Valentine's Day: Is It Important to You?

Momversation — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 05:47:56 +0000

Valentine's Day is a holiday fraught with meaning. Sure, you've been married for 10 years, and V-Day seems like an unnecessary expense, especially in this economy. But, but, but! Pink tulips and a sweet Vermont teddy bear? How could you not melt? And when your hubby acts like Valentine's Day is the same old, same old? It's hard not to feel just a bit disappointed. So, will you be going all out this February 14th? Or will it be just another day at the office (i.e., home)? Heather Armstrong of D

Vaccines and Autism: Debate Over?

Momversation — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:07:01 +0000

Vaccines and autism: for years, there has been talk that the MMR immunization causes autism in otherwise healthy children. Many in the health field, however, dismissed the link. Last February, it was shown that the doctor who first made the link had faked the results.

Accidents Happen: When Someone Else's Kid Gets Hurt on Your Watch

Momversation — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 06:15:29 +0000

It's your worst nightmare. The child you are babysitting falls down the stairs and clunks his head. Or accidentally ingests peanut butter when he has a nut allergy. Or breaks a leg while riding his bike. Suddenly, you are not only dealing with an injured child, but you also have to deal with an upset parent. To some extent, this scenario has probably happened to all of us. After all, accidents happen, but that doesn't make you feel any less guilty. So, how did you deal? Mindy Roberts of The Mommy B

Meal Planning for a Year: Crazy Talk?

Momversation — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 06:42:28 +0000

Most parents are lucky if they can plan out the dinner meal for a week. One mom, who was sick of her sky-high grocery bills, decided to plan out her dinners... for an entire year. Crazy talk...or sheer brillance? How do our panelists approach meal planning? Karen Walrond of chookooloonks wants to know.

Milestones: What's the Rush?

Momversation — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 07:00:30 +0000

Your child walked at 5 months? Great! He said his first word when he was barely out of the womb? Super! But why do parents get so competitive when it comes to developmental milestones? Babies are only babies for so long, so is it really important to start drilling them on their ABC's before they can even hold their heads up? Can't they just be babies? Rebecca Woolf of Girl's Gone Child asks, "Milestones: what's the big rush?"

Thankful: How Do You Teach Your Kids to Be Grateful?

Momversation — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 05:17:59 +0000

With the devastation in Haiti, we've taken stock of the blessings that we have: food, shelter, family, and friends. But for children who haven't experienced doing without, it's hard to teach them to thankful for their iPods, let alone for their bowl of cornflakes in the morning. So how does a mother impart the virtues of being grateful on her kids? Guest Heather Spohr of The Spohrs Are Multiplying asks, "How do you teach your children to be grateful?"

Haiti Earthquake: Do You Shield Your Kids from Tragedy?

Momversation — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 05:28:37 +0000

We have all been emotionally affected by the devasation the Haiti earthquake has caused. Horrific images appear nightly on the news, including those of injured children. With all the coverage, it's likely your children have heard something about the natural disaster. But do you want them to? Do you turn off the television when the news starts, or do you let your children watch? And at what age should kids be exposed to events like the Haiti earthquake? Karen Walrond of chookooloonks asks, "Do you s

Five Second Rule: Are You a Germaphobe?

Momversation — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 08:35:34 +0000

Do you douse your child in Purell before she can eat? Do you think that five second rule food is practically poison? Do you wrap your kid in head-to-toe cling wrap before she goes to the playground? OK, maybe that's going a little far, but there are plenty of germaphobes out there; just ask the manufacturers of anti-bacterial products. And with H1N1 still making the news, it's easy to get nervous about the microscopic creepy-crawlies that pervade our environment. But are our fears somewhat unfounded? Reb

Private Parts: Do You Have Cutesy Names for Them?

Momversation — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 05:19:21 +0000

How's your hoo-hah? Your twinkie? Your flower? How's your... vagina? Yep, doesn't quite have the same "cutesy" ring to it. And that's just fine with Daphne Brogdon of Cool Mom who is not a fan for precious nicknames for private parts (is private part a cutesy nickname?), especially when used by moms. Do these nicknames annoy you, and do you think kids should be taught them? Sound off!

Bucket Lists: What's on Yours?

Momversation — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 05:00:44 +0000

Climbing a mountain. Hangliding. Traveling to China. What are the items on your bucket lists, the lists of things you want to do before you kick the bucket? Or have you not even thought about it? And is it more interesting to learn about others' lists than to make your own? Maggie Mason of Mighty Girl asks, "What's on your bucket list?"