How do you get a picky kid to eat spinach (or anything other than PB&J!)? Which uses less water—hand-washing the dishes loading up the dishwasher? Can you parent too much? Moms Meet groups have tackled these questions—and a whole bunch more—with our monthly discussion features. Check them out for yourself, then share one (or more!) the next time you meet with your mom group.

Advice magnet

by Jessica Roake

My son, Elliot, has always been a very little boy. After three years of specialists, weigh-ins, tests, and lots of butter, we’ve discovered that he is healthy, developmentally on track—and small for his age. But while professionals express no concern, countless lay-pediatricians still can’t resist sharing their opinions on Elliot’s size.

3 Comments

Home delivery

by Hollace Schmidt

Melissa knew she wanted a midwife when her baby was born (a midwife delivered her and her sister). But where would be the best place to deliver? She ruled out birthing centers, which she found uninviting, and hospitals, because she was worried she’d be pressured into drugs or a C-section. She loved the idea of a home birth because during labor, she’d be able to shower in her own bathroom or go out for fresh air—and once the baby was born, snuggle up in the family bed.

Happily ever after (with allergies)

by Marygrace Taylor

Once upon a time, a child with food allergies was an anomaly. He might have been the only one in his class who couldn’t touch certain foods, and even other family members often didn’t really understand what he could and couldn’t eat. Now, all that’s changed: One in 12 children under 18 have a food allergy (reactions to peanuts, milk, and shellfish are the most common), according to a major national survey recently published in the journal Pediatrics. But this doesn’t have to be a grim fate: Here’s how families live with allergies every day.

4 Comments

Helping Hands

by Nicole Sweeney Etter

Let’s face it: Keeping a home and family running smoothly is a lot of work. So get some help from people who really know what they’re doing—other parents.

Peace on Earth

by Alyson McNutt English

Christie Haskell’s 7-year-old son will be decorating a tree, lighting candles, and singing about snow this holiday season—but not for the same reasons most other kids will.
The Haskell family doesn’t celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa. Instead, they celebrate Yule. And though the term “Yule” is often used as a synonym for “Christmas” or a generic winter holiday, it has specific significance for the Greeley, Colorado, family of four, as well as for many other Pagan and Wiccan families.

1 Comment

Family Values

by Jen Singer

Heard this one lately? “Kids today! They’ll never grow up, with those overbearing parents handling everything for them.” Not you, of course. Right? The truth is, in today’s world, it’s easy for any of us to veer into helicopter-parenting territory. Things are different than when our parents raised us—we’re dealing with dangerous chemicals in food and bullying on Facebook. But some things aren’t actually so different: Kids still look to their parents to learn how to make their way in the world. Here’s how to start 2012 with an up-to-date take on old-fashioned family values.

3 Comments

Advocating for Your Child

by Charlotte Latvala

Whether your child has an ongoing issue, such as allergies or a learning disability, or a one-time problem, like a conflict with a teacher, at some point you may need to be his advocate at school.

11 Comments

Detox Your Diet

by Marygrace Taylor

You already know that committing to healthy eating goes beyond avoiding trans fats and getting more veggies—it also means choosing foods that are free of things like high fructose corn syrup or pesticides. But there are other chemicals and additives worth steering clear of to ensure your family’s food is as natural as possible.

3 Comments

Adoption Today

by Elizabeth Foy Larsen

If adoption is in your family’s future, sorting through your options can feel overwhelming. But any adoptive parent will tell you it’s worth it.

7 Comments

Stress solutions for the whole family

by Marygrace Taylor

The start of school means back to homework, after-school activities, weekend soccer games…before you know it, you’ve got an over-booked, stressed out family on your hands, from the baby on up. Here’s how to relax—stat.