I didn’t plan on this being sexual health education day, but it seemed only fitting to follow my tomKIT post with this one from PPLM Parent Education Program Manager Amy Cody. Today, Amy shares three favorite resources to help parents discuss sexual health and sexuality issues with kids ages 4 and up:

From Amy:

“Through our Let's Be Honest workshops, we recommend three favorite books to families as invaluable resources for children and teens to find age-appropriate and scientifically accurate information about sex and sexuality topics. (And, as part of our parent education program, we offer complimentary copies of the first two to parent participants in our workshops!)

Kids of all ages have lots of ideas and questions about their bodies. Answering their questions and responding to their concerns reassures them that they are perfectly normal and healthy. These books, written by Robie H. Harris and illustrated by Michael Emberley, can help parents be the primary sexuality educators of their children. We know that parents want to do the best job they can to keep their kids and teens healthy. But information about sexual health, including puberty and other topics, can be complicated.

As part of our program, we recommend these books for parents, teachers, librarians, health professionals, and clergy as trusted and accessible resources to get answers and information about how to talk to youth about sexuality.

It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health

This book, written for youth ages 10 and up, celebrates 15 years in print with a fully updated version, including a brand-new chapter on safe and healthy Internet use - one of parents' key concerns. It offers young people real information they need - now more than ever - to make responsible decisions that can help them stay healthy as they approach and experience puberty and adolescence. It provides accurate, unbiased answers to nearly every conceivable question, from conception and puberty to birth control and AIDS. This book also is available in Spanish and in over twenty-five other languages.

It's So Amazing!: A Book about Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, and Families

This nonfiction book for children ages seven and up provides accurate, unbiased answers to nearly every conceivable question - from reproduction to pregnancy and birth - while giving children a healthy understanding of their bodies. Our kids need and have a right to have the most up-to-date and accurate science facts about their bodies and about one of science's most amazing stories - the story of how just one egg and one sperm can grow into a baby. This book is available in Spanish and many other languages.

It's Not the Stork: A Book About Girls, Boys, Babies, Bodies, Families and Friends

This book, written especially for children ages four and up, helps answer those endless and perfectly normal questions that preschool, kindergarten, and early elementary school children ask about how they began and what makes a girl and girl and a boy a boy."

Posted by Christine Koh on 30 Sep 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; Family Issues; For Babies & Kids; Tweens & Teens
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My mom and I never discussed birds, bees, or any other metaphorical critters, so it’s not surprising that I was completely unprepared when my period started. I’m thus committed to educating Laurel about periods and am happy to see products such as the tomKIT on the market. Designed to equip girls for their period in eco-friendly fashion, the tomKIT includes biodegradable, flushable pads, wipes, and panty liners, recyclable disposal sacks, cotton underwear, and natural hand sanitizer and lip balm, all housed in a natural jute cosmetic case. Also handily included: a chart to teach girls to track their periods because really, it’s pretty inexcusable for women (like me and many of my friends) to make it well into their 20s before understanding cycles.

Want to win a tomKIT? Here’s how:

This past summer I responded to an invitation to submit an idea for an episode of The Juice, a content arm of BlogHer that offers women tips on getting more of what they want (and less of what they don’t) out of life. I shared my perspective on giving more to and thus getting more out of relationships and was honored that my post was selected as the winning entry. I flew to San Francisco to film a webisode about the topic with the lovely Jory Des Jardins (BlogHer co-founder and host of The Juice) and the segment is now live! To check it out, visit The Juice and select episode “Giving More, Getting More.”

Posted by Christine Koh on 29 Sep 2009 | Permalink | Comments (2) | Filed in Family Issues; Mama in the Workplace; Web (Admin)
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Back in our sleep deprived (and admittedly clueless) days of early parenting, Dr. Harvey Karp’s Happiest Baby on the Block was one of our go-to parenting manuals. And lucky for local parents, on October 7 (6-8 pm), you can learn baby and toddler calming techniques (related to sleep, tantrums, etc.) from Dr. Karp himself, thanks to an event coordinated by my friends over at Isis Maternity. Taking place at the Isis Prudential location, the event will include Dr. Karp’s presentation + Q & A, refreshments, book signings, and raffle prizes. Space is limited; ticket proceeds will benefit Massachusetts Citizens for Children.

Posted by Christine Koh on 29 Sep 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; Development & Behavior; For Grownups; Local; Outreach; Sleep
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It’s been so long since I posted about baking with apples that I couldn’t remember whether I already posted my mom’s awesome and easy apple crisp recipe. Turns out I did (three years ago, back when Boston Mamas was just a baby!), and today I wanted to share this recipe again from the archives because it is so ridiculously good (plus, the back story is super sweet). Making this apple crisp yesterday with Laurel served as a perfect rainy day activity as well as a way to use up the apples she picked on a recent school field trip. An apple peeler makes quick work of the apples, and I recommend engaging your kids to mix the crisp topping. Also recommended: topping the apple crisp with vanilla ice cream.

Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Christine Koh on 28 Sep 2009 | Permalink | Comments (2) | Filed in Gadgets; Home; Recipes
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Whether you've experienced data loss directly or have heard about hard drive crashes (and precious family photo and video loss...) from friends, clearly it's important to protect your files. Today, Kristin shares a fabulously easy back up solution for Mac users. Read on for Kristin’s review of the Seagate FreeAgent Go external hard drive/back up system, as well as to learn how to win a Seagate FreeAgent Go (entry open until September 30):

From Kristin:

“Being a photographer is great. Having to move my entire life and mindset from film to digital was, well, not so great. I needed to purchase a workhorse of a digital camera as well as a new computer. And then of course there’s the all important task of backing up my data (an issue I had been dragging my feet over for some time…). So when Christine asked whether I’d be interested in testing Seagate’s FreeAgent Go, I couldn't say no.

The first thing I noticed about the FreeAgent Go was how compact and sleek it is; super small, thin, and modern looking. Love it! The second thing I noticed while reading the instructions was that it comes Mac Time Machine ready. This was a good thing because I had just learned that my Time Machine wasn't working at all because I needed an external hard drive to make it work. Whoops.

After working my way through the (seemingly adult-proof) packaging, I was presented with four cables, a docking station, and the hard drive. The instructions are in picture form with examples for installing via 800 FireWire, 400 FireWire, USB, or 800 FireWire + docking station. I tend to be clueless about cable-related matters but fortunately there are only four options. I opted to hook up the FreeAgent Go via the docking station + 800 FireWire cable, which worked on the first try.

I plugged in the docking station and connected the FreeAgent Go into the station; there were no lights or sounds to notify me that was something was happening but as I began to close the windows to see my desktop, low and behold, a notification popped up: "Do you want to use 'Free Agent Drive' to back up with Time Machine?" Yes! I clicked "Use as a back up disk" and another screen popped up, automatically turned my Time Machine on, and began the back up. I also was notified that my data would be backed up every 30 minutes! NICE!

During the back up process I was a little concerned that I couldn’t hear or see anything to indicate back up status, so I dug deeper into the Time Machine help menu, which revealed that it can take a few hours for the first back up to happen. I decided to walk away, go to bed, and see what resulted in the morning.

The following morning, I turned on my computer and my screen looked just as it does any other give day so I wondered, hmm, did it back up my stuff? I clicked on Time Machine, and there it was: all of my photos, music, and documents stored in this little itty-bitty silver box. Fantastic!

So here are the specs for this little miracle of miracles. The FreeAgent Go is Mac-specific and is available in 160GB, 250GB, 320GB, 500GB, or 640GB capacity. It’s super thin (and thus ultra portable) and you can sync data between computers by simply plugging in and updating. It comes in a variety of stylish colors and is available for $180 or less depending on which size you select.

Losing the contents of your hard drive – whether the material is work or family oriented – is a nightmare, yet it seems as if everyone either has experienced this directly or knows someone who has. I love how easy the FreeAgent Go is; if you’re on a Mac and are looking for an easy back up system, I highly recommend getting this gadget!”

Now, want to win a Seagate FreeAgent Go? Here's how:

There’s no shortage of opportunity to experience community spirit this weekend. Consider these free, family friendly town festivals: on Saturday, Arlington Town Day (Arlington), Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival - Free Outdoor Festival (Boston; Columbus Avenue site includes a family park), Danehy Park Family Day (Cambridge), Essex County Greenbelt Fall Festival (Essex), Meet Me Downtown Festival of the Arts (Lynn), Fall Family Day Festival (Milton), What the Fluff? (Somerville), and Faire on the Square (Watertown). And through the weekend: Marblehead Fall Festival (Marblehead) and Spirit of Shrewsbury Fall Festival (Shrewsbury).

Image credit: Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival

Posted by Christine Koh on 25 Sep 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Fun Outdoors; Local
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One of the many things I adore about Boston is that it’s easy to get back to nature both in and out of the city. Consider these free, family friendly, nature inspired fall festivals: Fall Harvest Festival & Perennial Divide (Mattapan), Rappin’ with Raptors Festival (Mattapan), and Waltham Farm Day (Waltham). All three events take place tomorrow, Saturday, September 26.

Image credit: Waltham Fields Community Farm

Posted by Christine Koh on 25 Sep 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Fun Outdoors; Local
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No matter the size of one's home, I believe in maintaining a minimalist, small space mentality given that the less you have, the less overwhelmed you'll be by your stuff. (I chant the mantra "one thing in, one thing out.") In my latest monthly column as Minimalist Mama at Shoestring Magazine, I share my favorite small space solutions for the main areas of the house that tend to collect clutter. Enjoy!

Posted by Christine Koh on 24 Sep 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Decor & Furniture; Home; Solutions
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We’re still not out of the woods with Laurel’s transition to kindergarten, and I recently added something to our repertoire that brings her great comfort. Though ideally I’d prefer more modern styling, I was looking quickly for something affordable; I ordered this silver locket necklace from Overstock.com and Laurel loves it. I had her choose the photos to include (she opted for our family + her eating an ice cream sundae this summer) then resized, printed, cut, and popped in the photos, facing them right side up from Laurel’s vantage point (secure the pictures with a tape roll to keep the photos from sliding around). The locket is easy for Laurel to open (frequently) and the length perfect for her to keep us close to her heart.

UPDATE 9/24/09: See my comment response below for a parallel recommendation for boys.

Posted by Christine Koh on 24 Sep 2009 | Permalink | Comments (6) | Filed in Development & Behavior; Gifts & Paper; Home
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It takes a village…to get an awesome deal. And to score bargains in Boston and beyond, check out BuyWithMe. The concept is simple: BuyWithMe offers big discounts on local offerings (e.g., the $20 for $40 Diva Bistro voucher I purchased last night…woo hoo!), but the deal only flies if a minimum number of people sign up. Extra cool: BuyWithMe gave me an editorial heads up on today’s family friendly bargain with Smolak Farms in North Andover (which, incidentally, Laurel just visited for a school field trip), and are offering two lucky winners Smolak Farms vouchers (great for apple and pumpkin picking and many other goodies). Read on for the details:

BuyWithMe is offering two Smolak Farms deals:

#1 - $10 for $20 worth of apples (one per person; vouchers expire 10/4/09 due to apple availability).

#2 - $15 for $35 worth of ANYTHING at the farm (purchase and combine as many vouchers as you want; vouchers are valid until 11/30/09, and can be used for anything, e.g, pumpkins, Christmas trees, baked goods, birthday parties, etc.).

Now, want to be one of two lucky winners to receive Smolak Farms vouchers? Here's how:

Today, Jennifer shares a cause that is near and dear to her heart:

“In 1992 I lost my grandfather to Alzheimer's disease. Since that time I've volunteered for the MA/NH Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association and walked in the Memory Walk to help raise money and awareness for this disease. It's a great event for a great cause (and a lovely stroller-friendly walk around the Charles River). Walks are being coordinated across the country; locally, walks will take place in Cambridge, Gardner, Walpole, and Westfield this weekend, and in Andover and Plymouth the following weekend.

I joined in the fight for sad reasons, but it is with great hope and a sense of accomplishment that I continue to support it. In the 8 years I've been a volunteer I've seen the amazing strides they've made for Alzheimer's patients, for their caregivers and families, and great progress in research...not to mention the dedicated staff and my co-volunteers that I've met along the way.

But there still is so much more to be done. Please consider walking this weekend, getting involved, or making a donation, no matter how big or small. It all makes a difference!

Consider these donation amounts and the statistics they represent:

$5.30 for the 5.3 million Americans with Alzheimer's.

$10 for their 10 million Alzheimer caregivers.

$35 for the 35 million people with Alzheimer's around the world.

$78 for the 78 million US baby boomers who will be impacted by Alzheimer's disease.

$148 for the $148 billion annual societal cost to our nation.

$428 for the meager $428 million dollars the US government invests in Alzheimer research as compared to $6 billion for cancer, $4 billion for heart disease, and $3 billion HIV/AIDS.”

Posted by Christine Koh on 23 Sep 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Good Deeds; Local; Outreach
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Today, Kate recommends the compact and engaging Let's Pretend Rose's Doll's House:

“During a rainy weekend visiting relatives in Rhode Island, my aunt – one of the most intuitively child-oriented people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing – erased the rainy day blues by giving my daughter the Let's Pretend Rose's Doll's House.

Designed to look like a large hard-backed book and containing a multi-room dollhouse complete with small people, furniture, and reusable stickers, the dollhouse is a masterpiece of creative form and child-friendly function. The dollhouse folds up for easy portability - and includes a large pouch for storing the accessories - and unfolds in a way that really captures the young imagination. My daughter typically isn't one to play quietly by herself for extended periods, but she loves this dollhouse, and actually allowed me to sleep in one weekend morning - a lifetime first - because she was playing with the house. Whether you have a trip coming up or are simply looking for toy options that don't take up a lot of space, the Let's Pretend Doll House is a great option.”

Posted by Christine Koh on 22 Sep 2009 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; For Babies & Kids; Travel
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Really, how can you go wrong buying a cupcake (or two or three) that has philanthropic rewards? This week is Cupcakes for a Cause Week, during which bakeries across the country are selling specially decorated cupcakes and donating partial proceeds to CancerCare for Kids, a free, professional support service for children affected by cancer. The cupcake drive runs until September 27 and is national; in Massachusetts, participating bakeries include Kickass Cupcakes (Somerville), Lyndell’s Bakery (Somerville & Boston), and Nantucket Bake Shop (Nantucket).

Posted by Christine Koh on 22 Sep 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Food & Drink; Good Deeds; Local
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Laurel has been enamored with mermaids ever since spending time at "mermaid cove" with her friend Lucy during our summer vacation in Maine. Barbara Beery’s Mermaid Cookbook - gifted to Laurel by her aunt Stephanie – subsequently has been a big hit. I give this book props for its spiral binding, easy recipes, beautiful photos (accompanying every recipe), and inclusion of “real food” recipes (i.e., those using fruits and veggies, not just sweets). Lovely for mermaid-themed play dates or parties, the book also helps set a mermaid mood any time of day, as we did this weekend, testing out the Swirling Mermaid Smoothies, Treasure Island Trail Mix, Sea Crunch Bagel Crisps, and Triton’s Tuna Fish Sandwiches. Each recipe allowed Laurel to help out in the kitchen, and all of the results were yummy.

Posted by Christine Koh on 21 Sep 2009 | Permalink | Comments (2) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; Feeding & Nursing; For Babies & Kids
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Today, Heather shares a review of Exederm’s sensitive skin care products, which she tested out to help treat her son Will’s severe eczema. Read on for Heather’s review, as well as to learn how to win a collection of baby skin care products from Exederm.

From Heather:

“My 2.5 year old son Will suffers from severe eczema. I have to be so very careful with any product that touches his sensitive skin -- everything from laundry detergent to body care products. I recently tested some great products from Exederm, a company that offers goods for people with ultra sensitive skin.

Exederm's philosophy is simple; they avoid irritants that trigger eczema and use the mildest ingredients possible. Their products are free of fragrance, color or dyes, parabens, lanolin, sodium laureth sulfate, propylene glycol, formaldehyde, or phthalates; basically, they avoid ingredients that may irritate and cause a rash on sensitive skin or trigger eczema flare-ups. Exederm has received multiple 'Seal of Acceptance' honors from The National Eczema Association.

With Will, I tested the Baby Eczema Wash, Baby Eczema Shampoo, Baby Eczema Oil, Baby Eczema Cream, and Baby Eczema Lotion, and really liked these products. They are odorless, gentle, yet effective, and most importantly, non-irritating. The eczema wash and shampoo are great. They lather well, clean without irritating or stripping the skin, and rinse clean.

The body oil is my favorite. I use if faithfully right after Will’s bath. It goes on smooth and immediately absorbs to seal in moisture. I was pleasantly surprised that there was no residual slippery, greasy feeling; just baby soft skin. I also loved the intensive eczema cream. It goes on light but works like a heavier cream without leaving skin greasy. It worked really well on Will’s problem spots. The eczema lotion also works well, although I prefer the intensive cream because I found that I could go longer before needing to reapply the product.

I highly recommend Exederm for infants and children with eczema. The products are a bit pricey but I can completely justify it given that they worked so well and made Will more comfortable. At the moment, Exederm only is available online (though they do currently ship free on orders over $50 in the US and Canada); I hope they’ll land in local stores soon!”

Now, want to be win an Exederm gift set? Here's how:

Yesterday I was honored to speak about organic living alongside Stonyfield Farm CE-Yo Gary Hirshberg at a media event for YoBaby Meals at the Boston Children's Museum. And I couldn’t stop thinking about two things: 1) how small acts truly can lead to big changes; and 2) that grownups deserve good food too. I’ll address each of these issues in turn. And at the conclusion, you can learn how to win one of two Stonyfield Farm goodie bags to help you get your organic mojo running.

Gary Hirshberg is one of the friendliest, least intimidating CEOs (in Stonyfield yogurt land, he’s the CE-Yo) I’ve ever met. We’re different in that he’s an organics pioneer (he founded Stonyfield 26 years ago) and I’m a consumer (an organic devotee of over 10 years), but what was clear to me at the event was that we’re the same in our beliefs about the importance of small acts, and that grownups deserve to eat just as well as babies do.

Small Acts Can Lead To Big Change.

There’s no question that Americans are amidst a food crisis; people are consuming high volumes of cheap, chemical and filler laden food – which Gary pointed out isn’t even really food – and suffering the effects down the road. And while this seems like a daunting tide to turn, Gary made the excellent point that it took a lot of small and gradual steps to get us into this mess, which means that we also can take a lot of small and gradual steps to get out of the mess. He suggested speaking up as a consumer in two ways. First, by purchasing organic, as much as you are able. Gary pointed out the power of collective buying, even in a small amount, such that if everyone bought one single organic item tomorrow – something as small as an apple or carrot even – this equals billions of dollars in buying power that can create change. Second, he recommended making your voice heard at your favorite grocery store’s customer service desk to request organics and specific products; that stores are listening because they want to be able to give customers what they want in order to get them in the door.

I have shared a lot of tips about making green changes here on Boston Mamas; always with the belief that small acts matter enormously – on personal, community, and global levels – and that all of these acts are interrelated. In addition to describing small changes people can make (e.g., shopping organic, making food from scratch, supporting companies that package their goods responsibly, picking up litter and recyclables on the street, carrying home recyclables when a recycling bin isn’t available, etc.), I also discussed how those smaller decisions can impact larger ones, such as our (initially challenging) choice to remain a one-car family, which allows us to live greener, reduce household maintenance, and free up dollars so we can afford to buy organic food, textiles, and so forth.

Grownups Deserve Good Food Too.

Gary and I both touched on the fact that organics often come on people’s radar when babies enter the picture. I also have seen many instances where families prioritize so that their babies and kids eat organics, but they – the grownups – do not. But grownups deserve good food too.

In addition to talking about the organic landscape, the event served to introduce folks to YoBaby Meals, which is Stonyfield’s new organic line of yogurts mixed with fruits and vegetables. Even though I used to mix Laurel’s fruit and veggie baby purees, I have to admit that when I first heard about this three-way combination, I thought, “Really? That sounds a little weird.” And of course when I mentioned it to Jon and Laurel they kept making up flavors such as broccoli & banana yogurt and brussels sprout & kiwi yogurt.

I subsequently was surprised during the testing. Stonyfield currently offers three flavors: Pear & Green Bean, Peach & Squash, and Apple & Sweet Potato, and they are all super yummy. For real. It’s nothing like the experience of tasting some jarred baby foods, where – in my opinion – they’re a little bland and bizarre (no wonder Laurel refused jarred foods after many months of home purees). With each flavor, you catch just a hint of the veggies, but otherwise, the predominant taste is fruity yogurt (though, thankfully, not sickeningly sweet fruity yogurt). Of the three flavors I was surprised that Pear & Green Bean – the flavor I thought would be really weird given that it includes a green vegetable – was my favorite. Laurel tasted this flavor at breakfast today and loved it; she didn’t detect any vegetables (and yes, I did tell her in advance that there were green beans in the yogurt) and stated that it just tasted like pears and honey. Yum.

The reality is that as an organic devotee my family eats well. But given that Laurel and I aren’t wild about drinking milk (unless there’s chocolate in it), we both could use the calcium hit, and a dose of fruits and veggies wouldn’t hurt either. So yes, not only am I totally on the YoBaby Meals train for Laurel (she will not touch green beans in their original form), but I’m also going to buy them for me. Maybe Stonyfield should rebrand this product as YoFamily Meals. And probably also make bigger cartons.

Tasting these yogurts and engaging in the organic dialog with Gary and the audience really made me think about how parents – in food and so many other practices – tend to put their kids first. But it shouldn’t be that way. As Gary pointed out, we’re all former babies. Grownups deserve good food too.

Image credits: 1st image from Stonyfield Farm; 2nd and 3rd images by Bill Brett of the Boston Globe; see also this photo in today's Boston.com Lifestyle section.

Now, want to be one of two lucky readers to win a Stonyfield goodie bag? Here's how:

After last weekend's downpour, I'm glad to see that the forecast looks favorable for this varied collection of family friendly weekend picks. On Saturday: the Franklin Park Fall Forest Festival (Boston) and the Quincy ArtsFest (Quincy). On Sunday: the Allston Village Street Fair (Allston), Nashoba Valley Winery Family Concert & BBQ (Bolton), and the Urban-Ag Fair (Cambridge).

Image credit: Allston Village Street Fair

Posted by Christine Koh on 18 Sep 2009 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Fun Outdoors; Local
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One of Laurel’s favorite birthday gifts is the Connectagons Under the Sea set gifted by her grandmother. Blissfully gender unspecific, this building set includes 10 base coral pieces and 234 interlocking wooden discs that are vividly patterned with fish, coral patterns, and other underwater critters. The pieces are pretty to look at (I couldn’t resist sorting by color/type) and irresistible to play with (for all ages, clearly), whether you’re building vertical sea sculptures or – like Laurel – creating little rooms for dolls to play in.

Posted by Christine Koh on 17 Sep 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Art Supplies & Toys
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As a designer (and former musician and thespian), I naturally gravitate towards infusing lots of creativity into Laurel’s life. Now if only she was old enough to participate in the thoughtfully planned, free Family Day at the Boston Center for the Arts this Saturday, September 19. The day's workshops are hinged on the current Drawings That Work exhibition, which examines how artists use drawings in the early stages of the creative process to convey an idea. Parents and kids 6+ are invited to participate in theater (1-2 pm) and visual (2-3 pm) arts workshops that are inspired by, or interface with, the exhibition.

Space is limited. To register, contact Elizabeth Ross at 617-426-1017 or eross@bcaonline.org.

Boston Center for the Arts, Mills Gallery, 539 Tremont Street, Boston; Tel: 617-426-5000

Posted by Christine Koh on 17 Sep 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Fun Indoors; Local
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Today, Jules shares a sweet and spicy recipe for fish lovers:

“Regular readers may have gathered that I love fish. And when I think snapper, I think Caribbean flavors. This recipe came to me one night when I was looking for something with punch, but that wasn’t too hot to handle. The sweetness contrasts perfectly with the heat.

Snapper with Spicy Citrus Sauce
(Serves 2)

For those who desire organic play dough but don’t have the time or interest to make play dough at home, check out Miss Brittany's Organic Preschool Fun Dough Deluxe Gift Set. This awesomely eco-friendly kit includes three dough colors, an organic apron, a wooden rolling pin + wooden shape stampers (both made in the USA), and is packaged in 100% recyclable, biodegradeable, or compostable materials printed using soy ink. And to celebrate National Play-Doh Day (today!) and in conjunction with our Giveaway Goodness series, Miss Britney is offering one lucky reader the organic fun dough deluxe gift set. Simply check out the rules below and leave a comment on this giveaway by September 18 (noon) to enter to win.

Rules:

In light of September being National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, today, Sarah candidly shares her story, as well as important information for women to consider:

“I always assumed that by the time I reached the ripe old age of 35, I’d have a husband, two kids, a house in the ‘burbs, and a dog. What I didn’t expect was the minivan. Oh, and the cancer.

Having grown up in a family of long-lived people where the sickest anyone got was a once-annual stomach flu, it wouldn’t be exaggerating to say that my diagnosis came out of left field. Thirty-four, healthy as an ox, regular exerciser, fried-food-avoider, I had to force myself to make my annual check-up appointments because nothing ever happened. My pregnancies had been uneventful, my deliveries quick. Never even a broken bone.

Starting in the early winter of 2005-06, I started to have some pelvic pain with, um, marital relations. Just in certain, er, directions, and usually around the time I ovulated. I decided that it was an ovulation thing and let it go. I was also really tired, but what mom of two active boys, ages 18 months and 3 ½ years, isn’t? My daily nap was a foregone conclusion. But as spring progressed and my pants got tighter in the waist, I couldn’t ignore the cascade of symptoms any more – something was not right. I never expected a dire discovery, though, and even with two inconclusive ultrasounds and an elevated CA-125 blood test, the scheduled laparoscopy didn’t freak me out because I was sure it was just a cyst.

When I woke up seven hours later, with anxious faces all around me, I knew it wasn’t a cyst. The diagnosis was Stage III-c papillary serous adenocarcinoma: ovarian cancer, and pretty far progressed. Cue the Twilight Zone music.

I’m fortunate that my OB-Gyn works with one of the top GYN-Oncologists in the Boston area, and with her treatment (aggressive and unpleasant, but effective), I was in remission within eight months. Bad news: once ovarian cancer has reached the stage where mine was discovered, no matter how thorough the treatment, it usually comes back. And it has, twice. Good news: the longer I fight, the more technology progresses, and the greater my chances of survival.

Here are some things I wish I’d known in 2005:

Today, Kate recommends a reliable (and resplendent) source as you gear up for fall baking:

“I used to love receiving catalogs, each so colorful and shiny and full of promise. And then the deluge began – so many catalogs, often multiple copies of the same one, and many for products that I would never dream of buying – and the fun turned into annoyance that my mailbox was stuffed and the forests being cut down.

These days, I've managed to reduce the flow and also narrow down to a very few catalogs that I still flip through, and there's one in particular that always make the cut: the King Arthur Flour Company (call 800-777-4434 to a request a catalog or place an order and you'll start receiving one). Some of you may know that I like to bake, and from that you might (correctly) surmise that I also like baking tools. For the best in baking gear, the King is unmatched, as is the beauty of the catalog.

King Arthur Flour, a New England company, offers not only a glorious range of flours and other less common baking ingredients, but also pans and trays and gadgets and gizmos. Best of all, each catalog includes a few freebie recipes, and they're actually good! Next time you get the urge to knead or mix or sprinkle, check out the King's offerings.”

Image credit: Silicone Round Mini Pans

Posted by Christine Koh on 14 Sep 2009 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Gadgets; Home; Recipes
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All kids deserve to have music in their lives, and I love that there are ways to access music that don’t involve investing thousands of dollars in an instrument (as I did for my bow alone as an aspiring violinist). Among Laurel’s favorite birthday presents this year is the Schylling Blues Harmonica gifted to her by her musician uncle. Offering immediate melodic gratification, I can’t get enough of Laurel’s joyous expression as she blows and draws to make music. And in addition to the awesomely low price tag and easy music making, you can't beat the compactness and low maintenance of harmonicas.

Posted by Christine Koh on 14 Sep 2009 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Art Supplies & Toys
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Laurel has always been a creature of habit. Her within-day care class transitions always were hard so I thought I was ready for a challenging transition to kindergarten. Turns out I wasn’t prepared for the impassioned sobbing of “I don’t want to go to kindergarten, I want to stay home with you!” (both awake and even in her sleep one night), the magnitude of her distress at drop off, or heart wrenching comments such as “Mommy, you’re so smart you could teach me everything I need to know. PLEASE let me stay home with you.” Not surprisingly, we’ve been scrambling to cope; I wanted to share tactics that have been effective for us this week, plus some great suggestions I received from folks via Twitter and Facebook.

Remain calm. Jon and I are at our best – and Laurel calms down fastest – when we’re calm, patient, and supportive. Sometimes it’s hard not to get frustrated, but deep breathing – and keeping in mind how huge a transition this is for her – helps put things in perspective.

Listen. As Hetti recently pointed out in her post on fall structure strategies, sometimes kids just need to air their feelings. We always affirm with Laurel that we hear and understand her before anything else.

In this vein, my friend Jason eloquently suggested: “With our almost 5 year old, we help her find ways for her to express her frustration and feelings. We listen but don't try to solve anything for her. Generally, we don't reassure her because we want her to be able to reassure herself…we ask about her feelings as well as specific things that make her feel the way she is feeling. What specifically does she not like about kindergarten? Why does she not like those things? Are there things she does like? I find that helping my daughter become more adept at these kinds of metacognitive approaches to dealing with change help her so much more than giving her specific advice and telling her how it is or will be.”

Pick up the phone. After our rough second day, I suggested we make a couple of phone calls. Laurel chatted with one of her best buddies from pre-K (who also is having some rough transitions regarding riding the bus) and the call did wonders for both of their moods. Laurel also called her grandmother. Interestingly, during both conversations Laurel talked only about the positives of school; it was such a relief to see her body and face relax and hear her tone change as she laughed and recounted some of her favorite things about the day. It also was affirming to me that there were, in fact, some high points!

Plan a get together. We’re celebrating Laurel’s birthday with a few pre-K friends this weekend and I think it will help to see familiar faces. If we didn’t have the party, I would have tried to organize a play date with friends.

Play high/low. I absolutely love the high/low tip in Sheri’s easing back to school jitters post. It already has proven very useful in illuminating parts of the day that Laurel loves or isn’t wild about, which then helps us get to conversations about how to focus on the positive and find ways to cope with the less fun parts of the day. Knowing these extremes also makes it easier for me to communicate to her teacher about needs and issues.

Send them with a reminder. Whether it’s a concept (such as kisses per The Kissing Hand) or a physical object (such as the worry stone – which we refer to as a peace stone – Jon gave Laurel), little reminders of home and family can help. If you give your child a physical object, I recommend something small enough to fit in a pants pocket so it is easily accessible any time of the day, but not so small that it is easily lost.

Build in celebrations, milestones, and choices. Whether it’s a small treat or something “as simple as a dance party in your living room” (recommended by my friend Cara), celebrate the end of each school day during the first challenging week or two. My friend Kristen at Cool Mom Picks also suggested using a classic sticker chart where there’s a small prize of the child’s choice at the end of the week.

Contributing writer Sarah also suggested: "Validating her feelings is crucial, then maybe say, ‘School is something that every kid needs to do. Would you rather have a special treat before school or after school?’ and then she can pick; maybe out to breakfast for the first week, or a fun picnic after. The more choice you can give her (red sweater or blue, backpack or tote bag, etc.) the more empowered she may feel. If it persists, speak with her teacher about giving her a special task first-thing in the AM so she looks forward to arrival." I agree with Sarah wholeheartedly; we've always used choice to diffuse battles and power struggles.

Affirm trust. Just last night we discovered that one of the major pieces for Laurel isn't just being sad about missing us, it's being scared. She said something along the lines of, "Kindergarten is scary because I don't know if I can trust the grownups." We found that it helped to affirm our trust in her teachers and the fact that we would never put her in a situation where we didn't trust the grownups. It also was helpful to engage her in little games, such as estimating how many kindergartners Laurel's teacher has taught in her career, to illustrate that her teacher has been doing this a long time (to rave reviews, as it turns out) and is trustworthy.

Thank the teachers. I have made a point to express my gratitude to Laurel's teachers for their patience and kindness. I know teachers should be used to this sort of thing, but after having a really terrible experience in first grade (I cried daily at the beginning and my teacher turned on me and was cruel, which made things even worse) I've been worried that Laurel's teachers will get frustrated and cast her aside as problematic or high maintenance. Communicating her typical adjustment patterns with them has been helpful for all parties.

These are tactics that have worked for us so far and every day has gotten a bit easier. Day 1 was horrible (breakdown at drop off, random crying through the day, almost no lunch consumed probably due to stress, end of day meltdown about going to kindergarten the next day). Day 2 was hard but not horrible (similar to Day 1 minus random crying throughout the day and a little more lunch was eaten). Day 3 (yesterday) was markedly better (breakdown at drop off but otherwise much happier through the day – Laurel’s teacher even sent us a note to tell us Laurel had an awesome day and smiled a lot – and only minimal complaints about going to kindergarten the next day).

I also received some great tips via Twitter and Facebook. Some of these, such as keeping to routines, we engage in regularly so I did not call them out above:

On routines:

@3keyscoach: “You've probably thought of this but what is the going to school routine like? Keeping calm, light, & fun reduces anxiety.”

From my friend Karen at Keeping the Castle: “Keep the goodbyes short and sweet every day. The longer you hang around, the worse it is.”

Share, relate, and engage:

@mamajoan: “Tell a story about a time when you started something new (job, etc.) and you were scared at first, but you came to love it.”

@3keyscoach: “Have her talk about fave parts of kindergarten/going to school. Get mind off negative.”

@GrowBone: “My son didn't want to go back this year until I reminded him duck, duck, goose was more fun with a full class than just the two of us.”

@ameliasprout: “I would find out what she doesn't like. Maybe you can address it better if you know what it is.”

@SBeeCreations: “First step - find out exactly what they find horrible. Likely, it's something specific that can be worked on. Keep teacher involved.” And also (after I mentioned that recess was the worst part): “Ask what her favorite part of recess is. Maybe the swings are more peaceful. Talk about what a small part of the day recess is.”

Kristen also suggested probing the bad more; for example, “Is it really that K is terrible or is it that she's scared or upset about leaving? Getting that all out in the open sometimes helps.”

My friend Susan suggested: "Sometimes I'll ask them what would make something better, and then be surprised when I'm told 'having a sticker on my hand' will do the trick…an easy fix that makes them comfortable over tons of crying and yelling!"

Get creative:

@3keyscoach: “What does little one fear? Find out what is so horrible. Draw, tell a story, or make up a song about it.”

@sgetgood: “Maybe give her a challenge each AM, e.g., count yellow things you see in class, etc. So she has something concrete to report.”

Karen also suggested school transition songs such as We Had A Happy Day and I Like To Go To School to focus on positives of the day.

Stay positive (grownups):

@ron_miller: “Make sure you and your spouse aren't giving subtle negative messages. Emphasize the fun, friends and being a big kid.”

Don’t dwell:

My friend Kim suggested: "I have learned after 3 kids to not feed into it. There is such thing as giving too much of a forum for feelings - believe it or not, sometimes they just want to sound off and don't need you to make it better all the time. Just acknowledge their anxiety but don't add to the glow; just say, “Oh I am sure today will be great!” And add "Sometimes I feel like that when I go to XXX but then I am so proud when I make it through." Then change the subject. Feeding into it validates that they should hate it or be worried. Act like it is the most normal thing and get on with hers, and your, day. It will dissipate much sooner.”

Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Christine Koh on 11 Sep 2009 | Permalink | Comments (8) | Filed in Development & Behavior; Family Issues
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There’s no shortage of family friendly events in the Boston area this weekend; consider these free picks that appeal to a variety of interests and locations. On Saturday: Curious George Day at the BPL (Boston), FensFest (Boston), The Bookish Ball (Cambridge), Hingham Family Festival (Hingham), Spirit of Roxbury (Roxbury), & Annual Market Day (Wenham). On Sunday: Cambridge Carnival International (Cambridge), Endless Summer Waterfront Festival (Hull), & Melrose Victorian Fair (Melrose). And through the weekend: Peabody International Festival (Peabody) & the Sterling Fair (Sterling).

Image credit: Cambridge Carnival International

Posted by Christine Koh on 11 Sep 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Fun Indoors; Fun Outdoors; Local
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My tenure as a girl scout only lasted one year but as one of the few organized activities of my youth, I have a place in my heart for the adventure seeking, camaraderie building, cookie bearing troops. This Saturday, September 12, is Girl Scout Day in Eastern Massachusetts and to commemorate the day, the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts will host a series of registration and celebration events at eight area Simon Malls from noon – 3pm (see roster below). And in this era of pricey kids extracurricular fees, it's a pretty sweet deal that the membership fee for Girl Scouts is only $12 per year. Not to mention direct access to all of those awesome cookies.

Participating malls include:

How lucky are we to live in a city replete with cultural offerings, and how cool is it that there’s a free three-day celebration showcasing some of Boston’s top creative talent? The Boston Arts Festival (Ahts) kicks off tomorrow at Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park and includes an awesome roster of visual and performing artists (I’m utterly intrigued by Marie Galvin’s hats and Jennifer Chin’s jewelry), as well as interactive/family fun programming. And whatever you do, be sure to stop at the Danish Pastry House table for some kringle.

Posted by Christine Koh on 10 Sep 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Fun Outdoors; Local
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The last week has been a tad crazy, what with family visits, Laurel’s 5th birthday, and yesterday’s (rocky) first day of kindergarten, but the generosity of Laurel’s loved ones has not escaped me. Over the next few days I’ll share some of her favorite birthday gifts; the first being If You See a Fairy Ring: A Rich Treasury of Classic Fairy Poems. Gifted by Jon’s aunt and uncle, this book includes an accessible collection of fairy inspired poetry, all set against lovely watercolor illustrations. And perfect for parents weary of pop-up books whose features easily tear, this book creates magical fairy scene changes seamlessly and rip-free via shuttered picture windows hinged to the turn of a page.

It’s been a long time since I’ve read poetry aloud, and Laurel and I adored it. The relaxing prose was perfect for bedtime and reconnecting after a challenging day.

Posted by Christine Koh on 9 Sep 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; For Babies & Kids
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September 11th is a source of pain for so many, but now the day can also represent something really positive. Following efforts by MyGoodDeed – a coalition supported by 9/11 families – President Obama named 9/11 a National Day of Service and Remembrance; a day to honor 9/11 victims and pay tribute to those who bravely responded to the attacks, through service. At 911dayofservice.org users can find volunteer opportunities and post good deeds. And as you plan good deeds for 9/11 and beyond, check out VolunteerSpot. This free tool helps volunteers coordinate groups, schedules, signups, and reminders for everything from school activities to charitable drives, service projects, and mentoring sessions.

Posted by Christine Koh on 8 Sep 2009 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Good Deeds
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Today, Evadne shares her refreshing experience with Pangea Organics.

“Even though this is my third go-round, I often find myself gazing upon my five-month-old in wonder. I am in awe of his little hands and chubby feet, his pinchable jowls, and most especially his new and perfect skin. Now, my skin isn't in terrible shape, but running around on less than a full night's sleep with three little ones in tow takes its toll. So I was very interested to learn more about Pangea Organics, whose eco-friendly skin care products invite you to "discover nature's youthful radiance."

From a glance at their website, I gathered that Pangea Organics is a company devoted to the integrity of their products and processes. But I knew they really meant business when my Radiance Gift Set arrived in a 100% compostable, biodegradable, plantable (the makings of a spruce tree are woven inside the fibers of the box) gift box, made from a zero-waste process using 100% post-consumer newsprint, without glues and dyes! And when I saw the contents inside (facial cleanser, facial scrub, facial mask, lip balm, and eye cream), I knew my skin was in for a serious treat.

Each product packs an impressive list of plant-based ingredients, antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, and essential oils – you can practically smell the earth in their herbal scents. The benefits of various key ingredients – such as adzuki bean to clarify and exfoliate in the facial scrub – are highlighted on the product labels.

The Egyptian Calendula & Blood Orange Facial Cleanser, Egyptian Geranium With Adzuki Bean & Cranberry Facial Scrub, and Japanese Matcha Tea With Acai & Goji Berry Facial Mask are my favorite products. The silky consistency of the cleanser makes it easy to apply and I like the cooling effect it has on my skin. I also appreciate that the product doesn't irritate or sting my eyes like soaps and cleansers I've used before. The facial scrub was so effective that I immediately had my husband try it. We were both impressed by the smooth results and that it's gentle enough for daily use. The facial mask adds the finishing touch and together, the three products have a spa-like effect: my skin feels completely nourished - smooth, soft, hydrated, and yes, absolutely radiant - and I feel refreshed. It’s just what this mama needs at the end of a busy day with the kids.”

Posted by Christine Koh on 8 Sep 2009 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Bath, Beauty & Health; Eco Living
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Laurel always has loved putting pen (or marker, crayon, or colored pencil) to paper, and these days, whenever presented with activity books that include word searches, mazes, scene analysis, etc., she immediately gravitates towards the mazes. In my subsequent hunt for maze books, I was thrilled to find Kumon’s Amazing Mazes (a sequel to My First Book Of Mazes and My Book of Easy Mazes). Part of Kumon’s educational workbook series for kids, these mazes are happily challenging for growing brains (mazes increase in complexity with page count) and are beautifully illustrated and cleverly constructed. Next on my list: the animal, things that go, and around the world maze books.

Posted by Christine Koh on 3 Sep 2009 | Permalink | Comments (4) | Filed in Art Supplies & Toys
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Today, Michelle Stern of What’s Cooking shares a parmesan popover recipe that’s perfect for picnics or playdates:

“When I was preparing lesson plans for my kids cooking camps this summer, I knew I had to include this recipe from Giada De Laurentiis in our Picnic Foods menu. These popovers are light and fluffy, and were a perfect vehicle for all of the fresh herbs that my students harvested from the garden.

Before the summer is officially over, pick some fresh herbs, bake these with your kids, and enjoy them on a picnic or at a playdate!”

Parmesan Popovers

From FoodNetwork.com

3/4 cup grated Parmesan (about 5 ounces)

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

2. In a blender, combine eggs, flour, salt, pepper, and herbs, milk, and cheese. Blend on medium speed.

3. Spray a mini-muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray. Pour the batter into the muffin cups, filling each cup 3/4 full. Bake until puffed and golden brown, about 20 to 25 minutes.

4. Remove popovers from muffin tin and cool on a wire rack. Store in a container to take to the picnic.

Image credit 1: FoodNetwork.com; 2: Michelle Stern

Posted by Christine Koh on 3 Sep 2009 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Home; Recipes
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When I was a kid, I so wanted my mom to be involved in school activities. Not surprisingly though, what with raising seven kids and running a business with my dad she didn’t have time. So this week I felt both happiness and more than a bit of nostalgia when my mom helped me teach Laurel’s pre-K class about Korea (the class is studying countries around the world and Laurel asked if I would come in and teach about Korea). The following are notes on what I put together; the general format would work well for any country.

Essentially, I wanted to prepare some fun stuff for circle and craft time; short and engaging enough to hold 4-5 year old attention spans while still being meaningful. I decided to add in the visual of wearing the traditional Korean hanbok (which I wore at my wedding) and when I told my mom I wanted to do this, she also offered to wear her celebratory hanbok and generously bought one for Laurel as an early birthday present. The visuals were stunning and the kids went crazy when we arrived!

Introduction

For circle time I started by asking the kids if they had heard of Korea and whether any of them had been on an airplane (commence lots of squeals and chatter about airplane rides). I pointed out Korea on a map in relation to Boston, explained which direction the airplane would fly to get there, and how long you would need to ride on an airplane to get there (relative to trips that kids in the class had taken before).

My mom then taught the kids a bit about the Korean hanbok; about its celebratory use and how the hanboks she and I were wearing were worn on the day that Laurel’s parents got married. She explained how the children’s hanbok is different than the grownup hanboks because it has colorful stripes along the arms.

Story

I read Linda Sue Park’s Bee-Bim Bop!, a rhyme format story that introduces kids to one of Korea’s famous dishes. The repeated rhyme structure was perfect for getting the kids to jump in. (We also ended up talking a lot about which kids did or did not like rice.)

Song

My mom taught the kids the Korean children’s song Santoki. She first explained the translation, then taught the song in phonemic chunks, then put it all together. It was awesome to see the kids singing the words. They loved it and we repeated the song a couple of times.

Craft

I brought two craft options. The first was Korean flag and hanbok coloring pages that I printed out from The Holiday Zone. I also brought a color print out of the Korean flag so kids would know what colors to use. The second was a fun Korean fan craft I was happy to find at 4 Crazy Kings (thanks for the handy template 4 Crazy Kings!). For the fan craft I brought in bottles of red, yellow, and blue paint, plus colored popsicle sticks. The kids loved that the fans looked like swirled lollipops. Laurel also made a second fan, leaving a triangle attached to the bottom so it looked like an ice cream cone.

The teachers were fantastic. They set up art smocks and bowls of paint for the fan craft and it was just the right project in terms of length and ability. The kids cut out the fans then painted them and the teachers laid the fans out to dry (the kids assembled the fans the following day). Since the kids needed to get ready for snack and outside time, they saved the coloring pages for afternoon activity time.

Laurel had a great time sitting between my mom and me in the “teacher spot,” and was very excited to dismiss the kids from circle one by one, the way the teachers do, to get ready for Korean craft time.

And my mom? She loved it and wanted to go back for more.

Posted by Christine Koh on 2 Sep 2009 | Permalink | Comments (12) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; Development & Behavior; For Babies & Kids
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Now that I’ve wrapped the Boston Mamas 3rd birthday party and am gearing up to celebrate Laurel’s 5th at home, I wanted to post a final thank you to the many wonderful vendors who partnered with me to fete the third anniversary of this site. Thank you for your awesomeness! (See list below and image roster here.) Meanwhile, happy fall everyone, and I hope you enjoy the cool content I've got in the pipeline; thanks for tuning in and being part of the community!

Many thanks to Boston Mamas 3rd birthday vendors:

aden + anais
Ah Goo Baby
Alex Casey Baby
Arbonne: Michelle Lenaghan
Chroma Lab
ECOBAGS
Four Peas
Global Enfant
Hachette Book Group
Heart & Stone Jewelry
Hip Fusion Designs
Isis Maternity
Kangaroo Club
Kinerase
'Lina Bean
Little Passports
Mabel's Labels
Maisey Mae
Mason & Madison
Papa Products
Profound Beauty
Relish
Safety 1st Air Protect
Sakura Bloom
Shabby Apple
Shirin NYC
Simple Shoes
Simply Read Books
Sugabettens Baking
Tactile Baby
The Bumble Collection
The Recovery Kit
Wicked Good Cookies

Posted by Christine Koh on 2 Sep 2009 | Permalink | Comments (2) | Filed in Web (Admin)
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During our recent vacation to Maine, my dear girlfriend Anne made a ridiculously yummy chocolate zucchini cake. She hadn’t made the recipe in about 10 years (it was a blue ribbon winning recipe from her childhood) and the source of the clipping was unknown. I replicated the recipe last week – doubling it, actually, to share with friends – and it was just as wonderful. The cake is light, fluffy, and moist and goes down dangerously easily. I delivered a half batch to our neighbors, and was told the next day that I had outdone my previous baked good gifts; the cake evaporated within about 5 minutes of delivery. Enjoy!

Chocolate Zucchini Cake

(Click thumbnail above to enlarge; image credit: Christine Koh)

Today, parent educator Hetti Wohlgemuth shares fall structure strategies that are useful to keep in mind through the whole year:

“Around this time every year I get a small back-to-fall-schedules lump in my throat and wonder, 'Who took my summer away from me?' Kids experience the same emotions, and they’ll likely need some help through the transitions. Here are some tips on coping with return to fall structure.

Find a friend. Going back to school feels a lot better when you recognize a friend. Take advantage of school-arranged class play dates or arrange them on your own. If possible, visit the school, playground, or teacher in advance. Familiarity breeds comfort.

Hold the criticism. If you’re not enthusiastic about your child's assigned teacher, keep a lid on your feelings. Do it for the simple reason that you are not your child. You and s/he will have different likes and dislikes all through life, and that's a healthy phenomenon. My daughters were assigned a second grade teacher I was not wild about; she met cupcake bearing moms at the door and did not invite them in to dispense said cupcakes even on your child's birthday, she gave graded spelling tests each week and created homogenous reading groups (so much for my liberal ideas of pass/fail class rooms and all levels learning from one another). But lo and behold she was both Emmy and Jessie's favorite elementary school teacher. Good thing I didn't bias them against her. They might have had to work harder to like and trust her and learned less in the interim.

Model good behavior towards your own commitments. Parenting definitely is not about what we say, it’s about what we do. I continue to be amazed by my girls' conscientious attitudes toward school/work. I never needed to badger them to get up, get dressed, eat a good breakfast, or do their homework (they did not make their beds and I didn't badger them about that; I figured missing one out of five wasn't bad). In fact, whenever I tried to tell them to do their homework or what time to do it, they calmly reassured me that I need not worry, "We have it under control, Mom." And they did. I think they got this from watching their Dad and me. Whatever task we undertook, we got up on time, got dressed, ate a good breakfast, and completed the task thoroughly.

Keep your eyes – and mind – open. As your child moves through the school year, watch how s/he responds. Schools have different personalities and some will be a better/worse fit for your little person. We sent our daughter Em to a private pre-school that was quite academic, with very little playtime, and she clearly wasn’t happy there. At the end of the year we moved her to public school, which ended up being perfect for her. Keep in mind that mistakes happen and can be undone.

Create an atmosphere where your children can vent/voice their feelings. I can't highlight this point enough and it can be challenging to implement, particularly if you tend towards privacy yourself and like to get a handle on your problems before talking about them. But the key is to remember that sometimes kids just need to air their feelings, without the parent denying or judging the feelings or trying to solve the problem. Just listen.

Give your child choices. Simple acts such as giving your child choice over their lunch box, backpack or fall sweater serves to give them control and a sense of identity in a world where they don't have much control.

Bottom Line. It's an adjustment for all of us to return to the structure of fall. Perhaps if we share our feelings about the transition, our children will air theirs. We can mourn the lazy days of summer together then move on to the crisp, colorfulness of fall. And our children will have learned a thing or two in the process.”

Editor's Note: for more on fall transitions, see Sheri's excellent post on easing back to school jitters.

Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Christine Koh on 1 Sep 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Development & Behavior; Family Issues
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