Growing up, a sharp line separated “grown folks’ business” and kid activities. There was occasional overlap, but for the most part, adults and children occupied different orbits around the same familial planet. Information for children was on a “need to know” basis and adult affairs (the business kind) were conducted in mystery and sealed with a code of silence.
Read MoreEvery parent wants the best for their child. What’s harder to determine is where the line between good, supportive child rearing ends and obsessive, hover-parenting begins. Few topics blur that line more than education.
Read MoreIf you’ve ever had the experience of being “the only one” growing up, you live in fear of a certain day. Well, several days, but the first occurs when your child becomes conscious of their difference and expresses insecurity about it.
Read MoreEach summer, my wife and I make the annual cross-country pilgrimage to visit family. If you’ve never had the pleasure of taking a long vacation with multiple young children…
Read MoreA few months ago, I ran across a Tweet – now lost to the ether – that said, “There’s nothing more humbling than disciplining your kid when they’re demonstrating your own flaws.”
Read MoreParenthood is illuminating for any number of reasons, many of which have nothing to do with the child. It shines a light on the parents’ personalities, on the nature of their relationship (if two partners are involved), and on the culture of their society.
Read More“A woman becomes a mother when she’s pregnant, a man becomes a father when the baby is born.” At least, that’s what a friend told us when my wife and I were expecting our first child.
Read MoreI almost never use an alarm, except for rare and unpleasant occasions like an early morning flight out of SFO. Yet, two weeks from now, I’ll be heading to bed early (which is a minor death for me), and setting the clock app on my phone for a 4:00am wake-up.
Read MoreAccording to Doula International, "the word "doula" comes from the ancient Greek meaning "a woman who serves" and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period". Doula International describes the differences between a birth doula and a postpartum doula:
Read MoreParents are often feeling stressed out from managing busy schedules and raising kids. We learned via Psychology Today that there are several ways to decrease stress in parents. They reported that, "Numerous studies have shown that parents who report higher levels of parenting stress are more likely to be authoritarian, harsh, and negative in their interactions with their child (e.g., Deater-Deckard & Scarr, 1996). Furthermore, parenting stress decreases the quality of the parent-child relationship."
Here are 4 ways you can destress and create harmony as a family!
Read MoreWe learned via HealthyChildren that "Human milk provides virtually all the protein, sugar, and fat your baby needs to be healthy". It also contains many substances that benefit your baby’s immune system, including antibodies, immune factors, enzymes, and white blood cells."
Read MoreWe learned via The Science Daily that new research from the University of Cambridge found that friendships and family support are highly important in helping prevent depression among teenagers. Moreover, they found that "teenagers who had grown up in a difficult family environment were more likely than their peers to be bullied at school".
Read MoreAccording to the Huffington Post, Pediatricians often recommend parents routinely read aloud to their young children. Research shows that reading aloud to children activates the parts of their brains that help with mental imagery and understanding narrative. This is key for the development of language and literacy.
Read MoreWe learned via Washington Parent that there are many myths surrounding the idea of taking a parenting class. Read these 5 myths and learn how parenting classes can benefit all parents!
Read MoreThe National Fatherhood Initiative is a major advocate for infant massage between fathers and their babies. Naturally, mothers are the primary caregivers to their newborn babies. However, that does not mean that dads are left out. Research shows that "when a child has a significant bond with their father, this bond contributes greatly to child outcomes. " Child do better physically, emotionally and scholastically when both parents are involved in their lives.
Read MoreDebolina Dutta is a teen educator and she has worked in public, private, and international high schools for 15 years. On March 16, Debolina will be facilitating a guided conversation group for parents about sexuality and changing bodies with psychotherapist Leah Chalofsky. Debolina believes that knowledge of ones body empowers people to make educated decisions for themselves. She offers parents and guardians a few words of wisdom about parenting during this transitional period for tweens and teens.
Read MoreAccording to MacDonald Women's Hospital, a childbirth class is the perfect environment to ask questions and can help you make informed decisions about key issues surrounding your baby's birth.
Read MoreAccording to an article by Planned Parenthood, it is best to start talking to children about sexuality early on in their childhood. They stated that, “Talking with children about sex and sexuality may be uncomfortable at first, but it gets easier with time and practice.” In addition, there are many ways to start conversations about sex and sexuality with your kids.
Read MoreWe learned via an article by Breastfeeding Basics that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends nursing for at least the first year of life. This may not be a realistic goal for all mothers but there are benefits to breastfeeding your baby for a few weeks to a few months.
Read MoreSupport systems are extremely important for new mothers. As new mothers, there are some things that come instinctively. However, the journey of motherhood is a long one and receiving a little help along the way with a group of like-minded women makes the journey a lot easier.
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