How many of you resolved to yell less at your kids this year? Actually, let me amend that, to just be nicer to your kids?I ask because I've seen a whole lot of stuff going around the web lately about how to stop yelling. Apparently yelling is the new spanking for our generation.I get it. Yelling at your kids totally sucks. Even while you're doing it you are already regretting it, yet you can't seem to make it stop.Nobody wants to parent that way - for sure. But I'd bet that most of … [Read more...]
Parenting Styles: The Cavity Club
With four kids, the chances that we’d escape childhood with no cavities were pretty slim, right? Still, I admit it, I was getting a little smug. After visits to the dentist every six months for the last five or six years with no trouble at all, I kind of thought we had the tooth thing dialed.I mean, we’re religious about brushing and flossing in the morning, and we do get a little lazy as the day drags on, but they brush and floss more often than not at night.Still, I thought their … [Read more...]
Parenting Styles: Kindergarten Intervention
Sounds ominous, right? With our third kiddo in kindergarten this year, we’re old hands at the parent-teacher conference. But this year, after the usual awesome conferences for our oldest two, we heard something we’d never heard before.“We’re lucky this year to have intervention at the kindergarten level, and I hope you’ll be open to letting B participate,” his teacher said matter-of-factly.For a second, I really floundered as I considered what exactly they were intervening in. Refusing … [Read more...]
Mindful Diapering is a Thing – Here’s How to Do It Right
Image Credit: © Kristin Sloan | December 07, 2016 at 07:13PM | CC by 2.0Mindfulness is everywhere these days, so it's really no surprise that it's even made its way to the changing table. But this isn't just a fad.It's a real way to use an interaction that happens multiple times a day to bond with your baby and to learn how he is communicating with you; his moods movements, expressions and - most importantly - his cues. Because every parent knows the more tuned in you are to your baby's … [Read more...]
Parenting Styles: The Lessons that Sink In
One of the big things about being a parent is this idea of modeling good behavior. I mean, we talk about expectations for behavior, and I think that’s important, but then we have to actually put them into practice.Things, like being kind and treating others as you'd like to be treated yourself, are a big deal in our house. Around the holidays, we also talk about giving and the idea that you can experience real joy when you give to others.You’d think that would be a hard concept for kids, … [Read more...]
How to Make a “Sibling Appreciation” Advent Calendar
This "Sibling Appreciation Advent Calendar" is an idea our elf came up with last year and worked really well.On the first day he appeared, always the day after Thanksgiving in our house, he arrived with this Advent Calendar (only $15!) and an explanation.The idea is simple. Our elf asked the kids to take a minute each day to write something nice about each other and place it in that day's pocket. The next morning the kids wake up to find the notes they wrote about each other and a small … [Read more...]
How to Have Healthier Kids This Cold & Flu Season
Image Credit: © Taylor Mackenzie | Lifeless | CC by 2.0 The snow that we got last week confirmed it- fall is here and winter is on the way. And while there's a lot to love about that (warm fires, cozy drinks and brown paper packages tied up in strings)... there's also the cold and flu season.It hits us every year and every year I vow that I'm gonna take some real steps to boost my kids' immunity.So let's get out ahead of it together this year, shall we? My favorite nutritionists from my … [Read more...]
Parenting Styles: When Kids Call Your Bluff
Sometimes, in my weaker moments, when my three year old (the one going on, like, sixteen) decides now is the time to assert her three feet of independence, I bluff.The trouble is, it’s starting to backfire. Here’s a recent example.“Okay, ready to go? We have to go pick up your bothers and sister at school!”This is an exciting event ninety percent of the time, and she usually hustles to grab shoes and whatever miscellaneous items must accompany her - and there are a lot - but lately, … [Read more...]
Parenting Styles: We Suck at Bedtime
Close to a million hits in less than half a second can’t be wrong - bedtimes are important for kids. And that’s a bit of problem around here, because we suck at bedtime.But we can’t be the only ones, right?I mean, with the exception of my one friend who, every single night, spends a good twenty minutes listening and chatting and reading and, you know, just killing the parenting game with one child while her husband does the same with the other - and then they switch - how many parents … [Read more...]