Hints & Tips
At the Heart of Love
by Dr. Maureen O’Brien
Posted on Wednesday, January 29, 2020
Parental love is like no other. As Elizabeth Stone once said, “It’s to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.” Even before your little one was born, you likely felt awe about who your baby would turn out to be. And you committed to love this new being and keep her...
What do you resolve (not) to do?
by Dr. Maureen O’Brien
Posted on Friday, January 3, 2020
Resolutions, by definition, are difficult to keep. Lots of resolutions are about personal goals and revolve around physical health. But as a new year dawns, it feels like an opportune time to reexamine your priorities as a mom or dad. Ask yourself: Are there parenting or family practices that...
Reducing the Gimmes this Season
by Dr. Maureen O’Brien
Posted on Wednesday, December 4, 2019
‘Tis the season for gift giving. For some of us, this conjures up a way to express care and appreciation for loved ones. But too often for families, it feels like we are entering the “Season of Stuff.” We are bombarded (prior to Thanksgiving now) with advertisements for the latest, greatest...
Do you have a picky eater?
by Dr. Maureen O’Brien
Posted on Thursday, October 31, 2019
As the mom of a child whose palate was limited to mac & cheese, yogurt and peanut butter during his formative years, I feel VERY qualified to write about picky eaters. The fact that his twin(!) would eat anything I put in front of him led me to one important insight: don’t blame yourself. ...
Facing fears: Uh oh….and oh no!
by Dr. Maureen O’Brien
Posted on Thursday, October 3, 2019
Being afraid is part of being human. Some typical toddler fears (darkness, loud noises, being alone) are logical to us adults because we remember having them ourselves. Other fears seem irrational at first, but become clearer when we understand how young children’s minds work. Let’s take the...
Splish Splash!
by Dr. Maureen O’Brien
Posted on Tuesday, September 3, 2019
Let’s be clear: bathing a baby and bathing a toddler are two VERY different scenarios. Bathing a tiny infant is definitely an all-hands-on-deck experience that can make even the most confident parent tense. Preparation is the key. Place all the items you need (washcloth, hooded towel, mild soap...
Seasons change!
by Dr. Maureen O’Brien
Posted on Friday, August 2, 2019
I remember as a kid seeing back-to-school ads in early August and being really annoyed. It was still summer, after all! And summer was supposed to be a relaxed and free time, which is the complete opposite of school structure, right? Well, yes and no.
In reality, young children...
Fabulous Firsts
by Dr. Maureen O’Brien
Posted on Thursday, August 1, 2019
Greetings and welcome. This is my initial blog post for the First Years, which is exciting for me. But you know what’s even more exciting? When those firsts belong to your child. As a mom of twins, I recall eagerly anticipating those early firsts. Some of them are physical...
