Motherworld

Little minds at play

Out of shear laziness my husband and I have allowed our 15-month-old Sam to play with kitchen implements. After repeatedly hustling him away from the kitchen drawers we couldn't secure withaÂ child lock, we stocked them with items appropriate for him. Nevermind that he has huge stash of toys in the living room. No, nothing is quite as fun as a mixing bowl, the spinning lid of the food proc…

Posted 1 day ago.

Hot water is good

Our hot water heater died the Monday before Christmas. I quickly called our home warranty provider and placed a claim. Panic set in when I learned that a plumber wouldn't be dispatched to our house until Friday. The thought of a week of cold showers and a very dirty toddler didn't add to my holiday cheer. Fortunately, we would be away from the house for two of the days. We would just have to …

Posted 1 week ago.

Bye, bye buffet pants

Stop the iced cookies, cut out the chocolate and say goodbye to the gingerbread men. My signal to end holiday overeating has arrived: My buffet pants are now snug. It seems everywhere I turned this holiday season, there was some yummy food item calling my name. Well, I'm not listening anymore. I am returning to healthy eating and exercise. I am actually looking forward to it. Not only do my p…

Posted 1 week ago.

Parenting like a dinosaur

Who knew that dinosaurs were soÂ advanced?Â According to aÂ new report in the journal Science,Â the males of several types of dinosaurs helpedÂ raise of their young, including the brooding of eggs.Â Â Read the article here. My husband is a stay-at-home dad, so I was very intrigued by this study.Â Maybe he is in the vanguard of a new age of parental involvement!

Posted 2 weeks ago.

Is breastfeeding obscene?

Theres's much upset among some users of Facebook over the removal of photos of women breastfeeding. So much so that the women are planning a nurse-in on Dec. 27.Â Find more info here. Facebook saysÂ the photos violate their terms of use contract, but the mothers aren't buying it. Apparently, the photo removal is a little too random for their tastes.

Posted 2 weeks ago.

The science of Christmas

Santa. Reindeer travel. Mistletoe. There are so many mysteries associated with the holidays. A few years ago, I set out to explore them and provide some answers so that others, especially kiddos, wouldn't be confused. So here it is, A Trip Through Christmas Wonderland.

Posted 3 weeks ago.

Infertile and alone

During a couples gathering a few weeks ago, one of my friends began to talk about trying toÂ conceive a child.Â She said that they had just started trying but hoped they wouldn't encounter any problems. "It seems so common nowadays," she said. Another friend, who is five months pregnant with twins, quickly spoke up.Â She offered her advice and a friendly ear. She and her husband had dea…

Posted 4 weeks ago.

You'll never potty alone

In Kindermusik class last week my 14-month-old son Sam began smacking his crotch and looking at me. "OK, Sam, thanks for telling me you pottied in your pants," I said enthusiastically. Then I realized I wasn't at home. My comment and Sam's actions garnered more than a few stares. The class instructor asked what Sam wasÂ doing. I explained that we are beginning to potty train Sam using so…

Posted 4 weeks ago.

Angel of the shopping cart

The Central Market parking lot was full. Cars chugged up and down the aisles. I dodged the cars and maneuvered my cart toward our vehicle. Fourteen-month-old Sam sat in the cart and happily jabbered and munched on bread. As the sun set, I quickly tucked our two bags of produce and milk into the trunk. I gathered up Sam and his cart cover and carefully looked around. I thought of my mother's m…

Posted 4 weeks ago.

Not enough of bling

My nine-year-old niece is quite the fashion plate. She always carries a handbag and a dainty plush cat (Don't ask.). Her hair is carefully combed and her clothes are neat. She draws pictures of women's hands laden with jewelry and bright nailpolish. So perhaps I shouldn't have been surprised when she grabbed my right hand this past weekend and asked if one of my rings was my wedding ring. I tol…