• Last updated 9/5/10 by Mothering Editorial

My almost 4 year old has starting using words that I would rather not have him say all the time. The first one is stupid, which unfortunately he heard from me, as it occasionally slips from my mouth. He often says it when he is frustrated and he will call whatever he is upset with stupid. The second is poopy/poop/ect. He loves to talk and sing about this and replace words with poop I worry because words are so habit forming and once a word has entered one's vocabulary, it is difficult to get it out. I feel like I've lost the battle on stupid, in that regard. ... read more

• Last updated 5/6/10 by Mothering Editorial

I am the mother of two boys, ages one and three, and a step-mother to a ten-year-old boy who stays with us on some holidays and for eight weeks in the summer. He is so difficult. He has been kicked out of two schools and suspended several times for violent and sexually inappropriate behavior. He has done some horrible things to my sons. He hurts them, trys to feed them things like used motor oil and dog feces, makes them watch while he breaks their toys, etc. After his last visit, my son described in his limited speech an act of sexual abuse. No one wants to help... read more

• Last updated 4/7/13 by AdinaL

I awoke last night to darkness. Not the room, in this case, but my sense of things. You know that dark night of the soul feeling you can get in the wee hours when you’re sure* that all is lost and you’re alone, inadequate, a failure, etc? Times like this I long for reassurance from someone who knows more than I do, someone I can trust to tell me everything is OK. I want Mom. But not my mom. (For starters, I wouldn’t want to freak her out with my freakout.) It’s more like I want the idea of Mom.** When we talk about the empty nest, we tend to focus on... 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 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 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