Now that school is over, I can post this and blow my good-parent cover. My confession? I hate Webgrader, the nifty web-based application/interface the school district uses to supposedly keep parents and students informed about their assignments and grades. But if teachers do not update Webgrader at least weekly, it’s useless. Otherwise, finding out about missing assignments or blown deadlines and, consequently, bad grades happens too late to be of any use. Try telling your son or daughter to find or do an assignment from two months ago and you may just get a blank stare. When you receive a …

At what age do you get a cellphone for your chilld? Under what circumstances and why? What type of controls do you have in place regarding texting and use? None? Some? And what type of phone – basic or smartphone? There are so many choices and decisions to make. According to a 2009 study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, 58 percent of 12-year-olds have cell phones. Also, on a broader scope, 75 percent of American teens ages 12-17 have a cell phone, a number that has steadily increased from 45 percent of teens in November 2004. Texting is the preferred method of communication. …

With spring sports starting up and our family heading off for a big competition this week, I've been pondering sportsmanship. How do you help your children handle the ups and downs of competition? Losing a big game or match? Or creaming an opponent?  Is teaching good sportsmanship a thing of the past? And what about when your child loses? It's never easy to watch them fail. My friends and I discussed this recently. Please join the conversation. My friend Katie had some choice words of wisdom. "I never agreed with parenting ideas that said there should be no competition. Competition is part of…

I'm officially appalled. A push-up bikini top for 7-year-olds?! How gross, Abercrombie Kids. Unfortunately, it's just the latest example of what I call "inappropriate" clothing for kids. Sassy, only mildly-funny shirts and underwear-showing jeans for boys aren't good but worse in my opinion, are the girls clothes that are skimpy and suggestive. As a reformed retail clerk, I know that risqué sells. I just don't think it should sell on the back of a child. I'm careful when I buy clothing, whether for my adorable nieces or my picky teen and pre-teen boys, making sure that the clothing fits the …

Ah, the carefree days of childhood. As a parent with a bird’s eye view, it seems life isn’t as carefree for children as it was years ago, when we were children. I’ve talked about this issue with a number of friends over the past 14 years I’ve spent parenting. One friend said that when she was a child, her family just didn’t do all the things children do nowadays. Homework was minimal and project work didn’t really start until middle school. Extra-curricular activities like sports weren’t considered because living outside the city, her mom would have had to drive her, which just wasn’t …

A recent discussion among my friends led this mom to be thankful for grandmas who are available to babysit for free. My friends and I talked about babysitter rates over a virtual cup of coffee. Yes, Facebook. We discovered that some babysitters cost more than others, depending on the going rate in the area. In Brookfield and Wauwatosa, the going rate is $10 per hour for two children, and more for more children. In Waukesha, a friend’s daughter gets $5 an hour for one child and $7 for two. “At almost 12 (years-old), I think it is more then enough. I know I was willing to pay more to keep a …

Hey, Parents! We’re looking for your input. We parents all know how much heart and head work, not to mention stamina, it takes to raise healthy, happy kids. So why not talk about parenting issues with your Patch neighbors? Recently, we had a question from a parent about wheat intolerance and celiac disease. Can you help? Let’s start a conversation. “I believe my daughter may be intolerant to wheat or possibly have celiac disease. Where can I go for help?" Cindy, Waukesha 

First of all, I admit I am not a mom. I am the farthest thing from a mom. Sure, I will take care of my nieces and nephew for a few hours here or there and smile at the little kids who are happily playing in the park as I am taking a stroll around the Fox River. Coming from a big family, I have changed plenty of diapers, wiped a lot of runny noses and taken my youngest sister for those late night drives through the country to get her to fall asleep (she is significantly younger than me). But when it comes to teaching moments and explaining state and national issues to a group of children, I am…

Waukesha Patch invites you and your circle of friends to help build a community of support for parents and their families right here in Waukesha. Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council of experts and other smart parents take your questions, give advice and share solutions. Moms, dad, grandparents, and the diverse families who make up our community will have a new resource for questions about local neighborhood schools, the best pediatricians, 24-hour pharmacies and the thousands of other issues that arise while raising children. Moms Talk will also be the place to drop in for a talk about …