One anonymous mom is worried about getting her son to stop sucking his thumb before starting kindergarten. She's tried the usual deterrents—hot sauce, lemon juice, Band Aids, and vinegar—but nothing has worked so far. Here's what some CafeMoms suggested to do instead:

Photo by cozycabinmom

Bringing your new kindergartener or grade-schooler in to meet the teacher before school starts is a really good idea. Our school district holds a special orientation day for parents and students a few days before school.

It was great to meet the new teacher and classmates at the same time, but we also "stopped by" the classroom the day before school, while the teacher putting the finishing touches on the classroom, for a few minutes of one-on-one time.

Being able to talk to his teacher made all the difference for my son, who was pretty nervous about starting grade school for the very first time.

When President Obama, in his February State of the Union speech, read South Carolina teen Ty'Sheoma Bethea's letter to Congress about the poor state of her school, many in this nation were moved and inspired.

And more importantly, many kids and teens realized their voices, too, could help create change. A movement began, a student's life was changed, and a community was united.

Inspired by Ty'Sheoma's letter, Walmart just launched the "Write to Change the Classroom" program in hopes of inspiring change in classrooms across the country. They're taking letter submissions now that could win $8,000 for your child's school.

As we approach Back to School time, it's a good time to consider the healthful eating foundation we've set and to make sure we send our kids off with a basis to make good choices in the school cafeteria.

You know, as much as this is possible with kids... :)

As Back to School approaches, here's your chance to buy handmade and support your fellow CafeMom handcrafters! There are notebooks, laptop covers, crayon/art supply wallets, and even a pretty wristlet pouch to hold lunch money and the cell phone (which *will* need a place to rest during class).

I imagine every school teacher in America has a dark room in her home filled floor-to-ceiling with "#1 Teacher" mugs, tzotchkes, and smelly bath and body lotions.

Personally, I love to give my kids' favorite teachers gifts that acknowledge they have a life outside the classroom. Happy personal lives can lead to happier work lives—just like with any profession. And while it's important to let teacher know she's #1, I like to tell her this face to face and then give her a small gift that says, "Now go have a little fun..."

Here are some meaningful ideas for end-of-school-year teacher gifts that won't end up in that dark dreaded room.

The shoe-tying lessons. Ugh. We've been putting it off and putting it off.

Teaching our 6-year old son to tie shoes is not just a simple lesson or two. It means sticking to it for the long haul. Daily. Never giving in. But always constantly stepping in to review and perfect and guide with (yeah right) patience.

It's one more menial task of parenthood that's crazy exhausting, I tell you.

Photo by rachelolivares

My 6-year-old will talk to me anytime about his favorite subjects: Bakugans, cars, trucks, soccer, dogs, movies he wants me to let him see, candy he wants to eat.

But when I want to have real conversations about school and life -- stuff like, What did you learn today in class? Are you getting along better with that boy? How did your teacher like your insect project? -- I get the typical one-word answers: "Nothing," "I guess," and "good."

It's not his fault. There's usually a million other distractions in the way: the TV blaring, his sister blowing bubbles in her milk at dinner, the neighbor boy visible through the window in our tree swing.

I'm not at my most attentive, either, scrambling to fix dinner or getting another load of wash in.

Is it me or, for a certain age group, are the toys you buy with kids meals at fast food places great? We rarely do take out (saving money, staying healthy!), so I'm just starting to notice how on the "hot list" these toys really are. This morning at my son's school, some boys in his kindergarten class were comparing McDonald's Monsters vs Aliens toys like they were vintage baseball cards. Last weekend my sons both got one too--and they love them.

This must be a 5-year-old boy thing because my son's kindergarten friends are heavy into Star Wars too. My son would be also I suppose, but I don't indulge the Star Wars fanaticism only because he has so many other hobbies right now. Anyway, if your kid was ever into Star Wars, you've got to read this post by llmom1921. HILARIOUS!