There is time still for sitting in cafes in Paris sipping wine. Time still for going to meet the guru. There is time still. Now I am caring for eternity, carrying bodies soft with sleep to beds of flowered quilts and pillows. Answering cries deep out of nighttime fears. Buckling shoes. Opening doors. Pretending. My soul now is dwelling in the house of … [Read more...] about Time Still: A Poem by Peggy O’Mara
Babies and Toddlers
Why Crying is Healthy
There is nothing wrong with crying. A good cry, whether for a child or an adult, is a relief. The positive outcome of crying is a release of pent-up emotions and stress. The negative outcome of not crying when crying is called for is that suppressed tears can lead to suppressed emotions. When we experience extreme emotion but cannot release tension through crying, our feelings … [Read more...] about Why Crying is Healthy
The Origins of Violence
To explore the origins of antisocial behavior, a psychological approach can be helpful. Little public attention is given to the relationship between early childhood behavior and later antisocial behavior. However, various long-term studies have demonstrated a connection between an angry temperament in infants and later aggression. What contributes to angry temperament and … [Read more...] about The Origins of Violence
Smartphones and Toddlers
How many seconds does it take to snap that perfect selfie? Our first answers might just be a few seconds, after all it just takes one moment to click that icon on our phones. Unfortunately, the real answer is a little unnerving and shocking. According to a recent study, sponsored by Dove, most girls spend an average of 12 minutes getting ready just for one selfie. We all … [Read more...] about Smartphones and Toddlers
This Is A Mother’s Love
I recall vividly the first night our son, Harper, slept at home with us. He was all of two days old. He slept right next to us in a tiny hammock thing. The idea that he was now on the outside of my body was so bizarre to me that no matter where he was, I felt myself having to touch something attached to him…a toe, his blanket, something to keep us connected and make me feel t … [Read more...] about This Is A Mother’s Love
Toddler Toys Under $10
Here are 19 Toddler Toys that cost under $10. Toys are expensive and you can either make your own. trade with friends or look for ones that are affordable. All of these toys are from reputable and nature-centered companies that use toxic free materials and fair trade sourcing. Several companies have sorts by price. Rosie Hippo sorts by Gifts Under $25; Down to Earth Toys s … [Read more...] about Toddler Toys Under $10
Feeding the Picky Eater
Have you heard some of these comments from your little ones at the table when you serve them a meal? If you have a child who is over 18 months old, chances are that you have! “I don’t like it” “Yuck!” “No!” One area where young children quickly learn they can wield some power is with food. They typically go through a phase we often label as “picky eating.” This is often … [Read more...] about Feeding the Picky Eater
Acupressure for Colic
Oh, the agony of colic! The very word brings chills up the spines of most new parents. Please, they beg the parenting gods, spare our family the pain and anguish of this nightmare of infancy! Well never fear, the great therapeutic power of Chinese Medicine is here to help calm the crying and relieve the pain that are the hallmarks of this pediatric condition. Colic is … [Read more...] about Acupressure for Colic
Nighttime Parenting
According to pediatric anthropologist Meredith Small, author of Our Babies, Ourselves, the US is the only country in the world in which babies routinely sleep in their own beds in their own rooms. Small reports on one study that showed that in 67% of the world’s cultures children sleep in the company of others. As breastfeeding has increased in recent years, so has room sha … [Read more...] about Nighttime Parenting
Talk With Your Baby
Talking with babies is more important than you may imagine. Babies learn through communicating with their parents and parents who have conversations with them early on—through talking, pointing, smiling, responding, singing, reading, and copying what their child does—jumpstart language and learning. Even though most children learn to understand and talk without much effort, the … [Read more...] about Talk With Your Baby