Parenting Blog

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Twins and More

2008-06-28T03:18:00Z

Are you a twin, the parent of twins, related to twins, acquainted with twins or just simply fascinated with twins? If so, you’re sure to have an inspirational, humorous, or touching story about this relationship! As editor of the upcoming Chicken Soup for the Soul: Twins and More , I am looking for stories and poems that highlight the special bond that twins share, the joys and challenges of raising twins, the unique circumstances of their arrival, the “double trouble” that twins get into, the “multiple...(read more)

When Kids Cut Their Own Hair

2008-06-22T17:09:00Z

In my groggy state this morning, I thought I noticed something strange about four-year-old Austen’s appearance. It seemed to be a little more extreme than “bed head.” As I looked more closely, I realized that he had cut off a big chunk of his bangs! He’d been using his kid scissors yesterday, but I didn’t notice that he’d given himself a haircut! He never said a word. Now, my husband and I are debating about what to do. Do we wait until Tuesday when the kids’ haircut place is open? (Today is Sunday.)...(read more)

Are You an Overprotective Parent . . . Like Me?

2008-06-14T15:51:00Z

I admit that I tend to be a bit on the overprotective side when it comes to my kids. My husband will suggest that my teenage boys ride their bikes to the beach, and I’ll say, “What? All that way? Across two busy streets? No, I’ll drive them!” I’ve seen too many news reports about kids getting hit on their bicycles. When my boys really want to do something and I say it’s too dangerous, they accuse me of not trusting them. “I trust you completely,” I’ll tell them. “It’s other people I don’t trust!”...(read more)

My Husband, the Grouchy Genius

2008-06-09T01:20:00Z

Finally, I can shake off this blanket of guilt I’ve been carrying around. It turns out that my husband’s extreme crankiness is not my fault, as I’ve assumed all along, but because he is extremely INTELLIGENT! Whoooo! That takes a load off my mind. All this time, I thought he hated me, and come to find out he’s just a victim of his own genius. Wow, that makes me feel better! Now the next time my husband snaps at me for getting in his way in the kitchen, I can just comfort myself with the knowledge...(read more)

Healing Yourself in the 1800s

2008-06-05T23:11:00Z

I’ve always wondered how people cured many common ailments in the 1800s when they didn’t have the cornucopia of medications and physicians that we have today. I got my hands on a copy of The American Frugal Housewife , by Mrs. (Lydia) Child, first published in 1833, and she suggested some interesting remedies for various illnesses and conditions. I can’t guarantee they’ll cure what ails you, but they’ll certainly amuse you! Bruises: Constant application of warm water is very soothing to bruised flesh,...(read more)

Dogs and Babies

2008-06-04T03:36:00Z

I’m not a dog owner, but I’d always wondered if people with dogs were afraid their pet would attack their newborn baby, especially if they had a large breed of dog. Turns out dog owners do have these fears. An article in the Wall Street Journal by Rachel Zimmerman (June 2, 2008) says that parents are seeking help for this issue in greater numbers by consulting dog trainers, books and DVDs designed to prepare their pooches for the incoming infant. There’s even a course called Dogs & Storks that has...(read more)

The Ferocious Fours

2008-05-29T15:12:00Z

My four-year-olds are at an age when I dread picking them up from preschool because I don’t know what is going to come forth from their teacher’s mouth. Most of the time, it’s “Austen had a bad day.” Yes, like many four-year-olds, especially boys, my twins are a real handful. Nonstop action. Tattling. Asking “why” constantly. Using “potty talk.” Wrestling and hurting each other. Not listening. This can be a real challenge for my husband and me because we’re both the kind of people who need some peace...(read more)

My Twins' First Pets

2008-05-21T18:25:00Z

Two days ago, my four-year-old twin boys became the proud owners of their first pets. Snappy and Crabby are the highly unoriginal monikers assigned to two hermit crabs, who are now residing in a ten-gallon tank in their bedroom. (Technically, these aren’t the boys’ first pets—we also have two cats—but our feline friends are both eighteen years old and have been around a lot longer than the twins. The crabs, however, are the first animals the boys have acquired themselves.) My number-one criterion...(read more)

Happy Mother's Day!

2008-05-12T01:36:00Z

I’d like to wish a very happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers who are reading this, although I find it kind of sad that we need a special day to tell mothers how much they are appreciated! Wouldn’t it be great if your kids told you every so often how grateful they are for all that you do? I have a feeling that most of us don’t hear these sentiments very often. What a wonderful (and surprising) gift that would be! Ironically, the woman who started Mother’s Day also became disenchanted with what she...(read more)

Stories Needed for Women’s Devotional Book

2008-05-05T16:46:00Z

One of my current writing projects is putting together a book of devotionals with another busy mom like me. In fact, the book is full of devotionals for women like us, who are juggling families, friends, careers, friends, charitable activities, and more. Our biggest challenge is to write a story for every day of the year! Therefore, my coauthor Karen and I are looking for people to share their stories for the book. Here’s a sample of what we’re looking for: “Why do you want to save all these books?”...(read more)

Can a Woman's Diet Determine the Sex of Her Baby?

2008-04-28T23:50:00Z

I’d always been taught in biology class that the sex of a baby is determined by the father. If he contributes an X chromosome, you’ve got a girl. If he gives a Y chromosome, it’s a bouncing baby boy. But at the same time, being the mother of four boys, I’ve always wondered if I played a part somehow in attracting all those Y chromosomes. Now a study released by British researchers says that I could be right. According to researcher Fiona Mathews at the University of Exeter, a woman’s diet may affect...(read more)

Celebrate Mother’s Day and Win Braincandy DVDs!

2008-04-26T01:18:00Z

I recently received a beautiful set of Braincandy DVDs. These award-winning DVDs are the brainchild of Sam Reich-Dagnen and her husband John, who created them for their twins, Blaise and Logan, when they had difficulty finding “developmentally appropriate content that truly engaged our children rather than just putting them to sleep.” Each DVD in this 5-disc series covers one of the 5 senses: See My World Hear My World Taste My World Touch My World Smell My World Through characters in the “Sense...(read more)

Celebrate the International Day of the Book

2008-04-21T14:31:00Z

In my previous post, I wrote about our family’s newfound love of the library. Coincidentally, I just found out that April 23 is an international celebration called World Book and Copyright Day. So, I can’t let this event pass without talking about reading one more time. First, here’s what the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) web site has to say about this special day: More than 100 countries will take part on 23 April in the 13th celebration of World Book...(read more)

Fun at the Library

2008-04-17T02:39:00Z

Welcome to National Library Week! My family and I have just discovered the joys of the library. We kind of got away from it for a few years, assuming that the Internet and TV could meet our every need for information and entertainment, but we recently started heading back to the library, and now we’re addicted! My eighteen-year-old loves music, so he goes through the library’s stacks of CDs so he can check out various artists and their songs to see if he likes them. It’s a great way to “preview”...(read more)

There's No Such Thing as a Brisk Walk with Preschoolers

2008-04-13T02:29:00Z

I think I mentioned in an earlier post that my chiropractor wants me to walk more. He’s been telling me this for several months (which I’ve been obeying off and on . . . okay, probably more off than on). But then I had the misfortune of wrenching my lower back last weekend while swinging a forty-pound kid in the air, so I figured I’d better start getting a little more exercise or I’d end up in a wheelchair before the age of 45. Fortunately, after a little acupuncture (very cool) and some help from...(read more)