Wednesday, August 17, 2011
How do you monitor or limit your kids' online accounts?
My kids are almost-10 and seven, and this summer has been the summer of the Internet accounts for them. They have always had access to Webkinz, Poptropica, Wizard 101 (are these sounding familiar?), and Club Penguin. I think that these are great websites for kids that limit the exposure from “unknowns,” they are often used in the schools’ technology classes, and I always checked them out — both personally and by asking friends about them whose kids were already using them — before signing my kids up. Plus, these were always subscribed to under my own email address. But after our family trip to Washington, D.C. in April (before which we gifted the kids with digital cameras), knowing we were heading to beautiful Oregon this summer, knowing …
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
or cat, or bird, or something else that requires time, money and attention.
My family is a dog family. I grew up with a dog, and I have one now as an adult, so my life somehow feels incomplete without something furry sleeping on my feet while I work. That said, I also know that a dog takes some work, and I'm not sure I pitched in for the tough parts when we got a new puppy about the time I turned 7. And, in addition to the dog, I went through the "Can I get a ..." phase with a lot of different creatures -- from birds, to fish, to hamsters, to lizards. Each time, my parents weighed the situation and determined whether it was a good idea. For the record, I had fish (they were easy and containable) and lizards (Grandma convinced Mom that I DESPERATELY needed those lizards). But what about in your family? How do you …
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
What is your idea of a birthday celebration for your kids?
In July we celebrated my daughters, 7th birthday with the yearly family BBQ. Thankfully, we lucked out with perfect weather. Family and close friends played volleyball, splashed on a water slide and ate cake. Our daughter had an amazing day with those who mean the most to her, and it will be a birthday to remember, but not all our birthdays have been that simple. Through the years, we have bounced between many different ways to celebrate. We will never forget my son’s 1st birthday party in 2002. Our son, now 10, received the full treatment for his 1st birthday. We had handmade invitations, cake from Party Favors in Brookline and rented gym space. Guests traveled far and wide, including playgroup friends, daycare friends, friends of friends…
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
The never-ending quest for great reads regarding being a parent.
Since my oldest was in utero 13 years ago, I have had this obsession with reading every little factoid about the developmental milestones of the internal and external growth of my babies. After all, unlike my microwave or new iPad, my babies didn't come with operating instructions! As a former newsie, it's my nature to be obsessed with information, which to me, equals power! Now that I am beyond the "What to Expect" years, and the "Three year-old: Your Friend, Your Enemy," when my third one came around, I had instinctively taken a long hiatus from my various parenting magazine subscriptions, the Dr. Brazelton books and even put away Dr. Spock's Reference Guide. Heck, by number three, I had bestowed myself with the honor of "Potty Queen…
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
What are some creative things you do in the car to pass the time during long road trips?
Summer, for many people, involves going on vacation. Sometimes they are close and some are far away. These wonderful and fun vacations also involve travel time. As a parent, this part of the trip can be less than fun, to say the least. My family is getting ready to load up the car and drive halfway across the country for our vacation. This is the first time we have done this, but we figure the kids are 6 and 7 now so we should be able to handle it. However, I will not go unarmed! A cooler filled with snacks, a charged portable DVD player and coloring books with fresh markers are already in the plans. I know I will be lucky if these tricks last more than two hours much less 22 hours! A friend of mine suggested getting some books on tape (…
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
What are age-appropriate volunteering opportunities in the Wayland community and in the greater Metrowest area for families?
While we have more downtime on our hands this summer, one of my goals for my kids and myself is to find an organization or opportunity for volunteer work that we can all do together and, hopefully, will become committed enough to to make time in our busy lives come fall to continue working with. I have a few in mind such as animal shelters (Buddy Dog), homeless shelters (Salvation Army), causes that mean something to us (in our case, the National MS Society’s local office in Waltham), or, my personal favorite, Birthday Wishes (www.birthdaywishes.org), which brings birthday parties to homeless children. We’ve always adopted homeless families and foster children at the holidays; baked bread for Spread the Bread; we’ve donated many birthday …
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
How are you helping your children cope with Wayland's tragic news of recent days?
This weekly column is usually a bit lighthearted, generally a "what-if" scenario during which parents try to help other parents address parenting questions should they arise. This week is different. This week it's just a little too close to home. This week the topic is tragically present and current and, sadly, all too necessary to discuss. How are you helping your children process the news of Lauren Astley's murder? In particular, as parents of classmates of both Lauren and her accused killer Nathaniel Fujita, how are your children reacting and what are you saying (or not saying) to help them through this process? This is a time when Wayland has been called upon to come together as a community. Board of Selectmen Chair Tom Fay said, "Let …
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Is sleep-away camp an important rite of passage for children?
Just this past year my fourth grade son asked me if he could go to sleep away camp. After all, ALL his friends were going. (No, not really, but in his mind they were). The request has my husband and I thinking? Will we send our children to sleep away camp? I never really considered it as I only experienced traditional day camp. I have a lot of friends who send their kids away and many who don’t. I enjoy hearing both sides of the argument: To send your kids to sleep away camp or not? Some believe sleep away camp creates everlasting bonds and independence. Others believe it only adds pressure and stress to children after they have been in school all year and summer is an important time to decompress. Some send them to enhance their …
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
How are your kids doing with the transition from end of school to summer?
June, truly one of the hardest months of the year for parents and kids. It's that time of year when we, as parents, need to manage our kids excitement (for the end of school), fears (for the end of school) expectations (for what's happening after the end of school) and most importantly, expressing their feelings during this predictably tumultuous time. It wasn't until my now 12-year-old hit third grade that I immediately recognized the signs and symptoms of the "end of year blues." June has always represented a tough month for him and now, for the whole family – including myself! Each of my kids handles the end of the year transition differently. One gets a bit ornary and moody; one gets sad, whiny and needier; and now the 5-year-old is …
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
This is the Mom's/Dad's talk for the Mom or Dad to be. This is your chance to share that bit of advice you wish someone had shared with you.
You always hear new parents saying, "No one told me how hard it would be. No one told me about the sleepless nights. No one told me..." Of course they didn't. They didn't want to scare you! Or if they did tell you, you weren't ready to hear it. It's hard to find the right audience who really wants to hear the gripes and complaints of becoming a parent. Every parent has learned some things along the way that they didn't know they would ever need to learn. So let's offer some information in a kind, and not scary way. I'll start: No one told me that I would be able to talk on the phone to my mom, eat a snack, write "thank you" notes, bounce a baby with my foot, and pump ... all at the same time! My advice is to take a nap when your baby naps …
Jenny Harding
12:56 pm on Saturday, August 20, 2011
I'm too chicken to go down that road. I know it's coming though! more ›