3 mins read

Is It Safe to Take Sleeping Pills While Pregnant?

Until further study, pregnant women are generally not recommended to take sleeping pills. Your doctor will likely only prescribe sleeping medications that have been tested on pregnant women and are proven safe, or if the health benefits outweigh any risk. If you are pregnant and experiencing insomnia or having trouble sleeping, always talk to your doctor before using any type of sleep aid to make sure it will not affect your baby.

8 mins read

Sleepless Nights: A Mother’s Survival Guide

I used to see late nights with the kids as the mental-emotional equivalent of a spike-ridden ball and chain. Walking around a dark dwelling half-lidded with the temperament of a menopausal dragon, this “ball and chain” was constantly tripping me up. While my grumpiness seemed necessary, it made the challenges of functioning with a late-night…

2 mins read

Food for Hyperactive Kids

If you have a hyperactive kid who can drive you nuts, you may literally want to feed him nuts. The thought behind a diet for hyperactive kids is that certain foods may help the brain function better by decreasing the symptoms that hyperactive kids have, such as being restless and unable to focus. Certain foods, such as proteins — which include nuts — are brain food.

3 mins read

Talking to Your Kids About Depression

Depression is a disease, not a weakness. I was heartbroken when I heard about Robin Williams death yesterday. He lived in my small town of Tiburon, California, and I would see him on occasion at local restaurants like the Buckeye Roadhouse and Luna Blu. I received the sad news right before my family sat down for dinner, and we talked with the kids about how great he was in movies such as Mrs. Doubtfire, Good …