The Choking Game

Please read this article about a 21 year old 4.0 chemical engineering student who hanged himself accidentally this week while playing the choking game. Parents, this is serious stuff and it affects kids of all ages and backgrounds...

“Between 400 and 500 kids a year die from this game…And that doesn’t count those that just have serious injuries and have to get tracheotomies, or they have strokes, or that have memory loss, that have other neurological impairments secondary to asphyxiation." Dr. Phil McGraw

The 'typical' age range is usually 9-14, but there are cases of kids playing this game at a much younger age. Here some warning signs to look for.

For more information contact:

Choking Game Report

Stop The Choking Game

Choking Game Information


Don't turn a blind eye. This is a not a game.

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Raising Boys and Raising Girls

It has been a little quiet on the blog lately, but that doesn't mean that parenting hasn't been going on. My daughter has been feeling her oats this week, and I have been getting glimpses of what life might be like when she is 15. I am going to have my hands full...

I grew up in the middle of two brothers, and now that I am single mother raising a daughter, I can attest to the fact that boys and girls are like apples and oranges. The debate continues on which gender is harder to raise. I have my ideas, but I would love to hear yours.

If you are a single mother, raising a son, you might want to take a look at this article Raising Confident Sons Who Have Respect For Others. It is well written, thoughtful and explores the positive things mothers can do to raise their sons when a man is absent. Check it out.

Stay tuned for a brand new audio segment to be launched soon. I will be featuring interviews from a kid's perspective, and will have a Q&A forum. There is nothing like asking a kid what makes a great parent, the answers will make you laugh and maybe even make you cry.

If you have questions you would like to add, feel free to leave them here.

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Working Too Much

It has been a long time since I posted. To anyone who actually reads this blog, I apologize. It seems that being a parent has actually gotten in the way of writing about parenting. Single parenting is a challenge, the rewards are great, as with all parenting, but free time is little limited.

I got up an hour earlier today so that I could tackle some items on my to-do list and even though my daughter is sleeping, I have four four legged friends that are begging for my attention. Peace and quiet are relative terms here. I want to say to all you who read this: Listen to your kids, they are the barometer that you can use to create balance in your life.

Two days ago, I got the knife in the heart. "Mommy, why did you adopt me if all you want to do is work?" Ouch.

My daughter is right of course. No need to explain to her that we are in a serious financial position right now. No way to tell her that working 8-12 hours a day is going to make the difference. I have faith that I can make our lives better by working at home, and I am looking for a way to do it without shaking her world.

Is there a point to being successful if your kids suffer for it? I don't think so.

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Kindergarten Mornings

Today is my day to volunteer in my daughter's Kindergarten class. I do math centers with the kids in the morning and get to see them in action. I am constantly amazed at five and six year olds and what they know...

I am also amazed at the teachers! What does it take to be a Kindergarten teacher? Patience? Yes. Lots of it. Skill? Yes. More than one would think. A love of kids? I am quite sure you can't be a good teacher without it! Those kids love their teacher, and it shows. I am so glad that my daughter loves her teacher and likes having me in her classroom. I wonder when the sad day will come when she doesn't want me there. Don't tell me. I don't really want to know!

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