Archive for May 23rd, 2008

Parenting without fear

I stopped by the bookstore today to pick up a bit of light reading for the long weekend–Love and Logic: The Preschool Years. It’s about raising kids with–you guessed it–love and logic. Like one or the other wouldn’t be enough.

Anyway, I found a few of the titles in the parenting section to be quite humorous. If you happened to be in the Borders on 6th at lunch today, I was the sleep-deprived mother laughing manically at titles like Babyproofing your Marriage and Children: The Challenge.

I found a few books we definitely don’t need, like Raising Strong Daughters (I’d buy the sequel, which must be entitled Okay, Maybe You Overdid it a Bit with that First Book: Here’s What to do Now) and Raising Confident Daughters. We seem to be good in that department.

I picked up The Strong-Willed Child three times, but couldn’t bring myself to buy it. I also probably need, but would never buy, The Total Mom Makeover and Parent Effectiveness Training. These can’t be big sellers–no one wants to admit they’re the problem in the first place.

If the Love and Logic book doesn’t help, I can always try Parenting without Fear (but never without wine). Maybe then I’ll have the Happiest Toddler on the Block. If not, there’s always Grand Theft Childhood.

Olivia fix

I mentioned that Olivia really loves to snuggle up to blankets or other soft things as she’s falling asleep–not exactly the safest habit ever. I usually let her have something until she’s out, then I snag it from her crib so it doesn’t pose a danger later in the night.

Olivia’s Aunt Debbie had a great solution–she made her two small blankets with a very loose knit. They’re soft but completely breathable, so she can keep them all night. Livie loves them!