In The Parenthood

Avoiding the pitfalls of step parenthood

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 02:51:47 -0500

Note to readers: As of Sept. 29, 2010, Boston.com/Moms will be syndicating content for In the Parenthood from my blog, Write. Edit. Repeat. You can find my older In the Parenthood and Child Caring posts (and comments!) here and here;...

Easing back-to-school transitions -- for you and your child

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:08:13 -0500

At the end of the summer, almost everyone is facing some sort of transition. Parents have to adjust to juggling work and home and school-related responsibilities; kids may be worried about having homework for the first time (or, at least,...

Is childhood obesity more than a parenting issue?

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:35:42 -0500

Though the majority of weight-loss and anti-obesity initiatives emphasize exercise and healthy eating, a seminar last month at The Children's Museum in Boston made me wonder if childhood obesity is more than just a matter of too much junk food...

The Jessi Slaughter videos: Cyber bullying or parents in denial?

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 06:19:12 -0500

Last Friday, 11-year-old Jessica Leonhardt of Florida -- who goes by "Jessi Slaughter" and "Kerligirl13" online -- was taken into protective custody for a few days after being harassed when her profanity-laced YouTube video "to the haters" went viral. "You...

Car seat safety: Is your child using the right one?

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:23:01 -0500

When I was a kid, my brothers and I used to ride unfettered in the "way back" of the family station wagon. We rarely used seatbelts back in the '70s, let alone cushy car seats with five-point harnesses and cup...

Summer reading doesn't have to be a chore

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 08:42:57 -0500

Reluctant readers are not uncommon. For those who struggle with processing issues, or for those who haven't yet discovered a literary niche that suits them, reading can be a problem rather than a pleasure. For these kids, that summer reading...

The stars of "Ramona and Beezus" on family, fun, and facing down fear

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 10:10:56 -0500

"Family" is a familiar refrain for actress and pop star Selena Gomez. What little downtime she has, she says, she likes to spend "sitting on the couch, watching movies, eating junk food, just relaxing with friends and family" or reading...

AD:

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 10:10:56 -0500

New parents: Would you bring your baby to work with you?

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 12:46:19 -0500

When I went back to work after my first baby was born, I felt guilty and excited at the same time. Guilty because I'd fallen in love with my baby and wanted to spend more time with her. Excited because...

Is it tattling, or is it something important?

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 09:25:19 -0500

"He took my toy!" "She poked me!" "He's in my seat!" "Mom! She's BREATHING on me!" Tattling starts early, and is most common with 5- to 10-year-olds -- for different reasons and with different consequences, of course. (By the time...

Does having kids really make you unhappy?

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 22:58:30 -0500

Scores of studies over the years have shown that having kids doesn't make people happier. Ask any parent, though, and many will say that they adore their children, even when they're frustrated by them -- it's the parenting part that's...

Jealous of the nanny?

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 10:19:28 -0500

One of the more difficult aspects about going back to work after having a baby is figuring out which childcare set-up will work for your family. Will you and your spouse work opposite shifts, so one of you is on...

Yelling at kids in public: Is it discipline or abuse?

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:39:06 -0500

What would you do if you saw an adult screaming at a child in a public place? Talk to the adult? Call the police? Walk away? An In the Parenthood reader wrote to me about an incident she witnessed recently...

Silly Bandz and the gimme gimmes

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:53:50 -0500

Silly Bandz are the baseball cards of my kids' generation. They collect and trade them like they're going out of style. My 5-year-old likes to wear hers to school -- they reach half-way up her forearm -- where she and...

Kids are washable, remember?

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 11:19:52 -0500

Photos of 4-year-old Suri Cruise with her feet adorned with self-applied magic-marker tattoos are drawing more than a few mommy drive-byes from commenters who are taking Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes to task for being so lax with their little...

Let down by a role model: Tips for talking to your child

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 20:44:07 -0500

In the Parenthood is in the pages of Thursday's Boston Globe, with a story about kids and parents who are disillusioned about Disney star Miley Cyrus's transformation from goofy tween-age Hannah Montana to R-rated sexpot. (Click here to read the...