Because natural isn't always possible — or easy.
Posted in babies, parenting, Sleep, toddlers on May 16th, 2011
Little Girl has been tented since she launched herself out of the crib and broke her collar bone. Horrible, terrible experience, and one that makes me shudder to this day. A few months ago, she made a teeny, tiny hole in the mesh. Over time, the hole got larger, but it was never a danger [...]
Posted in Eating Healthy, Going Green, Reduce, Safety on May 7th, 2011
Every morning Big Girl and Little Girl have cereal and yogurt. It’s organic yogurt free of artificial flavors and colors, but I still wonder how healthy it is. You see, it comes in a big plastic tub. I believe the tub is BPA-free, but I can’t really be absolutely sure, can I? I looked it [...]
The past few Sundays — as her sister naps — Big Girl and I have been going for bike rides. We travel a half mile east, another half mile north, and then head east, north, and east again until we get to a local park. Inside, we slip onto the bike-only track. I won’t lie: [...]
Posted in Environment, Health, Safety, Toxins on Nov 11th, 2010
A few years ago I wrote a story about lead poisoning for Parents Magazine. After my month of interviews I can tell you that almost half of the homes in the U.S. contain lead. Also, that most instances of lead poisoning go undetected. And that the most common age to become affected is between ages [...]
Posted in Health, Illness, Safety, Vaccines on Oct 21st, 2010
I was at a mommy and me class today when a woman cornered me. “I know you’re so into this stuff. I have to ask you. Did you know that this year’s flu shot contains the H1N1 virus? I asked if there was a version without it and there isn’t!” This girl, who gave her [...]
Posted in Emotional development, toddlers on Jun 14th, 2010
Before Big Girl was born I questioned my parenting potential. I spent months, actually, discussing this very topic with a therapist. Would I be a good parent? Would I screw up any child I had because I was, well, a little screwed up? I agonized over it. And yet when she was born, I wondered [...]
Posted in parenting, Play, Safety, School and education on May 24th, 2010
First, some disclosures. I do not like the water all that much. I don’t like getting my hair wet. I don’t like bathing suits. I hate the sun. (Pasty skin will do that to you.) Second, my big girl inherited my “love” of the water. I did not do this to her. My husband, a [...]
Posted in Environment, Food, Going Green, Health, Safety, Toxins on May 5th, 2010
I have a Google news alert for the acronym “BPA.” Day after day I sit here and read about new dangers of bisphenol A (BPA). This week alone there was a new study that found links BPA exposure to a change in the blood levels of thyroid and reproductive hormones in men. The study, done [...]
Posted in Consumer Packaged Goods, Environment, Going Green on Jan 19th, 2010
Last week the Food and Drug Administration did a 180 on its stance on bisphenol A (BPA), saying it had “concerns” about its use when it comes to fetuses, babies, and children. And maybe parents should avoid exposing their kids after all. The government even pledged $30 million toward research. They need to get to [...]
Posted in Consumer Packaged Goods, Eating Healthy, Food, Organic on Jan 15th, 2010
It seems like I keep writing about chicken. This time, I’m hot and bothered about Tyson’s antibiotic debacle. For those of you who don’t know what I am talking about: Tyson Foods, Inc., the company that manufactures all those chicken fingers and sells raw poultry in 2008 was sued for what some called questionable business [...]