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Getting Tempermental

February 16, 2012

Battling Monster Fears 101

We have had a nightly visitor this week. She crawl into our bed, settle between us and says sleepily: "I"ve had a bad dream."

I can live with that part (in fact, I enjoy it). The problem is when I put her to bed, she says that as soon as she closes her eyes she can see the monster of her dreams waiting to come get her.

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December 28, 2011

All Pinked Up and Nothing to Build: Lego for Girls

We love Lego here at Chaos. There are Star Wars sets and headless minifigs lying all over the house. There are corrupted cars and colourful towers piling up in the corners. And we aren't alone.

What parent hasn't had a nostalgic moment putting together a Lego set? What parent hasn't shouted with frustration after finding a misplaced piece near the end of the instructions? And what parent hasn't screamed with agony after standing on a tiny brick lying on the ground?

And yet, Lego is one of the few toys that kids and parents both love. We feel good about the educational and motor skill development that comes from playing with the little bricks, and experience a moment of parental pride in our sons' obvious brilliance when they complete 87 steps in a short time.

But what about the girls?

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December 18, 2011

Toy Store Drops Sexist Division, Will Others Follow?

I was cruising the aisles of Toys R Us and was a little shocked to find myself in a sea of pink. Pink shelves, pink signs, pink products. And then a few aisles later I'm in a sea of blue.

It was a bit over-the-top. I understand that marketers feel very strongly that Beyblades are for boys. But I happened to be buying one for my daughter. Was I the only one in the boys' section buying a gift for a girl? Are there people buying gifts for boys in the girls' section?

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October 30, 2011

Girl Scouts Admit Transgender Boy to Troop

Bobby Montoya has been identifying as a girl since the age of two, despite being born with "boy parts". His family has always supported him whether it was his choice in toys or clothes, hairstyles or what he wanted to do with his time. When he wanted to join a Colorado Girl Scout troop, however, the group wasn't so understanding and turned him down.

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October 23, 2011

Allowance Wars: Is It About The Chores or Not?

Help me resolve a dispute between my husband and I. It's about money.

Specifically, the kids' money. (If you want to resolve our money disputes I think we might need a weekly one-hour appointment.)

I believe that allowance should not be tied to chores but should be used as a teaching tool on how to save and budget. I also think that as members of the family the kids get a small share in the family's money. (A lesson in sharing that will serve them later in life, in case one of them earns substantially less than the other. If you get my drift...)

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October 4, 2011

A New Way to Deal With Bullying, But Is It Too Soft?

Mitchell Wilson was 11 when he took his own life. He had Muscular Dystrophy, was bullied,mugged and beaten in the months leading up to his death. His tormentor was caught but instead of pursuing criminal charges, Mitchell's father is asking for the tween to do community service with disabled kids.

He said he wants to “save the child, because he is just a child too.”

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August 23, 2011

Supermoms and Stay-at-Home Moms All Find Motherhood Depressing

Do you ever feel depressed? Like you can't do it all? That you are a bad mother, poor worker and you just can't climb over the mountain of laundry, and half-eaten plates of dinner?

Well, you aren't alone. A new study says that not only are stay-at-home moms depressed, so are many moms who work outside the home. Essentially, most mothers are depressed. So if you are home with your kidlets all day you will feel badly, and if you work in an office with the assumption that you are able to do it all -- then you are depressed too.

Huh?

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July 29, 2011

How Do You Embarrass Your Kids? Let Me Count the Ways

I have an 11-year-old which means that I am a walking, talking embarrassment to him. Unless, he wants something - then I am okay to hang out with.

I can embarrass him by touching him in public, joking around with his friends, singing along to the radio, taking pictures of him swimming with no shirt on, taking pictures of him generally but my worst offense is when I try to be cool.

 

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July 4, 2011

Driving Lessons Are Not For The Old

My hands were sliding on the steering wheel, greased by sweat, my two feet felt like three as I tried to negotiate the gas, clutch and brake pedals. As the car hopped for what seemed like an endless moment; I couldn't help but let a lone 'F*ck!' fly out of my mouth.

My Young Drivers of Canada driving instructor laughed and told me that it's been a while since he heard someone swearing at the wheel. It seems the teens who take driving lessons keep their emotions in check better than the 40-year-old mother trying to learn to drive stick.

 

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July 3, 2011

How to Pry A Clingy Kid Off Your Leg

Have you ever walked through your entire house with a kid attached to your ankle? Yeah, me too.

Gotten pins and needles in your feet because your kid must sit on your lap?

Walked away from a school door teary-eyed because your child is sobbing as they walk up to class?

Left a playdate or birthday party holding your child's hand because they refused to stay? (and then swore silently to yourself because you are now missing out on your one hour alone.)

Yes, yes and yes.

 

 

 

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Emma WavermanEmma Waverman

Emma Waverman writes five days a week about the chaos of modern family life here at MSN.ca. She is the co-author of the family cookbook Whining and Dining: Mealtime Survival for Picky Eaters and Families Who Love Them and is hoping to one day to finish her certification as a parenting coach. She lives with her three kids, ranging from tween to grade schooler, and husband in Toronto. Emma has written for a variety of national parenting and lifestyle magazines and papers. When she’s is not making typos, telling you what she thinks, and thinking about dinner - you can find her on Twitter at @emmawaverman. You can contact Emma at embracingchaos@hotmail.ca

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