Trendspotted
This article originally published in The Grid
When golfer Bubba Watson burst into tears and hugged his mom after winning his first Masters tournament, he inspired a slew of editorials about when and whether it was okay for men to cry. What year is this? Stereotypically, mama’s boys have a bad rap, likened to maladjusted Norman Bates types or weaklings. We have a problem with this. And so does Kate Stone Lombardi, whose new book, The Mama’s Boy Myth, documents how boys with close relationships to their mothers have a higher emotional intelligence and better mental health than those who don’t.
So set aside an hour or so for mother-son QT. Some suggestions: Take your boy to a side-by-side art class, have a good chat over hot chocolate at a family friendly café, or go on a hike. Teach them that real men cry, do housework, and share how they’re feeling, and they’ll never be too old to seek comfort from their moms. Oh, and the new generation of mama’s boys has nothing to do with that new TLC show, Mama’s Boys of the Bronx. Those are just man-children who don’t want to do their own cooking and laundry. Read more...
Trendspotted
This article originally published in The Grid
Does anyone go away for March Break anymore?
It’s just around the corner, but this year, fewer families are planning to jump on a Cuba-bound plane or load up the iPad for the drive to Florida—at least not during the school break. Families are travelling, but they’re doing it outside school holidays.
The current generation of moms and dads—let’s call them the Bueller Generation—are totally nonchalant about pulling their kids out of school for cheaper, less-crowded travel at non-peak times. These parents are making the trips learning experiences (or, at least, that’s how they sell it to the teacher). In mid-December, one Toronto dad took his children to Panama, where his son shot a couple of videos about rainforest ants and howler monkeys and made a presentation to his class. Read more...
Blog
We partnered with The Grid to come up with some ideas for parents in the city
Working with The Grid TO, we came up with a list of 49 superfun activities for kids and parents in Toronto. Some of the activities are Toronto-specific, but most can be applied to any city. (Just sub in your favourite parks)
And because summer is just bursting with awesome concert and festival options, check out Damian Abraham and Lauren Moses-Brettler’s tips for bringing your kid to a rock show.
What are you planning to do this summer with your kids?
Photo by Derek Shapton via The Grid
