All posts by Christine Skoutelas

About Christine Skoutelas

Christine is a grateful grouch who uses writing for procrastination and stress-relieving purposes. She believes most of what ails her can be cured with a good laugh (or cry), a long run, and a hearty glass of red wine. Read more of Christine's posts on her blog at amorninggrouch.com or find her on Facebook.

• 
  Toddlers and Technology: Finding a Balance Between Banishment and Overuse

  Pretty much straight out of the womb, my kids wanted to touch my phone, type on my computer, play video games, and watch television shows. At first, I feared my kids would become addicted, or their brains...

  • Posted June 15, 2016
  • 0
• 
  Six-Year-Old Calls 9-1-1 and Reports His Father For Running a Red Light

  A six-year-old Massachusetts boy, Robbie Richardson, established himself as a highly vigilant enforcer of traffic rules and regulations when he called 9-1-1 on his own father for running a red light. In the 9-1-1 call on May 28th, Robbie...

  • Posted June 6, 2016
  • 0
• 
  This is Why I Let My Kids Fail

  It’s natural for me to be protective of my kids. It’s a primal instinct, one that can not be flipped off like a switch. The mere thought of my children experiencing fear, physical pain, or emotional distress...

  • Posted June 4, 2016
  • 1
• 
  Why I’m Sad, And Glad, That I “Only” Have Two Kids

  Like most parents, as I watch my kids grow older, I sometimes get sad about not having any more babies.  I lament the fact that I will no longer have an infant who can fit into my...

  • Posted May 8, 2016
  • 2
• 
  Nightly Affirmations Benefit Your Toddler’s Well-Being

  In the book, The Help, by Katherine Stockett, the nanny tells the child she helps raise, “You is kind.  You is smart.  You is important”.  She tells her this daily, in an attempt to inoculate the child...

  • Posted May 5, 2016
  • 1
• 
  Visiting a Mama and Her Newborn: The Do’s and Don’ts

  One thing every new mother can count on after childbirth, other than experiencing exhaustion and a barrage of hormonal flux, is visitors.  Friends and family flock to congratulate parents and meet the new addition.  While the well...

  • Posted May 3, 2016
  • 1
• 
  How to Decide Whether or Not to Have One More Baby

  The decision to have another child can be a difficult one.  Every family reaches a stage where things are going pretty darn well – the routines are established and everyone understands their role within the family dynamic....

  • Posted April 8, 2016
  • 1
• 
  11 Toys That No Toddler Really Needs (And a Few Cheap Alternatives That They Will Love)

  The number of toys that clutter up our living room and pour from my kid’s closets is ridiculous.  I’m relatively vigilant about donating items after holidays and birthdays, yet the toys still seem to multiply more rapidly...

  • Posted March 23, 2016
  • 1
• 
  5 Things My Husband Taught Me That Make Me a Happier Mama

  My husband and I both have very different personality types and modes of operation.  We also both like to be right.  Sometimes we conduct ours lives so differently we annoy the bejeezus out of one another, but...

  • Posted March 23, 2016
  • 1
• 
  Ditch the Guilt About Sending Your Kids to Daycare When You Have a Day Off

  Maybe it’s a national holiday. Maybe it’s a shutdown or a compensation day. If you’re a teacher, maybe it’s a snow day. Whatever the reason, every once in awhile working parents joyously celebrate a majestic gem poking...

  • Posted March 23, 2016
  • 1