Friday, May 27, 2011
One couple is causing an uproar in our gender-oriented society.
Today I came across an article on the Parenting website entitled Parents Keep Child’s Gender a Secret. At first glance, I assumed it was the typical act of keeping the gender of their child a secret until birth, but as I read further, I realized it was something altogether different. The couple in the article are raising their children to banish social perception regarding gender in a way that is beyond seeking equality in both sexes. In their quest for "freeing their children from the bonds of gender norms," their male children like pink and purple, they sometimes wear dresses, and their oldest son likes to wear braids. (A Snellville Patch blogger also wrote about this controversial issue.) I'm not sure what I think about this, but I'm …
Friday, April 15, 2011
Even the most patient parents experience stress. How do parents handle it around their children?
It's a little known secret that children are more attuned to stress than most adults can imagine and children are almost hyper-sensitive and aware of the emotions around them. At some point, parents are going to experience a stressful event. Maybe it's a short paycheck for the week that causes the worry, maybe dad dislikes his new boss and now resents his job, or maybe the car note is almost late--these are only a few of many potential catalysts that can cause turbulence in our day-to-day lives. So how do we keep stress from affecting our kids? Even though we as parents often do a good job of hiding worries from them and discuss our adult problems in private, our kids have fine-tuned, intuitive antennae that can detect the slightest sense …
Friday, April 1, 2011
This week's discussion is on newborn circumcision and whether it's the best decision for baby.
Circumcision became common practice in the United States in the 1940s and 1950s, but pediatricians are beginning to oppose it now. Historically, circumcision has been documented as a religious practice for people of the Jewish faith to symbolize their covenant to God since the beginning of its origins, and the Egyptians practiced circumcision more than 2000 years ago. It has evolved into a routine procedure, which for many parents, has nothing to do with religion. The current debate is over whether circumcision is dangerous and unnecessary for newborn male infants. Opposition views circumcision as being much like a cosmetic procedure that provides no medical benefit to the child. They even point to evidence of harmful effects that can …
Friday, March 18, 2011
What do you look for when deciding to dine out with your young ones?
My children LOVE to go out to eat. I don't blame them - I get tired of eating my cooking day after day as well. I try to save going out to eat for special occasions or for times when life has gotten far too hectic and we need a little escape for our kitchen. Like most kids, my kids often request Chick-fil-A. They love the food (when they actually sit down long enough to eat it) and of course, they dig the playground. My three year-old daughter has a love/hate relationship with the individual in the larger-than-life cow costume. She enjoys spotting the cow, but screams and cries if it comes within about 20 feet of her. Among other kid-friendly places that we frequent include Waffle House (oh those waffles!), Agavero in Lilburn (chips and …
Friday, March 4, 2011
Weigh in on this week's discussion on kids and Facebook usage.
Social networking has been around for years and has become increasingly popular over the last decade. There seems to be a site for everything -- from dating to academics -- where people can post information about themselves and share thoughts and ideas. The one that has gained the most attention in the last few years is Facebook. Facebook is everywhere and is used by millions worldwide. Almost everywhere it seems that someone is posting a status update, uploading photos to their personal page, and browsing the profiles of people on their "friends" list. It has become more uncommon than common not to have a Facebook account. The Facebook frenzy has lead to a heated parental debate over whether to allow children to use Facebook or other …
Friday, February 25, 2011
This week's discussion is on the content of PG-13 movies and if they're age-appropriate.
In the last few years, there has been a surge in movies made and assigned the rating of PG-13, and although some people may assume the movies are innocent enough, are they appropriate for young children? One example is the current popular “Twilight Series” which has girls from the ages of 8 to 85 swooning over the super-hot characters. Beyond the superficial surface, this movie theme is heavy on the occult, includes sexually suggestive scenes and is peppered with violence and murder. Unlike their explicit R-rated counterparts, the scenes aren’t gory or graphic in nature, but the implications are clear enough that even younger children can make the connection. Another example is horror movie “The Grudge” from 2004 starring Sarah Michelle …
Friday, February 18, 2011
Please join us by asking questions, raising issues and participating in an ongoing conversation on any subject regarding children and parenting.
Each week, Snellville Patch will bring you Moms Talk, a corner for parents and their supporters to gather to discuss any of the thousands of issues that come to mind when raising children. We're asking readers to contribute questions they need answered, and we're enlisting other parents, educators and specialists to help answer those questions. Last week we discussed the best kid-friendly business in the Snellville area. Today, because we don't have reader input, I thought I would talk about a question that is lately on my mind: How late is too late to have a child? Every mother, I know has their own take on this, and certainly the moms I know in Snellville definitely span a wide range of ages. Some are new parents in their 40s, others are…
Friday, February 11, 2011
Snellville area moms take a look at what nearby businesses they think are kid-friendly.
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Friday, February 11, 2011
Ever tried to take your children into a business, only to have other patrons and store employees look at you like you have two horns? Perhaps, your child is being fussy because they couldn't get their favorite toy. Or, perhaps, your child is sleepy and crying because of it. Or, maybe your child is busy asking everyone questions. Sound familiar. If so, you definitely know what it's like to find a business that is right up your kid-friendly alley. We asked our local moms what businesses they thought catered to their children in Snellville, and here are some of the responses. Liza Fewell, mother of two: "Chick-fil-A is the best place to take kids. Not only is the restaurant always clean and the staff always friendly, but they gladly offer you…
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Beginning next week, Patch will begin a special mom's Q&A, and we need your energy to help us!
Moms Talk is a new feature on Snellville Patch that is part of a new initiative on our Patch sites to reach out to moms and families. Snellville Patch invites you and your circle of friends to help build a community of support for mothers and their families right here in Snellville. Each week in Moms Talk, our local mom's council will take your questions, give advice and share solutions. Moms, dads, grandparents and the diverse families who make up our community will have a new resource for questions about local neighborhood schools, the best pediatricians, 24-hour pharmacies and the thousands of other issues that arise while raising children. Moms Talk will also be the place to drop in for a talk about the latest parenting hot topic. Do…
Stan Barnes
4:36 pm on Monday, April 4, 2011
There is no compelling reason for non-Jewish and non-Muslim parents to circumcise their sons. Because there is no compelling reason, the decision should be left for the male to make for himself once he is an adult. Male circumcision is a form of permanent body modification. more ›