• Last updated 5/30/10 by Jennifer Margulis

On May 17 a man in Boulder Colorado gunned down his employers and then killed himself. Apparently he was upset about a change in employee commissions and bonuses at the flooring and fireplace store where he worked. He killed Sean and Staci Griffin, who were about my age. They left behind a 13-year-old daughter named Avery. An only child, Avery has red and blue braces and straight brown hair. This terrible news story has made me think about something no parent ever wants to consider but all of us need to have: a plan for the children in case you die suddenly. Do you have... read more

• Last updated 4/7/13 by AdinaL

Reeve’s home for the summer. He’s been cleaning out his room, trying to get rid of old stuff to make the space feel more like his room (as in contemporary and current), less like a shrine to his childhood. He found this in the front of an old book.I don’t remember his writing this, but am oddly flattered—all these years later. Obviously, he thought of this book as one we read together.You never know (except, sometimes you do! Sometimes, even 17 years down the road!) what your child notices—and claims . . . The things you do together matter.#P.S. Killer ampersand,... read more

• Last updated 6/20/10 by Mothering Editorial

Dear Naomi, I would appreciate your advice on physical disagreements between two toddlers. One child is mine, the other I take care of for a friend for a few hours and we see them a few times throughout the week. Sometimes the bigger child tends to take from the smaller one, push her down, drag her around by her shirt or pin her down. After a few times, the smaller one cries when it happens and seems to ask for help ("mama, mama, mama!"). I think its due to the size difference that the girls always seem to take the same roles. I'm concerned my intervention can... read more

• Last updated 5/10/11 by Mothering Editorial

By Debra Monte Wetzel Web Exclusive It was not a particularly great day right from the start. My sons and I just could not get in sync. Everything all day was just a bit off. We never found our rhythm and we were constantly getting in each other's way and on each other's nerves. My eleven-year-old was suffering from altered hormone levels (as was I). The harder we tried to reach a common ground the more divided we became. And unfortunately, our mode of communication consisted mostly of shouting at each other instead of speaking. My seven-year-old's voice was elevated... read more

• Last updated 6/19/10 by Mothering Editorial

Dear Naomi, Are you able to offer some advice on what to do when a child (6 y.o.) constantly interrupts? As soon as I begin talking to my husband, she interrupts. I have tried saying, "after I listen to your dad, I will listen to you", but she just keeps going and gets louder. There is no time in the day when she is not with us (we get up and go to bed at the same time - yes, at 6 y.o. she sleeps only 8 hours!), she refuses to stay with a babysitter or have older children over so we can talk. I need to talk to my husband sometimes and I'm out of ideas!  Dear... read more

• Last updated 6/20/10 by Mothering Editorial

Hi, I have read your answer to the question under the title "Angry Child" and just wanted to take it a step further and ask one question and would really like to know the type of responses which I can use in such a situation. Similar to the story, however, my son (8 yrs only child) doesn't want to have any of the food at home and demands to get take out (primarily JUNK) I told him we can have home cooked burgers he said no and threw a tantrum - asked him to think of what he would like to eat he said he doesn't want to think and wants me to suggest - everything I... read more

• Last updated 6/20/10 by Mothering Editorial

Hi Naomi, My twin boys just turned four years old. They became acclimated to drinking EBM from a bottle during their 3-month stay in the NICU (they were 28-week preemies). Although they eventually caught on to nursing after we got them home, I had milk supply issues, so we used a combo of breast/bottles. Dylan weaned from the breast at around 18mos, but continues to drink almond milk from a bottle. He LOVES his "milky". Shane is still nursing at night, but also enjoys drinking from bottles during the day. After having several bottles throughout the day, Dylan drinks at... read more

• Last updated 11/14/10 by Mothering Editorial

Issue 131 By Marybeth Lambe Chengming bursts out of the schoolyard. Newly arrived from China, she still speaks Chinese and is babbling away in rapid-fire Mandarin at a confused classmate. Suddenly Chengming spots me and her face is suffused in joy. "Mommy!" she screams in happiness. "Mommy Mommy Mommy!" On the last call she has reached me, and her arms swing wide. I sweep her into the sky and we laugh together. How can the world contain our exultation? On a windy, stormy night, our five youngest are gathered around me, all squeezed onto Mark's and my big bed. The... read more

• Last updated 5/18/10 by Jennifer Margulis

Several parents I know believe children should never miss school except in the case of illness. They take school very seriously and feel that letting their child skip school sends the wrong message. Then there are parents like me. Before I had children I read David Guterson’s Family Matters: Why Homeschooling Makes Sense. I admire families that are able to homeschool and suspect that the most important learning takes place away from the confines of the classroom. I’m pretty sure “world schooling,” as one friend called it when she and her husband took their two daughters... read more

• Last updated 6/20/10 by Mothering Editorial

Dear Naomi, my 4 year old son has become very anxious over the past weeks for everything to remain in a certain order he sets up . He get's very upset if reality does not comply with his wishes. He tries to control me, other kids, our dogs, and gets angry and hits/yells/curses/bites me if I do not act as he wishes. We've been following Attachment Parenting and are unschooling, being as respectful as we can of his needs. We don't want to medically label him, but how can we find out what the real cause for his behavior is? Could it be hormonal, neurological? Validation is... read more