Nov
1
The Family That Gives Together
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Talk About It
1. When volunteering, Jenny Friedman says it’s important that kids feel empathy and compassion for the people they’re helping rather than superiority or pity. How can you emphasize the sameness of people for your child, rather than the differences?
2. While it might be easy for your kids to express appreciation for all that they have at the Thanksgiving table, showing gratitude should be a year-round practice. What are some ways you can encourage your kids to continue feeling thankful once the holidays passed?
3. Laureen Miles Brunelli points out that traditions are dynamic rather than static. How have your family’s holiday traditions evolved over the years? How did the changes contribute to the holiday?
Oct
1
Some Like it Slow
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1. Slow family living isn’t necessarily about doing less, but it is about making sure that the activities that are a part of daily life work for your family. Does your current schedule allow time for family members to meaningfully connect? If so, describe how you make it work. If not, what can you do differently?
2. Bernadette Noll explains that one of the most effective first steps towards creating your family’s mission statement is taking time to consider your own childhood. Growing up, what were some of the elements of family life that you now want to share with your own children?
3. There are numerous benefits associated with Meatless Mondays, including a smaller environmental impact and a lower grocery bill. However, do you think the benefits have the potential to run deeper? In other words, what are the mental or emotional benefits of adopting a simple family tradition?
4. Christine Hohlbaum emphasizes the importance of an evening self-care routine to help moms recharge both physically and emotionally. Realistically, do you have time in your schedule to do this? If so, how have you made this happen? If not, what can you do to make time for yourself?
Sep
1
Beating Back-to-School Blues
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Talk About It
1. Both Mark Crawford and Katherine Lewis encourage parents to remain strong and positive about school or daycare in the presence of their kids, however, the two have different approaches when it comes to how adults can deal with their feelings when kids aren’t around. While Crawford suggests having the parent who would find it emotionally easier to do so make the drop-off (so the other parent can avoid becoming upset as much as possible), Lewis says it’s okay to watch your child for a while, as long as he can’t see you. Which approach do you agree with? Have you already found success with either one, or is there a middle ground?
2. Katherine Lewis mentions that while some kids want to know about their first day of school long in advance, others do better only finding out a day or two before. If you’ve already gone through a first day with a child, how did you approach it? If you’re preparing for a first day for the first time, how are you helping your child get ready? What made you choose this approach?
3. According to Gina Ciagne, societal expectations can play a large role in the guilt a mom might feel when weaning her baby. Can you pinpoint some of these expectations, as well as how to manage the fact that not every nursing mom meets them?
4. Some moms fear that weaning their baby will result in a diminished sense of bonding, however, Gina Ciagne argues that this isn’t true, and that there are endless other ways a mom can bond with her child. If you’ve already weaned your baby, what were some of the ways you managed to maintain closeness?
Aug
1
The Dangers of Artificial Dyes
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1. Dr. Magaziner is a strong supporter of experimenting with preservative-free diets for kids with behavioral problems. Have you, or has any parent you know been successful in curbing behavior problems through a child’s diet?
2. While brightly-colored candies or ice pops are easy targets for identifying artificial dyes, other items, like whole wheat bread or hand soap, aren’t always so obvious. Where are some places you’ve found synthetic colors when you weren’t expecting it? How did you react?
3. Managing real life and idealistic expectations is essential when trying to live a greener lifestyle. How do you balance your desire to avoid artificial ingredients for the sake of your family’s health with budget or time concerns? What about balancing with what your kids might want?
Jul
1
All About Summer Vacations
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1. As part of their staycation, Matt Wixon and his family visited a cockroach museum in Plano, TX, plus Ft. Worth’s Bureau of Engraving Printing. What are some interesting or offbeat possibilities that families in your area could explore while vacationing at home?
2. When staycationing, it might be easy for families to fall out of vacation mode and back into the normal at-home routine. In addition to Matt Wixon’s suggestions, what are some other ways families can get (and stay) into the vacation spirit?
3. Jenny Reed encourages families to choose activities that get families outdoors and moving around. Has your family gone camping or hiking? If so, share some of the aspects that make your experience as a young family unique, as well as any information that might be helpful to beginners.
4. Kim Orlando mentions that guilt is one of the major factors that keep moms or parents from taking vacations without their kids, but what about other feelings? Is it nerve-wracking to place your little ones under the care of someone else? How can parents assuage these feelings in order to fully enjoy some much-deserved relaxation time?
Jun
1
Talk About It
1. Mothers and fathers both provide unique contributions to the parenting experience. How does your child’s relationship with your partner differ from your child’s relationship with you? What are some of the best qualities your partner exhibits as a parent?
2. Has your partner ever had the opportunity to be a stay-at-home dad? Were you or someone you know raised by a stay-at-home dad? What was the experience like? If not, how do you and your partner share parenting responsibilities?
3. What do you feel is the public perception of stay-at-home dads? Is this general perception in synch with your family or community’s attitude towards stay-at-home dads?
4. Jessica Shapley encourages moms to let dads find their niche as a parent. For her and her partner, this meant cup feeding the baby. In what ways has your partner been able to find his niche as a father? Did he need encouragement to take this step, or did the process unfold naturally?
May
1
Greening Personal Care Products
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Talk About It:
1. As “green” grows in popularity, many conventional companies are jumping on the natural/organic bandwagon. While some manufacturers have made genuine improvements, others engage in “greenwashing,” in an attempt to make their product appear safer or healthier than it actually is. Have you had any experience with greenwashing? If so, how have you used this to become a savvier consumer?
2. When it comes to our children, most everyone has good intentions, but their information may be outdated. How do you deal with well-meaning friends and family members who don’t see natural or organic personal care as a top priority?
3. During a time when every family is tightly monitoring their budgets, DIY has become increasingly popular. What are some DIY methods that work for you? What are some that don’t live up to the hype?
4. Katrina Bergstrom emphasizes the need for women to break free of conventional standards of beauty by saying no to some of the products that are pushed on us by society, industry, and the media. If you’ve made an effort to simplify your personal care routine and let your natural beauty shine through, how has it made you feel? While such a move is sure to save you time and money, have there been any psychological or even spiritual benefits?
Apr
14
Potty Training
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Talk About It:
1. One of the biggest dilemmas many parents face when embarking on potty training is whether or not it’s the “right” time. What are some signs your child has exhibited that lead you to believe that he is “ready”?
2. How do you deal with caretakers that are overly pushy or resistant to your potty training plan (or lack thereof, if you don’t feel like your child is yet ready)? Does your approach change if the caretaker is a close family member?
3. Different cultures begin potty training at different stages in a child’s life. Some even begin when the infant is only a few months old, a practice known in the US as Elimination Communication. What are your thoughts on this method? Have you or anyone you know had any experience with it?
4. Parents of multiple children know that every child is different. If you’re potty training your second (or third or fourth!) child, how does the experience with him or her differ from your experiences with older siblings?
Mar
1
Sleeping
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Talk About It:
1. Do you believe it’s appropriate to ever ignore your child’s cries, even in an effort to teach her how to self soothe?
2. Do you think its possible to combine aspects of CIO and attachment parenting, or that the methods are so opposite as to be contradictory?
3. Sometimes, the only thing that can soothe a baby is time. What are some of your best methods for coping with the stress of a baby that can’t be placated?
4. If you have an older child and choose the CIO method, what have you found to be helpful when your older child reacts to the baby’s cries?
