It’s that time of year again when you’re starting to think about healthy alternatives to put into your child’s back pack or lunch box. Over the last several years the country has seen an explosion of cereal bars in every flavor you can imagine. Many of them contain high amounts of sugars, food coloring, fat and ingredients you wouldn’t want to give to a growing body, and the good news is, you don’t have to. Kids can have their favorite snack without making you feel like you’re giving them candy.
The girls had a friend, Jenny, over to play this weekend. It turns out Jenny is a very innocent friend. And I sort of wonder—and sort of don’t want to know—exactly what she went home and told her parents afterwards. As you know, I want to be honest and open about the world in which we live with my children. But I wonder how much other parents tell their kids—or how much they censor things—and how much I should censor things when I am around other people’s children?
There’s a conundrum, wait that word is too big. There’s an interesting problem that occurs when you’re the child of a same sex couple. And, it gets even more complicated if you are the child of a transgender individual or individuals. It’s not just the parent’s sexuality that can present unique problems (that’s a whole series of articles). The problem, if you choose to make it a problem, is: How does a child address their parents in homes where there are two dads or two moms?
September always feels like the beginning of the year for me. Somehow, I think our clocks get set at a very early young age to the rhythm of school beginning and we never really outgrow this. At least that's the case for me. There's always a small part of me that feels like I am starting with a clean slate, a new beginning, and anything can happen; that the possibilities are infinite and luck is on my side. I truly love this time of year.
I knew better than this. You don't park a packed car festooned with bikes in Central Square and walk away. True it was next to the farmer's market. True we had a bike lock tethering the bikes to one another. But really it was only asking for trouble.
Kim felt differently. "Who's gonna steal our stuff with all these people shopping?"
I nodded thinking, "Who's gonna stop them?"
Does your family have any back-to-school traditions? Maybe shopping for a new first day of school outfit or making a special treat for the first day of school lunch? Think of traditions as inexpensive little ways to create lasting family memories…no matter how silly the tradition, it will be remembered for a lifetime!
If you don’t have any back-to-school traditions, here are some ideas from Budget Diet readers to inspire you:
One would never think that an everyday activity like eating could be so huge in a single culture. It is often said that if eating were an Olympic sport, Singaporeans would emerge as the Gold medalists.
Singapore is a tiny country and food is what binds the multi-racial, lingual and religious society as one. From extreme dishes like beef lungs and fish head curry (yes, including the eyeballs) to chicken rice; its neighboring countries, its multi-racial society and the numerous dialect groups have a profound influence on Singapore’s food.
It’s been a long month—a month filled with moving, cleaning, traveling, working, repairing, entertaining, mouse hunting and child rearing. I feel like I’ve hardly spent any time with Joel—though we’ve spent almost every waking moment within five feet of each other. But last night I wanted to bond and I suddenly found myself in the bathroom alone with Joel—and all the kids were in bed (get your mind out of the gutter people).
Just a few more days left until the deadline to enter your home videos to Gayby Boom. Well, unless you contact me and tell me how you wish to participate and you would like a bit more time. In that case I will tell you how special you are and that I would love to give you more time because we need and want to see you.
Being gay and having a child may add another dimension to the normal concerns that parents have when their kids begin a new school year, whether it's starting school for the first time or beginning a new middle school. The good news is that most LGBT families across the country found that school administrations and teachers were overwhelmingly welcoming and treated their children with the same level of respect that they treated the other kids.
It's back-to-school time and that means parents everywhere are gathering school supplies—from a cool backpack to notebook organizers to pencils and pens. Because all parents want their child to succeed during this school year, the best pen for all of the note taking and schoolwork writing they'll be doing is essential.
I’ve heard some kind and motivating words in the past few days, all the way from Washington to Missouri. Lesbians are so nice. Or is it moms? Maybe women. Perhaps nice people are just nice. Actually, I think many of us have this inner dialogue going on where we’re talking to and with other people. Sometimes it's nice to expel that inner dialogue outward and tell it like it is. Sharing is caring.
What can be bad about a happy relationship, traveling the globe with rock 'n' roll status and a house full of adoring pugs? The answer is, of course, nothing. And that’s pretty much how both Anita and Mark Mothersbaugh saw it. They were a fabulously busy, happy couple that decided that they were going to have a family of pugs to spoil and enjoy life together. For many years, it was perfect; both were busy with their respective careers and passions.
Last week Fatima, Gulshan and I flew to my home province of Nova Scotia for my cousin’s wedding. It was an eye-opening trip in a lot of ways: Nova Scotia is about as far away from Los Angeles as one can get in North America, and Gulshan apparently believed that we and all others aboard our plane would plunge to our deaths unless she kept the airplane going through the force of her screams.
Of course, on arrival in N.S. Gulshan immediately gave the lie to our shredded nerves and whitened hair, behaving like an angel throughout our visit. Sort of.
At the risk of being stoned by the La Leche police, I’m going to let you in on a secret: It’s okay if the lactation nurse is wrong.
I am a working mom with two happy, healthy kids, a 3-year-old girl and a 12-month-old little boy. Just admitting that I work and send my babies to daycare makes me feel like I have to explain myself and my choice to work rather than stay home. But that’s another article.
She Looks Just Like You: A Memoir of (Nonbiological Lesbian) Motherhood by Amie Klempnauer Miller caught my eye in a local bookstore, but I had no idea exactly what was in store for me. This “memoir of non-biological lesbian motherhood” took me on an emotional journey that brought back my own memories, fears, paranoia, and uncertainties of being a first time mother.
I’ve been working off and on for four weeks writing an award proposal for Gayby Boom. Sometimes it flows and sometimes it doesn't. I’m still writing. With each sentence re-written over five times, the need for this film is reinforced.
It hasn’t always been reinforced. Nope. There’s been quite a few times I wanted to drop this project. Plenty-O-times. I believe in the purpose, and my purpose. So I keep on. Or it keeps on me.
You’re an out parent when you have biological kids from a previous marriage, have adopted a child as a single gay or lesbian, or are in the process of adopting. And along the way, “Suzie met Sally,” or “Harry met Hank.”
So, how do LGBT’s (Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals, Transgenders) date, with kids in the mix, and keep it all in balance?
Summer might be almost over for some, or still dragging for others, but either way parents are looking for ways to keep their kids entertained, engaged and learning. Many families will enroll children in music lessons over the summer and for the new school year, but there are other economical ways to introduce kids to the joy of playing an instrument.
I teach violin at the St. Louis School of music and I know that not all families have the time, resources and or interest to devote to private instruction and buying or renting a violin, cello or piano.
I come from a long line of stressed out, tense, tightly-wound human beings. I’ve always envied those people called “laid back” or “chilled out.” I hardly comprehend those words. Part genetics and part learned behavior, it’s natural for me to approach change, problems or conflict with my blood rising, my pulse quickening and anxious thoughts rushing to my mind. Chances are however you were raised or even if people have called you laid back, you’ve experienced such anxiety and stress at some point in your life.
Well it’s hard to believe that summer is over and we are now on the precipice of another school year. For some it is the start of their formal education, for others it is a new school and for others, it is returning to an environment they are familiar with. Regardless of the specifics, it is a change in what has been the routine for the past couple of months, so be prepared!
Here are four areas that will help you and your children make the transition to the school year smoother:
Joel, my much younger man, turns 33 this week. Even Joel is surprised he is so old—he Facebooked that he “doesn’t believe it” (sure Joel when you said my turning 40 was no big deal). No one else thinks he’s old. I had a friend this week remark how much muscle he had—and another friend text me to tell me how wonderful he was—and another friend was totally impressed that he is so much younger than me (not sure if he was impressed with me or impressed with Joel). But, what happens when Joel, himself, suddenly thinks he is old?
My friend, Stacey, bought a camera a while back that fits over your head or your helmet. I lusted after that little megapixel camera, not for the quality but for the access. Many a time I’ve wished I’d had a camera on my head, filming the goings on of my surroundings, with the interesting characters, situations and experience. But, alas, we cannot film everything for we must live and enjoy life.
It’s that time of year again that every student dreads, no matter what age. So what could make returning back to school a little more fun? Some great iPhone and iPod apps that actually are helpful and fun to use.
We have compiled a list of twelve super helpful iPhone and iPod apps for every student from elementary school all the way to college. Take a look at these great apps and download some of them to get your student excited about school this year and on the path to a successful educational career.
Of all the new attitudes and changes in one's life that are hardest to adopt, it seems that eating healthier and dropping a few pounds is high up there. That's why we loved this post we spotted on WellandGoodNYC.com. Check out the great combination of reader suggestions and expert advice:
Energy is on the rise my good people. I have more men! I have quite a few mothers who have submitted already and a few dads have now have committed to sharing their stories. I am still looking to share the voice of the transgender community and more children of LGBT parents. Let this statement be an echo. If you are connected with anyone who works with COLAGE, please encourage them to send the information to their networks. It’s a great organization and I think it could make a great collaboration.
In teaching young people to play violin and ocarina, I see them also learning skills that will help them in their studies, life and work. One of the amazing things about music education is how students pick up these skills through the process of learning to play an instrument.
I first caught a glimpse of Eric and Christie Hepburn's beautiful home when it was featured on last year's AIA Homes Tour. The bright colors and warmth were surprising for a modern home; it didn't feel like some cold or sterile bachelor pad (that modern homes sometimes remind me of). I fell in love with the house's aesthetics and also the environmentally-friendly features like rain water collection and a rooftop garden.
We all know that adoption is a valid and important way in which many people create families. Sometimes it's adopting children or babies domestically or internationally, and sometimes it's by adopting a new pet, like a cat or a dog. Chances are you know someone either in your family or through a friend or coworker who’s life has been touched by adoption. The stories are always unique, touching and we love hearing every one of them.
Beau Bonneau is an unmarried, good-looking business man living in Hollywood. Two years ago, at the age of 44, when he should have been off buying Porsches for his mid-life crisis and sauntering around with twenty-year-old hotties, he became a father to four Mexican orphans, Luis, Abram, Brisa and Evelin, all brothers and sisters. It didn't exactly happen overnight, but that doesn't take away from the fact that it happened at all. In fact, something like this has never happened before.