Blogs tagged with general parenting
Friday, June 11 2010
This week, the New York Times featured an article about the mental price of technology. I believe there is also an emotional price too: the toll of time away from focusing on our family relationships. With the constant buzz from emails, texts, tweets, Facebook notifications,news feeds, stock price updates, etc., it is difficult to pause and consider where to place our attention. Too often we react and respond to the interrupting technological device than to the people we love most in the wor...
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Posted at 02:55 pm in general parenting, media
Saturday, July 03 2010
Last weekend, I saw a young woman wearing a T shirt with the caption "Hug It Out" and it got me thinking....hugs feel wonderful and are also a great tool for parents. When your child feels stuck, is frustrated, or just can't take it anymore, a big, secure hug from Mom or Dad can bring instant comfort. If your child has sensory integration issues, a bear hug can provide the deep input he or she seeks. Other playful ways to shift the mood in a positive direction include gentle wrestling, crashi...
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Saturday, March 27 2010
A few weeks ago, we brought home a beautiful apricot standard poodle puppy named Bella. Everyone said puppies are a lot of work, and many folks lifted their eyebrow when I said we were bringing ours home in mid February. I guess they could imagine the trouble of dealing with the cold, ice and snow during housebreaking. Well, the past few weeks haven’t been easy, but they have been fun as we have all fallen in love with our newest family member.
Today, I am able to pause and appreciate the...
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Thursday, July 15 2010
Like many families, you may be choosing to keep a lid on expenses by having a "staycation" this year. There are often practical benefits, in addition to the obvious financial reasons, for this choice. For example, I remember coming home exhausted from family vacations when our children were infants and toddlers. There is a clear case to make for keeping everyone in their own beds so that sleep is not disrupted during vacation time.
When you are planning daily activities, consider sharing...
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Posted at 01:15 am in general parenting
Monday, August 02 2010
Ever notice how much attention society gives to keeping our kids busy during the summer months? I have. So, I'm pushing back to suggest that parents take a break from scheduling their children's summer days and take time for simply BE-ing together. With some practice, I bet you'll notice that BE-ing time is refreshing for you too.
Why should parents spend some time just BE-ing with their child or children? Practicing BE-ing is so essential for all of us, especially young children who are...
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Tuesday, September 21 2010
Over the weekend, I listened to several parents express frustration over their elementary aged children’s sleep problems which, of course, was also depriving them of a good night’s sleep. Does this ring a bell for you? I can completely relate to the havoc lack of sleep reeks in my family life. Sleep deprivation has been linked to irritability, distraction, and poor judgment. There are experts who argue many cases of ADD may actually be the result of lack of sleep in children. For children...
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Tuesday, November 23 2010
As we approach Thanksgiving, what are you grateful for this year? If nothing comes to you immediately, don't fear. Your mind is probably focused on all the "doings" that occupy us during this busy season. In order to listen to what's in your heart, you need to find some quiet time where you can focus on just "being". Where can you carve out five or ten minutes each day to think about something you are grateful for in your life? Can you get up a little bit earlier so you can sit in bed quiet...
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Wednesday, March 02 2011
Good morning! I just came across a free parenting seminar that is free of charge and open to all. In it, you can select and listen to video clips from popular parent educators and authors. Once you sign in, you have through March 8th to listen. Check it out and let me know what you think...http://www.parentingsummit.com/
Posted at 04:57 pm in general parenting
Friday, April 22 2011
Happy Earth Day! The great outdoors is easy to take for granted, isn't it? So much of our lives are spent indoors or in the car. Our minds are full of schedules, responsibilities and worries. Today, if takes a conscious effort to appreciate the wonder of this beautiful planet we call home. I find that time spent outdoors in nature can keep me grounded. When I'm overwhelmed by the chaos of children arguing or the mess in the kitchen and family room, a fifteen minute walk clears my head. Wh...
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Sunday, July 03 2011
This week I begin teaching a four-week course in Montclair NJ based on the book, "The Art of Positive Parenting" by Mickey Tobin. The foundation of this class is for parents to sharpen their skills around listening to their children's feelings and managing their own feelings and reactions so they can make parenting choices from a calm state of mind. These are challenging skills indeed given that we all have "scripts" that we routinely, and often automatically, use with our children and we are ...
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Monday, July 18 2011
Sometimes we need a push from our child to join in an activity. Yesterday, I was reluctant to go into the cold ocean with my son, but he pleaded with me ever so sweetly and then held my arm and gave me the nudge I needed. Well....it was worth it! My body temperature adjusted and we had a blast jumping the waves and laughing together. I will treasure this memory for a long time.
The experience reminded me of the importance of periodically saying "Yes" to requests from our children to join ...
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Wednesday, December 14 2011
At this stressful time of the year, do you find yourself more edgy and short-fused around the children? No wonder. There is so much we are trying to accomplish to create special holiday memories. At the same time, we are all being bombarded by media about what to buy and where and when to buy it in order to get the best price and make our loved ones happy. Our children are also surrounded by friends telling them what they wish to receive this holiday and this can lead to pushing for gifts tha...
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