All By Myself
by Kelly Dolin in Family on Sunday, November 06, 2011 2:49 PM
As we park in the driveway, four-year-old John announces with great bravado, “I know the way how to get out of my seat belt!”
Yes, sweetie, I am all too painfully aware that you have mastered this feat of fine motor skills. Suffice it to say, this is one we don’t appreciate.
Parents savor those precious milestones in a child’s life – the first smile, the tottering steps, swimming, riding a bike. But then you have the other side of milestones – those benchmarks that, yes, may be developmentally... READ MORE
Parenting Pulls and Pitfalls
by Rachel Balducci in Family on Wednesday, November 02, 2011 12:30 PM
One recent beautiful Fall afternoon, Paul and I loaded up the children and headed out to a Colonial-times festival at a local park. The event is a glimpse at life in that era and features demonstrations, re-enactors and lots of cool stuff for sale.
My boys, for as much as they seem to hate shopping, really rise to the occasion at these kinds of outings. The child who cannot stand to be within a three-mile radius of commerce is suddenly singleminded in his commitment to jumpstart the economy through... READ MORE
Such Beautiful Girls
by Kelly Dolin in Family on Sunday, September 18, 2011 3:29 PM
Here’s an interesting take on little girls, big girls, and beauty.
The writer quotes Huffington Post author Lisa Bloom, who in turn says:
ABC News reported that nearly half of all three- to six-year-old girls worry about being fat. 15 to 18 percent of girls under 12 now wear mascara, eyeliner and lipstick regularly; eating disorders are up and self-esteem is down; and 25 percent of young American women would rather win America’s Next Top Model than the Nobel Peace Prize.
We’ve all read these sorts... READ MORE
13 Things ...
by Karen Edmisten in Family on Monday, September 12, 2011 6:00 AM
1. When something is really irritating you, ask yourself this: “When they are grown up and gone, am I going to care that they _____________? Or will I look back and wonder why I made such a big deal out of that?” Then decide if it’s really a big deal or not. Answers will vary.
2. Seventeen years pass astonishingly quickly.
3. The cliche about how different your children are from one another is a cliche because it’s true. They are not all little yous or little your-husbands. They are unique combinations... READ MORE
Grateful They Are Mine
by Kelly Dolin in Family on Wednesday, September 07, 2011 9:32 AM
Over the past eighteen months or so, a number of alarming headlines have bounced around the blogosphere linking children and unhappiness. Childless couples report more contentment, these articles seem to conclude.
I’ve read a few and, frankly, I’m a bit skeptical. I wonder what exact questions were posed. I wonder where in the parenting spectrum these parents were exactly. I wonder if the writers queried empty-nesters or parents in the big, thick middle of it. I wonder what had transpired in the... READ MORE
Summer's End
by Rachel Balducci in Family on Monday, September 05, 2011 6:00 AM
I am writing to you from a dark place. I’ve locked myself in my closet and it’s nice and quiet and dark in here.
Oh I’m not really locked in my closet, but only because the handle doesn’t have a lock. I have, however, spent the better part of the day in search of a nice quiet nook, a spot in which to take a deep breath and take stock and find that blessed perfect perch between living on auto-pilot and living in the moment.
This is what the end of the summer looks like: like me resorting to things... READ MORE
If You Knew What I Know ...
by Susie Lloyd in Family on Sunday, August 21, 2011 9:06 PM
You know how it is.
Your kid wants to tell you all about something. You know it must have been great and you do want to hear it. Later. When you’re done here. You’ve just got to finish this one thing. Then you’ll sit down and she can tell you all about it.
You keep your word. But you find something to keep your hands busy - laundry folding maybe - so that you don’t waste time while she tells you. You say, “That’s so cool, honey. Wow. Awesome. Good for you.” But your voice is flat.
It’s not that... READ MORE
Stay Classy
by John Granger in Family on Wednesday, August 17, 2011 10:05 PM
Good business manner these days has really taken a hit – like the economy has. There’s never been a better time for true professionals to shine—people who either keep their jobs, or don’t have much problem moving into new ones. Whether you deal with the business world as manager of your household or manager of your own business, these tips will help you stay classy and professional.
Dress the part. Whoever said “don’t judge a book by its cover” wasn’t in charge of hiring. First impressions are critical.... READ MORE
Time for Orientation
by Kelly Dolin in Family on Thursday, August 11, 2011 6:00 AM
The Sunday paper arrived stuffed with ads for school supplies and headlines declaring a tax-free weekend. Back to school! According to the Staples ad, It’s the Most Wonderful time of the Year. A few of the Dolins remain unconvinced.
My older sons are ready to go into full mourning, but four-year-old John is thrilled to go back to ‘cool, as he calls it.
He and his buddy attend a Child’s Morning Out program that John absolutely loves. He pulled out his ‘Piderman lunchbox and his Buzz Wightyear backpack.... READ MORE
A Mother's Work
by Lauren Warner in Family on Monday, August 08, 2011 6:00 AM
My husband, Matt, and I had a much-needed, kid-free date the other night (thanks to the grandparents).
We sat with our cold beers and Tex-Mex and chatted about life, love and the meaning of it all. And while dipping my salted chip into a bowl of fresh salsa, a common topic arose: the fact that I am a working mom—and that he is a stay-at-home Dad. Oh, and the CEO of a start-up web company.
It wasn’t what we envisioned when we were first married. With my encouragement, Matt quit his engineering job... READ MORE
