LilSugar

Should Divorced Couples Spend the Holidays Together?

LilSugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:00:55 -0800

Jon and Kate are both planning on being home for the holidays this year. Despite the quarreling twosome's very messy and public divorce, Jon says that they will all be celebrating Christmas together as a family. Every divorce and family is unique and what works well in some broods may not work for others; critics say that it may give the children a false sense of what is really going on. Weigh in on the topic and tell us - do you think it's a wise decision for divorced couples to spend the holidays together as a family for the sake of the children?

Do You Hold Family Meetings?

LilSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:00:23 -0800

The family that eats together, stays together, right? While dinners often serve as a family meeting of sorts, some busy broods pencil in a separate meeting time in hopes of improving family communication, conflict resolution, and discussing other issues that may come up. The digital age of emailing, cell phones, and social networking has made it possible for many families to interact without coming face-to-face with one another. Though it may seem old-fashioned, some crews choose to assemble the troops on a regular basis.

Do tell, does your family hold meetings?

Is It Fair to Give Back a Family's Best Friends?

LilSugar — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:00:29 -0700

It looks like Jon and Kate Plus 8 is minus two . . . dogs. Our girl Pet has pictures of Jon's last moments with the pups before they were shipped back to their breeder. The tensome adopted the German Shepherds, Shooka and Nala, as an early Christmas present for the kids late last year. But, in light of Jon and Kate's impending divorce, it's been reported that single parenthood and caring for a couple of dogs is too much for the Gosselins. While the twins and sextuplets are obviously affected by their mom and dad's very public breakup, is it fair to also send their pets away?

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Are Children Color-Blind or Do They Recognize Race?

LilSugar — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 07:00:00 -0700

Are kids color-blind? According to the new book NurtureShock, they aren't. It claims that children as young as six months judge other people based on the color of their skin. The researchers behind the book found that while many families try to avoid discussing race in order to raise "color-blind" children, the kids are making their own, often incorrect, conclusions as to why they look different from their neighbors. According to a Newsweek article about the research:

We might imagine we're creating color-blind environments for children, but differences in skin color or hair or weight are like differences in gender - they're plainly visible. Even if no teacher or parent mentions race, kids will use skin color on their own, the same way they use T-shirt colors. [Researcher Rebecca] Bigler contends that children extend their shared appearances much further - believing that those who look similar to them enjoy the same things they do. Anything a child doesn't like thus belongs to those who look the least similar to him.

Some parents don't address race, but the authors suggest that by talking about it early - before first grade - we can avoid racial stereotypes. Do you believe lil ones recognize race?

Celebrate Grandparents With Gifts That Reflect Their Status

LilSugar — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:00:00 -0700

Grandmas are said to be moms with extra frosting on them. When a mama graduates to nana status, she gets the best of both worlds – a babe in her arms and the ability to hand him back when he become too much. Sixty-seven percent of LilSugar readers expect grandparents to help in caring for their offspring and with Grandparents' Day coming up this weekend, there is no better time to celebrate the older relatives in your lil one's life.

Though homemade cards earn an honored place on the refrigerator, other items may help gram and gramps better connect with kids. The Grandmother Book ($12) requires a bit of work by grandma, but the result will stay with your child for years. A memory book that allows grammy to recount the story of her life, family anecdotes, and experiences, the book also provides space for photos to help illustrate the tale for future generations. Check out the other fun and festive options!

Mommy Dearest: Family Vacation Interferes With School

LilSugar — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:00:48 -0700

Mommy Dearest,

My husband's parents' 50th anniversary is coming up in December and they offered to take the entire family on a trip to celebrate. They selected a cruise that does not return until the 5th of January. While the trip works for the rest of the family, it means my preschooler and kindergartener will miss the first two days back to school after Winter break. My mother-in-law says that I shouldn't worry because the children are young. Though I am grateful for the vacation, I am wary of the kids missing class. Should we skip the trip?

– Cruisin' in Lieu of School Mama

To see the response from Mommy Dearest, read more.

Cruisin' in Lieu of School Mama,

It's your in-laws' 50th anniversary - a once in a lifetime event that your children are lucky enough to be a part of- I say take them on the trip and don't worry about the two days of missed class. While the vacation is a generous offer, the experience is one your kiddos will always remember and likely means a great deal to your husband's parents. Prior to leaving, sit down with your children's teachers, explain the situation and see if any assignments need to be completed.

– Mommy Dearest

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

Summer's Last Hurrah at the County Fair

babysugar — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 09:00:48 -0700

As much as I hate to see Summer go, I don't mind bidding it adieu with one last hurrah at the local county fair. Tall enough to enjoy the rides on her own, my daughter grasped onto her tickets and ran for the shiny roller coasters pumping her arms up and down like she'd won the lotto. Thinking she needed easing, we put her on the most juvenile ladybug ride first, which turned out to be a bust as she yelled, "Stop!" most of the way. Thinking we just wasted our money on 12 more tickets, she was fired up and ready to go on the more adventurous rides. Trusting her instincts, we let her. She rode an alligator roller coaster and a flying dragon all on her lonesome and had the time of her life. The only thing that could top her joy rides was some good old fair food - sure to clog arteries and ruin one's clothes. Having worked up her appetite, we treated her to a corn dog and a fat chocolate ice cream cone. Next up on the list - pumpkin patch!

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Who Did You Consider First When Deciding on Another Child?

LilSugar — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 08:00:56 -0700

Many women have a magic number - how many children they hope to have. Age, health, finances, and ambitions are just a few of the realities that can influence a couple's decision to either keep procreating or be content with the family they have. Some mothers know the benefits of giving their child siblings, but others prefer to focus their attention on one offspring. How did you come to (or will you make) your decision?

10 Reasons to Give Your Child a Sibling

LilSugar — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 06:00:44 -0700

You can pick your friends, but you can't choose your family, and maybe that's the greatest thing about having siblings. Whether you love them or not, they keep showing up at the dinner table and family functions. Having a sister, brother, or both forces a child to deal with peers on a daily basis. Sure, backseat wars have been waged and sibling rivalry exists, but the bonds that are formed wrestling each other over the television remote or laughing till your bellies ache are ones you can't replicate. As the second child of four who will soon give birth to my third baby, I believe that the greatest gift you can give your kid is another one - check out all my completely biased reasons why!

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Have You Ever Hated Your Child?

babysugar — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0700

"I hate you!" is a phrase no parent wants to hear, but chances are, they will. When denied the opportunity to do something children want to do - watch their TV show, attend a party, or drive the car - they will utter the unkind words. But what about the moms and dads?

A mother recently confided in me that when her wee ones were younger, she actually hated them at times. As a mother of two, I can understand the moments of grinding teeth, squeezing fists and deep breathing to keep cool, but I've never come close to hating my own kids. Have you?