We were having such a nice block party.  The neighbors were enjoying being together and actually having conversations, rather than just waving from inside our SUVs.  I was just sitting down to my dinner when I heard a crash and then cries of pain.  I turned to see my son lying on the road crying in pain. 

He had gone over one of those plastic bike ramps and ended up going over his handlebars when he landed.  Thank God he was wearing a helmet.  He was skinned up all over, even his face.  There were lots of bruises and blood, not to mention plenty of tears.  Luckily we have a nurse for a neighbor who got him all cleaned up and we took him home.  After keeping him awake for an hour and quizzing him about what  number is on his football jersey, what he had for dinner, and the old "how many fingers am I holding up", we let him finally fall asleep. 

He hobbled off to school today and only then did I allow myself the thought of what if....what if he didn't have on his helmet?  Kids his age (8 years old) and older think it's uncool to wear helmets.  I am just so thankful that he had his on last night.  It definitely saved us a trip to the ER and maybe much worse. 

We, as parents, need to tell any children we see without helmets to go home and get them on!!  Many of those kids witnessed this accident last night and I suspect they"ll be wearing theirs for at least the near future. 

My daughter is in 4th grade, and i'm having a hard time getting her to do all of her homework at night. She'll do everything except read for 20-30minutes.

Then when i'm dropping her off at school the next morning she wants me to sign her homework assignment book, and when i wont, she get's really upset with me and starts crying, and that makes me sad, because i know she gets sent to think time, and i'm assuming that's the reason she cries. I don't know, it makes me sad.

 But i just can't get her to read at night. Even if i read with her. I guess i just need some advice on some better encouragement or motivation to get her to read.

What a wonderful thing to see!!  Every morning there are about 10 elementary aged boys riding their bikes to school from our neighborhood.  We call them the biker brigade and one of them is mine.  Both he and I love that he can ride to school! 

It gives him  a wonderful sense of freedom and independence and what a great way to start off the school day...being with your buddies!  They start in the back of the neighborhood and pick up boys as they pass their houses. 

My neighbors know that I want to know if they aren't obeying the rules of the road or are messing around and not riding safely.  I have received calls in the past and it's a great time for me to join them on the ride and point out our safety concerns. 

My 8 year old son received a "new" bike, handed down from his sister, this weekend.  He was so excited to have gears for the big hills for the first time ever!  He spent about an hour cleaning his "new" bike and getting it ready for today's innaugural ride! 

For him today wasn't just another  Monday, but a chance to proudly pedal his new and improved bike to school and lock it on the bike rack.  There is just something about a boy and his bike!!! 

 I need advice to cope with my 5 year old daughters problems. I think she has bipolar disorder. I'm no stranger to it as her dad and his mom have it. Shes begun another "episode" and it is occuring both at home and at school. Shes moody and defiant. Shes been at school for 4 days and the last two days she got in trouble. This is after her behaving really well for 2 weeks. Oviously school changed this. I will be getting together with her doctor to try to get this diagnosed as soon as possible.

I'm really afraid for her and I don't know how to deal with this.  If any of you have been through this please give me some tips to get us both through. Thank you.