Siblings fight, it's human nature right?  Cain and Abel, Wally and the Beaver, DJ and Stephanie - all were at each others' throats, literally in some cases.  My children are of course no exception. They battle over the XBOX, the remote, the scooter, the red crayon.  Some days it seems I hear nothing but "Don't touch my stuff", "Don't touch me", "Mom, she's touching me", "Mom, he used my ipod."
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     Much to my son's delight, I was one of the few "privileged" parents selected to chaperone his recent field trip. (Having a teen daughter I fortunately know to treasure such fleeting affections.) What criteria they utilize to determine the appropriate number of chaperones for a public outing with one hundred and fifty fourth graders I don't know, but I assure you I was deeply grateful for every one of the handful of parents and teachers which accompanied me.
    
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      This past month, US media shared the painful agony of two families whose teenage daughters were found murdered.  One, seventeen year old Chelsea King, was abducted while jogging, her body discovered in a shallow grave a few days later.
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     "Alexa wrote us a letter" my husband informed me as I arrived home from work the other night. (Alexa is our youngest daughter whose move away to college in September ended 22 years of fulltime parenting.) "You'll cry when you read it" he warned.  He was right. 
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     January 2010 is here, Christmas 2009 is in the rear view mirror, and I am engaging in the traditional New Year's celebration of paying bills. Although we did not suffer the economic pains of many Americans this year, we nevertheless committed ourselves to reigning in expenses.  To be honest, we have the same conversation every November...only to cave by December 25th. Much though I would like to brag and say this year we held firm and succeeded, the truth is we were worse.
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"Dear Lord,

We thank thee for food and remember those who are hungry.
We thank thee for shelter, and remember those who are homeless.
We thank thee for health, and remember those who are ill.
We thank thee for freedom, and remember those who are enslaved.
We thank thee for friends and family, and remember those who are alone.
May these remembrances stir us to service, so that thy gifts to us may benefit others.  Amen."

So goes our traditional Thanksgiving prayer.  My eldest daughter Ari memorized it at a young age and took great pride reciting it each year, that is....up until she turned thirteen.
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     Halloween is just days away.  Sensational though I have been at costumes, decorations and candy over the years, the story which gets the most replay in our family is not a compliment, of course, but a complaint.
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     Fall is approaching. The air carries a cooling moistness, capturing our attention and confirming changes to come. I sense in my children anticipation and excitement coupled with dread and mock boredom.  School starts in a week and all of the preparations are underway.  The biggest of course, being "Back to School" shopping and my childrens' task of educating me on "What's hot, what's not."  
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     Just like the young midwest farmer who recently won the lottery, every so often, we (stumbling in the dark while simultaneously praying for success) parents get lucky and hit the jackpot too. Putting the children in charge of the cash for our family vacation to Hawaii was exactly that. Yes I know, I said “parents” hit the jackpot ……so how come the kids got the cash?        
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     Whether eating mom's lipstick, or grabbing cleaning products off shelves at the grocery store, kids are simply born to explore.  Tragically, such natural childhood curiosity contributes to nearly 300 children under the age of five drowning in pools each summer in the US alone.  Another 3,000 are hospitalized for submersions. Regardless if you are a long time pool owner, or simply visiting a neighbor's for the afternoon, update your summer safety skills by reading the 10 quick tips provided below:
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