By Shawna Gamache Don’t worry too much! Getting a sibling really is the best thing to happen to most kids – and as this essay is from my own experience, the suggestions here are mostly directed at families with a toddler when their second child is born. Involve your older child in planning, pregnancy and birth Maybe he can help…
The thing is, parenting young children is not an intellectual exercise. It’s an often overwhelming exercise in constant empathy for a sometimes very difficult little person.
Have you ever done something accidentally? Like maybe you accidentally signed up for 2 year magazine subscription to Women’s Health even though you know you’re never going to look like the woman on the cover, or maybe you accidentally befriended someone who is super annoying and now they will never leave you alone, or maybe you simply, accidentally, spilled your…
In Oregon this summer, my husband and I hiked into a cave, a lava tube where tourists in sandals descend into the damp dark and freeze their hilariously unprepared butts off in the 40-degree cold as they stumble a mile into true blackness. Oh my gosh. Here it is. Of course. The perfect metaphor for parenting. It doesn’t matter how…
Probably the most important thing I’ve learned so far as a parent is to not worry so much about what my kids are doing. To realize that what I’m mostly doing here is giving them a safe place to unfold— not molding them.
Tis the season for parties, traditions, and family gatherings near and far—all of which you might be shunning or dreading now that you have a plus one in tow. But fear not! Heeding this advice will have you dashing through the season like you’re on a one-horse open sleigh. Expect the Worst: My husband Bart is a huge Star Wars…
It’s alright, you can admit it: Once you have kids, sneaking out with your sweetie can seem like more trouble than it’s worth. Of course you know you need the break, some time together, a meal that someone else makes and cleans up, and that doesn’t involve a giant stack of napkins and profuse apologies to your server on your way out……
Ah, the joys of parenthood. “Cherish every moment,” you hear. “It goes so fast!” Yeah, well, when entering the active labor stage was your last relaxing evening at home, I assure you— not fast enough. Yes, there are plenty of joyful moments. But there are plenty of miserable ones, which are exactly the ones I wished people talked about. The…
More than half of PEPS groups include dads these days, which is a big change from when PEPS first got its start in 1981. We just hosted two events for dads that got them – and us – asking questions about what kinds of info and resources dads like most. In late May, we held a focus group to connect…
Vikki Iverson is a mom of a 1-year old, Rainier, newly standing and taking steps. She’s also the step-mom to her 12 year old son, Will. She’s cared for him since he was a toddler. I talked to Vikki to get some ideas about how she has blended her family. One thing to say up front, Vikki knows she’s lucky.…