• Last updated 6/27/11 by Cynthia Mosher

A place to collect all things related to choline, so they don't get lost in the allergies forum    Interesting article on choline and SNPs that affect how much we need and choline and methylation and all sorts of interesting stuff: Choline: An Essential Nutrient for Public Health   Some related/referenced articles:   Common genetic polymorphisms affect the human requirement for the nutrient choline Genetic variation of folate-mediated one-carbon transfer pathway predicts susceptibility to choline deficiency in humans Gene Response Elements, Genetic... read more

• Last updated 11/8/12 by Keya Chatterjee

Dear President Obama,   This has been a good week for you, politically-speaking.    But it's also been a devastating few weeks for parents across America because of Superstorm Sandy.   Last week when Sandy hit, our family here in Washington DC was a few hundred miles from the worst of the storm. As I listened to the wind whip around trees outside our house and even pull some large ones right out of the ground, I felt blessed to be safe.    It was painful to hear the accounts of those who weren't safe.  That night, we heard about the NICU in New York... read more

• Last updated 6/27/11 by Cynthia Mosher

A place to collect all those little tidbits about the various mood neurotransmitters, and which ones do what.  Very VERY much a work in progress!  Sources linked at the bottom    not summarized yet: http://www.teachhealth.com/chemmess.html Norepinephrine and dopamine and concentration/focus http://www.integrativepsychiatry.net/neurotransmitter.html     Serotonin inhibitory neurotransmitter regulates many other processes such as carbohydrate cravings, sleep cycle, pain control and appropriate digestion. decreased immune... read more

• Last updated 1/7/13 by Melanie Mayo

photo: unionphotographers.com Do NOT get a tattoo. Just don’t do it. Nine times out of ten it’s a regrettable act of stupidity, or vanity. Or both. Resist the urge. You’re still reading this? Still craving some ink? Well if you insist (and you had better want a tat’ enough to INSIST on it,) then let’s proceed. 8 things to keep in mind when choosing a tattoo 1. Tats are a big damn deal. They last longer than marriage and mortgages. Be lucid. Get meaningful. Is Mickey Mouse on your ass the best moniker of your Higher Self? That... read more

• Last updated 4/7/13 by AdinaL

One thing that usually helps when the baby wakes me up in the middle of the night and I can’t go back to sleep is spending some quality time (eh hem) with myself. Sex works even better, but when it’s 2:00 a.m. I’m hesitant to wake James because I feel like at least one of us should get some uninterrupted sleep so we’re not both total wrecks in the morning. Kimberly Ford, author of Hump Which brings me to the subject of sex in general. Which brings me to Kimberly Ford, a writer and a friend who is also an expert on sex. Ford’s book Hump: True... read more

• Last updated 7/23/11 by KimPM

Here are book recommendations from many special needs parents here at Mothering.  Please add to this list if you have read a good special needs book that fits into our community's general philosophy (and the book is not already on this list).   General – All Special Needs Changed by a Child, Barbara Gill The Child With Special Needs: Encouraging Intellectual and Emotional Growth, Stanley I. Greenspan, Serena Wieder, Robin Simons How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk, Adele Faber, Elaine Mazlish Married with Special-Needs Children: A... read more

• Last updated 2/22/12 by Mothering Editorial

By Robert W. SearsIssue 146, January/February 2008 Vaccines have become the most controversial parenting topic of the decade. When parents are considering whether or not to vaccinate their children, one of the things that must be considered is aluminum toxicity. Aluminum is added to a number of vaccines to help them work better. Normally, one wouldn't consider aluminum to be a problem. It's a naturally occurring element that is present everywhere in our environment—in food, water, air, and soil. It's also a main ingredient in over-the-counter antacids. And because... read more

• Last updated 1/19/12 by Mothering Editorial

If you’re feeling depressed, take a look at your life and don't be afraid to make changes to routines. Your diet can be a big factor, make sure you’re getting enough B vitamins, calcium and magnesium. Vitamin C, D, and zinc are also important. Pure, toxin-free fish oil can help keep your spirits up as well.  Have a cup of lemon balm tea with honey and a slice of fresh lemon in the morning upon arising. After you dress, put some essential oil on your hair or the collar of your shirt. Choose rose, ylang ylang, jasmine or neroli. As you prepare lunch, ... read more

• Last updated 11/15/12 by JenniO11

  As parents, we know it's not always easy to get our kids to take healthy supplements. Fish oil supplementation, for instance, is a wonderful way to work omega-3s and other essential nutrients into our child's diet, but the taste and texture can be unfamiliar to little ones. For this exact reason, Carlson has developed a whole line of high quality fish oils that taste great! Combining the finest and safest ingredients, Carlson for Kids® fish oils provide all the benefits we love in flavors kids won't shy away from. Here are two fun ways to work these... read more

• Last updated 1/5/11 by Mothering Editorial

I had both my sons circumcised. At the time, it seemed like a no brainer - since my husband and everyone else we knew had it done. I wasn't even aware that there may be an issue or consequence regarding it, and am not sure what the facts are since my doctor was a conventional OB (I had 2 C-Sections due to breech babies). Can you help share some specific information with me regarding circumcision?This is a difficult time because, as the USA is becoming a non-circumcising country, we are learning that the foreskin is a normal, protective body part and it belongs to our... read more