time after about 10 minutes of trying and moved the milk to a bottle.

Many of my friends told me they made the switch cold turkey. If their babies didn't take milk from the cup, they just didn't get their milk. It worked really well for them, and they made the transition within days. But I'm just not sure I'm ready for that yet. I'm not sure I can be that strong!

I am encouraged that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends making the switch to a cup by 18 months. That means that we have a little over 4 months to make the transition. We have at least made the switch to bottles with soft, sippy-cup style spouts. It's at least a step in the right direction.

So I'm curious ... how did you transition your child from a bottle to a sippy cup? What worked? What didn't work? Are their other transitions that you struggled with ... such as moving from a crib to a toddler bed? Share your tips with us and other ParentLife readers by leaving a comment!

Free Girls' Ministry Webcast

When?: Today at 12:00 PM Central

What?: Get into Their Heads: Understanding the Struggles of Today's Girls
Wondering what is going on in girl world? What they are thinking about? What their fears are? What stresses them out? New issues they are facing? Join us for this Webinar as we identify and discuss some of the latest struggles our teen girls are facing. We will also discuss how we as girls' ministry leaders can meet those needs.

Where?: http://bit.ly/12QYe3

Get a Head Start on Reading by Joy Fisher

Reading to and with your child prepares him for a lifetime of curiosity and learning. For preschoolers, choose books with bright, colorful illustrations and minimal text. Beginning readers like repetitive language and humorous rhymes. Don’t forget to read to your older child too! Select books on topics of his interest, and use them as a starting place for great conversations. And remember, enjoying books is free when you visit the library!

New Books

Always by Ann Stott: “No matter what you do,” says Mom, “I’ll always love you.” For babies and preschoolers.

I’m Your Bus by Marilyn Singer: Back-to-schoolers will enjoy this rhyming story told from the perspective of a yellow school bus. For ages 4-8.

Oliver’s Game by Matt Tavares: Treat your baseball fan to a story abouthow World War II interrupted one young man’s dream. For ages 6-10.

 Oldies But Goodies

The Napping House by Don and Audrey Wood: A snoring granny and a dreaming child share a bed with an assortment of household creatures. For ages birth to 3.

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff: Give a mouse a cookie, and a whole adventure unravels and comes full circle again. For ages 4 to 8.

Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel: Lessons in friendship abound in the first of a timeless series. For ages 4 to 8.

 

 

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka: Get the wolf’s side of the story! For ages 4 to 8.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr.: Each page leads to the next with rhythm and cadence kids adore. Illustrated by Eric Carle. For ages 4 to 8.

Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan: In 1910, Sarah comes to be a new mother for Anna and Caleb. For ages 9 to 12.

The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner: A story from another era describes how four orphans survive on their own. For ages 9 to 12.

Joy Fisher is editor of LifeWay’s Bible Teaching for Kids Special Buddies, a Bible study curriculum for school-age children who have special needs. She is a former editor and frequent contributor to ParentLife.

Do you know all the benefits of reading to your child? Be sure to check out the article "A Head Start" in the August 2009 issue of ParentLife.
 

Dr. Mintle Answers Your Questions

Every month in ParentLife, Dr. Linda Mintle answers your parenting questions in her "Real Life Solutions" department. Each month, we will have an additional Q & A specifically for the blog. This month's question is about parenting styles.

Q: My husband and I have very different parenting styles. How can we work on being united in our parenting?

A: A team approach to parenting is something most parents have to work out because they were raised in different  families. When you leave your original family, you bring to marriage the patterns you learned growing up. Patterns of parenting are learned from watching your own parents. Different families parent differently. Some are more rigid, more permissive, or more critical than others. These differences can cause parenting conflicts if not negotiated. When you disagree, take a short break, talk through your strategies, and come to an agreement. You can say: “Mommy and Daddy are going to talk about this and come back.” Remember you are probably responding how you learned growing up. If you cannot pause before reacting, then talk about the conflict after the fact and agree on how you could both handle this in the future.

The important things are to be in agreement, be consistent, and realize this is an ongoing conversation. As children grow, the issues change and trigger issues from your childhood. Kids also tend to divide parents, so present a unified front to your child even if you disagree at the moment. Evaluate whether or not your approach to a problem was helpful and appropriate. Not all family patterns are healthy, so you may decide to make changes based on what you have learned.

If you cannot come to an agreement on how to parent as a couple, talk to another couple who can serve as your mentor or a family therapist or pastor.

Send us questions you would like to ask Dr. Mintle!
 

Fun Friday Photo -- August 21, 2009

William is enjoying the last few days of summer by having a water fight with his sister, Caroline!

Thanks to Julie L. for this great photo!

Photos wanted! Send us your funny, cute, or just plain fun pictures for our Fun Friday Photos. Each Friday we will post a new "Fun Friday Photo." E-mail your photo and a suggested caption describing the photo to parentlife@lifeway.com. Visit the blog each Friday to see if your photo was chosen!

First Day of School

My boys had their first day of school on Monday — Jonathan his first day of 5th grade, and Christopher his first day of Kindergarten. And who was most nervous leading up to the first day? Why their parents of course! Although the boys were nervous Monday morning too. 

We got there early enough to lug the school supplies in to school and all went straight to Christopher's classroom. I don't think there are many things in parenting like the first day of kindergarten. So exciting! We hugged Mrs. Nickels and went about the work of separating all our school supplies into the classroom supply bins. These bins were spread out all over the classroom, so as we walked across the room to put the crayons away, it was a great way to get acquainted to the classroom.

After a family photo, we spoke to a few of the parents, and Christopher was already hard at work putting together Legos® with some friends when it was time for us to leave. No worries about an anxious good-bye — he barely looked up as we kissed his cotton-top good-bye!

And Jonathan? He was an old pro at this. He walked into his classroom, found his locker, and immediately sat down at his desk to start the "Who Am I?" worksheet the teacher had provided. And perhaps for the last time on the first day of school (mind you, he is an 11-year-old preteen), he didn't even act embarrassed when I kissed his cotton-top good-bye!

How was your first day of school? Tell us about it!

Parents as Teachers

No matter what your schooling choice, back to school is an exciting time. It is also a great time to reflect on how parents should be the primary teachers of their children, even if you choose to share some of your child's education with your church or local school.

I always find that books are a great way to enter discussions with your children. I wanted to share a couple books that I have read recently — both old and new — that make great discussion starters with kids. In fact, these books were so engaging, that I could not put them down until I turned every page!

Jesus From A to Z by Kevin Graham and Illustrated by Jennifer Yoswa (Windom) — Graham captures 26 key stories and truths from the life of Jesus in this A-to-Z style book, complete with engaging illustrations that will draw kids into each two-page spread. A great starter for family devotion times might be to pick a letter of the alphabet, look at the illustration and synopsis, then read the biblical passage with the story. Begin now at the pace of 2 stories a week, and it will lead you right into Advent season.

The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes and Illustrated by Louis Slobodkin (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) — I was engaged from the first page and could not put down this book for children. This story is a powerful teaching tool to talk about bullying, friendship, racism, cliques, and sensitivity to others who are different. This book may have been written specifically for girls in mind, but I think it is engaging for all kids. Use it to talk about the new school year and new friends at school and church.

Holes by Louis Sachar (Random House) — Quirky, mysterious, and exciting — and probably written primarily for preteen boys — it gives subtle insights into some of these same themes mentioned above for The Hundred Dresses, except about boys. Ditto about using to talk about the new people God brings into our lives and how we treat them.

No matter your reading choice, research shows the more you read with your kids, the better they do in school! What are some of your favorite books to read with your kids?

A Healthy Lunch Option

This week is a busy week for most families as the kids head back to school. One source of stress for many families is knowing what to pack for lunch! Is it hard for you to find quick, easy, healthy options for your child's lunch?

The Lunchables team hopes to relieve some of this stress by introducing a whole new line of Oscar Mayer Lunchables Lunch Combinations! 

Some highlights of the new line include:

• The introduction of the first sandwiches in the Lunchables Lunch Combination line
• Turkey made with 100% turkey breast
• Bread made with whole grain
• Spring water as the drink
• And, for the first time ever, Lunchables Lunch Combinations will feature applesauce!

While these nutritional advances are great, Lunchables has also extended its new changes from the inside out. The new packaging features a clear, snap-close container with an easy-to-read menu bar and recyclable packaging.

Lunchables Lunch Combinations are available in the refrigerated section of grocery stores and retail for $3.49.  To view the complete line of Lunchables Lunch Combinations visit www.lunchables.com.

ParentLife Giveaway Update

Have your kids started back to school yet? How did the first day go? Tell us all about it and you will be entered in this month's giveaway! ParentLife is giving away two one-month memberships for the Kaplan Tutoring Online Program. See full details of the giveaway here. Everyone* who posts a comment on our blog during the month of August will be entered to win.

For lots of other information about back to school, including information on homework, tutoring, reading, school lunches, and safety, check out the August issue of ParentLife.

Fun Friday Photo -- August 14, 2009

2-week-old Mae is tiny compared to Daddy's hand!

Thanks got Andrew and Bethany G. for this great photo!

Photos wanted! Send us your funny, cute, or just plain fun pictures for our Fun Friday Photos. Each Friday we will post a new "Fun Friday Photo." E-mail your photo and a suggested caption describing the photo to parentlife@lifeway.com. Visit the blog each Friday to see if your photo was chosen!

Development Checkup

I am the mother of a very busy little boy. Jack is 13 months old and is walking very well. He is constantly on the move exploring every corner of the world around him. There is never a dull moment when he is around. Needless to say we have to keep a constant eye on him.

When Jack turned 1, we went to see his pediatrician for a well-child checkup. Does anyone else stress as much as I do over the developmental surveys that you have to fill out? You know ... the ones that say Is your child pulling up on furniture? Can your child pick up finger foods using his pointer finger and thumb? (and many, many more specific questions). I agonize over each question ... wanting to answer it honestly and sometimes nervous about what my answers might mean.

I knew Jack would score very well on his motor development (as evidenced by his perpetual motion) ... however, when I got to verbal development, I was a bit concerned. I couldn't honestly say that he was saying specific words (knowing what they meant) or that he understood me when I gave simple commands. But I filled out the survey to the best of my ability and decided not to worry about it. When the pedicatrician, who is famous for being overly cautious, talked to us about the results he seemed fairly concerned ... concerned enough that he wanted to test Jack's hearing (a traumatic event for both of us). But Jack passed with flying colors (just like I knew he would), and the pediatrician decided we would wait and see how things progressed over the next three months.

Since then, we have made an even bigger effort to to read to Jack as often as he will let us (he generally doesn't like to stop moving long enough to read a book) and to label all of the things in his world. Since the doctor visit, I can tell he has made progress ... especially in comprehension. If you ask him where your nose is, he can tell you without hesitation. We're still anxiously waiting on that first official word, but my mind has been set at ease for the moment.

For information about your child's language development, be sure to check out the 1 to 2 Years Growth Spurt article "Communication Counts" in the August 2009 issue of ParentLife.

Have you ever been concerned about a certain aspect of your child's development?

Back-to-School Moms

When it comes to back to school, most news coverage focuses on getting the kids prepared for the new school year, but what about the newest population of students … moms?

In these uncertain times, a record number of moms will go back to college this fall to advance current careers, find new job options, and seize opportunities to contribute more to household finances during a recession. 

How do the families of college moms cope? Try the following tips from real-life college moms.

1. Gain the support of friends and family. We all need cheerleaders to accomplish the many things moms do in any single day. 
2. When you go back to school supply shopping for the kids, don’t forget your own supplies for online studying like printer ink and paper, a spare battery pack for the laptop, and flash drives.
3. Prepare meals for the week on Sunday. Whether it’s a hearty soup, lasagna, or a casserole, make meals that are filling and easy to take out of the freezer and reheat quickly.
4. Work as a team. Show the kids that running a family requires team effort and that your schoolwork is important too. Let them pitch in to help out with family chores.
5. Remind your significant other that he may need to brush up on his math and science skills because you will need him to help the kids with homework.
6. Before you sit at your computer, take 15 minutes to do some stretching and/or a few sit-ups. Get the adrenaline pumping so that you are ready to commit to studying and homework.
7. Instill in your children the value of making sacrifices. Teach them that hard work has positive results.
8. For those single moms or stay-at-home moms who sometimes have to do it alone, it is OK to let your older children entertain themselves when you have deadlines to meet.
9. Keep the faith. Everyone has their ups and downs, and sometimes, there are more downs than ups. At the end of the day you can still do this. Remind yourself how much your education means to you and of the future benefits it will bring to your entire family.
10. Plan some alone time, even if it’s a 20-minute soak in the tub to relax after the children are in bed.

Thanks to moms at Kaplan University (www.kaplan.edu)— where nearly 75% of students are women and the average student age is 34 — for their tips for juggling family, work, and school.

Have you decided to go back to school?
 
 

DQ® Miracle Treat Day

On Thursday, August 13, Dairy Queen® will host the 4th Annual Miracle Treat Day, when proceeds from Blizzards® sold will be donated to Children’s Miracle Network, a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for children’s hospitals.

Last year on Miracle Treat Day, Dairy Queen raised more than $4.5 million for 170 Children’s Miracle Network hospitals. A cause partner since 1984, Dairy Queen has raised more than $77 million and is one of the top five contributors to Children’s Miracle Network.

Dairy Queen will bring back the Girl Scouts Thin Mint Cookie Blizzard as the featured Blizzard of the Month for August, just in time to celebrate Miracle Treat Day. Girl Scouts Thin Mint Cookie is the most popular limited-time-offer Blizzard ever, since the first one was served upside-down with a spoon in 1985. The Thin Mint Cookie Blizzard is made with creamy DQ vanilla soft serve blended with Girl Scouts Thin Mint Cookie pieces and a Crème de Menthe topping.

For more information about Miracle Treat Day or Dairy Queen, visit www.miracletreatday.com or www.dq.com.

Back to School -- Healthy

Our staff came across the following information from Dr. Stuart Fischer about how to eat healthy as a family during the back-to-school season, especially when a parent is struggling with weight issues. 

Tell the Truth

Be a great role model and tell the truth. Sit the family down for a heart-to-heart talk where the overweight parent should freely admit to the child that they are not a healthy weight and that some of their food choices have not been ideal. The parent should offer hope on how they will make healthy changes together – letting the children see how their lives can improve as a result.
 
Discover Your Personal Myths
The biggest issue in the weight-loss process for the parents is addressing “personal myths” – the excuses that people give themselves to rationalize their behavior. Once the parent recognizes these are excuses, they can move on to make the right choices for their family.
 
Make a Plan
The next step is to make a plan, keeping in mind that losing weight is actually quite simple. Work off more calories than you eat. Set a realistic weight-loss goal (no more than 2 pounds per week). Make a plan on how to incorporate more exercise in everyone’s day-to-day routine. Exercising two to three times a week is ideal at the beginning.
 
Cook and Shop Together
As a family, figure out what and how much you want to eat per day for your first week, then crunch the numbers and come up with a menu. There are tons of great healthy recipes online. Go shopping with your child and explain what foods are healthy. Teach kids to avoid “empty calories,” high-calorie foods with little to no nutritional content such as soda, sugary desserts, fast food, or potato chips.
 
Act on Other Issues
Everyone overeats for different reasons. Identify some of the issues causing them to eat, and then take mini-steps to change their behavior.
 
Reward, Reward, Reward
As the weight starts to come off, reward yourself in ways OTHER than food. It could be a new lip gloss, haircut, tickets for a game or play, outfit, purse, backpack, etc. Reward frequently but not lightly. A great time for a smaller reward would be after two weeks if everyone has been sticking to the plan and are on track for their weight-loss goals.
 
This is a great time to focus on good health for your sake and that of your child.  A new study shows that overweight and obese students are performing worse in school than their physically fit counterparts, jeopardizing their professional future as well as their health. For more information on Dr. Fischer and the celebrity consultants, please go to www.parkavenuediet.com.
 

Fun Friday Photo -- August 7, 2009

5-year-old Christopher says, "Do you think they'll notice if I turn the siren on?"

Thanks to William and Christy for this great photo!

Photos wanted! Send us your funny, cute, or just plain fun pictures for our Fun Friday Photos. Each Friday we will post a new "Fun Friday Photo." E-mail your photo and a suggested caption describing the photo to parentlife@lifeway.com. Visit the blog each Friday to see if your photo was chosen!

Hooray for You! by Donna J. Noble

Looking for a new tradition for the first day of school? Check out this idea submitted by ParentLife writer Donna Noble.

We have a back-to-school tradition in our family. It began the year my nephew Brian was in kindergarten. I am sure that my sister never anticipated on the day of the first-ever “Bus Party!” that the celebration would lead to another and yet another, until the wheels on the bus had gone around and around, carrying us 20 years down the road.

A Bus Party

What is a bus party? It is simple. All you have to do is make a few treats and a pitcher of lemonade and, at the end of the school day, park yourself by the bus stop. When the bus comes into sight, you jump up and cheer in celebration of your child completing her first day of the school year

If all of this sounds a little funny, believe me, it is! You should see my sisters, my mom, and me each year! As we shout, “Hooray! It’s the bus party!” we get a few questioning looks from the bus driver. (Come to think of it, our kids have had a new bus driver every year. Is it possible that we scare them off?) Still, these incredulous bus drivers have never turned down the brownies we have offered them through the window.

Every year, our children know to expect this bus party silliness. Though the kids look a little sheepish as they descend the steps of the bus, try as they might, they cannot hold back their laughter. Once again, demonstrative affection triumphs over embarrassment.

The bus pulls away, but we stay and eat goodies. We talk about the day, about new teachers, and about our hopes for the year to come. Best of all, we share a very special bond.

Special Memories
Though every bus party is similar, each one is also unique. Sometimes we sing silly songs, read inspirational verses together, or simply reminisce about past bus parties.

One year, it rained so hard that only my 72-year-old mother and I were brave enough to dance around in the front yard. Everyone else waited under-roof for the guests of honor to arrive. When the bus finally came, the kids dashed straight past poor Grandma to the shelter of the barn where they joined their cousins and the faithful aunts for a great celebration.

Future Bus Parties
Once upon a time there were more little ones waiting on the blanket than riding the bus. Then there were more on the bus than on the blanket. Now our wonderful high schoolers would not miss celebrating their elementary school-aged cousins’ bus party days. The celebration continues for my children: the last two of the bus party of 12!

The Deeper Truth
One thing is for sure: The children in our family have gained the confidence to venture forth on their own because they know how much they are valued at home. And here is the icing on the bus party cake: Together we have experienced a sense of community that some people may never understand. Success calls for celebration ... even if it is just an ordinary day, like the first day of school.

Donna J. Noble and her husband, Darrin, are co-founders of PineCross Ministries, LLP (www.pinecrossministries.com), whose focus is hospitality and encouragement to families. She writes from PineCross Acres in Hartville, Ohio, where she and her family love to celebrate ordinary days.

Does your family have any back-to-school traditions? Leave us a comment and tell us about them!

Back to School

Have your kids gone back to school yet? Mine are 12 days away now. As I wrote in the August ParentLife "Parenting Matters," it seems like just yesterday our oldest, Jonathan, was starting kindergarten. Now he is a fifth grader, and our youngest, Christopher, is on his way to kindergarten!

There are a lot of worries and fears about starting anything new — and kindergarten is a big deal! To help Christopher get ready for his first day of kindergarten, our school had a kindergarten camp. The kids got to meet their teachers, visit their new classrooms, play a few games, and even practice the afternoon hookup line. All of this was designed to cut down on first-day jitters, and I think it worked!

We have also gathered supplies like backpacks, lunch boxes, and clothes to start the school year off with excitement. We always have a routine of taking photos on the first morning of school that is a fun start to that first day.

Do you have a child starting school for the first time? Or do you have a sure fire way to cut down on first-day jitters? I would love to hear your ideas! Post a response so that other parents can read your ideas.

Read our August issue of ParentLife for all sorts of great back-to-school article and tips. Have a great beginning of the school year!

Correction to July 2009 ParentLife

In the July 2009 issue of ParentLife we recommended kid-friendly travel products to go along with our feature article "On the Road Again: Making Vacations Fun." One of the products mentioned was the Baby Sherpa® Diaper Backpack. This multitasking, four-in-one bag offers maximum efficiency for today's traveling family. Some of its coolest features include the following:

• Deep inside compartment with zippered pocket
• Soft-sided cooler uniquely integrated into the diaper bag backpack to store bottles, snacks, beverages, medication (holds 6 to 8 canned beverages)
• Padded pocket to hold a video camera or breast pump
• Secure, interior parent zip pouch for wallet and a key clasp
• Waist, sternum strap and ergonomically designed padded shoulder straps which feature a key clip and passy saver
• Fits as carry-on luggage for all airlines

In the feature article, we directed readers to the wrong Web site. We apologize for this mistake. To find out more about the Baby Sherpa Diaper Backpack, visit www.babysherpabackpacks.com.

August Giveaway -- Online Tutoring from Kaplan Learning

It's hard to believe, but it's August ... and the kids are heading back to school! And back-to-school means back-to-homework struggles for many families.

That's where Kaplan Tutoring comes in. Kaplan Tutoring offers programs for kids in kindergarten through eighth grade to help them develop a love of learning. The program begins with an assessment that leads to a customized learning plan. Then Kaplan's tutors use proven instructional methods to increase self-confidence.

Kaplan Tutoring uses a system called Smart Track that continually updates your child's learning plan and adjusts to changing skill levels. As your child progresses, you will have access to real-time progress reports.

ParentLife is giving away two one-month memberships for the Kaplan Tutoring Online Program. Everyone* who posts a comment on our blog during the month of August will be entered to win.

For further information about Kaplan Tutoring, visit www.kaplantutoring.com or call 1 (800) 497-2673.

*LifeWay employees are not eligible for this giveaway. Multiple comments do not increase chances of winning.

July Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to John T. Meche III ... the winner of our July giveaway.

John won a Levels of Biblical Learning prize package!

Thanks to all who left comments for us during the month of July! We love hearing from you! Be on the lookout for our August giveaway ... coming very soon!