October 3, 2009

Kerrie McLoughlin Is ...

... a freelance writer based in Kansas City. She is also a homeschooling mother of five -- count 'em -- FIVE young children. Her writing credits include many regional parenting magazines (see list at right), as well as MotherAndChildReunion.com, La Leche League’s international publication New Beginnings (essay) and The Kansas City Star (opinion piece). She has also published e-books about laid-back parenting and getting published in local parenting magazines (complete with writer’s guidelines and tips).

You can also find her at TheKerrieShow.com, her variety blog which includes topics such as writing, homeschooling, attachment parenting, book and product reviews, weight loss and daily life with kids; Mother Writer; and Writing Mommies.

When Kerrie isn’t parenting or writing, she enjoys reading, walking, volunteering, scrapbooking and learning new things to write about. She especially loves taking on writing assignments from parenting magazines ... hint hint.

September 20, 2009

Pregnancy Sleep Solutions

September 19, 2009

Birthday Party Excess

September 18, 2009

Brace Yourself! What You Need to Know Before Visiting the Orthodontist

___ words

September 17, 2009

Raising a Good Listener

700 words

September 16, 2009

Raising a Lefty in a Right-Handed World

Those poor lefties!

500 words

June 30, 2009

10 Steps to a Cheap, Fun and Green Birthday Party

755 words including sidebar

It seems like kids’ birthday parties are getting out of hand these days, with parents trying to top each other for the Most Elaborate Party award! Why break the bank for an off-site birthday party for your child when you can do it yourself on the cheap? This year, consider giving your child the Ultimate Birthday Party, one where he can play, have fun and just be a kid. The added bonus is that you get to keep your sanity and money. Follow these steps (some of which go against everything you’ve ever read about birthday parties!), and you’ll have a stress-free celebration everyone can enjoy.

This article includes ideas such as using Evite.com to save the cost of stamps, baking your own birthday cake, forgetting about goodie bags (do a used book exchange instead!), making simple decorations, having the party at a park to forego the mess at your house and considering having guests bring canned goods for charity instead of gifts. This article also includes a sidebar of a Party Shopping List so busy parents can tear it out.