Dale McGowan is a writer, editor and parenting educator.  He wrote Parenting Beyond Belief, and Raising Freethinkers, a practical guide to parenting beyond belief.  He joins us this week to discuss raising your kids without religion.  Well, we should start by saying that Mr. McGowan is a secular humanist.  That is, he does not believe in God.  He, however, raises his children to be religiously literate.  That is, throughout their lives, has encouraged them to explore and learn about other religions, while feeding them tidbits of different religions.  Many people are not aware that there is a rather large percentage of people who are not religious.  Over the past two decades, the number of non-religious Americans has doubled.  Secular parents, without a religious framework, have a unique set of challenges when dealing with the tough issues all parents confront.  

While Mr. McGowans first book offers free-thinking parents a compassionate introduction to raising loving, moral children without religious guidance, the next book provides specific answers to common questions, as well as over 100 activities for both parents and children.  Parents will discover how to encourage religious literacy, live and teach ethics, helf kids develop active moral reasoning, addrss sensitive issues with religious relatives, show children how to find an create community, and help kids interact productively with a religious world. 

Join us as we interview Dale McGowan this week on Mom’s the Word.

Our guest this week, Tina Seelig has a PHD in Neuroscience from Stanford University Medical School and is the Executive Director of the Stanford Technology Ventures Program.  Whe has recently written a book called What I wish I knew when I was twetny: a crash course on making your place in the world. 

One crucial bit of career advice that Tina offers her students at Stanford is — Never listen to career advice.  This is just one of the surprising and unconventional pieces of wisdom that fills the pages of this book. 

Tina joins us to discuss opportunities, attitude, ideas, careers, successes, networking, failures, risk-taking, quitting, luck, being a team player, gratitude, difficult decisions, and goals.  We will also discuss burning bridges and thank you notes.  Please join us!

This week, our mom on the move is Betty Davis, author of How Jill Learns to Read, and founder and owner of Funn with Phonics Tutoring Company.

This book is a great narrative for teachers, caregivers, or parents who want to teach their children how to read or to become better readers.  As an experienced professional with over 10 years experience in teaching all learning styles, as well as students with disabilities, Betty Davis has helped assess children’s unique style of learning.  With less than a third of eighth graders being proficient in reading, she set out to improve the chances of students’ success in school. 

Children who have gone through her program are far exceeding grade level in reading. 

For more information, please visit the website at www.home.comcast.net/readingbooks52/site

How Jill Learned to Read is available at www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com.

Ok, so it was time to plan my 11 year old’s birthday party, and I could feel that pang of stress!  What will be the theme, how many kids, how much food, decorations, treat bags, set up, clean up, pictures, video, running the party, games/entertainment!!!  It can be overwhelming and expensive.  So, this year, we at Mom’s the Word discovered the best party-throwers in the universe!  PartyStylings. 

Call Kimberly Kee at Partystylings, or check them out on line at www.partystylings.com.  Not only are they a fully licensed caterer, and have been throwing grown up parties for 20 years, but now they decided to do kids parties.  They have over 20 themes to choose from, and are always working on new and fresh ones.  They come into your home for an inital consulation, and go from there.  Are you ready?  Here is what is included in a party for just $495 for 10 kids:

1. initial consulation, 2. send out the cutest invitations, 3. collect rsvps, 4. come two hours early to set up with cute low tables, real linens, plates, glasses, centerpieces, display tables, craft tables, etc… 5. They make the best food, and serve it; 6.  manage all crafts/activities; 7. Serve little bundte cakes, 8. clean up. 9. Include all favors (this party was a chef theme: aprons, chefs hats, mason jars of layered cookie kits that the girls created themselves!! 10.provide you with thank you cards.

My daughter chose a chef party, because she loves to cook.  The girls got to decorate the aprons and hats with fabric markers.  So cute. 

My home was left in better condition than BEFORE the party.  The party was the “best one of my life,” according to my daughter.  The presentation of the food was gorgeous on platters with fresh flowers.  Kim was as entertaining as can be, and all the girls just loved her!

We are already planning my 6 year old’s party!  A spa theme!  I will let you know how it turns out!

Contact them today for your child’s party.  I am telling you, by the time you run around, waste time and money, set up, manage the party, clean up, etc… Party stylings can do it better and most of the time, cheaper!  Trust us!

We need to give another shout out to one of our favorite places… The Bundte Shoppe.  The bundte shoppe offers 11 different falvors of cake all topped with the most amazing cream cheese frosting.  They offer flavors of the month, and this month is spiced orange - yummy!!!  They even offer gluten free choices.  Stop by their store for this weekend’s Oktoberfest.  It takes place October 3rd, all day, in Castle Pines North, just off I25 and Castle Pines parkway.  The Bundte shoppe will be offering you a great opportunity to donate a cake to one of our veterans or his family in honor of veterans day. 

www.thebundtshoppe.com or call 303-422-8638.  Stop by today!!!

As the 310th pick of the NFL draft, Karl Mecklenburg overcame the odds and followed his passion for football to a twelve year NFL career that included three Super Bowl and six Pro Bowl appearances.  This former college walk-on and Broncos captain has been inducted into the The Colorado Sports Hall of Fame and the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame.  He and his wife Kathi have encouraged their three children to participate in athletics.  Through coaching, parenting, and playing experiences, Karl is in a unique position to advise and motivate athletes and their families.

His new book released in October, 2009, is called Heart of a Student Athlete: All Pro Advice for Competitors and their families.  Karl will be on our show this Monday, September 28th to discuss the 6 keys to success, what his message is with this book, and what he hopes to accomplish with it. 

Karl will be at Highlands Ranch Tattered Book Store for a book signing on October 3rd at 3 pm.

Allison O’Kelly, founder and CEO of Mom Corps, will be joining us to discuss this company and how it can benefit moms. Mom Corps is a staffing solution that supplies companies top tier, professionals on demand to meet their business needs and cycles.  But, get this, the candidates are able to maintain flexibility while continuing to pursue their professional careers. 

Mom Corps serves candidates by providing them with flexible, professional job opportunities suited to their qualifications and scheduling needs.  Its perfect for moms with busy home schedules!

Allison will join us to discuss this company and how it came to be.  Please join us to learn more.  Or, visit, www. momcorps.com.

We are strong advocates of etiquette and manners for kids, and believe that many children of this generation are sorely lacking these traits.  That is why we sit on the Cotillion Committee and urge our listeners to send their kids to a Cotillion Program.  Jon D. Williams Cotillion has been around since 1949 and is the original Cotillion Program.  Please don’t think it is antiquated dancing and a boring class.  Cotillion is modern and updated and teaches kids all kinds of dance, socialization, etiquette and manners in a fun environment. 

It is for 4th-8th graders, and there are high school programs too.  For that matter, there are university and adult programs as well.  Each program is 5 weeks long, and they are offered all over the Denver Metro Area, and all over the country.  The classes are an hour and a half, and include boys and girls. 

Ward Sears, the Director of Jon D. Williams Cotillion will be joining us to discuss the program, a typical course, registration, locations, costs and much more.  So join us to learn more. 

Meanwhile, visit www.cotillion.com to learn more and register your child for a fall class.

A supermodel, an entrepreneur, and mom of three, Kathy has been called a best friend to mothers.  In her new book, Real Solutions for busy moms: your guide to success and sanity, Kathy provides a roadmap for dealing with tough times by exploring core issues that moms discuss daily: managing money, establishing a happy home environment, develping a healthy lifestyle, keeping kids safe, finding and living our passion, and balancing all fo that with their personal needs as a mother.   Join us as Kathy discusses some of these topics with us.

Author Marie  Carr,  who has sent three daughters off to college, has written Sending your child to College: The Prepared Parent’s Operational Manual - with her daughters help.  The book, which recently received numerous awards, covers all the nitty-gritty details from safety, privacy laws, paying tuition bills, manageing a scik child no longer at home, health care proxies, dorm insurance, identity theft, hidden costs and budgeting.  The clear concise instructions, organization charts and forms, tips and shopping lists allow parents and students to plan ahead, be eco-friendly, save time and money and make the most of these exciting years. 

Marie will be discussing health and car insurance, property insurance, renters insuranc, tuition bills and hidden costs, meal plans, saving money on food and books, skype, security and safety.  If you have a child going to college, you will not want to miss this show.

Also, do you have any tips for kids going off to college?  Any money-saving tips?  Safety tips?  Advice for parents? Please share.