Check out my latest post over at Kveller.com.
This French Law Will Make You Rethink What You Post About Your Kids Online
Thoughts on privacy/children/social media/this law?
Tag: kids
not what i expected to hear
So today Maya had her 5-year physical and check-up. She did great — but I was shocked when our pediatrician — who I adore and respect –showed us her growth curve chart and told us we need to watch her weight.
Had I been drinking something, I assure you I would have spit it out all over him.
Now let me tell you something about my daughter. Maya is tiny. Not just short, but petite. Small. Thin (not skinny–just thin; normal!).
She’s mother-effing PERFECT. Continue reading “not what i expected to hear”
Rushing for Nothing
I’ve blogged ad nauseam about my anxiety issues over the years. It’s no surprise that, while I try — maybe too hard? — to live in the moment, my brain is still always thinking ten steps ahead. In some instances that can be a benefit. But in others, it isn’t so great.
Lately my anxiety has (stupidly) stemmed from Ben not walking. I know, I know … kids walk and talk and all that when they are ready. I know Maya didn’t walk til 13 months (where Ben is now). And I know all kids are different.
But I have been so focused on Ben not walking that I missed some other super-awesome things he can do now. In the past month or two, he waves bye whenever leaving the room (or if someone else does); climbs on furniture; can climb up stairs (and semi-scoots down with assistance); he throws balls with such dexterity that there’s no way he’s my kid; dances — like bops and shakes his head side to side; puts a “phone” to his ear and “talking” when he hears a phone ring on TV or at home; and he blows kisses — to name a few. Continue reading “Rushing for Nothing”
mommy, i’m still hungry
I’ve heard that expression about five times in the past five days — usually after dinner, right before bed. The first time it happened, I was caught off guard (this isn’t something Maya has ever said before, especially after a meal) — so I just offered her a banana and we went about our teeth-brushing/book-reading evening routine.
The next time it happened, I checked her daily report card from school, to see if maybe she hadn’t eaten well at school. (Though she’s always been a slooooooow eater, she’s always been a good eater, in that she’ll eat anything … just not necessarily very much). But sure enough, she’d eaten 100% of each meal and snack. And all her dinner plus dessert (which happened to be leftover ice cream cake from Ben’s birthday last week). And milk.
So I offered her one of two choices: a pre-bed cheese stick or pre-bed yogurt. She opted for the cheese stick, and that was that.
But the next morning, she told me her belly was “so so so hungry.” This could only mean one thing: growth spurt. And it’s about hot damn time. Continue reading “mommy, i’m still hungry”
Little Girl, Big Anxiety
I had been all prepared to do a post today about a great article I read today about why many moms today are choosing to stay home, but sometimes life happens and it’s fare more poignant than dissecting what someone else has written about. (For the record, it was a great piece and something I’ve definitely thought about).
But back to today’s post.
When I began blogging in 2008, I shared one of my earliest memories of true anxiety: nearly missing the bus when I was 7 years old and the trauma that ensued. To this day, I’m an anxious traveler and have to mentally calm myself before every trip — big or small.
Fortunately (or not, for him ;)) I married someone who is as easy-going as I am high-strung, so we (sometimes) balance each other out and keep each other in check with respect to travel. He’s learned to get to the airport a little earlier than he’d like to allay my fears, for example, and I’ve learned to be OK with not getting to the airport for a domestic flight three hours early “just in case.”
Among my biggest fears as a parent has been passing along my anxious ways to my children. I try not to think about it too much — so as not to somehow transpose it to them– but it crosses my mind a lot when I’m having an internal battle of some kind.
Hail to thee, Date Night!
Before Maya came along, every weekend night was “date night” … whether it was a movie, dinner, a drive to walk around a Lake Michigan beach town or a day-trip to Chicago, or even just a late-night jaunt to Target … any time we had together was “date night.” Of course, we completely took it for granted — the ability to just get up and go if/when we pleased.
While we try to go out at least once a month just us, it isn’t always easy. Sometimes our “date night” ends up being a work party or a friend’s birthday … but it’s still time away from home, without our little monkey. Continue reading “Hail to thee, Date Night!”
Kids: Overeating on Pocket Change
This is my latest blog post over at WeAretheRealDeal. Check it out here or below the jump.
Kids and “Bad” Food Anxiety?!
I found this recent New York Times article that piqued my interest, called, “What’s Eating Our Kids? Fears About ‘Bad’ Foods.”
I want my kids someday (when I have them) to have a healthy relationship with food. I want them to know fruits and veggies and whole grains and low-fat dairy are yummy, but I also don’t want them to freak out if someone offers them an ice cream cone. I want them to be able to enjoy the special treat without another kid (or mother) commenting.
I’m not a mom yet, but I still have an opinion on this: it’s one thing to encourage healthy eating habits (recently Michelle Obama’s been talking a lot about how her family find that balance between health and pleasure with respect to food), but it’s another thing to ban foods altogether — which can lead to binge eating behavior later in life or an unhealthy relationship with food (like I’ve experienced). Continue reading “Kids and “Bad” Food Anxiety?!”
Let There Be Light 