Food for Thought: routines, bedtime and FOOD

I haven't done a Food for Thought post recently, but my tabs are about ready to explode; so even though it's not Saturday I thought I'd "unload" here, with just a wee bit of commentary because I have a million other things I should be doing...

Three Questions to Ask Your Child Every Night - This was neat.  I think I will start doing this.

A Helpful Guide to Becoming Unbusy - So practical.  I liked numbers 3 and 5 the best.

I posted these chore charts before, recently, but thought I would again because I like them.  I am going to print one off for some daily "school" type activities for Gemma in the summer as well.  She was recently asking about school-work during the summer, so I told her we'd figure out a mutually agreeable schedule together!

Truth Cannot Contradict Truth (Address of Pope John Paul II to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences (October 22, 1996) - We've seen and heard a lot about evolution lately, watching Cosmos and seeing some information that was sitting around our Church, so Aaron had me look this up, as he vaguely remembered when it came out. 

Why Are Doctors Recommending this Toxic Drink? - I had never heard of BVO before but Aaron had.  Apparently it is pretty nasty stuff.  I've never done the glucose test during any of my pregnancies, but I know it is pretty routine.  This would be worth researching a bit more if it concerns you.

The Most Food-Dye Laden Processed Foods - I found this interesting, what with Kolbe's sensitivity issues and such.  Reaffirms how important it is to eat "clean".

Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup - This is tasty.  I add cubed chicken breast, baby bellas, and chopped fresh spinach.  The kids used it as a "dip" for their cheese quesadillas.  I had a glass of pinot on the side.

Santé!!!

Food for Thought: "praise" rant

I think I have a problem with reading articles about parenting...

oh well.

The whole "praise" thing (thread)

and Five Reasons to Stop Saying "Good Job" (article)

I am still wrapping my mind around the whole "praise" thing.  I will say, I think "good job" is the most over-said phrase in the world and I almost cringe when I hear it now.  I started noticing this six or so months ago, about the time I read Unconditional Parenting, and caught myself telling Kolbe "good job" for things like going up the stairs or turning on a light switch.  For real, it hit me like a ton of bricks one day - I remember the exact moment (weird) - I just told my son "good job".  For turning off a light.  Come. On.  Since then I have thought a lot about the message that my words and reactions convey to my children.  I don't completely agree with Kohn's (book and article author) analysis on praise (check the book out, it really is an interesting read or take a look at Kansas Mom's Book Discussion) and I'm not going to say that I think one should completely withhold all types of praise from kids, especially since some people (kids included) really thrive on words of affirmation.  That said though, I think we need to help our children internalize their successes more, so that as they grow they do things (whether it is behavior, athletics, grades or job performance) because they are motivated internally, not externally.  But honestly, now that I have begun noticing the whole "good job" thing more, it just comes across as really disingenuous, intentionally or otherwise, when I hear people say "good job" because their kid stacked two blocks, went down the slide or turned off a light (blush).  And that's not to say I don't show enthusiasm for things my kids do, but I try to do it in a way that keeps their attention on what they just did, and not my reaction.  Does that make sense?  When Gemma goes across the monkey bars by herself, instead of automatically yelling "GOOD JOB," I find a simple high five or saying, "you did it!" tend to be much more appropriate, and in turn cause her to internalize her success rather than looking to me for affirmation (or the opposite) every time she does (or does not do) something.  If Gemma picks up the room for me or puts some laundry away or sets the table, rather than saying "good job _____," I simply say, "thank you. I appreciate your helpfulness."  If the kids stay close in the parking lot instead of running around like crazy banshees who want to send their mother to an early grave, I tell them that I am glad they remembered appropriate parking lot behavior and we move on pretty matter-of-factly.  I guess I just don't 100% buy into the whole 'positive reinforcement' thing (which I won't get started on because this novel may turn into a series at that rate).  Above all, I just try to be genuine and authentic with my children, like I would with another adult.  I mean, I don't go around telling Aaron "good job" every time he goes to work or cooks a tasty meal or fixes the toilet paper hanger for the zillionth time.  I certainly let him know that we appreciate him and all he does for us, but "good job" is not the first phrase that pops in my head when talking with an adult, so why should it be with my kids?  Maybe it's all semantics. I don't know.  Thoughts?  Comments??  I really would appreciate some engaging discussion on this one, because I've been thinking about it a lot lately.

How to Fix your Child's Attitude - This was so. good.  Read it.

The Sweet Spot between Permissive and Strict - I liked this a lot.  It really helped me mentally hash out my feelings on the subject of strictness vs. permissiveness more articulately than many of the things I've read of late. I really liked the distinction it gave between authoritative and authoritarian and the nifty chart explaining it all.  Maybe I'm just a chart nerd though.  These thoughts on consequences/punishments vs. natural consequences provoked some good thought as well.

And lest you think all I do is sit around eating dark chocolate and drinking wine (oh wait...) and reading parenting articles all day, this one on authentic Catholic charity was really good. 

Also, be sure to check out Erika's Food-for-Thought sometime this weekend, she will be posting a delightful article about Whole Foods.  Trust me.  You don't want to miss it.

Food for Thought: First Half of September

My tabs are very full...time to unload.

Topic: Parenting
Aggression: Why Children Lash Out and What to Do - Some good tidbits here.  Gemma has been very aggressive lately, and I know part of the problem is me.  OH parenting is hard.  Patience, love, charity, kindness.  Patience, love, charity, kindness.  Patience, love, charity, kindness. Repeat repeat repeat.

Confident Parenting - Some good thoughts here too.  I find it hard, often, to not be smug and judge-y.  This is a good perspective. 

And some thoughts on getting inside the head of your toddler.  I especially liked the first part of the article.

The Battle of the Wills: Can I have a Do-over? - I had to look back and make sure I didn't write this one.  Especially the part about my first child's eating habits.

30 Ways it's Become Painfully Obvious that You're a Mom - This was a fun, fast read.  And sadly, very true.

Topic: Education
Common Core Commotion - The more I learn about CC the less alarmed I am about it being implemented in our Catholic schools, especially in our diocese.  It's standards, people, not a nationalized curriculum.  As with everything, it's definitely something to keep an eye on, but my "freak out meter" continues to go down the more I read, learn and observe.  I am not a huge fan of the government's involvement in our Catholic schools, but that is a big battle that I am not equipped to fight right now.  I will pray and trust.

Topic: Church
Is Pope Francis About to Eliminate Celibacy? - Is it just me, or is the media going crazier about everything our current Pope says more than ever?  Really people...what gives?!  And in answer to the question, no not in the foreseeable future, but he could.

Reflections on tomorrow's readings

Fun "Salt Cross" craft for kids on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross (today).

Topic: If your toddler needs a laugh
The Muppets: Ode to Joy (turn the volume up)

Food-for-Thought round-up: end of August

I need to clear my tabs...and my head.  In no particular order:

Time Magazine Asks: Who Needs Kids Anyway? - I thought the tone of this was a little judge-y, but seriously, the magazine cover is just shocking, sooooo....  The last line of the article was very poignant.

Ten Ways to Be Less Wasteful - I liked these, and some of them we already do.  I actually have a set of nine cloth napkins in progress.  And kind of along the same idea, 7 Ways to Sample Living With Less.

40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World - This was just cool.  And a little bizarre.

Duck Dynasty on Abortion, Adoption and Abstinence - Love these guys!!

12 Most Important Metrics for Your Child's Education - Yes.  Yes.

The Five Steps - This was a really simple reminder that I think sometimes my crazed-mommy-drowning-in-early-childhood self needs to remember.  Especially steps 1-4, probably work much better than ranting and raving, and, well, it was a long week last week.  This was just a really, really good re-focus.  

All Good Babies - The term "good baby" really bothers me (in the context in which it is normally used).  This lady gets it.  He is a baby. And therefore he is good.

10 Things I wish the Mainstream Media would get right about Parents who don't Follow the Recommended Vaccine Schedule - I am not looking to incite any battles or start any big thread-wars here, I just really appreciated this perspective on people who choose alternate vaccine schedules.

Here is a video about St. Kolbe.  I am actually just putting it here so I will remember to watch it sometime.  I pulled it up with the kids watching and then decided maybe I should watch it first to make sure it wasn't too much for them.  But we celebrated Kolbe's feast recently so we've read and seen several things about him of late.  Really an amazing saint with an amazing story.

That's all.

Food-for-Thought round-up: August 10

A few that have been all over the internet lately and are probably nothing new to you, but still good:

To Moms of One or Two Children - I've read several articles of this type in the past year or so and oh my, they are so true.  As much as I treasure the days when it was just me and Gemma, or even me, Gemma and a baby, I do.not.want.to.go.back.  Being a first time parent is hard, really hard.  You second guess yourself and everyone has advice for you and you feel like you are parenting in a big fish bowl.  Not that I am completely immune to caring about what others think but oh it gets easier the more kids you have.  Life gets more nuts but you learn to dance with the chaos.  The kids test your limits and stretch and change you (literally and figuratively) in ways you never thought or wanted to be possible, but you emerge a better person on the other side.  Our children - with all their idiosyncrasies and craziness and love and everything in between - are gift.  Pure gift.  Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. 

Mama Knows, Honeychild - I linked the "Adventures in Family Prayer" one, but poke around a little [and grab a box of tissues because you will laugh so hard you might cry].  It's like Crappy Pictures for Catholics.

Moving on, no real order to the rest of this:

Social Media Marriage Killers - This was really great.  In a former life before I was married I spent fairly regular time around people who enjoyed (??) talking very disparagingly of their husbands.  It really bothered me then, and it bothers me more-so now that I actually have a husband.  If I have a problem with Aaron, I will take it up with him, not my friends and certainly not Facebook or my blog.  Sure, I will joke about things now and then, but I honestly would never say anything about him behind his back that I wouldn't be OK with him reading or hearing me say.   

The Coming Push to Give HPV Vaccine to Infants - Seriously, my husband called this one several years ago.  They get you at Hepatitis B before you leave the hospital and then they have you.  I realize Health Impact News Daily is probably a fairly biased source, but I've seen several articles on this from various sources of late.  Watch out.  That's all.  (said in my most doom and gloom conspiracy theory voice, haha.)

Teach Your Six Year Old to Tie Shoes in Five Minutes - I don't know.  It looks cool.  And Gemma can't tie her shoes yet (so we have velcro for kdg), but isn't there something to be said for learning to tie shoes the real way?  Someone chime in on this because I honestly don't know. 

This one on Modern Word Choices was interesting.

Six Great Mysteries of the Bible - This is why I like all those shows on Discovery and NatGeo and the like.  So intriguing. 

Gemma has gotten into mazes lately and I found these free printables after a (very quick) google search.  They print in a 20 page PDF booklet which was very handy! We've both enjoyed working on them together.

Why I Want my Kids to be Bored - I liked this a bunch.  The only technology our kids use currently is the TV and their CD player.  Sometimes I feel badly that I don't let them play games on the computer or that we don't own a tablet or whatever else, but then I read things like this.  And I'm not saying those things are bad or shouldn't be used.  Moderation in everything, and I know as our kids get older technology will become more a part of their lives, and that's fine.  But for now, I like where we are and definitely appreciated this article.

What were your favorite articles this week?

Food-for-Thought round-up (August 2)

There is no rhyme or reason to the order (or lack-thereof) this week.  Apologies.  They're still good articles.  

Bringing the Liturgy Back to the Real Vatican II - This article gave me real hope, something that sadly I feel at times I've lost in regards to the Sacred Liturgy.  Some quotes I liked:

Young people are going back now and studying both the texts of the Second Ecumenical Vatican Council with its serious texts on liturgical theology which remain valid also today. They’re studying the rites as they were celebrated, striving to understand the meaning and various elements of the rite and there’s a great enthusiasm for that and a great interest in it. All of it, I believe, is directed to a more intense experience of God’s presence with us through the sacred liturgy. That transcendent element was most sadly lost when the reform after the Council was, so to speak, side-tracked and manipulated for other purposes – that sense of transcendence of Christ’s action through the sacraments.

and especially

There’s no question in my mind that the abuses in the sacred liturgy, reduction of the sacred liturgy to some kind of human activity, is strictly correlated with a lot of moral corruption and with a levity in catechesis that has been shocking and has left generations of Catholics ill prepared to deal with the challenges of our time by addressing the Catholic faith to those challenges. You can see it in the whole gamut of Church life.

Finding Happiness Where You Least Expect It - What a powerful message.

If happiness cannot be found in material possessions, where can it be found? The answer is: we find happiness where we least expect it—in self-denial. This is not a piece of wisdom that is easily learned and lived, because it is so paradoxical. Who, without being told, would ever imagine that denying oneself would bring happiness? ...  Denial of self prepares us for disappointments from others: “Contradictions from others will hurt us less when we have first contradicted ourselves. The hand that is calloused will not pain as much as a soft hand, on catching a hard ball. Contradictions can even be assimilated and used for further taming of our own errant impulses.”

Age Appropriate Bedtimes for Kids - Liked this, and agreed mostly.  Was relieved to see that my kids are hitting about right for hours slept.  Bedtimes are a little later around here than what this suggested, especially for the baby (usually 8 give or take) but they will probably get earlier once school starts.  Although whew, it is hard with a hubby who works a little later and wanting to sit down and eat dinner all together.  And I just can't do staggered bedtimes at this point, besides with the baby, he goes to bed when he's ready to sleep which sometimes coincides with the big kids and sometimes is earlier or later.  Kolbe probably gets a little less sleep than he needs sometimes since he doesn't nap, but all in all I feel like my kids are generally well-rested.  

My husband is not my soul mate - This title really piqued my interest when I saw someone post in on Facebook, and she brings up some really good points Aaron and I have actually discussed before.  This whole idea that God has one person chosen for you and you magically end up with that person and fall in love and live happily ever after, etc. etc. blah blah, you know the story.  At the end of the day (especially a really rough one) sometimes you have to choose to love.  And sure, I look back and I see God's hand in every aspect of the road that led me to my vocation, absolutely! But this romanticized idea that it was all completely beyond my control and I have nothing more than the cosmos to thank for my husband falling in my lap.  Well...  She says it better, a few quotes I liked:

A husband is not only not a biblical promise, it is also not a specific element of God’s “plan for my life.” God’s plan is for us to be made more holy, more like Christ… not marry a certain person.

There is no biblical basis to indicate that God has one soul mate for you to find and marry. You could have a great marriage with any number of compatible people. There is no ONE PERSON for you. But once you marry someone, that person becomes your one person.

This is profoundly unromantic advice. We love to hear of people who “just can’t help who they love,” or people who “fall in love,” or “find the one person meant for them.”  Even within the Christian circle, we love to talk about how God “had someone” for someone else for all of time. But what happens to these people when the unstoppable and uncontrollable force that prompted them to start loving, lets them stop loving, or love someone else?   What happens is a world where most marriages end in divorce, and even those that don’t are often unhappy.  My marriage is not based on a set of choices over which I had no control. It is based on a daily choice to love this man, this husband that I chose out of many people that I could have chosen to love (in theory, don’t imagine that many others were lined up and knocking at the door). He is not some illusive soul mate, not some divine fullfulment, not some perfect step on the rigorously laid out but of so secret “Plan for My Life.”

 Seriously though, I think I've quoted about three-quarters of the article.  Just go read it.

How I Avoided and Got Rid of GBS - I was GBS+ with my third pregnancy, and after seriously weighing the risks/benefits, we ended up going ahead and doing a round of IV antibiotics before Clem was born (they actually only had time to get one round in, I guess two 4 hours apart is preferable).  I was not thrilled about doing this, for my gut or his, but it seemed to be the best decision for us at the time.  At any rate though, several of these protocols are things we already do so I am definitely interested in trying to avoid being GBS+ next go around (no that is not in any way shape or form an announcement), as once you are positive your chance of being positive with subsequent pregnancies is pretty good.   I think I would scale back on the Vitamin C by about 1000mg (as per hubby's recommendation), but I think it's worth a try.

15 things You Should Give Up To Be a Happy Parent - This was just a good reminder.

What Pope Francis Really Said About Gays - Sigh.  The media.  

Kate used no painkillers during birth - I really didn't want to get sucked in.  I tried so hard to turn the other way.  But alas...I've only read two articles though, so I only just got a little sucked in.  But this was great!  Props, Kate!

First Steps: A Stay-at-home Mother Faces Letting Go - **Sniff**  Oh Gemma. This made me tear up a little as we approach the beginning of the school years for Gemma.  We are ready for this step, I am confident, but I still feel emotional about it.  Oh life.  I liked this the best:

It all snuck up on me but here we are. After four and a half years of holding her close, it is time to slowly begin to let go. A bittersweet process that will last the rest of our lives.  I hope that she never forgets the love and the fun and the magic in our first four years together...even if the details grow fuzzy in time.

 I don't know this blogger, but this post definitely struck a chord with me right about now.

Food-for-Thought round-up: July 26

Emotional Security - This was just a good reminder.  Nothing earth-shattering, but I'm glad I read it.

Some thoughts on Humanae Vitae and NFP - I don't really want to start a big debate about this, I've witnessed enough Facebook threads on this topic of late to make my head spin.  SO many strong (and often misinformed) opinions, whew.  But this article (and I actually didn't read the whole thing) did provide some good information I thought.  And if you have never read Humanae Vitae, two words...read it.

Mercy and Confession - I am so grateful for the opportunity for regular confession and Spiritual Direction.  This article had some good, concise nuggets of wisdom about the Sacramental Grace we receive from Reconciliation.

Sexy Little Girls - Sigh.  I hate this trend.  I can hear my daughter telling me "we don't say 'hate' mommy," but this is an instance where I will unashamedly say it.  I got a Penney's ad in the mail the other day and I seriously couldn't tell what age the kids were in the ads because the style of clothing made them look so much older than they probably were.  It was just weird.  And I'm not even talking modesty strictly.  I mean, yes, modesty is an issue, but some articles of clothing, even if they are modest, are not intended for a five year old girl to wear.  I didn't completely identify with everything the author said (perchance it was her atheist perspective??)  but she made some good points.  

In the parenting category:

• Going Against a Toddler's Will - I liked this, especially the distinction between "soft" and "hard" rules.  So many parenting methods are so big on "consistency" no matter what, and that has always bugged me, as I do believe different things carry different weights, and also that you have to pick your battles sometimes depending on things like tiredness, hunger, etc. This was a good read.
• Truths About Consequences -  Some of the "consequence based" parenting styles I've seen and read about just seem so arbitrary to me.  This summed up my disdain for that approach to discipline quite succinctly.  I thought some of her model conversations were a little wordy and/or forced, and not exactly what I'd say, but I agree that consequences are often simply a euphemism for punishments, and that we teach our children much more effectively through our own example and secure relationships with them than through rewards and consequences.
• The Sweet Spot - I'm not there yet.  Not really even close.  But I liked this article a lot and thought maybe some of you out there could relate and appreciate it now.  Maybe I'll come back and read it here in 5-7 years....

Food-for-Thought round-up: July 21

Some good thoughts (that I could use to read daily, or maybe hourly) on self-control:

• The Freedom of Self Mastery - "But I still struggle.  Four active young children, a nursing baby, and a full household to manage often makes it difficult to convince my body to do the will of my spirit."  Yup, that is one of my hugest struggles lately too, the discipline to get. out. of. bed. in the morning.  I used to be such a morning person, and lately I have so many excuses.  Accountability here...6:30 every morning this week.  Ask me how I'm doing.
  
• What to Do When You May or May Not be a Control Freak - " Every impulse to seize control — is the Holy Spirit’s invitation to practice self-control.  Every nerve jolt to freak out, melt down, start yelling, fly into rage or panic is a divine cue to slow down, breathe deep, start praying, and lean into God.  Every instinct to control something is God’s nudge to control myself."
  
• And sort of along that vein, Don't Squash My Emotions.  If you don't read the whole thing, at least read the first paragraph.

Moving on...

Emotion begets emotion. When our friends are happy or sad, we feel happy or sad. Maybe we feel twinges of tears during tissue commercials, or serious anxiety while watching contentious political debates. Being in the room with an angry individual, especially a loud angry person with big aggressive movements, can (and should) cause anxiety or mirrored anger. And parenting is no different. We come face to face with our children’s mostly raw, unhinged, loud and pure emotion once, twice or a hundred times a day. - See more at: http://coreparentingpdx.com/2013/dont-squash-my-emotions/#sthash.Q1y9w2Us.dpu

Emotion begets emotion. When our friends are happy or sad, we feel happy or sad. Maybe we feel twinges of tears during tissue commercials, or serious anxiety while watching contentious political debates. Being in the room with an angry individual, especially a loud angry person with big aggressive movements, can (and should) cause anxiety or mirrored anger. And parenting is no different. We come face to face with our children’s mostly raw, unhinged, loud and pure emotion once, twice or a hundred times a day. - See more at: http://coreparentingpdx.com/2013/dont-squash-my-emotions/#sthash.Q1y9w2Us.dpuf

Emotion begets emotion. When our friends are happy or sad, we feel happy or sad. Maybe we feel twinges of tears during tissue commercials, or serious anxiety while watching contentious political debates. Being in the room with an angry individual, especially a loud angry person with big aggressive movements, can (and should) cause anxiety or mirrored anger. And parenting is no different. We come face to face with our children’s mostly raw, unhinged, loud and pure emotion once, twice or a hundred times a day. - See more at: http://coreparentingpdx.com/2013/dont-squash-my-emotions/#sthash.Q1y9w2Us.dpuf

Emotion begets emotion. When our friends are happy or sad, we feel happy or sad. Maybe we feel twinges of tears during tissue commercials, or serious anxiety while watching contentious political debates. Being in the room with an angry individual, especially a loud angry person with big aggressive movements, can (and should) cause anxiety or mirrored anger. And parenting is no different. We come face to face with our children’s mostly raw, unhinged, loud and pure emotion once, twice or a hundred times a day. - See more at: http://coreparentingpdx.com/2013/dont-squash-my-emotions/#sthash.Q1y9w2Us.dpuf

Emotion begets emotion. When our friends are happy or sad, we feel happy or sad. Maybe we feel twinges of tears during tissue commercials, or serious anxiety while watching contentious political debates. Being in the room with an angry individual, especially a loud angry person with big aggressive movements, can (and should) cause anxiety or mirrored anger. And parenting is no different. We come face to face with our children’s mostly raw, unhinged, loud and pure emotion once, twice or a hundred times a day. - See more at: http://coreparentingpdx.com/2013/dont-squash-my-emotions/#sthash.Q1y9w2Us.dp

Today we celebrate our seventh anniversary, and this made me appreciate this Marriage Crucifix post all the more.  What a beautiful way to begin and foundation on which to build a marriage. 

From the "interesting" files:

• Concerns Rising Over Slow Appointment of Bishops.  We are currently without a Bishop, and after reading this I'm wondering if it will be awhile...
  
• And one from Huff Post that caught my eye after the pony debacle last week.  The Disturbing Evolution of My Little Pony.

In the recipe department, my hubby made ceviche today.  It was pretty good, he'd been wanting to try it for a long time.  That wasn't the exact recipe he used, but it was a good place to start.  He used silver corvina for the fish.   

And related to food, another one from Huff Post, From Oreos to Apple Slices was inspiring. IMHO... Cookies and snacks and such weren't quite such a bad thing 20-30 years ago when many snacks were homemade, and the processed foods weren't quite as full of the junk (dyes, preservatives, partially hydrogenated oils, fat and sugar replacements, etc.) as they are today.  What this mom did was really great.  Yes, serving healthy snacks takes more work, more prep time, more creativity and effort.  But who's to say it isn't worth it??

Check in with SimpleMama for more Food for Thought.

Food-for-Thought round-up (3rd edition)

Pizza and Big Emotions - I liked this.  I have a three-year-old who has tantrums just like that, over the same type of things.  Like, seriously, I had to go back and make sure I didn't write the article, it was that eerily familiar.  And he's not being a bad boy.  He's just being three.  It is always encouraging for me to read something like this.  Keep the faith, Monica, the threes don't last forever.  And seriously, whoever invented the "terrible-twos" clearly did not have a three year old.  Two is hands-down wayyyyy easier than three (IMHO).

Study Finds Benefits of Delayed Cord Clamping - We've delayed clamping/cutting the cord with all three of our children, and will with future ones as well.  Not too much more to say about that, but I saw this and felt compelled to share.  I had no idea about this until my doc delayed it with our first and hubby explained why after the fact.  Since then we have been sure to specify in our Birth Plan.  

Anglican Prayer Beads - I had no idea any other denominations had "rosaries".  These look neat, and I really like the prayers that go along with them. 

Screen Rules - We're still several years away from this being an issue.  Currently we have a set time of day (after lunch) that the kids get to watch a few shows from OnDemand or the DVR, plus sometimes an episode of Little Bear before bed.  Any other TV watched is initiated/monitored by mom or dad, and the kids don't use the computer or any other electronic devices yet.  So much to think about...

Some info on Shingles Transmission -  I found this particularly interesting, especially since several people had expressed concern that my children with Chicken Pox could give them shingles.  This kind of puts that myth to rest.

What Happens When You Deprive Children of Scary Stories - A friend of mine shared these quotes with me when I put something on Facebook about being a little weirded-out after reading Hansel and Gretel to Gemma last week.  Sound off, I'm curious as to others' thoughts (and experiences) on this topic.  I think it comes down to perspective...those stories seem much stranger to an adult who lacks any sort of imagination (me) than they do to children whose entire days are often comprised of pretend-play and the like.

Unfinished Work - My sister shared this one, and it sums up my feelings about the Fourth of July and America in general fairly well.  I used to be so patriotic, and lately I just feel jaded and cynical about the whole political process.  I don't have the mental energy to hash all my thoughts out here now, but Simcha made some really good points.

Top Ten Feeding Mistakes Parents Make - This was interesting, although I definitely didn't agree with it all.  I thought the first two were pretty good.  I was pretty "traditional" with the way we fed Gemma and mealtime was miserable with her.  I was much more relaxed/open-minded with Kolbe, and haven't done really any purees with Clem and they both were/are great eaters as babies (we start limited solids around 7-8 months and Clem is just now getting to the point at 1 year where we'll give him about anything).  I go back and forth about milk, the two older kids drink quite a bit of it and I don't really limit it.  It doesn't seem to be a huge problem so thus far I've let it go.  And I definitely agree with the picky thing (that it is very normal with the toddler/preschooler crowd) and I think you just have to pick your battles on a day-by-day basis.  We have a "no thank you bite(s)" rule at our house for foods served at mealtime that kids would rather not eat.  And while I don't necessarily bribe with desserts, on the flip side of the coin if you are not "hungry" enough to eat a good dinner, you're not hungry enough for a treat either is my motto.  The "no banned foods" thing got me thinking too, because there are some foods and drinks that I will absolutely not allow in my house.  Kool-Aid.  Soda pop.  Processed snack junk like Twinkies and [most] crackers and potato chips.  That said I understand that there are birthday parties and school functions and such where my kids will have those things but as far as I'm concerned those foods are not welcome in our home.  Not even in moderation  ;-)  And the boundaries in the kitchen thing...at least at this point if my kids are hungry I will let them eat.  They know, though, that if it's bedtime or right before a meal their options are pretty much limited to "apples or carrots".  And I really don't have a problem with that, I mean, it's healthy, who cares if it's mealtime or if they fill up on it?!  I'm sure my tune may change through the years but that's where we are now.  At any rate, the article gave me some "food" for thought, haha.  Regarding kids and diet, I think Eat Healthy, Feel Great is a really good book that explains healthy food choices in a very kid-friendly way.  My kids (especially Gemma) really got a lot out of it. 

What are some of your thoughts on kids and diet? 

Food-for-Thought round-up (2nd edition)

A Pox on the CDC's Vaccination Agenda - This was an interesting read I stumbled upon after just going through a round of chicken pox at our house.  I would definitely lean towards thinking the chicken pox vaccine is doing more harm than good, for various ethical and safety reasons.  A few things of interest from the article: (quoting)

Indeed, since the introduction of universal chickenpox vaccination in the US in 1995, the vaccine has been found to have only limited effectiveness,[2] with 1 in 5 children receiving the original vaccine experiencing “breakthrough” infections.”[3] This is why, at present, children on the CDC’s immunization schedule receive two doses. But increasing the number of doses isn’t working either.  For example, in 2006, a chickenpox outbreak occurred in a population of Arkansas schoolchildren with 97% immunization compliance. When the researchers looked at the difference in outbreak cases between one-dose and two-dose children, none could be found.[4] (the footnotes can be found at the end of the article if you click on the link)

and

Chicken pox vaccine is also grown with living cells from aborted fetal tissue. Known as “diploid” vaccines, they carry their own set of biological and obviously moral risks.  As far as the precautionary principle stands, injecting virus-infected human cells, alongside powerful immunotoxic adjuvants, into the bodies of healthy children in order to ‘protect’ them from a benign, immune-strengthening bout of chickenpox, sounds like the very definition of insanity. But as it stands today, millions of parents and their pediatricians consider this not only sound practice, but necessary to prevent infecting others.

Oftentimes people examining the effectiveness or necessity of compulsory vaccination fail to mention the aborted-fetal link, so I was impressed that this article touched on that.  For more info on aborted-fetal vaccines and their dangers, take a look at this video or more info here.

Homemade Watercolors - We go through a lot of watercolors around here, so I'm intrigued.  Definitely debating about trying these.

How Same-Sex Marriage Won - I like how this tied same-sex marriage to the wide-spread acceptance of contraception.  As my husband said, contraception really paved the way to many of the "evils" we see in today's society.

Is Cursive Writing Dead? - I can (sort of) see both sides of this one, but I definitely fall into the camp that leans toward thinking cursive is still very necessary.  I mean,on a very basic level, how does one sign one's name if one cannot write cursive?  Am I missing something here??  I think cursive teaches attention to detail, it teaches kids to slow down and take pride in their work.  I think it can be an art in and of itself.  I remember my grandma's cursive always perfectly slanted and beautifully written with those flare pens she was never without.  Maybe I'm just an old sentimental fuddy-duddy, but do away with cursive?  Methinks not.  If cursive is not taught to my children in school, I intend to teach it to them at home. 

Lactivism, aka I'll teach YOU how to feel about nursing - I really liked this. Three kids in, I feel like I've really come full-circle with the whole 'nursing' thing.  I've never used formula (and my younger two have actually never had a bottle), but with my oldest I would pump at home and then bottle-feed her in public.  I feel silly about this now, but that's where I was.  With my second, in looking back I am probably a little guilty of some of that in-your-face "lactivism" that I've definitely witnessed, namely in perusing threads and strong opinions on Facebook.  I feel like I've reached a happy medium with my third, and will probably be in the same place I am now with any subsequent children.  I keep an "all purpose" light-weight blanket in my diaper bag that I use as a blanket/changing pad/nursing cover/burp cloth, etc. etc.  If I am out in public and in close quarters (namely the pew at Church comes to mind) I will toss this blanket over my shoulder when I  nurse.  Otherwise, if I am at a park or in a large gathering where there's lots of space, I typically just nurse.  That said, I will add that I am rather small-chested and I always wear a tank under my shirt that I can pull down the neckline of so there just isn't a whole lot of anything being shown.  If I were somewhere and didn't have my magical blanket and my baby (who nurses on demand) needed/wanted to nurse, I am confident of my ability to discreetly nurse him in a "non-in-your-face way" without offending anyone. Or rather, if anyone chooses to be offended I am of the mindset that this is their problem.  And I say that with all due respect.  Like I said, I've really come full-circle.  I feel very strongly about the importance of breast-feeding...from nutrition to bonding and everything in-between.  But it's not my job to convince the general public of this by being obnoxious. 

And along the lines of breastfeeding, I didn't read the whole thing but The Risk of Not Breastfeeding was an interesting and unbiased paper.

Here's one that really doesn't need any commentary...Blessed John Paul II to be Canonized!!!! 

And another one from Catholic AP.  Finding God in our Parenting Weakness.  I liked this quote a lot: 

I am not called to create perfect experiences for my children.  I am not called to create a perfectly tidy house for my children.  I am called to lead my children to heaven, even when it’s messy, inconvenient, and downright infuriating.  

In the recipe category...we don't have (or have room for) a dehydrator, but I think I may try these homemade fruit roll-ups in our oven.  I remember loving my mom's homemade fruit roll-ups, and I couldn't agree more with the author's sentiments on the store bought ones.

For more Food-for-Thought visit Simplemama.

Food-for-Thought round-up (1st edition)

So many good articles to read and share, following the inspiration of Erika I decided to (maybe weekly?) round them up so I can remember them for all posterity.  Or at least when I go to look for them tomorrow.

The Hidden Oneness of the Family - I really liked this, especially this quote at the end.  "Children possess full personhood just as adults do — they don’t have to do anything to earn it.  Affirming their dignity means we don’t scare them or hit them; it means we sometimes put aside our own needs in order to meet those needs which they are unable to meet themselves; it means that we empower them over time to care for themselves, to manage their emotions, to manage their time & friendships; it means that we recognize that they are unique and unrepeatable, with their own way of feeling loved, their own talents and tastes, their own unique gifts to bring to the world."

The Fight for Marriage Continues - Some perspective on the over-turning of DOMA. 

Duck Dynasty adds beardless cast member - Set your DVR's...new season starts in August!!

Ten Things Generation Y Won't Tell You - I haven't read the whole thing, but my hubby shared this with me the other night and we both thought it was pretty interesting.  And spot on.  And a little scary.  OH millenials....

I Thirst - Another one from Catholic AP.  And another nice perspective, especially for growing families.

And this one about the Girl Scouts -  From the article, quoting: "In May 2013, WAGGGS participated in Women Deliver, a global conference with the purpose of 'call[ing] for action to improve the health and well-being of girls and women.'  The conference featured speakers such as late-term abortionist LeRoy Carhart, philosopher Peter Singer, who supports infanticide and euthanasia, and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius."  End quote.  Seriously.  I mean, really?  Just, wow.  I am not here to judge others' decisions, but I will say that unless there is some sort of huge overhaul in the upper levels of this organization, our family will never (and I have learned to use that word very sparingly) be involved with the GSA.  I just can't justify it, no matter how I dice it.

What Really Happened at the Komen Foundation - Still working my way through this one too.  Very, very interesting to learn about some of the inside things that went on.

A couple recipes I came across that looked tasty and EASY.  Chicken and Cheese Tostadas (especially now that we have a great local place to get authentic tortillas) and this Cheesy Beef and Rice.  I haven't tried either, so no promises!

And in closing, the Prayer for Religious Liberty, to be prayed by Catholics and people of faith everywhere, especially during this Fortnight for Freedom.