For those of you who are married or have a partner with whom you are sharing the experience of raising children, this is a particularly poignant piece of writing. Many couples (wrongly) assume that a child will improve their relationship, when in fact, the additional responsibility can increase strain and expose problems that may not have been apparent. It is really hard to keep our most intimate partnership at the top of our minds when we are working through screaming, crying, pooping and the like. Hopefully this article will provide some awareness, as well as tips and tricks for enhancing your approach to your marriage or partnership.
Latest Additions
Marriage, what marriage? Sat Jan 28, 2006 11:29 pm
Build Your Child's Self-Confidence Tue Jan 24, 2006 12:53 am
We may not think of it, but there are lots of ways that we as parents can help build our child’s self-confidence from a young age. In the business of everyday life when many of us are in survival mode, it can be difficult to remember the finer points of parenting. Here’s a hint on one of the tips: in our efforts to keep our kids safe, we may not be helping their confidence, and there are simple ways to adjust our approach to have both - I’m really guilty of this one, so it stood out for me. Thanks to BabyZone for bringing us this informative article.
Watch the Sofa Sleeping Thu Jan 19, 2006 1:05 am
As one of the most paranoid moms on the planet, this was a bit of a surprise, and the information is definitely worth sharing. Researchers have found that it is increasingly dangerous for young children to sleep on the sofa with Mom or Dad. Cases of death have increased 400% over the past 20 years, while Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) has decreased dramatically. This Yahoo! article provides more details on the new precaution.
Measuring Time and Raising Children Mon Jan 16, 2006 12:11 am
As some of us look forward to a holiday tomorrow, the question of time always comes up. “I really need the extra time,” or “I have to take time off work because school is closed” may be part of your family conversation tonight. This short article from Exchange Everyday highlights our thoughts of time as Americans and as parents, rushing to get everything done by the time the clock strikes a magic hour. If you are feeling overwhelmed by meeting your deadlines, resolutions, etc., take a look at this article. It will surely help you appreciate your time in a different way.
The State of Dads Fri Jan 13, 2006 8:32 am
The other night at our family fun class, I overheard some moms talking about how their husbands absolutely refused to attend or participate in classes such as we were attending. This seemed both sad and strange to me for many reasons, especially when considering the increase in dads who stay home with their children. I stumbled upon this article written by a Stay at Home Dad to set the record straight on life as a man who either works at home or stays home with his children. It offers an enlightening and humorous look at how masculinity and diaper bags can, in fact, exist in the same human.
Kindergarten Readiness Tue Jan 10, 2006 9:15 am
If you have a child who will be starting Kindergarten this year, check out this short article, because it gives great guidelines for Kindergarten readiness and information on other practicalities such as adjusting bedtimes for school. NBC4.tv compiled the list from the national Parent Teacher Association in a nice, concise format for those of us who don’t have time to read a novel on the subject because we are too busy spending time with our kids.
A Notice For Families Using Antibacterial Soap Sat Jan 7, 2006 9:21 pm
We hear all the time how we need to wash our hands during cold and flu season to prevent the spread of germs, so then we go out and buy the best antibacterial soap we can find. As with all chemicals that seem to pose a solution to a problem, another problem arises. Triclosan, the most popular antibacterial cleaning agent, could be a carcinogen under the proper circumstances, according to an article on BBC News.
Parent Coaching?!? Thu Jan 5, 2006 9:43 am
This sounds freaky on one hand, and very cool on the other. The new trend in parenting is to get yourself a parent coach, with the idea that executives, sports stars and other professionals have coaches, so why not parents, since it is one of the most important jobs you’ll ever do. I suppose we all end up using coaching services in some way, whether formally or informally, through our kids’ doctors, teachers, friends and oh yes, grandparents. It is interesting that programs are available to formalize that relationship and train people who want to help others develop their parenting skills.
Bullying - Drug Addiction Link? Tue Jan 3, 2006 12:23 am
And on that note, Happy New Year! Yes, it is true. Researchers have found a possible correlation between bullying behavior in middle school and substance abuse once these students reach high school age. The work was completed by the Oregon Research Institute and published in the Journal of Early Adolescence by SAGE Publications. The study will hopefully lead to some deeper understanding of the violence we see in middle schools and high schools today.
