Some thoughts came to me today as I am getting sentimental about my children growing up and out. I look back to the time when they were babies, and wish I held them just a little more, complained a little less about waking up at night, and took more time to relax and enjoy them [...]
A friend of mine had her first baby last week. On her Facebook status, she said, “Bring on the new parent advice!”
What advice would you give her?
Photo by ephotography
Kids are not the only ones who need to drink milk. You’re probably getting your calcium without knowing it from the lattes you drink each day.
Drinking lattes is a ritual millions of Americans look forward to every morning. But at about $3 dollars for a small cup, it’s a luxury that could cost nearly $1100 [...]
Do children under 3 years old need formal education?
Do we need to buy them learning programs and educational software?
In a previous post, I pointed out a recent debate about whether DVD programs such as “Baby Einstein” are any use at all.
Do children learn by sitting and watching? Do they learn sitting in a classroom alongside [...]
How do I handle separation anxiety?
Is there anything I can do to make sure my baby grows up with a healthy self-esteem?
What do I do when my toddler bites another child?
How do I get my 2-year-old off the bottle?
What do I help my child through grief and loss?
If you have these and other questions about [...]
Parents want the best for their babies. Does that mean having to spend a lot of money on “educational” material such as “Baby Einstein” and “BabyGenius”?
CNN reported a study that shows TV viewing of educational DVDs have no benefits.
According to CNN, “researchers from Children’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, and Harvard Medical School reached this conclusion [...]
A reader asked me how she can prepare for Baby #2. Is there anything she can do within the next few months before Baby #2 arrives, perhaps get her life organized in a way that will make it easier when she has to take care of 2 instead of 1?
My son and my daughter [...]
It’s still hard for me to believe that my son turned 21 a couple of weeks ago! It is true what they say, children DO grow up fast!
Time crawled when my kids were babies when all I saw were dirty diapers and midnight feedings. But time, though it may have seemed slow, does not stand [...]
A reader asks, “How do I stop my toddler from whining?”
Honestly, even adults whine! I get whiny when I don’t get what I want. “I want a new kitchen…I want a vacation…I want to eat out every night…”
I whine when I can’t control the circumstances in my favor and get what I want.
So it [...]
It is true that swaddling your baby helps them sleep better.
When I had my babies, the hospital nurse taught me to wrap my babies tightly in a receiving blanket. (I kept one of those hospital blankets for memories!) When the baby is nice and snug, he feels secure and warm, just like in your womb [...]
My first “baby” is turning 21 years old in a week!
With my eyes closed, I can still picture a few memories of those moments shared with him that first year of life, when we were both new at this thing called parenting.
That first year was tough. Sleep deprived, a body that was no longer mine, [...]
I recently came across the story of Bill Havens. The name is not a familiar one, but he is a hero to me.
In 1924, Bill was set to go to the Olympic games in Paris to compete in the newly added sport canoeing. He was in fact favored to win the gold for the United [...]
A friend who doesn’t have kids said today, “I am going to make sure that when I have kids, it’ll be when I am ready and really want them.”
I thought I was ready when I was 29 and had my first child. Yet, being a parent so changed my life beyond what I could’ve imagined.
Do [...]
Male high school teachers have a very tough job. I especially feel for their wives.
When 17 and 18 year-old girls wear tank tops, tight clothes, and short shorts, do you think the men teachers, even the most moral ones, would notice? How can the wives of the teachers compete with these young beauties?
Recently at a [...]
If you have a 16-year-old, I bet you’ve grown more than a few white hairs worrying about your teenager getting his/her driver’s license. I know I have!
My son was in a car accident recently, thank God everyone was alright. It could’ve been worst. But it’s one of those phone calls you don’t want to [...]
A baby asked God, ‘They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?’
God said, ‘Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you.’
The child further inquired, ‘But tell me, here in heaven I don’t have to do [...]
Today’s article is written by Peter Aldin, founder of Great Circle Life Coaching. For over a decade, he has provided coaching, workshops and training that assist people to sharpen their personal and professional relationships and communication. Peter and his family live and work in Melbourne. I love his light-hearted (and helpful) look at fatherhood [...]
Photo by Tauri Tuubel
My older daughter was colicky when she was a baby… uncontrollable crying for no apparent reason. That’s what colic is and there is no known cause. But all that screaming and crying is so scary to a parent, you think something must be dreadfully wrong!
Once my daughter started crying, there was [...]
Being at home with little ones can be a lot of fun…and a big drain on you. Nobody can work a 24/7 schedule without a break as a mother does and remain sane.
I’ve been there. Some days, I had to say, “Get me outta here!”
And that’s exactly what you should do. Before you get so [...]
“You’re being overprotective!”
You bet I am.
When it comes to taking care of a baby, I am all for being overprotective. Don’t let other people intimidate you into thinking that you should not be.
Trust your instincts as a mother.
If you have a feeling that it is not a good idea to leave your 2-month-old baby overnight [...]
I am not big on getting toys for children.
Most of the toys are marketed to the parents. They look cute and pretty that parents think the kids will be entertained with the toys for hours. But frankly, kids don’t play with toys.
What children want is a person to play with. And since adults don’t really [...]
In the last post, I placed the responsibility on the parent and practically held the child blameless when the child throws a tantrum at the mall.
Let me explain.
Imagine you are putting together some piece of IKEA furniture. There are no English words in their instructions. After three hours, it is just about finished, except for [...]
A friend with a 2-year-old asked me how to deal with her daughter’s temper tantrums.
“Tell me what happened.” I said.
“We were in the mall shopping, with my daughter in a stroller. And she started screaming and crying, ” my friend told me.
“How long were you at the mall?”
“About two hours.”
Do you honestly expect a 2-year [...]
Every baby needs a swing for some down time.
My children really enjoyed the swing, up to about six months old. However, I had to catch myself from putting my baby in there too often. It is tempting to use it as a convenient babysitter.
Here are some guidelines to make the most of the Baby Swing:
When [...]
