School is out, and camp’s begun – hooray! In the break between these two glorious institutions, many of our children took us on excursions to a dark and unlovely place I call Whine Country. “It’s not fair! Why can’t I have more iPod time??” “You promised we’d get ice cream!” “Ryan’s hitting me!” More distracting […]
Tag: Relationships
Helping Young Parents and Grandparents Negotiate Relationships: Bergen Live Event Re-Cap
This past Monday, a group of moms and grandmoms met at the Max Brenner Chocolate Bar in the Garden State Plaza in Paramus, NJ, for a Mommybites BERGEN live event facilitated by Dr. Karen Rancourt, Ph.D., Mommybites columnist for Ask Dr. Gramma Karen and the author of Ask Dr. Gramma Karen: Helping Young Parents and […]
The Ultimate Parenting Question
As I’ve sat in my office counseling parents, had heart-to-hearts with friends in the preschool parking lot, and muddled through my own share of perplexing parenting moments, it has struck me that an important parenting question – perhaps the ultimate parenting question – is how do we balance discipline and acceptance in our child-rearing? Where […]
Laughter: The One Thing You Need on Your To-Do List
We are mediating, going to yoga and doing things for ourselves like taking a writing or photography class. We are trying to breath more. But are we laughing?
A Mother’s Secret Wish List
We moms work hard. Our families expect us to whip up a home cooked meal, get school clothes ready, prepare packed lunches, give expert homework tuition, and know immediately where every lost toy is hiding. Simultaneously. And with a smile on our faces. We’d all love to expertly juggle our complicated lives in the city […]
Hints on Sharing a Vacation Home
With summer just around the corner, many of us are planning vacation rentals. This often means sharing a home with extended family or close friends. Many times, the result is a convivial, festive romp that produces fond memories and occasional hilarity. Unless it doesn’t. There are several situations that may arise, particularly around other people’s […]
Spring Fever for Families in Transition
Whatever your spring holiday tradition, Easter baskets, Passover or celebrating the Vernal Equinox, for families in transition, it can be a time when tensions run high, patience runs low, and the appetite for creating a perfect holiday may exceed the ability to produce an emotionally balanced meal that suits everyone’s tastes. Holidays conjure up the […]
Put The Happy Into Your Mothers Day: Ideas To Keep You Positive And Centered As A Mom
With Mothers’ Day fast approaching, and with it the prospect of receiving another adorable round of glitter-covered picture frames and half-raw pancakes, it may be time to reflect on what mothers really need. Most moms readily declare that more sleep would be a singularly precious gift, or perhaps the metaphysical power to halt time! Yet, […]
Peaceful Parenting: Workshop Re-Cap
In case you missed it, Mommybites Bergen hosted one of its signature in-person events last week, which brought moms together for lunch, socializing and important parenting information. The Peaceful Parenting event featured expert Dr. Kevin Brennan, Clinical Psychologist and Parent Coach, and focused on how to remove frustration and anger from the tough job of […]
The Do’s and Don’ts of Parent-to-Parent Sensitivity
Parenting can be a rocky road. Sure, there are moments of rapturous joy – the first time your kid rides a bike, or skis down a hill, or performs in a dance recital, or remembers to put her clothes in the hamper – but there are also painful, difficult, heartbreaking spells, too, when your children […]