January 2011 Archives

I am late getting up to speed on the brouhaha surrounding Chinese mothers because I have been making dinosaur eggs and Harry Potter potions in an effort to keep my boys busy during this seemingly endless string of snow days.

It's ironic, because author and Yale University Professor Amy Chua, who took her stringent parenting practices public with the book "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother," would probably think crafts of this nature are inane activities, unfit for a high-achieving child.

The Wall Street Journal ran an excerpt of her book and received more than 7,000 comments on its website. As I scan the readers' thoughts, which include the words "harsh" and "make me vomit," I am left thinking: Isn't there enough judging in parenting?

Chua is judging Westerners and now the web is on fire with angry parents lashing out against her rules, regulations and expectations.

"I think she made one mistake," says Dr. Michael Schwarzchild , a clinical psychologist in Brookfield. "I think she was saying, 'This is what we should do,' and that's where she went wrong."

Schwarzchild believes we should set aside our indignation and see this book as an education in another way of life.

"This has gone so viral because most of us don't have a look inside that culture," says this expert in family psychotherapy. He believes it gives Americans an opportunity to understand where Asian parents are coming from.

Even if we disagree with Chua and let our children participate in sleepovers and school plays, perhaps we can glean something about parenting from this abstract yet interesting book.

"The very conversation that has been engendered by this is fantastic," says Schwarzchild. "It's made us all think about this stuff in a way we haven't before. We get to reflect on our own positions and that is of great value."

Would I prevent my son from taking a bathroom break during a particularly grueling practice session on his instrument? Absolutely not.

But could I make more of an effort to turn off the TV? Could I perhaps push my youngest, (who truly thinks he was put on Earth to have fun all the time) to work harder and take his gifts more seriously? Yes, I probably could. I don't have to agree with Chua's methods to respect the deep-seated historical reasons she has them.

Now excuse me while I collect all of the pillows in this house to create a makeshift trampoline in the basement. We need to get our sillies out.

Depending on your vantage point, snow days either totally suck or are little breaks of sunshine in typically busy schedules.

For working parents, they're just about impossible. Somebody has to stay home from work, taking away from coveted vacation days.

For people like me who work from home, snow days mean I stay in bed until one of the boys convinces me to get up and make pancakes. Sure, my appointments and interviews have been rescheduled so many times over the past month that I can't remember if I ever did the interview. But we're very lucky and grateful to have the flexibility to do what we want with our "bonus" days. Yesterday we took the dog to visit our neighbor, who has been having trouble getting around and needed some groceries. Instead of walking back the way we came - along the street and her long driveway - we cut through our backyard. If someone had a video camera they'd be eligible to win whatever Tom Bergeron gives away for ridiculous footage: The middle son alternated between pulling and carrying the 21-lb. Tennessee mutt who can't quite comprehend  three feet of snow, the youngest boy lost both of his boots in the snow, and I couldn't help either of them since I was carrying a very old book the neighbor loaned me, which couldn't get wet since her mother had written it in 1939.

(The above story has little to do with the topic at hand, I realize, but it might give you a funny visual for the next time you're cursing the snow.)

In recent years school districts have devised ways to work with new technology in alerting parents to snow days, delayed openings and early dismissals. I took a poll among my Facebook friends and it's apparent that each town does things differently. School administrators in Columbia will robo-call parents at ungodly hours of the morning, but parents can opt out of the call. Signing up for text alerts from local TV stations is a good option, friends tell me, because it's often quicker than the school messages. While many towns call the home phone and all cell phones - waking the whole house just to tell them to go back to bed - others use email and web sites only. Thankfully, Farmington emails us and does not call. Having the phone ring at 5 a.m., I believe, would take years off a person's life. If our school board decides to try out the robo-calling system, my plan is to call board members at, say 3 a.m., to provide them with valuable information, such as what I'm planning to wear the next day or what I had for dinner the night before.

With these piles and piles of snow, we're all looking for fun ways to busy ourselves during the school delays, early dismissals and days-off.  We love to go sledding and head out to the slope in our backyard every chance we get.  But, all of a sudden, I've been hearing alarming stories about sledding accidents.   A boy who knocked himself out after flipping off a jump.  A dad who hit a tree and cracked part of his vertebrae.  
    

"Certainly when there's more opportunity, there will be more injury," says Dr. Steve Rogers, who works in the Emergency Room at Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford.  He doesn't have any solid numbers but believes, due to anecdotal stories such as the ones I've heard, that sledding accidents have been abundant lately.  But take heart:  "Before you even get to the hill, you can prevent a bunch of things," says Rogers, who is also an injury prevention researcher.
    

Here are a few safety tips from a pro:

     *Talk to your child about how to sled.  Tell them to always look forward, don't sled towards anyone or anything.  Even teach them how to safely roll off a moving sled.
     *Choose a smart sled.  Rogers is not a fan of the inflatable options.  "They go very fast and there's no way to steer or slow down," he says.
     *Wear a multi-sport or ski helmet.  Rogers and his own children are recent converts and won't hit the sledding hill without helmets:  "I find them to be comfortable and super protective!"
     *Remember:  severe injuries are preventable.  Stationary objects, such as trees or other people, pose the biggest risks for the worst sledding accidents resulting in head injuries.  So, survey the scene.  Only sled in a cleared area that's not too crowded.
      *Don't be cavalier about the jumps.  Flying the wrong way can cause a host of orthopaedic injuries such as a clavicle fracture.  Not life threatening but absolutely no fun.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 160,000 people were treated at hospitals nationwide as a result of sledding or tubing accidents in 2007.   And, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 71% of all unsupervised sledding outings end up in injury.  That statistic can be reduced to 29% if an adult is watching.

So, have a good time, be careful and refer to this  Safe Kids website for more information.

Check out this press release from Toys "R" Us!

 

TOYS"R"US, INC. URGES PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS TO HELP REMOVE UNSAFE ITEMS FROM THE MARKETPLACE DURING COMPANY'S LATEST 'GREAT TRADE-IN' EVENT

 

More than 60 Million Juvenile Products Have Been Recalled Since 2000, And Important Product Safety Changes, Including the Federal Government's Recent Ban of Drop-Side Cribs, Have Rendered Even More Children's Products Potentially Unsafe

 

Previous 'Great Trade-In' Events Successfully Removed Approximately 300,000 Products from

Homes, Garages and Attics

 

WAYNE, NJ (January 26, 2011) - Toys"R"Us, Inc. today issued a new call to action for customers to rid their homes of potentially unsafe old and second-hand baby products and exchange them for savings on a new item during the "Great Trade-In" event.  The "Great Trade-In" event is a national safety program designed to draw attention to certain used baby products that can carry potential hazards, but are still in circulation and are not the best candidates to be handed down or resold.  Since 2000, more than 60 million juvenile products have been recalled from the marketplace. 

 

The "Great Trade-In" event begins Friday, January 28 and continues through Monday, February 21 in Babies"R"Us^® and Toys"R"Us^® locations nationwide.  During this time, stores will accept any used cribs, car seats, bassinets, strollers, travel systems, play yards, high chairs and toddler beds in exchange for a 25% savings on the purchase of a new baby item, in any of these product categories, from select manufacturers.  Through this program, Toys"R"Us, Inc. continues to raise awareness among parents about ways to be proactive where children's safety is concerned. 

 

"Toys"R"Us, Inc. remains committed to staying at the forefront of issues that affect children's safety and to helping parents and caregivers become safety advocates for their children," said Jerry Storch, Chairman and CEO, Toys"R"Us, Inc. "We are proud that the 'Great Trade-In' event has inspired parents to remove hundreds of thousands of potentially unsafe products from the marketplace."

 

Since the company introduced its first "Great Trade-In" event in September 2009, approximately 300,000 potentially unsafe cribs, car seats and other baby products - most of which were in extremely poor condition - have been turned in at Babies"R"Us and Toys"R"Us stores across the country.  Some traded-in items were missing parts or were damaged, while others that were decades old showed obvious signs of wear and tear and would be considered non-compliant by today's more stringent product safety standards.  With the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) recent ban on the manufacture and sale of drop-side cribs, which will take effect later this year, millions more products in the marketplace have been rendered potentially unsafe.  In 2009, Toys"R"Us, Inc. stopped ordering drop-side cribs and has not carried these cribs as part of its assortment in over a year. 

 

The CPSC advocates not purchasing used items that have a history of safety problems, including cribs, play yards and bassinets.  Items in these specific categories may have been recalled or affected by recent enhancements to federal or voluntary standards and regulations for safety testing that render older models unsafe or non-compliant with current standards. 

 

Brands participating in the "Great Trade-In" event include Babi Italia^®, Baby Cache^®, Baby Europa^™, Baby Trend^®, Bassett Baby^® Premiere, Bergamo^®, Britax^®, Carter's^®, Chicco^®, Combi^®, Contours by Kolcraft^®, Delta^™, Eddie Bauer^®, Evenflo^®, Graco^®, Jeep^®, Little Tikes^®, Safety 1^st®, S1 by Safety 1^st®, Signature Series by Graco^®, Sorelle^™, Step2^® and Summer Infant^®.  Customers can save 25% on a new purchase, within any of the specified product categories, from any of the aforementioned manufacturers, in Babies"R"Us and Toys"R"Us stores nationwide on the day they trade in their used item. 

 

Customers may exchange any number of used items, from any manufacturer, in the specified product categories.  Day care centers or other organizations who wish to exchange items in bulk are encouraged to contact their local Babies"R"Us or Toys"R"Us store prior to returning their used items to ensure adequate availability of new merchandise.

Popular retailer The Land of Nod is recalling the Rosebud cribs due to entrapment, suffocation and fall hazards. 

 

The cribs were solds at The Land of Nod retail stores and online at www.landofnod.com from January 2003 through September 2004 for about $600.

 

Click here for all of the information from the CPSC.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued two voluntary recalls.

 

Click here for information about the Toy Tanks from the Family Dollar Store.

 

Click here for information about the butterfly push toy by the Keng Shang Group.

 

 

Sometimes we parents hear the buzz about something - in this case MTV's series "Skins" - and we make our determination based on that buzz.

I decided to check out the inappropriateness of the non-reality-show aimed at teens first-hand, and actually watched an entire episode. I felt like a voyeur, eavesdropping into the world of messed-up teens.

It seemed more like sneaking into R-Rated movie than simply watching something on television. It's easy for people to say "Well, parents shouldn't let their kids watch it." But with services like On Demand, all episodes are there for kids to watch any time, such as the time between school ending and a parent getting home.

Yes, I know some teens are already doing the stuff portrayed in the show - drugs, ridiculously casual sex - but if young people regularly see these things they begin to relate to their favorite characters and think that it's what everyone is doing.

I'm not really one for censorship, but MTV needs to follow the same advice we give our teens every day: Be careful.

If anyone needs a reminder to read their child "A Light in the Attic" by genius Shel Silverstein, well, here it is.

 

We have enjoyed the amazing creativity of every single poem and drawing but, boy, when we found this one, my sons and I were literally hooting with laughter.

 

"Lord knows what they've got in mind for the cow,

Since they've put a brassiere on the camel."

 

Classic.

My boys love Laura Numeroff's wonderful books, "If You Give a Pig a Pancake" and "If You Give a Moose a Muffin."  Here's your chance to see her hysterical work onstage- here in Connecticut!

"If You Give a Cat a Cupcake"

Sunday January 30th at 1pm and 3pm

Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts

Click here to learn more about the show!!!

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New research out of The University of Chicago suggests lack of sleep over the busy weekends contributes to weight gain in kids.

An interesting read. Read the full story on foxnews.com.

   My musician friend Thomasina Levy - former Connecticut State Troubadour - recently released a song I thought might be useful for parents and teachers. I attempted to reword her press release but she described the song and its goals perfectly:

We are excited to announce the release of our song, "Out of Many We Are One", an anthem for our time. The song was written with a hope we can all find common ground to work together as one nation; one people. We believe in the power of music; we believe a song can unite us.

The song was written to be given away, to inspire, to initiate change and as an offering for harmony and accord. Feel free to download it, learn it, sing it, pass it along. Send it to your Congressman, your Senator, your Governor, your President. If enough people believe in the message of this song, change will happen in the world.

You can find the free download on Facebook, YouTube and our website, www.outofmanysong.com. There is also information about the backstory of how the song was created, as well as information about the musicians.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada have announced a voluntary recall of some phil & ted's USA jogging strollers.  Apparently, a consumer's finger could become caught in the hinge, posing amputation and laceration hazards.

Click here for all of the information from the CPSC.

The recent snow days have caused issues for some parents.

Some, like Joyce Aiello, a state of Connecticut employee and Hamden resident, can rely on older children to care for their younger kids instead of taking time off. Her children, Camille and Collin are 17 and 16, while her youngest, Cassie, is 11.

"I'm lucky because if they all have a snow day, I have the older kids who can take care of Cassie," says Aiello. "If they're not home, I'll ask Grandma. ... Otherwise, my husband [who works for a telephone company] and I try to take turns."

Others, like Marilyn Crespo-Ayala, who lives in New Britain and also works for the state, are not so lucky.
 
 "I have to take personal days or vacation days when the kids don't go to school," she says. "I can't take any other time off and then I miss out on having a real vacation."

She and her husband, a garage door installer, have three children: Raphael who's 15, Alexia who's 10 and Gabriel who's 7.

Crespo-Ayala's husband does not have time available to take off of work for cancellations.  
What will she do if another storm hits next week and there's another snow day?

"I'll just have to use up my time. If this keeps happening, I may have to take unpaid leave," she says.
 
Waterbury resident Kathie Cote is a stay-at-home whose 11-year-old son, Logan, is home today on his "fourth or fifth" snow day.
 
Though Cote is used to having an increased number of snow days - Waterbury, a hilly town, tends to see frequent cancellations - she says that the recent closings have made things "challenging."  

"As a stay-at-home mom, you're used to having time to do things," says Cote. "At the moment I'm experiencing a housework deficit. Not only are things not getting done, but they are getting worse."

But what does Logan think of the snow days?

"He's loving it!" she says.

-- By Crystal Maldonado, Hartford Courant reporter

Click right here to read today's column on our family's new addition.

While trying to amuse my friend's toddler during a school concert last night I flipped through the photos on my phone, only then realizing I have more new pictures of my dog than of my kids. Pathetic. 

 

I'm not even sure I know who Kim Kardashian is. I know she has sisters, and they're famous for something, and ... that's all I've got. While I do enjoy looking through People Magazine at the hair salon or the beach, increasingly I have no idea who any of these people are.

So this Kardashian person is using her fame to blast teen moms and "Teen Mom" - the reality show making even more people famous for not-really-good reasons. I couldn't agree with her more, especially in light of the recent news story about a Memphis high school that is said to boast some 90 baby mammas this school year.

Glamorizing teen pregnancy is irresponsible. Putting 17-year-old Jamie Lynn Spears on the cover of a magazine and quoting both her and teen mom Bristol Palin as saying how fabulous it is to have a baby is beyond reckless.

Rock on, Kim, whoever you are.

This is a follow-up to two previous posts.  First, we offered up a recipe for Dinosaur Eggs.  Then, discussed our progress in making them. So, here is our conclusion!  We got busy with the return to school and a visit from some relatives....but, after *4* days, we located the hammer and decided to crack open our Dino Eggs. 

"Crack" is really the wrong word.  After all that time, they were still pretty gummy inside.  So, as you can see, Sam used the hammer to sort of chip, pry and pull the gooey dinos out of our concoction.  It was a little weird...but, it worked.

All in all, I'd say this craft suggestion from the first-grade book "Nate the Great" was a success.  Making the sandy dough was pretty easy yet fun...and bonus: we didn't make a collosal mess.

But, the eggs really flattened out and didn't harden up that well...so, I'm left thinking we need to really watch the water for our next go around.

Have fun!  And if you embark on this snow day project, please let us know!  And pass along any other "busy-time" activities you might have....goodness knows, we all need them!

 

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This here report is worth checking out.

This big-time study looked at the connection between early childhood education and adult health, including things like depression, drug use, access to health care and traffic safety. Overwhelmingly - and, importantly "independent of IQ, educational attainment or health insurance status" - early childhood education made a huge difference in the long-term health of those in the study.

 Right. As a parent, you don't need yet another good reason to enroll your child in preschool; you're going to do it anyway. But keep in mind that when programs are cut because of the recession and budget deficits, access to early childhood education for those less fortunate is not a good place to cut.

 Denying children in low-income areas access to preschool hurts today's kids, tomorrow's adults and the future of our communities.

 

That's why this article from www.courant.com caught my eye.

I know so many mothers who exhaust themselves trying to follow that rule from the World Health Organization:  breast feed exclusively for six months.  But, now, writings in the British Medical Journal suggest that may not be the best option. 

Honestly, it's never easy.

Of all the "official" holidays our country celebrates, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day never fails to make me wish we actually celebrated these holidays appropriately.

Don't tell my kids, but I feel that they should be in school today, abandoning curriculum and Mastery Test preparation, focusing on how to be more accepting of others.

Is going to a sale at Kohl's or spending a day skiing the best way to remember a man who was brave and strong and who changed the way we think about each other?

Why not arrange for speakers and facilitators and musicians to come to our schools and make a huge impact on our kids?

I'm borrowing this photo from my friend Terri, who took the picture of her son and his friends on the last day of school at Noah Webster MicroSociety Magnet School in Hartford, and shared with us on Facebook. I'm also borrowing the words she borrowed from MLK: "I have a dream that one day little black boys and girls will be holding hands with little white boys and girls."

How about this: Instead of wanting the next generation to be more successful in terms of financial success, let's help them to be more successful in terms of working towards equality and peace. You've got the day off; make it count.

If you lived through the era of acid washed jeans and gigantic shoulder pads you likely remember Sniglets -- "words that don't appear in the dictionary but should." An old book of Sniglets still sits on our bookshelf and is a quaint reminder of the time before snark and the Internet took over our lives. The entries are cute and clever, kind of like those emailed jokes people send us that are sort of funny but not really worth forwarding to everyone in your address book.

Here's a pitch for a Sniglet-esque book that applies to life with children:

If you love someone who has kids in their life (parent, teacher, babysitter, coach, aunt, uncle) Check out The KidDictionary: Words To Describe Kids. Because wrangling kids is hard. Describing it doesn't have to be.  The KidDictionary presents helpful words like these:

PILLOWJACKER (n.): A child who manages to weasel his way into his parents' bed for the night.

 

SHIRTURBED (adj.): Annoyed state of a kid who just received an article of clothing as a present.

 

MONOPOLOOZE (v.): To intentionally lose board game to unsportsmanlike child.

 

CRYDENTITY CRISIS (n.):The silence that falls over a group of moms at a play date when a cry is heard in the next room and they are all determining if the crying child is theirs.

 

THREEMAGEDDON (n.): The hellfire that would allegedly erupt if an angry mom got to 3 when counting out loud to prompt their child to get their act together.

 

SCOOZER (n.): A child who only has something to say to you when you're on the phone or in the shower

 

CARDBOREDOM (adj.) A child's tendency to ignore a new toy and instead play with the box it came in.

 

There are hundreds more. To see funny videos giving further looks inside "The KidDictionary: Words Parents Need To Describe Kids," and learn more, please visit www.TheKidDictionary.com .

Prairie Mountain Inc. Recalls Youth Jackets Due to Strangulation Hazard.

Click here for information from the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Also: Alpha Industries Recalls Children's Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings Due to Strangulation Hazard.

Click here for pictures and more information from the CPSC.

 

 

As I've mentioned before, my eldest Sam, was a very, very picky eater.  So, when he was about 2, I became an expert baker!  Not really, but I did view baked goods as a great hiding place for fruits and veggies.  Even though his eating has improved a ton, we still love this recipe for pumpkin muffins!

And, who knew?  Pumpkin has been called "the wonder veggie" and is apparently really good for kids...everyone, actually! 

 

Pumpkin is a good source of vitamins A and C which promotes strong eyesight and a healthy immune system.  This Halloween favorite is low in salt, cholesterol and saturated fat yet high in potassium.

 

So, happy baking!  I almost guarantee your kids will love this recipe.  I've brought 2 dozen of them into the classroom and watched every morsel disappear!

 

Be sure to share your healthy recipes with us...and remember to "like" the Mommy Minute fan page on Facebook!

The CPSC has sent news of three recalls this morning.

Well, we played in the snow, thanks to the Blizzard of 2011, and we embarked on the Dino Egg Project (see earlier post)!  It was really fun but we do have some tips.

 

Sam added too much water to his coffee grounds/salt/flour and sand goo....and it really became too runny to work with....no matter how I hard I tried to tinker with it.  So, watch the water.  Ben's batter was great....kind of thick and sticky.  Ben had enough to make 3 sizeable eggs...so, we all rolled a little plastic guy from our expanisve collection of prehistoric creatures into our concoction.

 

The result:  our eggs kind of look like Dinosaur Dung.  But, whatever.  We had a great time....and they've already started to harden.  So, stay tuned for Part 3...when we whack our fossilized poo, I mean eggs, with a hammer.

 

A friend of mine who adopted a baby girl from China 14 years ago sent me this story from the Wall Street Journal.

After reading the entire piece, I can't seem to string a few words together to describe how it made me feel. The writer is fantastic. The content is disturbing. And fascinating. I love how she comfortably states that a Chinese kid would never come home with a B on a report card.

The life she has created for her daughters is so unlike the life I am creating for my boys. Her daughters practice their instruments for hours every day. When our new dog was howling at the sound of my fifth grader's trumpet last week we realized he hadn't taken the horn out of its case at home since we got the dog -- a month ago.

I look forward to hearing my friend's take on this story. Her beautiful daughter is an excellent athlete, student and friend. And I bet she's come home with a B.

 

How many students are in your kid's class?

Here's a story about an innovative program in Brooklyn that might change the way we think about overcrowded classrooms.

A fascinating preliminary study about autism has been all over the news.

 

Moms plus merlot equals a pretty constant joke among 30-something women. At late-afternoon play dates, you'll often hear a tired mom squeal, "I need wine time to handle whine time!"

Then there's that suburban myth about the preschooler who was asked to draw a picture of his family and turned in a sketch of his mother holding a piece of long stemmed crystal. And everyone knows about "moms' night out," when we let off some steam by commiserating about cooking, cleaning, laundry and endless hours of playing Barbies or Bionicles over cool glasses of chardonnay.

But when does this chummy practice transform from a harmless stress reliever to a dangerous way of coping?

A recent study conducted by Working Mother magazine found an alarming number of women are taking this wine habit to an elevated level, imbibing in excess, and in secret. According to the women's publication, this phenomenon is growing and the number of female alcohol abusers between the ages of 30 and 40 has doubled over the last 10 years.

These findings are not a surprise to Ellen Dornelas, a licensed psychologist with Hartford Hospital.

"I think that there's more pressure than ever before, especially with the bad economy we've had," says Dornelas, a mother of three. "For a lot of women who are trying to work and raise a family, there's a sense you can't do it all. There's a big sense of shame."

Dornelas advises that women should attack stressors in a positive way, through exercise or connecting with their husbands. Otherwise, they will turn to negative options, such as smoking cigarettes.

So how do we know when that line is crossed?

"When you are using alcohol more than is common for you," says Dornelas. "When you feel like you're trapped and can't cope." Or, when others notice a change in you.

Dornelas believes we need to reframe the way we look at our lives. Women tend to take on the world.

"Parenthood is inherently stressful. It just is," she says. But "you have to prioritize the time you have."

Whether excessive drinking is a problem or not, Dornelas' advice is priceless for all of us who need a valuable reminder:

"Take care of yourself," or everyone in the family suffers.

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In what may have been a turning point for my teen, I took him and a friend to see "The Social Network" this past fall. Although there were a few uncomfortable moments, it was a fantastic film, as noted by the National Society of Film Critics yesterday, when it dubbed the movie the best picture of 2010.

While many parents are cool with their kids seeing violent movies but shield them from movies with real-life themes, I'd much rather sit through an awkward scene or two and spend time talking about the real issues they'll face in high school and beyond.  

During the car ride home and for the next hour or so, the three of us talked about the movie, and the way it depicted its characters in shades of gray. No one character is all good or all bad. They were all good guys yet they all kind of sucked in their own way, which makes for a much more interesting story. And a more interesting life, really.

 

I've often thought....Sam and Ben will never know a world without the Wii....the cell phone....heck, pizza delivery!  Last night, Sam said:  "Mom, can we just order that Lego from the internet with your credit card?"  I told him, those words would never have escaped my lips when I was seven!  That's why this article from yahoo.com caught my eye.

I've kind of forgotten for what Ricki Lake was once famous. Now she'll be known as that lady who didn't know the difference between Juvenile Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes.

During a book-promoting appearance on "Good Morning America," a show famous for consistently falling behind the "Today" show in ratings, Lake mistakenly stated that Juvenile Diabetes is preventable. (She later submitted this correction.)

As my friend whose toddler son has Type 1 Diabetes gently notes, having Type 2 Diabetes would suck, too. But because they essentially have the same name people often get them mixed up.

Although we shouldn't specify how people contract various diseases (HIV from a blood transfusion or HIV from unprotected sex, for example) these really are two separate diseases: One is curable and preventable and one is not.

You be the judge!  The Hartford Courant needs help to fill the void in the comics section because "Cathy" has left the building.  Up for consideration:  two strips with parenting themes: Thatababy by Paul Trap and The Pajama Diaries by Terri Libenson.    The last contender is Dustin, created by 

Steve Kelley and Jeff Parker.

Here is some info about the voting process from 

courant.com:

Which Comic Is A Keeper?

It's time to vote! When "Cathy'' retired this fall, we began running several comics to find a replacement. Now we'd like to hear from you: Which one of the trial strips should we keep?

>>"Dustin" -- The post-college kid who returns home to live, maybe forever!

>> "Thatababy" -- The adventures of an adorable, often mischievous baby and his sleep-deprived parents coping with the demands and adventures of parenthood.

>> "Pajama Diaries" -- Jill is the quintessential example of today's overextended mom with cute but needy kids and a spouse.

For samples of the comics, go to D2, then cast your vote online atcomicvote@courant.com; or mail in your choice to Carl Dobler/comic vote, Features Dept., The Hartford Courant, 285 Broad St., Hartford, CT 06115; or call and leave a message at 860-241-3904. Voting continues through Friday.

 

In an interview with "Good Housekeeping" magazine, movie star Gwyneth Paltrow tells about the dark days following the birth of her second child.  Her husband, rocker Chris Martin, recognized the signs of postpartum depression.  Check out this article from Yahoo. It's an interesting read for us moms.

 

Gywyneth recently impressed critics and the viewing public with her hilarious turn on Fox's big hit, "Glee."

 

Seems this working mother is back in the spotlight...after a few years  focused on her kids.

(Sorry about the earlier misspelling!  It was late and this mommy blogger was pooped!)

Although it seems impossible, my little nephew Nick got his driver's license today. So maybe he's not so little anymore.

I had read this story - written by my former editor Keith Griffin - with interest because Nick lives in Florida, where up until recently one could obtain a learner's permit on line. The Florida DMV smartly changed that rule, requiring a new driver to actually show his or her face before obtaining a permit. Florida's teen driving laws have gotten more restrictive over the past few years, as have Connecticut's.

I wasted little time after turning 16 to get my license and my 1977 Chevy Chevette. And I want my own kids to learn independence, too, but slowing the pace seems like a good thing. No teenager wants to acknowledge it, but more driving experience means fewer accidents.

Keep those hands at 10 and 2, young man!

 

 

Photo: www.oldparkedcars.com (Mine was also this delightful robin's egg blue.)

I used to have pretty hands. Everybody said so. They were smooth and youthful looking with long, strong, pink nails that were always attractive, even without a manicure.But, now, at 37, my hands are filled with lines, my veins kind of pop out and my skin is always dry. Too many dishes, I guess. My fingernails are now short. Fancy ones just don't jibe with the day to day challenges of motherhood. Could I toss a football, weed the hydrangeas and build a Lego Jedi Starship with Joan Collins nails?  My hands show where I am in life. My hands are showing my age. And I would be lying if I said the changes to my body don't bother me.

"You have to accept who you are," says Jennifer Cruet of Guilford. "A confident woman is an attractive woman."

This 62-year-old Cruet, who runs a group called "Women Recreating Retirement" at the Women & Family Life Center  in Guilford, says we should look to our mothers for inspiration about how to embrace our years with grace.

She recalls this "baby boomer generation" who found strength through choice, whether it was at work or at home. They tossed away the notion that once a woman hits 40, it's all about perms and dowdiness.

"We paved the way," says Cruet. "We had to be tough!"

Now, women of all ages exercise like crazy, knowing that physical and mental activity help us look and feel our best.

In some ways, women are trained to be scared of aging. Example: the glorious card game Old Maid. But, Cruet says, focus on the wisdom that comes with time. We should stop trying to compete with others and our former selves: "Be happy in your own skin."

I don't really like to think about middle age. I still feel pretty young. Young enough to trot back onto Trinity's campus and dance on a table or two (OK, maybe not).

But one of my New Year's resolutions is to stop looking backward. I'm learning to be proud of my hands with all of their newfound imperfections. They represent the woman, the wife, the mother and the journalist I've become.

I like that I have some experience, some perspective and that I'm not so interested in proving myself to anyone anymore. I have layers now and stories to tell. I hope this attitude stays with me 'til I'm 50. And 60.

I think I'll stop there before I have a panic attack.

 So you've got one more day with your kids before the school schedule again takes over your life. How will you spend tomorrow - a precious bonus day off?

We just got in from Geocaching - not a bad way to spend a few hours. Click right here to get to the geocaching.com web site, which explains what it's all about. (The photo above was taken during a trip to the Florida Keys.) 

Winter might not seem like the ideal time to hike through the woods, but for those of us who easily get poison ivy, winter hiking is a nice time to explore beyond the trails. Fresh air and exercise will prep us nicely for the onslaught of activities returning this week.

And kids: Don't eat the yellow snow.