Celebrate the Moments

Conclusion of the yearlong look into Minds in the Making. A journey through the seven critical life skills every child needs.

Montco Moms Turn to Facebook to Consign

Local mothers exchange childhood toys, clothing and accessories using social media.

Moms have to do it all. From getting the kids to soccer practice, to scheduling every doctor, dentist and eye appointment, from school homework to dance recitals, it just never ends. Moms over the years have developed some unique ways of organizing it all. Thankfully, with tools like smartphones, Google calendars, and alarmed reminders, there are multiple tricks of the trade these days. Some mothers in Montgomery County have found a way to even use social media to their advantage, too. With Facebook, some 502 moms have found a way to consign online. It can be difficult to get around to all the sales, find clothes and toys on a budget and make the family dollar stretch, but with Montgomery County Kids Online Yard Sale, the sale is always in…

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Montco Mommy

Passing Down a Passion for Books

Montco Mommy's family has shared a box set of books for three generations now.

When I was little, I wanted to be Laura Ingalls Wilder. I read all of her books, and most days, I’d trade any of my modern day luxuries to be that little girl on the prairie. These days, when I’m sitting in thick Philadelphia traffic or watching my MacBook spin the “pinwheel of death,” I sometimes dream of the same thing. Sometimes, I wouldn’t mind giving up cable TV, electricity and laundry machines for the feeling of wide open spaces, working for the simplicity of survival and skipping out on all of our modern-day challenges. When I was little, my mom handed down her tattered and torn copies of all of Wilder’s books. She had a box set when she was a kid. I still remember the perfect penmanship scripted in pencil with her name on the …

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Teaching Your Son To Fish ... So To Speak

Montco Mommy learns to let go, so her son might become a better man.

  I really cannot believe it. I mean, I know he is half his father’s child, too, but it astonishes me that my son somehow got zero of my obsessive compulsive genetics. I’m a pretty organized gal. I think I have to be. To do well in school, get great grades, participate in four sports and countless academic clubs and groups, I had to be as a kid. I worked hard then, and I work hard now. Instead of schlepping backpacks, notebooks and sports equipment, I schlep kids, their school bags, and, OK, still a lot of sporting equipment. To keep four people on track, from bills for the house, to dentist appointments, doctor’s visits to sports’ practices, the scheduling and organization is endless. Because I am so obsessive about it, it seems I’ve gone…

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Melissa Treacy

3:08 pm on Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Thank you, Rusty. I agree whole-heartedly. It is yet another balance to find with a child. Is he just "different" than others? And that's totally great. I'd actually prefer it! Does he just operate in a unique way? I'd hate to discourage that. But, as you said, I also need to be sure it is "working." And for him, it seems to, but disrupts others, so he has to find (along with mom lol) a good way …   more ›

The Quest for the Best Antihistamine

Happy Spring... unhappy allergies. Drs. Lai and Kardos from Two Peds in a Pod® help you choose between the available allergy medicines for your child.

Five Ways For Small Kids To Enjoy The Big Game

Tots might have a hard time focusing on football.

Your party for tonight's big game is all set up. The brand new LCD HDTV display you got Christmas is finally mounted on the wall. Drinks and hors d'oeuvres are ready to be deployed. Party gear in team colors festoons your family room. If you've got guests with young children planning to attend, though, there are maybe one or two other preparations you'll want to make before kickoff. Don't worry, you still have time. Watch the video to learn more.

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Montco Mommy

Montco Mommy Returns to Patch

After some serious surgery, Montco Mommy wants to share her stories for more reasons than one.

That’s right. I’m back in the saddle again. It’s been a long time coming, but I’m happy to announce the return of Montco Mommy. During the summer of 2012, I decided to take a break to enjoy more time with my children. They were off. We had many planned trips to the beach, to see family, camping. It was a whirlwind of a summer. It was a smart decision. My time is spread so thinly and the column seemed to be something I did largely for my own enjoyment. It hadn’t occurred to me that it would be missed. I, of course, aim to help other parents by venting my frustrations, offering my two cents and minimally showing you that nobody’s perfect and crazy things do happen all the time, to all parents! As the children went back to school (pre-K and …

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Parents: Save Money, Make Money on School Clothes

Clothes are expensive and it doesn’t matter that children may grow out of them before the season is finished. Find out how to save money and maybe even make money with consignment sales.

Moms and dads know that as your child grows, so does the hole in your wallet. And just because your child may grow out of the clothes in a matter of months does not mean the clothes are less expensive.  Consignment sales, which generally happen in the spring and fall, offer parents an opportunity to buy gently used clothes for far below retail. They also offer parents an opportunity to make some money on those clothes after they are outgrown. Each sale works differently. Some benefit a cause or an organization while others are run by people as a small business. But in general, the money goes back to the sellers. How much money goes back to the seller depends on the sale and frequently on how many shifts the consignor works. Which …

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School Starts Soon – Start Thinking About Lunches!

Check out these tips for packing healthy, inexpensive school lunches for your kids.

Thinking about back-to-school? Don’t forget about school lunches. The average cost of school lunch is anywhere from $1.50 to $3.50 a day. Comparatively, if you pack your child’s lunch, the average cost is about $2 a day. School lunches usually consist of two or three different main-course options, with sides of grains, fruit and veggies, and a beverage. If you choose to pack your child’s lunch, you naturally have more control over what your child is eating, and you can pack his or her favorites. You can also be sure your child’s lunch meets any special dietary needs (like food allergies) by packing it yourself. Try to mix it up. If you pack your child the same boring sandwich and snacks every day, chances are good he or she will toss it or…

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Summer Reading List for Kids Ages 8-12

Patch has teamed up with James Patterson’s READKIDDOREAD program to bring you reading lists for every age. If you’re looking for some great summer reading options, check this list of “Favorite Pageturners” from James Patterson. These books are great reads

  Looking for a great book to read this summer? This list of books has something for everyone – adventure, magic, smart kids, and amazing kids. Read one, or read 'em all – post your thoughts in the comments. Or, if we missed your favorite book, tell us in the comments! Maniac Magee by Norristown native Jerry Spinelli – Orphan Jeffrey Lionel “Maniac” Magee decides to run away from his unhappy aunt and uncle. And then he decides just to run. Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos – Two months of being grounded during summer vacation change Jack Gantos' life forever. Especially since it involves the mysterious chore of typing obituaries for his intriguing neighbor. Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Not Reading by Tommy Greenwald – What happens when …

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