Category: Smart Mom’s Guide

By Cammie Jones   With the approaching New Year, decluttering and tidying is always something that comes to mind. How can I clean up my act, my house, my body or my attitude? Where does one start? After years of trying to do ALL of these things as a fresh year approaches, I thought starting with the phone would be a useful and attainable goal to kick off being organized in 2020. 1. Delete Emails It is difficult for me to delete emails. So, when I look at how many email messages are on my phone I get a...

By Cammie Jones   As we enter the season of Thanksgiving and the holidays, we are bombarded with advertisements, social media and great stories about helping others. These stories are wonderful examples of how our community is making the world a better place. I am often reminded of how important simple, everyday acts of gratitude and kindness make a difference in our lives and the lives of our children. Here are a few ways we can encourage our children to show gratitude daily. 1. Gratitude Jar During November, ask your children to write down something they are thankful for...

By Cammie Jones   Our teens may be able to navigate their smart phone, tablet or computer like no other but I worry about their abilities in the real world. Can they do a load of laundry, fill out a check, balance a checkbook or boil an egg? These are just a few of the key life skills needed by our children— especially before they head off on their own. 1. Basic Kitchen Skills Besides navigating the microwave, it is important that your child knows how to cook on a stovetop and in an oven. Following basic instructions on...

By Cammie Jones   My oldest is going to college this month. As I write this, we are finishing up with her high school graduation festivities and easing into summer. Before we know it, we will be packing up  and heading to Athens to begin which is sure to be some of the best years of her life.  We have a long list of things to do. One of the most crucial is getting everything needed for dorm life. Here’s a list of the many things needed to start off on the right foot. 1. Bedding – Even though...

By Cammie Jones   Autism is diagnosed in 1 of 68 children and more often in boys. As a parent at this point in my life with two teens and a preteen, I know of many families who have a child with autism. When I think about the kids I know, I don’t automatically refer to him or her as the autistic one. I first think about how amazing the child is and how, even though they may have special needs, that label really doesn’t play into my description of each of them. With that said, here is a...