Anne’s Parenting Colulmn Tag

11 May

Published on May 11, 2017 in Anne's Parenting Column by

  Mickey looked into Sally’s cubby. He saw a small soft toy brown bunny in her tote bag. “Hey Sally, do you have your baby blanket too?” Sally looked up from her drawing to see Mickey swinging Baby, her most beloved stuffed bunny. “Oh Mickey, please stop! Baby doesn’t like that.” “Oh, she has feelings?” Mickey smirked. “You are dumb, Sally. Your name should be Baby.” He tossed Baby to the windowsill. Their teacher, Kate Macaferri turned to see...

02 Jun

Published on June 2, 2016 in Anne's Parenting Column by

  “Rebecca, they aren’t organic!! Don’t go near those carrots!” Paige barked to her daughter at the grocery store. “I can’t look at carrots anymore?” “Looking becomes touching and that’s a big no no!” Rebecca looked carefully from the organic to non-organic carrots, trying to figure out the difference between them. Then she slowly turned away. “Would you like kiwis or Mt. Ranier cherries, Rebecca?” Rebecca didn’t answer. She was examining at least a dozen different types of olives. They were...

07 Jan

Published on January 7, 2016 in Anne's Parenting Column by

  “Things just shouldn’t be so hard, Paul. You’re the kid and I’m your father. You get in the car when you are asked to and that’s that.” Russ’ voice was exasperated. Paul climbed into the jeep and tried to buckle his car seat. “That’s more like it. Try harder. You’re four now, or did you forget?” Paul’s hands were suddenly putty and he couldn’t get the metal things in their slots. Russ yanked open the back door of the...

09 Jul

Published on July 9, 2015 in Anne's Parenting Column by

Dara and Dave Thompson had moved out of New York a month ago and settled in Lakewood, Connecticut with their children, Davey, 4, Teddy, 2 and Eva, four months. Dara wrote for a parenting magazine, now on a very reduced schedule. Dave worked for a small investment firm, which had just moved to Lakewood. Their new neighbors were considerably older and not really used to having young people on their street. Mary, recently widowed, a retired nursery school teacher,...

05 Mar

Published on March 5, 2015 in Anne's Parenting Column by

Sally and James were being extra quiet. They didn’t want their mother and father to know they were awake. It was Saturday and the children were planning to draw and make cards for their Grandmother whose birthday was coming up. Then they heard their father talking in the hall.   “Ginny, let’s make a quick breakfast and go right to the aquarium. After that, we can take the children to The Plunge. James really needs to...

02 May

Published on May 2, 2013 in Anne's Parenting Column by

There is no question that I like things to go well.  I also expect things to go as planned.  I am recently divorced and work from home.  Having two young boys to take care of is no snap.  Babysitters are often late, or are only interested in doing what they want, forgetting that the children are mine, that they work for me, and should comply with my requests.  I don’t want impromptu, spontaneous plans to...