Another reader question (We won’t complain!): How does your family deal with incessant complaining? My middle child, age five, is lacking in optimism. In fact, there is rarely anything that escapes her lips that isn’t either negative or a complaint. I heard myself saying the other day, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t […]
Posts in the "Question of the Week" category:
What helps you to accept the challenges of motherhood?
Many mothers recognize this first-time mom experience: After spending the formative years going to school every day, then pursuing college and/or work interests with notable success, you approach the due date of your first child with every pregnancy/baby-care/child-care/parenting book in hand. You set up the nursery, you register at Target, and life continues on it’s usual […]
KIDS Vote: What are THEIR favorite holiday traditions?
Every mom knows that the holiday season is an extra-busy, extra-special time of year. Busy because we have so many unique activities and traditions to cram into a relatively short amount of time–all while we manage the normal business of daily living! Special because these extra activities form a basis for focused religious observance […]
Self-education possible for moms?
Here is another reader question*: I am a young mom, three years out of college. My husband is pursuing a graduate degree, and I am home with our baby. While I am happy that I get to stay home with my son, I often envy my husband, being able to increase his intellect […]
One more baby?
This Question was submitted by a reader (we love reader questions!): You thought you were done.You gave away all of your maternity clothes a year ago, sold the baby swing on Craigslist, and tossed the bottles into the recycling bin.You celebrated when you threw away the last pacifier.You look forward to no […]
What have you changed in your mothering?
One part of mothering that is just now dawning on me is the continual progression of motherhood. A woman does not instantly become the mother she’s always dreamed of being just because she brings her newborn baby home. A mother must learn and grow, sometimes through painful experiences, many times caused by her own mistakes. […]
What should every first-time mom know?
A good friend of mine is nearing the due date of her first baby. She has read several books, registered at Target, and prepared herself in every way she can think of for the arrival of her sweet baby girl. Now she awaits the big day with pure anticipation. I often wonder if her experience […]
How do you handle a case of “I’m a Bad Mom”-itis?
I had it bad. So bad, I decided it needs a name: “I’m a Bad Mom”-itis. Ordinarily, I can be a mostly upbeat mom. I have a mental list of how I want the day to go, and the kids and I just go at it, give or take half the list. I think we […]
What do you do to eat healthfully?
I was never more food-conscious than I am now that I’m a mom. Before I had kids, food was always an afterthought. I could cook up something grand when I wanted to, but I could also eat a granola bar and call it good. A baked potato with melted cheese seemed like a feast. Now […]
How do you show your kids that moms have fun?
Visiting this week with a mom I’ve long admired, I learned about a few challenges that await me when I attempt to parent my kids through their teenage years. (And I thought I had it rough, with my three youngens!) One of her mothering puzzles inspired this week’s question. A teenage daughter has declared that […]
What mothering tools have you discovered recently?
Allow me to introduce you to the ultimate family-friendly potty, which we affectionately call “The Froggy” in our household. The Froggy allows for single-handed emptying. The contours of the blue bowl pour its contents cleanly. Rinsing is simple, since the bowl fits under the faucet of the bathroom sink. The boy shield is built in. […]
How do you teach your children selflessness?
Lately I’ve found myself in a perplexing dilemma. I don’t know how to teach my four-year-old son to be selfless. I suppose he is like most young children, especially first-borns, favoring his own interests above all others. For example, today when the first hot dog came out of the microwave, he suggested, “Mom, your act […]