Parenting | PulseonParenting

What We Need to Know About Cell Phone Etiquette

Mar 21 2017

There’s an episode of the sitcom New Girl where lovably pedantic Schmidt pulls out his ringing mobile. Incredulous, he says, “What? My phone hasn’t rung in two years!” There’s plenty of truth in that one-liner. We have Skype. We have FaceTime. And the too-convenient ability to text message. Really, who talks on the phone anymore? Mobile phones are hardly the simple chatting devices of ages past; they are fun-sized, portable computer devices, a far cry from the spring-tethered rotary dial model and the cordless version my family used to lose under the couch cushions. We communicate so differently…

Mar 15 2017

Remember Snackwells? The near-miracle treat that contains no fat? Back when we were told that fat, any fat, in our diets would surely lead to our artery-clogging demise, these cookies were a godsend to those of us with a raging sweet tooth. And I remember my indulgence, eating almost a whole box of the devil’s food variety, proudly avoiding an eminent heart attack by eating dessert so wisely. But now, times have changed and the “devil” in the name of those (let’s face it) tasteless, half-dessicated cookies has an updated meaning. Most of the calories come from sugar (satanic carbs!) and…

Mar 09 2017

One morning last fall, I just had to walk away. Homeschooling was not going well, specifically grammar, and I had to just take a break. No, we all needed a break. It was a Monday, my daughter was coming off her 10th birthday celebration, and we were in a sprint down Letdown Lane. Ok, I’ll admit it. I didn’t just walk away. I went and hid in my bedroom. Before I retreated, I gave my kids their science books and asked them to read. I honestly didn’t think they’d do it (they did admit to playing Minecraft on my…

Feb 28 2017

It was a dark and stormy night. I was being a real handful, angrily quizzing my husband about exactly where the on-call anesthesiologist lived, and how long it would take him to get to the hospital to give me my epidural ALREADY! And how much, to the minute, he would be slowed down by the nasty February weather. My poor husband. It really was a dark and stormy night. When we tell our boys the story of their arrival, we get to indulge in a little drama. It was well into the evening, and a nasty sleet-snow was falling…

Feb 22 2017

I spin it in a positive light: my kids interrupt because they want my husband’s and my attention. As my kids are 10 and nearly 12, I know this desire to share with us is limited. The problem is, it’s universally accepted that interrupting a conversation is rude. My kids know that, but they’re kids. Even though it can be exhausting to navigate, I’d rather my kids be verbal in their interruptions than be stealthy about it, as when they were toddlers. I remember one particular instance when I was pregnant with my daughter and my one-and-a-half-year old twins…

Feb 14 2017

Oh my gosh, it’s so good. I mean, really good. So good, in fact, I want to lock myself in the bedroom and ignore everything but the book until I finish it. But then, what kind of mother would I be? Can I argue that a good mother gets on board with her kids’ obsessions as long as she reminds them where the peanut butter is? No, of course not, but I’m coming to realize why my kids are totally taken with all things Harry Potter. And J.K. Rowling herself. My daughter, who did a report on this most-famous…

Jan 19 2017

“Wisdom is knowing what to do next; virtue is doing it.” – David Star Jordan Even the dashboard for pulseonparenting.com is feeling it: the daily inspirational quote came from Star Jordan’s timely words. Timely, in that they were posted on MLK, Jr., Day, and timely, in that Friday is Inauguration Day. Whether you look ahead to this always historic occasion with anticipation or with dread, I think about another of my favorite sayings. Be the change you want to see in the world. Many who voted for our PEOTUS did so looking for change; many who did not want…

Jan 10 2017

Another new year…already! Did 2016 even happened? Maybe I just slept through it. No. I’m pretty sure I didn’t get that much rest… It’s that time of year we resolve to make positive changes in our lives, or better yet, to not resolve as the former seems to be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Whatever it is we have made a resolution to do or become just doesn’t come to fruition. That’s why last year I simply decided to make “the happiness project” a goal, not a big “R.” Last January I posted “The Happiness Project” where I described my goal, through daily reflection and writing,…

Dec 30 2016

As I do way too often, and for way too long, I troll Facebook. When I came upon this video shared by a couple of my mom friends, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. It’s real, it’s a wicked awesome reminder, and I feel she is a kindred spirit with her snacking habits. Enjoy!

Dec 19 2016

For some, it’s time in the bathroom. For others, it’s that dream that awakens them at night. For me, it’s driving. Many times my inspiration for new posts comes while behind the wheel, a narrative forming as I go for groceries or take my kids to activities. I liken it to a meditative state. So you probably shouldn’t be on the road with my Honda Odyssey (JK). I wish I had a hands-free, voice-activated recorder so I could save the thoughts as they come, because when I sit down at my computer I can’t articulate those thoughts nearly as well. But…

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