Smart Motivation
Posted by Arwen Mosher in News on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
When Camilla was little, a friend told me she’d read (in the book NurtureShock) that research showed that telling children “you’re so smart!” is counterproductive, and ends up undermining achievement as kids learn to overestimate their own abilities while also failing to develop the real confidence necessary to take risks.
Interested, I asked my super-intelligent, lifelong high-achieving sister what... READ MORE
Little Ones Reach Out
Posted by Arwen Mosher in News on Monday, January 17, 2011
Since I’m expecting twins, several friends have sent me links to this story, about how unborn twins interact in the womb.
Reading it, I nearly choked up a couple of times.
Italian researchers found that babies as young as 16 weeks (14 weeks into the pregnancy) reached out to touch each other in the womb. Analysis showed that the movements were deliberate - the babies were touching each other on purpose!... READ MORE
Think Happy, Live Longer
Posted by Arwen Mosher in News on Thursday, November 18, 2010
Do optimists live longer?
According to some very preliminary research, it appears they might. This article has the details.
The team that did the study made it clear that this could be a correlative rather than a causal relationship: “Pessimistic people may be more prone to developing habits and problems that cut life short, such as smoking, obesity and hypertension.”
I know very little about medicine... READ MORE
Turkey Delight
Posted by Rachel Balducci in Family on Monday, November 15, 2010
I read with great interest the comments in Danielle’s post about brining a turkey (and I’ll just admit right here I have no idea what that’s all about). But I am doing all the research I can because for the first time ever, Paul and I are responsible for the bird at the Swenson Family Feast.
I’m feeling a little nervous.
For one thing, Paul is shooting our turkey. Have you ever done this? I’m excited... READ MORE
A Different Type of Stem Cell
Posted by Arwen Mosher in News on Thursday, November 04, 2010
Along with many pro-lifers, I was saddened to read recently that researchers at the University of Michigan have created our state’s first embryonic stem cell line. But today I read about a different stem cell development that made me happy.
It can be frustrating to read news articles about stem cell research because it seems like most coverage fails to mention the fact that adult stem cell research... READ MORE
Dress up the Fruit?
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Health on Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Make fruit pretty.
That’s what a group of Dutch researchers says we need to do to get children to eat it, after a recent study. They offered two plates of fruit, one with a more visually appealing presentation, and found that children ate an average of twice as much fruit from the prettier plate. Thus, their conclusion: dress fruit up, and kids will eat it.
You can read the whole article here. I’d... READ MORE
A Real Public Service
Posted by Arwen Mosher in News on Thursday, August 05, 2010
Bert was always my favorite character in Mary Poppins, but I like Dick Van Dyke even more now.
The actor is donating his time as the new spokesperson for the Cell Therapy Foundation, which supports and educates about adult stem cell research. It’s good work!
You can see the first PSA featuring Mr. Van Dyke at the Cell Therapy Foundation’s website.
The Book Title Search Continues
Posted by Sr. Patricia Proctor, OSC in Family on Monday, May 25, 2009
The Book Title search is still on! Last week I mentioned that I was looking for a good title for the book. So far I have 102 great suggestions - which probably should be enough to make a good decision on… but thought I would throw out the call one more time. Just in case there is something new we haven’t hit on yet!
Of course then will come the really hard part - narrowing it down to one! The titles... READ MORE
Dinner as a Family
Posted by Lisa Hendey in Family on Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Following a very nice family dinner last night, I was happy to find this article from Zenit in my inbox. The headline struck me: Families That Eat Together, Stay Together.
The article takes a look at the research of Maria Sophia Aguirre, a professor in the department of economics at Washington, D.C.‘s Catholic University of America. In truth, Professor Aguirre’s work goes well beyond dining matters... READ MORE
Sugar, hi!
Posted by Rachel Balducci in Family on Friday, December 19, 2008
Alert reader Kerry recently sent me this interesting study that dispels several common myths that surround the holidays.
At the top of the list, and of most interest to me, is a look at whether or not sugar gets kids revved up. According to the study, this notion is not backed up by science—it’s in the parents’ heads!
”[The researcher] pointed to a study that told parents their kid was slurping a sugar-loaded beverage, when the drink instead was essentially water. The parents reported the child going bonkers when objective observers thought otherwise, she said.”
So there you have it! You are now free to go offer your kids that tray of triple-decker fudge and then send them off to bed. (Let me know how that goes.)
