Image by Dan Harrelson on Flickr, used with Creative Commons license Parents have so many important decisions to make upon the arrival of their newborns, and all choices will have the health and safety of their children as their primary thought. One of the first decisions that parents will make is choosing between different car seats and baby carriers. Those trying to decide which accessory best suits their family needs can choose from a variety of options. In order to make the best choice, … [Read more...]
Raising Happy Children: Sheltering Kids from their Mistakes?
a guest post from Rabbi Dr. Roger Herst Nobody I know thinks that sheltering kids from their mistakes is a good idea. But ironically, parents who strongly affirm that children can only grow by learning not to make the same mistake twice, fall into a terrible trap. Ask yourself why they end up not practicing what they preach. First, it’s a matter of time management. To let kids fail and learn from the experience requires much parental time and patience. Time and patience most … [Read more...]
Ways to Embrace Your True Beauty So Your Daughter Can Too
When you looked in the mirror this morning, who did you see? What did you say? Did your daughter, granddaughter or maybe your niece hear you? Did she hear you say, “I look fat” or “I hate my nose”? As early as age one, children start mimicking their parents by holding toy telephones to their ears, cooking in play kitchens and pushing plastic mowers around the yard. Our daughters might not always look up to us, but they do look to us to see how we act and react in different … [Read more...]
Parents, How Do You Deal with Summer Bedtime?
I participated in this sponsored campaign on behalf of Firefly, REACH, and One2One Network. All opinions stated are my own. This is Nate's last week of preschool. Isabella is already out of school. It's hard to believe summer break is upon us. Here in Western Washington we deal with long days -- the sun goes down after 9 pm. The kids, of course, love it. It's harder on mom and dad though. {My kids are 8 and 4.} During the school year, we have a pretty strict bedtime with both kids. … [Read more...]
Mother Daughter Day at the Beach
This is a sponsored post with Northside. My love of this brand and the PNW is all my own. This past month my daughter and I have visited Rosario Beach twice. The first visit was a Mother's Day celebration where she read a poem she wrote, gave me a handmade candle, we ate lunch with other students and moms, and we played on the beach. It was a lovely mother daughter day at the beach; truly an event we look forward to every year. The second visit to Rosario Beach was this past weekend for … [Read more...]
Incorporating the Nonflict Way into Your Family
Guest Post by Stephen Hecht As a father of four kids and three step-kids, I often feel like my main job is resolving conflicts. Not just conflicts between the kids, mind you, but conflicts they have with me—and there are plenty of them. As parents, we have an obligation to be role models to our kids. They see the way we deal with fights (say, with our spouses) and imitate us, so we need to show them how to do it right, even if that means improving ourselves. Best of all, seeing conflict … [Read more...]
Temper Tantrums: What to do About Your Cranky Toddler
Toddlerhood is a time of great change, growth, and development. Parenting these little humans and helping them navigate life as they transition from babies to children and beyond, is full of fun, adventure, and plenty of challenges. A certain amount of frustration, whining, and complaining is completely normal, but there are things to consider if you begin to suspect you are parenting a child with more tantrums than normal. Give Some Independence Tantrums come in all shapes and sizes, but … [Read more...]
