One of my favorite parts of Mother’s day was bonding with other moms. Moms that were strangers to me. Moms, old and young. Women who I might have had nothing more in common with than being a mom and that was just fine by me. What I took from my second Mother’s Day was the wonderful feeling of momraderie. It’s that feeling of bonding with other moms–something I wish happened more regularly than just one day a year- the day we celebrate and are celebrated. In the wake of the ridiculous Time Magazine article, “Are you Mom enough?” that practically shut down Twitter, I’m happy that I had a Mother’s Day full of much-needed momraderie.

On Sunday, my husband and my sixteen-month-old took me to brunch. While waiting for our table, a woman in her seventies approached me with a smile. “Happy Mother’s Day,” she said. I thought it was the sweetest thing in the world, her coming up and saying that to me. Slightly embarrassed, it hadn’t occurred to me to wish this sentiment to a stranger. But I vowed to continue it throughout my day.

While eating, I bonded with the mom next to me over having a toddler. We laughed about the dirty high chairs that we both insisted on wiping down with an antibacterial wipe. If it hadn’t been Mother’s Day, would we have engaged in a conversation? I’m not so sure.

While out shopping, it was a beautiful day and mothers all around were smiling and wishing each other a Happy Mother’s Day.

No, we didn’t all break into a chorus of Kumbyya, but it was nice.  And it’s a lesson I’m taking with me that I’m promising to carry through the year. As I open doors for new moms struggling with their stroller or let a frazzled mom with a tempermental two-year-old step in front of me in the grocery store line. I promise to remember that, as moms,  we’re all doing the best job we can.

School is almost out, which for some of us will mean more hours at home with our children. I’m grateful for the fact that I’ll be home with my kids this summer, thanks to my job as a teacher. I truly value lots of downtime for my kids during the summer, so we won’t be jam-packing our days with non-stop activities. Our neighborhood playgrounds will see a lot of us, as will our community pool.

While it might be easy to let the kids veg out in front of the television in the cool air conditioning each day, I also know that there are many great opportunities for meaningful learning all summer long. I don’t want to necessarily be in “teacher mode” during the summer months, but I do hope to fill our time with some of this fun:

• We love the library! If you can find a good story time, mark your calendar and make it a regular date for you and the kids. When you find someone who can bring books to life, yay! Keep up that reading together at home, for sure, but if you add in a group reading experience now and then, it’s just like icing on the cake.

• Nature is science all around. Remember the little obsession interest I have in bugs? Well, they’re not the only interesting thing out in your yard. Spend some time with your kids observing the birds that visit your area, check out the different types of leaves on the trees nearby, or try some simple experiments with water out on a hot summer day. What better way to teach a concept like evaporation than to see it in action?

• Use your resources. With the world at your fingertips, it’s so easy to find ideas for summer learning fun online. Maybe you’re looking for crafty ideas or want to know how to help your kids keep practicing their math skills in a way that will keep them entertained. One site that I can highly recommend is teach mama, written by Amy Mascott, an educator mom who knows her stuff. She creates loads of games and easy-to-implement ideas, and she openly shares everything for parents and teachers to use with their own children and students. Check it out and I’m sure you’ll find inspiration for this summer.

Here’s to a summer filled with the kind of fun that keeps our children happy and actively engaged in learning!

I hope you all had a great Mother’s Day. (Maybe even pampered yourself?) I did! Even after my post about that dreaded question, it turns out that the hubs came through with the perfect day for me. We had brunch, went to the park with our daughter and mama even bought some new clothes! I’m not the only mom who had a great day. Twitter was blowin’ up on Sunday with tweets from tons of celebrity moms. New mama Jessica Simpson tweeted sweet thoughts to her mom and sister, Ashlee, Gwen Stefani tweeted to her celeb mom friends, Gwenyth Paltrow, Alicia Keys, Nicole Richie, Victoria Beckham and Kelly Wearstler, Tori Spelling and Kourtney Kardashian tweeted to all moms.

Jessica Simpson

Brand new mama Jessica Simpson tweeted, along with a picture, Happy Mother’s Day Mom and Ashlee! Y’all are my inspiration! So blessed to be in your company.

Gwen Stefani

Gwen Stefani sent a Mother’s Day Tweet to her celebrity mom friends Gwyneth Paltrow, Alicia Keys, Nicole Richie, Victoria Beckham and Kelly Wearstler: happy mothers day muffins gx

Kourtney Kardashian

Kourtney Kardashian gave a Twitter shout out to all moms: Happy Mother’s Day to all of the women who are blessed to be able to be a mother…my favorite thing to be!

Tori Spelling

Tori, pregnant with baby number four, tweeted: Happy Mother’s Day! 2day celebrate the women who give life, love,&do it all! From her Instagram account, she also tweeted a picture of a painting (a very good painting) her daughter, Stella made for her.

Last fall I wrote about how I have already started teaching my 14-year-old to drive. Well, my daughter just turned 13 earlier this month, and I’ve already got her behind the wheel. I know! I can’t believe it either. First of all, I really never thought I would be the one teaching my kids how to drive. It always seemed like a Dad kind of job. I mean, my dad taught me how to drive so maybe I just assumed it’s a man job.

But no! It’s me doing this big teaching thing for my kids, and I think I’m doing a really good job. I don’t think it’s too early to get them comfortable behind the wheel. I want them to feel like they know what they’re doing. We don’t go onto main streets, and I usually only take them out when it’s later and there are few cars out, and we stay in our neighborhood.

I want them to feel like they have control over the car, that they’ll be prepared when it comes time to drive. It’s the baby steps before the big run. Everyone learns to crawl before they walk. This is what I’m having my kids do now – crawl. But carefully. Very carefully.

Do you think I’m crazy? Should I wait until they’re older? I don’t think so. I think my kids are responsible and smart, and if I can get them behind the wheel now and if they’re going to be mature about it and listen and do what’s right, then the time is now for them to start learning. After all, they’re going to be driving a lifetime, and I want to make sure they’re going to know how to do it right!

The sun is shining, the earth is warming and school is almost done. It is the time of year for parties, swimming and late nights playing with friends. The unofficial kick off to summer is often Memorial Day. This year why not plan a Memorial Day party and have your children create the decorations?

I think it is really important for kids to understand why we celebrate Memorial Day. To let them know the reason behind the celebration. By simply letting our children know on this day we honor those who have served our country, and often died.

I have put together a list of great crafts to do with your kids this Memorial Day.

Patriotic Pinwheels – Ellen from The Long Thread has come up with a fantastic tutorial for making darling pinwheels. These could be party decorations or just a fun activity for the kids!

Hand and Footprint Flag – how about something that lets you remember your children at the age they are right now? This darling hand and footprint flag will do just that.

Are you planning a Memorial Day party? How about a fun flag tag relay game for the kids?

Paper Poppies – These bright red flowers have become symbolic of Memorial Day. The poppy itself serves as a way to honor those who died serving their country. These are often made by veterans and distributed in exchange for donations that go to help veterans service organizations. But if you can’t find any to purchase, you can still remember and honor veterans by making your own paper poppies with your kids.

So I’m worried. My youngest has not been himself for a while. He’s had headaches for over a week and today I’m taking him for a CT scan. The doctor thinks it’s allergies. He’s gotten allergies since we moved to Arizona, but I’ve never had him to an allergist, but this season it’s been headache after headache. I’m the type of mom who rules it all out. I’ll do whatever it takes to make it go away. That’s why we’re getting a CT scan. To rule it out. Whatever it may be.

It’s driving me crazy though. He’s not himself. He’s quiet. It’s annoying me. I just want him back to his usual fun, witty little boy. I want to make him better.

It sucks.

I hate this part of motherhood.

The school year is winding down and summer is upon us. The kids are getting ready for the long-awaited break and we moms are getting ready too! I asked the trusted Facebook Pals this question this week:

What’s your favorite ‘thing’ about summer, and why?

Getting a break from our heavily scheduled life. – Kathy

Building forts outside with the kidlets. – Heather

Family Funday Sundays. Every year from May through September we go to my parents house to swim and BBQ every Sunday! It’s been a tradition since my daughter was born in 2006. – Kim

Spending fabulous days at the pool with great friends! – Stephanie

No schedules!! Not worrying about getting kids to bed early and the freedom to go anywhere for a few days to visit friends/family. These are also the things that make me ready for school to start at the end of summer when I’m usually ready for more structure again. – Stacy

No kids’ homework! – Shelley

Sleeping in. No schedule. The pool. Morning trail runs. Why? Because its the opposite of everything we do during the school year. – Dee Dee

Backyard BBQs, beach time and little sundresses – Nicole

The sun sets later in the day. This makes me feel like less of a failure come dinner time when it’s closer to 7 p.m. than 6 p.m. – Heather

So what about you? What is the best thing about summer for you?

In just a few short weeks, my son will be “graduating” from elementary school. He’s had a rough sixth grade experience this year, so honestly, I think both he and I will be happy to be saying goodbye.

His transition to middle school for seventh grade will involve some significant changes in the number of classes and teachers he has, as well as in how early in the morning his school day will begin. Those are the technicalities that we’ll all have to figure out, but I don’t think they represent the only transitions that are in store.

It’s as if every part of his life is in transition right now. As his interests begin to change, the way that he spends his free time is transitioning, too. It was this year that he began to ask if he could have friends over “to hang out” instead of “to play” as it used to be. Sure, they still play– Nerf guns in the yard, riding bikes, basketball– but the tone seems to be changing, as it should.

I’ve never been too good with change, though. I often have difficulty seeing the forest for the trees, as they say, and I get stuck in the small details of life’s changes without giving though to how it all will look in the long run. What a challenge that will pose if I can’t change my perspective as our first child goes through adolescence!

For now, I’ll be happy for our son just to get through the last few weeks of elementary school with little or no drama. The transition to middle school will be happening soon enough!

My children have a week and a half left of school. They both have had such fantastic teachers this year. I have worked hard to let them know how much we appreciate them and all they have done for my babies who have been in their care.

When I was young my Mom would invite our teachers to come to lunch at our house. We would pick out a special menu, then my teacher would drive me to my house and the two of us would eat on the good china. It was always such a fun thing to do and I looked forward to it every year. It is not something I can do for my children’s teachers, but I can do other things to let them know how much I appreciate all they do.

I have been the room Mom in my son’s 2nd grade class this year. For the end of year gift for his fabulous teacher, we are making her a scrapbook. Each of the children have decorated a page and we will put their pictures on it. They have given her letters, pictures, and memories of the year. She is planning a party for them, and little does she know about the surprise we will have for her. Just a small way to tell her thank you for all she has done this year.

My daughter is in Kindergarten and will have her Kindergarten graduation next week. We have all been working hard on a special gift for her teacher as well.  The children all posed in different costumes representing what they want to be when they grow up. The room mom’s took their pictures and will make a book for the teacher. Just a small keepsake for her to remember this great class and a great year.

I know that teachers really appreciate the little things. Their favorite soda or candy, a card letting them know they are doing a good job, a parent to come take their class to lunch so they can have an extra 10 minutes of their own lunch time.

What are you doing for your kids’ teachers?

A couple months ago, Gap Kids collaborated with Diane von Furstenberg for a fabulous collection of clothes for little girls. Now GapKids is teaming up with another hot brand — Junk Food.

If you haven’t heard of Junk Food, you should check them out. A favorite among celebrity kids like Leni Klum and the Jolie-Pitt kiddos, Junk Food is known for their super soft, comfy fabrics and witty art.

The Gap Kids-Junk Food collaboration is a superhero-inspired collection of clothes and other items that is being released this week. It features everything from tanks, tees and swimsuits to backpacks, beach towels and flip flops. Check out some pics from the collection below, and visit JunkFoodClothing.com for more info.