The complexity of vacation planning increases exponentially with little ones in tow. Luckily for you, WeJustGotBack.com is a travel site charged with the mission of easing planning woes so you actually can enjoy your vacation.

This just-for-families travel website offers detailed destination features, analyses of (allegedly) family friendly hotels and resorts, strategies for traveling with kids, and reader-generated tips. If you haven’t yet decided on your vacation spot, you can search featured destinations based on your child’s age. Now that’s forward thinking.

This summer WeJustGotBack.com launched an Insider Guide To Cape Cod and other content specific to the Cape. They are soon to unveil their Insider Guide to Boston, and welcome tips from Boston parents. Registration is required to access the in depth features, but it is well worth it. These vacation experts do their homework.

Posted 30 Nov 2006 in Travel | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

In my new life as an independent contractor, I’m constantly watching the clock. I was practically out of my mind last week juggling various projects, and may not have made it to the other side of Thanksgiving without the tool that ultimately saved me countless hours in the kitchen.

The issue was this: my deliciously absurd mile high apple pie required 5½ pounds of apples. Last year when I made this pie, Jon and I toiled bitterly in the kitchen, slowly peeling, coring, and slicing while the apples turned a nasty shade of brown. This year, without the flexibility (read: lower time priority) offered by my lackluster salaried job, I decided to try an apple peeler.

The “apple machine” (as Laurel calls it) was the best kitchen purchase I have made in a long time. The tool is easy to use, and the giant pile of apples was prepped in 15 minutes. Laurel loved watching me make “giant apple spirals,” and now the apple machine gets prime kitchen shelf real estate due to frequency of use at snack time.

Available at Linens N’ Things ($19.99); similar models are available at Amazon ($21.95), and Target ($27.99).

Posted 30 Nov 2006 in Gadgets; Home | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

Attention pregnant and nursing mamas (or friends and family of pregnant and nursing mamas!)! There are less than 48 hours left to enter to win our contest in partnership with The Angel Milk Group, purveyor of tasty and balancing nutritional shakes for moms. Three lucky winners will win Angel Milk products; click here for prize details.

This contest closes at midnight on November 30, and is open to entrants worldwide. Good luck!

Posted 29 Nov 2006 in Web (Admin) | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

It’s embarrassing how many days of the week I say, “OK, today, no sweets!” And yesterday, mere hours after patting myself on the back for exercising will power against the pull of the local bakery, I was going berserk over a treat Jon brought home from Faneuil Hall: a cream puff from Beard Papa’s.

Bizarre business identity aside, these cream puffs are spectacular. When given a range of options, I typically don’t share Jon’s penchant for all things choux, but the delicate crispness of Beard Papa’s puff pastry, coupled with the smooth, fresh whipped cream custard knocked out my existing cream puff skepticism (based on the sickly sweet artificial filling and rubbery pastry of cream puffs in days past).

Beard Papa’s is known for its cream puffs (made in small batches on the premises using natural ingredients and no preservatives), and also offers other dessert treats. They currently have locations in Asia, Australia, and the US, with more international locations apparently on the way.

Beard Papa’s, 1 Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston; Tel: 617-570-9070

Posted 29 Nov 2006 in Food & Drink; Local | Permalink | Comments (1) | E-mail this link

If a complete overhaul or your child’s room décor seems overwhelming, you’ll want to check out the pretty Mimi'lou wall art decals by French artist Miriam Derville. Offered by Zoë b, a company that specializes in stylish maternity and baby tees, Derville’s collection of colorful line drawing decals will transform your walls (or any other flat surface, e.g., furniture, windows, or mirrors) in minutes, and can be removed easily without leaving a trace.

Choose from a variety of animal, nature, or kids’ themes (shown, Bubbles, $25), or even get a portrait of your little one created as a wall decal.

Posted 28 Nov 2006 in Decor & Furniture; Home | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

Thanksgiving offered a scheduled means for us to count our blessings; an ongoing project by The Fetzer Institute provides inspiration to continue to reflect on, and connect with, loved ones.

The Fetzer Institute’s Campaign for Love & Forgiveness is an inclusive, nonpartisan initiative that invites people to think about and connect on the topics of love and forgiveness, with the goal of effecting meaningful change in individuals and communities. Initiated in response to tumultuous events abroad and at home, the campaign has included events around the country, and seeks to revive the lost art of letter writing as a means to express kindness, and deepen or renew relationships.

A simple note will do; but for added inspiration and aesthetic, check out the beautiful love and forgiveness stationery kits that Paper Source has produced in partnership with the campaign. The linen folio includes a variety of cards, writing papers, envelopes, expressions, letter writing tips, and a coordinating pen.

Posted 28 Nov 2006 in Gifts & Paper; Home | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

Even if you have managed to drop your pregnancy weight, everything fits differently. If you currently are lamenting that fabulous holiday dress you splurged on last season that no longer hits the way it used to, consider calling local tailor Said Bakhouch. My mama pal Evadne has high praise for the quality of his work (alterations, custom work, upholstery, pillows, curtains, etc.), and his timely, responsive, and respectful work ethic.

Even better, for a limited time, Mr. Bakhouch is offering door-to-door service (i.e., pick up, in-home measurements, drop-off); a huge bonus for those with little ones at home. Contact him via phone (cell: 781-325-2718; home: 617-569-4985) or e-mail, and kindly tell him that you heard about his services from devoted customer Evadne via Boston Mamas.

Posted 27 Nov 2006 in Domestics; Local | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

One would think that with over a decade’s worth of collective graduate school years between us, Jon and I would have been able to figure out that the disparity between Laurel and our bedtimes – coupled with a single hotel room – would leave the adults hanging around in the dark. This is what happened during a vacation last year; we booked at a hotel that didn’t offer suites and by 7:30 pm Laurel was asleep, her crib rolled into the little passage en route to the bathroom, and Jon and I sat in the dark by the window, sipping wine out of plastic cups. Somehow whispering sweet nothings in the dark loses its punch when you have no choice but to whisper and sit in the dark.

Well, this year we finally smartened up. When we booked our Thanksgiving lodging we compromised and opted to book at a midrange hotel and shorten our stay so we wouldn’t feel bad about requesting two adjoining rooms. Not only did Laurel love running between the two rooms, but once we put her to bed we could still hang out in the adjoining room until we were ready to hit the lights.

Tip: The adjoining room doors only have doorknobs on one side; we wedged the hotel’s information folio in the door so it wouldn’t accidentally close and lock Laurel in on the other side.

Posted 27 Nov 2006 in Travel | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

The holiday shopping craze officially is on; for one-stop shopping that will support an area public school, head up to Beverly next weekend for the Ayers Elementary School Unique Boutique Craft & Gift Fair (Saturday, Dec. 2, 10am - 2pm). The event will feature 93.7 MikeFM, Irish step dancers, gift vendors, and raffles. Kids can do their own holiday shopping at the boutique’s Kid’s Shop.

Ayers Elementary School, 40 Woodland Avenue, Beverly. For more information, contact Wendy Doucette, 978-921-4385.

Posted 25 Nov 2006 in Fun Indoors; Local | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

My mom, a traditional Korean lady, always impresses me with her fearlessness in the kitchen. And given her interest in culinary assimilation, it wasn’t unusual for a family meal to include traditional Korean fare and, say, a tray of lasagna or fried chicken she had just taught herself how to make.

So I’ve learned that mixing it up at the dinner table is a good thing. If you are on side dish duty tomorrow and want to bring a starch slightly off the traditional path, try the Rice Pilaf with Currants and Pine Nuts from Nick Stellino's Mediterranean Flavors (shown; available at Amazon). The homey warmth of this dish will blend well with, yet add a little cultural kick to, the holiday table.

Posted 22 Nov 2006 in Books & Entertainment; For Grownups; Home; Recipes | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

We all likely could stand to incorporate more stretching in our day, particularly what with all the time spent sitting at the computer or hauling hefty babies around. Stretching will serve especially well this week, whether it is to ease tension from travel or holiday preparations, or gear you up for the dessert course.

Here’s some content to check out; print your favorites for easy reference: 1) morning stretches you can do in bed; 2) eight simple stretches that incorporate modified yoga poses (includes pictures); 3) a full body set of stretches for women (includes diagrams).

Be sure to follow the instructions so you stretch safely, and enjoy your moments of peaceful self-care.

Posted 22 Nov 2006 in Bath, Beauty & Health; Travel | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

Isn’t it ironic that holiday hosting can be a source of honor, joy, exhaustion, and irritation practically all at the same time?

Show your appreciation to the holiday hosts who no doubt are losing sleep this week over redecoration, cleaning, and food preparation. Candles or soaps from the delicious Pacifica line are an elegant and environmentally friendly choice. Pacifica’s pillar and soy wax candles are clean burning and made by hand using paraffin or vegetable-based soy in small batches; soaps are handmade using biodegradable, vegan, vegetable glycerin soap base. Both products are infused with essential oils and other fragrance enhancers, and the results are good enough to eat; we especially love the unusual, rich Mexican Cocoa soap (shown, $6.95). Products are offered individually, or in prepackaged gift sets.

Available at Whole Foods and many other gift stores and bookstores. Click here to search Pacifica's (impressively accurate and comprehensive looking) vendor lists for the US and Canada.

Posted 21 Nov 2006 in Gifts & Paper; Home | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

One + one = wow.

Per usual, I’m on dessert duty for Thanksgiving and this pumpkin pecan pie recipe is first on my baking docket. A spectacular marriage of two great pies, the pecan element jazzes up the normally simple pumpkin pie, and the pumpkin is a smooth alternative to the typical cavity burning pecan pie filling.

Even better, this pie travels well by car. For an extended trunk ride (so far 3 hours has been our max drive time with this pie), place the pie in a cooler with ice packs; pad cooler with towels so the pie is stable. Wear your drawstring pants.

Posted 21 Nov 2006 in Home; Recipes | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

Whether you need to engage your kids on the road or while you’re basting, the Sierra Club’s Baby Animals Knowledge Cards ($9.95 online or check your local bookstore) are a marvelous source of entertainment across the ages.

This compact card deck includes 48 cards with color images of baby animals on one side, and historical information about the animal on the reverse. Babies and toddlers will be fascinated by the cute critters; the reverse text is great for older kids and adults alike (we have developed a deep affection for the evolutionarily stubborn Tapir…).

Cool tip: punch a hole through each card and tie the deck together with a ribbon or cord; it will save you from picking up dropped cards in the car, and make cleaning up around the house easier.

Posted 20 Nov 2006 in Art Supplies & Toys | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

In honor of the arrival of the holiday season, this week our daily entries will focus on tips, tricks, and fabulous recipes related to staying sane during Thanksgiving, whether you're staying local or hitting the road.

Posted 20 Nov 2006 in Web (Admin) | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

Auntie Sha-sha has an unbelievable knack for picking out toys for Laurel (and her friends…). A recent play date reminded me of what a huge hit the Imaginarium 5-way Giant Bead Maze ($49.99 at Toys R Us) always is with the little ones.

The five sides of this groovy cube feature an abacus, wooden xylophone, magnetic dry erase board with four wooden magnets, tracking maze, and bead and zoo maze (top piece) that inverts for compact storage. Good for visual tracking, shape & color recognition, eye-hand coordination, and tactile & fine motor skills.

Posted 18 Nov 2006 in Art Supplies & Toys | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

Today after a meeting downtown, I decided to put off the to do list for a couple of hours and connect with my husband for lunch. That in itself was a huge treat (more on the inspiration for that get together, and the restaurant itself, later), and as I crossed Government Center and Faneuil Hall to meet Jon, I was struck by how lovely it was to be walking along the cobblestones, taking in the city and waterfront, especially now that the elevated Central Artery is gone.

Tomorrow afternoon you can experience Faneuil Hall in high spirits; at 1pm Santa (I’d prefer a nondenominational holiday spirit, but so be it…) will kick off a celebration of music and lights, featuring performances by bell ringers, singers, and dancers from across New England. At 7pm, you can participate in the countdown leading to the illumination of over 300,000 lights set along the buildings and trees of Faneuil Hall Marketplace.

Posted 17 Nov 2006 in Fun Outdoors; Local | Permalink | Comments (1) | E-mail this link

Keeping up with the feeding and diapering needs of a newborn can be overwhelming; tack on the frustration of attempting to dress your babe in ill-conceived pieces (e.g., our all time worst newborn garment: jumper with no crotch snaps and only buttons up the back) and your tank will be running on negative.

Enter New For Baby, a company started by two moms who knew they could improve on existing layettes that were lackluster in fit and style. New For Baby offers a yummy mix and match layette collection in fresh pieces constructed to make dressing a breeze. Their long sleeved bodysuit (shown, girl’s pink and chocolate, $18) is tagless, offers foldover cuffs to prevent scratching, and has neckline snaps for easy on and off. Their incredibly soft, coordinate-with-anything micro fleece hoodie ($26) is another must have.

Choose from New For Baby’s hip boy, girl, and unisex color palettes; or select from their coordinated gift sets (ranging from $10 - $185). New For Baby is offering Boston Mamas readers a bargain; enter code “BM06” to receive a 10% discount at checkout.

Posted 17 Nov 2006 in Fashion; For Little Ones | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

A lot can happen in five years.

We’ve professed our love for Barefoot Books before, and this weekend the globally minded publisher celebrates its 5th birthday with their “Go Barefoot for Literacy!” weekend-long party at the flagship store in Cambridge. Festivities kick off this evening at 6pm with live music, champagne, and snacks; through the rest of the weekend, hear live music with internationally acclaimed children’s performer Fred Penner, engage in arts and crafts projects with award-winning illustrator Clare Beaton, and hear Barefoot stories regaled by professional storytellers. Click here for the schedule of events.

These events are free to attend, but no doubt you’ll find it tough to resist the amazing selection of books and toys at the store. And you'll feel good about those purchases; a portion of the weekend's proceeds will be donated to the local literacy organization ReadBoston.

Barefoot Books, 1771 Mass. Ave., Cambridge; Tel: 617-349-1610

Posted 16 Nov 2006 in Fun Indoors; Local; Outreach | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

Who says good clean fun can’t be cool?

Crib Rock Couture’s ultra hip line of tees and onesies breathes new life into classic nursery rhymes via clever infusion of music and pop culture lingo. These punchy nursery rhyme concert tees are printed on super comfy, vividly colored fabrics, including a fabulous new line of Supima (100% Pima) cotton thermal tees. Laurel went loco over the blissfully soft, perfectly constructed Hey Diddle Diddle tee (shown; $40). She couldn’t get the tee on fast enough (a major coup, given that lately she’s preferred running around the house in various states of undress…), or resist pointing out the characters and singing the tee lyrics repeatedly through the day.

Crib Rock’s collection currently includes designs to fit lil’ rockers from 6 months to 14 years. Coordinated sweatpants and clam diggers for the under 2 crowd are forthcoming, and come spring, adult tees will make a comeback. A fabulously soft tee or tank designed especially for hip mamas is in the works. Stay tuned!

Crib Rock Couture is available locally at Bump (Beacon Hill, Boston) and Oh Baby Love (Salem); alternatively, shop the online boutique and receive 10% off your order when you use the code “BostonMamas” at checkout.

Posted 15 Nov 2006 in Fashion; For Little Ones; Local; Retail | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

Now that you’ve had a couple of weeks to recover from Halloween, it’s time to gear up for the good stuff and head to the new Taza Chocolate Lounge in Central Square.

Taza’s approach is blissfully minimal; they source cocoa beans directly from farming communities and co-operatives, and grind the beans into chocolate in their Somerville studio, focusing on the preservation of pure, single-origin flavors. Their products are offered at the Taza Chocolate Lounge, Thursdays and Fridays from 7:30 – 11:30pm, in partnership with Mariposa Bakery. In addition to coffee and select baked items from Mariposa, the Taza menu currently includes Madagascar chocolate ice cream, chocolate fondue, tasting plates of South American or Indonesian chocolate, and two types of iced or hot chocolate.

No reservations are required for this intimate yet casual drop in spot, but for groups of 8 or more, reservations are available at 7:30pm or 10pm. Taza also books private parties (25 person minimum) Sunday through Wednesday at Mariposa, and are pleased to accommodate birthday cakes or other requests in addition to their regular menu offerings. For details about private parties or factory tours, contact Larry Slotnick.

Taza Chocolate Lounge at Mariposa Bakery, 424 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, Tel: 617-876-6500

Posted 15 Nov 2006 in Food & Drink; Local | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

It doesn’t take much to push a parent’s worry button, and the source often is another parent, either in an attempt to make conversation, or enlist you as an accomplice in their web of worry.

The other day during day care drop off another parent commented on Laurel’s maturity (a relative term, of course), looked at the birthday board, and said gravely, “Oh, you’re going to have the same problem as us.” The problem being that both of our kids were born in early September; we thus would just miss the typical cutoff date for kindergarten (August 31 or September 1 in many Mass. towns) and be relegated to an extra year in pre-school.

I immediately began to fret. As an older student, would Laurel be bored in school? Will she continue on her 98th percentile height trajectory and tower freakishly over her classmates? On the other hand, would she be a late bloomer (like both of her parents were), and thus benefit from being an older student? Or would it be good for her to be older and not be as stressed out academically? And then, extrapolating further, would any of these differences make it difficult for Laurel to make friends? Would she be happy? And so on and so forth…

Once the initial wave of anxiety passed, I felt annoyed with myself for getting sucked into the other parent's web of worry. All of these concerns were based on a host of unknown future variables (e.g., our residence, Laurel’s physical and intellectual development, the cutoff dates remaining the same), as well as my own baggage as a late bloomer quietly trying to work below my potential to avoid fulfilling the overachieving Asian stereotype. There’s little I can do about any of this, short of heading to the therapist to work on my baggage.

It’s hard not to get caught up in other parents’ worries, but for now I’m going to shelve these concerns and just enjoy Laurel’s “school” in its current form; where art and song rule, and the differences that the kids are most interested in involve the contents of one another's lunchboxes.

Posted 14 Nov 2006 in Childcare; Childcare & Education; Development & Behavior; Local | Permalink | Comments (2) | E-mail this link

Typically, it’s tough for me not to love anything that comes trimmed with fabulous ribbon, but IsaBooties soft-soled baby shoes are truly praise worthy. IsaBooties come in a delicious palette of colors and coordinating trims for boys and girls ages 3 - 18 months (shown, Chocolate Fleurs, $24), and we give these 100% animal-product free kicks top marks over their leather soft-soled counterparts.

Why? IsaBooties are machine-washable and dryable, but unlike leather shoes, the buttery soft suede uppers won’t fade, shrink, or crack, and the material is durable, breathable, and resistant to scuffs and stains. The soles are constructed from a patented durable grip material that is non-slip in wet, dry, warm, or cold conditions, yet retains a soft and flexible feel that is perfect for new walkers.

We enjoyed the cute designs of leather soft-soled shoes when Laurel was learning to walk, but after a handful of launderings her shoes looked cracked and weathered and came out of the dryer stiff as a board. IsaBooties will be our shoe of choice on the next go 'round.

Posted 14 Nov 2006 in Eco Living; Fashion; For Little Ones | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

A good deed goes a long way.

Mary Murphy’s How Kind! ($6.99 at Amazon) uses colorful, chunky illustrations and a simple plot to depict a loving story of circular barnyard kindness. Your babe will learn how simple gifts such as carrots, flowers, back scratches, and eggs (intact and hatched) can bring immense joy. ‘Tis the season.

Posted 13 Nov 2006 in Books & Entertainment; For Babies & Kids | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

I first heard Boston-based folk singer-songwriter Catie Curtis back when I was in college; she was new on the scene but clearly on her way up. Curtis's most recent album, Long Night Moon (currently available for $12.97 at Amazon), encompasses a fresh clarity - both in artistry and intention - that makes evident her place in the folk rock genre.

Curtis’s songwriting for this album coincided with her and her partner becoming first time parents to two daughters, and this new role contributed to the album's themes of awareness and connection and making a difference. Of note, the track People Look Around - which addresses the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the necessity to come together during difficult times - took top honors in this year’s International Songwriting Competition.

Curtis currently is on the road; her next performance in Massachusetts will be on December 8, 2006 at the Iron Horse in Northampton.

Posted 13 Nov 2006 in Books & Entertainment; For Grownups | Permalink | Comments (1) | E-mail this link

Don’t feel bad that BFF’s Katie & Posh didn’t invite you to Paris Fashion Week; the Parisian runway has arrived at the Museum of Fine Arts.

The MFA’s Fashion Show: Paris Collection 2006 runs from November 12, 2006 through March 16, 2007 (member preview days are November 8 – 11), and will display creations from the spring and fall/winter collections of Azzedine Alaia, Hussein Chalayan, Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, John Galliano for Christian Dior, Christian Lacroix, Maison Martin Margiela, Olivier Theyskens for Rochas, Valentino, Viktor & Rolf, and Yohji Yamamoto. It’ll be like a 3D viewing of the In Style “The Look” section (minus the celebrities of course).

Click here for ticket information; however, given that entry fees will require general admission + special exhibition tickets, we suggest checking in with your local library for discount MFA passes.

Posted 10 Nov 2006 in Fun Indoors; Local | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

Comfort food season is here, and what better way to celebrate than with a dish that hides vegetables like no other?

Laurel goes berserk when I make lasagna; as in, eats adult sized portions and asks for more. And the best part is that this recipe is packed with vegetables and protein, and I recently made adjustments to improve the nutritional content further (e.g., replacing typical ricotta cheese with tofu – seriously, you can’t even taste the difference and the dish sits much better in the belly). The resulting recipe is easy to knock together, packed with good stuff, and yummy for the whole family. Click here for the recipe.

Posted 10 Nov 2006 in Home; Recipes | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

Had I not been so stunned in the moment, I might have been embarrassed earlier this week when my former boss left me hanging, all dressed up with nowhere to go.

The event was a gala for his research institute; a chance to promote the goings on and solicit donations. I dreaded going, mostly because when I accepted the invitation I had chickened out of providing the stipulation that I be introduced as a lab alum, not as current faculty. (Despite repeated conversations otherwise, there still seems to be the impression that I’m returning to research once I finish raising Laurel.)

But softy that I am, I went. I rearranged my schedule and made childcare arrangements for Laurel. I killed time around Harvard Square after I found parking, distracting myself with some editing work. And then when I arrived at the gala venue, the lights were out and the doors locked. I walked around back to the security desk only to find out that the event was cancelled. The poor florist also hadn’t been called. The guard looked horrified by the idea of dealing with more befuddled guests. It was yet another example of the typical chaotic, surreal behavior that helped make it easier to quit my research job and I couldn’t believe I walked into the lair again.

And while the upshot was that I got to get all fabulous looking and still make it home in time to see Laurel before bedtime, these facts hardly negate the lack of notification for the party that never was. And why am I telling you this? To keep me honest. To remind me of why I’m here and not there. Thanks for reading.

Posted 9 Nov 2006 in Mama in the Workplace | Permalink | Comments (1) | E-mail this link

There typically is a village ready to welcome a baby into the world, and now you can acknowledge all the players with the clever, playful movie poster baby announcements from 5starbaby. Created by graphic designer and father of three Peter Malamas, these A-list announcements are unique in offering the ability to detail what a collectively happy occasion the birth of a baby truly is. In addition to the typical baby specs, you can include the names of your loved ones, pets, and particularly fabulous birthing staff in the “cast list,” as well as personalized “baby reviews” from the soft-hearted critics corner.

These announcements typically are printed on premium glossy photo paper at 5 x 8 inches (click here for information on alternative sizes), and cost between $2.75 - $3.50 per announcement, depending on quantity. Mention that you heard about 5starbaby from Boston Mamas to receive 20% off your order!

Posted 9 Nov 2006 in Gifts & Paper; Home | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

The topic of TV and kids clearly invokes worry and guilt in parents. I’ve recently talked TV with two of my second time mom friends (both expressed concern about letting their 2 ½ year olds watch cartoons), and also with a dad pal who cut the cord on TV when his daughter was born, and who has been alarmed by media reports describing potential links between TV intake and autism or ADHD.

Two elements from these discussions are interesting; the first being the parental inner critic, the second being academics and media. I’ll consider each of these in turn.

Whether parental worry and guilt stems from the onslaught of parenting books, unsolicited advice from relatives, or deeper issues from our own upbringings, it certainly seems as if we err on the side of being self-critical. I certainly have wrestled with this recently, beating myself up over a few episodes of impatience with Laurel in a week otherwise replete with great interaction. In the case of my two friends, they needed that 20-minute cartoon for their kid so they could nurse their newborn or just get a break during a crazy day at home. To me, this seems like a reasonable compromise; but one that probably seems difficult for parents to tread in the face of zero tolerance approaches or warnings by the American Association of Pediatrics (AAP).

The academics and media issue is both interesting and disturbing.

My dad pal asked me to interpret a Slate feature highlighting a Cornell research study that implies a causal relationship between TV and autism. However, I’d hold your hyperventilating for the moment. This research paper was made public by a Cornell press release, not via a news story in anticipation of the release of a peer-reviewed journal article. Ob