Last night I was happy to be a part of the benefit for the Oakland School For the Arts. It is an outstanding charter school that was founded by Jerry Brown in 2002. The first graduating class of 2006, graduated with 100 percent of the class. Oakland charter school continues to excel with help of Jerry Brown and the board of directors. The school is a unique educational art institution. It has more than 500 students in the middle and high school. Recently it was named a California distinguished school.

The event was held in beautifully renovated Fox Theater.  Oscar-winning actor Sean Penn spoke at a benefit and helped to raise more than one million dollars for the school. I wish than more people will help to the art schools all over the country.

For more info and donations visit www.oakarts.org

Many kids have that first hint of puppy love in first grade or even earlier! In my son’s case, the crush hit in Pre-K with Charlie Brown swiftness. The little redheaded girl latched onto him as he walked into the gym, and he was a goner.

My son came home that day and could talk about nothing but Emma - she said this, she did that. Her last name, appropriately enough, was ‘Truelove’, and she had captured my little boy’s heart!

The infatuation continued on through Kindergarten as they ended up in the same class, and they stayed inseparable all year. They attended each other’s birthday parties, hung out at recess, and my boy finally confided in me that Emma was ‘his girl’ - although he was keeping Jessie Johnson on a string for ‘backup’.

We had a little talk about that! If a five year old can ‘go steady’, then he should be man enough to declare himself and not play both ends against the middle! So Emma it was, and still is, even though they are now in separate classes in first grade and don’t have the same recess, they talk on the phone till late hours and pass notes in the hall.

Puppy love. It’s soooo cute!

My littlest boy is fifteen months old. He was only three months old last year when the big kids started school in August, so he didn’t really miss them. This year is a different story!

He runs after them as they go out the door with daddy, and stands and waves bye even after the door shuts. When he wakes up from his nap he looks for them - he doesn’t talk a lot yet, but he hollers and listens, and cranes his neck around corners to try and find them.

Every time he hears something in the front yard he crawls to the window and stands looking out. It is so pitiful!  He adores them, and can’t figure out why all of the sudden they are gone all day! It is like they have gone missing, and he doesn’t remember yet that they will come back in the afternoon.

Boy, when I hear the truck pull in the drive, I tell him, “Bubba and Sissy are home! Go see!!”

He runs to the window, and when he sees them come up the walk he runs over and tries to open the front door! He is practically up on his tippy-toes; he can hardly wait for them to put down their back packs and lunchboxes to give him hugs, and then he doesn’t know which one to hug first!

I am so glad he loves his big brother and sister so much, and they just adore him too. He does the same thing to his daddy when he is working late - if he is on my lap when the key turns in the door he starts kicking and squirming and laughing.

I tell them all, these are the best days of our lives!

To find the correct a childcare or preschool for your child is very important. The best time to look for childcare is 6-8 months before you need it. Some of the facilities have a long waiting list. It is better to make you choices in advance.

First of all you have to identify your priorities. What are the most important factors? Where would you like the childcare/preschool to be located: in a recreational area, a private home or a special designated building? How far do you want to walk or drive? Which educational program do you prefer? Are hot lunches important for you?  What hours of operation are suitable for your family?

After you are clear on your research: Internet, friends, newspapers, magazines, etc. Pick a few of the most preferable choices and schedule the appointment. I would highly recommend bringing your child with you for the appointment. By your child’s behavior and interaction with the staff and other children you will see if it is the good fit. It is the best test you can do!

Talk to the director and ask as many questions as you can. Do not forget your child is going to spend time in this facility. Your child has to feel comfortable.

Check references about the facility you like and make a choice.

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We all want to find the right childcare for our children. The childcare not only has to feet your child personality but also your budget. Childcare services are expensive. Therefore, you want to make sure you’re making the best investment. Before figuring out your budget, take some time to learn about different program which may help you to pay for childcare.

·      State Child Care Subsidy - You may be eligible for state-funded subsidy for childcare. There are programs in every state. However the rules are very depends on the state. Typically, childcare subsidies are available for families who earn low income. Some state public schools offer free or low-cost Pre-K programs for 3- and 4-year-old children for all income families .

·      Local Programs - United Way or other community organization may provides child care scholarships or assistance

·      Employer/College Assistance - Ask if your employer provides scholarships, discounts to certain programs, or on-site child care at a reduced rate. If you are a student, you may find similar incentives on-campus or through your university.

·      Head Start/Early Head Start - Head Start and Early Head Start are federally and sometimes state-funded programs. Families who use Head Start must meet federal poverty guidelines. Head Start is free and may be either full or part-day. Head Start’s goal is to help children meet health and school readiness guidelines.

·      Tax Credits:

Federal Earned Income Tax Credit - If you qualify for the EITC, you may be able to lower your taxes and possibly get money back.

Federal Child Tax Credit - Parents with children under age 17 may be eligible for the Child Tax Credit. You may receive money for each child for this credit. Income limits for the Child Tax Credit are much higher than the EITC limits.

Federal Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit - If you have a child under the age of 13, and you owe federal taxes, this credit may help you cover a portion of these taxes.

State Earned Income Tax Credit - Many states offer their own Earned Income or Child Tax credit. These credits are similar to the federal EITC.

Dependent Care Assistance Programs - Some employers may offer Dependent Care Assistance programs. These programs allow you to have money (up to $5,000 a year) taken out of your paycheck for child care, tax-free. These programs help lower the taxes you pay during the year.

Military Child Care Assistance - Through a partnership with the Department of Defense, NACCRRA offers military families childcare assistance. This partnership allows active duty and/or deployed service members childcare fees if they are unable to access childcare on a military base.

So as you see there are some ways to save money on childcare. Good Luck!

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