The Chatterbox

The Chatterbox

News and views from the staff of FamilyEducation.
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recent posts

Lindsay's picture
May 6, 2013
Do You "Mouth Clean" Your Child's Pacifier? Read This!
We've all been there — you're at the playground with your kids, with the older one happily playing and the younger one (amazingly) sitting quietly in the stroller, happily sucking on his pacifier. All of a sudden he drops it (or spits it out) and it falls on the ground. Although you're supermom reflexes pick it up in less than 2 seconds, you panic knowing it's the only pacifier you've packed and don't have anywhere to clean it, besides the communal water fountain.  Do you risk a meltdown from your older child by telling him you have to leave early, or risk...
Building Immue System, Exposing Your Child to Germs, Kids and Germs
Erin D's picture
April 30, 2013
One Mom's Solution to Her Kids' iPad Obsession
You might have heard the news last week about the 4-year-old British girl who was labeled an "iPad addict" and received $20,000/month therapy for her "inconsolable" fits when the tablet was taken away. The story has sparked a lot of debate among parents: Was this little girl really addicted to the extent of needing professional help? How did her parents let it get out of hand? How much tablet/tech/screen time is too much? How can we prevent our kids from getting so hooked on technology? One Cape Cod mother of five recently shared her family's iPad woes -- and her...
kids and technology, Screen-Free Week
Lindsay's picture
April 12, 2013
How to Plant a Garden
Does anyone out there have a garden? To make a long story short, I planted a garden once at my SO's beach house, and the house burned down 2 weeks later. Everyone got out fine, but the house was a total loss and needless to day, the garden didn't survive. That was about 3 years ago. In the meantime, the house has been rebuilt, and this is the first year that a new garden is a possibility, so I've been toying with the idea of planting a new one. (I should mention here that I'm not known for my green thumb. I have one plant that I've been able to keep alive for several years...
Craft Kits, Crafts for Kids, How to Build a Craft Kit
Erin D's picture
April 4, 2013
Why I'm Signing the Petition for Mattel to Make Black Barbie Party Supplies
When it comes to planning a child's birthday party, moms know that there are, oh, about 10,000 themes to choose from (that's no exaggeration -- I searched for children's party plates on Amazon, and there were 9,096 results). But we also know that, of the overwhelming number of options, the *one* theme that matters on a child's special day is the one that she chooses based on her favorite toy/show/movie/thing at that point in her life. So when Georgia Braithwaite's 5th birthday approached and she chose Barbie as her party theme, her mom, Karen Green Braithwaite, was shocked...
African-American culture, Barbie, Birthday Parties, Birthday Party, diversity, Party Planning, Toys
Lindsay's picture
March 25, 2013
AAP Releases Statement in Support of Gay Marriage
Last week, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a policy statement supporting marriage for same-sex couples. In the statement, the AAP states their stance that marriage, regardless of sexual orientation, is the best way to guarantee benefits and security for children. The AAP also supports full adoption and foster care rights for all parents, regardless of their orientation. In the policy statement, the AAP reiterates their belief that children thrive best in stable families that provide permanent security, and that the way to do that is through marriage. They believe every...
American Academy of Pediatrics, gay marriage
Erin D's picture
March 21, 2013
Should Women "Lean In" to Their Careers (and Lean Out of the Household)?
Have you read about The Great and Powerful... Sheryl Sandberg? She's the Facebook exec who just released a book called Lean In, which aims to start a movement to help women advance their careers and reach the top tier in their business. She's a 43-year-old billionaire mother of two – just like me and you. Ha. I haven’t read her book, but I've read the articles about her in Time, The New York Times "Motherlode" column, and Cosmo, and I think I get her point: Don't hold back. You can be me. If you want to be. (Which you should.) And that’s the hang-up...
Careers, feminism, Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg, Working, working mothers
Erin D's picture
March 7, 2013
My Spring Cleaning Challenge: Make $400
It's snowing outside but I have the spring cleaning itch. You know what would make spring cleaning way better? If we all made some money doing it. Sure, the satisfaction of sparkling surfaces and crisp linens and drapes is great. But what if you could make $100 per person in your household. Hmm... $400 for your family of four's spring break trip (or staycation) sounds pretty great, eh? I came across this Daily Finance article on making money by selling your stuff. Sure, I've sold a couple of things online, but most of the time, I haul our unwanted stuff to the Good Will...
consignment, household management, making money from home, Spring cleaning, stay at home motherhood
Lindsay's picture
February 14, 2013
Common Vitamin Found to Reduce Autism Risk
Autism affects one in 88 children in the United States, so it's no wonder parents are always looking for ways to reduce their child's risk of being diagnosed. A new Norwegian study has found that a common vitamin-- folic acid-- can help reduce an unborn child's risk of autism by nearly 40 percent when it is taken within the first few months of pregnancy. The study found that women who took between 200 and 400 micrograms a day from up to one month before conception to two months after, had a 39 percent lower chance of their child having autism. Although the findings are still in...
Autism; Early Signs of Autism; Diagnosing Autism, folic acid
Erin D's picture
February 12, 2013
A "Traditional Prom" That Bans Gay Students?
The small town of Sullivan, Indiana, is in the spotlight after a group of teens and parents there called for a "traditional" prom that bans gay students from attending. The group gathered on Sunday at First Christian Church to discuss the idea of separate proms for straight students and gay students at Sullivan High School (an idea the school itself never discussed or condoned). Two days and hundreds of news articles and Facebook posts later, it seems the idea isn't going over so well. Diana Medley, an adult member of the group who is a special education teacher (in a...
Gay teens, Homophobia, prom, Sullivan High School
Erin D's picture
February 7, 2013
The Sport That Terrifies Me... And I'm Not Afraid to Say It!
Just overheard in the office: "We're getting two feet of snow -- can't wait to go skiing!" A huge winter storm is brewing, and it's a skier's dream come true. But I hate skiing. And I'm not afraid to say it. Growing up in the northeast, I dabbled in downhill skiing in high school -- probably too late to get hooked on the popular hobby. I was an avid ice skater throughout elementary school, and felt pretty strong and in control the first few times I strapped on skis. I quickly mastered the bunny hill and  decided to tackle the bigger slopes. I didn't have...
kids and sports, Skiing, winter sports, winter sports safety