Mothers know best
When we become moms we suddenly realize we don’t know as much as we thought we did, despite the hours spent

Moms on the move
For many parents, warm weather is a great opportunity to pull the stroller out of storage and take the baby for a walk.

Ten ways the Web can help thrifty families
The number of Web sites promising to help families save money has grown

South suburban resource guide
Alsip-Merrionette Park Public Library
11960 S. Pulaski Road, Alsip
(708) 371-5666
www.alsip-mp.lib.il.us

Shaping little minds in the kitchen
Toddlers are certainly curious in the kitchen. I know because I have permanent company in my kitchen

As married couples get lax on birth control, accidental pregnancies aren't a thing of the past
In an age where birth control comes in a patch and contraception is a unit in high school health class, you might think the "oops baby" is a phenomenon that died out when our moms hit menopause. Not so.

My Life | In support group, one parent finds empathy, some breathing room
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At my son’s early intervention therapist’s office, I commiserated with other parents about the challenges

Stress-busting slowdown
Jam-packed schedules. Unreasonable work deadlines. Day-long soccer tournaments. Car trouble.

Can-do kid
At an age when most of her peers were arranging toys for play time, Abigail Horan organized her first

Little joys at unexpected times
Just before we married, Bob and I attended the Catholic Church’s mandatory reproduce-early-and-often class,

Letters
It was with interest that I began reading the article about Judy Hsu (February 2009).

My Life | Mom of three autistic boys finds special joy in Mother's Day
My story is simple: I am a single mom. I have three sons. They have autism.

Fun with babies
Moms and dads took some time out to share their favorite things to do with their babies.

Someone you should know
Jessica Kim made her first million before she was 21. The Brown University student, who wore braces

Motherhood at its sweetest
Up the stairs to see my twin boys off to La-La Land is my favorite time of the day.

What NOT to give for Mother's Day
It’s here again, people, that Sunday in May we set aside to honor all things mom.

Sweet feet
Finding a good pair of athletic shoes that comfortably fits your kids’ feet, activity level and household budget

Two tips for National Bicycle Safety Month
About half a million kids are seriously injured in bicycle-related accidents each year, according to

Fab mama
Show your pride and appreciation for our service men and women this Memorial Day with a special tote

The case for more tummy time
In 1992, the American Academy of Pediatrics introduced the "back to sleep" campaign.

Easing the way while eating expectantly
If you’re reading this column, chances are you’ve experienced a pregnancy—either yourself or with

Oh, the questions kids ask
You just never know when your kid will come out with one of those marvelous questions guaranteed to make

Books sure to be a hit in your house
Some children are afraid they might find a monster under their bed. Not Ethan.

Melodic tunes, subtle messages
Once in a great while a children’s music artist comes along who just knocks me off my feet.

Books that deserve attention
Kevin is channel-surfing during the evening news when he sees an image that makes him stop.

Summertime swaps
The last school bell of the year is only weeks away. Before you know it, your kids will be saying goodbye to tests

Oceanarium makes a splash
Baby beluga in the deep blue sea—or rather, the Icy North where you’ll find the whales when Shedd Aquarium

A telescopic view of history
Marvin Bolt recalls with a sense of satisfaction finding one of the world’s oldest telescopes tucked away in the storage room

New exhibit features animal homes
There’s one sector of housing that hasn’t fallen prey to foreclosures and mortgage bailouts—animal houses.

Thoughtful gifts honor teachers
At the end of every school year, many parents want to honor those teachers who have gone above and beyond

Vie rethinks Sunday Suppers
If you don’t believe applesauce, chicken tenders and chocolate pudding are the stuff of fine dining, think again.

PRODUCT REVIEWS
Battle weary? Let this guy help

Take a treasure hunt
Celebrate Chicago’s architecture with more than 100 free tours offered May 16 during the Great Chicago Places and Spaces

Putting baby to bed safely
Parents baby-proof the house, sterilize the bottles and double-check the car seat installation.

Chicago moves to ban chemical in baby items
Six major bottle manufacturers have promised to stop using it and the Illinois legislature considered banning it.

High chairs pose fall risks
The Consumer Product and Safety Commission has recalled the following products:

Parents need to talk about sex
After steadily declining for 14 years, the teen pregnancy rate is slowly rising once again—up 5 percent from 2005 to 2007.

Swim lessons reduce drowning dangers
Research that determined swim lessons, even for children as young as 1, can drastically reduce the risk of drowning

Can water help prevent obesity?
Water fountains and water bottles may be key tools in reducing the risk of childhood obesity.

Great lessons in our lakes
They are a gift to us from the last ice age, visible from space and contain 19 percent of the world’s fresh water supply.

At home on the farm
Does your child think eggs come from the grocery store? That milk comes from a carton?

May 7, 2009
Get out there and play. Chug into Union Station this Saturday for trains, trains and more trains at National Train Day, a celebration of, well, trains. Your little—and big—engineers can take train tours, play with model trains and participate in other train-related activities.

May 14, 2009
Get out there and play. As you juggle to put your schedule together this weekend, pen in a trip to a circus with some positive attitude. In its eighth year, CircEsteem hosts its Spring Circus, Friday-Sunday at Truman College, 1145 W. Wilson Ave., Chicago.

Camps let kids stand up for comedy
If you think your son or daughter is the next Chris Farley or Tina Fey, they can get training in the same place

May 21, 2009
Get out there and play. Think—and act—like a critter with the Morton Arboretum, located at Interstate 88 and Route 53 in Lisle, as it opens its newest exhibit, Animal Houses, Friday. The exhibit showcases 11 oversized and interactive animal shelters that give your family a chance to climb, perch and explore, just like skunks, spiders and polliwogs.

May 28, 2009
Get out there and play. Celebrate your family’s four-legged, scaly, finned and winged pals this Saturday at the 63rd Annual LaGrange Pet Parade. Families and their pets dress up in costumes and march along the parade route with marching bands, the Medinah Black Horse Troop, drill teams and the Jesse White Tumblers.

A dad among boys
His unfocused eyes darted around from one blotch of color to the next just trying to make sense of the strange new world