• Created on 5/17/10 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

• Created on 11/28/12 by Melanie Mayo

Is anatomy destiny? Former Mothering features editor Candace Walsh was raised in a family where medicalized birth was the default. She thought, when she got pregnant with her daughter in 2000, that the only next step was to start seeing an obstetrician. But the hurried, brusque doctor didn't make her feel safe or cared for at all. Her maternal instincts were screaming, "Run away!" That led her on the path to seek out a midwife, Sylvie Blaustein (later featured in The Business of Being Born.)    When she and her then-husband moved to Santa Fe in 2002, it was only... read more

• Created on 3/28/11 by Cynthia Mosher

There are several factors to consider in deciding when your child is ready to begin school. 1) Evaluate Maturity As a former preschool and kindergarten teacher, I believe that one of the most important aspects of a child’s readiness is his social and emotional development.   2) Assess Basic School Skills A child should be gaining confidence in several of the following categories before you consider enrolling him in a preschool or kindergarten program:   Gross Motor skills. Controlling the large muscles such as arms and legs with... read more

• Created on 9/16/12 by Melanie Mayo

Guest post by David Sewell McCann Sparkle Stories is offering a free story JUST for Mothering readers!  Visit their page here to listen to one of their favorite tales for free. When Albert Einstein gives advice about intelligence, we take it seriously. “If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.” We read his words, and all nod our heads in agreement because, well – he’s Albert Einstein – and because it simply rings true. We have witnessed our... read more

• Created on 9/28/12 by Melanie Mayo

I’m going to try and keep this post short and to-the-point. A handy toolkit to ease the stress of mothering, regardless of the “brand” of mothering (working, stay-at-home, by fathers, by others, you name it). This is a summary of the gems that emerged from my appearance this week with Mallika Chopra and Sarah Ripard at the California Women’s Conference. The audience loved what we shared, so I wanted to share it with you! First, why do so many of us tend towards feeling overwhelmed with the stress of mothering these days? Since humans are by nature... read more

• Created on 2/6/10 by Jennifer Margulis

This weekend was our 11th wedding anniversary. James and I dated for three years before we married so we’ve been together now for fourteen years. Only, James isn’t here. On Friday he flew to Buffalo to visit his dad, who’s undergoing chemotherapy for Stage III metastasized throat cancer. I’m not usually the sentimental type but it felt sad to acknowledge our anniversary with nothing more than a phone call. At least I know James will be back soon. My friend Lori doesn’t know when her husband’s coming home. Her husband, let’s call him S., is also a good friend of mine... read more

• Created on 1/14/13 by Marcy Axness

If I've been a bit incommunicado lately it's because I've been busy reaping delicious fruits of parenting for peace: enjoying some of the delights of parenting adult children! Between visiting New York to catch my son in a fabulous show at the 92nd St. Y and spending time with my daughter as she is about to begin her last college semester before embarking on The World, it's been a couple weeks of juicy mothering life and no blogging life.   It's been a time to deeply savor the lived reality of what I wrote about somewhat wistfully in the conclusion of my book... read more

• Created on 11/9/12 by Marcy Axness

Nancy Verrier is an adoptive mother, therapist and author of the groundbreaking book The Primal Wound: Understanding the Adopted Child.  In a session at today's Adopt Salon conference in Los Angeles, Nancy shared some reflections almost twenty years after publishing one of adoption's landmark works.  In the following interview (that I did some years back), Nancy shares her views on a variety of adoption’s “hot topics,” but all emerge from a basic theme:  adoption creates “different kinds of relationships” and some unique challenges for adoptees.   MA:     I’m... read more

• Created on 10/4/11 by Cynthia Mosher

When my husband and I moved into a new home with our two kids last year we talked about options for creating a new play area in the small room off of our living room. Normally, our children simply play and read wherever they see fit, and usually that is in the living room. We love that and don’t want it to change. But the 15ft by 9ft addition to our living room was calling out to us as a place that would be a perfect kid-centered addition to our living space–with special areas for reading, art, and play. Flash forward a year and the room was still empty–busy... read more

• Created on 12/19/11 by Mothering Editorial

By Christina SchmidtWeb Exclusive When we had our second baby, I secretly feared we'd made a terrible mistake. My older son had just entered the notorious Twos. The new baby demanded constant attention and required maddeningly little sleep. I'd wanted my children close in age so they would be friends, but I often doubted we would survive to see that day. As the months passed, I anxiously awaited any sign of sibling bonding, but for the most part my older son regarded his baby brother with nothing more than curiosity, boredom, some jealousy, and occasional disdain. I'd... read more