Dr. Corinne Masur
This post will probably alienate everyone.
But here I go:
There seems to be an epidemic going on amongst middle and upper middle class parents – it involves not just hovering and helicoptering but also downright coddling and intruding. Children from 2 to 32 are being treated as incompetent people who can never do the simplest things – things their own parents – and certainly their grandparents did. Continue reading
Dr. Corinne Masur
A couple weeks after the birth of her first baby, one of the women in our mother-infant group came and in and immediately started to cry. “No one told me it would be so hard,” she said. The other women looked on, slightly horrified, as they were all still pregnant. And it was true. No one talks about how hard the transition is from non-mom to new mom. No one talks about the complete loss of autonomy, the feeling of being controlled by your baby, the dramatic change in the relationship with your partner, the extreme vulnerability you feel, how everything hurts your feelings and makes you cry, how hungry you feel for support and how you feel like YOU need nurturing while, in the mean time, you are expected to nurture your baby. Continue reading
Dr. Corinne Masur
In 2011 more than 10,000 2- and 3-year-olds were taking medication for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
But how do you tell if a toddler has ADHD?
All parents worry about their children. And when they have very active children, these days they worry about whether their children may be “hyperactive.” But what IS hyperactivity and what is “normally” active when you talk about a two or three year old? Continue reading
Dr. Corinne Masur
Just before Halloween a mother came to our parent group with the disturbing news that a mom in her neighborhood had been killed in an automobile accident. After telling her 5 year old daughter about this, her daughter asked, “Can we still have Halloween? Aren’t we supposed to be sad?” Continue reading
Dr. Corinne Masur
The New York Times reports that parents are increasingly using e-readers to read to their small children. While the American Academy of Pediatrics has advised that children under 2 use no screens at all, parents evidently feel that reading off a Kindle is different.
But is it? Continue reading
Dr. Corinne Masur
In our mother-child group the other day a four year old repeatedly knocked into his 1 year old brother. He did it with a little smile and glanced at his mother every time – so we knew it was no accident!
What to do? His mother was exhausted with telling him “NO!” every time, with giving time outs and with talking to him. Continue reading
Dr. Corinne Masur
With a huge amount of terrible news in the news recently, the WORST news regarding the deterioration of American values I have read involves the arms race amongst universities to provide the coolest attractions on campuses so that more kids will apply. According to the New York Times, when LSU surveyed students in 2009 to find out what they most wanted in their new recreation center, the one feature that beat out all others was a lazy river. Yes, a lazy river – like those found at amusement parks.
Since when did college and theme parks overlap? Continue reading
With the amount information available online, you would think that parenting these days would be easier. Instead, it seems that all the conflicting advice and pseudo information creates more anxiety and confusion than ever before.
One of the great challenges of parenting today is sifting through the overwhelming number of choices we have, coupled with the contradictory voices telling us how to parent. We’re here to help create the pathway that’s right for you, your child, your family, and your community.
Each month, you’ll find essays and discussions featuring psychologists, parents, and teachers that focus on the joys and challenges of parenting. Please contribute your thoughts. Together, we hope to create a forum for reflection, discovery, and growth.
Thoughtful Parenting 