Friday, January 25, 2013
A Patch blogger's post about not helping her children on the slide is being debated across the country.
A Patch blog from Alameda, Calif., called “Please Don’t Help My Kids” has struck a nerve with readers across the country. Posted in September, the blog has taken off over the past few weeks as it has found a second life through social media sharing. The blog has 124,000 Facebook recommendations and 833 people have tweeted the blog. The blog is an open letter to other parents at the playground. The blogger Kate Bassford Baker’s basic request is for parents to not help her daughters on the slide. She wrote that she wants her daughters to do things and learn things on their own. Learning to walk up the slide’s ladder is the first step to learning new things and overcoming obstacles, she wrote. “Because, as they grow up, the ladders will only…
Saturday, August 11, 2012
A New England mother was asked to cover up while feeding her child at a restaurant this week.
The topic of breastfeeding in public forged into the spotlight in New England this week, after a mother chose to breastfeed her child in a Hillsborough, N.H. restaurant. Protesters gathered outside the Tooky Mills Pub in Hillsborough on Wednesday, after a local mother was asked to cover up while breastfeeding her 10-month-old child, exposing a breast in the restaurant's dining room, according to a report on WCVB.com. The request to cover up, which was followed by customer complaints, resulted in a protest outside the restaurant Wednesday night. Those protestors spoke out in awareness and support of the mother, as well as in support of breastfeeding in public. Where do you stand on this issue? Do you think mothers should be able to …
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
If he weren't so cute, he'd be sent to live with friends.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- Alex Shumway
-
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
While trying to hold an adult conversation tonight at Ben’s game, a friend of mine was almost nailed by a stray baseball. Some might consider this an occupational hazard while at the field, but no one expects to get beaned at the hands of a two-year old. After apologizing to the unsuspecting Dad for my son’s line drive to his head, one of the Moms said, “Oh, he is so cute, I could just take him home.” I immediately offered to make that dream a reality. Now, don’t get me wrong: I love my little Quinn, really I do. He’s so cute and has a great sense of humor, but I’m quite sure that he’ll be the one to send me over the edge. It could be that there is such a big age gap between the three kids (eight and a half years) or that he is always …
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
As Patch Editor Tim Robertson types his last line this week, our Tireless Mom looks back on all he has done for Dedham.
For this week’s column I’d like to pay tribute to someone who has made quite an impact on the Town of Dedham over the past few years. This local fixture can be found at every School Committee meeting, Little League game and Flag Day Parade… even though he doesn’t have any kids of his own. Of course, I’m talking about Dedham Patch’s own Editor-in-Chief, Tim Robertson. I first met Tim while fundraising for Dedham Youth Baseball. Tim had overheard me pitching another organization at Mocha Java (yes, I’m THAT loud) and asked how Patch could get involved. After finding the money to secure Patch as a DYB Platinum sponsor, Tim asked me if I would be interested in writing a parenting column and frankly, I thought he was kidding. “I am always …
Friday, May 18, 2012
This five ingredient pasta salad is an easy weeknight side, perfect if you're grilling!
So much to do, so little time. That’s been the theme during these busy months. I’m continuously opening my new five ingredient cookbook to dig up some fresh and fast recipes to revive the usual recipe repertoire. We’ve been firing up the grill at dinner, tossing on burgers, dogs or grilled chicken for a quick and easy dinner before or after evening activities, but even this early in the season you can overdo the grill if you’re counting on it night after night. However, if you’ve got a fun new side to try, it makes the usual grill fare a little more exciting. This five ingredient pasta salad caught my eye. With five easy to find ingredients, it’s fast and easy and it’s also a great vegetarian lunch or light dinner. You can toss this …
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Explaining the difference between dreams and reality to a child.
“Mommy! There’s an elephant in my room!” As I trudged down to Quinn’s bedroom the other morning, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, I was sure that I hadn’t heard him correctly. I mean, the kid is 2 1/2 and is not the most eloquent of speakers. Add to that that he makes things up all the time, and I didn’t give it much thought. When I got to his room I was not at all shocked to find just a little boy in his bed and no elephant. However, he was adamant that there HAD been one in there. (The following is the best Toddler-to-English translation I could muster) “Mommy, there was an elephant in here and he walked on my floor and roared at me and I was scared. And he lay down over there and was really, really loud. And I was in my bed and he …
Friday, May 11, 2012
This super easy no-bake fruit dip can be delivered to Mom on a tray for breakfast in bed Sunday!
It’s almost Mother’s Day, so here’s a tested fail-safe recipe that kids of any age could put together for Mom with a little supervision. Dads, wake the kids a few minutes early and surprise mom with breakfast in bed! Kids will be strutting around proud as a peacock after delivering their tray of treats to mom. All you need are three ingredients and some cut up fruit of your choice - just pick mom’s favorite! This recipe is a perfect afterschool snack or would be a smash hit at a graduation party, neighborhood BBQ or shower. Skewer some fresh fruit and serve this fluffy chocolate dip alongside. I suggest choosing fruit that will stand up to the dip (strawberries, firm bananas and apple slices worked great). Chocolate Cream Fruit Dip: …
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Some of these mothers we learned from through personal experience, some others in books and television.
With Mother's Day this Sunday, I thought it fitting to give a shout out to a few of the moms that I admire. While I certainly hope that someday I make an “All Time Greatest Moms” list, right now I’ll settle for “I think her kids occasionally eat a vegetable.” Always a good idea to keep that bar within reach, I say. Old Mother Hubbard – I mean come on, she lived in a SHOE. She had a more kids than she could count but still managed to feed them, get them to sleep and hopefully enjoy a well-earned glass of wine every so often. While I may not agree with her method of discipline (do we really think that she “whipped” those kids?), something tells me that when one lives with so many children in such tight quarters, one must lay down the law …
Friday, May 4, 2012
This kid-friendly thirst quenching drink is perfect for Cinco de Mayo, but is also a top thirst quencher for spring and summer!
Saturday is Cinco de Mayo. Are you planning to cook an authentic Mexican dish? There are oodles of authentic recipes out there and surely something to satisfy everyone’s taste. Whatever you dish up, here’s a fantastic kid-friendly drink to sip alongside your meal, appetizer or dessert. Not only is this an easy drink to whip up, it’s one that the kids can help you make. It’s also a thirst-quenching drink perfect for hot summer days (hopefully those days are not too far away. I’d settle for a glimpse of the sun right about now!). Thought I’ve never traveled to Mexico, it’s said that Agua Fresca (Spanish for “fresh water”) is served at roadside drink stands throughout the country. The drink is not too sweet and not too fruity, making it the …
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
While necessary and beneficial, it doesn't mean you have to love them all.
As parents of school age children, there are many things that frighten us. We worry about their studies, and hope that they soak in as much knowledge as they can. We fear that they might be picked last in gym class and wonder if it will affect their confidence as they grow older. Even simple things like school lunches can lead to sleepless nights over whether or not they actually eat the fruits and vegetable that are given to them. But nothing strikes terror into the heart of an elementary school parent as the day when their child comes home and announces, “I have to sell something for a school fundraiser.” As you read this, I can almost hear a collective groan from parents across town. You know exactly what I mean: that plastic bag …
GreenMom
5:05 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
Agreed more ›