Parenting

A Complete Guide to Visiting the Efteling Theme Park

by

This March, we traveled from Dublin, our residence, to Efteling, a fantasy-themed amusement park in the Netherlands. There is something for everyone in Efteling, from toddlers (carousels, car rides, steam trains, dioramas, pedal trains, gondola rides, monorails, and playgrounds) to grown-ups (free-fall roller coasters with double spins).   How much time is needed for Efteling?  It depends, as a family with toddlers will have a different rhythm from a family with teenagers. We went during the Irish school break of Saint Patrick’s day, which didn’t …

Read more

Four Compassionate Picture Books For Children About Death

by

It might very well happen that a child learns about death from fairy tales, where monsters die and the good triumphs. The death of these characters reassures children that all is good with the world: evil is defeated, and good prevails. Yes, there are turns and twists in fairy tales, and the heroes have to prove themselves, but in the end, we all know how the story ends. Nasty things happen to nasty people, and good things happen to good people. And children do …

Read more

What I Wish I Knew Before Having My Child

by

While creating the outline for an article about preventing parenting burnout, I kept thinking about what I wanted to know before I had a child. So, I asked my husband and some of my friends what they wish they knew before their first newborn. In random order, and under the guise of anonymity, here are some ideas:  Breastfeeding  One of the biggest myths about breastfeeding is that it is easy, billions of mothers have done it before us, and it only takes a bit of …

Read more

Talking about Relationships with Our Children

by

While reading Between: A guide for parents of eight to thirteen-year-olds  (a great read full of practical advice), I came across a crucial topic that caregivers need to discuss with their children. What should our children look for in a positive relationship, and what red flags they must check? Positive signs for a healthy relationship  Both people trust, respect and support each other.   Both people enjoy spending time together and having fun. There is honest and open communication between both people.  Being with that partner brings …

Read more

How to Introduce the Pomodoro Technique to Children

by

The Pomodoro technique is a simple, yet efficient study method, developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. This method consists of alternations between 25-minutes of work with five or ten-minute breaks.   First, we turn off all distractions (phones, blocking sites on computers, etc). Then we set a timer for about 25 minutes. Cirillo used this method with a tomato-shaped kitchen timer (Pomodoro means “tomato” in Italian). Next, we focus as intently as possible for those 25 minutes. Naturally, our mind will wander, but we will gently …

Read more

Wise Ideas from Morgan Housel’s Book The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness

by

One of the better books about financial education that I have read is Morgan Housel’s book, The Psychology of Money: Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness. This book started as a blog post that can be read here. Some sharp insights in this book struck me, and I will discuss them in more detail in the following paragraphs.  Investing is not the study of finance but how people behave with money The premise of this book is that doing well with money has little to …

Read more

Cognitive Reappraisal or How to Cope with Unpleasant Feelings through Reframing

by

In psychologist Guy Winch’s book The Squeaky Wheel: Complaining the Right Way to Get Results, Improve Your Relationships, and Enhance Self-Esteem, I came across one of the most descriptive explanations of how to handle the emotional load of uncomfortable situations.  What we call feelings are complex experiences composed of several elements. Anger, frustration, sadness, rage, exasperation, etc., are our subjective experiences (“feelings”) of particular events in our life. First, these emotional experiences are always accompanied by physiological reactions: potential elevated heart rate and blood pressure, stress hormones …

Read more

Letters to my Daughter: Learning How to Pass a Test

by

So here we are, my dear, facing the test. I showed you all the learning techniques, and you know which methods are efficient, and which aren’t. You know how to take good notes in class, you read your assignments, you do your homework. And most importantly, you know that the most efficient method of studying is self-testing. Minute per minute, you will retain more if you spend one hour taking a test on a topic than studying an hour on the same material.  Long before the …

Read more