Family
RSSA door closes as another opens up
LITTLE ROCK — To celebrate the last morning of my son’s high school career, I planned to surprise him by making him breakfast and seeing him off. This was a milestone in his 13-year journey through school, and until this year, I’d made him breakfast almost every day. It was often our best time together, and I wanted one more breakfast to mark the end of this journey. Continue reading...
Beddy-bye facedown
Backsleeping is credited with a drop-off in SIDS, but many parents say babies slumber best on their bellies
LITTLE ROCK — By the time new parents take their babies home from the hospital, they have been thoroughly drilled on the litany of infant-sleep no-nos : No stomach-sleeping. No loose blankets. No pillows. No soft mattresses. No crib bumpers. The list goes on. Continue reading...
Creature feature
LITTLE ROCK — My daughter and grandson moved into their first home and were able to finally get a pet. They adopted an 8-year-old cat. The previous owner went to a nursing home. The cat does not like anyone. She hides in baskets, under beds, behind the couch. Something drops — bang! — she is terrified. My grandson, 14, tries to cuddle her and talk to her. She growls sometimes. She wants to be left alone and that isn't the bonding the boy expected. They’ve had her three months. Should they give up on her? Continue reading...
Micro-monitoring son doesn’t make the grade
LITTLE ROCK — QOur ninth-grade son always manages to get A’s and B’s on his report card, but just before the report card comes out, his grades take a complete dive. Should we punish him for this or just accept this imperfection? Continue reading...
Maurice Sendak’s fantasy worlds thoroughly kidlike
NEW YORK — The claws and teeth of wild things are a near-nightly affair at bedtime for Gregg Svingen’s 2-year-old, Tessa. She raises a tiny index finger and issues a clear and forceful “Be still!” to knock Maurice Sendak’s monsters into shape. Continue reading...
MONEY MANNERS
LITTLE ROCK — DEAR JEANNE AND LEONARD: Our son is marrying a girl whose family has more money than ours. What should we offer to contribute to the cost of the wedding? The bride-tobe’s parents gave “Courtney” and “Kyle” a $30,000 budget, but Courtney’s gone over it. I want to offer to pay for something, perhaps the flowers, but my husband’s against it. So you know, Courtney’s parents footed the entire bill for her sister’s wedding last year. And my husband and I have two unmarried daughters whose weddings we’ll have to pay for one day. — R.M. Continue reading...
Let sleeping babies lie or flip them over?
By the time new parents take their babies home from the hospital, they have been thoroughly drilled on the litany of infant-sleep no-nos: No stomach-sleeping. No loose blankets. No pillows. No soft mattresses. No crib bumpers. The list goes on. Continue reading...
Creature feature
LITTLE ROCK — I caught my dog eating leaves off of my heirloom rosebush. I made her quit, but the next time I let her outside, she headed straight for the rosebush. Ever heard of this? Should I be worried? She seems fine. The Animal Poison Control Center of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals lists more than 400 plants that are toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Continue reading...
Bluebird is source of happy moments
LITTLE ROCK — The small bluebird in the large oak tree in my backyard darted to the ground. The flash of unmistakable blue pulled my attention to the brilliant creature. It was early evening. In the yard suffused with softening light, he seemed to glow. Continue reading...
Maternal dirges
Mother’s Day can be painful for women unable to conceive
LITTLE ROCK — Jen Arndt burst into tears as she sat in church on Mother’s Day two years ago and watched all the mothers walk to the altar for a special blessing. Continue reading...
Don’t blame boy for ‘high self-esteem seizures’
LITTLE ROCK — QMy 4-year-old stepson still has the occasional tantrum in response to being told that he can’t have or do something. His mother, who has primary custody (he’s with us two days a week, generally ), is very permissive, so he comes by this “honestly.” When he throws a tantrum, we put him in his “tantrum place,” which is a chair in the dining room. That causes his tantrum to get worse, and it sometimes takes him 30 minutes or more to calm himself down to where he can get out of the chair. Is there anything we can do to help him get control of himself or should we just ignore it and carry on? Four years old is too old for tantrums, correct? Continue reading...
MONEY MANNERS
LITTLE ROCK — DEAR JEANNE AND LEONARD : We have a neighbor problem. A few months ago, the “Wilsons” started renting out an apartment in their basement. In order not to have their tenants going in and out through their home, they put in a door to the apartment on the side of their house that faces ours. But because of the way the property line runs, the tenants have to walk across our front yard to use the door. So now the tenants are wearing a path in our lawn. Continue reading...
EX-ETIQUETTE
LITTLE ROCK — QI’m getting married in a few months to a man who has never been married and has no children. He’s in the process of moving out of his house and into mine with my two daughters (14 and 12). I have been seeing him for two years and thought we all had a great relationship. After a general conversation the other day, my 12-yearold told me that she doesn’t like my fiance, and when she has said she loves him she has never meant it. She said she still loves her dad even though she was only 2 1/2 when he left us for another woman and we haven’t seen him since. Continue reading...
Wishing for a burnt breakfast in bed
For women who desire to become mothers, Mother’s Day can be a painful reminder of what they don’t have. Jen Arndt burst into tears as she sat in church on Mother’s Day two years ago and watched all the mothers walk to the altar for a special blessing. Continue reading...
Marking endings is also a launch
LITTLE ROCK — Beginnings and endings are markers in how the human mind receives, sorts and recalls memories. Knowing this, the wise person pays particular attention to starts and finishes, because that’s where the power is. The first time we met our spouse, our first job interview, the first time we saw the ocean: These are memorable beginnings. How the marriage ended, the last time we saw our mother, the last game we played with our high school team; these are powerful endings. Continue reading...
