On Parenting Yourself
Here’s what I’ve discovered: My firstborn daughter is the most like me. Here’s what else I’ve discovered: She is quite often the most difficult child for me to parent. And I think I know why. So many of the things…
If You Can’t Say Anything Nice…Try Anyway
Several years ago, a wonderful documentary, Babies, was released. The film chronicles the first year of the lives of four babies from various parts of the world: Namibia, Mongolia, Japan, and the United States. As I watched the film, which has…
Play Ball!
My husband and I played on a softball team this summer, and it was so much fun. My kids thought it was great, too, and they cheered us on with fervor! If the umpire made a bad call, our kids…
A Coffee Table Commentary
Currently on my coffee table are the following items: a miniature tea party set, a toy gun, mail, a rented DVD, an empty glass, a pad of paper, a doll’s hair curler, a photo card reader, a Chess piece, a…
Sum-Sum-Summertime
I love summertime. I love the break from a lot of schedule and structure. I love taking the kids to the pool nearly every day. I love taking trips. I love not having to be somewhere all the time. And…
On Handling Conflict
My husband and I don’t have a lot of disagreements. And when we do disagree, we’re not loud about it. There was a particular time several years ago when we were having an argument in the kitchen, and our children…
Gimme a Break!
All I wanted was for her to put the crayons back in the box. Is that really too much to ask of a two-year-old? It’s been seven years since that event, but I remember it vividly. My daughter Callie and…
The Store
It’s every mother’s nightmare. Or at least a strong dislike. It’s . . . [Insert scary music and screams.] . . . taking the kids to the grocery store. It had been awhile since I’d taken all three children with…
Patience is a Virtue . . . and a Goal
Last January, our family had a discussion about setting goals for ourselves. Things like tying shoes, riding a bike, learning to swim, and blowing a bubble were mentioned by my then 4, 6, and 8-year-old children. I thought these were…
Helpless
Shortly after my daughter Katie’s first birthday, I took her for her check-up. I didn’t think it would be a big deal. Weigh her, measure her, give her a couple of shots, and we’d be on our way. This is…
