Cover Your Ass Medicine: Stressing First-Time Parents
Some days I think perhaps the AMA (American Medical Association) should be relabeled as CYA (Cover Your Ass). When I became a parent, I had lots of medical questions and was often in search of good, practical, sound advice that was grounded in experience and expertise. What I got was a lot of warnings about everything. Never put your child to sleep on his belly- he could suffocate. Only use a mesh crib bumper, not a padded one – he could suffocate. (Since then, the... Read More
Would You Let Sketchers Shape-Up Your Little Girl?
When I was young, every summer night after dinner, ten or so of us kids would come running out into our adjacent yards and vote on which game we’d play that night. We were very democratic. Some nights it would be Capture the Flag, other nights would be filled with Info (Hide and Seek in the dark, in case you aren’t familiar) or the occasional game of Flashlight Tag. Regardless of the game of choice, it was always neighborhood-wide and wonderfully epic; we’d... Read More
Are Magic Words Just For Kids?
Recently, a parenting expert declared, with great authority, that parents who want their children to comply with directives (such as clean your room or take out the trash) must refrain from using the magic words “please” and “thank you.” Apparently, using such niceties confuses children, who do not understand that they are being given a command, and thus conclude that complying is optional. Clearly, this parenting expert does not live in the South. Where... Read More
‘Kids. Stop It Right Now!’
I wish that…my kids would just get along and not fight or bicker. They fight over everything, all the time. It drives me CRAZY. This “Wish of the Week,” which many of us share, was submitted by Rachele who blogs about her life and family at: More Fun Than Allowed…With Kids (mftawk.com). Unfortunately, what Rachele is describing is typical, widespread and, yes, “normal.” Sibling rivalry has been around forever, and, within certain limits, is considered... Read More
