Author: Pam Molnar

Parents wear many hats—comforter, teacher, disciplinarian—but only a few of them are as fun as the Tooth Fairy. When I imagined our lives with children, I thought about my role as the Tooth Fairy. I knew which parts I would keep from my own childhood and dreamt of ways that I could make the character even more magical.   I remember the excitement of the Tooth Fairy’s first visit to our house. She wrote a sweet note explaining how things worked in the Land of the Lost Tooth. Next to the note, my daughter found a silver coin left for a special first tooth and a new dollar bill saved for such an occasion. My daughter proudly showed her younger siblings what the Tooth Fairy had left for her. They all stared at the coin as if it was the Hope Diamond and my daughter placed it in her jewelry box for safe keeping.As planned, the Tooth Fairy took the tooth back to the Land of the Lost Tooth and carefully placed it in an envelope with my daughter’s name and the date. Mission accomplished. Soon, our other children started losing their teeth. They got the same note, coin and treatment for their first tooth. Every tooth thereafter was collected before the Tooth Fairy retired for the evening and each tooth was given the same care as the first one. About five years after the Tooth Fairy’s first trip to our house, something changed. She didn’t leave notes anymore, she stopped putting dates on the envelopes and sometimes, she didn’t come for the tooth until right before the kids woke up. One time, she left four quarters instead of a dollar bill. How lame! What happened to the magical character in my dreams? When I discussed this with the Tooth Fairy in the bathroom mirror, all I heard were bad excuses—working mom, traveling husband, exhausted from carpools and coming up with dinner ideas. To make matters worse, she claimed that she was overwhelmed with the two extra kids we added to her route. The Tooth Fairy even suggested that our kids were eating hard candy as they were losing teeth at an alarming rate. I was appalled! Things went downhill from there. By the time my youngest child started losing his teeth, his sisters started working for the Tooth Fairy. She often came to our house unprepared and had to ask the girls to borrow singles in order to pay for their brother’s tooth. At the end, a lost tooth would sit in the Tooth Fairy pillow for a couple of days. I lied for the Tooth Fairy and told my son, “You lost the tooth too late in the day and you weren’t on her schedule last night” or “She sent me a text and said she was running behind and would pick the tooth up while you were at school.” Sadly, my son believed me.Until he didn’t believe anymore and the Tooth Fairy was out of a job. At our exit interview, I asked the Tooth Fairy how she thought we did. She told me that the kids will remember the good things, like the silver coin and the notes. Yes, but what about the quarters and the forgotten teeth, I wondered. The Tooth Fairy told me that they will remember those, too. One day, they will be the one holding the wand and fairy dust and it will be a reminder that the Tooth Fairy is only human. 

A successful school year is as easy as learning your ABCs. Check out these 26 simple tips for a happy and healthy school year:Accept new challenges: Push your child to go outside of his comfort zone. Encourage him to try new activities, learn new sports and make new friends.Breakfast: We all know breakfast is an important meal. If your child does not have time for a sit-down breakfast, provide on-the-go breakfast foods like muffins, fruit or protein bars.Chores: Give your child a few jobs that you expect to be done each day before or after school, such as making her bed or feeding the dog. A little bit of responsibility will go a long way.Downtime: Be sure to add free time to their schedule. These are the times your child can relax on the couch, play video games or have a last-minute pick-up game with friends in the neighborhood.Exercise: Balance your child’s sedentary school day with plenty of exercise outside after school. Combine unstructured play with friends with a more structured team practice.Friends: Encourage your child to invite new friends over so you can get to know the person your child is spending time with. It is a great opportunity to meet the friend’s parents, too.Grab-and-go Snacks: Your child will be hungry after school. Instead of grabbing a handful of cookies, provide her with pre-bagged healthy snacks that won’t interfere with the dinner hour. Think veggies and dip, or hummus and crackers.Help your child, but don’t do it for him: We want our children to succeed, but they will never learn if we do it for them. It is okay to give suggestions, but remember that it is their name on the paper.Illness: It’s back to school and back to a room full of germs. Stock your child’s backpack or desk with tissues and hand sanitizer. Remind her to wash her hands and to sneeze into her arm.[[image1]]Join: Encourage your child to join activities at school. It will give him a sense of belonging and he will be more than just another face in the crowd.Keep Trying: It is hard to see your child not get the role, position or grade that she hoped for. Encourage your child to pick herself back up and try again. Disappointment builds character and gives her the tools to succeed.Limitations: Only you know your child’s limitations. While being a part of extracurricular activities is important, sometimes they are overwhelming. It’s okay to say no to invitations and extra practice when you see your child is overwhelmed.Be Mindful of Others’ Feelings: Tell your child to think before he says it and to apologize if it comes out wrong. Tell him to practice “the more, the merrier” when making plans and to include new friends in his group.Nutrition: Plan healthy meals ahead of time. Stock up on ingredients for quick healthy meals that your family enjoys. Save time by using the crockpot or prepping food ahead of time.Get Organized: Save yourself some sanity in the mornings by organizing things the night before. Lay out clothes, make lunches the night before, and put backpacks and shoes in the same place each night.Provide a good example: While words are important, your actions mean so much more. In other words, practice what you preach.Quality Time: It is easy to get wrapped up in the busyness of back-to-school schedules. Try to plan dinners together or have a family game night. It is important to stay connected and catch up on each other’s day.[[image2]]Rules: Remind everyone of the school-year rules. Reestablish bed times, discuss the when, where and how long for electronics use, and what happens when mom and dad are not home.Social Media: Reconfirm what social media sites your child belongs to and check all passwords.  Take time to talk: Open your schedule each day and let your kids know when it is a good time to come to you with problems and concerns. You will get more out of the discussion if you are both tuned in.Use their time wisely: As our kids get older, their commitments increase. Teach your child to use his time wisely by prioritizing so he will not be up at midnight doing homework.Volunteer: It is a great way to see what goes on at school, meet the teachers and interact with the other parents. Even working parents can get involved by helping at evening and weekend events.Workspace: Establish where your child will do his homework. Is the kitchen table too distracting? Does he have a desk in his room? Choose a space that is quiet and has all the tools he needs.Xtra Help: Get a jumpstart on finding a tutor for your child. If she struggles in a subject, look for someone who can keep her on track this year.Year of . . . : Help your child set achievable goals this year. Make this the year of straight A’s, perfect attendance, or the lead in the school play.And Voted #1 by Most Moms:Zzzzzzs: Time to return to the school night bedtimes. It is hard to adjust to waking up early again so adjust it a little at a time. Tell your child to listen to her body and go to bed earlier if she needs it.

Summer is the best time to be a kid. School is out, the weather is great, and each day promises a new adventure. At least that is how it used to be. Today, summer’s biggest rival is the computer screen. With the return of sunny skies, there is no need to bask in the artificial light of a digital display. Encourage your child to gather up the neighborhood kids and show them how to have some old-fashioned summer fun. Tug-o-War Start summer off with a splash. Break the group up into teams, find a long rope, and stand on opposite sides of a kiddie pool filled with water. On go, see who will make the first splash of the summer. Frisbee Tic-Tac-ToeDraw a tic-tac-toe board on the driveway with chalk or in the yard with spray paint. Gather four Frisbees for each player and try to get the Frisbees to land in the squares to win tic-tac-toe. Water Gun Shooting Range Gather empty water and soda bottles and set them up on a deck railing or table edge. Fill your water gun and try to knock them over. On windy days, fill each bottle with an inch of water.Obstacle CourseDig out the hula hoops, soccer cones, and jump ropes. Use your creativity to set up an obstacle course in the backyard and let the races begin. Nature Scavenger Hunt Whether you are in the backyard or a local forest preserve, help the kids make a list of items they can gather and race back to the starting line. Find things like a river rock, pinecone, acorn or a robin’s eggshell. Kickball This game is similar to baseball, but it levels the playing field so that all ages and skill levels can play. The pitcher rolls a large ball to the “batter” who kicks it with his foot. Like baseball, the batter runs the bases and the opposing team tries to get him out before he gets home. Sharks and Minnows Line up the players, called minnows, on one end of the yard. One shark stands in the middle of the yard. The minnows try to cross to the other side of the yard without getting tagged and becoming a shark themselves. Play continues until all minnows have changed to sharks.Watermelon-Eating Contest Cut the watermelon into half-moon pieces and set in front of each player on the table. On Go, try to eat the watermelon as fast as you can without using your hands. Five Hundred One player stands at the end of the yard or street with a baseball bat and tennis ball. He throws the ball up and hits it with the bat into the crowd. They try to catch it on a fly: 100 points; with one bounce: 50 points; or two bounces: 25 points. Whoever scores 500 first is the winner.Drip, Drip, Drop Played like Duck, Duck, Goose, this is a fun game for a hot day. Instead of tapping the players in the circle for “duck,” drip a little water from a sponge. When you choose a player to “goose,” yell “drop” and squeeze the sponge over their head before you start running. Pillowcase Race It’s the same idea as a potato sack race, but easier to come by. Line up the kids and their pillowcases at the starting line and watch them go. Water Balloon Toss Stand in parallel lines and pass a water balloon back and forth without dropping it. Change it up by setting one person in the middle of a circle with a bowl on his head. Players try to toss the balloon into the bowl.Kick the Can Place a metal can in the middle of the driveway or backyard patio. The players hide while the person who is “It” tries to find them while keeping an eye on the can. If he gets too far away from the can, another player can come out of hiding and kick the can. If the player is tagged, he becomes “It.” If not, he is safe. Play continues until all players kick the can or until a player is found or tagged. Clothespin Tag Everyone clips a hinged clothespin to the back of their shirt. The person who is “It” tries to grab the clothespin as they run by. Dodgeball Set up several soft vinyl balls in the center of two teams. On go, charge the center to get to a ball and start throwing them at other players. If a player catches it, the thrower is out. If he misses the catch or gets hit with the ball, the player is out.  

Spring is a time for new beginnings. Every year you vow to make more time for your spouse, and the warmer weather of spring is beckoning you to keep your promise. Not sure what to do beyond dinner and a movie? You will find something for every couple in this list of spring-time activities.For the romantic:Rent a tandem bike and explore the nearby parks and trails. Take time to observe the wildlife, look for spring flowers, or simply take advantage of the quiet time together.If it’s raining, make the most of it. Grab your umbrellas and take a leisurely walk together. Dance under the clouds or stomp in the puddles like children with no repercussions. A man and woman in a rowboat are often used to symbolize romance. Head out to the lake and let your man show off his inner Noah Calhoun (The Notebook). Don’t forget to bring bread for the ducks.For the handy couple:Fashion a fire pit out of brick pavers and stone. Bring in chairs for a gathering area for friends or pillows for a cozy spot to cuddle under the stars.Tackle a small remodeling job together. Repaint the bedroom, add a backsplash in the kitchen, or replace the outdated hardware on the cabinets.Enjoy the peaceful sound of running water by installing a backyard pond. Include plants, bright-colored koi, and a fountain. Complete the area with natural grasses and flowers that attract butterflies, such as daisies, lavender and zinnias.For the couple that likes to play:Get outside and fly a kite, throw a Frisbee, or play catch. Enjoy the warmer weather by practicing your golf swing or playing a round of tennis.Check out geocaching.com for treasure hunting in your hometown. This is a great opportunity to hike and explore nature close to home. Don’t forget to sign the log book and bring a treasure to leave for the next person.You are never too old for classic backyard games. Try bocce ball, bean-bag toss, croquet, tetherball, volleyball or badminton.For couples that like to get dirty:Choose a place in the yard to plant a vegetable garden. Enjoy the sun, fresh air, and the fruits of your labor as your garden grows.Mud has been used for its healing properties since ancient times. Whether you are looking to detox, relieve tension, or rehydrate the dry skin of winter, head to the spa for a mud facial, wrap or a couple’s mud massage.  Up for a messy challenge? Athletes of all levels will enjoy competing together in a mud run or obstacle course. Find mud runs in your area by visiting mudrunguide.com.If it’s warm out:When spring arrives, we want to be outside as much as possible. What better way to enjoy the spring weather than to dine al fresco? Find an outdoor café for lunch or dust off the grill and have dinner on the patio.Work together on the chores outdoors. Wash away all signs of winter from your cars. Sweep out the leaves and road dirt from the garage. Paint the front porch swing or prepare the yard for the summer ahead.Head out to buy some peanuts and Cracker Jacks (or hot dogs and beer) and root for the home team. If you can’t make it to see a major-league game, gather a group of friends and head to the local park for your own opening day.If the weather won’t cooperate:Visit a botanical garden. No matter what Mother Nature is doing, you can enjoy the warm temperatures and beautiful flowers in this indoor wonderland.Get out of the cold and wind and learn something new. Try classes in cooking, art, fencing, dancing, mixology, or whatever else strikes your fancy.Lace up your skates and head to the indoor rinks. Hold hands with your man as you glide around the cool atmosphere of an ice rink or in the glow of the disco lights at the roller rink.