Liz Atwood discusses holiday wish lists in this week's Tween Tuesday: 

With Thanksgiving over, the kids have started lobbying in earnest for Christmas presents. Some wishes are those left unfilled last year—a dirt bike, a go-cart and electric motor scooter. Others are making an appearance for the first time, like the Xbox 360 Kinect. But one thing it seems all my kids’ requests have in common is they are expensive.

In that, my kids seem to be joining their peers. The recession may still be lingering, but according to a recent Nielson Reports study, kids 6-12 are asking for expensive electronics for the holidays. Topping the list is the Apple iPad, with a starting cost at $500. A computer and iPod Touch aren’t far behind on the electronics wish list. I guess the $90 Lego sets seem reasonable by comparison.

What is the hot item your tween is asking for this year? Do you have a secret to managing your tween’s expectations during this season of spending?

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Teens
        

I am thankful for many things this year, especially for my sweet baby boy.

This is my first Thanksgiving with baby J., who despite having strep throat, an ear infection and a fever over the past few days has been an absolute trooper.

And also thank you to my readers, who have given me wonderful advice and added their voices to many debates on this blog.

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Holidays
        

The official start of the holiday shopping season is almost upon us. This year, I am buying gifts not only for my nephews and niece but also baby J, so finding the best deals is crucial.   

Amie of Economoms Baltimore has put together fabulous tips and resources to save money and time for the busy parent:

Conquer Black Friday

Yes, you will have to wake up (extra) early and yes, you will deal with (obnoxious) crowds. But to put it bluntly – suck it up! This is the number one way you’ll save money this holiday season.
The Friday after Thanksgiving offers the best bargains you’ll find all year with big box stores typically discounting at least 50%. And since the economy sank in 2008, Black Friday sales have become even more intense with some reaching 70% off or more. Keep your cool on Black Friday by doing the following:

• Do your homework. Track down ahead of time which stores are offering each gift you need at the best price. Take the traditional route by scanning through newspaper ads, or make life simpler using online resources, such as Black Friday Ads and Black Friday Info. Both categorize all sales available by store, making comparison shopping super easy.

• Make a game plan. Once you’ve determined where you’ll be buying, lay out an itinerary for the day, even if you’re staying within a 5-mile radius. It sounds silly, but a little organization can really go a long way. Plan to hit up the stores that sell the most in-demand gifts you need first. Reserve items that aren’t likely to sell out for later in the day.

• Bring a friend. A “divide and conquer” approach is the best way to save time. While you head to electronics, send your partner in crime to the toy aisle. Or if there’s a long line, have your pal jump in as soon as you get there. By the time you’ve collected your gifts, it’ll be time for checkout.

Avoid In-Store Shopping Altogether

For the most part, you know what your munchkins want. They’ve spelled it out for you in their Santa letters after all! Do you really need to see it in person to buy it? Nahhhh. So sit back, relax, and let your network connection do the work!

• Become a subscriber to your kids’ favorite stores. In exchange for your email address, retailers will let you in on perks exclusively available to subscribers. Not only will you often hear about sales and new products before the general public, but you’ll also be privy to discounts available just to fans. Most online outlets also offer their subscribers free shipping, which usually can save about $10 or more and makes your purchase no different than buying in-store.

• Shop on Cyber Monday. The Monday following Thanksgiving is the online version of Black Friday. Gobble up what was already sold out on Friday, or eliminate that outing altogether, shopping from the comfort of your own home. Just keep in mind that while Cyber Monday sales are great, they won’t score you the same huge discounts Black Friday will.

•  Always click on the sale link first. You never know. The item you’re looking for, or a very similar version, might already be discounted. Pair that with the 20% off promotional code you got by being a subscriber, and voila! You’re saving big bucks.

• Become a member of flash sale sites targeted to kids. Flash sale sites are undoubtedly the hottest thing in shopping right now. Free to join, they provide you with heavily discounted designer clothes, toys and services that are only available for a flash—usually 24 to 48 hours. Set up your account to receive email alerts so you can quickly scan deals available each day. Here’s a compilation of flash sale sites just for kids:

- Zulily
- Baby Steals
- The Mini Social
- Totsy
- Kids Woot

If you have any questions, feel free to comment Amie at bmorefamilydeals@gmail.com.

Share your tips here, and let us know if you snagged any great deals. Happy hunting.

Posted by Hanah Cho at 9:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Holidays, Tip Sheet Thursdays
        

Liz Atwood talks about the pros and cons of having a kids table at Thanksgiving in this week's Tween Tuesday:

This week families will gather for the Thanksgiving feast, and in many homes the annual ritual brings the question of how to seat the crowds of friends and family members. My own family has grown beyond a single dinner table. This year our gathering includes eight adults and four kids  – two 2-year-olds, a 9-year-old and a 14-year-old.

Websites are filled with decorating and game ideas for the kids’ table, but I’m thinking more about how to sit children of such a wide age range. I remember when I was growing up and we celebrated the holidays at my grandparent’s house, I always looked forward to being old enough to sit at the grownups’ table. But even when I was an adult, I was still sitting at the kids’ table because there were simply too many older family members who had dibs on a place at the dining room table.

Some folks actually prefer the kids’ table to the grownups’ table. I came across a Facebook group devoted just to the notion that sitting at the kids’ table is fun.

There are pros and cons to the kids’ table as this article points out. On the positive side, grownups are more free to talk, kids get to sit with other kids and the adults don’t have to keep reminding their children to watch their manners. On the downside, adults can’t help the kids cut the turkey or pour the gravy and families can’t sit together.

How do you settle the seating arrangements? Are your tweens resentful at being seated with the smaller children? Or is the kids table THE place to be?

 

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Teens
        

Is there such a thing as too much technology for our children, who don't know a life without cell phones, iPads and wireless Internet?

What's the line between technology becoming a distraction and making sure our kids have the 21st Century skills and tools to succeed in this modern society?

A New York Times article explores how growing up digitally connected will impact our kids' brains:

Students have always faced distractions and time-wasters. But computers and cellphones, and the constant stream of stimuli they offer, pose a profound new challenge to focusing and learning.

Researchers say the lure of these technologies, while it affects adults too, is particularly powerful for young people. The risk, they say, is that developing brains can become more easily habituated than adult brains to constantly switching tasks — and less able to sustain attention.

... But even as some parents and educators express unease about students’ digital diets, they are intensifying efforts to use technology in the classroom, seeing it as a way to connect with students and give them essential skills. Across the country, schools are equipping themselves with computers, Internet access and mobile devices so they can teach on the students’ technological territory.

It's an interesting dilemma because I'm sure parents struggle with this issue at home, too. What boundaries do you set? How do you enforce it?

The NYT story is long but it's worth the read. Let us know how you manage the digital line with your kids.

Posted by Hanah Cho at 9:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Monday reads
        

Tomorrow is National Adoption Day. To celebrate adoptive families, I asked Tiffany S. Franc, a lawyer at Hodes, Pessin & Katz, to share her story.

Franc will be the keynote speaker at Baltimore County's celebration where the Circuit Court will finalize 10 adoptions. The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. at the Baltimore County Old Courthouse in Towson.

Here's Franc's story:  

I entered foster care at three years old due to sexual and physical abuse by my biological parents. I was forced to visit with them throughout my childhood and reunification was the goal. In the early 90’s I began to realize how horrendous my past was and decided that I did not want reunification. As I aged, DSS [Department of Social Services] attempted to terminate my parent’s rights and place me for adoption. My childhood was consumed by the legal system.

I saw on TV the story of “Gregory K.,” a boy wanting to be adopted because of abuse by his parents, but they would not give up their rights. He filed a petition seeking to “divorce” his parents and made news all over the country.

I thought how similar our stories were, that if DSS wasn’t granted their requests, perhaps I could force the courts to let me have my say. With the help of an attorney, I filed my petition. On the day of trial, my parents consented to adoption so as to avoid publicity. I wasn’t able to make legal history, but better than notoriety I was given a stable, loving family.

I was adopted by my foster parents in 1994 at the age of twelve.

Today I am a graduate of Frostburg State University, UB School of Law and an attorney at Hodes, Pessin & Katz. Most importantly, I am a wife and mother; sustaining trusting and loving relationships knowing that I will never perpetuate the violence that I suffered. Without my loving, supportive adoptive family, none of this would have been possible.

Saturday, as I give the keynote address to the crowd gathered for National Adoption Day, my heart will fill with joy and pride knowing that I am a part of the beginning of many happily ever afters.

If you're adopted or parents of adopted children, please share your stories here.

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Adoption
        

Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary discusses trying to get Edwin to brush his teeth the right way in this week's Toddler Thursday:

There are many similarities between toddlers and wild animals. Never is this more apparent than when you try to brush their teeth. Even domesticated animals don’t take well to teeth brushing (in fact, the vet knocks our cats out before a cleaning, and our cats are generally easier to manage than our two-year old). So what’s an oral hygiene-conscious mom of a toddler to do?

Edwin does brush his teeth. He’s got the cute Elmo tooth brush and mango orange toddler toothpaste. He happily stands at the sink and “brushes” his teeth. That’s not the problem. The problem is his technique. He sucks all the toothpaste off, swipes the brush across his front teeth once or twice, then triumphantly declares, “All done!” when he is in fact nowhere near all done.

I have tried to brush them myself to get a more thorough cleaning in, and let’s just say that it didn’t go well. I’ve noticed that Edwin doesn’t take well to being held down and prodded, so I really like to avoid that if at all possible. But I worry about his teeth. He’s not doing an effective job of brushing, but how concerned should I be? Is it worth me winding up with a black eye to make sure his teeth are brushed properly?

I’m starting to consider sending him to the vet along with the cats. 

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Liz Atwood talks about visiting her kids' school on this week's Tween Tuesday:

It’s American Education Week and schools across the region are celebrating by opening their doors to parents and other members of the community. I’ve always attended at least one, and sometimes both of my sons’ schools in past years, and I always learned something. Last year, I discovered that neither of my boys had pencils and were borrowing them from the teachers or classmates. Of course they hadn’t told me they needed pencils and had they bothered to look, they would have found plenty of pencils at home. But I made it a point from that week on to check to see that my kids had pencils.

But while a parent can learn some basic information as the orderliness of a locker or desk or the stock of school supplies, I’ve always found it more interesting to watch the dynamics of the classroom. By spending just an hour or two in the school, I can connect names with faces, watch the interaction of the students and teachers and get a sense for how my sons fit in the school environment.

Some kids might not welcome their parents peering over their shoulders, but my kids never seemed to mind. They usually seemed proud to show off what they do. So this week, I’ll be back again in the elementary school visiting my younger son’s fourth grade class. So far, I’ve heard no word from my high school freshman as to whether my presence is welcome. I guess if I have to ask, I know the answer.

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Teens
        

Is there tension at your workplace between parents and non-parents? Do you think parents get preferential treatment?

Katherine Reynolds Lewis (a fabulous journalist, by the way) explores the tension that's mounting in some workplaces in The Fiscal Times.

On one side: parents; on the other: childless people. Productivity demands have caused increased stress for all workers who feel they’re doing their job and two others; yet it’s often the child-free employees who pick up the slack because of a co-worker's flexible schedule, holiday plans or maternity leave. In this time of tight budgets and lean staffing the left-behinds are saying “enough.” They flock to online forums like The Childfree Life and STFU Parents to vent about being taken for granted because they have no children.

Lewis notes work-life flexibility options offered by many employers are geared toward being family friendly and run the risk of alienating child-free workers.

"The best employers provide flexibility equitably," said Ellen Galinsky, president of the Families and Work Institute.  "Where the person with a kid might need to take off the day after Thanksgiving, the person without children may have a friend who is ill. None of us are without personal responsibilities."

Before becoming a parent, I worked long hours, and I often worked holidays or the days surrounding the holidays -- not because I was childless but because vacations were based on seniority.

Now that I'm a parent, I have adjusted my schedule somewhat to accommodate J.'s daycare schedule. But I get my work done and check in from home to make sure I'm not missing anything.

As Galinsky of the Families and Work Institute says, flexibility should be equal.

What do you think?

Take the poll below.

Updated 2 p.m.

Posted by Hanah Cho at 9:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (16)
Categories: Monday reads
        

One in 10 children has ADHD in the U.S., according to a new government study.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which interviewed parents of children ages 4 through 17, found a 22 percent increase in ADHD from 2003 to 2007-2008.

According to the Associated Press:

ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, makes it hard for kids to pay attention and control impulsive behavior. It's often treated with drugs, behavioral therapy, or both.

The new study found that about two-thirds of the children who have ADHD are on medication.

Researchers believe the increase could be explained by growing awareness and better screening.

Posted by Hanah Cho at 3:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Health
        

Besides San Francisco -- which prohibits restaurants from offering toys in meals that are not nutritious -- the Pennsylvania school system also is trying to fight childhood obesity. The commonwealth is considering whether to ban sweets at its public schools.

Now Sarah Palin has gotten herself into the debate, saying schools should not be involved in kids food choices. She gave a speech to Pennsylvania students this week.

According to The Sun's Picture of Health blog: Before meeting with the students, Palin tweeted, "2 PA school speech; I'll intro kids 2 beauty of laissez-faire via serving them cookies amidst school cookie ban debate;Nanny state run amok!"

Tell us whether you think schools should play a role in combating childhood obesity or whether that job should fall in the parents' hands by taking this poll.

Posted by Hanah Cho at 11:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Health
        

It's official.

San Francisco has banned restaurants from offering toys in meals that are not nutritious. Tween Tuesday's Liz Atwood wrote about this earlier this week, which has generated a ton of opinions on whether the city government has gone too far.

Here's what the ban means, according to MarketWatch:

Starting Dec. 1, 2011, restaurants would be able to give away kid-friendly items only if the accompanying food and drink had less than 600 calories, with less than 35% of those total calories coming from fat. (The proposal makes exceptions for "good" fat that comes from nuts, seeds and such.) The meal’s sodium content has to be below 640 milligrams, and the portion of trans fat must be under 0.5 grams. The meal also must include at least a half cup of fruit and three-quarters of a cup of vegetables, although breakfast meals can contain fewer.

I haven't seen McDonald's response or how the fast-food joint plans to react to this ban.

Posted by Hanah Cho at 8:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Health, Parenting in general, Teens
        

Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary talks about trying to get Edwin to sleep on his own again in this week's Toddler Thursday:

We co-slept with Edwin until he was nearly a year old. This is a somewhat controversial arrangement that is not for everyone (Trust me, I know. I don’t even think it was for us. But I am one of those softie parents and I can’t bear to hear Edwin cry.) And while I don’t exactly regret doing it, I was VERY happy when he finally took to sleeping in his crib without complaint. He became a champion sleeper: we’d put him in there around 7:30 and not hear a peep until 7:00 the next morning. This went on for over a year! I became one of those annoying moms who bragged about how her perfect kid went right to bed and stayed asleep all night. Every night! Until last week.

Edwin has started requesting to come into our room before bedtime. And since we are total suckers, we let him. He comes in to snuggle and read a book for a little while before we put him in his crib. Now it’s becoming a struggle to get him to go to bed in his room. He started pulling out the big guns, saying that there are “scary witches” in his room (Thanks, Halloween!) And once he’s in there, he wakes up a few hours after, crying inconsolably for Mommy and Daddy. Being the softies that we are, we bring him into our room. Which, as any parent knows, is a terrible idea. Super Nanny advice aside, it’s like having a wild boar in your bed, one that talks in his sleep.

Needless to say, nobody is getting any sleep. So, tonight it’s back to independent sleep boot-camp. I told him he could pick out a new blanket and bedtime toy for his bed. I think he may genuinely be a bit scared in his room since Halloween, so I may get him a night light. We were about to transition his crib to a toddler bed, but I’m on the fence about this. It may get him more interested in going to bed, but it would also allow him to get out of bed constantly. (Obviously, we’ll have to transition him sooner or later, but he hasn’t yet climbed out of his crib so I’m really in no rush.)

Any ideas on how to get him more comfortable staying in his own room?

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Novelist Erica Jong's take on modern motherhood and attachment parenting has generated plenty of debate, including on this blog.

Check out the New York Times Motherlode blog, where supporters of attachment parenting respond to Jong's essay.

In turn, Jong responds.

Posted by Hanah Cho at 2:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Monday reads, Parenting in general
        

Did you know that kids are the largest group among the 1.7 million Americans who suffer serious brain injuries each year?

Meredith Cohn writes about this issue and provides some grim statistics:

Indeed, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say kids up to age 4 have the highest rate of emergency room visits for traumatic brain injuries — 1,256 per 100,000 people — and together with kids up to 14 make up about a third of the sufferers.

The number of cases seen annually from 2002 to 2006 in the nation's emergency rooms rose about 62 percent from the five previous years, according to data recently released. That pushed total annual cases to 1.7 million from 1.4 million.

Officials say falls on and off the playgrounds are the major causes of head injuries, ahead of car accidents.

Some long-term impact for children with head injuries include problems with thinking, perception, language and emotions.

To deal with this problem, some states are banning kids from returning to games after a head trauma, while schools are teaching "athletic trainers to identify symptoms of mild traumatic brain injury, or concussions, such as dizziness, blurred vision, confusion, ringing in the ears and mood changes," Cohn reports.

Posted by Hanah Cho at 9:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Health
        

Liz Atwood talks about San Francisco's efforts to ban toys in kids meals and similar offerings in this week's Tween Tuesday: 

Somewhere in my basement is a box of little toys that my kids got with kids' meals at fast-food restaurants over the years. I'm sure that many times it was the toy, not the food, that my kids wanted when I plunked down my money at McDonald’s or Burger King or Taco Bell.

But tonight, the leaders in San Francisco will vote on whether to outlaw the practice of putting prizes in kids’ meals that are not nutritious. The measure passed on a preliminary vote last week and comes up for a final vote tonight. It not only would forbid restaurants from offering a free toy with meals that contain more than set levels of calories, sugar and fat, but also require restaurants to provide fruits and vegetables with all meals for children that come with toys.

Certainly, McDonald's and the other restaurants have responded to criticism and already offer  choices of apple wedges, milk and other nutritious food with the kids' meals. Still, on those rare occasions we eat at a fast-food restaurant, my kids want the sodas and the french fries. And as they’ve gotten older, the toy doesn’t hold the allure it once did. My 9-year-old these days prefers a Big Mac to a Happy Meal.

What do you think about the San Francisco effort to ban the toys from unhealthful kids' meals? Is it positive step toward fighting childhood obesity or more meddling in the free enterprise system?

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: Teens
        

An essay by novelist Erica Jong this past weekend in the Wall Street Journal is a must-read.

Jong rails against "attachment parenting" where you respond to your baby's every need. Jong argues this type of parenting is a trap for mothers.  

Attachment parenting, especially when combined with environmental correctness, has encouraged female victimization. Women feel not only that they must be ever-present for their children but also that they must breast-feed, make their own baby food and eschew disposable diapers. It's a prison for mothers, and it represents as much of a backlash against women's freedom as the right-to-life movement.

You may not agree with everything she says, but her points are thought-provoking.

Most moms that I know do the best they can, given their circumstances, whether they are working or stay-at-home moms. But I understand the pressures -- and guilt! -- moms face in these modern times, especially when celebrities appear to have become the models of motherhood.

Jong ends her essay with this: "We need to be released from guilt about our children, not further bound by it. We need someone to say: Do the best you can. There are no rules."

I agree with that. What do you think?

Posted by Hanah Cho at 11:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Monday reads
        

Doctors at Johns Hopkins are studying how much exercise is OK for pregnant moms and their developing babies, according to an article written by my colleague Meredith Cohn.

Cohn writes that data from the study could help doctors customize workout schedules for pregnant women in various states of fitness.

Not too long ago doctors used to tell all women not to exercise when they became pregnant, but that advice has changed, said [professor and vice chairman of the department of gynecology and obstetrics for the Hopkins School of Medicine Anthony] Satin and Dr. Linda Szymanski, a fellow in maternal fetal medicine helping conduct the research. But there still is little data about what's too much for the elite athlete verses the couch potato and those in between. Satin said much is based on "opinion and common sense."

Doctors generally advise pregnant moms get 30 minutes of exercise a day.

But the advice is based on recommendations from government and groups such as the American College of Sports Medicine that non-pregnant people get such exercise. And it's filled with notes of caution for those who are just starting and those with certain conditions. The college suggests seeing a doctor first, starting slow and stopping when there's pain or bleeding — advice Satin doesn't dispute.

What kind of exercise did you get while pregnant? (I mostly practiced prenatal yoga.)

Posted by Hanah Cho at 3:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Expecting, Health
        

Betsy of Fluffy Windover's Diary talks about taking her toddler trick or treating in this week's Toddler Thursday:  

We took Edwin trick-or-treating for the first time this Halloween. We had prepared him well in advance, and he had been practicing for weeks (though sometimes when I would ask him what he’s going to say on Halloween, he would think for a second and then shout, “Happy birthday!”) By Halloween day, he was so excited, even though the concept was still fuzzy. He kept saying, “I wanna go Halloween! I wanna go dere!” as if it were some magical place where you get candy.

We set out with our neighbors, whose 5-year old is a seasoned trick-or treater. I think this was key to the success of the evening, since Edwin worships this kid and would follow him anywhere. We started him off with a couple pieces of candy in his bucket, just to get things going. At the first house we visited, he reached into his bucket, pulled out a Kit-Kat and said, “Here you go!” But after that, he got the idea that it was the other way around. He ran tirelessly from house to house. It was so much fun to watch.

I was worried about him being frightened of some of the scary decorations, but he was fine… until the last house we visited. At this point he was getting tired, so I was carrying him. The place was done up haunted-house style, and we should have steered clear. When we got up to the porch, there was a woman in a pretty scary witch costume handing out candy. Edwin totally freaked out when he saw her; he shrieked and buried his head in my shoulder crying. It was terrible, and I felt so guilty for not scoping the place out first.

But guess what he’s been talking about non-stop since then? “Scary lady, Mommy! I wanna see scary lady AGAIN!!!” I guess he is already learning to enjoy the thrill of being scared on Halloween.

How did your toddler do?

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Andrea Walker at Picture of Health reports that more serious cases of constipation in children are rising.

The researchers [at Johns Hopkins Children's Center] attribute the problem to kids who don't get enough exercise, don't drink enough water and don't have enough fiber in their diets.

The children's center will open a clinic this month to help provide medical and behavioral therapy for children with constipation.

Here are some signs to watch out for: Abdominal bloating and a feeling of fullness, straining with bowel movements and lumpy or hard stools or small pellet-like stools.

Read the full post here.

Posted by Hanah Cho at 11:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Health
        

(Photo by Teresa Castracane) 

Liz Atwood gets her boys excited about the arts by taking them to see a play with lots of blood and gore in this week's Tween Tuesday: 

At last I've discovered the secret for how to get tween and teen boys excited about the arts: make sure there’s plenty of blood and gore.

Over the weekend I took my kids to see the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company’s production of Titus Andronicus. This is one of Shakespeare’s earliest and most obscure works. I’d never even heard of it until I received the postcard in the mail several weeks ago advertising the performance.

I read a little about it — including the warning it might not be suitable for youngsters. This is a play in which hands are severed, people are stabbed and throats are slit — all on stage. Chesapeake Shakespeare Company’s production had the bonus of being set in the ruins of the Patapsco Female Institute, a former girls’ school in Ellicott City that is said to be haunted.

Ghosts, blood, fights -- the boys readily agreed to go. And neither Shakespearean English or the nearly three-hour run time dampened their enthusiasm. It was as gory as promised with blood shooting everywhere. The boys were thrilled, not only with the performance, but the glimpse they had of the actors behind the scene. They could see them relaxing, eating, reading and dressing for their next performances. My younger son was happy to see one actor strapping on a bag of "blood" that would be poured out on the stage.

As for the play itself, I am no critic, but it seemed to me that Shakespeare was drawing upon his inner teenage youth to create such a spectacle. But while the play wasn't much to my liking, at least I can count one small victory in my effort expose the boys to a little culture.

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Teens
        

Check out these two interesting stories over the weekend on parenting:

Writer Renee Bacher confesses to being a helicopter mom. I used to write about the notion of parents hovering over their children like helicopters before I became a mom, and now I understand how hard it could be to let go. I said I would never become one of those parents who brag about their kids or snap pictures of them for every occasion, but I'm guilty of those charges.

The second article talks about how being a mom is now an advantage in politics.

In an age when “the mommy brain” is now considered a greatly superior organ — uniquely suited for multitasking, specialty-schooled in the challenges of diplomacy and budgeting, grounded in the can-do here and now rather than in the hopelessly abstract or esoteric — being a mom (the "just" has been dropped) is now frequently spun as a prime career asset, particularly in the world of politics.

Posted by Hanah Cho at 10:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Monday reads