This year, I'm all on my own.  Since getting my big-kid job, I've moved out and with that comes a whole lot of responsibilities. OK, mainly just never-ending bills.  I'm sort of a sentimental sap, and I want to get my family really nice gifts since this is my first "grown-up Christmas." But I'm also buying grab-bag gifts for some cousins, too. And, holy cow does this stuff add up!  I dread getting loved ones gift cards, or something without much thought, because I want them to open something special. But those "something specials" can cost you! So what do you do when buying gifts on a limited…

Before heading off to school kids typically receive a slew of vaccines but that's changing.  According to a recent study, parents are becoming increasingly skittish of vaccinations, and experts have seen a small rise in the amount of kids opting out of vaccines.  The report says parents' reasons for refraining from the vaccines vary. Why do you think parents are opting out of vaccines? Did your child receive all the required vaccines before starting school?  

There have been three separate incidents involving weapons on school campuses in Glen Ellyn, this year.  Police: Hadley Knife Incident Not Gang Related Officials Investigating BB Gun Incident at Glenbard West High School Student Brings Knife to Glenbard West Glen Ellyn Deputy Police Chief Bill Holmer says they're always interested in finding more ways to prevent weapons from making it onto school property, but do more steps need to be taken? Do you think there is a weapons problem at schools here in Glen Ellyn, and or Wheaton? Are you concerned about your child's safety at school?

This week's Moms Talk is simple.  Just share your's, and your child's favorite childhood books. Give us a title and the author—maybe a photo if you've got one and if you're so obliged, a brief preview of the book.  We all read 'em, we all had them read to us, but no one knows all of the good books that are out there. For ideas, Huffington Post enlisted a few kids to rate some of the best books this fall. 

That long-legged, small-waisted and large-chested blond that keeps reinventing herself has chopped her locks, dyed them pink and added some ink to her bod.  tokidoki®, a Los Angeles-based lifestyle brand has partnered with Barbie to release tokidoki® Barbie™, which hit stores this month.  Fox News reported Tuesday on the doll and the controversy the unconventional look has sparked all over social media. What do you think of her? Is it refreshing to see a new look on Barbie? Or are the tats sending the wrong message? 

It’s Homecoming Week at Glenbard South High School and Wheaton North High School. That means it’s time for moms and dads to open up their wallets and fork over the dough. So how much will you let your kid spend?There’s dinner, dresses, suits, corsages, boutonnières, limos, and many other homecoming staples that your kid will need (or want). When is it enough? Where do you draw the line? I’m too embarrassed to say how much I spent on homecomings and proms. I paid for some of it on my own but my parents chipped in a lot. One year, I had to have a one-of-a-kind dress—literally. I bought it from …

A few days ago, the Glen Ellyn police blotter contained a report of a 14-year-old boy that was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia and cannabis. This had some readers shocked. “Am I the only one disturbed about a 14-year-old smoking pot?” asked one reader on the Glen Ellyn Patch Facebook page. As an editor of the site, I was worried comments would pour in pointing fingers at the parents. When a child does something wrong we as a society look to the parents, and I’ve seen that played up in the media a lot. Does it mean parents don't know what their kids are up to these days? Is it fair …

It’s obvious school (and sports) are back in session because this weekend when the doorbell rang it was usually a neighborhood kid looking to raise money for some activity. My parents were even talking about how much money they needed to raise for some sporting event to benefit one of my brother’s teams. I don’t know about you but the last thing that’s on my mind right now is buying wrapping paper, Girl Scout Cookies, wreaths, peanuts or those coupons for discounts around town. But how do you turn down the kid who comes to your door, the same one that grew up with your kids? Do you feel …

Today is the start of a new school year. It's hard to believe that summer is over and that it's time for kids to hit the books.  The first day is usually a big deal in many households. It's time for kids to wake up to an alarm clock, again, and for parents it means organizing a variety of schedules. Parents, when all these moving parts somehow align, do you stop to think about what you wish for your child? At the end of this school year, what do you want your child to walk away with? Surely you want your child to walk away one-year smarter but what other goals do you have in mind? 

It's that time. You've got one last hurrah before the kids suit up with their new backpacks and un-scuffed shoes and actually look forward to school.  What's the prep process? Do you chill out on Labor Day or whoop it up? Do you have last minute shopping? Summer reading? Or are you and your child relaxed and ready? Did you wake them up early in the last two weeks of summer to get them ready for earlier mornings? Did you rehearse the new route to school with them?  Did they have a say in their new clothes and school supplies? Or are you the one and only stylist?  Are they nervous? Are you …

After a North Carolina restaurant owner banned screaming children from her establishment, she claims business is better. Owner Brenda Harmes is not alone when it comes to asking children to leave. Another restaurant owner in Pennsylvania went one step further and told patrons to leave kids ages 6 and under at home.  The "Today Show" picked up Harmes' decision, sparking a debate on whether or not this is a good idea.  Some parents, say it is unfair, while others say it makes dining out more enjoyable.   What do you think? Is this a good idea? 

"Mommy (or Daddy), where do babies come from?" The question is inevitable. Whether you're about to have their new brother or sister, or they point out a woman's huge tummy in the line at the grocery store and you tell them there's a baby there, kids want to know where how all these babies are getting here—Or how they got into the tummies.  And they may not be old enough to understand the answer, but then again you don't want to make something up—or do you?  How do you tell your young kids where babies come from? Do you tell them a kid-friendly version of the truth? Or stick with the stork …

At what point do you let your kids learn a lesson on their own? What if learning that lesson means your child gets hurt or is harmed in some way? Growing up, my parents definitely doled out lots of lessons in many different forms. My mother always loved (and still does) the use of lessons by anecdotes. She'd tell my brother and I that she saw something on the news, and was only repeating it to give us a "heads-up."  Sometimes the lessons were simple, like don't talk to strangers, or some were about a fire in the area--caused by a clogged lint trap. These timely incidents allowed her to teach …

30 days passed before Casey Anthony's daughter was reported missing.  Some mothers can't even fathom losing sight of a child for five minutes, let alone days.  I think that's why it's so difficult for women, especially mothers, to wrap their heads around the Casey Anthony non-guilty verdict. But why do people care so much about this case? Would we feel differently if a father was on the stand? What is it about this case that has people so upset? 

With all of today's gadgets, how do you get your kids to play outside? With things like Nintendo DS, Xbox, Kindles and Nooks, there are so many ways kids can entertain themselves but what happened to just playing outside? Now, it seems like moms have more trouble getting their kids to take their eyes off the tube and out the door.   So moms, what do you do? Have any tips or tricks to encourage your child to enjoy the outdoors, especially during the summer?

This weekend is Father's Day. Wives, sons, daughters, grandsons and granddaughters will give cards, make breakfast in bed, golf, play chess—enjoy whatever tradition suits the family to show appreciation and spend time with the father figures in their lives.  This week's Moms Talk poses a two-part question. What will you be thankful for? And how do you split/share responsibilities at home?  1. So, moms, why are you thanking your dads? And what about your husbands? 2. For moms who are with their children for the majority of the day and week, what are your expectations for your husband (or ex-…

Summer is here and that means lots of play dates, pool time and sleepovers.  Now, when I was a little kid, I had the art of the sleepover mastered. My mom wasn't too keen on the overnight get-togethers so my friends and I had a foolproof plan to get our parents to say yes.  The conversation with my mother always went something like this:  Samantha: Hey, mom, can Jessica and I have a sleepover? Her mom said it was OK.  My mom: If Jessica's mom said it was all right then I guess it's fine.  The trick was simple, yet it always worked. At the same time I would ask my mom, Jessica would  be asking…

Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah is literally paying the price for lashing out at a fan during Sunday night's playoff game against the Heat in Miami.  The camera caught Noah looking over his shoulder while on the bench, to yell a gay slur at a fan who was taunting him throughout the game.  Noah apologized for the comment after the game but the NBA fined him $50,000.  Los Angeles Lakers player Kobe Bryant faced a similar punishment of $100,000 after he yelled a gay slur at a referee last month.  In today's vernacular, it's common to hear someone using a gay slur to put some down or to describe…

After coming across this article on Parenting.com, I thought I'd throw this out to you ladies. After the trials and tribulations of motherhood, the sleepless nights, the prideful moments and everything in between, what are some takeaways or lessons you've learned from being a mother? 

When you tuned into the news of Osama bin Laden's death, where were your kids?  Did you tell them about it? Did they ask? If they're at that age where video games entail 'catching bad guys,' do they cheer about it?  Author Julianna Baggott says "let the kids yell" on NPR. How do you talk to your kids about the war, and bin Laden's death, if at all? This will be a major event in history that they'll need to know and eventually understand.  I'll make the disclaimer that as an editor, I won't scold anyone for rejoicing his death, but I won't join them. We want to know how a parent approaches …