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.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.
Today Tracy shares a recommendation for a book that can help couples reconnect in times of discontent:
“In my practice as a clinical psychologist, my clients often asked for book recommendations. It’s a rare book that is accessible enough and/or leaves me comfortable enough with the message it sends that I’m happy to recommend it to clients. Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love is different, however.
Today, PPLM Parent Education Program Manager Amy Cody shares tips for talking to daughters about menstruation, including advice especially for dads:
“If your daughter is approaching menstruation, you can make the whole process easier and more comfortable for her (and you) by talking to her openly about what it means to have your "period." It's very important to begin to teach girls about the changes their bodies will go through during puberty - and especially menstruation - before they get their first period. But it is never too late to start!
Today, parent educator Hetti Wohlgemuth shares parenting points gleaned from the movie Away We Go:
"When I heard about Away We Go, a film about parenting, I asked my husband to join me to see the movie. Bob, a good critic, said, "I liked the movie. I liked the characters too, but I didn't see much point." I, on the other hand, thought the movie offered good acting but also heart, comedy, and romance. The New Yorker said the movie has a "ruminative" tone and I agree. After seeing the film I began to ruminate on several fine points of parenting the movie raised.
My writing has taken me down memory lane recently, and I wanted to share two external posts that are relevant for parents, regarding the lessons we learn and pass on to our kids. I guest posted today at the Daily Grommet blog about lessons learned from summer vacations of past and present, and yesterday I posted at Pop Discourse (my personal blog) about ways to cope with the mounting stress I have observed in relation to BlogHer. Whether or not you’ll be in Chicago next week, the post speaks to the importance of shedding adolescent baggage and modeling behavior for your kids that is kind and accepting, not cruel and excluding.
Today, Kate shares the benefits that have come from following her daughter’s itch to walk:
“When I was pregnant, I spent many happy hours considering which stroller to buy. I read reviews, talked to friends, discreetly checked out the latest models on the sidewalks of my neighborhood, and weighed cost against style, durability, and fabulousness. In retrospect, I'll admit that I put more emphasis on the look of the thing than on its actual operation, but it was my first pregnancy and I had no real idea what it would mean to transport a newborn and then baby and then toddler on four wheels and in all seasons.
I'm a tad remiss in reporting, but wanted to share some recent kind media mentions. A couple of weeks ago I was quoted in Joanna Weiss’s Boston Globe feature on imperfect parenting confessionals. And last week I was included in FOX25 Boston’s special report on mom bloggers. Given the brouhaha that has erupted amidst the blogging community re: product reviews, I was particularly pleased that my comments on ethics and transparency made the cut.
In May I signed on as a March of Dimes mom, through which I will donate one post per month to pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, newborn, or general family topics. In honor of Father’s Day, June’s suggested topic was – not surprisingly – dad issues. I know I’m a few days late in sharing my thoughts on this topic, but there’s a good reason why.
Although Laurel’s daycare runs year round, the summer tends to be a time for transition, and the recent departure of one of her friends reminded me of something I loved doing as a child: exchanging letters with pen pals. Laurel’s friend (or actually, her parents) left a colorful paper bag in each friend’s mail pouch with a sweet goodbye letter that included the friend's mailing address and a request to be pen pals. Also handily included: a note card and self-addressed stamped envelope to get the ball rolling.
Today, Heather shares ideas for ways to work in one on one time with siblings:
“With four children, ages 2-5, giving each of my children the individual attention they want is truly one of my greatest challenges. Many days it feels as if they all need a piece of me at the same time, especially in the 10 minutes after I come home from work. But I have learned that even as little as 5 minutes of daily one on one time does wonders for all of us. Below are some simple ways that I have managed to carve out quick one on one time with my children (of course, in some of these examples my husband needs to be home to supervise the other three).
Today, Kate shares a book recommendation for grownups:
“I have long been fascinated by marriages. What keeps two people together over many years? What really goes on during all of those dinners together, those long car rides, those epic changes and everyday activities? How do some couples manage to strike the right balance between independence and interconnectedness? And how is it that some couples - even after decades - still share private smiles that suggest love and excitement, while others seem like barely more than comfortable companions?
Today, parent educator Hetti Wohlgemuth shares tips for coping with public tantrums:
“Small children tantrum; sometimes in a big way. And sometimes in a public place. We manage tantrums just fine at home, but less well on the playground, or at the public library, market, or mall. Why? Because it's embarrassing to watch Alex collapse to the floor and go completely out of control when everyone (or so it seems) is watching/judging how we deal with this tiny tornado. Here are some tips for coping with public displays of tempestuous behavior:
In response to an invitation to submit an idea for an episode of The Juice, last week I wrote about a topic I care deeply about: nurturing relationships and the value of doing good things for people. And I’m honored to report that The Juice selected my post as the winning entry of their Trop 50 Juice Contest. As a result, I’ll head to San Francisco to film a webisode with host and BlogHer co-founder Jory Des Jardins, featuring the tips I wrote about, plus some additional useful ideas and resources on the topic.
I’ll let you know when the webisode is live; meanwhile, I’m flattered that my post was selected from what no doubt was a pool of thoughtful and insightful entries, and am happy to have the opportunity to spread the good karmic word!
Today, Kate shares her favorite means for fitness:
“I turned 35 this year, which - combined with other major changes in my life - prodded me into thinking that I should be doing more to keep myself healthy and active. In the past, I've tried gyms, pools, classes, DVDs, and different pairs of sneakers, but nothing has ever stuck for very long and nothing has really felt right: classes don't fit my schedule, gyms are too impersonal, pools are too much of a nuisance (the chlorine! the wet hair!), and I've never quite had the discipline to commit to exercise at home. However, my family has a history of heart disease and I have some very special people for whom to remain healthy, so I decided that this spring would be the season in which I would figure out a way to exercise that I could both enjoy and sustain.
Welcome to Boston Mamas Rock! – where I share the voices of fabulous local mamas from all walks of life. Read on for today’s interview with Carol Fishman Cohen, mother of four and career specialist for women looking to re-enter the workforce. Carol is the co-author of Back on the Career Track and co-founder of iRelaunch. Then go ahead and nominate a fabulous fellow mama!
Last fall I had the pleasure of meeting BlogHer co-founder Jory Des Jardins, who recently collaborated to launch The Juice, a site geared towards helping women “get more of what they want, and less of what they don’t out of life.” I think a lot about this topic so was compelled to respond to an invitation to submit an idea for an episode of The Juice, as follows.
In my work, I definitely tend to be bound by perfection, but one area of my life where I’ve really enjoyed letting my perfectionist tendencies fall to the wayside is in my parenting. Not only is it too hard (and somewhat pointless) to strive for parenting perfection, but the extra bonus is that letting go often translates to fun (and often educational) experiences for Laurel that also foster her independence and free up my hands. Here are two examples where this played out beautifully (while prepping yesterday for Jon’s birthday):
This past Saturday was remarkable in that: a) Laurel happily attended a drop-off playgroup with a group of kids she largely was unfamiliar with (she tends to turn reticent around strangers, even little ones); and b) the playgroup essentially was organized and hosted by a 9-year-old (supervised, of course). This concept was fantastic for several reasons: it offered the families of the young guests a means for socialization and separation, it provided a way to teach an older kid about responsibility and earning money, and it gave me food for thought as I mull how we’ll handle the whole new ball game that will be kindergarten, with its vacation stretches and early school pick up days.