Being a Parent
I was playing in the sandbox with Boy #4 when Boy #3 looked at me and asked, “What would you be doing right now if you didn’t have kids?” I shrugged. “Probably have lunch or working at my computer.” He nodded. “So your life would
Boys Need Risk
Do you have a risk taker in your house? You know, one boy who insists on climbing to the top of the swingset, then jumping down? Or one who’s always building the bike ramp higher and higher, pushing the limits of safety? Where does he
Boys and Sex
Kids today live in an increasingly sexualized world. Disney darling Miley Cyrus morphed from Hannah Montana into a full-blown sexy singer, and while some of her young fans (and many of their parents) disproved of her new look and lyrics, she’s traveling a well-worn path.
Teens and Mental Illness
How do you know when your son’s behavior crosses the line from typical teen to troubled? When — and how — should you intervene? This Wall Street Journal article has some answers. Have you ever dealt with a depressed teen? What have your experiences been
Speak Up!
It’s the kind of story that breaks your heart. Two boys, ages 2 1/2 and 5, starved and beaten to the point of malnutrition and dehydration. Cops investigated and removed the boys from the home after the landlord reported not seeing the boys outside for
Best of the Blogs: Parenting
Parenting is hard work — but maybe not as hard as we make it. In Why Good Parenting is Less Work Than You Think, blogger Denise Schipani writes about some intriguing new research that suggests parents may have far less power over their kids’ potential
Selling Unhealthy Food to Kids
Full disclosure: I have two boxes of Scooby Doo-themed Gogurt in my fridge right now. Actually, make that one-and-a-half boxes. The boys hit those pretty hard today. According to a new study, it’s quite possible that my boys chose that yogurt because Scooby Doo was
Books for Boys: Comics
Most boys — even boys who hate reading — find it hard to resist comic books. The attraction is obvious: active, colorful pictures; few blocks of text and ridiculous, courageous or hilarious scenarios. What’s not to like? If you live with a struggling or reluctant
Zero Tolerance and Common Sense
Lttle David Morales created a patriotic-themed hat — by gluing toy soldiers to a camouflage hat — for a school project. His hat did not go over well. The principal called the boy’s parents and told them that the hat wasn’t allowed in school. The
Happy Father’s Day
For the longest time I guess I thought he didn’t give a damnHard to read, hard to please, that was my old manOn the day I left for college, it was nothing newWe never had that heart to heart – he had too much to