Today, I’m pleased to introduce new content partner Nataly Kogan, a Boston mama and co-founder of Work It, Mom! Nataly will contribute cross-posts that are relevant to working moms and life/work balance. Welcome, Nataly! And here are her 5 tips for better Mondays:Today, I’m pleased to introduce new content partner Nataly Kogan, a Boston mama and co-founder of Work It, Mom! Nataly will contribute cross-posts that are relevant to working moms and life/work balance. Welcome, Nataly! And here are her 5 tips for better Mondays:
Today, Kate takes us on a walk down memory lane…with Judy Blume.
For girls of a certain generation - mine, and those directly before and after - the experience of reading the novels of Judy Blume was a double-layered rite of adolescent passage: the books themselves were sacred texts, and the universal stories they told - of being teased, of being not the prettiest, of being kissed, of having your parents split up, of loving and being loved, and of losing (love, virginity, friendship, your lunch in public) - were the stories we were all living, vividly and in real time and with an empathy that our parents couldn't come close to.
We received word about the Boston University Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders, which recently launched a new website offering resources for parents of adolescents with panic disorder and other anxiety disorders. The center offers cognitive behavioral therapy treatment (i.e., no medication) with free treatment for qualifying families. I’m grateful to guest contributor Amy Cody, who canvassed some colleagues for feedback about the clinic. Here’s what they had to say:
Our beloved writer 
Today, PPLM Parent Education Program Manager Amy Cody recommends this resource for parents and youth:
“AmberMadison.tv is a unique Web-based video channel informing young adults about sexual health and sexuality in a safe and interactive environment. Amber Madison, author of Hooking Up: A Girl's All-Out Guide to Sex And Sexuality, delivers accurate information through her own humor and real-life perspectives to teens and young adults who are curious about sex, relationships, health, and overall well-being. The programming covers sexual health topics including body image, pregnancy, relationships, sexual assault, sexual orientation, and STDs.”
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:
The former statistics guru in me would, for pure amusement, like to see how much real estate “time spent diapering” gets on a parents pie chart. And apparently, no matter how seasoned a mom you are, it’s possible to discover new information about diapers anywhere along the journey. Today, a team of my beloved mamas tested and reviewed diapers and wipes from the Pampers line. Read on for their reviews, ordered by age of youngest to oldest kids:
Are you the parent of a young daughter and are dreading - or already are deeply entrenched in - arguments over questionable clothing choices? Today, PPLM Parent Education Program Manager Amy Cody addresses the question “What to do when your pre-teen daughter wants to wear makeup and skimpy clothing?” Amy offers general guidelines and links to additional resources for strategies and talking points on this tough topic:
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.
Ever since I stopped nursing and gained back 10 unshakeable pounds, I’ve sporadically toyed with different fitness options. The gym proved too expensive and time consuming (transit time, waiting for equipment, etc.), and as much as I love walking, it doesn’t impact the same way a targeted workout does. So when the folks at PUSH offered me an opportunity to test their customized personal training DVDs, I was both intrigued and intimidated. The intimidation passed quickly though; PUSH’s concise yet comprehensive workouts will make novices to gurus alike feel the burn in a friendly, efficient, and economical manner.
Today is a day of activism to help garner support for The MOTHERS Act for postpartum depression. This call to action is sponsored by BlogHer, Postpartum Support International, and Postpartum Progress. To join the cause, blog about this initiative today. Or if you aren’t a blogger, call or email your senator and simply ask them to co-sponsor The MOTHERS Act bill number S. 1375, which will provide funding for postpartum depression research, education, screening, and treatment. Thanks everyone!
You can’t go wrong gifting new parents with diapers. Reader Sharon from Henderson, NV wrote in with this tip on gifting diapers with style: “I just got [a Diaper Cakewalk diaper cake] for my friend's baby shower and it was just too cute! Everyone at the baby shower raved about what a cute idea it was, and most had never seen one before. I got the pink and brown one with the Burt’s Bees products. It smelled great, and my pregnant friend loved it; she got everyone's picture taken with the cake. This is my new go-to baby gift for pregnant friends and family!”
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.
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:
Ever since Laurel was an infant, she’s been very particular about the company she keeps, and this trait has persisted to peers (even, I swear, during the phase where it was all just supposed to be parallel play). The socialization issues continue to change as we go along, so I’m particularly grateful for Tracy’s commentary and resource lead on how to cope with difficult friends:
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:
The transition phase between “Hmm, pregnant?” and “Whoa, definitely pregnant!” (and vice versa) can be challenging in many ways. If you’re looking for a seamless way to hang onto your sense of style (and your pants), check out Jules’s report on an item that will endure use before, during, and after pregnancy - the Bella Band
:
This just in from Jon (my unofficial health correspondent): in today’s New York Times, Elisabeth Rosenthal reports on UK research findings showing that some common food additives and colorings can increase hyperactive behavior and decrease attention span in kids (although Jon cautions that effect size isn’t specified in the NYT article). The British Food Standards Agency has responded by advising parents to eliminate additives and preservatives if consumption couples with behavior change. Interestingly, an MGH doctor makes the point that an increase in hyperactivity may not be clinically significant and worth the social impact of a kid not being able to eat the same food as his/her friends.