Is Math Phobia in Your Home?

Here is an excellent article and related video from Sue Shellenbarger reporter for the Wall Street Journal. "A Worksheet for Math-Phobic Parents" gives good perspective on math and will help you resist throwing math under the bus when frustration sets in with your child and you.

The Meds-for-ADHD Debate

Whether you read the balanced, August 19, 2012 NYTimes article "Raising the Ritalin Generation" or not, you only have to glance at the article's unfortunate accompanying graphic (displayed at the right) to receive the paper's intended negative impression of one approach to treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

First read the article to take away your own impressions, then click over to Dr. Ned Hallowell's website to get a full and accurate understanding of ADHD, use of medications, and how to best support our children.

Getting Ready for College

"Six Life Tips to Guarantee Survival at College," a thoughtfully practical article crossed my path recently, and if you are thinking about packing up your daughter or son to begin a college career, you may want to read this article by Aileen Pablo.

Boomer Buddy Axiom — Generational Differences

Based on the previous post "Parent, Buddy, or Both?" I received this precious quote from a baby boomer friend who received this message from his mother when he was growing up.

“Remember one thing, as long as you live in my house you follow my rules; there is no democracy, I didn’t campaign to be your mother, and you didn’t vote for me.  We are mom and son by the grace of God, and I have an obligation to perform my role as your mother.  I’m not your pal, or your buddy, our age differences make that relationship impossible.  Whatever I ask you to do is motivated by love . . . You have to trust me, and will understand perfectly when you have a son.  Tough lady . . .”

Parent, Buddy, or Both?

Can parents be both a parent and a buddy to their child?

Read the Sunday NYTimes, "More than a Son, He's My Buddy" by Douglas Quenqua for an interesting perspective. 

Feel Good TED Talk

You will love this one. Watch Neil Pasricha talk about the 3 A's — attitude, awareness, and authenticity — using one touching story after another. Here is "1000 Awesome Things," his famous blog link, in case you want to go there after seeing his Talk.

Raising Successful Children

In yesterday's NYTimes "Sunday Review" section, Madeline Levine's excellent article "Raising Successful Children" is a must read. Drawing from the work of Diana Baumrind and Carol Dweck, Levine points out several important parenting tips. 


I quote from the article:

• . . . the optimal parent is one who is involved and responsive, who sets high expectations but respects her child's autonomy.
• Hanging back and allowing children to make mistakes is one of the greatest challenges of parenting.
• If you can't stand to see your child unhappy, you are in the wrong business.
• When we do things for our children out of our own needs rather than theirs, it forces them to circumvent the most critical task of childhood: to develop a robust sense of self.
• But we must remember that children thrive best in an environment that is reliable, available, consistent, and noninterfering.
• Parents also have to be clear about their own values. Children watch us closely.

Benji @ 21 months

Notes from a parent:

"My son Benji threw a Billy Martin tantrum yesterday in the Wal Mart parking lot. I gave him the choice of walking into Wal Mart with me or riding in the cart. He wanted me to carry him. My back wasn't in the mood for that option, so he proceeded to sit down in the parking lot, take off his shoes, throw them, then throw his sippy cup, then stand up and kick his water bottle and shoes. It looked so ridiculous, I had a tough time not laughing."