Articles

Women at work: Females find a place in male-dominated construction field

FARGO - In her younger years, Jill Kemmet used to imagine a future life hanging around kids all day as an early-childhood education instructor. But that was before the detour. Now, the only children Kemmet sees at work are those passing by in vehicles.

• Jill Kemmet catches up
• Jill Kemmet drives a self-propelled roller

5 Things Friday: 5 books that have landed on my desk

A month or so into starting my reporting job, an odd thing began to happen. Books from seemingly random sources began appearing on my desk, almost as if they’d been delivered by a secret book buddy.

• "Stuff Every Mom Should Know"

Writer/composer Aamodt pens kids’ book ‘Claire, the Loon’

WALKER, Minn. – When selecting a title for her children’s story, Joanna Aamodt couldn’t resist using a play on words with a musical flair.

• "Claire, the Loon"
• How to purchase 'Claire, the Loon'

Local families rethinking high school graduation celebrations

FARGO - During Laura Barnhart’s and Hannah Erickson’s junior year at Fargo’s Oak Grove High School, their mothers started talking about merging their graduation parties.

• Grad Laura Barnhart was presented with a blanket
• Griffin Morris hangs out in his backyard with classmates
• Laura Barnhart and Hannah Erickson had their slideshow displayed on the big screen

Mother guides half-dozen with ‘unquestioning support’

FARGO – Life in a larger family can lend itself to a bumpy ride at times, according to Daniel Jacobson, self-proclaimed 50-year-old “baby” of six children.

• Peggy Jacobson and her son Dan

Keys to happiness: Rosie Sauvageau finds freedom in playing her music off the page

FARGO - When her oldest of three children, Rosemary Elizabeth, was an infant, Sharon Sauvageau would regularly sit down at the piano and plunk out tunes she’d learned during her short fling with music lessons.

• Rosie Sauvageau
• Sauvageau at her junior prom
• Little Rosie, around the time she played "Sesame Street,”

Motherhood without a mom: Women feel loss of guidance from their mothers

MOORHEAD - On the morning of her mother’s funeral, Marie Beckerleg was sitting in a rocking chair, her hands resting on her belly swollen with new life. How would she ever face motherhood without her own mom to guide her, she wondered?

• Sisters Maggie and Marie hold Maggie’s newborn baby, Brooklyn

A ‘pal’ indeed: Veteran principal, others look back on 50 years of history at Fargo’s Nativity school

Near the start of spring orientation at Fargo’s Nativity Elementary, future kindergartners walk into a cafeteria to find small cartons of chocolate milk, donut holes and their future principal, Cindy Hutchins, awaiting them with open arms.

• For online updates and pre-event celebration
• Photo gallery: A ‘pal’ indeed: Veteran principal, others look back on 50 years of history at Fargo’s Nativity school
• Seen through the eyes of a child
• Cindy Hutchins visits with students

North Dakota's first lady spreads literacy through United Way program

FARGO – What do you get when you combine North Dakota’s first lady and a May Day basket filled with fresh, colorful books? A group of wiggly preschoolers interested in reading.

• Enroll in Imagination Library
• North Dakota first lady Betsy Dalrymple reads to 4- and 5-year-olds
• Baskets of books
• Children in the YWCA Child Care Center sing a song

Parenting Perspectives: May a month for mothers

Ah, May, that lovely month that allows us mothers to paint our toenails, kick up our heels, order a glass of iced tea with lemon and curl up with a favorite novel, all guilt-free. Wait – not so much, you say?

• Roxane B. Salonen

Columns

Parenting Perspectives: The invasion of the hungry teens

The warning bells began ringing years ago by my older and wiser friends who knew what was to come.

• AreaVoices Family Blog
• Roxane Salonen

Parenting Perspectives: Life’s path is a choice

This fall will be a significant one for our family as our baby enters kindergarten and our oldest begins high school.

Parenting Perspectives: Facing the dating dilemma: How early is too early?

It’s the month of love, a time when those whose hearts have been pitter-pattering for another are encouraged to manifest their feelings.

Parenting Perspectives: Enough already with the impossible packaging

It’s a new year, time for bygones to be securely fastened to Father Time’s backside cloak as he hobbles away into yesteryear.

Parenting Perspectives: Twelve days of Christmas and chaos

Dear Santa Claus, Well, Big Guy, it’s time again for the annual Christmas newsletter and wish list. In an attempt to be more efficient, I’m combining them this year.

Salonen: School uniforms serve as moms’ case for conformity

Ever since we’ve been involved in parochial schools, I’ve braced myself for the likelihood that one of our kids might rise up someday against the school dress code.

Parenting Perspectives: Nuns provide insight to mom

The grounds of St. Benedict’s Monastery in the summertime are a visual spa to the summer-worn mother.

Parenting Perspectives: Thanks for the fantastic Fourth memories, MSUM

The colorful blasts of Independence Day ’09 may be distant echoes now, but I’ve yet to fully move on from that first week of July.

Parenting Perspectives: Daughter’s camping trip fuels ‘what-ifs’

I almost didn’t see them coming, but the what-ifs
know the perfect time to pounce – during those awkward lulls when there’s time to think.

Parenting Perspectives: In the grand scheme of things, what’s a pair of mismatched socks?

‘Hey Mom,” my 6-year-old said to me the other day, just after I’d handed him some socks to wear. “Know what’s weird? These socks you just gave me? They’re both exactly the same!”