Interesting article on Mothering

When Does Mothering Become Smothering? Part 1
By Susan Newman, Ph.D. on April 23, 2009 - 7:03am in Singletons
At the end of a talk to a group of parents by clinical psychologist Kathleen Nadeau, Ph.D., a concerned parent asked for advice about her chronically forgetful son. He regularly left the books he needed for homework at school causing him to fall behind. Nothing the mother tried had helped. Dr. Nadeau an expert on family dynamics and ADHD, suggested that the mother obtain a second set of schoolbooks to keep at home. The mother, not wanting to be overprotective, said, "But wouldn't I be enabling him?""Yes," Nadeau replied. "You'd be enabling him to do his homework!" Although Dr. Nadeau's advice was given to a parent whose child has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), the parent's question underscores a major concern of parents everywhere: When does responsible and appropriate parental involvement cross the line and become overprotective? This is a special worry for parents of only children, who have long been accused of excessive child coddling. But is it fair to single out parents who have one child? The emergence of the fashionable term "helicopter parents," which refers to parents who hover over their children, suggests otherwise. In all likelihood, the term would never have evolved, much less taken root, were overprotection solely the domain of one parental subgroup.
The popularity of A Nation of Wimps: The High Cost of Invasive Parenting by Hara Estroff Marano, a Psychology Today editor-at-large and blogger, further indicates that over-parenting has affected an entire generation. One needs only to read the chapter titles in Nation of Wimps such as "We're All Jewish Mothers Now," "Cheating Childhood," and "From Scrutiny to Fragility," to understand what a dim view A Nation of Wimps' author takes of what she considers coddling children. Marano's concern is broadly shared. Many experts also argue the dangers of helicoptering, such as children rendered incapable of making their own decisions or dealing with disappointment as adults.
Parents who take a different route are harshly criticized as well. Lenore Skenazy, author of Free-Range Kids: Giving Our Children the Freedom We Had Without Going Nuts with Worry was labeled "America's Worst Mom" after she published a story in the New York Sun explaining how she trusted her nine-year-old son enough to let him go solo on the subway (with a map, metro card, quarters for the phone, and 20 dollars) for the first time. It took only a day for a representative from the Today Show to call and ask, incredulously, if it were true she had "abandoned" her son in midtown New York. Skenazy and her son appeared on the show where she was introduced by Ann Curry asking rhetorically whether her guest was "an enlightened mom or a really bad one?" This was followed by a face-to-face with a "family expert" who was there to, Skenazy says, "teach me a lesson."
Her son made it safely home from New York's midtown and was proud of himself, his confidence boosted. Hovering, coddling, overprotective, controlling parents will do most anything to see their children succeed. Skenazy's advice to parents is, "relax and give them some space. Children learn a lot from failure." In fact, she says, failing is how you get to success: You get lost and then you find your way again. "That probably happened to you sometime in your childhood and now it's a proud memory. It's when you realized you could do something by yourself. Those are childhood's magic words: ‘I did it myself!' Not, ‘Mommy helped me do it!'"New York Times columnist Lisa Belkin admits to her own "helicoptering tendencies" and recognizes the danger of protecting children from the reasonable consequences of their choices and actions. Nevertheless, in a piece titled, In Defense of Helicopter Parents, Belkin points out children can benefit from a reasonable dose of parental scrutiny. Her article notes that today the complex and sometimes fraught process of growing up has only been exacerbated by the demands put on entire families by the current economic crisis. These days, for example, the choice of which college a middle class child attends demands increasingly intense parental involvement. I spoke with Lenore Skenazy to get her side of the issue. She noted "that the same deep desire to preserve our young from death and dismemberment is what we now bring to the SATs." Parents are intent on building bulging resumes for their offspring. While Skenazy readily admits signing her own 13-year-old up for test prep, she also admits letting him quit "the guitar lessons and robotics lessons and the football lessons that might have made him ‘college catnip.'" Researching her book made her realize that free time and poking around are as important as taking an extra class, the choosing of which is usually overseen by helicopter parents. "In fact, why don't we just think of ‘playing' as the new, hot, extracurricular activity, and put it down on the college application. That way, everyone wins!" she suggests. "No, really, the point is that there's no way to make a ‘perfect' kid and no reason to try," she says. "The best we can do is try to give them the ultimate gift: resourcefulness. And the way they get that is by doing some of the heavy-ish lifting on their own." A reappraisal is underway and many are defending helicopter parents much to Marano and Skenazy's dismay. Clearly, people don't agree on the best approach. At what point does mothering (or fathering) become smothering?Three Peas Co. Lifestyle is a combination of urban chic with todays modern child in mind. Every little girl boy and women deserve boutique quality handmade items.

Jill Scott recieves gift for new baby Jet

Singer/actress is swagged by celebrity friend in celebration of her first baby boy
Los Angeles, CA, April 10, 2009 - Singer, actress and first time mom-to-be, Jill Scott had already been treated to a baby shower in Philly to celebrate her first child. Much to her surprise when she returned home to LA she was surprised by her good friend Niecy Nash, actress and host of Style Network’s Clean House, with a baby shower and humongous gift collection. Celebrity Chitt was invited by Niecy Nash to create a gift collection of unique, adorable and useful mom and baby products for Jill and her anticipated baby boy. The completed project was an elaborate abundance of everything mommy and baby! Jill was delighted to receive such great gifts. She exclaimed in a phone call to Celebrity Chitt, “This is so amazing! It’s so much stuff I’ve never seen before!”
Jill and her little bundle of boy joy was spoiled with more swag than one can imagine! Among the products she received were designer diaper bags, infant and toddler car seats, luxury strollers, custom apparel, a belly casting kit, nursing supplies and apparel, bibs, slings, blankets, heirloom bracelets, photo albums, a photography package, custom birth announcements, a portable play mat, exersaucer activity center, pregnancy journal, stationary and everything in between!
Participating companies and gift collection sponsors included:
A Mothers Boutique, Ameda, Amon Maternity, Amy Michelle Baby Bags, Baby Bling Design Co., Baby Delights, BellyFlopz, Board Book Albums, Easy Walker USA, Eternal Maternal, Evenflo, Hype Strype, KC Fuzzy, Kota Couture, Lansinoh Laboratories, Inc., Maternal Dance, Mitetees, Moby Wrap, Mommys Little Helpers, Monkey Beanz, Inc., Paisley Bleu, Ritzy Bitzy, Samantha Taylor, Sandy Heit Photography, Sew Fierce, Soft Spot by Wozzy, Storksak, Sweet Dreams Designs, Sweet Pea Baby, Templeton Silver, Three Peas Co., Three Trimesters and Tiny Prints.
For information on any of the products or companies listed above, please contact Celebrity Chitt via the company’s web site at: www.celebritychitt.com or toll free at: 866-936-2448.
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Celebrity Chitt is a brand and product marketing firm with niche appeal in the entertainment industry. The company designs swag bags, baskets and gift collections for celebrities, charity, VIP events and other high profile affairs. Celebrity Chitt and the companies that took part in Jill Scott’s gift collection would be honored to provide a reader giveaway or gift collection for review. For prizes, samples, images and/or for media interviews, please contact Madison Chile at: 866-936-2448 or email: mchile@celebritychitt.com.
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Press Contact:Madison Chile31408 Harper Ave., Ste. 194St. Clair Shores, MI 48082mchile@celebritychitt.com866-936-2448http://www.celebritychitt.com
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Three Peas Co. Lifestyle is a combination of urban chic with todays modern child in mind. Every little girl boy and women deserve boutique quality handmade items.

Video from Oscars

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBR1xqwt7Mo

Our revieiw from 4babyandmom

My favorite review about our company yet and I am so happy to share

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Sugar & Spice, and EVERYTHING Nice, at Three Peas Co.!
Abbigaile loves to twirl, and spin and wear frilly stuff, but usually within minutes she's trying to dig, or pick up a frog, or play in some mud or trees.When our Pettiskirt and tank (and matching bow!) came in the mail from THREE PEAS CO. Abbie literally shrieked with excitement, "Look Mommy!!! It's mine dress?!?!?!""On my dress Mommy? On my dress!"I couldn't get it out of the box, and on her quick enough! As soon as I tied the back of her skirt, she started twirling."Look Mommy, I daaaan sin!""I so priddy Mommy.. Mommy, you love my dress? An my flow-Er? An my priddy bow?""I beautiful mommy! I hap-eeeeeee!" *melt*Love at first sight is not even the phrase to describe how deeply she fell in love with this pettiskirt. It's so full and light and fluffy! It looks so cute, and EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE we go comments about this outfit.Sure enough about an hour into her twirling and spinning and mini photo shoot, Abbie wanted to play. She hopped on her bike, and started pedaling to our neighbor's house."I go show CT's mommy my new dress. Ok Mommy? Come on Mommy!"Every time she wears this outfit, you can tell she feels like a million bucks! She just needs to show everyone, and anyone, and tell them all about it!The customer service at THREE PEAS CO. is unbeatable. I had several questions about their products and sizes, and their answers were quick, friendly and professional. The quality in their products are amazing, and all of the items themselves are just so sweet! I had an opportunity to speak with owner Antoinette Newhouse, about our children, their products, their company, family and so much more. It was so pleasurable to find a real company with a real family behind it. A company that believes in family first, and follows through with their word. Companies like that are unfortunatley very hard to find, and those of you that have followed me for awhile should know that I strive to find that quality in the companies we review. Oh, and just so Alex didn't feel left out, Antoinette at Three Peas Co. sent my son his very own special gift- a Skitter! (Talk about a cool toy!)Recently featured at the 2009 Oscar's red carpet style lounge, THREE PEAS CO. has been named as a favorite among celebrity parents. My family has officially fallen head over heels for THREE PEAS CO. and we are pretty certain you will too!Want it?Head over to THREE PEAS CO. and check out their beautiful selection of items for girls and boys, and be sure to mention that you heard about their company on 4BabyAndMom!WIN IT! Antoinette from THREE PEAS CO. has offered one lucky reader the chance to win their very own pettiskirt for the little lady in their life! Winner gets to choose between hot pink, black or light pink.
Madatory entry: Go visit THREE PEAS CO. and browse their products. While you're there, join their "Family of Friends" mailing list. Come back here and tell me after you've signed up, and let me know what item you adore (other than the pettiskirt!)!
Extra Entries:
Follow 4BabyAndMom AND Three Peas Co. on Twitter & tweet about this giveaway. Please include @reply.
Follow Three Peas Co. at their blog: threepeasco@blogspot.com
Email at least three of your friends and CC: 4BabyAndMom{at}Gmail{dot}com
Stumble, Digg or fave this post on Technorati.This giveaway will end on Friday, April 10th at midnight. Winner will be chosen using Random.org. Mandatory entry must be completed before extra entries, and will be verified. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or comments. Special thanks to Antoinette at Three Peas Co. for sponsoring this giveaway.
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Posted by Lauren @4BabyAndMom at
quality handmade items.