Big Kid
January 20, 2012
Pick Your Battles: Let Your Kid Leave The Coat At Home
Not that you asked, but as this is an epic battle I have witnessed countless times, I thought I’d weigh in on the Forcing-Your-Kid-To-Wear-A-Coat issue.
I’ll cut to the chase: I say don’t.
Kids don’t get sick from not wearing a coat. Catching a winter virus is a result of being in close contact with someone already infected, not from exposure to cold air. Usually the worst that comes from going coatless is discomfort, which eventually will work in your favor toward coat wearing. Except have you noticed kids don’t often complain about being cold? My motto: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
4Comments
January 13, 2012
How To Raise a Better Quitter
It’s mid January, do you know where your resolution is?
Two weeks ago our focus turned to new beginnings, and already, many of us are ready to be over it. This has me thinking, what’s so bad about quitting anyway? I love quitting. You know why? Quitting allows me to try new things without worry. Try yoga? Sure! Hated it. Try Running? Sure! Pant, pant! No thank you, actually. Boot camp? Yes! Loved it. And it stuck!
January 6, 2012
Boys and Porn
The average age a boy first sees pornography is 11 years old. My son is 9 1/2, but he plays up, meaning many of his friends are older. I told my husband it’s time to talk to our son about what he will eventually see. Ew.
You may be wondering why I would ever put something this disturbing on my son’s radar with the chance he may not even stumble across it for years. Here is my thinking:
December 23, 2011
An Homage to Judy Blume (AKA: What’s Wrong With Writers Today?!)
In response to a recent NPR interview with Judy Blume, specifically in response to her books being banned, I wanted to share this.
A few years ago I was preparing to give a talk at Crestdale Middle School to an auditorium full of mothers and daughters. At the time, The Clique novels were causing a lot of controversy. Middle school girls were doing anything they could to get their hands on a copy. Ah, the forbidden fruit! The girls wanted to read the books even more once word spread that moms and librarians alike were freaking out over what was between The Clique’s covers.
December 19, 2011
Another Dilemma for Parents; Should I Vaccinate My Daughter/Son Against HPV?
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination of females at age 11 or 12 and females between the ages of 13 and 26 who have not been vaccinated.
The human papilloma virus is actually a family of over one hundred different subtypes of related viruses. About 15 of the subtypes are now felt to be responsible for over 95% of all cancers and precancers of the cervix. Viral subtypes 16 and 18 are responsible for 70% of cervical cancers. Two other subtypes, types 6 and 11, cause genital warts and are linked to penile and anal cancers.
There are two Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensed HPV vaccines. Cervarix made by GlaxoSmithKline protects against HPV subtypes 16 and 18. Gardisil is a quadrivalent vaccine made by Merck which protects against HPV subtypes 16,18,6, and 11.
Although some view HPV as sexually transmitted, approximately 20 million people in the U.S. harbor one or more subtypes of HPV. HPV is so common that most sexually active adults become exposed at some point in their lives. Since Oct. 2009, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice’s guidance has been that the quadrivalent vaccine may be given to males 9-26 years of age to reduce the likelihood of acquiring genital warts.
