SmartMama

By LYZZ JONES for Smart Every meal is a challenge when you live with food allergies. And no time of year exacerbates these troubles more than the holidays. Eggnog? Not if eggs or milk trigger a reaction. Stuffing? Only if it’s gluten- and wheat-free. Cranberries? Sounds OK, but... Read More

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(Noah, at a happier moment) Today when I dropped Noah off at preschool, he cried. Sobbed. Threw himself at me. Begged me to hold him. Wailed. "Don't leave, Mommy, don't leave! Stay and play with me!" (which sounds like "stay n pway wis me!") Bonnie, his teacher, said he threw ... Read More

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By BETH VRABEL “Remember to say, ‘Yes, sir,’” Benny, my 4-year-old, told me. “And bow, like this.” He bobbed, almost falling on his head. “Got it,” I told him as I tightened my belt. “Kung Fu Mama,” he giggled. We walked into Dover Dragons, the Tae Kwon Do stu... Read More

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By KATY CARPENTER for Smart Thanks to some new rules and regulations, your credit card bill has a lot more to say these days. Are you listening? The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 — aka the Credit CARD Act — took effect in stages this year, with... Read More

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By LAURA BURKEY Smart Mama I'm a first-time mom. My daughter, Amelia — Mia for short — was... Read More

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By CARRIE HAMILTON for Smart Beyond the feasts of food, hectic schedules and family visits, you’ll know the holidays have arrived when you find yourself standing knee-deep in a room filled with crumpled wrapping paper. Americans throw away 83 million tons of paper trash, including tissue... Read More

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Noah's first day of preschool yesterday went swimmingly: no biting, no tantrums, plenty of lunch- and snack-eating. Let's talk about how much more worried I could have been yesterday, and why. Our first try at finding new day care for Noah was to visit another in-home day care provider. Sh... Read More

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By SAMANTHA DELLINGER Smart Mama My 6-year-old son, Vincent, is growing faster than I like sometimes. I will admit it’s nic... Read More

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By JENNIFER VOGELSONG for Smart These days, it’s hard enough to get the whole family together for an evening meal between basketball practice, music lessons and work functions. A family portrait? Well, that might challenge even the most expert event planner. Not only do you have to... Read More

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It’s been almost a year since my Samantha lost her first baby tooth. Since then, we’ve managed to finagle only one more out of her mouth — thanks to a little brother slamming his head into her by accident — even though she has at least four loose teeth. She won’t wiggle them be... Read More

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