• Last updated 4/17/13 by Melanie Mayo

Helping our children to process the tragedy in Boston.   It is no surprise that one of the most-shared quotes in the wake of the horrific bombing in Boston was wisdom from the ever-reliable Mr. Rogers, who said: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ “   I count myself among the fortunate in that a.) I was not personally affected by the bombings in that I do not know anyone who was hurt or injured and b.) My son is too young for me to have... read more

• Last updated 3/18/13 by Sarah Clark

      Do you ever have moments that you just know will be funny in another 10 years?  I do.   Except I didn't really think it was funny the other day. That is because it happened to me. (I hope that that YOU will find some amusement in this.)   I was in the bathroom today. I don't want to get into details but I think I have food poisoning so I took longer than usual. I know- BAD MOM! Going potty all by herself.   The kids had just gotten out of the shower and I was DUMB enough to send the baby on out (15 months old) without her diaper on.   Did... read more

• Last updated 3/7/13 by mamazee

I dial a friend’s number and when the phone is picked up I say hello. There’s silence on the other end. Than a small voice, an under-eight-year-old voice, says, “Who is this?” Maybe it’s the question, or maybe the inflection, but it sounds rude. The appropriate response to “Hello” when you call someone is almost always “Hello.” Right? But kids don’t know that unless they’re taught. And telling your kids about good phone manners isn’t enough. In the moment they might feel shy on the telephone, or uncertain what to say, so you actually... read more

• Last updated 3/19/13 by mamazee

I have six children at our house. My 17-month old is sleeping, so that leaves my four and six, my neighbors almost five and seven and my other neighbor’s four-and-a-half-year old. The kids spend a lot of time together and are used to playing together. They are circling each other, feeling each other out to see what their activity will be. The seven -year old girl announces that she’s going to build a fort. Everyone agrees this is a great plan and they get to work. They pull my dining room chairs into the living room, take the blankets from the closet... read more

• Last updated 3/20/13 by mamazee

My daughter was lying on my bed. She was five and a half. She looked around the room and said it was so peaceful and beautiful. She noted that my room had altars with candles and photos and there were no toys in my room. She said that she liked my room more than the room she shares with her brother. She went on to decide that she hated her room and that it wasn’t fair and I had the good room. She worked herself up rather quickly. I went through a myriad of response feelings internally: “Back off, this is my room. Of course my room is peaceful... read more

• Last updated 3/20/13 by mamazee

Snow Creek, California The Talking Stick ritual was introduced to me from a man who learned the tradition from his elders. It was taught to me thusly: Gather in a circle There is a stick or sacred item in the middle of the circle Whomever is holding the stick speaks and the others in the circle listen Words spoken are lean Whatever is said in the circle stays in the circle (unless permission is given) The one using the talking stick speaks from his/her heart, about his/her truth A... read more

• Last updated 3/20/13 by mamazee

Olive Juice makes clothing for children that’s both a cut above jeans and tees AND comfy, classic and charming. Here are my two children clowning around in them–proving that they are play clothes, too! Subscribe to the Mothering.com Blogs Feed This entry was posted on Saturday, June 19th, 2010 at 11:34 am and is filed under review on the run. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.     read more

• Last updated 3/20/13 by mamazee

(Photo: me with Jacob on his 11th birthday…him eating chocolate cake and me with my gluten-free cookie!)   Am I the only mother who is insanely busy at the moment driving from end-of-school-year publishing parties to final soccer games? Every day last week I thought I’d done everything on my “to do” list and was positive there cannot possibly be one more teacher celebration, field day or house rental to look at (yes, after searching for a house to rent for 6 months on the morning we were to sign the lease the people who owned the house decided... read more

• Last updated 3/20/13 by mamazee

Not that kind of strange. We spend a lot of time in our kitchen. There are many reasons to hate our kitchen. The floor is plastic, that horrible faux wood stuff that is supposed to be so easy to clean but is probably still off-gassing and disrupting my children’s endocrine systems. The countertops are plastic. Inside the cupboards the paint is peeling. Every time I look at it I think, “lead.” But I spend more time in the kitchen than any other room in our house, except my office. I love to cook, I love to feed people, and I love... read more

• Last updated 3/13/13 by mamazee

Earlier this week I posted the most recent conversation I had with my 6-year-old, 9-year-old, and 10-year-old about illegal drugs. James and I have talked to them about the harmful effects of illegal drugs, and a little about alcohol abuse, before. But since Katie Allison Granju’s son died of an overdose and drug-related assault this week, I can’t stop thinking about how devastating drug abuse can be. If you’ve never had a conversation like this with your kids, you may be wondering how to get started. Here are some ideas: 1. Don’t be afraid to show... read more