From our August print issues: check out our latest roundup of thoughtful, observant, and laugh-out-loud quotes from a selection of our favorite mom (and dad!) bloggers and writers.
"Bullies aren't stupid; they hide what they are doing so that they don't get in trouble.
Victims hide it because they worry that talking about it might make things worse (which sometimes happens). Cyberbullying is even harder for adults to see: It's silent, it can happen when the victim is alone, and it occurs within a world and context that most adults don't know about -- that is, unless they get up the nerve to ask."
-Edward F. Dragan, Ed.D., former teacher, principal, school superintendent, and now a legal consultant for high-profile school bullying cases, in his book The Bully Action Guide: How To Help Your Child and Get Your School To Listen -- which, in our opinion, should be required reading for all parents today. Visit www.thebullyactionguide.com.
-Mommy Shorts blogger Ilana created this pie chart after a day at the beach with her daughter Mazzy (who, writes Ilana, "after taking a salt water dip, took a roll in the sand...and then the breaded chicken cutlet had the nerve to ask me to pick her up!"); read more of the hilarity at www.mommyshorts.com.
"I am so tired of us being urged to act as if THIS generation of kids just happens to need more safeguards than any other group of kids the world has ever seen."
-Lenore Skenazy, a.k.a. the Free Range Mom (you likely heard about her more than a year ago when she got tons of press for letting her 9-year-old ride the subway alone). In the media frenzy that followed, she launched her blog to explain her parenting philosophy: "I believe in teaching children how to cross the street and even wave their arms to be noticed. I'm a safety geek! But I also believe our kids do not need a security detail every time they leave the house." Best part about her regular posts? They'll make you LOL -- and really think. Visit her online at www.freerangekids.com.
Return P
olicy?
"As savvy as we are, sometimes our precious little nieces and nephews cause us to...Just. Totally. Lose. It. When that happens, it is our job to keep ourselves in check and self-administer whatever sort of time-out we need. Here's what you do...Think positively....Acknowledge your meltdown....Never hit....Return the kids to their rightful owner."
-Melanie Notkin in her first book, Savvy Auntie: The Ultimate Guide for Cool Aunts, Great-Aunts, Godmothers, and All Women Who Love Kids (William Morrow) -- a great gift that's celebratory, useful, and yes, has a sense of humor.
