do kids really pick their own passions? (on deliberating what activities my kids are involved in)
I mentioned this in a post last week (and gymnast Jordyn Wieber’s mom gave some really good insight) but I thought I’d elaborate a bit in case some of you have any insight for me. I feel like I am constantly befuddled as to what extra-curricular activities I should have my kids involved in. Just figuring out the timing of classes and game schedules is enough to make me want to take a nap, but I am also constantly second-guessing what activities would be best for each kid in terms of their . . .
interview with gymnast Jordyn Wieber’s mom
Have you been watching the Olympics trials? Gymnastics has always been my favorite Olympic sport to watch, and I’ve been riveted by Jordyn Wieber, who seems to be the US front-runner in the sport. Last week, I had a chance to interview Rita Wieber, Jordyn’s mom. I was really curious to ask about her decision-making process as a mom, because it’s something I’m always second-guessing. I love the idea of helping my kids follow their passions, but I’m never quite sure about how to find . . .
how has the online world has helped you as a mom?
This post is a part of a blog carnival with the new online community mom.me, and is sponsored by P&G. Head on over to the mom.me site to take part in the discussion about motherhood and online communities, and you will be entered to win one of five P&G gift baskets valued at $250. Being involved in social media has certainly expanded my worldview and made me feel a part of a broader community of moms. I have never had that sense of isolation as a mom that I heard my mother’s . . .
gluten-free, dairy-free packed lunches
I’ve talked a bit about transitioning Jafta to a GFDF diet to help with his sensory processing disorder. We are still finding this diet to be hugely beneficial, and I thought I would share some tips for packing GFDF lunches. I;’m hoping the suggestions I offer below can be useful for kids on regular diets as well. Learning to pack for school lunches was the biggest learning curve in terms of transitioning to a GFDF diet, mainly because I had always relied on The Sandwich as the main . . .
do you really play with your kids?
I’ve written about this before, but one of the more difficult aspects of motherhood for me has been reconciling the disparity between the mother I envisioned I would be, and the mother that I really am. My husband and I had a long and bumpy road to becoming parents, so I had a long time to imagine myself as a mother. And while I’ve lived up to some of the expectations that I’ve held for myself, I’ve also been surprised by some of the aspects of motherhood that have been most challenging for . . .
encouraging our kids when their dreams don’t match their abilities
Yesterday India woke us up by bursting into our room with an announcement about a dream she’d had. “Mommy! I had a dream that I could ride my bike without training wheels! This means I can do it now. Let’s go take them off!” I loved her enthusiasm, and the idea of her dreaming about shedding those training wheels was just too cute. But at the same time, Mark and I were stealing glances at each other because both of us were skeptical that she was really ready for . . .
how I ditched my CD’s and itunes library (a sonos speaker review)
This week, I got to try the new Sonos speaker system, and it was an “aha” moment in terms of digital music. These speakers are high-quality, small, and wireless. They work through the home wifi system, so that once it is set up you can play music from any computer, to any Sonos speaker in the house. One speaker easily fills a room with sound. In fact, I don’t think I realized how bad my laptop speakers were until I tried the Sonos in our house. There’s no going back . . .
the parenting paradox
When I was in high school, I went to see the musical version of the movie Big (yes – they made that Tom Hanks movie into a musical). It’s not an entirely memorable show, but one number stuck with me. It’s called “Stop, Time” and it’s a song that a mother sings about her sadness in regards to her child growing older. Even as a teenager, I was aware that this song was touching on a profound pain of the human experience, and I remember stifling loud sobs in the theater for the duration of the . . .
summer giveaway: win a month’s supply of gogo squeez applesauce
I’m happy to announce that I’ve got a great giveaway from GoGo squeeZ, perfect for summer outings. In case you haven’t tried it, GoGo squeeZ is a squeezable, 100% fruit, no-sugar added applesauce snack. My kids are huge fans, and it really is the perfect healthy, portable snack. They’ve added a new flavor this month (apple mango!) and last month came out with some fun new packaging. My kids tried the new flavor, and approved. You can also check out some of the following ways to . . .
the avengers: a review for parents
If you have a child who is a fan of superheroes, you’ve probably been hearing all about the new Marvel: Avengers movie coming out. And with good reason: Avengers features an all-star cast of superheroes. It’s the first time that Iron Man, Captain America, The Hulk, and Thor have all teamed up for a feature film. Jafta has been talking about it nonstop, and so when I was given a chance to see an early screening of the film a few weeks ago, I decided to take him along. Aside from . . .