Cross-posted at MotherTalkers.
Good morning fellow moms, dads and caregivers!
I am back with your weekly parenting news update. Here are some topics we recently discussed at MotherTalkers:
We have discussed the "hygiene hypothesis" before, or whether children actually benefit from having somewhat dirty homes or not bathing every day. Apparently, exposure to dirt and germs helps them build their immune systems. Most recently, the blog Non-Toxic Kids raised a similar question. What do you think? Are we over-the-top when it comes to cleanliness or is this simply a way to justify our messy homes?
There were many studies that came out this week, some very welcomed like this one that says parental and teacher involvement are more important to a student's academic success than influence from peers. In more depressing, but obvious, news, CareerBuilder.com had an article about how single mothers especially are in danger of burnout as they work a record-breaking number of hours in not very secure jobs and then work their second shifts at home. Here is a final (positive) study: Mothers who talk about people's feelings and intentions are more likely to raise children with "social understanding," according to CNN. The study did not include fathers due to their small sample size.
We had a very respectful discussion over a Gallup poll suggesting that more Americans now consider themselves "pro-life" rather than "pro-choice."
For fun, we discussed our "craziest parenting moments." We were empathizing with this dad in Ohio who admitted he overreacted when he called 911 on his live-in 28-year-old son who would not clean his bedroom. LOL! You know this battle has been going on for years and the son's belligerence finally pushed him over the edge.
Finally, I will be away with my family all next week to attend my brother-in-law's graduation. There will be no parenting diary a week from today. I will resume the following Saturday, June 6.
What's up with you?