All parents want to raise successful kids. While the vision of success may change from parent to parent, the underlying desire for performance remains the same. No matter the definition of “successful,” be it intellectual achievement, financial wealth, or social acceptance, our desire is driven by the perception of kids as extensions of ourselves and [...]
Posts under ‘parenting’
School Lunches – What in the World do You Pack in that Box?
Hadassah over at In the Pink has raised a poignant question that haunts many a parent – what can I pack in the lunch box that will keep the kids happy, satiated, and healthy, without getting bored. Here are a few ideas I have used to feed my kids at school: Make several dozen shnitzels [...]
Parental Control – Will It Do the Trick?
Over at Minnesota Mamaleh, Galit has written an excellent post on the importance of boundaries, direct communications, and lots of love as the way for turning out value-centered, drug-free kids. I completely agree with Galit’s approach to parenting. All too often, we are so concerned with letting children develop their own identities that we give [...]
Is Encouragement Good for Kids?
At last week’s PTA meeting, the school brought a parenting counselor to talk about encouragement. She discussed how giving specific encouragement, when kids do things right reinforces positive behavior and helps reach scholastic achievements. Ultimately, the reasoning goes, kids learn how to give themselves positive feedback. This is exactly where the approach goes wrong, in [...]
Parent Job Description
A few days ago I got this pearl via email. I have no idea who wrote it, but they have really hit the nail on the head. If it had been presented this way I don’t believe any of us would have applied!!! Position: Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop Job Description: [...]
Encouragement for Parents
Professionalism has its downside. As a long-time translator, I have great difficulty reading translated literature. Even if I am not familiar with the original, I notice the judgment calls made by the translator and consider how I would have done things differently. I have heard similar stories from other professionals, such as a graphic designer, [...]
Homemade Purim Costume Ideas
Yesterday, while looking through a family album, I spotted some pictures of homemade Purim costumes I have made over the years. I don’t particularly like store-bought costumes, so over the years I have gathered many original Purim costume ideas to dress up my kids. Homemade costumes are cheaper, more versatile, and more fun than the [...]
The Danger of Parenting Books
What has been the worst decision of your life? For me, buying a subscription to a parenting magazine some 10 years ago has become the most destructive mistake I have ever made. Since I was born in Russia, my parents had a hierarchical, children-are-children, parents-are-parents, approach to child-rearing. And that was exactly the attitude with [...]
First glasses
Do you remember getting your first glasses? I do. I was six when my Mom took me into a dark office, where a doctor placed a gigantic piece of equipment on my nose and told me to read off signs of dogs, boats, and cups from a chart, as he kept changing the lenses. I [...]
