Posts filed under 'parenting'

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I’m not one of THOSE parents

By kate on June 7th, 2008

I just read this article in the Seattle P-I and was flabbergasted at the deliberately even-handed tone. The reporter gives equal time and weight to people who don’t want kids disturbing their businesses and parents who feel they have the right to impose their children on everyone. Excuse me? I didn’t realize that it is […]

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Making a habit of being active

By kate on April 15th, 2008

I recently had two related epiphanies that, in retrospect, seem kind of obvious. However, they hadn’t occurred to me clearly before, so I figured it was worth writing about them. Both have to do with raising active (and therefore healthy) kids.
1. Strollers discourage walking: I think most people would agree that it’s healthy to have […]

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Toilet Training: we’re still waiting

By kate on March 28th, 2008

“It’s not a race,” I keep reminding myself as Ruby’s peers start toilet training. I find it hard to resist being swept up in a competitive spirit, especially because up to this point, Ruby’s generally been with or ahead of her peers. However, we’re still waiting to toilet train because of two reasons:

Ruby’s not ready
Her […]

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It’s possible, and not even that hard

By kate on March 7th, 2008

Before I became a parent, we had some strong ideas about what we would and wouldn’t do, especially as it relates to gender and consumerism. However, I always kept an open mind since I didn’t really know what it was like to be a parent. Despite being a bit shocked by the use of Baby […]

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Short and well rehearsed

By kate on February 13th, 2008

I got a subscription to Wondertime magazine for my birthday this year, and have been surprised at how much I enjoy the articles. (It’s a Disney property and the ads are another story; I’ve started a collection of egregiously sexist ones for the shock and humor value.)
A recent article really struck a chord with me, […]

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Parenting principle: Aim over her head

By kate on January 28th, 2008

I have a parenting principle that I try to keep in mind at all times: aim over her head. By this, I mean that I never want to underestimate what Ruby can do or understand. She surprises me a lot of the time, by showing me that she picked up on something complicated or subtle. […]

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Snacking… where’s the line?

By kate on January 23rd, 2008

I’ve been wondering about something lately and don’t really have an answer. Where do you draw the line to make sure that feeding your kids healthy snacks doesn’t turn them into adults with a life-long snacking habit?
As I am out and about with Ruby, visiting with friends, going to play centers, etc., I often see […]

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We control the comfort food

By kate on December 28th, 2007

Ruby has had a bad cold for the last week (now on the mend), and it made me realize something heartening.
As parents, we worry about our children’s nutrition. Are they getting enough vitamins today? Did he eat enough protein this week? Will she develop healthy eating habits or turn easily to junk food when she’s […]

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Learning about time

By kate on November 19th, 2007

Click here for a post I wrote on Ruby’s blog about a project I created to teach Ruby about the days of the week.

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A punishment I can enjoy

By kate on November 19th, 2007

When Ruby is being punished, I almost always go for the timeout. But sometimes, a timeout just isn’t possible - in the car, for example. It took me a while to figure out something I could punish her with in the car (for such misdeeds as not listening when I tell her to come and […]

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Call for help: toddler dawdling

By kate on November 13th, 2007

I feel generally confident about my skills as a parent, and I feel like I’m coping well with Ruby’s current need for consistent discipline. However, another aspect of toddler behavior is emerging, and it’s driving me nuts…
Dawdling.
Ruby has turned into the slowest eater on the planet. Lunch can take over an hour as she picks […]

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Camera-buying advice

By someone else on November 10th, 2007

We recently asked my brother, Mark, for advice on whether to get a point-and-shoot (P&S) or digital SLR for our next camera (we’ve had both). Mark is a good photographer and the kind of guy who takes the time to do a ton of research before making a major purchase. His response was so good […]

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Is your child wearing the uniform?

By kate on November 7th, 2007

Today I was at a local community center with Ruby and noticed something. There were 12-15 children playing in the room, and every single girl except Ruby was wearing pink (at least some pink - most had a whole top or bottom that was pink). Every boy was wearing a blue top or bottom (even […]

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Chores: pay me now or pay me later

By kate on November 5th, 2007

A month or two ago, I read an excellent series of blog posts about how to instill a work ethic and get your children to work around the house. It made me realize that I should get started on Ruby right away, as she was getting old enough to do a few small things.
Her current […]

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The Examined Life: Parenting a Toddler

By kate on September 28th, 2007

I’ve realized that, when parenting a toddler, you must be very self-aware. That’s because anything and everything you do can be considered a precedent (in the legal sense). Every action, reaction, word, or activity could be something the child decides should be repeated forever. All day long, I stop and ask myself, “is this something […]

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