• Last updated 7/10/10 by Mothering Editorial

How do kids get self control, or how to teach it? I'm confused between the huge difference in attachment parenting and God centered parenting. In one we can use compation, non violant communication, listening, validating, etc, and in the other is empowering caracter vertus and practicing self control. Were is a place between the two? How can a child get to have self control in an environment were we never adress it? How to apply attachment, compation, etc, at the same time as living in a way that fosters self control? Thanks you so much for your response!Dear Parent: It... read more

• Last updated 6/20/10 by Mothering Editorial

what is leading the way? not letting them take control of the home of our lives and not letting them do all they want, also not controling them and yes letting them free, but leading the way. How to know we are doing the good thing? And do you have exemples of leading the way? Thanks a lot! Mom of 4.Dear Parent: I’m not sure what you mean by “leading the way”. I have not heard of the term.  I know that children need to have unlimited expressions of their feelings and be able to feel all of them, negative and positive.  However, children have limits on their behaviours. ... read more

• Last updated 4/21/11 by Mothering Editorial

Related Articles: Sidebar: Making Masks Tinker, Tiger, Robot, Spy: Wearing Masks, Children Can Do and Be Anything By Mary Koepke AmatoIssue 94, May/June 1999 One rainy afternoon, my son Max turned into a bird. Not an actual live bird, of course. We had made simple bird masks out of paper, and when he put on his mask something magical happened. His arms spread out; his feet beat a wild rhythm; and his voice warbled a bold new song. My very shy three-year-old guy puffed up with power. And when he removed the mask, his face radiated intense joy, as if he’d... read more

• Last updated 6/20/10 by Mothering Editorial

(sorry my typing I'm not first english languaged) I read you talking about special childs, spirit childs and other temparaments. What is a spirit child? What are the other temparaments? And were can I find complete informations about this? Thank you so much your work is marvelous! From happy both at home mom and dad of 4 100% raw foodists, unschooled, co-sleaped, naturally home birth and extended breat-fed, radical attachment parented, no tv, linving in traveling and nature wonderfull natural kids!Dear Parent: A spirited child refers to temperament – the “how much” of... read more

• Last updated 7/21/11 by Mothering Editorial

By Maggie Shea Issue 145 - November/December 2008 It is not enough to simply teach children to read; we have to give them something worth reading. Something that will stretch their imaginations—something that will help them make sense of their own lives and encourage them to reach out toward people whose lives are quite different from their own. —Katherine Paterson, author of Jacob Have I Loved "Chapter #1" is written in gold ink on the first page of a scrapbook thick with memories. It tells the story of the Page Turners: six girls and their mothers whose journey... read more

• Last updated 1/8/11 by Mothering Editorial

by Meg FerranteIssue 118, May/June 2003 The invitation came by e-mail with only a few days' warning: Would I like to bring my son, my sleeping bags, and my snack food of choice, and join two of my son's friends and their moms for an overnight party? I scrolled back to the top of the message to make sure it hadn't been misdelivered. A slumber party? You're probably picturing scavenger hunts, flashlight tag, and classic ghost stories. But our sons had all turned one just a few months before. I pictured pandemonium. It seemed like a really bad idea. For the record, I'm... read more

• Last updated 11/18/11 by Mothering Editorial

By Mary Miller Web Exclusive Our family has marked milestones and created memories with a family journal - a cooperatively written record of our everyday life and special occasions for a number of years. Today, even though diverse and hectic schedules scatter us, the journal entries keep us connected as a family. Sometimes individually, sometimes together, we laugh and reminisce over the memories and stories spilled in ink across the pages of our early journals. Your family can create a unique family history with this fun and inexpensive activity, too. Here's how it... read more

• Last updated 3/13/13 by mamazee

By Jeremy Adam Smith Last month my son and I were playing with his friend Oliver (not his real name) when Oliver had a seizure. It came at me sideways; his scream possessed a rattling amplified quality, as though it were coming through an old speaker, and I saw his little body flex and seize out of the corner of my eye. I knew Oliver had epilepsy (as well as other difficulties) but I confess I needed an agonizingly eternal five seconds to understand what was happening. I was knocked out of my momentary paralysis by Oliver’s mom, who leapt over to him and shouted... read more

• Last updated 6/14/10 by Mothering Editorial

By Jamillah Gilbert Web Exclusive "Mommy, I'm tired of life!" My five-year old threw up her arms in exasperation and—right there in the middle of the supermarket parking lot—she declared again, "I'm so tired of life!" I was shocked that my five year-old (any five year-old) would say such a thing. "What do you mean?" I asked. But I wasn't listening to her response. I was distracted by my other kids—a six year-old, eight year-old, and nine year-old—all standing and shaking their heads in agreement. I thought about what a horrible mom I must have become. There I was,... read more

• Last updated 6/8/10 by Mothering Editorial

Dear Naomi, My son is 4 and he attends group swimming lessons since he was 8 months old. He is obviously more interested in playing in the water versus the classes. But we don't know how to teach him swimming skills. Is it okay that he spends 15-30 minutes with a teacher once a week and plenty of family swimming time with us? I feel guilty after reading your response on a similar topic about structured classes. Thanks.  Dear Parent, No need to feel guilty. You always do the best you can and the best you know how. In addition, from what you say it seems to me that... read more