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.
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.
For a fun outing with the kids, some quiet time on your own, or an alternative to the typical coffee break at work, consider this idea from Sharon:
“Summer brings an array of beautiful fruits and vegetables. If you lack yard space or the time to garden, but want to involve kids in the process of appreciating and picking their own produce, try visiting a local farmers’ market [click here for MA listings]. You don’t need to travel far or deal with unmanageable hoards waiting for a hayride. All you need is an appreciation for being outdoors and the feet to walk from one kiosk to another to see what hand picked items are available that day. I went to one of these markets last week and was pleasantly surprised to see fresh seafood, homemade cheeses, and craft items being sold alongside produce, beautiful wildflower bouquets, and potted herbs. Shopping these markets supports local farmers and impacts the environment by reducing the use of fuel required to ship items from far away.”
Reader Erica from Northampton wrote in to notify us about AP writer Lindsey Tanner’s article Is Video-Game Addiction a Mental Disorder? This weekend at the American Medical Association’s annual policy meeting, the AMA Council on Science and Public Health will lobby for gaming disorders to be included in the American Psychiatric Association’s mental illness manual (the DSM, I assume). Classifying addictive gaming behavior as a psychiatric disorder would serve to raise awareness and allow insurance coverage for treatment. Debate is sure to ensue given potential consequences for the video game industry, and current disagreement about this added classification from some mental health providers.
My violin calluses may be long gone, but music remains a big part of our household via Jon’s guitar, Laurel’s singing, and our music collection. One challenge, though, has been finding enough music that the adults are able to enjoy, while being suitable for (unbelievably attentive) preschooler ears. We've been lucky that Laurel digs the (less trippy) likes of the Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Paul Simon (she sings along with Jon’s accompaniment), and a recent addition that fits a good, mellow niche is Renee & Jeremy’s It's A Big World
.
What with the proliferation of summer sweat, dirt, and sand, you're likely hanging around the tub a lot these days. This morning Tracy reports on a super cool tub toy that Nana gifted to her younger son:
“Whenever Nana visits, she typically comes equipped with the requisite “long-distance-grandmothering” presents for the boys; however, this time she hadn’t had a chance to shop so we all set off for one of the local toy stores.
Few things stress parents like having family, friends, or professionals raise their eyebrows when they hear that your babe hasn’t done X, Y, or Z by a specific age. I’ve already made clear my thoughts on statistical variability and individual differences (see Redshirting), and today we’re grateful to Kate for sharing her story and lead regarding Early Intervention:
After finishing grad school, Jon and I did something fit for the truly crazy and devoted; we moved back to our beloved, exorbitant city without jobs. And as we pushed interviews and grant applications along, we played cribbage, pursued creative endeavors, drank a lot of coffee, and tried not to panic. One artistic by-product from this time is a self-portrait I made during an oil painting class; it appears to be a wishful, creamy-complexioned salute to the days before I obliviously “rotisserized” (my friend Braden’s term for sunbathing) and set off a spray of freckles across my face. These freckles may look kind of cute, but they’re officially sun damage.
A local reader wrote in with a tip about Chatterboxes, a group of pediatric speech pathologists in Boston. She writes: “We had trouble with the hospitals as their waiting lists were long and our son couldn't be seen for 7 months. Chatterboxes is the only pediatric SLP private practice in Greater Boston…we were excited to find them. Chatterboxes came through and helped our son tremendously.”
Chatterboxes doesn’t yet have a live website; contact them at 617-723-TALK.
UPDATE (8/3/07): The reader who submitted this tip wrote in with a link to the Chatterboxes website. Much appreciated!
I know many parents whose babies have, at some point, hated extended car rides. Laurel responded similarly as an infant, and no wonder; it’s noisy and likely weird to be strapped into a car seat unable to see the parents. Back then we dreaded car trips since they typically involved unsuccessfully trying to console Laurel and thus driving with a screaming baby; our first Thanksgiving trip with Laurel fit this scenario and at one point I actually climbed into the backseat, uncomfortably wedged myself over the car seat, and nursed, hoping that Jon wouldn’t hit any sharp corners.
We’ve come a long way since that time, but our recent vacation’s 14 hour round trip drive still left room for intimidation. We decided to plan what we could but roll with the rest, and it worked out amazingly well. Consider these tips when readying for your next family road trip:
Unless you (generously) count goldfish crackers and wipes, it’s unusual to find much in the diaper bag that truly serves mom and babe well. So we love that Skin MD Natural shielding lotion offers a multitasking means to reduce the load in your tote and take care of your and your kid’s skin.
Great for every day (and proving especially handy during our recent vacation), Skin MD's shielding formula enhances the skin’s natural abilities to lock in moisture and repel irritants (vs. simply temporarily alleviating dry skin). Suitable for face, hands, and body, testers here at Boston Mamas found the lotion refreshingly light and quick absorbing. And personally, as a typical mom lacking in leisurely morning shower and moisturizing time, and as the parent of a kid who has been prone to itching and scratching from day one, I’ve been thrilled to find that this natural lotion is effective yet gentle enough for both of us to use; I only need to tote one bottle, and soothing Laurel’s itches reminds me to tend to my own skin. Available at Amazon
and Skin MD Natural, a little lotion goes a long way; the 4 oz bottle ($25) is good for 1-2 months with daily use.
I'm actually in a pretty decent place right now, having just returned from a much needed vacation (thanks to Sharon for launching this week's posts in my absence!), but if you're in a less favorable midweek zone, check out these stress relief tips from Jules:
"When I was in social work school, I had a professor tell me a secret “quick fix” to lose my stress. The trick? Smile. I know, I know, who can smile when you feel like crying? But, trust me, this works. I do it most when my road rage gets me, but try it whenever the mood strikes. Count to ten and take a few deep breaths. Now, smile. A great big grin. Go on, no one has to see. Hold the smile for at least thirty seconds. Smiling lowers our blood pressure and reduces endorphins, both changes that can be felt right away. You should notice that after you pause for a moment to smile, you really will feel better (even if it’s because you’re laughing at how silly you feel!). Smiling is contagious, so be sure to share the wealth.
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.
For your budding artist, Kate has praise for this welcome upgrade of classic grade school desks:
“Our 17-month old daughter has become increasingly interested in arts and crafts over the past few months - encouraged by her wonderful daycare teachers - so we started stocking fun art supplies and decided that it would be a good idea to have a designated art space in the apartment, both to foster her creativity and independence and to try to preserve our floors and furniture from stray marks. Many companies sell desks and chairs for toddlers, but they often are large and require more space than we have to spare in a city apartment. Fortunately, the Offi Doodle Desk provides the perfect solution: an all-in-one seat, desk, and storage drawer, the Doodle Desk is a good size and shape for little artists, while being stylish and space-efficient enough to suit most parents. Available in sky blue
and orange
, the Doodle Desk features a pine veneer which is remarkably easy to clean: most child-friendly markers and paints wash right off."
Every now and then a book reels me in so effectively that I forego sleep for story development. This was the case with The Bright Side of Disaster
, which I finished the other night (morning, actually), several hours after Jon and Laurel had drifted off upstairs.
Bright Side (available in July, but you can preorder it now) is Katherine Center’s impressive, cheeky debut. And while a story about a deadbeat fiancée who bails on his pregnant wife may sound like troubling content for moms and moms-to-be, the spark and humor of the writing immediately created a central character (Jenny) I wanted to see through to the end.
Laurel recently has shown an interest in healing, both via Western (doctor kits) and alterative (shamanic maraca shaking) practices. After hunting around online, I was really happy to find the basic (i.e., not a million tiny parts), inexpensive Fisher Price Medical Kit
. The set includes interactive pieces (thermometer, syringe, blood pressure cuff, and a stethoscope that actually works against the skin), as well as an otoscope and bracelet style bandage. Also included is a soft tote, which is nice so you can add other tools - such as a shamanic maraca - easily (a common complaint of kits with hard cases is that it's tough fitting all the pieces back in), and the set is compact for travel.
We generally favor wooden over plastic toys and also considered the Haba Doctor’s Suitcase, but it’s missing the all important stethoscope, which Laurel really digs.
If you’re looking to simplify your shopping routine and enjoy a variety of organic groceries delivered to your doorstop, check out Boston Organics. Reader Jude from Medford (a happy Boston Organics customer for almost four years) wrote in with high praise for the Weekly Box service. The variety of produce encourages her family to try new foods, and her kids even see the delivery box and shout “fruit and veggies!” (she can’t guarantee that as a result for everyone, of course…).
Box options start at $27 and can include fruits, vegetables, or a mix of the two delivered every week or every other week. And if you have allergies or aversions to certain produce, you can request to not have them included in your produce box. Boston Organics also recently has added a variety of other grocery items to choose from, including bread, chocolate, and dairy. Click here to see their delivery areas.
It’s an amazing milestone to get beyond nursing and solid food purees to the stage where your kids can eat whatever you’re eating. But then the challenge shifts to figuring out healthful and easy meals for the whole family. Today, guest contributor Jules (our resident professional foodie) offers a recipe that packs a nutritional and visually vibrant punch. Click here for the printable PDF of Jules’s Fast & Healthy Mexican Stuffed Peppers (shown; click thumbnail to enlarge). Enjoy!
Jon and I once lived in an apartment with a defunct covered fireplace that became inhabited by a wayward squirrel. Horrified, I vacated the premises, leaving Jon to handle the situation. It seemed, as my mom would say, “man work.” And in this and other instances – particularly those involving vermin, giant bugs, or broken electronics – I’ve wondered about the onus and origin of man work. Does the know-how come from camp, Boy Scouts, MacGyver memories?
The modern answer may very well be The Dangerous Book for Boys
. There’s no chapter dedicated to squirrel catching (which Jon humanely handled with a trash can and golf club for squirrel nudging), but Dangerous provides excellent fodder to bring back the marvelous, lazy days of summer inquiry, offering the how-to on everything from survival (e.g., knots, first aid, spy codes, tree houses), to gadgets (e.g., batteries, timers and tripwires), to literacy (e.g., grammar, poetry, Latin phrases), to sporting rules, to world history and landmarks, to tales of bravery and adventure.