LilSugar

Do Moms Age Faster Than Childless Women?

LilSugar — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 05:00:03 -0700

Mothers joke that they owe their gray hair and wrinkles to their offspring. Whether the topic is postpartum bodies, sheer exhaustion or limited amounts of me time, many moms attribute the decline of their looks to putting their children first. Who hasn't overheard or been involved in a conversation where someone commented that a woman looked amazing or was aging well and another chimed in with, "Well, she doesn't have kids!" Do you find truth in that statement?

What's Your Favorite Age?

LilSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:00:41 -0700

Just like cheese and wine, children seem to get better with age. As a wee one grows, so does his or her personality, abilities, and opinions. Each time period of your child's life has its positive and negatives but many of us can pinpoint an age of our children that we thoroughly enjoyed. Whether it's the newborn phase, nine months, one year, five years or something else, what was the best age for you?

Join our The Mommy Club over in our LilSugar Community and share stories of your children throughout the ages! Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.

Should There Be an Age Limit on Motherhood?

LilSugar — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:36:00 -0700

When to get pregnant is a women's choice. Science allows girls the freedom to procreate after she gets her first period until she goes through menopause. In 1970, the average American age of a woman becoming a mother was 21.7 and in 2006 it was 25. A recent report said that the statistic for the United States is still much younger than that of other countries like Britain and Switzerland where women are 30.

Medical advancements in fertility have made putting off motherhood an option for many ladies. But, stories like that of Maria del Carmen Bousada who became the world's oldest mom at 66 when she got pregnant via in-vitro fertilization leave some people bewildered. She died last month leaving her 2-year-old twins, Pau and Christian behind. Do you think there should be a law discerning when a woman is too old to have kids?

Do You Abide by the Ages on Toys?

LilSugar — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 06:00:00 -0800

Lots of toys seem to have a conservative age range on them. Some items recommended for a one-year-old seem more fit for an infant. But, the age listed on the box often has to do with safety standards. Do you abide by them?

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Age: When to Switch From Months to Years?

LilSugar — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 16:00:50 -0800

We track our babes from day to day and then by weeks, months and years. But, when is it the best time to just rely on years to refer to a child's age? Since developmental milestones vary so much during the first stage of life, some parents continue to count by months.

This can prove a bit of a mathematical pain for people who enter conversations with them. And, beyond needing a conversion table, 37-months-old sounds a bit ridiculous.

What's your take on the numbers?

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Is Your Fearless 3-Year-Old Destined For a Life of Crime?

babysugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:30:20 -0800

Mamas of fearless children often encourage their wild child's eager behavior, but a new study may have them trying to instill a lil fear factor into their lives. Results from a 20-year study show that children who lack the ability to fear may have a dysfunction with their amygdala - the part of the brain linked to fear conditioning, emotions, and one's mental state. Researchers found children who showed no fear were often more likely to go against authorities and find themselves in trouble later in life. In cases where children may show a lack of respect for rules or even the law, parents can help coach their child into a more stable state. According to the study's research associate Yu Gao:

Some at-risk children between the ages of 3 and 5 who have benefited from those programs, which include sound nutrition, adequate physical exercise, and cognitive brain stimulation, had shown an improvement in brain functioning by age 11 that reduced the chances of criminal behavior by 35 percent 20 years later.

While it is not a black and white determining factor, it does bring some interesting insight into the workings of lil brains and what we can do to help steer them clear of harmful habits.

Are You Ignoring the Maclaren Recall?

babysugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:00:31 -0800

Recall? Who cares?! When recalls are announced, some people run back to the store to get their money back, but others keep on keeping on with their less than perfect goods. Such is the case with many a Maclaren pushing mommies. As I strolled about town yesterday, I couldn't help but notice the dominance of the British buggies rolling around in San Francisco - yours truly included. All different models with varying ages of children made their way through small spaces and tight sidewalks. While some mothers might have stopped using their recalled models, some clearly have no problem pushing the popular, if hazardous, strollers. When asked about their continued use, some declared they were more cautious when folding and collapsing it because of the hinge issue. Others said they called for the hinge repair kit while others threw caution to the wind saying there are probably dangers with every pushchair on the market... touché.

Are you taking the recall to heart or just using your stroller with caution?

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Mommy Dearest: How Should I Deal With Gender Issues?

babysugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:45:44 -0800

Mommy Dearest,

I have a 4-year-old little girl who seems to fit into the stereotypes surrounding children her age; she loves princesses, makeup, and playing with baby dolls. In an effort to get her to branch out, I have signed her up for soccer with other boys and girls her age. At first, the playtime was terrific - boys and girls running elbow to elbow. Then the coach decided to split them up by gender. Kids generally play with their own sex, so I understood his rationale for dividing them, but at this past practice he decided it was time for the boys to play football while the girls still kicked the ball around. When one of the girls asked the coach why the boys got to play football, he said, "The boys have gotten really good at soccer so we're letting them play football. You guys still need to work on your soccer." All of the mothers on the sideline gasped. While the coach may be right, he is already starting to pigeonhole them into the stereotypes that we moms are trying so hard to avoid. They are such an impressionable age and they are already starting to hear that boys are better than them. I would like to talk with the coach about it, but I don't seem to have the right words. Do you have any advice?

- Antistereotype Soccer Mom

To see Mommy Dearest's response, just read more.

Antistereotype Soccer Mom,

Parents are often conflicted with how to share a gender-divided world with their children. It is commendable that you are trying to take actions to show your girly daughter the other facets of life that don't include tutus and lip gloss, but you may find that not everyone is like minded. It seems the coach could use some, er, coaching in stereotyping. He is probably used to straight talk and may appreciate the candor of a sideline mommy. Rather than make a big issue out of it, I'd simply tell him you want the girls to have the same learning experience as the boys. The larger concern at hand would be how he manages to tell the girls about their routine. I would ask him to explain to the girls that they are equal to the boys and ready to roll with the flag-football punches.

- Mommy Dearest

Submit a question for this feature at the Mommy Dearest Group on our new community page.

When Vegetarians Raise Vegetarians

babysugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:30:08 -0800

For some, dinner is just a meal. For others, it is a way of life and a testament to their beliefs. Carnivores may not give much thought to the burger on their plate, but vegetarians might. They often take comfort in the fact that no animals were harmed in the making of their cuisine - a mindset many would like to pass onto their offspring. Some vegetarian moms limit their children to a strict greens and fruits diet, and others allow their children to choose meals for themselves - meat included. While the choice may seem insignificant to some, others believe a parent's push to be strictly vegetarian may have negative consequences.

Instead of forcing a child into vegetarian restrictions, Jennifer Nelson, director of clinical dietetics at the Mayo Clinic, thinks children who can select their own food may experience less peer pressure than their limitless foodies in the lunch room. Furthermore, she argues it may even cause a child to feel stressed out if she is not limited to parent-approved choices when out on her lonesome. To avoid setting children up for failure, Nelson recommends this tidbit of advice:

You should offer age-appropriate explanations for why they don't eat meat . . . Then give children reassurance and strategies for making food choices when they're not with you.

So tell us, would you raise your child to have the same eating habits as you or would you allow them to test things out for themselves?

Young and Naive or Older and Wiser?

babysugar — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 08:00:03 -0800

In this month's Glamour, Naomi Watts dishes on the pros and cons of being an "older" mother.

In the article, the 39–year–old actress talks about giving six–month–old Alexander (aka Sasha) a sibling down the road.

When asked about waiting until later in life to start her family, Naomi said:

"Well, for one thing, picking him up off of the ground 20 times is different when you hear your knees cracking! From an intellectual point of view, you’ve had a lot of time to do research and figure out how you want to raise him."

The mama also pointed out the advantages of early motherhood. She said:

"But there is also something to be said about having a child in your early twenties, when you’re just operating on instinct."

If you had it your way would you choose to be a younger or older mum?

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