Because natural isn't always possible — or easy.
Posted in parenting on Jan 7th, 2012
It seems impossible, but my husband and I have only been away overnight once since Big Girl was born eight years ago. We’ve never been away from Little Girl. Oh, sure, hubby has gone away for a night or two, and I’ve been away overnight to a conference, but we’ve never gone away together. My [...]
Posted in Education, exercise, parenting, School and education, toddlers on Jan 4th, 2012
Today, three out of four kids ages 3 to 5 are in some form of childcare including daycare and preschool. Increasingly, teachers, parents, and childcare workers are focusing more on reading than on running. However, according to a new study published in Pediatrics, the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), running trumps [...]
Posted in parenting on Dec 24th, 2011
I keep asking the kids what they want for Christmas. Since they don’t watch much TV — and the TV they do watch doesn’t have commercials — they haven’t given me much to work with. The big one wants a Lalaloopsy doll. The little one wants a purple Pillow Pet. We’ve taken care of both [...]
Posted in babies, Birth, parenting, Pregnancy, Preventative medicine on Dec 20th, 2011
Hey, thanks so much for your recent letter to me. You know, the one congratulating me for being a mom-to-be and telling me how important it is to wait to deliver until 39 or 40 weeks? I really appreciate it, and I must tell you that I am completely on board with you on the [...]
Posted in babies, Health, Illness, parenting, Safety on Dec 9th, 2011
Little Girl was up every few hours on Wednesday night. We thought it was because we took blanka away, but it turns out she was developing a fever. I figured it out after she woke up sobbing at 9:45 a.m. Gathering her into my arms, I realized instantly that she was putting off as much [...]
Posted in babies, Health, Illness, parenting, Preventative medicine, Vaccines on Nov 28th, 2011
Today the American Academy of Pediatrics reported on a study (seventh story from the top) — Washington State Pediatricians’ Attitudes towards Alternative Childhood Immunization Schedules — which appears in the December 2011 issue of Pediatrics, the organization’s journal. The study asked 209 Washington State pediatricians about their overall willingness and “comfort” to use an alternative [...]
Posted in Emotional development, parenting, Siblings on Nov 8th, 2011
I have kept my mouth shut three times over the past 24 hours, and that’s a good thing. A really, really good thing. For the record, I was involved in three situations that could have turned ugly (or at least uncomfortable), but they didn’t because I kept what I was thinking and feeling to myself. [...]
Posted in Going Green, parenting, Sustainable on Nov 1st, 2011
I have a problem, and I’m not sure what to do. Here are the details: Big Girl’s birthday was last month. When we started planning it she said she wanted to donate her gifts, but she didn’t know which charity would be the recipient this year. Then, one day she was leafing through my Parents [...]
Posted in babies, Health, parenting, Pop Culture, toddlers on Oct 19th, 2011
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued new policy statement — Media Use by Children Younger Than Two Years — about babies and toddlers watching TV. The organization’s take is simple: The AAP discourages media use for babies and kids under two Parents should avoid putting a TV in a child’s room There may [...]
Posted in parenting, Pop Culture on Oct 5th, 2011
Sometimes, my job is pretty cool. This past Monday was one of those times because I got to preview the new Sony Pictures Animation film Arthur Christmas with my husband and my two girls. We got to see the movie at the Sony screening room, which was an experience in itself. (Big, cushy seating, super-loud [...]