"New Moon," the latest movie in the "Twilight" series, is out. And despite some negative reviews, teenage girls are expected to flock to it this weekend.
This story from the Vancouver Sun says a study of "Twilight" fans shows that girls are actually attracted to the series because it celebrates a "traditional romance" in which the principal characters don't have sex.
Kristen Stewart, who plays Bella, feels her character is a good example for girls.
Do you?
Sarah K.K. here, back with another installment of Toddler Thursday:
That's how the old saw goes, right? "You've got to walk before you can run"? Someone forgot to tell toddlers.
When my son first started to walk (right around his 1st birthday), he was understandably pretty unsteady. They call walking a controlled state of falling, and when you observe a child learning the skill, you can definitely see that. Unfortunately, far before his sense of balance was ready, he turned into a wannabe speed demon, rushing around faster than his little legs (or his growing brain) could take him.
That began the bruised-forehead stage of his life, and it hasn't ended yet. A couple of weeks after those first unsteady steps, I got a call from daycare. Isaac had been running on the playground, totally misjudged the blacktop and face-planted. He scraped his forehead and his nose, and when I went to pick him up, they even warned me before I saw him, telling me that he had hardly cried. I, however, almost did when I got my first glimpse of his injuries, even though he was beaming at me at the time.
Continue reading "Toddler Thursday: You've got to walk before you can run" »
Susan Reimer's Garden Variety blog has the news of a pumpkin shortage that may affect our Thanksgiving tables. And this just after my daughter declared pumpkin pie a "must-have" at our meal.
Fortunately, I think we have a big can of Libby's squirreled away in the pantry.
And there's a kids' breakfast table crisis looming -- apparently there's a big shortage of Eggo waffles.
This doesn't affect our family, per se. (Now if there was a shortage of Special K or Fiber One peanut butter granola bars, we'd be in trouble.) But kids get so attached to routine, it might be a problem for yours.
I'd look on it as an opportunity to make some homemade waffles. Or at least some pancakes.
(Associated Press photo/Phil Coale))
Santa's coming to Harborplace this Saturday at 4:30 p.m., with musical performances to welcome him. Here are some other family events slated for the weekend.
Thursday, Nov. 19:
Thanksgiving Craft: Make a turkey day craft at 4 p.m. at the Govans branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library. For ages 3-12.
Family Game Night: Play your favorite board and card games with the Games Club of Maryland at 6 p.m. at the Pikesville branch of the Baltimore County Public Library. For all ages; kids under 6 must be accompanied by an adult. Registration required; call 410-887-1234.
Anime Club: Teens can talk, draw and write about manga and anime from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Mountain Road branch of the Anne Arundel County Public Library.
Friday, Nov. 20:
Uncle Pete with Kids:Rainbow Theatre hosts a 10 a.m. performance of interactive children's music. Tickets are $5 in advance; $6 at the door. Call 410-730-3987.
Tot Shabbat The Jewish Museum of Maryland hosts a Tot Shabbat from 10:45- 11:15 a.m. for ages 6 months to 5 years; kids must be accompanied by an adult. 410-542-4900 ext. 347, www.jcc.org.
Today, Nov. 18, is apparently Mickey Mouse's 81st birthday. He looks pretty good for his age.
Here are ideas on how to give a Mickey birthday party. Here are some Mickey and friends coloring pages. And here are directions on how to make Mickey Mouse pancakes, which should be pretty easy.
(Photo courtesy of Disney Enterprises, Inc.)
Gather round, boys and girls. It's story time!
Once upon a time, in a brick house in a Northeastern city, a family sat down to eat dinner all together. While the boy and the girl of the house did their homework without complaint, sitting side by side at the dining room table, their mother and father worked together in the kitchen on a healthful, colorful, tasty meal.
The meal took full advantage of farmer's market produce. There was roasted squash with a savory mix of cancer-fighting kale, apples and onion, with a bit of bacon added for crunch. It was quick to make and smelled wonderful.
The squash halves were so beautiful as they arrived at the table that the children practically swooned with delight. They put their immaculately done homework into their folders, washed their hands, and arrived back at their places without anyone having to call them a second time for dinner. They ate every bite of their squash and greens and made sure to tell their parents just how delicious it was.
Sadly, the recipe that follows is the only true part of our story...
Continue reading "Acorn squash stuffed with apples and greens" »
Liz Atwood is back with Tween Tuesday:
These shorter late-autumn days are a headache when it comes to making sure my energetic sons get the exercise they need. By the time they get home from school, they have only an hour or so to play outside before it gets dark.
They often try to bring their games inside. I have to constantly tell them not to throw the football in the house and I’m tired of coming home each evening to find the livingroom furniture rearranged to make room for their ad hoc soccer matches. I’ve already lost one vase due to an errant kick. The older boy tried to tape it back together with packing tape, but the younger brother snitched on him and I soon found out.
Some parents are discovering that yoga is good exercise for kids, CNN reports. I’m looking forward to basketball season to help my kids work through their energy. Do you have other solutions?
Photo: Megan O'Malley, an eighth grader at Bonnie Branch Middle School introduces students to the yoga position, prayer mudra, during Wellness Day at Bonnie Branch Middle School last year.
Baltimore Sun photo courtesy of Shannon Lee Zirkle.
This is American Education Week, a week parents and grandparents are invited to observe children in action in the classroom. Are you going?
I've attended several years, and though I stayed only about an hour each time, I found it helpful to watch the teachers in action. I got insight into their methodology, especially in reading, and even started using some of the same language ("Say it fast!" I'd say, moving my finger across a word from left to right as the teachers did) when I helped my kids at home.
I'm not sure I will make it this year, and I am feeling guilty. I think it's important to show up regularly at school -- my husband and I were both there last week, making separate presentations. But having used some work time for that, now I'm not sure I can break free again so soon.
PMom e-mailed me this question for the Monday Consult:
"I have a 3 yr old daughter who doesn't want to wear clothes with full sleeves in fall or different clothes. We have tried giving her candy, have taken her sleeveless outside. It's (an) everyday struggle to get her clothed."...
Local parenting coach Molly Brown Koch, who has advised us before on sibling wrestling matches, sent this answer:
"Some children simply do not adapt to change as quickly as we'd like them to. Sometimes it's just a matter of timing and they need some help in accepting "change" of any kind. So introducing new foods, new books, new toys might help her learn to adapt to all things new.
"There's also no way to know what her clothes mean to her. Is it a security issue? Then it helps to reassure her of her place in the family. Has there been a change in the family, a loss, moving away, new relatives, etc. Does she need comforting? Does she have difficulty making little decisions (what to eat, what to play with, etc.)? Then she may need more opportunities to make little decisions for her life rather than having someone make the decisions for her.
"But one thing is clear: taking her favorite clothes away, or insisting she wear other clothes, may backfire and make the clothes more important (and precious) than before. And finally, laying out different outfits and having her decide which one she'd like to try one day might take the pressure off her to 'change immediately.' Many children tend to cling to favorite clothes. Eventually they all outgrow it."
Photo: Getty Images
Guest Dad Joe Burris writes about a less-than-shining example for his sports-loving daughter:
When my 12-year-old daughter Nyaniso recently asked permission to play girls ice hockey, she was surprised at how readily I approved. That wasn’t the case among some other parents, she said. Yet while I did have some concerns about the sport’s physical nature, I could see her passion and interest and decided to allow her to give it a try.
“Just remember to protect yourself should you get checked,” I said.
“What does it mean to get checked?”
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
I’ve thought back to that moment often recently in wake of the controversy surrounding University of New Mexico soccer player Elizabeth Lambert, who has been suspended for rough play during a recent tournament game between New Mexico and Brigham Young.
Among Lambert’s most violent actions that day was grabbing an opposing player by the pony tail and pulling her to the ground with a force that could have caused a whiplash.
Taped footage of the incident has drawn millions of hits on video-sharing Web sites, featured on ABC’s Good Morning America and ESPN’s SportsCenter. It has been the talk of chat rooms and message boards everywhere.
One of the concerns I have about coverage of the Lambert incident is that it is by far the most attention given to a women’s team sport in a long, long time. In the absence of it, few of us would know -- and even fewer would care -- about Lambert or either team involved.
And that means that for plenty of young girls interested in playing sports, this might have been the first time they’ve seen women’s soccer in the mainstream media.
Imagine trying to get your son interested in playing baseball, and the first game he watches on television is Game 3 of the 2003 American League Championship Series, where the two teams staged one of Major League Baseball’s ugliest brawls ever.
What Lambert did on the field that day was despicable (she has since apologized) regardless of gender. The same could be said for the recent actions of University of Florida football player Brandon Spikes, who was caught trying to gouge the eyes of an opposing player during Florida’s contest against the University of Georgia.
The difference is that the Spikes incident barely stands out amid the plethora to time devoted to college football. The same goes for the 2003 ALCS with baseball coverage. Lambert’s incident stands alone.
I hope that there are enough girls playing sports -- particularly soccer -- to know that most have a physical side, and that the Lambert incident was an aberration.
They also should know that unless another player allows her emotions to get the best of her, women’s soccer probably won’t garner more national attention any time soon.
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