There is so much information about parenting, sometimes I wonder what I could possibly add to the conversation. Especially since I realized that every parenting discussion can be boiled down to three things: Keep your eyes on your own paper. Do yourself a favor and stop worrying, judging, criticizing, analyzing, discussing other people's parenting. It's kind of like talking about the weather–a supreme waste of time and energy funneled into something that you can not control. Focus on … [Read more...] about The Only Parenting Advice You’ll Ever Need #10yearsaparent
being a parent
Five Parenting Mistakes I Make Over and Over Again #10yearsaparent
If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results, parenting might indeed be driving me insane. I make these mistakes over and over again, and the results are always, well, the same. 1. Believing I'm capable of multi-tasking. Yesterday I was making dinner while sorting through piles of untouched mail, answering two children's repeated requests for help with homework, and formulating witty responses to a very large group text with high … [Read more...] about Five Parenting Mistakes I Make Over and Over Again #10yearsaparent
Why Parenting Is So Hard #10yearsaparent
Have you ever wondered why there is an army of mommy and daddy bloggers talking about how hard being a parent is? Is it because they have access to communication channels we've never had before? Because they have the freedom to talk about the hard stuff and brush off the sugar coating? Or is it because modern parenting is really harder for us than it was for our parents? Recently I had the opportunity to see award-winning journalist and author Jennifer Senior speak about her book All Joy and … [Read more...] about Why Parenting Is So Hard #10yearsaparent
Eight Ways Parenting is Like Working in Retail #10yearsaparent
Recently I was having a very circular argument with one of my children, trying to get him to use logic and reason instead of going into Hulk mode which includes a lot of stomping, yelling, and throwing of things. It dawned on me. This is exactly like trying to talk down a Crate and Barrel customer about the scratches on their nonstick All-Clad cookware or trying to explain the final sale policy to a shopper at A Pea in the Pod. I've worked my fair share of retail jobs, and meeting the … [Read more...] about Eight Ways Parenting is Like Working in Retail #10yearsaparent
I’m Dropping the Camera #10yearsaparent
My picture taking devices and I have decided to enter into a conscious uncoupling. After many holidays spent together and countless forgotten uploads, we have decided that we can not carry on in the same way we have been. It's just not sustainable. We want to remember our children's formative years, but are unable to manage the deluge of photos that result from trying to create a visual history of every family moment. We are at an impasse. We simply have no idea what the hell to do with … [Read more...] about I’m Dropping the Camera #10yearsaparent
Letting Go of Screen Time Shame #10yearsaparent
If you want to jump right into the belly of the parenting beast in 2015, just mention the words screen time. A term that only emerged in the last few years to encompass all of the electronics in our lives and how much we use them. It's a hot topic because we don't want our kids to be the Generals in the Drone Army, but we also find ourselves needing the respite that a screen can provide. Enter today's parents most challenging decision: to screen or not to screen. Times when screens seems … [Read more...] about Letting Go of Screen Time Shame #10yearsaparent
The War of Sorry #10yearsaparent
There is a battle constantly brewing in our house. There are two sides to every story and this conflict is no different, but it seems that we are in ongoing disagreement about the terms and conditions of saying "I'm sorry." Ten years into this occupation and and we're not any closer to peace than when these children entered our lives. Will we ever be? Or is this war destined to last for the next 8 years? One side believes you should always say you're sorry, immediately as soon as you … [Read more...] about The War of Sorry #10yearsaparent
they never talk when you want them to talk #10yearsaparent
I have two children with very different personalities. One that will tell you everything in detail. And not only will he tell you, he wants to talk about it. He needs to share, work out his experiences, and his emotions (kind of like Taylor Swift trapped in a seven year old boy's body). It's how he processes. Often he can't fall asleep, because he can't clear his head, and he tells me that, "Mom, I just can't turn my brain off." I sit on the edge of his bed and listen, even though I want … [Read more...] about they never talk when you want them to talk #10yearsaparent