Mom2MomSC

I'm reading so much about the economy in trouble, and we have felt it as a family...high gas and food prices, one friend losing her home to foreclosure, and uncertainty about job lay-offs. But in the midst of all this, I want to show our kids that the appropriate response is to extend a hand to others who are having hard times. It's hard to find a meaningful volunteer opportunity to do with preschool and elementary-school age kids. One that I've thought of is taking food to Bluffton Self Help, which is open Monday-Friday to 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Usually I hate magazine articles about fun crafts to do with your kids, because they sound complicated, time consuming and expensive. But I read one about doing a family diary that sounded fun and easy, and it has become a big focus in our household, with surprising consequences. Our family diary is a large sketch book that I bought at Michael's. A few times a week I write in it — entries about my kids activities, family events, outings etc. My kids, 4 and 6, draw in it and write messages too. When art projects come home from school, I use a glue stick to paste them in the family diary.

We had a birthday party at home for our four-year-old, and I wanted to let everyone know that it's not as expensive as I imagined to rent a big bounce house for your house. We rented a castle-shaped bouncer from KidzPlay, in Bluffton, and it was only $75 for the afternoon. The owner came and set up the bouncer and came back after the party and took it down. There is no set up or delivery charge if you live in Bluffton.

I'm writing an article about losing weight post-pregnancy for an upcoming Health & Fitness special section in the Packet. I'll ask local health care professionals and fitness instructors for reasonable expectations about losing baby weight (how much to people generally lose, and how fast?). I also would love to hear your story about baby weight...for example...it's been four years since I had my last (and final) child, and although I weigh only 3 pounds more than before having kids, exercise regularly and am fit, there is a floppiness around my stomach that was never there pre-baby.

I'd like to enroll my kids in swimming lessons now, before summer starts and they begin spending all their free time at the pool. Ideally I'd like semi-private or private lessons. Does anyone know a good instructor who will come to our neighborhood pool for a reasonable rate? We live in Bluffton. Or, can anyone recommend one of the instructors for private lessons at the Bluffton pool? My kids are preschoolers and would be fine with a woman or man.