Blog Posts by HybridHer

This headline probably caught your eye because you have a child that is struggling to read. Then, who am I to barge in to tell you that your child can truly learn to love reading?

Remember that kids love the stories, not the act of reading - they won't be picking up the Wall Street Journal anytime soon - but they will want to keep up with Jack & Annie's adventures. Once our kids know how to read, it opens up a whole new world for their imagination to flourish. We hear from other moms about that "aha moment" and how little Lucy can't get enough of the Tree House Magic books - this mother simply can't keep up with the supply of books for the devouring her daughter is doing to them.

So, if you're in the camp of mothers who just want to throttle little Lucy's mom for making it all sound so easy, listen up. It's not that easy. Learning to read is like any other skill - it has to be learned. Little Lucy will have struggled at one point too. We have different aptitudes towards learning

You've likely joined Facebook because you understand that social networking can be a valuable tool to keep up with family and friends. Or perhaps you are a business professional and use Twitter and LinkedIn because of the value it brings to your business. Maybe you don't social network, but your friends do and you've heard them say "Facebook me". Either case, you know that social networking is a powerful tool that influences all our lives.

When it comes to your children, these tips will help to make sure your child has a safe, age-appropriate and engaging social networking experience.

1. Don't Be An Ostrich. Burying your head in the sand just won't work. Believing "I'm not going to let my child join a social network until….." isn't the best tactic to take. If you don't get involved in steering your child in the right direction then they'll sign themselves up without you knowing.

2. Know The Rules. The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act is a law that protects your child

It's Back -To-School time and the birthday party invitations have already started appearing in the mailbox. If you are planning a birthday party, there is a favor below to impress even the pickiest of your children's friends. Best of all - each was created by a mom!

And by all means, if you are dreading another birthday season marked by cellophane bags full of candy and plastic goodies that end up under the minivan seats before you even get them home - make sure you share this with everyone you know!

"Strike a pose there's nothing to it." Well that's easy for Madonna to say, she's never been a kid's talent agent. Being the top kid's agent in the Denver region for as long as I have, I've seen my fair share of rewards and penance. Being a mother myself and a fierce advocate for children in general, I can't help welcoming every new kid talent who signs with our agency with the same sense of compassion as if they were a new niece or nephew in my own family. I feel very maternal towards them, and when I help them book a major gig in film, advertising, the works, to me there is no prouder moment….

…Those moments make up about 25% of my day. The other 75% are the day-to-day nitty and gritty of running the business from recruiting fresh faces, to interacting with parents who need nap time, and pre-tweens demanding lattes and spray tans.

I've often thought about installing a "glass case of emotion" or confessional chamber in the agency offices to expel the occasional

"Pssssst! Did you hear what she said? He did what? How could she have said that?"

Whether it's a whispered conversation over coffee with a friend or a late-night telephone gabfest with your sister, gossiping bestows a feel-good aura on women who are feeling stressed-out, jilted or just having a bad day. And while it's been criticized as idle chatter, or worse, gossip is beloved by women everywhere.

If you're wondering just what women get out of dishing on others, and why it feels so completely satisfying, here are the top 10 reasons why women just can't stop themselves from indulging in one of life's naughty little pleasures.

1. Gossip gives women a feeling of fitting in with others. It's almost like telling a secret to someone else, which means that you trust the person you are talking to. "And that means you are forming a bond over gossip," says Diane Lang, MS, certified counselor and therapist and the author of Creating Balance & Finding Happiness.

2. Gossiping helps

Eveyone I know is on a diet. They are trying to fit into a pair of jeans, a new dress, or a suit they have had in their closet for six years. Some of them buy a pair of True Religion Jeans in a smaller size and hang them up in a noticeable area as an incentive (the incentive is no doubt the price tag on these jeans). Some of my friends are successful, and others are discouraged and have already quit trying. They ask me what my secret is, or how I manage my weight. I tell them I am a runner and, although this is true, it is not how I manage my weight. My weight is managed by a healthy dose of fear of becoming obese. I have hypertension, despite being thin. I cannot imagine how it would be if I were heavy. My genes are favorable for heart attacks and strokes. These, of course, are all part of the fear, but the deeper reason is, I grew up with an obese mother.

It's interesting because most of the time we are unaware of how children are influenced by their parents. We forget that to a

Long-term goals are important, but don't make the mistake of putting your happiness on hold until you achieve them. Here are 7 simple ways you can have a great life starting tomorrow morning:

1. Get enough sleep - It makes you smarter, nicer and better problem-solver.

You'll also have fewer traffic accidents, fewer health problems and a stronger sex drive. And, according to Web MD, you'll even lose weight and live longer. Technically you can live on 5 or 6 hours of sleep a night, but you'll live better if you get 8.

2. Say yes with enthusiasm - If you're going to be on the committee, tell them you're delighted. If you take the kids to a water park, be the first one to jump in. There are absolutely no benefits to being lukewarm.

Enthusiasm is contagious and it increases the likelihood that things will turn out fabulous.

3. Say no without guilt - If you can't get excited about something, don't do it! Nothing sucks the life out of a project or outing faster than

They say that being a parent is the toughest job in the world, but there is not job that is tougher than becoming a single parent. No one thinks when they have children that they will be raising them by themselves, but when you get divorced, even though you have an ex, it is still all you when you have your kids.

Being a newly divorced mom, here are some things you should know.

1. Budget your money. You now don't have two incomes to rely on or even one large income, just your income and child support. Learn to budget and cut out the unimportant things, remember, what is important is the time you are with your kids, not what you buy for them.
2. Budget your time. Whether you work or stay at home, you now will be doing it all, from carpool to homework to bath and bedtime. Learn how to budget your time so you can still have "me" time to recharge!
3. The art of being a co-parent. You might be divorced from your ex, but you still have to raise children together. Keep