Mom's Groups

Since most of us are not living in the proverbial village that is supposed to be helping us raise our children, the internet is a great resource for referrals, tips, tricks, and generally finding out about "best practices" for raising kids. In every major metropolitan city, moms have gotten together and formed their own online communities.

Here in Washington, dcurbanmoms.com hosts bulleting boards on everything from travel tips to pediatrician recommendations to discussions on nanny benefit plans. We found our OBGYN through dcurbanmoms.com, and also our first (and last -but that's another post) nanny.

Look up the "moms" site where you live. In addition to candid information about doctors, schools, and local parenting activities to seek out / stay away from, it's a great place to find out what kids in your area are doing and arrange playdates.

Alien in the Locker Room

So we watched Aliens in America at the cw's website (we don't really have a TV to speak of, but that's a different post altogether). It's a great show - funny, doesn't make you think too hard, promotes a message of tolerance, yadda, yadda, yadda. It's America's wry and snarky answer to the cheesefest that is Little Mosque on the Prarie. If you thought Yasser's wife pinching his butt in the mosque was risque, just wait till you see what the bullies at Medora High do when Raja expresses his sincere love for his new best friend, Justin.

Aside from the glaring errors now and then --Raja? a Pakistani muslim named Raja? Who walks around butt nekkid in the boys' locker room at school?-- it's as enjoyable as Everybody Hates Chris. It's no Gilmore Girls or South Park (are you getting a clue why we don't have a TV anymore) but its definitely on my Monday night viewing schedule for the next few weeks. Actually, it's not - we can watch online anytime!!

Book Review - Baby 411

In contrast to my earlier review of "What to Expect When You're Expecting," I can't find enough praise for "Baby 411." This book is like having an experienced mom willing to share her secrets and frankly discussing the good, the bad, and the ugly.




For example, lately (like since the Baboo was 3 months old till now) I've been reading everything I can get my hands on relating to How to Get Baby to Sleep. There's 5 methods and most articles objectively present the advantages and disadvantages of each method, leaving it to you, the parent, to figure out which is best for your child.




I guess this is a reasonable approach, but... come on, I've never done this before, and now I'm being asked to choose among 5 doctor-approved methods, all of which are proven to work. Baby 411 condenses the information into one chart and then tells you which one to choose. I think my acceptance of this book is a turning point in my attitude towards parenting: I don't need to be perfect. I don't need to do all the research, ask friends and other parents for advice, check my internet sources, and then implement the correct most up-to-date organic no lead no plastic no TV educational developmentally superior environment for my child. Sure I would if I had unlimited time and energy. But I don't. I just want some sleep.