• Last updated 3/20/13 by mamazee

My nephew’s birthday was in mid-April. I sent him some of those new Lego City legos and just got a thank-you note in the mail from him. I was pleasantly surprised to get the note, of course (who mails anything these days!), but even more pleasantly surprised by something else. Ian’s 11 now and knows better, but, I am thrilled to report, still refers to me as Uncle Laura. # # Tags: legos, nephew, thank-you note, uncle laura This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 4th, 2010 at 10:16 pm and is filed under... read more

• Last updated 5/3/10 by Mothering Editorial

May 04, 2010 The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced the recall of all Simplicity full-size cribs with tubular metal mattress-support frames this week after one infant died in the crib and others were injured.  These cribs pose a risk of serious injury or death due to entrapment, strangulation, suffocation and fall hazards to infants and toddlers. The crib's tubular metal mattress-support frame can bend or detach and cause part of the mattress to collapse, creating a space into which an infant or toddler can roll and become wedged, entrapped... read more

• Last updated 11/14/10 by Mothering Editorial

By Bonnie J. Collins Web Exclusive I am honored to have the gift of a four-year-old grandnephew (and he is indeed grand, with his quick mind, constant curiosity, and amazing memory). Jeffrey comes to visit me for "two days in a row," he says, holding up two fingers with a look of glee. His blue eyes sparkle with anticipation, for he knows we have some sort of adventure every time he visits. Jeffrey does indeed gather moments of wonder from our times together. I think he is storing such moments for future reference in his bag of life adventures. As a 59-year-old... read more

• Last updated 4/7/13 by AdinaL

The empty nest just got emptier. Tim and I took our five kittens (born in late February to the feral kitty who showed up at our back door last summer) to the animal shelter for adoption Sunday. We had talked about the shelter as a possible eventuality—if we weren’t able to find homes for the kittens (we already had four cats, so keeping any kittens was out of the question) —but didn’t really have a plan as to when. We figured we’d know when it was time. So, this weekend, old friends (one allergic to cats) were coming from Iowa to visit, due to arrive... read more

• Last updated 6/20/10 by Mothering Editorial

I have recieved so much advice and I really need help. My daughter is almost 3 1/2 and has been using the toilet for a day or so, starting since she turned 2, for a day or two, and then will ask for diapers again. I haven't really used rewards or such things, although I've been advised to. Yesterday she wore underwear at her opting for the whole day, using the toilet without an accident, and slept dry through the night. Then this am again, she asked for her cloth diapers again. Even some of my gentle parenting friends are telling me to tell her no, we are done with... read more

• Last updated 6/20/10 by Mothering Editorial

I have 4 children ages 10, 7 and 5 year old twin girls. One of my twins, the very self sufficient one who grew up really fast is now using baby tal at times when she is happy and we are doing family activites. I try to be patient with her and don't mention anything about it just treat her normally but it is really driving me cray. Do you now where this may be coming from and how I can help her move through it faster?  Dear Parent, Baby talk does no harm to your child. She speaks this way because she needs to, for a valid reason. Children always do their own... read more

• Last updated 7/28/10 by Mothering Editorial

By Karen Driscoll Web Exclusive You stand, daredevil-high, on metal monkey bars, oblivious to danger. "Don't," I warn. "It's not safe." And you grudgingly oblige me and hang down closer to the earth. I stand guard anyway, but glance away for a moment, distracted by twilight. I look back to see you fall. You come up gasping, nose and mouth already bleeding. Horrified, I hold you tightly and try to absorb the hurt. You cry loudly for your pain, and I cry for all the ways I cannot protect you. In a very few minutes, you collect yourself. With a long, quivering sniffle... read more

• Last updated 5/7/10 by Mothering Editorial

By Tammie Ortlieb Web Exclusive Sometimes, I need to quiet the voices in my head. They nag at me in my sleep. They pull me away from dinner and laundry. They show up at every diaper change and nursing. Who are these people? And why do they insist I'm such an incompetent mother? I do have moments, I believe, where I feel capable, in control. Moments when I know that I'm a competent parent, regardless what the voices tell me. Not psychotic. Not needy. Moments when I don't question all those mothering skills I picked up babysitting the Howard brats that summer. Skills... read more

• Last updated 4/19/10 by Jennifer Margulis

Leone and I just returned from Rock Valley College, where I was invited to be the keynote speaker for their annual Student Writing Awards Ceremony. I haven’t been on an airplane for six months. My last trip was to New Orleans when I was almost nine months pregnant. My conversations with fellow travelers, flight attendants, and airport personnel during that trip went like this: “When are you due?” “You don’t want to know.” “That soon?” “Sooner!” Even though I had just written a travel article advising pregnant women not to travel too close to the due date, I spent... read more

• Last updated 4/7/13 by AdinaL

A few changes I’ve noticed in myself over the year and a half that our son, Reeve, has been away at school: 1. I can’t seem to go to sleep before midnight. I just really get going right about the time that everybody else is heading to bed. 2. I can’t seem to get out of bed until at least an hour after the alarm first goes off.* Though I used to leap out of bed and spring into my running clothes and out the door in mere minutes.** 3. My diet consists of way too many spoonfuls of peanut butter and honey straight off the spoon. And lots of Cheetos.... read more