Sarah E. Ludwig's Profile

Sarah E. Ludwig

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19 Blog Followers

Following: 2
Following Blogs: 10

Latest Activity

Giveaway winner

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Nov 19, 2009, 11:01 pm
Congratulations to Karry from Ontario, Canada, winner of the Modest Middles giveaway! Thanks to everyone who entered the drawing. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ �...
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Sisters make the best friends

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Nov 19, 2009, 12:21 am
My mom always told my two sisters and me when we were growing up to treat each other better than anyone else because someday we’d be each others’ best friends. Yeah, right, I’d thin...
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Have a toddler? Keep this in the back of your mind.

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Nov 17, 2009, 11:30 pm
One word: Distraction. It’s one of the best lessons I ever learned from my kids’ paternal grandmother. Toddlers have notoriously short attention spans. They also have very few resources ...
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Giveaway: LeapFrog Tag Junior Book Pal bundle!

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Nov 16, 2009, 2:43 pm
Tag Junior Book Pal From the LeapFrog website: A love of books starts long before children can read – and its benefits can last a lifetime. Using the same amazing touch technology as the Tag...
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Driving limits

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Nov 12, 2009, 11:19 pm
I’m not originally from the great rural state of South Dakota, though I’ve lived here for the past, gulp, 17 years. (Wow, has it been that long??) I spent my formative years in Boise, Idah...
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Do you apologize to your kids?

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Nov 11, 2009, 10:46 pm
I was browsing through Tweets today for a bit when I ran across a link someone had posted to what was presumably a blog post. It was entitled, “Do you apologize to your kids?” I didn’...
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Boys playing mommy

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Nov 10, 2009, 10:23 pm
This post goes along with my nursing tank top giveaway in a strange way, I suppose. My friend Jenny Fink over at Blogging ‘Bout Boys talks about an article she read by a mom of boys on why she&#...
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Giveaway: Modest Middles Nursing Tank Top

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Nov 9, 2009, 7:56 pm
Obviously I’m way past the stage of nursing babies, so the sample nursing tank top I received from Modest Middles went straight to my then-pregnant sister, who had her baby in mid-August. I was ...
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Back online…

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Nov 8, 2009, 6:15 pm
After being without internet for most of last week, I’m happy to say that I’m finally back online. Though I felt like I lost an appendage the entire 5 days (but who’s counting?), I ...
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Homework in kindergarten, revisited

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Nov 2, 2009, 8:08 pm
My post from last February about homework in kindergarten has attracted such a large number of readers, I decided to revisit the subject. This year I have another kindergartner and the homework that ...
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Vacation from the vacation

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Oct 30, 2009, 1:21 pm
I never would have thought that I would need a vacation after my vacation, but judging by the amount of time I’ve been sleeping since I returned, this seems to be the case. It’s as if I di...
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Giveaway winners!

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Oct 28, 2009, 9:20 pm
Congratulations to Gianna Kranenberg of Cambridge, MN, for winning the Secrets of Happy Families giveaway. Congratulations also to Sandra Lopez of El Paso, TX, on winning the Baking Kids Love cookb...
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I'm baaaack…

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Oct 27, 2009, 11:11 pm
What a great trip! Not only did I get to personally meet and hang out with some of the poor chaps who listen to me on a daily basis at Freelance Success, I soaked up some much-needed sun, had a breath...
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Thanks a lot, kid!

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Oct 26, 2009, 3:10 pm
The new sign gracing Cody’s bedroom door: “No girls allowed??!!” I said indignantly when he showed it to me. “Well, that doesn’t mean YOU, Mom,” he said. I’...
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Repost — Kids: The ultimate Murphy's Law abiders

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Oct 23, 2009, 3:11 pm
1. On weekends or other free mornings, your kids inevitably wake up at an unearthly hour, making it difficult, if not impossible, depending on their age, for you to catch a few extra zzs. 2. Conv...
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Why I won't be winning the Mom of the Year award any time soon…

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Oct 22, 2009, 3:04 pm
Perhaps you’ve read my post about our incredibly unreliable and irresponsible Tooth Fairy? Well, this mystical collector of teeth has sunk to new lows. After days of watching in dismay as Cody ...
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I'm outta here!

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Oct 21, 2009, 2:09 pm
I’m headed out tonight for a writer’s conference. Put on by my amazing and wonderful writer’s group, Freelance Success, this baby is, as luck would have it, taking place on a cruise ...
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Public displays of nastiness

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Oct 19, 2009, 3:42 pm
Browsing at a store the other day, I was treated to a loud conversation between a mother and her tween daughter. “Shut up and hold still!” I heard several times from the mom as the daughte...
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Yes, I nominated myself

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Oct 18, 2009, 12:56 am
Well, someone had to do it. So when I stumbled across the link to the Blogger’s Choice Awards, I had to nominate myself. You see, I’ve noticed these fancy blog awards on other bloggers...
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Cookbook Giveaway: Baking Kids Love

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Oct 14, 2009, 7:56 pm
I received a complimentary copy of this beautifully illustrated cookbook, Baking Kids Love for review. The bright colors alone make you want to page through it, the layout is adorable and fun, and the...
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Giveaway: The Secrets of Happy Families, part dos

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Oct 13, 2009, 10:47 pm
I did a giveaway of the book The Secrets of Happy Families by Scott Haltzman, M.D., in August and I’m happy to say I’m doing another one this week. Grab a cup of coffee, read the latest ...
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Photo Shoot

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Oct 9, 2009, 7:45 pm
The other day, while the kids were at school, I had some visitors in my decidedly swampy front yard. My morning visitors Guess they sensed my presence Making their slow getaway
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Say what?!?!

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Oct 7, 2009, 10:31 pm
Logan’s ongoing and long-term baby obsession has taken on a new low. Called to school to pick up the aforementioned child early because he had an on-again, off-again headache and tummy ache, I ...
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Eeeeeeekkkkkkkk!!!!!!!

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Oct 6, 2009, 12:47 am
Like most sane people, I’m not a big fan of rodents, particularly when I come upon them unexpectedly. So imagine my shock, disgust, and the length of my backward jump when I ran across this: E...
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Announcing the Tag giveaway winner!

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Oct 3, 2009, 1:54 am
Congratulations to Renee Thielen on winning last week’s giveaway of a LeapFrog Tag Reading System bundle. I hope your child loves the Tag as much as my kids do. Keep checking back in for mor...
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Trying to do it all

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Sep 30, 2009, 11:17 pm
We know we can’t do everything, so why do we try? More importantly, why do we constantly beat ourselves up for not being able to do it all? I know there are countless times a week when I mental...
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LeapFrog Tag Reader giveaway winner…

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Sep 29, 2009, 10:48 pm
After spending days moving and designing my blog (which I’m not even finished with yet), I realized that I still hadn’t drawn a winner for my LeapFrog Tag Reading System giveaway. So toda...
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PBT&E may be temporarily unavailable…

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Sep 25, 2009, 10:42 pm
I will be moving my blog over to Wordpress.org this weekend, so it may be offline for a couple days. I’m not sure how this will all work, but hopefully I’ll be back up and running by Monda...
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Briefly Noted: 3 more blogs involved in the Tag Reading System giveaway

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Sep 25, 2009, 2:52 pm
Just in case you haven’t increased your chances of winning the LeapFrog Tag Reading System bundle that I and 9 other bloggers are giving away by visiting their blogs, here’s another brief ...
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Gettin' my baby fix

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Sep 25, 2009, 1:14 am
My sister came over yesterday, bringing with her my 3-year-old nephew and my precious little 1-month-old nephew, whom I’ve been holding and cuddling as much as possible. They’re staying un...
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Briefly Noted: 3 other blogs in the LeapFrog Tag Reading System giveaway

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Sep 22, 2009, 11:10 pm
Just in case you haven’t increased your chances of winning the LeapFrog Tag Reading System bundle that I and 9 other bloggers are giving away by visiting their blogs, here’s a brief rundow...
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Bumpaholics, part 2

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Sep 22, 2009, 12:46 am
I’m finally coming back to the horrifically offensive piece published by Women’s Health regarding “bumpaholics” that I posted about a few weeks ago. Along with the crimson vis...
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Repost: Our Disposable Society

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Sep 17, 2009, 10:40 pm
The disposable mentality seems to get more prominent with each generation. My grandmother, who was an adult during the Great Depression, saved everything. She seemed to be subconsciously worried that ...
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Say it can't be so!

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Sep 16, 2009, 11:13 pm
The following took place after school today: “Did you watch ‘The Fairly OddParents’ when you were a kid?” Cody asked. “No, that show wasn’t invented when I was a ...
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Detention — whose punishment is it REALLY?

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Sep 16, 2009, 12:49 am
Let me begin by saying that in general, I have nothing but praise for teachers. Goodness knows they deserve much more money and respect than they actually get. Their job is raw-to-the-bone tough and o...
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First-grade presentation

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Sep 12, 2009, 12:31 am
Last week, I, along with all the other first-grade parents, was invited to talk to the class about what I do for a living. Today was the big day. As the time drew nearer and nearer, I became nervous. ...
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Giveaway for back-to-school: LeapFrog Tag Reading System bundle!

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Sep 9, 2009, 10:08 pm
As promised, I’m starting a giveaway for a LeapFrog Tag Reading System bundle, sponsored by the ever-inspired LeapFrog company. And I have great news for all of you who want to sign up to win o...
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Review: LeapFrog Tag Reading System

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Sep 8, 2009, 4:11 pm
I’ve made no secret about my love of LeapFrog products â€” my boys have been using Leapsters for a couple years now â€” and the Tag Reading System is absolutely no exception. The Tag ...
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Earth Baby diaper bag giveaway winner!

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Sep 7, 2009, 6:29 pm
Congratulations to Sonya N., winner of the Earth Baby diaper bag giveaway! Thanks to all who entered the contest. Posted in Giveaways!
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Six Writers Take On Back to School at The Writer's [Inner] Journey!

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Sep 6, 2009, 11:05 pm
I’m on The Writer’s Journey today! The author, Meredith Resnick, wrote this: In honor of back to school I asked five of the writers I greatly admire to weigh in. With a very loose hat ti...
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A pivotal parenting moment

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Sep 5, 2009, 2:57 pm
Yesterday afternoon I left to meet my sister and nephew in town, which is about 35 miles away. I was excited, thinking about the baby fix I was soon going to get. Approximately 16 miles down the road...
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The beauty of pen pals

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Sep 3, 2009, 11:08 pm
A fellow writer in my writer’s group has an eleven-year-old son who will soon be undergoing surgery to remove a brain tumor. She sent out a request on Facebook inviting people to send her son ca...
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The depressing side of parenthood

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Sep 3, 2009, 12:06 am
I’m deeply immersed in an article on depression, so it makes sense for me today to list the ways in which being a parent is depressing. Please, indulge me, and then make your own list to share! ...
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I am no Super Mom

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Aug 31, 2009, 11:21 pm
Sometimes people ask me how I do everything. Ha! As if I do everything. I’m so incredibly far from being on top of it all, which anyone who knows me in real life would completely and totally v...
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Winner of "Green To Grow" giveaway!

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Aug 30, 2009, 7:37 pm
Congratulations to Benita G., winner of the “Green To Grow” baby product giveaway! ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ �...
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Giveaway: Earth Baby Organics diaper bag!

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Aug 28, 2009, 9:34 pm
This week I’m giving away a roomy diaper bag from Earth Baby, complete with changing mat and cute little bows on the sides. From the website: Baby Organic Goodness from Mother Earth! EARTH BA...
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My baby's first day of school

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Aug 27, 2009, 11:01 pm
Here he is, my baby boy, on the very first day of his full-time school career this morning: Notice the happy smile on his face? Here he is getting on the bus: Notice the sweet, happy, blemish-free ...
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Oh, my puffy eyes!

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Aug 26, 2009, 11:03 pm
I was going to post something profound, witty and life-altering today, but I find myself barely able to function this evening, much less dole out gems of wisdom to the masses. You see, it’s sun...
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First day of school!

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Aug 25, 2009, 10:46 pm
So today was the kids’ first day back at school. All but Logan, who only had a 15 minute meeting with his teacher today. His first official day of kindergarten will be on Thursday. You can expe...
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10 Things I'm Happy About

Sarah E. Ludwig posted an article on parenting by trial & error - Aug 24, 2009, 8:54 pm
Someone on my writer’s board is battling financial difficulties and health problems, so she started a post today on things she’s happy about in her life. I love it. Remembering the ways i...
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About Me

I am a freelance writer and mom of four; twin girls and two boys. My specialties include parenting, larger families, multiples, family issues, pregnancy, health and agriculture. I've written for a variety of publications such as The Christian Science Monitor, TWINS Magazine, Motherhood, Farm Journal and Farm Industry News. A born and bred city girl, I now live in the middle of nowhere and can currently be stared down by the grazing cows across the road (which is, admittedly, a bit unnerving). I enjoy reading, loud music, dancing, gardening and camping.

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