GenParenting

Parenting resources for all who love and care for children

GenParenting

Parenting resources for all who love and care for children

The Perils of Alcohol Use in Pregnancy

The Perils of Alcohol Use During Pregnancy

What could be wrong with having a soothing glass of wine every once in awhile during pregnancy?  Well, unfortunately, a miserable future for the unborn child can be the result of a seemingly innocent habit.  This habit could result in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).

As the developing brain is very susceptible to alcohol throughout pregnancy, damage can be done even before a woman realizes she is pregnant.  Damage is usually not obvious at birth and can span the spectrum: from full characteristic facial features and small stature, cognitive disabilities, and central nervous system effects to no facial features at all, normal intelligence and physical development.  However, children on the spectrum who have no obvious characteristics, may have behavioral difficulties that have an impact on learning. [Read more…]

Wonderful Experiences with Dad Across the Miles

Wonderful Experiences with Dad Across the Miles

Although Kinji’s dad works in Japan, my grandson thinks his relationship with his father is quite normal when he shares extended time with his father in the United States or in Japan. Between visits, their close relationship is maintained through regular FaceTime phone calls throughout the week. Ongoing phone conversations focus on:

  • Their daily life activities and Kinji’s new Lego creations
  • My grandson’s exciting adventures at school
  • Kenji’s participation in various afterschool programs including Karate and swimming
  • Math discussions on prime numbers, multiplication, and how to identify number patterns

[Read more…]

Yikes! My Child Is Struggling with School

Yikes! My Child Is Struggling with School

Winter report cards were just distributed and your child is struggling with various core subjects. Many parents feel overwhelmed when their child is not happy with the daily school routine. The report card may reflect many of these ongoing challenges. To clarify frustrations, consider asking your children these questions:

  • What frustrates you about school?
  • How do you get along with your teacher?
  • What can I do to help you succeed in the classroom?
  • What can you do to improve your relationship with your teacher?
  • What can we do at home to build your learning and resiliency skills?
  • How can we partner with the school to ensure your success?

[Read more…]

The Power of “No”

The Power of “No”

My daughter was always an eager, adventurous eater. Once she was old enough to be introduced to solid foods, there was no stopping the discovery of culinary delights! She slurped down noodles, chomped up her vegetables, sipped on bone-broth soups. She sampled foods from every cuisine including American, Chinese, Mexican, Japanese, Thai, and Greek. However, we started discovering that she complained about certain cookies, or Vietnamese noodles, or some but not all granola bars. Completely baffled, we asked her what was wrong with these foods and she said that they were spicy. Soon enough, she had her first ever PB&J sandwich. That’s when her face got red and swollen, her throat closed up making breathing difficult – she was experiencing an anaphylactic reaction to peanuts. [Read more…]

How to Become a Mindful and Attentive Parent

How to Become a Mindful and Attentive Parent

Each January, I consider how I can do a better job of balancing my daily life when considering my family’s needs, work obligations, and needs for play, exercise, and spiritual growth. When I consider my family’s needs, I find that my ability to give sufficient attention and listen to individual family members can be challenged when working on another project or trying to multi-task to finish a household chore. This coming year, I plan to overcome this challenge by becoming more mindful and attentive in my daily interactions with family members. I also plan to track how many minutes a day I am able to focus on individual family members when they are talking to me or when I am engaged in one-on-one activities. I plan to also implement the following time management strategies: [Read more…]