July « 2007 « The Parent Bloggers Network

The Dark Dreamweaver Final Round-Up

Tuesday, July 31st, 2007

When our bloggers and their kids decided to take on The Dark Dreamweaver, I was very curious to check out their reviews. I’m not familiar with tween books seeing as my kids are fairly little, and quite frankly, all I’ve ever heard about is Harry Potter.

The first half of bloggers found it to be creative, fast-paced, and a great read for their 9+ year old set. Let’s see how the rest of the bloggers felt about The Dark Dreamweaver.

The bloggers loved the premise of the book and the message it sent. “I think any book that inspires self-reliance, creativity, and bravery in the face of evil is a good one.” One blogger added that Nick Ruth gets the job done when it comes to imaginative characters. “Nick Ruth is a serviceable writer. He gets the job done, although I would not call his writing elegant. However, he does have a wonderful imagination and fills Remin with all kinds of bizarre and fabulous creatures and objects.”

While one blogger’s child felt as though it bounced around a lot, for the most part our parents (and kids) enjoyed the fast, highly entertaining pace. This young reader said “it was full of action. So many things happened so quickly. It made me want to keep reading. It was exciting.” One mom actually felt it was a bit fast, but her child just loved the pace. “He enjoyed how quickly it moved; I, on the other hand, found its pace almost frantic. I think Ruth’s transitions are a bit clumsy. But it’s kids, not adults, who will be reading this book (and its sequel), and kids Ben’s age prefer things to be action-packed. Or so I’m told.”

Our bloggers did note that they felt the imagery was a bit scarier than they had expected, but perhaps reading the book along with a parent might be appropriate — and as always, know your children and know what might or might not scare them. One blogger noted the following: “But beyond that there’s nothing particularly violent or disturbing in the book that I’ve read thus far. I think author Nick Ruth does a good job of creating a magical world with his characters…”

For a comprehensive review of this book, click here. And if you’re looking for a great summer read that will inspire and ignite your kids’ imagination, check out The Dark Dreamweaver.

Congratulations to our winner - A Bookworm’s Diary! If you’d like to purchase the book yourself, click here!

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When Parents Hurt - Facing the Pain

Monday, July 30th, 2007

After reading the final blogger reviews of “When Parents Hurt” by Joshua Coleman, it seems that regardless of individual circumstances, it was a difficult read for all. Some bloggers were estranged from their own parents, some bloggers’ spouses had cut ties with their parents, and other bloggers simply wanted to learn how they might avoid such painful separation from their own children in later years.

One blogger who is estranged from her father wrote that this book “was extremely difficult for me, emotionally. I chose to do this review purposely, knowing that it would probably be hard, but I had no idea how it was going to affect me.” Another blogger, whose father-in-law does not have any contact with his son - at the demand of his new spouse - harbors a great deal of anger toward her in-laws for perpetrating this estrangement: “I can’t imagine choosing to stay with a spouse who would force you to pick between your children (and innocent grandchildren) and them.” Finally, a third blogger read “When Parents Hurt” while keeping her own young children in mind: “Some day they will grow up, move out, and have their own lives. But the thought of something happening between us that would somehow cause them to turn their backs on me or vice versa is horrible.”

The first blogger had to work hard to keep an open mind while reading. “It was difficult for me to accept that in some cases, the parent might not be 100% at fault for the breakdown in the relationship, that sometimes, even parents who do everything right can have a child who wants nothing to do with them. In my opinion, it is much more often the case that relationships are broken because parents have wronged their children through abuse, neglect or indifference.” She went on to say that, “I had to acknowledge that people can change and wish to make amends. I had to question what I would do in the unlikely event that my dad would ever admit what happened in our past and want to try to rebuild our relationship and that was extremely uncomfortable for me.” Contrary to situations described in the book, “I don’t blame my father for how my life turned out, as Dr. Coleman suggests is often the case in strained parent/adult child relationships. On the contrary, I have an incredibly good life in spite of the parenting (or lack thereof) I received from my father.” All in all, she concludes that, “…it’s so important to forgive yourself and the other party. As difficult as that can be, as far as I’m concerned, sometimes that’s the best we can hope for.”

The second blogger, who has “foolishly tried to help mend the gap on several occasions, only to end up being on the receiving end of a load of bullshit, for lack of a more eloquent term,” hoped that reading “When Parents Hurt” would “help me to understand some of my father-in-law’s choices.” She found one section that seemed to speak directly to her circumstances:

“One of the chapters I found most helpful was Divorce Wounds. My parents are still together, so I sometimes have trouble understanding the complexities underlying the relationship between my husband and his parents…I immediately zeroed in on ‘I made my child a lower priority than my new partner.’ Reading this section did help, but it also made me realize that, at least according to the author, most of my father-in-law’s actions were not made in the interest of preserving his relationship with his children.”

Finally, the third blogger was relieved to read that “not everything is the parent’s fault.” She went on to say that, “Parental guilt is so ingrained that it’s easy to blame yourself for everything or let others blame you, but Dr. Coleman reminds us that sometimes the way kids act as teens and adults is not a direct result of things we said or did when they were younger.” However, that reassurance was tempered by the discussion of conflicting personalities: “Having different personalities is something that hits home for me. It frightens me to think that something I have no control over - personality - could cause problems between us.” She concluded hopefully: “If what I’ve read can help me keep my family from slipping into a lonely place of estrangement, it will be well worth it. If, despite my hopes and attempts, things don’t go that way, I know I can turn to this book for tips. Either way, it will stick around my bookshelf.”

“When Parents Hurt” is a thought-provoking read whether you are the parent of an adult child or an adult child yourself, and whether or not you maintain ties with your family. For more blogger reviews, please check out the excerpts from the mid-campaign post, and to buy your own copy, click here..

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Different Kinds of Parents - July Feature

Friday, July 27th, 2007

Please welcome this month’s interviewee - Victoria Pericon of Savvy Mommy!

Congratulations - Savvy Mommy is now five years old! Forgive the negative implications of this characterization, but you really are an online veteran, particularly where it comes to parenting resources. How has the site evolved since its initial conception? What sort of influence do you think Savvy Mommy has had on other online parenting sites?

Thanks! My site, my brand, my media moniker has definitely evolved. The very first thing that went up online was a webpage created by me. It was very simple, and after my first appearance on a local morning show, I realized I couldn’t keep it that simple if I expected people to keep coming back to read what I had to say.

I found an amazing site designer who helped me create a website so site visitors no longer had to view my little creation. He took me to the next level. And then later on, I was referred to my current design guru who literally took my design drawings and created my vision. I started in my old office working on the site concept while I had another career, and ended up making enough money that I could jump right into this career. A career I pretty much created for myself.

I went from being on a local morning show to doing morning shows across the country in studio and via satellite. At first, I had to explain to producers why they should include me in their morning broadcast, and in the beginning no one cared about the things I had to say. But now I can call up a television station and say, “Hey, I’ll be in town next Friday. Can I be on your show to talk about XYZ,” and I get booked on the spot. I used to get excited just having 1,000 unique site visitors a day. Now I get excited when the hits are over 5 million a day.

The influence of Savvy Mommy? Oh, I definitely see it. Once people see that someone can make money from an idea, many people follow along. I was the only one successfully doing parenting product and service reviews full time. Now, people wake up and start a parenting blog in the hopes of being able to leave their full time job. Some succeed. Some go about it the wrong way and don’t really stand out so they don’t stick around very long.

We understand that Savvy Mommy was born when you were pregnant with Natalie and discovered how differently the business world often treats pregnant women. What do you think women in business can or should do to help change the way mothers and mothers-to-be are perceived?

Stop assuming. It begins with us. If we stop assuming people will treat us the same once we start showing, we will be prepared when our workload gets lighter because people are frightened to let a pregnant woman make career decisions for herself. Stop assuming things will not change.

Some women will get pregnant and declare they will go back to work. Just get ready to embrace change and understand some of us may end up staying home with our children…and realize for those moms that works for them. And other moms go back to the office…a choice that works for them. If we don’t judge these personal decisions, it will make it easier for everyone to stop assuming only one way to be a mother is the right way.

I’ve lost contracts because I was pregnant, and although I’m in the forefront of the “mom audience” they were uncomfortable with me being a pregnant spokesperson for them. It’s insane. Things will not change overnight, but if we speak up, others will eventually become a little more open-minded.

Besides mothering your children, what aspects of being Savvy Mommy bring you the most personal fulfillment?

I work an insane amount of hours. I’m the first one to admit that, but because I answer only to myself, I am able to be a strong role model to my children, especially my daughter who hopefully won’t have a glass ceiling when she enters the workplace. Being able to help other parents everyday is wonderful. Getting feedback from them also makes me feel like five years ago I definitely made the right decision to become Savvy Mommy.

You’ve noted that you’re not the typical Manhattan mom - that you leave competition to sporting events. Why do you think there is such a heightened sense of competition among mothers - not just in Manhattan but across the country? What can parents do as individuals to free themselves from that supposed need to compete?

Because we have way too much time on our hands. (I kid.) I think it’s because a lot of us are insecure. Many of us are worried about our children fitting in or being a part of the “best.” I happily let my daughter stay home when she was 2 instead of trying to get her into a “top” preschool. Other parents believe that choice is going to lead to my daughter not getting into Harvard, although I’m sure Harvard has accepted a few home schooled children. So when my daughter is in high school and applies to whatever college she is interested in, I’m sure they won’t hold it against her that she wasn’t in a preschool at age two.

If we all followed our own counsel we wouldn’t be under as much stress and our children would be able to enjoy their childhood even more. Make the best decisions for your family and don’t worry about what the parents in the playgroup are doing.

You’ve written several books already, one of which is a somewhat autobiographical discussion of your experiences with the mean moms that we all face no matter where we live. Now you have another book coming out next summer. Care to give us a sneak peek?

I’ve written three non-fiction parenting titles, but next summer my first fiction title will be coming out because it was time for that story to be told. It’s about a successful woman who comes home early and finds the love of her life in bed with America’s Sweetheart…yes, an A-list celebrity. Some of us have experienced heartbreak but were able to just move on without having to view the love of their life on the cover of a supermarket weekly. It’s a story about disappointment, reinvention and well, a summer read wouldn’t be a hilarious summer read without a dash of gossip mixed with bittersweet revenge.

While you’re definitely not the typical Manhattan mom, you’re probably the closest incarnation to Supermom that we’ve ever seen! One week after giving birth, you were already back to traveling and appearing on TV. Do you attribute your drive to sheer work ethic, love for what you do, a combination of both, or something else entirely? What encouragement would you give to other parents who are finding it difficult to summon the energy just to empty the dishwasher?

I absolutely love what I do. Love! And I make sure to only say “YES” to projects (spokesperson gigs, media tours) I love and believe in. But that means waking up early and sending emails before I take my daughter on errands and then going into to the office or spending the afternoon at the park with my children but then heading off to the airport after bedtime in order to appear at a television studio out of town. I have a really good balance between work and family life. Luckily I can have family life seep into work anytime and take the kids with me on a business trip out of state.

If you need energy to just empty the dishwasher, put on some music. Dance with your children in the kitchen and make up lyrics to a funny song, or turn dish duty into a counting game. Make the dullest thing you can possibly do into a game with your kids and it will go by faster. Children love to be helpers, so have them help you put away all the spoons. Promise yourself a treat if you get all the mundane chores done before noon.

No Minivan, Just Moxie is your personal blog which you began just over a year ago. How has it helped you further define your online personality and augment your work at Savvy Mommy?

My blog “No Minivan, Just Moxie” was created after constantly receiving emails asking me when I was going to talk about my life. I honestly thought people would just want to know about the products I reviewed and not care about “the reviewer”, but I started getting executives at networks calling me about doing reality shows, autograph requests from viewers, invitations to speak at conferences, and the same questions about me over and over in my email, so I started my blog and try my best to shine light on my life off-camera as much as possible. That’s been the most difficult balance since I know a few bold faced names, and I know they breathe a sigh of relief that I am not on the record with them when we are eating extremely delicious desserts and their guard is down.

And speaking of No Minivan, Just Moxie - your list of 100 Things is one of the most entertaining lists out there! So we’d like to pry a bit further on a few of your revelations:

Please tell us more about your date with Tourette guy. Did he start spewing obscenities in the middle of dinner?

My date and I stopped off to get a drink at a very trendy bar/lounge in Manhattan and sat in one of the really cozy, velvet curtained sections so it wasn’t entirely out in the open. By the time my drink arrived, my date had shown almost every possible vocal and motor tic possible. One date with me can apparently drive a man to swear. I had a choice to make: walk out right then and there or finish the date. I stayed, and then he said he was hungry so I went with him to have dinner. Someone needs to give me a gold star for that.

You’ve played strip poker. Did you lose?

Lose? I didn’t even stand a chance. I had no idea how to play. I was roped into playing but luckily the neighbors (yes, we were outside…long before I was a mom) didn’t get a show because the gentlemen playing at the table allowed me to not fully embarrass myself.

Your feet are too ticklish for pedicures. Do you do-it-yourself instead?

No, I actually still go to my neighborhood nail salon and start laughing and apologizing as soon as they touch underneath my feet. Then usually someone nearby will fess up to being ticklish as well. Thankfully.

You’ve resolved to run the ING New York City marathon. Are you crazy?! How’s your training coming along?

It’s not that I’m nuts; it’s more about the fact I decided to make New Year’s resolutions this year which actually made a real difference. I’m running on behalf of a charity which helps fight childhood obesity. My involvement will benefit children, so as a mom of three little children that was a resolution I knew I would try my hardest to keep.
Training officially began the weekend before I had my son. So realistically I couldn’t start training then or right after having my son. I had to wait six weeks before starting. But the training has definitely been fun so far.

“Stationary” vs. “stationery” - us too. What other wordy pet peeves do you have?

When someone says “Talk to you soon.” I always feel as you should say “talk with you soon.” The former just seems so harsh. I don’t want to talk “to” anyone.
Passed your driver’s test without even putting the key in the ignition? Do tell!

Um…I actually want to keep my license, thank you.

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If you’d like to donate toward Victoria’s pledge to Team For Kids, please click here. You’ll need her name - Victoria Pericon - and her entry number - 138722. Donations are fully tax-deductible, and as a bonus - everyone who donates $50 or more will be entered to win a portable DVD player and a bunch of DVDs.

If you’re not able to make a donation, she’d be thrilled just to read some encouraging words regarding her marathon training. You can email her directly at victoria@savvymommy.com.

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Noah’s Pals Final Round Up: March Them Two by Two Right Into Your Toy Box

Wednesday, July 25th, 2007

If the first set of reviews wasn’t enough to get you interested in Noah’s Pals, then just wait until you see what the rest of our bloggers had to say about these durable animal toys (or really, collector’s items).

The animals, ranging from the simple cow to the very fancy and difficult to pronounce ”muntjac,” come complete with a card that describes everything about the animal, as well as a code that allows you to register online them as part of a collector’s club. In fact, the bloggers were impressed with the website itself. “One thing that stood out to me is the dynamic website for the collection. You can track your collection there and you can also read about the various animals. Each informational page offers an educational blurb plus quick to find classification of endanger, vulnerable or common and where they are commonly found in the world.” Besides, if you are going to collect tons of toys, might as well collect something that you’d be glad to display if your kids got older.

From bloggers who were animal toy experts to others who were just happy to have toys that did not require batteries, the parents that checked out these toys absolutely loved them. One blogger used them in her Sunday School class and had parents asking her left and right where she found them. However, she along with a few other parents noted the following: “These toys are more educational from a scientific perspective than a religious one, though of course they could be used as a teaching tool for the latter.”

Our bloggers noted the high quality of these toys. “They are of good quality, highly detailed, and I think they will be durable as my kids play with them over time.” “Personally, I was impressed with the quality of the animals. Each pair is individually hand-painted and created from sturdy PVC, and managed to withstand some pretty rough play from two boys.” ”The animals are hand painted with exact detail but made of plastic so they are very durable and easy to carry in small hands. A few of the pieces were a bit small for really little ones (the doves and Noah’s staff) but the larger animals were large enough to not only use for fun but educate about the animals.”

And if you didn’t catch it on their website, the toys are handpainted, as one blogger so happily noted. “They’re great quality, and the inner crafty geek in me is impressed that they’re all hand painted.” This blogger added another cool fact about these toys. “…I also LOVE the fact that there are unlimited pairs of the common animals, but a limited number of vulnerable animals and even fewer pairs of endangered animals, just like in the real world.” Similarly, many bloggers were glad to see atypical animals featured. “One of the neat things about this set is the fact that it incorporates many of the lesser known animals, which gave us some really interesting conversations and led to research, which is always a nice bonus.”

One blogger’s kids’ experience says it all. “It was like magic. They carefully opened the boxes, identified the animals, asked for their names (each pair of animals is given a set of names), and then played with them. And played with them. And played with them.”

You can check out the entire collection of Noah’s Pals here, and purchase them here.

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Posted in Elementary School, Kids | 4 Comments »

Body, Soul, & Baby Final Round Up: This is the Only Book You’ll Need

Tuesday, July 24th, 2007

If you haven’t figured out what to do with your library of prego books, here’s a suggestion. Don’t pass them on to your friend. Use them instead of a seat booster and go purchase Body, Soul, & Baby, the new pregnancy/new mom book from Dr. Tracy Gaudet, Director of Duke Medical School’s Department of Integrative Medicine.

But don’t just do it because I told you so. Do it because that’s pretty much what our twenty parent bloggers would tell you to do. The first set of bloggers enjoyed Dr. Gaudet’s approach — though fairly atypical from the vast majority of books out there. And the second set? Let’s check it out and see.

A pregnancy book with no agenda? Yes. It is totally possible. “Unlike other popular pregnancy books…, this book provides straightforward honest information with no agenda. Without being judgmental or preachy, Dr. Gaudet imparts wisdom and knowledge about how best to care for your body, mind and spirit during pregnancy to ensure your baby is as healthy as possible.” Other bloggers commented on her approach as well. “What I really like about Tracy Gaudet (M.D.!)’s Body, Soul, and Baby is that it takes a holistic approach to pregnancy: it doesn’t simply focus on the physiological changes that occur during pregnancy, but it also forces the reader to reflect on changes in lifestyle, family structure, self-identification, and our mental states.”

One of our bloggers was so excited, she offered virtual kisses to the author.

First off, Tracy and Paula? If you are reading this, I want to kiss you for creating Body, Soul and Baby. It is refreshing to read a book that addresses not only the physical changes but the journey our souls undertake through this transition into motherhood. And I really like that the kind doctor (who’s also a mom) shows readers how to tune into our bodies and how to nurture the changing needs of our spirits without sounding like some flakey, nutjob who’s been slipping happy herbs into her granola.

While a few of our 2nd-time-around bloggers felt that they didn’t have enough time to enjoy all the exercises offered by Dr. Gaudet, they emphasized how great the book would have been for their first. “I enjoyed reading about the tools and Gaudet’s approach is certainly one I would have followed to the letter during my first pregnancy. I’d even recommend it to other soon-to-be-moms.”

Like our other skeptics, particularly those who tend to related Integrative Medicine (IM)with wheat grass and hypnosis, this book changed their mind — at least when it came to the role of IM in women’s health. “But the credentials of the author, Tracy Gaudet, were impressive - bona fide doctor! from Duke University’s School of Medicine! - and so because these things matterto me, I decided to give it a chance. If a real doctor - that is, not a graduate of the West Coast School of Alternative Hemp Therapies - can make a case for touchy-feely medicine, I’ll be sold.” Similar to our first set of bloggers, these bloggers found the idea of making the conscious choice to TTC an interesting concept. “I realized that there was something important to this idea. My husband and I have been ‘trying to conceive,’ but not very hard. It’s been a matter of simply throwing caution to the wind and not paying attention. Which means, really, that we haven’t been trying. Should this tell us something?”

And like our first set of bloggers, these folks took note at the extensive and thorough post partum section. As one mom put it, “Gaudet does a stand up job addressing postpartum issues…” That wasn’t the only section that caught this blogger’s eye. “This book gives the best and most comprehensive chapter on labor and delivery I’ve ever read.”

Similar to a previous reader, one blogger (who just had her baby!) felt as though Dr. Gaudet was a bit dismissive of midwifery. She did, however, feel that the book discussed all birthing options openly. “Every option is presented respectfully, a refreshing alternative to both the overly medicalized approaches to pregnancy and the scolding, holier-than-thou tones marring the alternative birthing movement. ”

One blogger noted that the only thing “standard” about this book is the organization by stages of pregnancy. “Unlike the standard books it focuses on meditation, reflection, observation, and other non-traditional ways of handling the changes that pregnancy brings. Gaudet also covers all the basics that you’ll read in conventional pregnancy books.” Another added, “It’s so rare to read a voice from the medical community that puts equal importance on what science has shown and what a mom feels and intuits. ”

Like many of the bloggers who read Body, Soul, & Baby, this blogger asked the big question. Where can we find an OB like Dr. Gaudet? — and offered this solution. “If I can’t find a doctor like Gaudet, at least I can hold her hardcover perspective in my hands.”

One blogger put it clearly:

I truly cannot say enough good things about this book. It provides in depth information about what is happening to the body during pregnancy. It addresses fears with useful information based on medical science as well as traditional wisdom. It provides real stories of real women who have experienced pregnancy.

Want to check this book out? Leave a comment and we’ll pick two winners at random on August 1 who will received an autographed copy of the book.

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Posted in Books | 6 Comments »

The 24-Hour Pharmacist Round-Up Review - Preventative Medicine

Monday, July 23rd, 2007

It really is incredible to think of how far modern medicine has come. Not only do we have multitudes of treatments available to us, we’re able to move beyond merely treating ailments and can focus on optimizing our health at all times.

But with these advances have come an easy (and sometimes misplaced) reliance on prescription medication. One blogger notes: “It’s pretty clear that in this modern world we’re a medicated society. Have high blood pressure? There’s a pill for that. Depressed? There’s a pill for that, too. Need help getting it up? Of course there’s a pill for that.” She goes on to remind us that, “A pill may fix one problem, but cause a different problem in return, which warrants another pill to fix the new problem.” Another blogger agrees: “Seeing as I once thought a pill could cure all ills, I am now living in a world where I am more careful, more responsible, and definitely up for anything that is a natural remedy for what ails you.”

So it’s not surprising that our second round of reviewers were just as thrilled with “The 24-Hour Pharmacist” as the first group. “Suzy is different. A pharmacist, sure. But pills aren’t always her answer. She offers a fairly objective perspective, when pills might be useful, how supplements, herbs and non traditional treatments might also be a solution. And how overall, our goal should be to listening to our bodies and not looking for a quick solution to fix everything.” Another blogger echoes this sentiment: “It’s about getting to know our womanly bodies and being informed about how to get them to run as efficiently as possible.”

Being parents, we often consider the health of our children to be paramount - “…boys are just accident prone.” - but we also worry about the associated costs: “Being a household of six can be tough, especially in the budget department.” We’re accustomed to taking care of others, not ourselves. “The 24-Hour Pharmacist helps us focus on our own health as well: “…although it’s useful for moms, it’s not just about kids. It’s really a book for the whole family and it offers a wide variety of solutions to basic ailments.”

Author Suzy Cohen earned the trust of our bloggers - “Her formal training and extensive knowledge about the traditional route encourage me to be trusting of her advice and theories regarding the alternative route. She understands the chemistry. I was intrigued by her descriptions of what substances are involved in which systems, so how we can alter those interactions.” - including those who are devotees of traditional medicine: “The author is not advocating a rejection of traditional medicine. Instead, she is encouraging us to consider all of the therapies, traditional and alternative, that are available to treat (and that have been shown to improve) a given condition.”

She made them think - “[My son] has allergies…he has been taking Singulair. The Singulair has been causing bad dreams and restlessness. I looked up allergies in The 24-Hour Pharmacist, and whaddaya know…it says allergy meds cause bad dreams and restlessness, and to try lemon balm.” - and laugh - “I laughed while reading a book about HEALTH issues. About someone saying pills are not the answer. (I usually only meet them in meetings.) But Suzy wrote with humor and fun! Not so common when talking health and such.” - and even fall in love: “I love you, 24-Hour Pharmacist. I love you to the breadth and depth and height my soul can reach. We will never, ever be parted. Even though your soft white cover may get tatty and stained, and even though your pages might tear and become defaced by toddler graffiti - I will carry you with me. I will lovingly bind you with tape and wrap you in brown paper like a much-loved English textbook and carry you with me. Always.”

Now there’s devotion. Not just to a book or to an author, but to health and wellness.

Congratulations to Heather L. from It’s all for the best - she’s our winner of the $50 CVS gift card and a copy of The 24-Hour Pharmacist! To purchase your own copy, click here!

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Posted in Books, Giveaways | 1 Comment »

The Dark Dreamweaver: Here’s What They’re Saying So Far

Saturday, July 21st, 2007

With all this Harry Potter hype, I imagine many folks have forgotten that they are other great fantasy books out there for kids. And when many of us our busy keeping our kids occupied this summer, we often don’t have time to research and read other books.

Well, our parent bloggers are doing that for you (Have you checked out our book reviews lately?) with The Dark Dreamweaver, the first book in the series The Remin Chronicles. Let’s see what our bloggers have to say, and if you’d like to win a copy of it and its sequel “The Breezes of Inspire” leave us a comment here about your favorite tween book.

Winner of the Mom’s Choice award, The Dark Dreamweaver is a classic tale of good and evil. Our bloggers appreciated that the main character had to fight using his inner powers. “As a mom, what I appreciate most about The Dark Dreamweaver is that this “normal” kid David is challenged to dig deep, rely on his inner powers (courage, strength, determination, wisdom, imagination, and compassion) to help not only his caterpillar friend but the whole state of the world. ”

With the imagery being so vivid, our bloggers recommended this book specifically for the age range (9-12). “This is a book for kids who enjoy the fantasy genre but probably more suited to those who are mid-elementary aged. The writing is fast paced and the imagery is wonderfully vivid, so much so that a kid who’s easily spooked by her own wild imagination might find it a bit eerie until they realize that David will be okay.” This parent followed up by saying, “…The Dark Dreamweaver is suspenseful, but not terribly scary, certainly no more so than the Harry Potter books. I read the first few chapters and felt compelled to read on. ”

A few of our bloggers found the book to be the awesome summer read and weren’t shy about sharing it. “We found this book to be both imaginative and creative. The book is filled with a strong main character who is filled both determination and strength that is a great model for the tween set. The book is filled with suspense and enough magic and wizardry to make any tween forget he is actually reading during the summer time!”

This parent wasn’t the only one who enjoyed Nick Ruth’s writing style. “Nick Ruth has a great writing style, action packed and descriptive. David’s questions and choices really resonated with my kids, who sat rapt by my side as we read through this book.” “Nick Ruth writes with a fast pace that keeps the interest of even the most active reader.” ”

Several of our bloggers’ kids couldn’t put the book down. “Oh. I’m done. And I haven’t had any bad dreams yet, so I know it was good. This is high praise, coming from the girl who has only loved one other book with a male protagonist, which may or may not rhyme with Marry Wotter.”

The blogger’s kids are already looking forward to the sequel. “My daughter really enjoyed the book and is certainly looking forward to the next Chronicle.” “It’s a wonderful journey, full of fantasy and excitement. Fast paced and creative, both my boys are looking forward to reading the next installment.”

See what our other bloggers think about this book, and make sure to enter the contest to win a copy. Just leave a comment here and you’ll be entered — tell us about your favorite tween book.

Ruthless in the Suburbs 7/23

Slouching Mom 7/24

Views from the Pants 7/25

Final Round Up 7/31

And if you missed out on our Blog Blast yesterday, it’s not too late to join in on Bloggers Giving Back. Check out the details and write your post!

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Posted in Books, Elementary School, Kids | 2 Comments »

iBakeSale Blog Blast: Bloggers Giving Back

Friday, July 20th, 2007

Blogging has provided a voice to many people who were previously left unheard. And it has allowed many to share their stories of hope, grief, and change. And for others, it has been a vehicle to support a cause near and dear to their heart.

With that in mind, we’re teaming up with iBakeSale today in a Blog Blast we’re calling “Bloggers Giving Back.” If you’re not familiar with iBakeSale, it’s a free website that allows you to shop as you usually would, but receive cash back rewards for yourself, your favorite charity, and/or your favorite community group. Raise money for your shoe fund AND your local non-profit just by shopping at your favorite online shops via their site.

Way better than making cupcakes!

So, our bloggers are talking about their favorite charities and encouraging their readers to join their fundraising groups — hence Bloggers Giving Back. We’ll be listing the charities throughout the day, so if you find someone you’d like to team up with, click on their site and sign up for iBakeSale via their link (totally free!).

And if you’re super motivated, write about your own charity between now and August 7, send us the link (parentbloggers@gmail.com), and we’ll enter you in our contest. Make sure to email us or info@ibakesale.com so we can give you specific instructions, plus a cool “Join My Group” button and a link for your blog.

The blogger with the most “sign-ups” to their fundraising group between now and August 7 wins a $100 Amazon Gift Certificate.

A little competition for charity never hurt, right?

And if you can’t decide which charity to support, don’t worry. You can support as many as you want! So, spread the love (and leave a little for yourself too!).

Canape — Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation

Christina — March of Dimes Columbus, OH

Daisy — Wisconsin Lions Foundation

Damselfly — Kids in Distress

Dana — Stevens Point Catholic Schoools & Suzuki Foundation

Domestic Diva — Breast Cancer Awareness

Her Bad Mother — Parent Project for Muscular Dystrophy Research

Julie — Colonial Williamsburg

Kari — Find a Way Foundation of California

Kimba — Multiple Sclerosis Women’s Auxiliary of Milwaukee

Kristen — American Cancer Society of Atlanta, GA

Linsey — Wounded Warriors

Lisa — Cancer Research Institute and ALS of St. Louis

Mrs. Chicken — American Cancer Society of Chicago, IL

Tracey — Heifer International

Vicky — The Domestic Violence Resource Center of South County, RI

More »

Posted in Blog Blasts, Internet Services | 3 Comments »

When Parents Hurt - Here’s What They’re Saying So Far

Thursday, July 19th, 2007

I anticipated that “When Parents Hurt” would provoke soul-searching among the bloggers who reviewed it - after all, it’s a rare person whose family experiences little or no conflict. A few bloggers are (or were) estranged from their own parents, others have a sibling who is estranged from their parents, and they were all interested in learning how they might avoid the pain of one day becoming estranged from their own children:

“When Parents Hurt by Dr. Joshua Coleman is based on personal experience. After experiencing a painful estrangement from his own daughter, he felt compelled to write a book to help parents cope with these situations.” While one blogger reminds us that ”it’s important to note that the book comes from the perspective of the parent as opposed to the child — the child being an adult or teenager or tiny toddler,” another blogger believes that “it’s not only a must-read for people in strained relationships with either their own parents or with their grown children, but also for people raising children who would like to avoid the pitfalls that come later on when the kids are grown.” Indeed, a third blogger agrees that through this book, she “…found insight into how my relationship with my parents influences how I parent my children.”

Some bloggers even found specific examples in the book that parallel their own situations:

And one blogger found that not only was her mother receptive to reading the book, but she also shared it with her own mother - the blogger’s grandmother - with the amazing result that “…this book may have inspired 3 generations of healing. I’m not sure I can give a better review than that!”

Dr. Coleman offers sound advice to parents pursuing reconciliation, including a reminder that “as parents, we have to continue to be the adult in the room after we are all adults“ and that “parents who can acknowledge their children’s complaints without excessively defending themselves have a better chance of repairing their relationship.” That said, “knowing when to stop acting like a parent is not always obvious or easy. Here’s a clue: if your kid is out of the house and your advice always leads to conflict, it’s time to keep your wisdom to yourself.”

Sometimes though, nothing is going to help the parent-adult child situation. “Dr. Coleman makes it very clear that parents wanting reconciliation need to come to grips with the fact that it might not happen. And while there is certainly something that they might have done, it is quite possible that there was nothing…”

But adult children who are now parents themselves can still draw guidance from this book:

By and large, we’re all doing the best we can (and hopefully most of our parents tried to do the same). Compassion for our children - particularly as they grow and make mistakes - and compassion for ourselves - realizing that even though we’re adults, we can’t be perfect all the time either - will take us a long way toward healthy relationships with our children, no matter how much time passes.

Please check out the next set of reviews, along with the final round-up review here at PBN!

Friday, July 20 - Cheese Party
Monday, July 23 - Soul Gardening
Tuesday, July 24 - Chaos Theory
Wednesday, July 25 - Pundit Mom
Monday, July 30 - Round-Up Review on PBN

More »

Posted in Books | 2 Comments »

Noah’s Pals: Here’s What They’re Saying So Far

Wednesday, July 18th, 2007

With all the toys out there that require 14 batteries and do nothing short of drive mom and dad bonkers, it’s nice to find toys out there that require no on and off button, but rather, just pure imagination. And while you might have found some great toys that require no bells and whistles, it’s always great to hear personal recommendations about toys you may not otherwise ever learn about.

That’s what we found when our bloggers had the opportunity to check out Noah’s Pals, a collection of fantastic plastic animal toys that range from typical animals to ones that I needed a dictionary to pronounce. Both educational and fun, these toys were played with for the past few weeks by our bloggers and their kiddos (ages 5 and up) and here’s what they have to say.

The bloggers were quick to point out that while they thought the animals might be marketed towards a more Christian audience, that was clearly not the case. “Whether you believe the fantastical story of Noah’s ark or not, this collection of toys can provide parents the opportunity to educate their children about a legendary biblical story in a fun way.” ”Noah’s Pals are not meant to make any kind of religious statement, which is great for me since we are not a religious family. In fact, when I showed the toys to Nathan, he said, “who is Noah?” The Noah’s Pals FAQ page says it best, “Intended for all, Noah’s Pals™ is a collection that evokes the beauty in all animals”.”

Even I was impressed about the description of the animals’ beautiful detail work. “Now, we’re pretty much connoisseurs when it comes to the plastic animal market. We have entire herds of animals over here, allowing my kids to create reenactments of massive migrations from one end of the living room to the other. So all of us were taken with the beautiful and detailed work on these animals.” ”These are hand painted, and tell you what the scale is. They are amazingly accurate. ”

The bloggers were completed satisfied with the quality of the toys — always a plus this disposable age. “I will say that Noah’s Pals seem a bit more fragile, because they are constructed in pieces instead a solid mold, but if my children haven’t managed to behead any of them, I think it is safe to say that they are perfectly durable.” “These are not your typical plastic animals. They are a heavy, durable plastic, hand-painted with beautifully realistic detail.” ”I’m impressed with the craftsmanship - the animals are all made out of durable plastic, and are carefully painted and molded. ”

Each animal set (two by two, of course) comes with an explanation card, which provides great opportunities for extended learning after the kids are done playing with them. “Each set of animals comes with a card telling what continent they live on, what type of habitat, whether or not they are endangered, and gives their family name and species. As if that isn’t cool enough, it gives an individual profile for each of the pair, showing the different height, length and weight for the male and the female.”

Additionally, the bloggers noted that the toys kept even their older kids (ages 9 and 11, to name a couple) just as occupied, if not more, than the little ones!

A few bloggers commented that for the price and quality, these animals were the way to go as compared to other animal toys out there. “My kids think these are the coolest animals…we’ve been big fans of the Schleiss animals for years, but at a cost of $10 or more for their large animals, most of whom lack the detail and clever modeling of Noah’s Pals, these wonderful pairs are a great deal, especially for moms like me whose kids want to have “a family” of every variety.”

And one blogger commented on the idea of collecting the animals, a neat club feature offered by Noah’s Pals. “And what adds to the fun is that each card has an ID code that you can plug in online so you can keep track of what you have collected and what’s left to collect. That’s one more feature I really like about them. And that they are toys that I feel good about giving. Collecting things is cool. It gives the toys more perceived value somehow and I think helps kids take batter care of them.”

What a hit so far! Check out what our other bloggers have to say, and get the whole set on special at Amazon. Get the whole set for $269. That’s a $30 discount from the Amazon price (which is even lower than retail). Snatch it now for Christmas. (You can also just purchase individual animal pairs).

July 19 Mom to the Screaming Masses & Mama Maven Says

July 20 Kari’s Couch & Chaos Theory

July 23 Little Bird Reviews & Ebony Mommy

July 24 Builder Mama & The Fish Pond

July 25 Final Round Up