• Last updated 11/9/10 by Mothering Editorial

By Michael Harburg My newly three-year-old son Sam, who has learned a few things in his day, one morning found himself alone in the house without those two big supervisor people, for the first time. Mama had to leave abruptly to go to work, and I, the father, really wanted to finish digging the garden in the back yard. Over the course of a few minutes I went in to listen at the back door a couple times, but he seemed to be doing OK. Then, the inevitable crash followed hard on by the urgent cry, "PAPA!" I ran in and found Sam in the middle of a back porch in a very... read more

• Last updated 3/14/13 by mamazee

I still remember when one of my aunts, furious at her son’s defiant and impolite behavior, ran into the bathroom to grab a hairbrush so she could spank him with it. I was downstairs playing. I cowered behind the couch in the living room, trying to make myself as small as possible, trying to disappear. She went back upstairs with the hairbrush. I didn’t see her spank my cousin but I heard him shrieking. I’m not sure how old I was, maybe four? My parents did not hit me when I was a child and I felt confused and frightened by my aunt’s... read more

• Last updated 5/6/10 by Mothering Editorial

I have a five year old daughter who was completely fluent in my husband's and my native language which is not English until one year ago when we moved to a place that has mostly English-speaking residents and all her friends speak English. Even though I home school and speak in our language, she now prefers English and tells me she doesn't like our language. Do I just give up on our language or attempt to make more friends with people who speak our language? Or should I start watching videos in our language when we don't normally watch any television? She really loves... read more

• Last updated 5/6/10 by Mothering Editorial

Dear Naomi, thank you for your writings. I appreciate having someone like you to look to on my parenting journey. My question is about how to respond to compliments paid to my 14 month old daughter. We live in an apartment building in an urban center and frequently run into people who praise my daughter. "oh what beautiful eyes." "my goodness, she's so beautiful!" "what a lovely smile" and so on. Most of the compliments are about her appearance, though so are about her intelligence, friendliness etc. Making small talk with neighbors makes our urban enviroment feel more... read more

• Last updated 6/20/10 by Mothering Editorial

Dear Naomi, I have two children - almost 7 years old daughter and 2 years old son. I dont organise their days in any way - they get up, when they want, eat when they want, play when they want etc., so our days are very unpredictable. I do enjoy it, but have the problem with being available to my children when they do need me. Especialy my older child does suffer from this, because her younger brother needs me a lot and it is unpredictable when and for how long he will be playing by himself and let me to play with his sister. The only time my daughter can be sure, that I... read more

• Last updated 4/19/11 by Mothering Editorial

By Diane SelkirkA Web Exclusive The snow line was halfway down the mountain. It looked as though a house painter had drawn a clear unwavering line that divided the green foliage from the new snow. The winter sky was a bright, inviting crystal blue; it was the sort of day I dream about during gray winter months. “That is where we’re going.” I told two and a half-year-old Maia as I pointed high up at the snowy peaks. “Maybe make snow angels and toboggan ride?” she asked.“No, this time we are going cross-country skiing. Remember the little skis we got?” Maia chattered... read more

• Last updated 4/16/10 by Mothering Editorial

Hi Naomi, my almost 5 year old often has a demanding behaviour, which drives me crazy. For example, he wants me to pick up things he just has thrown down, he asks me to bring him toys so that he has not to get up when we play, he wants me to carry things for him to another room when he likes to play with them in this other room and so on. For me, it feels like a power struggle and I always have a huge reaction towards him. For me it feels like a trap: when I do what he wants I feel controlled by him (afterwards I am usually very angry at him), when I don`t fulfill his... read more

• Last updated 4/8/10 by Mothering Editorial

I am struggling with several aspects of my almost five year old. Sometimes I feel like I think too much and should not worry about it and some days I just feel very frustrated, feeling like I don't do enough for him, not knowing what to do, feel lonely and ignorant as a mother...anyway, here are my concerns: 1. He is very 'contrary' always saying no when I say yes, black when I say white, etc. etc. 2. Are sports important/necessary at this stage? We have tried several things (tennis lessons, basketball, running)and the only things he seems to care for are the snacks, he... read more

• Last updated 3/30/13 by mamazee

The pollen count is off the charts this week so please excuse any typos, incomplete thoughts or out-of-place references to American Idol. (Glad Big Mike got the save although I’m rooting for Crystal with the dreads). Which gets me thinking about music and how my house is lately undergoing a musical transformation of sorts. Cue Justin Beiber: Baby, baby, baby ohh Like baby, baby, baby noo Like baby, baby, baby ohh I thought you’d always be mine,mine (oh oh) Yes, we’re under siege. My almost- 11 year old has... read more

• Last updated 11/14/10 by Mothering Editorial

By Lyne Hamel Web Exclusive When I was pregnant with my son, I met a friend for lunch. She hugged me, stepped back, looked over my growing belly, then asked me how I was "weathering" through the nine months. I laughed as I told her that I'd only thrown up once and that had been when I went deep sea fishing to interview the captain of the boat, so it really didn't count. "No problems, just sleeping a lot", I said. "Just wait and see", she said. "When that baby's born, sleep will be a sweet memory." I smiled and told her that after seventeen years in a relationship... read more