Last week I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Melissa Kotlen Nagin, a certified lactation consultant and About.com’s Breastfeeding Guide. In particular, Melissa and I connected to talk about the dad (or partner) factor when it comes to breastfeeding. We had a fabulous time chatting; read on for highlights from the interview (a Boston Mamas first!), where we cover role shifts, dad/partner involvement, pumping, nighttime feeding, baby nurses, co-sleeping, bottle feeding battles, postpartum depression, the supermom syndrome, and re-lactation:

Continue reading "The Dad Factor" »

Posted 4 Apr 2008 in Family Issues; Feeding & Nursing; Mama in the Workplace; Pregnancy & Postpartum | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:

Weekend reading: Clever Parents offers stretching exercises to wake you and your kids up. The Nest Baby features a Chinese gender chart – originally found in an ancient royal tomb near Beijing and now in flash and interactive – that is said to be over 90% accurate. Mom’s Buzz highlights an article in which Donald Trump gives parents advice on how to make your children financially responsible, deal with financial setbacks, and manage money.

Continue reading "Weekly Web Roundup" »

Posted 28 Mar 2008 in Bath, Beauty & Health; Family Issues; Gear; Pregnancy & Postpartum | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

I realize that there’s a time and place for tighty whities, but gigglygear makes an awfully strong case for boxers from the very beginning. Their super cute diaper covers – styled as boxers for boys and bloomers for girls – come in a variety of bright and cheery patterns and can be paired with a color coordinated tee, or you can choose a gift pack set. Particularly when the warm weather hits, these comfy coordinates will serve baby well, whether at home or at the beach.

Want to win a gigglygear gift pack set*? Here’s how:

Continue reading "Boxers From The Beginning" »

Posted 25 Feb 2008 in Family Issues; For Little Ones | Permalink | Comments (9) | E-mail this link

And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:

Win it: Modern Mom is on location at Disney to kick off their Dream Vacation Giveaway. One Chic Mama is giving away a Gold Heart Envelope from Dante Beatrix packed full of beauty products. MomFinds is offering up a chance to win a Haute Kiley bag from HMR by Christine Price. Classy Mommy is giving away 4 board books from the Good Night Our World series.

Continue reading "Weekly Web Roundup" »

Posted 15 Feb 2008 in Books & Entertainment; Family Issues; Fashion; For Babies & Kids; For Little Ones; For Mamas & Mamas-to-be; Gear | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

As joyful as it is to parent children as they become increasingly communicative and independent, those developments also can, at times, test even the most patient parents. For those who feel as if they’re running on fumes, head to Lynn Lyons and Christine Cook’s Refueling Your Parenting Tank workshop on March 9 at the JCC in Newton. Parents will learn how to work through button-pushing moments and difficult transitions with kids, and the buzz on this workshop – geared towards parents of 3-10 year olds – is that Lyons and Cook are talented educators who provide parents with the ideas and communicative tools needed to refuel and hit the ground running.

Want to win two registrations to this workshop (bring a partner or friend!)? Simply email contests@bostonmamas.com by Feb. 22 (with ‘Refuel’ in the subject).

Posted 15 Feb 2008 in Childcare & Education; Development & Behavior; Family Issues; Local | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

Today, Heather offers Valentine's Day ideas for non-material ways to show your loved one that you care:

“As Valentine’s Day approaches, I find myself fretting over finding the perfect gift for my husband. But I suspect if I asked him directly, he would simply ask for some undivided attention.

Continue reading "Undivided Attention" »

Posted 11 Feb 2008 in Family Issues | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

Or 2, 3, and 4 as was the case for Heather:

"Adjusting to a new baby at home is often difficult for older siblings, especially children under 5 who are used to having lots of attention from mom and dad. One of my greatest worries when I was pregnant for the second time was how our 3½-year-old daughter would feel with the arrival of 3 new siblings at the same time. The world she knew would be forever changed. Here are some tips that we found eased the transition and reinforced our love:

Continue reading "Bringing Home Baby #2" »

Posted 18 Jan 2008 in Books & Entertainment; Family Issues; For Babies & Kids | Permalink | Comments (1) | E-mail this link

Two days removed, I can hardly believe that this weekend symbolized my first solo 30-hour stretch since becoming a mom more than three years ago (Jon took Laurel on a trip to visit his parents). And despite fanciful visions of sitting around indulging in movies, bon bons, and spa treatments, I went into characteristic superfreak mode, working on design and writing projects, tweaking the layout and static content of this site, catching up on my ridiculous email backlog, assembling Laurel’s big girl quilt (more on that in a forthcoming post), and tidying up the house.

Continue reading "Mindful Doses" »

Posted 13 Nov 2007 in Family Issues | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

This may sound odd, but this weekend our Scrabble set – dusty from years of dormancy – served not only to connect letters into words, but also to reconnect Jon and me.

Over the last six weeks, the stress of negotiating several transitions (Jon and my new work commitments and Laurel’s preschool room) was taking its toll. Initial school separation anxiety aside, Laurel seemed happy, but Jon and I were distracted, edgy, and not well connected. And conversations with several mama friends made it clear that I was not alone in feeling depressed that our lives seemed mired in logistics management.

Continue reading "Saved by Scrabble" »

Posted 22 Oct 2007 in Art Supplies & Toys; Family Issues | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

Given the diverse make up of our family (not to mention the world), we’re especially committed to providing Laurel with books and conversations about how families can be formed in many ways, whether the mix includes different skin colors, two mommies (or daddies), or one parent. To celebrate the bridging of cultures and families via international adoption, check out Barefoot Books’s Motherbridge of Love. Book collaborator Xinran Xue will be in Cambridge today through Friday for MOL events; on Friday (10/19, 10:30am), families can share in story hour with Xinran, followed by a special wishing tree craft project.

Want to win a copy of Motherbridge of Love? Email us by midnight EST tonight (with “Motherbridge” in the subject) and name another MOL book tour stop. We’ll draw 4 winners (US entrants welcome)!

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

Posted 17 Oct 2007 in Books & Entertainment; Family Issues; For Babies & Kids; Fun Indoors; Local | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

I have yet to meet a pregnant person or parent who hasn’t, at some point, been subject to invasive comments and questions from strangers. But the level of unsolicited discourse seems to increase exponentially the more children you have. Today, Heather shares the most common questions and comments she gets as the parent of a preschooler + triplets, and the responses she has at the ready:

Continue reading "Unsolicited Discourse" »

Posted 10 Oct 2007 in Family Issues | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

Being a parent often means being at a loss for words when it comes to tough topics, no matter what your kid’s age is. For parents of teens, Amy Cody sent us a great article written by one of her interns; the content offers parents advice for how to navigate the rocky adolescent communication road:

Continue reading "Teen Talk" »

Posted 26 Sep 2007 in Family Issues; Tweens & Teens | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

As Jon and I adjust to juggling his new multi-site schedule and my work needs, one car, the never ending list of household errands (requiring said one car), and Laurel’s periodic resistance to heading to her new preschool room, it seems as if we spend an inordinate amount of time figuring out how many minutes it takes to do X, Y, or Z. And this morning’s realization that I’d do well to trade sitting-in-rush-hour minutes for much needed exercise was well timed with a blog blast our pals at The Parent Bloggers Network are running in conjunction with Ryka. All bloggers are invited to submit posts today (by midnight PST) about how you stay active with kids in the mix; randomly selected bloggers will win sneakers or an entire outfit (including sneakers) from Ryka (click here for details)!

Continue reading "Multitasking Minutes: The Squat & Edit" »

Posted 14 Sep 2007 in Bath, Beauty & Health; Family Issues; Mama in the Workplace | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

Back to school season can be both wonderful and stressful, and allergies add an additional layer of concern to the mix. Today, Tracy shares some great resources for families; useful to check out if your child has allergies, or in the likely case that one of your child’s peers does:

Continue reading "Back to School With Allergies" »

Posted 4 Sep 2007 in Childcare; Family Issues; Feeding & Nursing | Permalink | Comments (1) | E-mail this link

Truly, I'm not prone to histrionics, so take me at my word when I say that yesterday made me feel as if I was a priority to no one. Part of the problem is the overstretched, overwhelmed state that seems like the modern motherhood status quo; the other (related) part involves my rampant yes tendencies, even in the face of absurd requests. Read on to find out how I unraveled (and then, lest you think this is pure rant, I’ll provide a resource to consider if you feel similarly overwhelmed, overbooked, and overlooked):

Continue reading "Just Say No" »

Posted 30 Aug 2007 in Books & Entertainment; Family Issues; For Grownups; Mama in the Workplace | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

I had the unusual opportunity of growing up in a three-generation household where, one by one, as circumstance dictated, my parents took in each of their parents (not to mention other periodic immigrating family members along the way). Most modern families, however, can’t sustain this arrangement, whether it’s due to logistical, emotional, or medical constraints. For this reason especially, I was extremely impressed when I learned about Care.com.

Continue reading "Because You Care" »

Posted 20 Aug 2007 in Childcare; Family Issues | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

Some mamas have a very firm sense of how many children they want (present company not included…). Reader Erica from Northampton wrote in with a recommendation for parents who are set on one child: “There are precious few resources out there for those of us considering the single child route. Parenting an Only Child: The Joys and Challenges of Raising Your One and Only, by psychologist Susan Newman, addresses and disputes a lot of the cultural myths of only children (spoiled, antisocial, etc.) while offering practical strategies to prevent the myths from becoming reality.”

Posted 30 Jul 2007 in Books & Entertainment; Family Issues; For Grownups | Permalink | Comments (1) | E-mail this link

And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:

First, congratulations to our friends at Coochicoos, who have welcomed a beautiful baby girl (shown), sure to inspire lots of stylish girly design finds on their site. And for another beautiful baby, check out Babyfaces’ photo of the week.

Other goodies include: MomFinds features a baby essentials guide for new moms. Coochicoos showcases the European Bloom Highchair. Healthy Bump has raves for Diaper Baggies. One Chic Mama suggests letting Spendella keep you current on fashion advice. And Clever Parents offers tips on how families can work together to ease back to school jitters.

Posted 27 Jul 2007 in Family Issues; Fashion; For Mamas & Mamas-to-be; Gear | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

As an adolescent, my parents never discussed anything human body-related; I subsequently got all of my (somewhat sketchy) information about sex, periods, etc. from my older siblings and friends. I’m thus determined to keep the communication channels open with Laurel (and she’s already been testing me here…). Today, Amy Cody offers ideas to help frame your conversations about sex and sexuality with your child:

Continue reading "Open Communication" »

Posted 25 Jul 2007 in Family Issues; Local; Outreach; Tweens & Teens | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

Preparing for life with 2+ kids obviously involves more than, say, the practicalities of unearthing your layette and transitioning your toddler to a big bed to free up the crib. A cognitive shift in perspective helped clinical psychologist Tracy relieve herself of the guilt stemming from not doing exactly for her second as she did for her first:

“For parents of two or more children, life can sometimes feel like an episode from The Cat in the Hat. Life does eventually settle down after “Thing 2” comes along, but those early days of adjustment can make you feel like the fish, balancing atop a precarious pile of obligations, chores, and well, your children.

Continue reading "Thing 1 & Thing 2" »

Posted 23 Jul 2007 in Development & Behavior; Family Issues | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:

Check out the full sized version of Babyfaces’s gorgeous photo of the week: a new parents’ dream – asleep at last. We’re not the only ones talking about self-care this week; one of the things that Sara at Clever Parents constantly stresses during group coaching sessions with moms is the importance of self-care. When you take care of yourself, you are in a better position to take care of your family’s needs. MomFinds reports: The happy medium between foundation and moisturizer, with SPF coverage as an added bonus, tinted moisturizers are a mom’s best friend not just during the summer, but all year long. Check out their top five tinted moisturizer picks for summer beauty.

Posted 6 Jul 2007 in Bath, Beauty & Health; Family Issues | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

Today, our friends at the Parent Bloggers Network are hosting a blog blast to celebrate the launch of their Body, Soul, & Baby campaign (check back next week for my review of this new book). PBN wants to know, “What's the most annoying preggo/new mom question you've ever been asked -- AND -- what's your best, snarky "wish-you-could-have-said-it" answer?”

Anyone with a blog is invited to write on this topic today. Email your permalink to PBN – 2 entrants will receive an iPod shuffle and an autographed book! Meanwhile, here’s my take on the question (feel free to comment with alternate clever responses or share your own experiences if you don't have a blog):

Continue reading "Are You Her Mom?" »

Posted 6 Jul 2007 in Family Issues | Permalink | Comments (5) | E-mail this link

Since becoming a parent, whenever I feel overwhelmed by stress, household minutia, and/or the seeming inability to pee or shower in private, I repeat the airline mantra, “Secure your own oxygen mask before assisting others.” Moms are notoriously challenged in tending to their own needs; today, Tracy offers thoughts on how to work towards better self-care (and she’s a doctor, so listen up!):

Continue reading "Me First" »

Posted 3 Jul 2007 in Family Issues; Mama in the Workplace | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

July marks the 1st birthday of Boston Mamas, and September will mark a year since I left research to make a go of it on my own professionally. I feel grateful every day for making the jump, but - not surprisingly - working independently brings a new set of challenges to the family system, such as feeling more (self imposed) pressure to take care of mundane household chores when I’m working at home, or dealing with the assumption that it’s easy for me to pick up the child care slack if Laurel gets sick or a family care arrangement disappears (e.g., earlier this week I found out from Sharon that my mom wouldn’t, in fact, be coming over to take care of Laurel as planned because she had flown South for a couple of days).

If you’re looking for solidarity in the struggle for balance, reader Julia from Newton wrote in to suggest Flux by Peggy Orenstein. Julia writes, “[It is] a wonderful book about the choices women make (or default into) about their lives.”

Posted 27 Jun 2007 in Books & Entertainment; Family Issues; For Grownups; Mama in the Workplace | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

Inquiring minds want to know: Does your child use bodily fluid as a means to communicate low parental approval ratings?

We finally are nearing the end of an insane two-month stretch where every weekend has involved travel, visitors, or (least fun of all) Jon being away. Not surprisingly, Laurel has not been happy about Jon’s weekend absences, and it appears that she also hasn’t been oblivious to the tight lipped tension or petty squabbling that has occured when my grumpiness and his guilt about these weekends have collided.

Continue reading "Time for a Truce" »

Posted 26 Jun 2007 in Development & Behavior; Family Issues | Permalink | Comments (2) | E-mail this link

So here’s the million-dollar question of the morning: What do you do when you want to act like a child when you’re with your child?

This morning as I walked Laurel to school, we hit a typical narrow passage where there’s no sidewalk. Per usual, I kept the stroller tight to the side even though there were no cars coming. Then, from behind us, a middle aged woman in a (cheesy, I might add, because I’m feeling bitter and childish) red car tore around the bend, hit the brakes, and screamed angrily at me “Excellent place to walk!” Two other cars were slowing in the opposite direction, so I turned briefly and curtly replied “There’s no where else to walk.” Once the two oncoming cars made their way through (at this point the woman in the red car was yelling “C’mon, move it!” at them), she peeled passed us and screamed her sentiment at me again.

Continue reading "Inner Child" »

Posted 8 Jun 2007 in Family Issues | Permalink | Comments (4) | E-mail this link

Pursuant to Tracy’s Piggy Party post (including allergy friendly cake and frosting recipes), here are some great tips for hosting and attending parties where allergies are an issue:

"My older son has been to many birthday parties, and has enjoyed himself immensely. As far as I can tell, he has never felt left out because of his food allergies (milk and milk products, eggs, peanuts), and I think the collaboration I engage in with hosting parents helps a lot. There certainly has been a learning curve, though, in figuring out how my son can safely enjoy partying at a friend’s house; the following are some tips that might help parents of allergic kids, and parents hosting parties where allergic kids will be attending.

Continue reading "Birthday Fun for Food Allergic Kids" »

Posted 7 Jun 2007 in Bath, Beauty & Health; Family Issues | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

Ah, date night. They just don’t happen enough these days, and today The Parent Bloggers Network has teamed up with E-Harmony to ask the question: “You know you need a date with your husband/partner when…[fill in the blank].” If you’ve got a blog, write about this question today (including links to PBN and E-Harmony, please), email your post to PBN, and you’ll be entered to win a $100 AMEX gift card for a dinner date with your spouse/partner, plus $100 cash for the babysitter. And if you don’t have a blog, feel free to add a comment to this post; we’d love to hear how you keep connected with your partner.

Continue reading "Date Night" »

Posted 1 Jun 2007 in Family Issues | Permalink | Comments (5) | E-mail this link

Not surprisingly, as a daughter (raised by traditionalists), mom, and parenting publisher, I think a lot about the challenges of contemporary motherhood. This Sunday (7 pm EST, or subscribe to the show with iTunes) you can tune in to a fascinating chat that esteemed New York based writer Felicia Sullivan will be hosting on her new radio show, Writers Revealed. Felicia will chat live with critically acclaimed authors Sabina Murray, Elissa Schappell, Liesel Litzenburger, and Victoria Redel on fractured families in contemporary literary fiction, emphasizing the bad mother. They’ll also discuss the boomer mother vs. today’s mom (e.g., issues, pressures, concerns, mom as best friend gone wrong) and what it means to be a good mother.

If you have a question for the authors about their work or anything in general, leave a comment at the episode post. If your question is asked on the air, you’ll win a free book!

Posted 25 May 2007 in Family Issues | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

We’re blessed to have a terrific core of local parent friends, and we often daydream about pooling resources to buy a commune so we can hang with our friends while enjoying village-style parenting “economies of scale.”

While our dream village won’t materialize unless the real estate market tanks (and we can get our friends to agree on a central location), we’ve recently come pretty close to this scenario via some lovely afternoons with our neighbors and their two granddaughters.

Continue reading "Little Village" »

Posted 22 May 2007 in Family Issues | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

I’m part of the Parent Bloggers Network and today they, in conjunction with LightIris (whose founder Kevin has been sporting a Preggo Suit this month), are inviting all bloggers to post today on the topic, “What Makes You a Mother?" E-mail PBN your permalink today; one lucky entrant will win a $100 gift certificate to Spa Finder. Meanwhile, here’s my take on the question:

Continue reading "What Makes You a Mother?" »

Posted 11 May 2007 in Family Issues | Permalink | Comments (2) | E-mail this link

It’s refreshing when others have the answers and today we’re thrilled to introduce Tracy, a new guest contributor, who has made her decision about family size. Read on, and weigh in with your opinion on ideal family size.

Continue reading "Enough is Enough" »

Posted 19 Apr 2007 in Family Issues | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

These days, it seems as if events oddly align as a directive for my writing. And as much as it makes this mama bear bristle, two recent events pointed me on the trajectory of child safety.

The first event involved chatting with a friend about her daughter’s three-year well visit. Towards the end of the visit the doctor told the three-year old that it was time to check the areas of the body under the underwear to make sure that they were healthy, and that it is OK for a doctor to do this if mommy or daddy are in the room. Not surprisingly, my friend couldn’t help but think, “Crap, it’s already time to start talking about this stuff?”

Continue reading "Keeping Kids Safe" »

Posted 18 Apr 2007 in Development & Behavior; Family Issues; Tweens & Teens | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

Obesity is a critical public health issue for adults and children in the U.S., and one whose complexity goes beyond the seemingly simple factors of intake and exercise. Mama reader Erica from Northampton just wrote in about FAT: What No One Is Telling You. The program, framed through personal narratives – including those of a grandmother who wants to get fit so she can keep up with her grandchild and a public health professional committed to educating families and kids (including her Latino community) about nutrition and activity – details the biological barriers, cultural habits, and economic realities that play a role in this increasingly common condition.

Part of PBS’s Take One Step Health Campaign, FAT premieres tomorrow at 9pm on PBS (click here for local broadcast information). Also check out their 20 Steps to Better Health guide, which includes tips for families.

Posted 10 Apr 2007 in Family Issues | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

When I was a kid, whenever a snowstorm hit my Dad marched all seven of us out to shovel the walkways of all of our elderly neighbors (which was pretty much everyone). This was an exhausting habit – particularly during the blizzard of ’78 – but I appreciate my Dad’s traditional sense of community care and respect for elders.

Not surprisingly, ever since last week’s storm I’ve been plagued by guilt about the impenetrable layer of ice on our sidewalk. Somehow between work and home and potty training, we just couldn’t keep up the day of the storm. So during the last two days of warm up, I have gone out periodically to chip away at the driveway and sidewalk. The ice has been remarkably resistant to my efforts.

Continue reading "Community Care" »

Posted 21 Feb 2007 in Family Issues | Permalink | Comments (2) | E-mail this link

Some of my papa pals have asked me to consider starting a dad's companion website to Boston Mamas - a fabulous idea that I’d be thrilled to entertain pending external funding… Meanwhile, if papa is looking for a sense of solidarity, head downtown tomorrow to hear Neal Pollack read from his book Alternadad (currently $16.29 at Amazon).

A self-proclaimed “pop-culture obsessed writer and rock-star wannabe,” Pollack writes on his and his wife's mission to raise their son ("to be irreverent without being bad...") while staying true to their hipster cores and not growing up too much themselves.

With musical guest Harry and The Potters. Jan. 17 at 7pm. Great Scott, 1222 Comm. Ave., Allston. All ages show, $5.

Posted 16 Jan 2007 in Books & Entertainment; Family Issues; For Grownups; Fun Indoors; Local | Permalink | Comments (1) | E-mail this link

Never was it clearer than yesterday that a village approach to raising children makes so much more sense than our culture's current individualized method.

For the last couple of days I have been laid out with flu-like symptoms and yesterday I was on my own with Laurel. I could barely move and the best I could do was lie on the couch or on the floor and feign interest in her books and toys. A brief outing we made to CVS and the bakery in the afternoon left me exhausted and drenched in sweat.

And while I was completely desperate for help and wished that a fellow village member could come relieve me (particularly when Laurel woke up from her nap an hour early), I was fortunate that somehow Laurel got it and cut me a break. She’s not typically a play on her own type of kid but she entertained herself for a lot of the day while I looked after her with one eye open and at one point she even came up to me and said “It’s okay mommy!” and pulled up the blankets around my neck.

Posted 16 Jan 2007 in Family Issues | Permalink | Comments (1) | E-mail this link

I know a lot of hip and stylish grandmas out there, but they get little focused due in the retail market (try Googling the topic and among your first hits will be medication pill boxes). An inquiry from a friend/reader from Los Angeles - whose mom is about to become a new grandma - inspired me to collect some gift ideas that have proven to be winners with grandparents.

Artwork, including anything from sticker collages to scribbles to paint, is at the top of my list; an inexpensive frame adds a professional finish. If you have an infant, however, other picks include photo gifts such as albums, calendars, or photo coasters (ordered easily through services such as Kodak EasyShare Gallery or Snapfish); Laurel's non-local grandparents also love the video clip CDs we burned for them.

Handprint molds are another great option. Check out the nifty handprint towers in blue (shown) and pink from Target. Each set includes 5 graduated tins and easy to use nontoxic plaster to create handprints for every year from ages 1 to 5.

Finally, here are a couple of great gifts that can be presented before the baby is born (or with minimal effort from exhausted parents). L’Occitane carries beautiful gift sets, such as the Best Gift Box (includes Aromachologie hair care products, Verbena scented body care products, and Shea Butter soaps) or the Ultimate Shea Butter Gift Box (includes Shea Butter body cream, hand cream, and soap). And you can never go wrong with flowers; Martha Stewart Flowers offers beautiful single arrangements and monthly flower deliveries (choose from 3, 6, or 12 month plans).

Posted 9 Dec 2006 in Family Issues; Gifts & Paper; Home | Permalink | Comments (1) | E-mail this link

Yesterday Jon, Laurel and I experienced immense pride and happiness cheering on my sister Sharon as she zoomed towards the finish line at the Boston Half Marathon.

Afterwards over lunch I asked Sharon how she managed to look so fresh and upbeat at the end of her 13 mile journey. She said that her goal was to stay tuned in physically and mentally during the race; to listen to what her instincts and body were telling her and to move through the course at a pace where she felt energized yet comfortable. Meaning, she managed to march to her own beat and avoid getting caught up in the psychological dynamics or "should's" projected by the other runners.

This approach applies well to parenting. There’s so much judgment out there, so many sources that leave you feeling like a failure if you don’t rise to a prescribed level of perfection. But ultimately, at the end of the day the journey is similar to that experienced by my sister as she modified her textbook training regimen to incorporate meaningful, instinctive elements that were all her own. Ultimately the motherhood manual can’t fit every single person the same way; your instincts matter and likely will serve you well.

So today I’d like to applaud Sharon for completing her race successfully on her own terms; she inspires me to continue to parent in a way in which instructions simply serve as the framework on which my instincts operate.

Posted 9 Oct 2006 in Family Issues | Permalink | Comments (1) | E-mail this link