Fetishizing Insight

Linda Holmes and Stephen Thompson from NPR did a sweet conversation remembering Robin Williams and Linda got me thinking about how culture in the United States "fetishizes insight."  Yet mental health isn't about being the smartest.  Some reflections, after the jump.

Language of Encouragement OR How to be a Sweetie

Language of encouragement means using your words in a subtle way to show you believe in someone.  Great for kids, effective at work, helps you get things done!  It's a valuable skill for everyone to have.  Plus, I couldn't resist the Doctor Who reference to River Song.  Learn how, after the jump!

Don't Punish Your Kids, Teach Them a Lesson

Consequences can be hard to set and difficult to stick to.  Rewards work even better. Remember how we talked about not being a bitchface to your kids and how to only say things once?  Let's continue your education about how to be the magnificent parents other parents envy.  Set forth, after the jump!

Say It Again, Sam

Sometimes parents just say the same things over and over and over and over and over and over and wonder why kids just don't listen, never learn, or wait until the yelling starts.  It's a whole pattern and it's not all their fault.  Break the cycle, after the jump.

Monster High Doesn't Have a TV Show, Isn't That Weird?

Or, so says one of my kids.  Turns out, she was right.  A huge trend right now is taking advantage of all the media available to kids, natural business opportunity.  Kudos to my kiddo who noticed one successful franchise which hasn't needed a television presence.  Some musings, after the jump.

Children Can be Brilliant

Truly, sometimes they are really quite clever.  Some insight, after the jump.

Be Honest with your Kids, Not a Bitchface

There are many balances in parenting.  There are many situations in which giving and taking and picking your battles wisely save parents' sanity.  One of the things that seems hardest for parents is the difference between being honest and being a big, fat, meany.  The whole truth and nothing but the truth, after the jump.

An amazing seduction OR the ubiquitous happy meal

      Ah, McDonald's.  The butt of many an American joke and some would say, the large butt of America.  I get to travel with some of my kids out into the community.  Every community has a McDonald's, as it turns out (except, notably our neighboring state capitol of Montpelier).  McDonald's is a great place to take kids; they tend to be rather clean, have ample bathrooms, you can loiter, you can make someone extremely happy for 99 cents.  But those toys.  Like a woodpecker to a rotting tree, my kid made a beeline to the toy case.  What the hell is with those toys!?  More after the jump.