Comments for Parenting Journals

Comment on Leaving Your Child Home Alone by Ellena Smith

Ellena Smith — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:05:57 +0000

Due to my work schedule, I’m forced to leave my 11- and 12-year old children home alone from 3:00 to 6:00 pm. But they are both responsible and mature. I love them so much and the idea of my children being harmed or lost is not something anyone wants to consider. I found an article by anationofmoms about a service that can protect your family via your cell phone. And, at the bottom there is an opportunity to enter a drawing for 6 months of that service just by liking them on Facebook. You might find it interesting: http://anationofmoms.com/2011/08/protect-your-family-giveaway.html

Comment on Teens and Bed-Wetting : Dealing With Diapers and Plastic Pants by Tom Malon

Tom Malon — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:47:24 +0000

The author makes some good comments about the state of the art with respect to youth sized diapers, however, some of the pull-up style briefs are every bit as absorbent as some of the brief style diapers, and as mentioned, the pull ups can go a long way towards reducing the stigma of wearing diapers. Tranquility makes and extremely absorbent "Premium Overnight Underwear" that is every bit as absorbent as any diaper-style product on the market and it is available in youth sizes.

Comment on 8 Tips for Teaching Your Kids Good Manners by Etiquette Tips

Etiquette Tips — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:29:10 +0000

Great advice! I agree, the best way to teach your child is to practice good manners, and do it smoothly and naturally. Children spot artificial behaviour very fast.

Comment on Do Kids NEED Cell Phones? by Do Kids Need Cell Phones? | Best Laptop Brands

Do Kids Need Cell Phones? | Best Laptop Brands — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:33:15 +0000

[...] Neal has authored several articles on family dynamics for a well respected Parenting-Journals website. On a daily basis, she provides expert advice to new parents that struggle with toddler [...]

Comment on Do Kids NEED Cell Phones? by Jim

Jim — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:24:27 +0000

You know kids don’t really need cell phones. Just like adults don’t really either. People survived up until 20 years ago without them so we can too. But they are ultra convenient. I say if your child is mature enough to know the extreme costs and you can get a cost effect pay as you go deal then it’s ok to get your child cell phone. For cost reasons I prefer my young ones get their gadget fill by using an ipod instead of a iphone. As long as they are on WiFi, they can use apps to make calls to land lines for free.

Comment on Parents and Lifeguards Beware. Dry Drowning! by Dry Drowning | berrymelon

Dry Drowning | berrymelon — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:13:19 +0000

[...] http://www.parenting-journals.com/50/parents-and-lifeguards-beware-dry-drowning/ [...]

Comment on Risk, Adventure, and Your Child by Stuart

Stuart — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:46:17 +0000

What a lovely story about the sail boat and the daughter taking the lead with the parents. We’ve been on our own family journey of adventure parenting for years now, deliberately seeking out experiences that challenge us as a family and give the kids an opportunity to grow and develop within the family unit. These have been great for building strong relationships and resilience within the family. As they get older I see increasingly the need for them to have the freedom to go and apply some of what they’ve learnt with us on their own adventures. Which I guess is the next adventure parenting task for us – to find and help kids access adventure experiences they can figure out themselves. So they can come back and teach us some more! Lots more about our experiences and writing about our view of adventure parenting on our blog at http://www.familyadventureproject.org Thanks for the post.

Comment on Parental Leadership: The Mary Poppins Metaphor. by Jason Ross

Jason Ross — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 01:21:52 +0000

Thanks for sharing. Some nice insights and very well thought out metaphor. I wanted to pass along my own parenting metaphor that I wrote recently with insights we can learn from Angry Birds. Thought you would enjoy. http://www.ordinaryparent.com/lessons-learned/angry-bird-parenting/

Comment on The 101 on the Bradley vs. Lamaze Childbirth Techniques by Vanessa

Vanessa — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:30:47 +0000

Nice article about the Bradley technique. I am a second timer, expecting my second child in 4 months time. My first child was born a week too early and I was utterly unprepared, what in hindsight helped me a lot.
Although I attended an antenatal class, this class was more geared towards learning about the actual birthing process and whatever comes with it. No breathing techniques were mentioned, much to my surprise. At that stage I made up my mind I would not take the epidural, simply for one reason: I am scared of big needles. I always maintained the fact that I would rather go for a painkiller intravenously rather than into my spine. My credo from the day I fell pregnant was: rather take me out and deliver the baby, I can’t handle pain. Well, life had a different plan in store for me!
However, labour came early and it came on fast. But not furious at first. By the time I was sent to hospital I was already 4 cm dilated and labour was progressing, luckily without much pain to begin with. Actually, I had no pain at all. Only once my OB ruptured the amniotic sac things were happening… and boy, they did furiously!
I asked for the injection about 40 minutes after the rupturing and by the time the nurse came along with the needle, I was already pushing and had to go with pure nature.
By pure chance and most certainly without intention I was left to my own instincts and natural reactions to get my baby into this world. Pretty much as described in Ellen’s recount of Dr. Bradleys observations on animals. And I fully agree! Follow your instincts, trust your body and don’t try and separate yourself from them by any excessive training. The Bradley breathing technique came to me instinctively, without even knowing about it.
I only read about different breathing techniques now, during my second pregnancy. Not because I want to learn any of this, simply out of curiosity.
If at all possible, I would like to give birth to my second child the same way, guided by my instincts and by nature.
Let me add that I am none of these earthchildren of any sorts. I am the first one to throw myself at any medication for serious issues, but I keep my clear head about it at any time.
Ok, people might say, I was simply lucky the first time round, and yes, I surely was. My active, painfull labour lasted about 1hour and 15 minutes. My son was born in a flash and shortly afterwards I was already up and running again as I had no medication in my system but endorphins rushing through my veins instead.
Although I definitely felt the pain (and not too little of it) I enjoyed every moment and can truly say now: I can do it again! I have the fondest memories of that very special moment.
My torn perineum created much longer lasting memories of pain than the labour pain ever could have….
This is not to say I don’t recommend to take any birthing classes. I simply don’t see the benefit in trying to apply some learned aspects at a moment of time when all your focus should be on following your own instincts, giving birth to new life and helping a natural process along. Especially that any one person is different and might respond differently to pain.
Accept the process and embrace it. The right breathing technique for any one person will come naturally.

Comment on The 101 on the Bradley vs. Lamaze Childbirth Techniques by susan mccutcheon

susan mccutcheon — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 05:14:04 +0000

Nice job responding to this article, Liza. Thanks for taking the time and going to the trouble to do it.