We already know not to give peanut butter to infants because of the risk of allergies. But a new study warns even pregnant moms should stay away from it for a totally new reason - a risk of asthma in their unborn child. For women who consume nuts on a daily basis, the chances of their offspring developing asthma increase by 50% compared to those who only eat nuts occasionally.

The Dutch study surveyed women about their diet and specifically asked about nut and peanut butter intake. They then followed their children for the next eight years, concluding that far more of the daily nut consumers had children with asthma. However, researchers say more studies are required. In the meantime, they are recommending pregnant women avoid too much peanut butter. As in so many aspects of life, moderation is key.

The good news is there are plenty of resources available with tips on healthy eating for moms-to-be.

Check out these sites for ideas:

 http://www.charlotteparent.com/Articles/Features/FeatureArticle.aspx?cid=578

http://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/pregnancy-healthy-eating

http://www.pregnancy-info.net/diet.html

http://www.expectantmothersguide.com/library/philadelphia/nutrition.htm

In addition to monitoring your diet, being mindful of air quality conditions is also important for pregnant moms and children with asthma. Watch for Code Orange ratings and ozone reports from local weather reports. If you are unsure about the risks for asthma, click here for more information.

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We have returned from Harbor Island where were spent eight glorious days. I don’t know of many places more perfect than Harbor Island when you have children. You can literally walk out into the ocean about 500 yards and the water is still only up to your knees. Sandbars appear everywhere when the tide is low and offer a bounty of sealife for young ones to explore. We saw so many starfish, hermit crabs, horseshoe crabs, sting rays, fish and sand dollars. Ryan and Josh loved collecting shells for their buckets and stared and inquired at each new find. Each sea creature was a new treasure; each morning was a new adventure.

I am amazed at how perfectly suited for beach life my children are. They have salt water coursing through their veins for sure. At first, Ryan hated the water, but he has a future as a marine biologist or a surfer. Like his brother, Josh showed no fear of the water. He did not mind a wave taking him out in the least. Of course, Josh also spent the majority of his time on the beach sitting on a towel eating snacks.

We were lucky enough to see my childhood best friend, Tracy, and her family. Tracy made a great point that it is so cool to be able to know someone for almost thirty years and then have your children be able to know one another as well. I look at Ryan and he is a year older than we were when we met. Time seems to really be flying now and I wonder if our kids will be friends with their buddies thirty years from now.

My brother, his fiancé and my gorgeous little niece were able to spend a few days on the beach with us, much to the delight of our children. Scott’s fiancé, Heather, has a degree in biology and spent hours explaining sea life to Ryan. Our niece Riley was able to dip her toes in the Atlantic. We went into Hilton Head one day and did the sights, including going up into the lighthouse at Harbor Town. That was a huge hit for all. It might have been a little better had that tower not been 130 degrees and just as many steps!

It truly was one of the most relaxing and fun vacations I have ever taken. We could have easily stayed a lot longer. Matt wants to move and live forever on the quiet and secluded beaches. I do not think he would get much of an argument from any of us. Each morning since we have been back, Josh asks me if we are going to the beach or to the pool. He thinks every day should be vacation.

I will be getting my fill of the beach as I prepare to paint another mural for the boys, this time a beach and surf theme in their new room. As relaxing as last week was, this week has been all about moving and getting packed up. We move next Thursday, so I hope to have internet connection, pictures, and the time to get a blog over by Friday. Each day may not be a vacation for our little ones, but it certainly is an adventure!

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Last night my seven year old lost a tooth. He carefully wrapped it in tape and left a note with directions for the Tooth Fairy, should she not find it. She’s been known to be “extra busy” and forget to pick it up right away. I  love his eagerness to believe, and we’re happy to keep up the charade for a few years. Apparently, I’m not alone.A recent study says it’s OK to tell white lies or fibs to our children, if the occasion calls for it. Experts confirm that honesty still is the best policy, but sometimes a lie won’t do any harm. Many parents hold onto Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy for as long as possible. But we also use it for the more painful aspects of life, such as explaining the loss of a pet.Do you? How do you explain the loss of a pet?

Explaining life’s mysteries, death and magic to children are subjects that are deeply personal and sure to spark great debate. Parental websites are flooded with questions such as “at what age do I tell me children the truth about Santa?”. Most experts suggest parents say what feels right for them and their belief systems. Many kids start to question the myth of Santa once they hear otherwise at school or with friends. How do we discipline our children for lying and still support the Tooth Fairy?

Proceed with caution. Psychologist Victoria Talwar warns parents about lying and damaging trust with their children. Serious untruths, such as not disclosing an adoption, for instance, can be devastating. “We really feel betrayed when someone lies to us, especially someone close to us,” she says.

However, sometimes children aren’t mature enough to handle the facts. “In more serious circumstances, such as the death of a relative or event a pet, young children cannot always process all the unpleasant details of the truth”, Talwar says. . It’s a personal choice. I choose to believe in fairies and mythical creatures, but do so with a wink of my eye.

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I have heard so many stories from women, standing on their front steps, weeping as they looked back at the house they lived in and built so many memories in. I was not that girl. I could not have sped away from my house any faster than I did this week. Sure, it was the house that I brought Joshua home to when he came home from the NICU. I had spent hours painting a mural in Ryan’s room. That house just never felt like mine. It never had a heart.

When our amazing realtor (and friend), Brandi Morris suggested seeing a new house, I was not wowed by the pictures that they had in their listing. It took driving by it one time to make me realize how truly lovely the house was.

The neighborhood is tucked away and the massive trees are everywhere. The lot is almost an acre and there is a creek in the back. Peeking in the windows, I knew that I needed to see inside. Had I known that what was behind the front door would make my heart swell, I may have put an offer in that very minute.

We put our house on the market, put an offer in and I plan to be carried out of here when I die at 89 years of age, sitting in my giant bathtub. I plan to raise our kids here and welcome our grandkids here. I actually cannot conceive of what would ever make me want to move away. And I have only lived here a few days.

The boys are beside themselves. The dog is elated. Matt says that our bedroom and bathroom remind him of staying at a spa. There is space for even a nursery, should we be nutty enough to add another little Yale, but when you are this happy as a family, what’s one more kid?

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 The economy is big news, but now it’s hit home for Charlotte parents in a big way. Recent news shows the CMS system will be facing budget woes that mean jobs cuts, fewer support services and slightly larger student/teacher ratios. Some Charlotte magnet schools will lose their status and specialty programming because of fewer dollars in the coffer. It’s a problem families all across the country are facing. One suggestion to combat shrinking budgets calls for a four day school week while other systems are closing schools all together. 

In an effort to find good educational choices for their kids, some local parents are exploring the idea of private schools, although many of those are already at capacity. There are several private schools in the Charlotte area offering strong curriculum programming. For a comprehensive list of area private schools check out our online directory.

But do  private schools produce stronger (academically speaking) students? Not always. Much research has been done to test this theory and one conclusion indicates that economic status and home environment play a bigger role in producing better grades than does a private school education.

Beyond private and public schools, there are other options available. Within the public school system there are specialty programs found at magnet schools which offer alternative learning and a more subject-specific curicculum. Homeschooling is another choice and a growing movement in North Carolina. More families are choosing to follow this path and have organized themselves to support one another as homeschoolers.

Whatever choice you make, the education of our kids needs to be a priority, both locally and nationally.

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Remember the days of the summer ice cream social? Grab the kids and head to the Charlotte Museum of History this weekend for sweet treats, music, clogging, storytelling and more. If you love movies, there are several outdoor screenings around town as well. Be sure and grab the lawn chairs, some popcorn and bug spray. If the weather forces you to duck inside, there are several new movie releases in theaters including Eddie Murphy’s Meet Dave. Looking for something more subdued? A youth concert of experienced handbell ringers might just be the ticket.

This coming week marks the anniversary of the fall of the Bastille in Paris. Charlotte is celebrating this historical event with a family-friendly Bastille Day in NoDa with street performers, music and of course, great art. Meandering through this part of town is a wonderful way to expose your kids to creativity, diversity and culture. Go every chance you can.

For more great ideas of what to do check out our calendar of events.

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For most kids, summertime offers a break from homework, classrooms and cafeteria lunches. But for some children, it is also a break from their medicine as well. A recent report states some parents take their children with ADHD off their medications while away at camp. Many doctors advise giving children a break from their ADHD medications, to give their bodies some relief from side affects and often, a chance to grow. However, throwing children with socializing issues into a sometimes turbulent social environment like camp without the help of their medications is arguably not always a wise decision. What would you do? Do we over-medicate our children today?

Unlike other medications, ADHD drugs such as Ritalin and Aderall pose no physical threat or harm in going on and off regularly. Many parents therefore choose a drug holiday for their kids not only to give their bodies a break, but to avoid the social stigma attached to the ADHD label. Some parents go so far as to not disclose the medical condition on their children’s camp forms.

Some camps allow for children to participate without medications. Others do not and follow the camp guidelines as directed by the American Academy of Pediatrics which frowns on “elected interruption in medications for long-term pyschotropic therapy”. What is your children’s camp philosophy?

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With extra time on their hands this summer, kids are watching more TV than ever. Not only is it not good for the brain, it’s also unhealthy for young bodies. A recent study through the Canadian Institutes for Health Research show that kids overeat when the TV is on. “Mindless television watching produces mindless eating” says nutritionist Harvey Anderson. According to the childhood obesity expert, grazing while watching overrides our ability to know when to stop eating. His advice? “Turn the television off during mealtime”.

There are groups of parents, educators and nurses who are organizing and creating helpful information for parents to educate them on healthy television consumption. According to Nielsen audience measurement, children’s viewing increases by 150% during the summer months.

North Carolina Public Health also has simple solutions for parents and organizations which encourage better nutrition and more exercise. There are several programs with easy to follow instructions on ways to Eat Smart, Move More.

Healthy summer snacks may also help in the struggle to combat overeating. We’ve got a list of food choices that are good for kids, as well as tips on how to monitor snacking. 

 

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I love Alanis Morissette. I’ve been a fan of hers since my angst-filled college days when she released the now infamous album Jagged Little Pill. Though some fans have been disappointed that she hasn’t “recreated” an album similar in rage and loathing, I haven’t minded and continue to purchase her latest releases. I feel sometimes like we’ve grown up together. Her albums reflect her journeys of self-discovery and awakening, and I commend her for that. I cheered her on when she got engaged to hunky actor Ryan Reynolds a few years ago and thought that perhaps she had found the love she had been searching for all those years. But alas, it wasn’t meant to be. When her latest album, Flavors of Entanglement was released a few weeks ago I read as many reviews of it as I could before purchasing it.  Most of what I read was glowing, and the samples I heard on iTunes definitely seemed worth a second listen. I’ve been enjoying it ever since, and actually played one uplifting track over and over again on my iPod during my 5K a few weeks ago.

I expected a few ballads about her painful break up, and they are pretty sad. But the last song on the album has really changed my way of thinking recently. It’s called “Incomplete,” and the chorus contains the following lines:

I have been running so sweaty my whole life

Urgent for a finish line

And I have been missing the rapture this whole time

Of being forever incomplete

Wow. She hit the nail right on the head if you ask me. I began to think of what this meant in my own life. I often lament about how there’s never enough time to get anything done and the fact that I have yet to accomplish all my professional goals. I regret that I haven’t been able to complete graduate school. This voice in my head constantly tells me I’m not being a good enough mother to my kids.

Well, if I take these lyrics to heart, I realize that there’s a reason why I’m walking around feeling like I’m not completely whole. Because if I was whole, so to speak, what else would there be to look forward to in life? If, at the age of 31, I had all my professional and personal goals accomplished, why would I look forward to getting out of bed in the morning? If the proverbial “finish line”  were handed to me on a silver platter, what kind of example would I set for my children?

Yes, I still have a lot to do. And I hope I have plenty of time to do it. But constantly working and striving to meet my goals and make my dreams come true will make me a better role model for my children. And it will remind me that there is something exciting about striving for success and self-fulfillment. I’m realizing the beauty of being forever incomplete, and I’m feeling pretty good about it these days.

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Here’s something to smile about. Researchers say a baby’s smile creates a “natural high” for mothers. The findings are an important clue in understanding the relationship and bond between moms and infants, which are critical for child development.

The study, conducted through the Baylor College of Medicine, had mothers look at images of their babies and then measured their brain activity. Images of a smiling baby got the most reaction in the area of the brain associated with reward. Associate Professor Lane Strathearn concludes that these findings help to understand the neural basis of mother-infant attachment.

This attachment doesn’t always happen, according to Strathearn, who also states that if the relationship doesn’t develop, it could lead to child neglect and abuse. Some new moms struggle with postpartum depression and have difficulty forming such a bond. Thankfully there are many parenting resources available to offer support to families.

For more local resources follow this link:

 http://www.charlotteparent.com/Resources/FamilySupport/default.aspx

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