May 13, 2008

Dads, come back to the fold

Fathers, I feel for you. Last week, geared to Mother's Day, must have felt pretty darn estrogen-heavy. You must be glad it's over. And that it's Father's Day Tuesday.

Our Guest Dad, returning contributor Joe Burris, will be along soon. In the meantime, since you've so patiently listened through all the momcentric talk, I'm throwing the floor open. What fatherly things are on your mind?

And if you'd like to be a Guest Dad in the future, please send me an e-mail with a sample post.

May 12, 2008

This Thursday's tip sheet

Pasticcio pizzaI think this is the Thursday to come up with the list eapopp suggested of favorite area pizza places that kids love.

Pizza is certainly a staple for many families, though with the economy pinching all of us, it's apparently becoming more of a weekend treat, according to this piece on progressivegrocer.com. All the more reason to choose your pizza place wisely.

Dining at Large has done a general fave-pizza place list before, but ours will probably be geared as much to how easy it is to eat there with kids as it is to the taste of the pizza itself. Of course, we want the best of all worlds: great pizza in a place where the kids can run wild feel comfortable.

Post your favorite places below, and tell us what you like about them.

(Photo of Pasticcio pizza in Canton by Sun photographer Lloyd Fox)

International adoption agencies are feeling constraints

According to a story in yesterday's New York Times, international adoption agencies are feeling the pinch of new rules and increasing constraints from some countries, causing some to close. In some cases, the story says, parents who were in the middle of the process were left in the lurch, and out thousands of dollars.

I'd like to hear from some parents who are trying to adopt from overseas -- or who have recently done so -- about how the process is going. Are you being told to prepare for longer waits? And how does that affect your decision-making about adoption?

The Monday Consult: Easing transitions

hangingonmommyedit.jpg 

This week's question comes from Edamommy, who has been having trouble getting her almost-4-year-old daughter to make transitions from the house to school, a friend's house to home, etc. 

Margo Sipes, executive director of Downtown Baltimore Child Care, has seen many children and parents struggle with transitions over the years. Here's her post about what to do:

(No, that's not Edamommy's daughter clinging to her mommy. It's just a Sun file photo.)

 

Continue reading "The Monday Consult: Easing transitions" »

May 11, 2008

The surprises of motherhood

TulipsHappy Mother's Day!

I hope that while you were luxuriating in bed this morning, sipping the hand-squeezed orange juice that was brought to you with the newspaper, you read the great essays on mothers that appeared in today's Arts & Life section of The Sun. If not, you can read them here.

The essays are centered on the theme of the surprises that come in relationships between mothers and their children. Sometimes those surprises come when the kids are little, sometimes when they're grown.

I've had a few. ... 

(Click below to keep reading.)

(Photo of virtual flowers from me to you, taken a week ago at Sherwood Gardens in Baltimore.)

Continue reading "The surprises of motherhood" »

May 10, 2008

More on moms' groups: Can we be friends?

The deluge of comments under my post about mothers' groups got me thinking that Charm City Moms should explore a little more the kinds of connections mothers form with each other, and how these friendships change as the kids grow.

I find it interesting that mothers' groups have become more and more necessary to people as our society seems more hurried and more disconnected.

It seems like it should be easy for mothers to be friends, and sometimes it is. Who understands what we're going through the way another mom does, especially if the kids are the same age? But sometimes it's not easy. Ever tried to approach a group of moms on the playground who already know each other? It can be downright scary. Let alone if you're a stay-at-home dad trying to break into a group of parents, as our Guest Dad Will Morton noted a while ago.

Part of it is that parenting makes many of us anxious -- and, dare I say it, judgmental. We want to do everything right, and to appear to do it right. Sometimes if a mom appears more perfect than you, you may not want to be friends. If she brags about her kids too much, you might not be able to stand it. Or you might think she's too lax. Even though your kids like each other, you worry about the example she sets -- and what might go on in her house if you left your child alone there.

She might think you're judging her because she works and you don't. Or because she stays home and you work. And vice versa.

And then there's the time factor. If things get really busy and you don't have time for some of your mom friends, it's another thing to feel bad about.

How do you choose your mom friends? How many can you handle? What makes you stick with one, and keep her for years?

 

May 9, 2008

The Mother's Day tea -- an (almost) live report

Mother's Day tea

 

I just got back from the Mother's Day tea at my son's preschool. It was totally cute and festive, as you can see from our place settings. (Sorry the picture's a little blurry, but a 4-year-old was squirming on my lap.)

I was charmed that the teachers had each child give mom (and/or grandma) a paper flower, lead her to her place and pull out her chair. My son discharged this task very solemnly.

They made us placemats in which each child said what his or her mom was an expert at. I got "brushing my teeth," meaning his teeth. Hey, at least I'm good at something.

The white bag to the left is a portable "breakfast in bed" with a banana and a cereal bar the kids had assembled. A great idea. We were supposed to save them for Mother's Day morning. But my son couldn't wait; he wanted me to eat it right there in front of him. So it goes.

Have you been to a Mother's Day event today? Post your report below. If you have pics of your gifts to share, email them to me.

(Photo by me)

And another Mother's Day food offer...

Restaurant critic and blogger Elizabeth Large has the details on another local Mother's Day free food offer, this time at Don't Know Tavern in Federal Hill.

More things to do this weekend

It's the time of year when the things to do start to multiply as the temperature climbs. Here are a few more events you might want to know about:

--The Belvedere Square outdoor concert series "Summer Sounds at the Square" kicks off tonight at 6 p.m. with the Crawdaddies. (Concerts will be cancelled if it rains.  For updates, call 410-534-BELV.)

 --SquidFire, which makes baby clothes sold at Ladybugs and Fireflies and Corduroy Button, is holding an art mart in Mount Vernon Square from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday featuring functional items from 40 artists. 

May 8, 2008

Not-quite-a-mother's day

Gwen StefaniOur expecting friend Amy asked an interesting question the other day that you may have missed:

Any suggestions on how to gently decline Mother's Day wishes when one is still about a month away from being a mom? I know folks have the best of intentions, and I am probably just being superstitious, but it doesn't quite feel right yet...

I never faced this one myself -- because my first baby was born in early spring, I wasn't pregnant on Mother's Day. But I'm sure many of you were. What did you say when someone wished you Happy Mother's Day before you were actually a mom?

I guess I would have done what I did when people meant well but had other kinds of unwanted things to say or do. Like touching my belly when I didn't really know them. Or saying I was obviously carrying a boy or a girl. Or telling me their delivery horror stories.

I'd just smile, smile, smile, until they stopped or went away.

Anyone have advice for Amy?

(Photo of Bono kissing Gwen Stefani's belly at the 2006 Grammy Awards, by Richard Hartog, Associated Press)

About the blogger

Kate Shatzkin is food editor of The Sun and, before that, was its family beat reporter. But her most challenging and rewarding job is being mother to Leah, 6, and Sam, 4.

In her 14 years at The Sun, Kate also has covered nonprofit organizations, prisons and courts, and has written several investigative series. She was previously a Knight journalism fellow at Yale Law School and a reporter at the Seattle Times and at the Patriot-Ledger of Quincy, Mass. She lives in Homeland with her family.

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