by Admin | Jun 16, 2014 | Parenting Skills
In the May 26, 2014 issue of The New Yorker, a cartoon by Paul Noth caught my eye. Two young adult women are sitting on a sofa, glasses of wine at hand. Through a doorway, a toddler is sitting on the floor with a few toys nearby, arms stretched out to her side, her...
by Admin | Jun 9, 2014 | Discipline & Behavior
Stress, anger, frustration, and other “negative” feelings—they’re a part of everyone’s life: yours, your spouse’s or partner’s, and your children’s. The following guidelines and suggestions may help you and your children. Keep them in...
by Admin | Jun 2, 2014 | Discipline & Behavior, Toddlers
Toddlers—wild and wooley, heart-melting and frustrating, fun and challenging. Often the biggest challenge for parents is how best to guide them without dampening their wide-eyed curiosity and spirited exploration. Here are some guidelines and some language to help you...
by Admin | May 27, 2014 | Discipline & Behavior
Jill, a Sonoma County parent, was deeply distressed when her 9-year-old came home from school and told her that a classmate’s mother had died. “I wasn’t only upset by the news,” says Jill. “I was disturbed by Henry’s lack of reaction. He seemed...
by Admin | May 12, 2014 | Leisure & Vacation, Parenting Skills
I remember getting up at 5:00 am and waiting in line in the dark to register my not yet 5-year-old daughter for an array of what seemed to be very exciting summer day camps. She was headed to kindergarten in the fall, and for the first time, she was eligible for...
by Admin | May 5, 2014 | Raising Boys, Raising Girls, Temperaments
“I am a horse for a single harness, not cut out for tandem or teamwork … for well I know that in order to attain any definite goal, it is imperative that one person do the thinking and the commanding.” — Albert Einstein I recall a conversation a few years back...
by Admin | Apr 10, 2014 | Preteens & Teens, School Challenges
Your 13-year-old has a math test tomorrow, and she’s stressing out about it. You wonder why, given that she’s always excelled in math. “But mom,” she says, “what if I don’t get above a 95?” What if she doesn’t? Why is this so important to her...
by Admin | Mar 31, 2014 | Parenting Skills
When you are with your children, you are continuously observing them. Maybe you’re delightedly watching their play, maybe you’re alert to their safety, maybe you’re fretting about their behavior. Whatever the situation, you are called upon to figure...
by Admin | Mar 17, 2014 | Birth - First Year
As a nurse practitioner and lactation consultant for many years, I have heard many new mothers talk about how difficult it is to breastfeed. Let’s dispel some of the myths about breastfeeding: Myth #1 Breastfeeding just comes naturally to moms. No! While often...
by Admin | Mar 10, 2014 | Education, School Challenges, Toddlers
True or false: The most important thing you can do to prepare your child for kindergarten is to focus on academics. False. Contrary to popular notion, basic math and reading skills are no longer the only primary prerequisites to kindergarten readiness. While counting...
