tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119333652009-07-09T19:21:47.402-04:00co-authors of the award winning book -- Mommy GuiltDevrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264076539570620156Devra@Parentopia.netBlogger300125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11933365.post-82959763906367577792009-07-02T22:55:00.013-04:002009-07-03T01:08:27.393-04:00

OK, here we go. It's time to go public with the hair story. If for no other reason than to finally get it fixed!All my adorable baby and toddler pictures show a little girl with straight, straight hair! And, since I was a ballerina, I kept it all the same length - long. By the time I was in 6th grade I hated that perfectly straight, always evenly cut hair soooo much, I did everything - shag,

Avivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09483277094831651887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11933365.post-55597395428411660862009-06-24T13:33:00.009-04:002009-06-26T13:26:53.794-04:00

Years ago when I had my first job as a clinical social worker, my supervisor asked me to facilitate a "Divorce Recovery Group" for elementary school students. I flat out told him, "I am happy to faciliate a "Dealing With Divorce" group, but a "Divorce Recovery" group is out of the question. Children do not recover from divorce, they aren't able to go on to another relationship in quite the same

Devrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264076539570620156Devra@Parentopia.net4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11933365.post-2823419354380301722009-06-16T00:08:00.007-04:002009-06-16T12:21:15.963-04:00

DISCLAIMER: For those of you who think this is going to be a post about reduce/reuse/recycle, please stop reading now. Any further reading will be at your own risk! I do not want to receive hate mail from you if you insist on reading the rest of this.Just in case you do not believe my disclaimer, let me start by saying this. I LOVE my disposable mop, my single use cleanup wipes, and my disposable

Avivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09483277094831651887noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11933365.post-2873596822880240272009-06-11T16:43:00.011-04:002009-06-22T10:21:23.691-04:00

I'm very happy to be recognized as a "Go To expert on arm farts." After all, I'm the same "expert" who uses Saturday Night Live as a parenting tool. And I also laugh at my own mistakes when it comes to my parenting on a fairly regular basis.But even I, laid back about many many things, am a stickler when it comes to decorum and manners. While I am okay with arm farts, I am not okay with them at

Devrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264076539570620156Devra@Parentopia.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11933365.post-91102577523148048302009-06-02T17:07:00.009-04:002009-06-02T17:46:43.300-04:00

We're having a photo caption contest over at the home of Parentopia On Vacation. So head on over to Club Med Insider beginning June 2nd. You can enter as many times as you like between now and July 2nd.The grand prize is a brand new Graco Pack N Play with Newborn Napper. The other prize is a signed copy of our book "Mommy Guilt" and along with it an hour of Family Vacation Consultation from us.

Devra and Avivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04167160322107716854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11933365.post-91745585161668442862009-05-31T23:06:00.013-04:002009-06-01T01:25:33.242-04:00

I parent, therefore I worry.As a parent I often find myself worrying. Sometimes the worry is justified (it's 2 AM, where is my daughter?), other times it is not (it's noon, did I put the clothes in the dryer?). And then, there are those times I think it is justified and, in fact, it isn't.There was a time when I would panic (momentarily on the inside) every time my son picked up his Nintendo DS.

Avivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09483277094831651887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11933365.post-10592452822728068732009-05-22T13:32:00.006-04:002009-05-22T14:45:19.790-04:00

Last November I wrote this post about my father in law and the importance of recognizing the significance of Veteran's Day. Last year I was hunting all over for the picture of my sister in law had emailed me of my father in law at the Korean War Memorial and couldn't find it in time to be able to post it for Veteran's Day. Well, I am happy to say I found it. And when I did, the hair stood

Devrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264076539570620156Devra@Parentopia.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11933365.post-34416371868557280392009-05-20T22:12:00.009-04:002009-05-20T23:29:45.747-04:00

No, she didn't butt dial us. It was a conference call with bloggers from SVMoms Group and the purpose was to have a conversation about children and the recession. CBS News will be featuring special programming which will be focussing upon the economy and how children (and their families) are coping in these tough times. We were asked to submit a couple of questions to get the ball rolling. I sent

Devrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264076539570620156Devra@Parentopia.net2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11933365.post-19121101581564445722009-05-08T16:13:00.006-04:002009-05-08T17:13:59.089-04:00

Last Monday night I pre-celebrated Mother's Day with my posse from DC Metro Moms Blog. Oh, and this guy. (Who knew he had such fabulous cheekbones!)There were approximately 27 bloggers in attendance. We hadn't all gotten together since October, so this seemed like the perfect way to reconnect with one another in real life. Call it a Moms/Girls Night Out, call it an Office Party, call it a mitzvah

Devrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264076539570620156Devra@Parentopia.net3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11933365.post-8833446527130942752009-04-28T11:39:00.010-04:002009-04-28T14:54:01.414-04:00

Newsflash! The Swine Flu is making a comeback. Everyone, grab your Purell and head for the hills!Oh hell no. We remember the fear of the flu from the 70's, and frankly the Swine Flu is far less frightening than a resurgence of a feathered hair pandemic. Now is the time to speak with your children about the danger of being influenced by too much Disco and relax a little about the Swine Flu.But

Devra and Avivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04167160322107716854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11933365.post-1801816348314520942009-04-28T08:58:00.011-04:002009-04-28T10:31:35.343-04:00

"No" is often a knee jerk response used anywhere and everywhere, but in parenting especially it seems to rule our world. But you don't have to live in a dictatorship of negativity. Nope. You don't.Is "No" a hard habit to break?* It doesn't have to be. And yes, you can still use "No" and even feel good when you use it. In our book we offer up:Mommy Guilt-free Principle #5Get used to saying yes

Devra and Avivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04167160322107716854noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11933365.post-60604768728111311182009-04-27T16:41:00.006-04:002009-04-27T17:07:28.920-04:00

Late Breaking News: Rather than be replaced by an online version, The New York Times is being replaced by baklava.

Devrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264076539570620156Devra@Parentopia.net5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11933365.post-66790533170452370132009-04-21T12:55:00.017-04:002009-04-21T15:00:57.352-04:00

A couple of nights ago I was up almost every hour with a lovely gastro-intestinal thing which allowed me an unexpected opportunity to catch up with my magazine reading. As I made the dash to the bathroom, I grabbed the May issue of Woman's Day I had purchased earlier that afternoon. Aviva and I had quoted in an article about how parents can give their teens more freedom and have less worry. (The

Devra and Avivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04167160322107716854noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11933365.post-30711457640189164972009-04-15T23:12:00.010-04:002009-04-17T01:11:45.737-04:00

I know I'm a bit late on this. I'll be honest. I saw Susan Boyle's name and face flash on my screen well over a dozen times yesterday but, not being a reality TV fan (it's true, I'm not), I ignored it. Then, tonight I got an email from a friend of mine with a link to a You Tube video. It was Susan Boyle's audition for Britain's Got Talent. I've listened to it 5 times in the last half hour. It's

Avivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09483277094831651887noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11933365.post-21037145437113262502009-04-11T16:09:00.006-04:002009-04-12T16:39:29.369-04:00

My PE teacher in elementary school was Mr. Lynch. I have no idea why I remember his name when I can hardly remember the names of my relatives. It certainly is not because PE was my favorite class. As a matter of fact, I distinctly recall doing anything possible to get out of participating in PE. I was a ballerina; sports were not my thing. This really has nothing to do with what I am about to

Avivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09483277094831651887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11933365.post-17461576250571532542009-04-09T18:08:00.004-04:002009-04-09T18:15:19.328-04:00

We'll be back after the holiday. Soup's on!

Devra and Avivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04167160322107716854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11933365.post-33466817826184615842009-04-01T09:24:00.018-04:002009-04-01T14:54:36.717-04:00

Last week I walked into a wall. In my own living room, all by myself. At least I can say it was dark and not in broad daylight. For the first couple of days my wrist felt fine, but by Saturday I was in terrible pain. So I drove over to the ER figuring if it hurt this badly, there must be something wrong. And I was right. Looks like I've got myself a third degree sprain, which may or may not mean

Devrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264076539570620156Devra@Parentopia.net5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11933365.post-41586794054485485772009-03-26T11:56:00.010-04:002009-03-26T17:10:54.729-04:00

Spring Break and family travels are taking a hit this year because, well, the economy sucks right now. There are far more of us taking staycations or looking for ways to save money if we do decide to pack up and go. With the depth of the economic madness, it's no doubt parents are now placed in a position of changing the way money is spent. Who amongst us hasn't had to turn down a child's

Devrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264076539570620156Devra@Parentopia.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11933365.post-64715787646127816472009-03-20T09:16:00.017-04:002009-03-20T12:22:46.679-04:00

As much as a I lament about the word "iconic" being overused as of late, I will also admit there are instances when the word "iconic" just hits the right spot adjectively. Is that a word? I dunno. Is now. So what. Move on.This brings to Club Med. Which in my mind is an icon of world travel all-inclusivity. Is that a word? I dunno. Is now. So what. Move on.Maybe you are like Mom101 and me,

Devrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264076539570620156Devra@Parentopia.net4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11933365.post-18898491609557486732009-03-18T20:27:00.002-04:002009-03-18T20:43:05.498-04:00

Live from Ixtapa. It’s Saturday Sunday Thursday? Hey, what day is it anyway? We’ve been kayaking, sailing, rock climbing, dancing, partying, swimming, sunbathing, shopping, eating, eating and eating. We are relaxed, exhausted, stuffed, invigorated, and have no idea what day it is. We must be on vacation! Club Med Ixtapa is gorgeous. The entire family is having an amazing time. The

Avivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09483277094831651887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11933365.post-87934104739735797162009-03-12T13:58:00.005-04:002009-03-12T14:11:43.112-04:00

We had awesome entries in our caption contest and thank everyone for participating, we love our readers! MWAH!Winner:ChestaceansRunner Up: "I thought if you got drunk and slept in a strange bed you ended up with crabs."

Devrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264076539570620156Devra@Parentopia.net2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11933365.post-75729389011070970052009-03-10T09:39:00.010-04:002009-03-10T12:21:38.880-04:00

What is with mainstream media? All of a sudden it has become "news" mothers are online? Really. From the way many of these stories are reported evidently motherhood makes women so moronic it is now "news" that we've been able to figure out how to use the internet for anything else besides Ebay or Etsy. Or maybe, as it is oft reported, it's because mothers are women, and gosh, women finally have

Devrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264076539570620156Devra@Parentopia.net6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11933365.post-66161609387184238462009-03-02T10:00:00.010-05:002009-03-05T08:18:27.119-05:00

Upon my return from the Mom 2.0 Summit our Internet then went down for a week. I've just gone through DSL Hell. But like Winston Churchill has oft been quoted, "If you're going through Hell, keep going." So, I go. Internet is now up and running, as am I. Sort of. Because the Internet was down and so was my older son- but he had the flu. The strain of the flu which is not prevented by the flu shot

Devrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264076539570620156Devra@Parentopia.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11933365.post-77535292336301862932009-02-22T23:06:00.014-05:002009-03-02T12:26:27.305-05:00

* Please note! Contest deadline extended through March 8, on account of last week's DSL Hell.Last Thursday I boarded a big ol' jet airliner (actually 2) and headed to Houston for the inaugural Mom 2.0 Summit. Today I boarded another big ol' jet airliner (actually 2) and came home from the inaugural Mom 2.0 Summit. In between my comings and goings there were conference sessions, expert

Devrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264076539570620156Devra@Parentopia.net9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11933365.post-54992757489228075662009-02-13T15:01:00.014-05:002009-02-13T17:36:15.031-05:00

Is it a Hallmark holiday or is it a time to share sweet love and devotion? In our family every year Valentines Day seems to be different depending upon what life is looking like as the calender flips to February. This year found me traveling quite a bit and whenever that happens we seem to get back to basics. Which means we all channel my grandmother and have a "no fuss, no muss" holiday

Devrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264076539570620156Devra@Parentopia.net0