Last week was Banned Books Week, the week when libraries and book stores around the country draw attention to censorship in the literary world. According to BannedBooksWeek.org, the event was launched in 1982 in response to a "sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries." More than 11,000 books have been challenged since 1982. Some of the books challenged include the American classic "Huckleberry Finn" primarily due to repeted use of racial slurs that were common in the American lexicon at the time of the novel's setting, Judy Blume's "Forever" which…

On Sept. 11, 2001, I was in gym class playing tennis under a clear, blue sky when the first announcement came over the school's loudspeaker at my high school telling students that two planes had hit the World Trade Center towers in New York City.  The rest of the school day was a wash as some teachers took up discussions in class about what had happened, and others attempted to quiet the whispering between students and carry on as normal.  It wasn't until I got home from school and turned on the television that I first saw the images of the planes hitting the towers and then watched as they …

The start of every school year is a milestone for kids. They grow up a little more and are presented with new opportunities. In my house growing up, on the first day of school my brothers and I would wander down to the kitchen to pack our lunch and we would find a letter from our dad. It was the same thing year after year, but even though we knew it would be downstairs waiting for us, it was something we looked forward to. So, today on Mom Talk, let's talk about how you prepare your kids for the new year. If you don't have kids in school now, how did you prepare them in the past? There are, …

Last week, La Grange Patch ran a column on teen fashion by our style columnist Nancy Pipal. In response to the column, one of our readers commented that her advice was, "a bit totalitarian." His advice was that kids will grow out of those t-shirts that parents hate, and will generally grow out of their typically teenage fashions. In my reading of the column, I thought Pipal was advocating for less pajamas and dirty clothes—not so much for punk teens to hang up their black t-shirts and leather wristbands. After all, style is both diverse and highly individualised.  So, where do our moms and …

While driving around in my car the other day and listending to NPR, I caught an interesting converstation that was very similar in format to our Moms Talk discussion. The panel of moms (and one stay-at-home dad) were discussing the cost of child care when both parents work, and whether, in the end, it was more cost effective to just keep one parent home. In a recent Moms Talk, we discussed the cost of babysitting. It got me thinking about a parent's decision about whether to stay home, or have both parents work. How did you come to this agreement in your family?  With the cost of raising a …

We all need a little one-on-one time that caters to each out our differences. Going places and doing things as a family is important, but what do you parents do to give your kids a little something special that's just for them? How do you help encourage your child in the activities or subjects they are interested in, and give them some attention that helps you share in those interests? As kids get older, this gets harder. What do you do to stay close with your kids as they grow up? If you can actually get them to do something with you that they like, you can be surprised how much they open up…

We're taking a break from talking about parenting topics on today's moms talk, due to the heat. It feels like it's 105 degrees out there today. Really, it does, I just heard it on the radio. That means it's too hot for a debate  So, let's share some information about keeping cool. What are you doing today (and all week) to beat this heat? Where should moms take their kids in and around La Grange and Western Springs? Many pools in the area are private. Can a mom suggest a good public pool? Which ones are the cleanest? Are they too small or are there too many kids? How do you get your kids to …

There are two parts to today's discussion on Mom Talk, so that everyone will feel they can get a chance to comment. Part one discusses the children, of course. With our recent string of long power outages in La Grange, La Grange Park and Western Springs, what do you do to keep the kids active? No power means no TV, no video games, no music, no computer—I'm going crazy, so I figure your kids are too. Sounds like a perfect opportunity to kick them out of the house on these beautiful summer days. What has your family done to make the most of half week with no power? Have you gone on any special …

Every parent needs a night out once in awhile. But when it comes to leaving the kids at home, sometimes it's easier said than done. A lucky few might have a grandparent or longtime friend nearby who is available to watch the kiddies, but for many parents, a night out means hiring a babysitter. So, today, we're talking about babysitters on Moms Talk: Have the prices gone up? What are the current rates? How do you find someone you trust?  Do you require a babysitter to have passed a certification course? Do you expect the sitter to get to and from your home on their own, or do you drive them? …

On Monday night, at the District 204 board of education meeting, board members made the decision to expel an LT student. With any suspension or expulsion, the district does not reveal information about the student, or about the nature of the situation that lead to the expulsion, so it's hard to talk about specific situations. Today on Moms Talk, let's talk school disciplinary matters.  What situations do you think call for suspension or expulsion? Do you think school administrators are too hard on students who make mistakes, or should the school be harsher on students who violate the rules? …

Last night, a group of our Mom Council members got together for some food and drink at a local restaurant. Over the course of the night, we had many interesting discussions, but one that stuck out was the way that things change, and the way they have changed in the world of parenting.   So, today we're focused on change on Mom Talk. How do you think parenting has changed since you were growing up? We've got a wide range of ages, personalities and perspectives on Mom Talk. It should be interesting to see where these experiences differ and where they are the same. How have you parented, as …

I was almost scared to post this column today, because I don't want to jinx anything. It seems like summer has finally arrived after some seriously bizzare cold weather last month. But with the warm and even hot weather on the way, let's talk about keeping cool. Of course, everyone likes to spend the hottest summer days poolside—maybe with an ice cold glass of sun tea—but there are lots of ways to stay cool this summer. Let's explore some ideas off the beaten path. Share your favorite place to get a smoothie, iced tea, or your favorite boutique to buy comfortable summer clothes. Got a …

So often on Mom Talk, we end up talking about that kids. It's not that the phenomenon is exculusive to Mom Talk—you put any number of mothers together and they'll usually get around to talking about the kids at some point. While that's great—the kids are amazing, we love them—let's focus on the parents today. For today's discussion we'll be sharing ideas for yourself:  How do you pamper yourself? Any good stress relief techniques to share? Where do you go when you need some quality mom (or dad) time? Maybe you have a secret chocolate stash, or a favorite spa—whatever your method—let's share …

Today on Mom Talk were diving into the great chocolate milk debate.  A number of states and cities have been considering banning chocolate milk from school cafeterias. One side says that chocolate milk is unhealthy and is, more or less, soda in disguise. The other says it's the only way to get kids to drink milk, and in moderation, milk is good for growing kids. My brother is certainly on the second side of the debate.  "I think that it's insane," he told me when I asked his opinion. I too have a hard time imagining schools without chocolate milk. I certainly never chose plain milk when given…

Especially on days like today, it feels like summer is just around the corner. For every kid in town, that means counting down the days until school is out and summer vacation begins. The question for many parents then becomes, what do I do with all these kids in the house all day? Today, we're asking our moms to share some ideas for keeping the kids active in the summer. Are there good sports programs you can recommend? How about camps or park district classes? For parents with older children, what's the right age to start encouraging a summer job? Where have your kids found these jobs and …

It's a big, confusing and complicated world out there—and I mean that for adults. Even with all our years of wisdom and experience, the world can be a scary place that can be hard to wrap your head around. The biggest story this week is undoubtedly the death of Osama bin Laden at the hands of the U.S. military. This story is literally everywhere—from magazines to televison and even dinner conversations at the family table. It can be hard enough for adults to fully comprehend the situation, so when it comes to explaining world/ political/ social events to the kids, what's your approach? How …

Homework: A nightly battle? Today on Mom Talk, we're sharing homework strategies. Do you have scheduled time set aside for homework in your home, or do you play it by ear? With all the extracurricular activities that kids are a part of these days, plus nightly homework, how do your kids (and you) find the time to get it all done? When it comes to the battle of getting it done, do you require homework first, television second, or is there time for kids to unwind after a long, hard day in the halls? How about the types of homework assignments your kids get in school? Too many crossword puzzles…