Wednesday, May 8, 2013
"It's hard to say," says author Peggy Drexler, "but our increasingly me-first world might have something to do with it."
Mother's Day is coming up this Sunday, but not every mom is pleased to carry the mantle. Some are even walking off the job. In an opinion piece on CNN.com, parenting author Peggy Drexler writes that "reports would seem to indicate that the number of moms who ... run away -- or at least walk away -- is increasing." Drexler cites an increase in the number of single fathers, and several anecdotal examples of mothers who simply took off: There's Rahna Reiko Rizzuto, who wrote in an essay for Salon.com that she realized, when her sons were 3 and 5 that she didn't want to be a full-time mother anymore. There are even support groups now for women who decide to leave their children. Why do some moms leave? Here's what Rizzuto says in the Salon …
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Has your child ever become friends with someone who has horrible parents?
So your son, Gregory, comes home and tells you about this new friend he made at school named Timmy. He tells you about all the fun they had at school and how Timmy likes the same games that Gregory likes, etc. Your son is so overjoyed that he wants Timmy and his parents to come over for family fun night on Friday. Friday night arrives and a delightful Timmy shows up along with his nightmare parents. What do you do? Timmy is a great boy and a good friend to your son, but his parents are the complete opposite. Let’s face it, just because we can make babies doesn’t necessarily mean that we will be good parents. There are some great kids out there who have horrible parents. I could go through a list of what a horrible parent looks like, but …
Monday, June 18, 2012
Tips to keep your teen out of trouble this summer.
When parents are away or at work during these summer months, teens can get into a lot of trouble. I remember those teen summers a little over a decade ago. My sister and I would have many unauthorized friends (mostly boys) visit our home during the 9am-5pm hours. This wasn’t because of some heinous agenda to utterly upset our parents, but it was clearly on the fact that we were bored. Sure we knew we weren’t supposed to have anyone over, but we didn’t care. Like my sister and I were, there are many other teens who are bored and lack supervision this summer. Meet Timmy. Timmy is a 14-year-old boy who has two parents who work full-time. This is Timmy’s first summer staying home by himself while his parents are at work. Timmy has never gotten…
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
The Social Security Administration has released its list of most popular baby names for 2011. Is yours or your child's in the top ten?
- OPINION
-
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Would you choose the name Jayden or Aiden for your son? What about choosing Ava or Mia for a girl? According to the Social Security Administration, those were among the most popular baby names in 2011. The most popular baby names list is compiled from names provided on Social Security card applications. For 2011, the most popular baby names are as follows: For Boys: For Girls: Which of these names is your favorite? Which is your least favorite? What is the most unusual name you have ever seen? Let us know in the comments section below.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
How often do you show affection towards your spouse in front of your children?
How often do you and your spouse show affection to one another in front of the kids? As a stay-at-home-mom, affection towards my husband is a must when he comes home from work. Not because he expects it but because our one-year-old daughter demands it. Like many fathers, my husband gets treated like a celebrity when he comes home from work. Immediately when the front door unlocks my children make a mad dash to the front door knocking each other down and moving me out of the way. You would think the ice cream man or Dora the Explorer was on the other side of the door. But no, it's just their dad. Don't get me wrong he is definitely the best father I have seen. It just amazes me how they are with me all day and never have I received such a…
Monday, March 12, 2012
Georgia free from "No Child Left Behind", so what's next for states, school systems, teachers, and students?
Back in September, President Barack Obama made remarks on the No Child Left Behind Act he labels as a “Bureaucratic mandate from Washington that doesn’t produce results." Which, I’m sure most of us can agree on, especially the teachers. So I certainly do see this move, highly imperative; however, I’m not sure how effective it will be. According to the Center of Education Policy, last year, nearly half of school systems failed to meet requirements with some states tests being too hard and other states having a high number of low income students and minority immigrants, seeking to pass a bar, which is raised every year. The President expressed that “We can’t let another generation of young people fall behind because we didn’t have the …
Monday, February 20, 2012
Can you say "No", when other parents are saying "Yes"?
Last week, I went to a mom's event that provided childcare. This wasn't my first time there, but it was the first time I had ever brought my daughter with me. When I walked into the childcare room it was completely different from what I expected and I didn't feel good about leaving her there at all. So I thought, well let's see how Ellie Belly responds and if she's okay. There were children of various ages in one room and at the time there was only one teacher, I felt apprehensive about leaving her so I took her in myself. The teacher was encouraging me to sneak away, but I'm just not that parent. Long story short, as soon as I stepped out of the childcare room my daughter started screaming as if it were the rapture. Her cries make you …
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
How should a parent respond when their child experiences racism for the first time?
I remember the first time I realized that my skin was darker than my peers. Different in height, different in size above all different in race. Back then I really could say some of my best friends are white because all of my friends were white. From kindergarten through graduate school, I went to a predominately white school. In elementary school, there were about 10 children of color in the entire school. This was back in the 80's and although there were some racist remarks, I never experienced racism from a teacher or any other adult. But today is a new time and even those who should be mature about racism are not. For instance, the recent situation that took place at Beaver Ridge Elementary School in Norcross where math problems …
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
This year parents learned a lot of things - good and bad.
As 2011 comes to a close, it's a good time to reflect on the things parents have learned this year... Aresenic: Thanks to Dr. Oz's attention grabbing show, parents can now be even more concerned about the levels of arsenic in their children's juice. Watch out mom! Is your child really drinking 8 oz. of apple juice or a tall glass of death on the rocks? Car Seats: The American Academy of Pediatrics has advised us to keep our children in a rear-facing seat until the age of 2. Now if we can only find a rear-facing seat that can accommodate those growing legs. Brush Those Teeth: Dentists have brought to our attention that in order to truly prevent cavities parents should actively be involved with brushing their children's teeth until the age …
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Teach your children how to give this Christmas and not just receive.
Christmas is one of the most joyful times of the year. People seem a little nicer, a little more generous than any other holiday. Even if your feet were stepped on during Black Friday's sales, it is worth seeing a smile on a child's face Christmas day. Last week, I took my children to the mall for a playdate. I normally don't bring both of my children to the mall with me, but since my son was out of school, he came along. After we had our playdate, my son saw Toy Story 3 figurines in a display window and immediately got excited. He stood at the display window pointing and smiling. As I attempted to direct him to the food court for lunch, he became upset and so I decided to take him to the Disney Store where all the Toy Story 3 merchandise …
Lyd Hut
11:43 am on Wednesday, May 8, 2013
My mother left when I was 10. I am truely grateful to my dad who stuck it out. It was hard especially for my brother but you know what I wouldnt change anything in my life due to her leaving because it made me stronger. My mother probably had mental problems or something because one thing I know to be true is shes an addict and just couldnt control herself. But see my mother is, I do not want to … more ›