Parents frequently feel angry at their kids – especially when those kids engage in behavior that is destructive, dangerous, mean, foolish, messy, illegal, immoral, thoughtless, selfish and otherwise… childish. But given that unrestrained displays of anger can traumatize children, parents have to learn how to discipline without rage, upset or even irritation. While anger is …
The birth of a premature baby can bring mixed emotions: the joy of the newborn’s arrival and the worry over health issues. Sometimes, when the premature birth is completely unexpected, there is also a feeling of shock and panic. Will the baby survive? Will she be alright? Indeed, some premature babies literally have to fight …
When it comes to personal property, boundaries between siblings can be hard to define. After all, in a family there is such a thing as communal property: what is mine is also yours. And sharing is a virtue all parents want to encourage in their children. “Mom! Laurie stole my hairbrush!” “I did not!” “You …
Like adults, children can wake up in the night. They may do so for any number of reasons, depending on their age, health and unique characteristics. However, when a child awakens in the night, other members of the household may be disturbed (i.e. siblings sleeping nearby or parents in their own room). If nighttime awakenings …
I tell my four year old daughter that she’s beautiful. I also tell her she’s smart, creative, funny and genuinely one of the coolest kids that I know. I tell her those last four things way more than I tell her the first thing, but still, I tell her she’s beautiful. Because she is … …
Raising Daughters | Everything is Beautiful (Or, Is it?) Read More »
Last year, I posted a photo on my personal blog of a shirt that blew my mind. It was the size for a kindergarten girl and it said “Kiss the Rim.” The shirt was supposed to be about basketball (I guess), but I couldn’t shake off the sexual undertone of that shirt. Raising three daughters, we are …
KGOY | How Advertisers Are Sexing Up Our Daughters Younger Than Ever Read More »
Anger is one of the most destructive emotions; people who have difficulty managing their anger can end up hurting others and themselves. As adults, they can destroy their most important relationships – those with spouses and children. Parents can help their kids have lifelong satisfying relationships by helping them to find healthy ways to deal …
Understandably, siblings don’t always want to share the same set of friends. This is particularly true when siblings have a big age difference between them. However, there are practical issues to contend with. What happens when an 8 year-old child invites a friend to play and the child’s 6 year-old sister wants to join in …
Child Doesn’t Want to Include Siblings with Friends Read More »
Visitation arrangements don’t always give kids the opportunity to see each parent 50% of the time. Practical considerations often make equal division of visitation impossible. For instance, in some cases, one parent works longer hours than the other. Or, one parent lives in a different state or country and the child must attend school for …
Raising a child is an enormous job, and parents need all the help they can get. Which is why single parents are modern day heroes. To accomplish alone a task that’s often too much for even two people, is an achievement that should make it into the record books! Many single parents make it through …
Mothers and fathers often disagree on matters pertaining to parenting. It happens when the parents are operating within the context of an intact family home and it also happens when parents have gone their separate ways through separation or divorce. However, unlike their married counterparts, divorced couples lack the trust and friendliness that is at the …
Over the weekend I found myself sitting in my dark closet and sobbing uncontrollably. I’ll spare you the details of all that led up to it, but suffice it to say that it’s not the first time and it certainly won’t be the last. And the “cry locations” vary–sometimes it’s the pantry or laundry room …
Parenting Sucks | Why It’s Okay to Say You Hate Parenthood Read More »
All too often, Halloween is viewed as a holiday engineered to rob our families of their most recent paychecks through overpriced, poorly made costumes—and all for an evening that ends in a sugar-fueled meltdown. But, while the sugar-induced coma is nearly unavoidable, you can prevent the depletion of your savings by getting creative with your …
Mother’s Day is a wonderful day designed to celebrate the gift of mom. Yet it can often leave the “bonus” mom feeling less than celebrated. Stepmoms play a special role in the lives of their stepchildren and, while many will not be recognized this Mother’s Day, their impact on the lives of their stepchildren will …
My oldest daughter looked forward to the birth of her sister almost more than my husband and I. Being only two and a half years old, she really had no idea what she was in for. I imagine that she had beautiful fantasies about a live-in friend that could entertain her when I was just …
Postpartum Depression and Older Siblings: a personal story Read More »
