ReadySetMom

The price is right

On more than several occasions last weekend, my house guest from California pointed at something in my house, asked where I got it and heard me reply, "Dollar Tree."

At first, I answered kind of sheepishly. By the third or fourth time, I was almost proudly exclaiming, "why, the dollar store, of course," as a look of amazement passed over her face. She obviously was astonished that such wonderful wares could be had at such a bargain price (I hope).

So, here's my current short list of favorite items recently bought at the Dollar Tree.

• Frying pan splatter screen: Cover up frying bacon, keep stovetop grease-free, pop in the dishwasher, buy another when this one falls apart.
• Ice cream cone bubbles. Scented bubbles in fun, colorful containers. Three bottles for a $1. Buy more when they run out.
• Little girl's high heels. Cute slides in fashionable shiny colors that complement any princess dress-up outfit. We bought two pairs - only $2! - so there's no fighting over them during playdates. One has already torn, guess we'll buy another pair

OK, 'fess up. What's your favorite Dollar Tree purchase?

Schoolhouse Supplies 'Supply Drive' Kick-off starts Wed. Aug 1

Stuff that most of us take for granted -- pencils, erasers, spiral notebooks and glue sticks -- are just not affordable for many Portland residents. And with school budgets in constant crisis mode, many teachers end up buying these items out-of-pocket. That's where Schoolhouse Supplies comes in. This is an amazing organization that fills a huge need in Portland: basic school supplies for those in need and for teachers who serve them. The annual Supply Drive kicks off tomorrow, August 1, from 11am-2pm at Unitas Plaza (SW 6th and Columbia). Music, ice cream and goodies await those who attend. Take a look at the supply wish list and see how you can help. Renee and I were fortunate to get a personal tour of the store, and I know that the work they do is vital to public education.

Sound off: best online photo sharing services

Early in the summer, when I felt like I was going to have all the time in the world to do tons and tons of things, I volunteered to find an online photo sharing service for our non-profit preschool. As summer ticks by, I confess I've made very little progress. So I'm asking for your help...

Our school has about 30 families. What I'd like to find is a free service where we could upload pictures when we have special events or go on field trips. The families would then have the option of downloading the picture to their own desktop or ordering a print online. Most of the families are on a high-speed connection, but I do know some use dial-up. And I'd reckon we have a wide range of comfort levels -- from those who pretty much live online, to those who check their email, and that's about it. So it can't be too complicated to use.

Which service do you recommend for online photo sharing? What do you use?

How do you get your spouse on the same child-rearing track?

Let me just start out by saying I think my husband is a really great dad. And I love him dearly. However, there are times when he does stuff that makes the seething beast in my belly emerge in a flaming ball of hellfire. To put it mildly. Some of the most frustrating moments have to do with the different ways we choose to interact with our kids. I don't believe that our kids benefit a whole lot from television, so they seldom watch it. If it were up to me they would watch a movie maybe once a week. They hardly ever watch TV during the day because they just don't think to ask for it. At breakfast they talk or look out the window. Through the day they play, make art, read books, do puzzles, whatever. I'm not a Nazi about it, but it's just the way it's worked out. But when my husband comes home from work, he turns on the TV or sits in front of the computer. The kids will wander in and inevitably they'll all be sitting there for an hour staring at videos on YouTube (kid-friendly videos). And I know with complete certainty that if I leave the kids home with him at night or on the weekends, he will pop in a movie. My pleas seem to fall on deaf ears.

I can't fathom why he would choose to spend his time with them watching a screen (well, I know why -- because it's less work). There are other things we differ on like discipline and snacks, and I suspect my kids are getting serious mixed messages. How do you make your spouse understand that your way is the only way? No, not really. But really, don't you think it's important to offer consistent messages to your kids? How do you get your spouse to buy-in to your messages and behavior?

How to separate child from favorite stuffed animal?

My son has a teddy bear he calls Boo-Boo, who is his mostly constant companion. He will go places without Boo-Boo, however, so I'm not sure we'll be facing the same challenge Kendra is facing:

My daughter has this brown stuffed dog she calls Moose, and she's had it since she was a baby. It's her "security dog." Moose goes pretty much everywhere she goes. If you've ever read the book "Owen" by Kevin Henkes, then you probably know where I'm going with this. When she went to preschool, the teacher would let her bring Moose, though sometimes he would 'take a nap' inside her tote bag. I'm a little concerned about what will happen when she goes to kindergarten this fall. I will definitely be talking to her teacher about it, but everytime I mention leaving Moose at home during school, she gets hysterical. I was just wondering whether anyone else has had experience with a child that is strongly attached to a toy or blanket. How long did it take for them to grow out of it? A small (very small) part of me worries that she will be teased, though maybe that doesn't happen until kids get older. Anyway, just curious to hear feedback from others. Thanks!

Using technology to find a lost child

Thank you Patty for sending this interesting tidbit from Popular Science on using flash drives to help find a lost child at Disneyland. If you don't want to read the link, the gist is the family had their kids wear flash drives on lanyards during a day at Disney. The flash drives had the parents' cell phone numbers, so when the lost kid was found by a concerned adult and brought to security, they plugged the flash drive into the nearest computer, launched an "I'm Lost" program, which provided the parents' cell numbers. Kind of a cool way to use technology.

I guess I'm feeling like a bit of a Luddite today, because it seems like you could just try and have your child memorize your phone number, or write it down on a piece of paper or something... When I was a kid, we'd always designate a specific meeting point if someone got lost. Thankfully, I've never managed to lose one of my own kids yet in a public place (knock on wood). How about you? Do you employ any special strategies for finding your kids if they get lost? Or do you have any words of wisdom you'd like to share from any lost-child experiences?

In search of a good, long laugh

A couple of days ago my husband and I went out ON A DATE and saw the movie "Knocked Up," which is by the guy who made "The 40 Year Old Virgin." It was really crude humor, which is probably why we laughed so much. It felt really, really good to laugh like that. There aren't that many movies that have been made, say, oh, in the last 10 years that really make me laugh hard. "Virgin" was one of the few. Also "Old School" and "Dodgeball." I could watch those three movies over and over and still laugh until my facial muscles get all twitchy and tears course down my cheeks. Ah, good times. Sometimes, after a long week filled with the demands of small children, home maintenance, and all the other gobbly-gook that comes with life, the only thing that can really bring release is a good, long laugh. What movies or TV shows make you laugh?

He gives a whole new meaning to the term "little pisser"

The potty training continues, and every day is a super fun adventure! I never really liked that sisal rug anyway. And, honestly, if he's not bothered by taking a dump in his underpants, why should I be? I think we all just need to loosen up a little.

Last night my husband and I had a date, and my mom babysat. Now, something happens when my kids are with my mom. It's like they become completely different children. Brilliant, well-adjusted children. So in her care, three things happened that have never happened before: 1) My son informs her that he has to go to the bathroom. 2) He poops on the toilet. 3) He stands up to pee. I have never even presented the standing-up position as an option, but apparently my mom has. Wow. Really? This I've got to see.

The first words out of his mouth this morning are, "Do you know what I did I went poop on the potty and I need to go potty and I want to stand up." Yes! Lead the way, my boy. He proudly lifts up the seat, pulls out his little wanker and lets loose. I can see that his penis is pointing down into the toilet, but I'm hearing it spray against the wall. It's like someone turned on the hose too hard, and now the sprinkler head is flipping around wildly in the grass. I lunge for the penis, but even I can't get it under control. How many holes does this thing have? If it's pointing into the toilet but hitting the wall, maybe we need to point it toward the wall so it hits the toilet? No, no. The force of the stream ricochets off the wall so that we are now covered in pee. Finally, he finishes and we're both a little traumatized by the whole thing. I try to make light of it, because I don't want to discourage him. "How fun was that!" We strip off our clothes, burn them, and never speak of it again.

I believe we are making progress.

The Mom Shop at PSU on August 18

We've had the pleasure of meeting several of the inspiring working moms from Portland Mamas Inc., including Dr. Heidi Sivers Boyce of PB & Ellie's Cafe, Robyn Barbon of Folklore Media, and Angela Flynn of Simply Silhouettes. If you'd like to meet some of these cool moms too, head over to The Mom Shop, on Saturday, August 18, from 10am to 5pm at the PSU Ballroom. The Mom Shop will showcase local goods and services all from a multitude of mom-based businesses.

Admission is $3 per adult and for kids 12 and older (kids under 12 get in free). Your admission price includes one raffle ticket. Additional raffle tickets cost $2 each or 3 for $5, with proceeds benefiting the Bradley-Angle House.

Kids are the focus at Grandma Leeth's restaurant

I saw a flyer at the SW Community Center for this new kid-friendly restaurant, Grandma Leeth's. It's in the Cedar Hills Shopping Center and apparently just opened a couple of weeks ago. Anyone been there yet? I find the Web site to be a little odd -- maybe it's the painful-to-read kid font, or the fact that it refers to itself as a 'Parent and Child Retreat.' (My idea of a retreat is a place with no children.) But apparently the idea is that there is a designated, enclosed space for the kids where they are overseen by staff members. You pay to keep them there, and the kids can also be served food. You dine on the outskirts with a view to the kid's space. Interesting concept -- but does it work? It seems like I've heard of something similar in Vancouver. If you check out Grandma Leeth's, make sure to report back! Tues-Sun 10:30am-7:30pm, 10122 SW Park Way.