Earlier this week, Connecticut became the second state after Vermont to recognize same-sex civil unions. It was the first state to do so by an act of the legislature rather than the judiciary. The good news is that this milestone caused barely a ripple, news-wise. The other good news is that couples unionized (or is […]
Toddlers can wreak havoc on our to-do lists. They have their own agendas, their own pace, and their own counterproductive actions (e.g., pulling all the books off the shelf after you’ve just replaced them). In order to increase the odds of actually completing my to-do list, I divide it into categories.
Although beach season is over for most of us, those of you living or vacationing in warm climes may be interested to know that scientists at MIT have found the formula for the perfect sandcastle. A ratio of eight parts sand to one part water does the trick, and will give you the most stable
In the U. S., October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Observe it by giving yourself a breast self exam. (Not that you don’t do one every month, anyway, right?) The Susan G. Komen Foundation has a good interactive demo, in English and Spanish, if you need a refresher. (Caution–if you’re viewing this at work
On Thursday, as promised, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the same-sex marriage bill that had passed the California state legislature. He cited constitutional confusion that would result if the bill passed, since a state appeals court is already considering the constitutionality of the state’s same-sex marriage ban. Schwarzenegger did speak out in favor of domestic partnerships,
Here’s a tip for decreasing sugar and artificial flavorings in your kids’ treats (if you care about such things): Adding natural fruit juice to plain gelatin takes about the same amount of time as adding plain water to pre-flavored gelatin dessert powders, which are typically artificially flavored and highly sweetened. Plain gelatin can usually be
The American Library Association (ALA) is sponsoring their 14th annual Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read, September 24-October 1, to remind Americans not to take intellectual freedom for granted. In observance of Banned Books Week, the ALA publishes a list of the most challenged books and authors of the previous year. A challenge
I was talking recently with another local mom, who has a toddler about the same age as mine. She’s straight, but has been totally accepting of my relationship and our family. She’d recently enrolled her child in a daycare program that she liked, and wanted to know if I’d be interested. It turned out that
One in an occasional series of essential household tools: A white (non-marking) rubber mallet. Whether it’s assembling a rocking horse, fitting shelves into a bookcase, or flattening chicken breasts for Poached Chicken Breast Stuffed with Goat Cheese and Spinach (cover the chicken in plastic wrap first), this is a tool you never knew you needed
Managing meal preparation and toddler(s) simultaneously can be a daunting task. You can make it easier by having your little ones help in the kitchen. Instead of having to cut playtime short so you can go cook (the cause of much toddler angst), start cooking a little earlier and call it playtime. Here are a few things I’ve found even my two-year-old can do.
