Monthly Archives: November 2012

Feeding Your Family

November 26, 2012

Feeding your family is different things to different people. It’s a challenge, a joy, a stressor, a chore, a gift. I experience all of those depending upon the day. I feel fulfilled serving a balanced meal, full of nutrition, but I often resent the interruption to my day to stop and prepare it. Other times, [...]

Growing a Thanksgiving Tradition

November 20, 2012

Guest Post by Elizabeth Atalay, Documama.org The seeds for my ideal Thanksgivings were planted in other peoples’ homes.  That is not to say that my childhood Thanksgivings were unpleasant. My most prominent memory is my brother and I, the two children, retreating to the den of my aunts’ delicately decorated house to watch Chitty Chitty [...]

Traditions of Gratitude

November 15, 2012

I try to live gratefully every day. It’s an active process, one that takes regular reminding and effort, but it’s gratitude, I believe, that is the key to happiness. My whole life, my grandmother’s mantra was, “Count your blessings,” she embodied this philosophy and truly lived with gratitude. As Thanksgiving approaches, (can you even believe [...]

What is a Mother’s Circle?

November 8, 2012

I’ve always loved symbolism, something simple holding a greater, deeper meaning, and the circle, specifically, strikes me. It has a feeling to me, it feels whole and balanced, it feels like an embrace, inclusive. A circle is never-ending and strongly feminine, while also united with the masculine. I chose the name Mother’s Circle when I [...]

5 Parent Teacher Conference Tips

November 5, 2012

communicating with teacher, woman holding books, math on black board, school success, tips for school success, improving reading speed, third graders, In the season of parent teacher conferences, how can you get the most of those 15 minutes with your child’s teacher?

Be prepared

Think ahead about what you’d like to discuss with your child’s teacher and what questions you’d like to ask. Ask your child ahead of time if there is anything he’s concerned about or would like you to talk about in your conference. What they share may surprise you. You may also seek input from a spouse or a childcare provider, anyone who spends a lot of time with your child.

Write it down

Inevitably, you have some specific thing you’d like to ask the teacher and you’ve forgotten what it is when you walk into the classroom. So often, the teachers are on a tight schedule with parents stacking up outside their door, so you want to maximize your turn. Especially if you have more than one child, writing down some notes and questions is even more important.

Listen

Hear what your child’s teacher wants to share with you about your child. Does she see things that you’re not aware of? Can she provide information about your child’s social interactions, respectfulness of others and general manners and behavior when they’re outside of your purvey? Perhaps he has some worries about your child academically or organizationally.

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