From the category archives:

Rant

The problem with potlucks (sponsored)

April 2, 2011

We recently saw this funny video from CoolMom, Daphne, about the downside of the potluck. We have long recommended that new moms host potlucks so that people will bring food to you (score!) while you do as you please with your baby (all your gear, crib, whatever!), but we hadn’t considered the problem of that [...]

Talking to our children about the scary world

March 23, 2011

Tragedy, crisis, tsunami, earthquake, war. While I’m excited to be a panelist on Momversation, this was a scary topic to start with. How do you share world events and tragedies with your kids? Or do you keep your heads buried in the sand completely? I was talking with Mr. Lady and Redneck Mommy — both [...]

What the world does not need now: Lotions, potions, and oil

January 11, 2011

What you are about to read was conceived as a “she says/she says” concept, but as we finished writing it together, we concluded it might be better presented as a video. Regardless, this is what it would be like if you were sitting next to us. Except that if you were really looking at me, [...]

The case of the misguided helicopter parent

December 29, 2010

How you can tell I am still a rookie: I am fumbling through preschool soccer lessons! I signed up Milo for his first organized classes (since Music Together years ago) to celebrate his love for ball-sports (and his favorite red shorts). Soccer drills and skills are taught along with songs and games (which he also [...]

Guest post: Choosy moms choose wipe warmers

December 27, 2010

In response to a pregnant friend asking for baby product tips and must-haves, my friend Anna sent along this advice about the considerable merits of her wipe warmer: When my daughter Emma was born, she cried constantly for days…she would not eat. We were so stressed…and we noticed that she was particularly upset when we [...]

Is blood thicker than corn syrup?

October 5, 2010

I grew up the daughter of a butcher. As a consequence, I’ve always been a meat snob. So much so, that people often mistook me for a vegetarian because I wouldn’t eat whatever crappy shrink-wrapped meat they purchased at the grocery store. But I was just picky. As a kid, if I didn’t want pork [...]

Back to preschool: wardrobe battles

September 12, 2010

Tell me, fellow parents, how do you get your kid to pose for those cute pictures in the cute outfits? Is there a candy bribe involved? Threats? I’ve already mentioned my obsession with capturing that perfect back-to-school moment. Holden, though he wouldn’t let me take a picture, allowed me to dress him any which way [...]

Join a playgroup for YOURSELF

May 6, 2010

Call it a Mom’s Group, call it a playgroup, call it whatever you like, but be sure that you’re clear on the objective: connecting with other mothers who you are going to enjoy. If Gymboree is not fun for you, don’t go! It is extremely helpful to have a circle of moms who you know [...]

Warning: abundant praise still readily available in my house

January 8, 2010

I am not entirely unaware of the current dialogue in parenting circles about the dangers of excessive, unearned praise. And I am quite likely ruining my kid’s ability to accept criticism or find intrinsic motivation to work hard for anything, but so be it. Allow me to share with you two instances in which I [...]

You may already be at 50/50

September 25, 2009

In a fit of “I want to get to 50/50 and have a perfectly balanced life in which I work 30 hours a week, my husband works 30 hours a week, and we’re totally sharing raising the kids and maintaining the house” I ordered Getting to 50/50: How Working Couples Can Have It All by [...]

Tip #17: How not to bore your friends on social networks

September 23, 2009

Those kids. They say and do the darndest things. But if you publish notes about all of them as your Facebook or Twitter statuses, well, {yawn}. Good etiquette online and in real life requires recognition of a mixed company situation. Listen up, fellow breeders: you must embrace a new definition of mixed company: Parents and [...]

Celebrity Moms – They’re Not Just Like Us: Breastfeeding Edition

September 18, 2009

In the beginning, Whit and I both struggled a fair amount with breastfeeding before getting into the groove. We were told that if it hurt, we must be doing it wrong. Yeah yeah whatever. Now we believe that in the first few weeks, it hurts a fair amount even if you’re doing it right. But [...]

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →