4 mins read

The Latest on The Mommy Wars

Why do moms need data to convince ourselves that there are myriad good (and bad) ways to raise children? After all, parenting is a quintessentially unique and personal undertaking. Every adult, even identical twin sisters, approaches motherhood differently. What I found in talking to hundreds of moms for my 2006 book Mommy Wars is that as…

5 mins read

When Your Child Steals – Four Tips to Turn Things Around

“Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.” - Mark Twain Week 1: Cure for the gimme’s. My five-year-old son, Alessio, is crazy for Legos. Especially the Starship Trooper mega Legos, which he recently saw at the Chabot Space Museum. There is nothing wrong with collecting things, especially brainy toys that train…

7 mins read

Seven Parent-Approved Games Your Teens Should Be Playing

The first question most parents ask when it comes to teens and video games is whether the game is appropriate. Video games are often stereotyped as violent, but more and more of them are challenging that old association. Many games feature complex, nuanced storytelling. They educate players about important topics like free will, gender politics and self-expression, and teach skills like improved visual processing, problem solving and fortitude. A growing amount of research shows that …

6 mins read

Maybe We All Need to “Lean In”

I spent the weekend wallowing in the media blitz that broke on Friday as Facebook COO Sheryl Sandbergs new book, Lean In, hit the headlines, along with her goal of raising the consciousness of working women everywhere. My first observation: Woo hoo!