Sunday, May 31, 2009

Growing security and comfort in the garden

I'm no good at gardening -- my thumbs are not green so much as they are the killer thumbs of doom when it comes to plants. So, my wanna-be farmer husband does the tilling and the planting and the maintenance, and I come along a few months later and harvest and pickle and can.

It's a system that works well for us, given that he's great at starting projects and I'm The Queen of Procrastination but good at tying up loose ends.

At The 36-Hour Day, I take a look at our garden, and realized that we've got a few other things growing in the raised beds along with the heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers, and pole beans:

This morning, I looked out at the raised beds and saw the small leaves sticking out of the rich compost and dirt and felt… secure. Comforted. Relieved. If all goes well, a good garden means a full pantry at the end of the summer, and that means a lot when times are looking tough.

Sure, I could always run to the grocery store. But homegrown green beans have spoiled me for the kind that comes from a water-spritzed bin. It’s a rush to run outside and pick veggies for that night’s salad. And there’s a certain satisfaction that comes from reaching into a cupboard and pulling out a jar of something you made yourself.

Not just satisfaction, I’ll admit; there’s a feeling of having control over something in
an out-of-control world. I can’t control the economy, but I can save money and eat locally out of my own backyard. I can’t control the artificial ingredients in processed foods, but I can control what I’m stirring into a bubbling pot of jam. I can’t control what’s going on at the office, but I can fill my pantry with jars of homemade pickles and chutneys and sauces, getting a jump start on Christmas gifts I probably won’t be
able to afford to buy a few months from now.


Do you garden? Have you always, or is the economy making the decision for you?

Saturday, May 30, 2009

The tooth fairy forgot! Now what?

There has been a rash of Tooth Fairy sightings -- or, more accurately, non-sightings. The kids dutifully slip their baby teeth under their pillows, cuddle down and go to sleep and, in the morning... the tooth is still there.

Used to happen at our house all the time.

The sleep-deprived Tooth Fairy has left the dollar at the breakfast table instead of under the pillow, forgotten to take the tooth away, scrounged around the couch for lost quarters at 3 a.m., left dollar coins that were too big for the kids' piggy banks, and scrawled notes in squiggly handwriting explaining why she slipped up. Each time, the kids gleefully accepted the Tooth Fairy's excuses -- and her (or his) money, of course.

Speaking of which: the Tooth Fairy has gotten awfully expensive. I know kids who get $5 per tooth -- a far cry from the quarter I was glad to receive back when I was a kid. (What's the going rate for teeth in your neck of the woods? At my house, baby teeth are worth $1.)

At No Child Left, Patti Hartigan is torn about the Tooth Fairy tradition. "I’ve had little debates with myself over why we do this," she writes. "They go something like this: We teach them not to lie. But it’s magic. We teach them to know the difference between their imagination and reality. But they’re so innocent. It’s a giant lie, constructed by adults. But it makes them so happy. And on and on."

So, should we cut the Tooth Fairy some slack, as I suggested at Child Caring -- or cut her out entirely? How do you recover from a Tooth Fairy slip-up?

Friday, May 29, 2009

Would you buy your teenager birth control?

I don’t think anyone is disputing that abstinence is the safest and best choice for those who want to avoid pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases. And, as parents, we tend to hope that the decisions our teens make are guided by the morals and values we've tried to instill in them.

But kids make their own choices. According to data from the Childs Trend DataBank, In 2007, 20 percent of high school freshmen questioned in the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey indicated that they were sexually active; among high school seniors, that number jumped to 53 percent.

So while it may be a shock, I guess it's not much of a surprise that parents are trying to figure out how far to go to protect their children. It's clear that abstinence-only sex education isn't working, but is buying birth control for your teenager a better option? With a nod to the user who posted a similar question over at Shine, I threw the issue open to the readers of Boston.com's Child Caring blog:

Research suggests that teens who participate in abstinence-only sex education programs or make so-called “purity pledges” promising to remain virgins until marriage are just as likely to have sex as teens who don’t -- and are less likely to take precautions when they do have sex.

According to the study, which appeared in the January 2009 issue of Pediatrics,
virginity pledges are also now used to measure the effectiveness of abstinence-only sex education programs, which the US government considers successful based on the number of people who pledge, regardless of the participants’ sexual behavior.

But just five years after promising to stay chaste, the study found that 82 percent denied having even made the pledge at all, and the age at which they first had sex was the same as those who hadn't taken the pledge. In fact, the biggest difference between the pledgers and nonpledgers was that "pledgers are less likely to protect themselves from pregnancy and disease before marriage." And then what?

In 2006 there were 41.9 births for every 1,000 US teens ages 15 to 19 -- more than three times the rate in Canada, where there were 13.3 births per thousand teenagers (and they think their sex-ed programs aren't working).

My friend Ilona at Mid-Century Modern Moms wrote about a situation a good friend of hers found herself in, regarding her 15-year-old daughter: A pregnancy scare.

In Parenting Milestone We Could All Live Without," Ilona points out that some people would rush to judgment -- “Pregnancy scare? Doesn't that take away her ‘Good Mother’ card?” -- and even her friend wondered what she had done wrong. "She didn't go wrong," Ilona points out. "In fact, I was impressed. ... How many of us could be sure that at a similar time of crisis, our children would feel safe to come to us? That they would avail themselves of the wisdom and experience in a mid-century parental head? How many of us, instead, would find out after even more damage was done?”

It's one of the things that stresses me out the most about parenting our oldest daughters, who are 15 and 13 (and, frankly, gorgeous).

Would you buy birthcontrol for your teenager? Would you be more likely to do so for your son than your daughter? Or do you think abstinence-only education is the way to go?

Thursday, May 28, 2009

School closed for flu? Now what do you do?

Last week, several Boston-area schools announced that they were each closing for a week, because of the high number of students suffering from flu-like symptoms. Boston Latin -- the city's largest high school, with more than 2,400 students -- was among those closing.

I'm concerned for the handful of sick kids, of course, but I can't help but put myself in the parents' shoes. What are all of those kids -- more than 2,500 of them, total -- going to do with their impromptu week-long vacation? And how are working parents going to juggle this?

At Boston.com's Child Caring blog, I wondered: Are we making too much of this?

While easily transmitted and seemingly more contagious than other forms of influenza, The World Health Organization says that the H1N1 virus seems to cause only mild illness in otherwise healthy people; out of 9,830 cases reported thus far
worldwide, there have been only 79 deaths. In comparison, last year 36,000 people died in the US from complications from influenza during the "regular" flu season, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Wondering how the illnesses have played out in Massachusetts? Boston.com has a great graphic about it.)

Interestingly enough, though the Winsor School decided to close from today until May 27 because of flu concerns, members of their Small Chorus performed last night at Fenway Park, singing the American and Canadian national anthems at the Red Sox/Blue Jays game. Maybe the outbreak isn't that big a deal, after all.

The students are middle schoolers and high schoolers -- some are probably old enough to stay home alone for the day, but not all. Some are bound to have siblings who attend other schools, ones that aren't shuttering for a week because of a possible outbreak... what about them? Are they supposed to be in contact with a cloistered sibling at night, but then head out the door to sneeze on other people during the day? It can be difficult to decide whether to keep a sick child home from school; trying to figure out whether to stay home with one who seems perfectly fine is another issue entirely.

And what about the parents? A recent survey by Monster.com shows that 71 percent of employees show up for work when they're sick. The survey suggests that, in this economy, many people are choosing their jobs over their health (and I'll admit that I am usually among the guilty), but others simply don't have the sick days to use.

I know the H1N1 virus has now reached pandemic proportions, but does closing the schools really halt transmission? What happens when the schools are closed and people -- I'm talking about the ones who aren't in school -- get sick anyway?

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

How much have you cut back?

Like most people, I've been searching for ways to trim down my already trimmed down budget. We're reevaluating everything we buy, rethinking the things we used to do without a second thought, and even changing the way we eat and what we plant in the garden.

One of the things that has really shocked me about the state of the economy in general and my company in particular is that when people ask me if things are really as bad as they say on the news, and I say, “Well, yes,” they say, cheerfully, “Well, at least you have your husband’s salary to fall back on.” It’s as if, in spite of everything, the concept of a breadwinning mom is still unfathomable.

At The 36-Hour Day, I'm looking at my work-life juggle and finding that there are a few extra balls thrown in there right now:

I know the cutbacks are necessary, but I’ll admit: I kind of resent having to do this. Part of me thinks, “I worked so hard for so many years, and I’m at this point again?”

The rest of me, though, is dealing with it a bit better. We’re among the lucky ones, really. We can manage.

Are you cutting back at home? What expenses are on the chopping block? Is there anything you refuse to cut out?

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Are you giving your child too much sugar?

I'm a big believer in all things in moderation, and that includes cookies and sugary treats. But how do you make sure you're keeping sugar under control when it's, well, everywhere?

While researching a post for Child Caring, I came across some scary stats:
Certain breakfast cereals, for example, contain as much as 50 percent sugar and have little to no fiber. According to Consumer Reports, a single serving of Kellogg's Honey Smacks contains more sugar than a glazed doughnut from Dunkin' Donuts. (Wondering which are the worst cereals out there? Here's a list.)

Sometimes, it isn't so obvious: Have you looked at the label for your favorite bread? How about spaghetti sauce? "All natural" juice products? Chances are, you'll see some form of sugar high up on the list.

I'm lucky: My 4-year-old will happily eat her weight in melon and apples. Of course, that might not be much better -- some experts think that even naturally sweet treats can set children up with bad eating habits -- but if she asks for a treat in her lunchbox, I'll slip in a meringue or an Oreo, because 90 percent of the time, it comes back home at the end of the day -- she doesn't want to eat it, necessarily, she just wants to have it.

(This kind of thing tends to infuriate many parents, by the way -- especially ones with kids who are too young to pitch their carefully packed, wholesome lunch in the trash and pick whatever high-fructose-corn-syrup-filled thing they want from a vending machine instead. Just wait... it happens.)

What do you think? Is it a case of helicopter parenting in the kitchen? Or do kids simply have too much sugar in their diets?

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Finding the constructive part of the criticism

The impact negative criticism can have on your job performance — and your ego — is often magnified in a bad economy. It's hard not to take things personally, and even if you haven't been laid off (or "downsized"), it's hard to feel happy when you're feeling expendable. Working parents with older kids know that the judgement doesn't stop at the office, either; criticism from your kids is no small thing.

But it’s important to learn from criticism, even the negative kind. We're talking about turning negatives into positives over at The 36-Hour Day; read the details there, but here are some tips that work whether the person on your case is your boss, your co-worker, or even your teenager:

1.) Separate the personal from the professional. Remember: No matter how much you love what you do, or how long you have been doing it, you are not your job.

2.) Consider the source. Do you have a bad boss? How about a catty co-worker? You may still need to do damage control, but negative criticism can be discredited more easily if it comes from a disreputable source.

3.) Look for the kernel of truth. Sometimes, the feedback is valid, but it’s delievered in a negative way. Take a moment to sift through what was said, and focus on the real issue at hand.

4.) Stay calm, respond rationally, get all the information you need. Flying off the handle, crying, or being extremely defensive won’t help you; discussing the situation calmly and rationally will. Don’t hesitate to ask for examples of the problem, or for suggestions as to how you should remedy the situation.

5.) Learn from it, then let it go. Once you’ve addressed the core issue or fixed the problem, don’t dwell on it. Reliving the rejection or internalizing the perceived insult doesn’t inspire you to improve, and feeling resentful or defensive can just make the situation worse.

Read the details at The 36-Hour Day, and please share your wisdom: How do you cope with criticism?

Monday, May 18, 2009

Tips for talking to your teenager

How does a parent -- especially a step parent, or a divorced mom or dad who has to do their parenting long-distance -- keep the lines of communication open? Especially during those teenage years, when your kid is likely to go from non-stop talker to nearly silent? We're sharing ideas at the Child Caring blog, but here are a few tips to try:

Keep talking, about everything. You don't need to limit your discussions with your teen to the Big Issues -- sex, drugs, smoking, money, etc. Talk to your teens about your interests and theirs, and keep talking -- more likely than not, they actually are listening.

Watch your non-verbal language. Denise Witmer at About.com suggests five
non-verbal communication cues
that you can consider using when talking with your teen (maintaining eye contact, for example, and keeping an upbeat tone of voice).

Ask open-ended questions. They can't be answered with a simple "yes" or "no," and they show that you're actually interested in the details.

Be respectful. We often tell kids obey the golden rule and treat people as they'd like to be treated themselves, but how often do we extend that same courtesy to teenagers? It's easy to judge or to dismiss what they have to say, but model respect when talking to them, and you'll find that they're more likely do so as well.

Choose your battles wisely. Ask yourself, "Is there really a 'right' or 'wrong' here, or just a 'like' vs. 'don't like'?"


Read the rest at Child Caring.

Friday, May 15, 2009

A Q&A with Mary Ostyn of Owlhaven, author of "A Sane Woman's Guide to Raising a Large Family"

Mary Ostyn, a work-at-home mom of 10 children and blogger at the ever-popular parenting and frugal-living blog Owlhaven, took some time to chat with me about parenting, juggling work and family, and her fantastic new book, A Sane Woman's Guide to Raising a Large Family.

A short review of her book is live at my Affordable Luxuries shopping blog, where I'm also hosting a giveaway. The book is geared for moms of many, but really is a wonderfully helpful, down-to-earth parenting guide for families with any number of kids. It is one of the very, very few parenting books on my short list. Click over to read the review, and be sure to enter the contest (it's easy -- just leave your best parenting hack in the comments, and I'll select a winner via Random Number Generator on Friday, May 22, 2009).

While you're at Work It, Mom!, be sure to read my interview with Mary, in which she talks about everything from the challenges of raising a large family, to her decision to adopt (two of her sons are from Korea, and four of her daughters are from Ethiopia). Here's an excerpt, to get you started:
Your family is unusual not just because of its size, but also because you and your husband chose to add to your family via adoption. What was the biggest hurdle you had to overcome in deciding to adopt?

My husband's first reaction to the idea of adoption was, "Are you nuts? We already have 4 kids!" It took awhile for him to decide that we really could do this and that it would enrich our lives. Once he decided to go forward, he never looked back. And the blessings have been greater than we could have even imagined.

How do you manage to juggle the needs of so many people without losing sight of any of them -- or of yourself?

Two keys for me are homeschooling and being a work-at-home mom. We are together for most of every day, which gives me more time to focus on the kids. My husband and I also try to "divide and conquer" whenever possible: We run errands or do projects or play games with a couple kids at a time, which gives us more time to interact with them. We also encourage kids to help each other. The parents are always the main nurturers, but it is really sweet to see a big brother help a little one with a math problem, or a big sister making cookies with a younger one. That kind of interaction enriches everyone. We don't get it perfect every day, but I think in the long haul we are doing okay. As far as finding time for myself, I'm a night owl -- I can often be found late at night writing on my blog or chatting on facebook with one of my grown up daughters.


Thursday, May 14, 2009

Does your spouse's ability to balance affect your own?

I had to work late the other night, and drove home past my kids' bedtimes, fretting the whole way. I felt guilty for not having seen much of them that day, and I felt sad for missing bedtime -- one of my favorite routines. My husband works late fairly regularly -- I've quipped that one reason my own work-life balance is so bad may be because his is practically non-existant -- and I started wondering what kind of stressors he faces as he drives back after a long day.

He has a demanding job, at the same company at which I work; and he's a journalist, same as me -- which means we're both facing with the same industry meltdown and accompanying stress. But he's dealing with a wrinkle that I don't: As a man, no one really expects him to be struggling with work-life balance.

Who chooses your child's religion?

At Child Caring, we're discussing The Religion Decision -- namely, how do parents decide in what faith (if at all) to raise their children?
My friend and his wife are expecting their first child this fall, and they’ve stumbled into a sticky situation. Neither of them are particularly religious, and each was brought up in a different faith (one Christian, one non-Christian). They avoided the question of religion when they got married, opting for a non-denominational ceremony in a non-church setting but, with a baby on the way, both sets of grandparents are asking: In which religion are you going to raise the child?

For some families, the question of religion is easily answered: The child will follow the family’s faith. Sometimes, the answers are clearly spelled out --
in traditional Judaism, for example, the child is considered Jewish if the mother is Jewish, regardless of the father’s heritage.

But what happens when the parents each practice a different religion? Or one is devout while the other is not? Divorce, conversion, remarriage, and single parenthood can also make the religion decision more difficult.

Kristin at Single Mom at Work looks at the issue through the lens of divorce. Her son’s father would like him to attend Catholic school, she writes, but "I am somewhat ambivalent: I don’t think it will do our son any harm, and ultimately I want him to choose the religion (or lack thereof) that feels best for him. In truth, I think that if one parent is religious -- and the other is not -- perhaps the religious parent’s viewpoints should reign."

Blended families have another complicated layer to navigate. Our oldest children go back and forth between their mother's church-going household and our non-practicing one; two of them are in Catholic school, though they're not Catholic. My husband was raised Baptist, but isn't particularly religious; our youngest children are being raised with the morals and values of my
Zoroastrian faith, but without the religious ceremonies. So far, no one seems confused.

At InterfaithFamily.com, Paula Hellman writes about her blended family's complicated belief system, and how she tries to find common ground among her family members' different faiths. "Maintaining good relationships in an intergenerational, interfaith family means that I ignore the nightlight that has Jesus on it and ooh and aah about the bedspread covered with planets and stars floating on a blue background," she writes. "It means that I ask before reading 'Once Upon A Shabbos' or 'Something From Nothing' to my grandson. I am able to answer any question that is asked of me . . . and I don't present Jewish information unasked."

Who makes the religion decisions for your kids?

Coping with working mom stress

At the request of a reader, this week at Child Caring I touched on ways to cope with the stress that comes from trying to juggle work and parenthood. Read the details over at Child Caring, but if you're looking for the talking points, here they are:

Remember why you're working. A recent study by US staffing company Adecco Group found that 80 percent of women surveyed are working because they have to, not necessarily because they want to. Let go of the guilt: You are putting food on the table and a roof over your children's heads. That's supporting your family, not depriving them.

Focus on wearing one hat at a time. When you're at work, try to be as productive as possible; when you're at home, try to leave your job at the office. Make the most of the time you have, and focus on quality (or productivity) instead of quantity (or face time) if possible.

Remember that parenting skills and professional skills are often similar. You're not worth less as a parent -- you're worth more. As a parent, you have honed your communication, negotiation, and organization skills -- all qualities a successful leader and team player in the office need to have.

Talk to your kids about what you do. Even young children can understand the difference between work and play; they know that cooking dinner isn't the same as making noise with empty pots and pans. Explain what you do at your job, and why you're doing it. Give them a chance to ask questions and pretend to work at home.

What's the most challenging part of your own work-life juggle?

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Survey says: More stress for working moms?

Work-life balance is always a hot topic; with the economy on life support, companies are trying harder than ever to gauge how working moms are coping.

It's not pretty, people. I crunch the numbers over at The 36-Hour Day:

Another study, this one by US staffing company Adecco Group, asked working moms about the impact that the recession is having on their work-life balance (or lack thereof). Eighty percent of the women who participated in Adecco’s Workplace Insight Survey said that they work because they have to, not because they want to — and almost half of them (48 percent) are more stressed than before, with 16 percent adding that their work hours have increased because of the bad economy.

Sixty-five percent of them are cutting their budgets at home but, in spite of that, 19 percent admitted to overcompensating for the lack of time with their kids by lavishing them with material goods instead. And while nearly half said they wish they could spend more time with their kids, 30 percent say they are overwhelmed by their responsibilities at home.... [More]

How are you coping with the recession? What is stressing you out the most — and how are you handling it?

Featured on Shine!

Dory Devlin, manager of Shine's "Manage Your Life" section, has written a cool little feature about me over at Shine... check it out! Thank you so much, Dory!

Monday, May 11, 2009

And the GABA winners are...



Thanks to everyone for participating in our Jones GABA drink giveaway! We had 90 entrants, and the lucky winners (as chosen by Random.org) are:








Intime (#72), Meredith (#14), Kylie8cake (#78), and Julis55 (#40).

Most of your tips had to do with exercise -- something I really, really need to find time to do more of. Walking on the treadmill, yoga, marching in place, and dancing were big favorites. Some of you swear by a good (short) nap; others get an energy boost from listening to music or having a healthy snack.
Stay tuned! We'll be hosting more giveaways soon right here at Write. Edit. Repeat.!

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Dealing with a bad daycare drop-off

My fabulous readers over at Child Caring are offering up all sorts of tips and tricks for making the daycare drop-off go a little more smoothly -- click over and read though the comments. With the exception of a Mommy Drive-By or two, courtesy of a couple of trolls, they're all thoughtful and helpful. Here's a sampling:

Mom of a 2 Year Old: We have trained our two year old at day care to 'push' us out the door. It has worked! It makes him feel like he is doing something that he is in control of and not that we are making the decision to leave. Give it a try!

Another mom: The one thing that makes it so much easier for us is that his daycare has cameras in each room. We can log on to Kindercam.com with a user name and password and see what he's up to. It is very reassuring.

S: As a preschool teacher, I've noticed that children and parents who have a "goodbye routine" do very well.

Cordelia: My problem was not with drop off but pick up. I'd arrive and they'd shout NO and run to the otherside of the play yard. They were having too much fun to go home.

SED: We love "The Kissing Hand" story book and have read it many times to our kids, I put my lipstick on and give them a kiss on their hand to hold on to before I leave them and then they give me a kiss to hold. We make a big deal out of putting it in our pockets to save it etc.

JAGKat: My almost 4 year old daughter has changed daycare settings twice in three years. Both times she settled in within a few days. Unfortunately, I learned in February that I will be deploying to Afghanistan this summer. We started talking with her about it a month ago, and she seemed to understand (as much as a 4 year old can, anyway). However, she has since started clinging and crying when I drop her off in the mornings. She has also developed a sudden hysteria in swim class (part of the daycare program). we've read and watched all we can find on how to help a child deal with a parent deploying (thank you Sesame Street), but I'm worried about how hard it will be on my husband when he has solo dad duty for a year...or maybe I'm worried they'll be fine. Any advice out there?

Read the rest at Child Caring, and if you have any links or advice for JAGKat, a mom in the military who is facing an upcoming deployment, please leave them in the comments section here...

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

It's a GABA giveaway! Share your favorite re-energizing tip

Once upon a time, but not that long ago, I was a two-energy-drink-a-day kind of gal, mostly that stuff that promises to “give you wiiiiings.” Those days are long gone — even I can’t handle that much caffeine anymore — but with work and life the way they are, there definitely are days when I need more than just a latte (or, um, several) to get my energy levels up.

Jones Soda Co.’s newest offering is a line of tea-juice blends laced with Gamma Aminobutyric Acid (GABA), a naturally produced amino acid thought to boost focus and clarity while decreasing nervousness and distractability. It’s non-carbonated, just slightly sweet, and comes in four light-but-luscious flavors: Fuji Apple White Tea, Lemon Honey Black Tea, Nectarine White Tea, and Grapefruit Black Tea.

I've tried them all, but I keep coming back to the nectarine and grapefruit teas. They're smooth, juicy, and wonderful over ice -- I don't know if it's the GABA or the fact that I take the time to savor the flavors, but I definitely feel refreshed and re-energized afterward.

A variety pack of four 12-ounce cans -- one of each flavor -- costs $11.95 at the MyJones Store, but right now four thirsty readers can each win a dozen Jones GABA teas right here at Write. Edit. Repeat. Just leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite way to re-energize.

Share your tip -- a candle-lit bubble bath? A 10-mile run? A box of Godiva? -- before 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, May 10! I'll turn to my handy random-number generator and announce the winners at noon on Monday, May 11.

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Perpetual Motion: The perfect place for kids who don't want to stand still

My latest favorite family fun spot is Perpetual Motion in Lowell, Massachusetts. It's got everything my energetic kids could possibly want to play with, and it's all laid out in a clean, carpeted, air-conditioned, open space on the second floor of a converted warehouse. My 2-1/2-year-old looked at the indoor sandbox, swings, ride-on and twirl-on toys, and slides, looked at me, and asked, "It OK to run 'round in dis house?"

Absolutely. I describe why in today's edition of The Boston Globe's "Bring the Family" column:
May 2, 2009
Bring the Family

Perpetual fun
By Lylah M. Alphonse, Globe Staff

WHO: Globe Magazine staff member Lylah M. Alphonse and three of her five kids, ages 2 to 10

WHAT: Burning off energy indoors

WHERE: Perpetual Motion, 345 Chelmsford St., Lowell, 978-452-0777; perpetualmotioninc.com


... The little kids' space features an enormous four-car train with tunnels, ramps, and a ball pit; there's also a toy-filled sandbox, swings, and a double-wide sliding platform to
explore. The "school-age" side is designed for kids who are at least 5-years old and 42 inches tall; it offers a huge foam pit, rope climbing structures, an obstacle course, and a challenging climbing wall. The two play areas are divided by an eating area and a concession stand (with surprisingly good pizza)... [More]
Seriously, this place is incredible. Check out the photos, below, and read the rest of my article at at Boston.com!

Friday, May 1, 2009

The new Child Caring blog is live!

Boston.com has revamped their old BoMoms site! Check out the new Child Caring blog:

As you can tell from the snap (click to go to the main site!), today I focused on kids and sleep.

Pre-parenthood, "a good night's sleep" could mean anything from 8 to 10 hours -- whatever it took to make you wake up well-rested. Post-parenthood? "A good night's sleep" could mean "My kid only woke me up twice in a six-hour period."

But what about your kids? Are they getting enough sleep? And how much sleep does a child need, anyway? Click over to Child Caring to read more...

Don't. Panic.

I'm pretty fed up with the panic over the Swine Flu. Concern is fine, taking precautions is great, but all of the hoopla? Enough, already.


Why are we all up in arms about Swine Flu when upwards of 30,000 die from influenza-related illnesses as it is? Were the panic levels this bad in 2003 with SARS? How about with the Avian Flu outbreak? And as for the “Don’t eat pork products!” and “Close the borders!” ridiculousness I’ve heard… please. You don’t get the flu from bacon, and immigrants aren’t bringing the virus to places like New York and Maine, tourists who are coming back from vacation are. ... [More]

Read the rest at The 36-Hour Day. Then go wash your hands.