My son, a college senior, has grown up with Facebook and is increasingly aware of how it has it affected his and his friends' lives. He recently sent me the following message:

Subject: Great Article

Body: Our Connected World

The link sent me to a New York Times Op Ed entitled "The Flight From Conversation." Written by psychologist and MIT professor, Sherry Turkle, the article lays out some of the disturbing trends in our culture that are drawing us further away from conversation with one another and toward short "sips" of interaction.

Is raising girls better than raising boys? Are boys easier emotionally and financially? Why is there such a inherant difference between what society expects from girls versus boys? Read this weeks column with Wendy where she discusses how having 2 girls is different from having 2 boys.

The cost of being a boy in society is dramatically different than the cost of being a girl. 

We think it starts as adults with dry cleaning bills, $1.50 for his shirt, and $5.00 for my blouse.  From there we go to haircuts $15 for his, $55 for mine. Hello? However I realized that the different costs and expectations that society puts on being a boy versus a girl begins so much earlier and weren’t just financial but emotional as well.

As if Hallmark and/or your mom hasn't reminded you already, May holds a very important holiday: Mother's Day is May 13th and from these hard-working mamas to all of you others, we deserve it! For now, instead of obsessing and stressing about what to buy your own mother, sister or best friend for Mother's Day we have decided to make this blog all about you. Our first list in May is five things to give or do for yourself this Mother's Day (great gift ideas for others will come later). And, don’t feel like you’re being self-indulgent reading on or partaking—on every other day you put yourself before everyone else. This is a day to dote on yourself, and if you have to make yourself feel better about it, remember a happy mom makes a happy home. 

Every day during the immersion, we would gather at 8:30 and start the day by pairing with someone in the class. Sitting on floor directly across from the other, you would hold one hand and close your eyes. Open to the vibrations from the others around you, it would begin with a simple mantra “I can sense….” Most days you were happy and would express that happiness. Others you would open your heart feeling secure and simply let your emotions flow.

Popular Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and many of you will be starting to wonder what to get your mom for Mother’s Day? I asked some mom friends what their favouritegifts were for Mother’s day, both to give and to receive. There were a few surprises, but all in all the answers were what I suspected they would be.

Top Gifts as Chosen By Moms

Flowers or flowering plants were near the top of the list, as were homemade gifts (remember the macaroni covered dish soap bottle that was spray painted and intended for use as a flower vase, likely for the buttercups or dandelions you picked out of the yard? Turns out mom’s do really like that stuff when made with love by their child’s sweet little hands!). Also popular was jewelry (mom’s rings or pendants) and other personal items such as bath products and lotions. Gift certificates for a massage, manicure, pedicure, or facial also seemed to be popular choices. I know of one group of moms who spent a day away from their families on mother’s day having a girl’s day out together as their gift. And guys, take note, a gift or card from you to the mother of your children, even if you are no longer together, is usually much appreciated.

Perfect Mom Syndrome

Recently I invented a new syndrome (well, I don’t know if it is new, but I would like to claim it as mine as it is new to me!) PMS – Perfect Mom Syndrome. It occurs when a person feels the need to be the perfect mom.

Do You Know Someone With PMS?

I have met women with this syndrome. I have been friends with women with this syndrome. You have too I am sure. They are the ones who appear to have it all together. They are dynamos whose children are always looking clean and tidy, whose house is always show-home ready, whose vehicles don’t have food wrappers or empty coffee cups in them, who bring home baked treats to school every holiday season, and who always seem to still have time to look put together themselves.

My family’s mission is complete. They have their mother back. The yoga retreat was a success. I loved it and the ironic thing is that I fought going. There were lots of excuses.

1. What would my family do about dinner?
2. It was too much money!
3. I quit everything except being a mother (I had no choice).
4. How would everyone get transported where they needed to go?
5. Who would do the laundry?

Besides, I didn’t want to book a room in a dump for $50 bucks a night and stay with a bunch of people wearing Tevas and eating granola at a yoga workshop.

April is here and that has many of us scrambling to book last minute spring and summer getaways. Deciding when, where, and for how long you'll be vacationing is stressful, especially when you have a budget. Taking a vacation does not have to cost as much as you think, especially in this rough economy.  You can start saving by knowing how to shop around for hot spots, asking the right questions, and being flexible. This month at The List we are sharing tips and advice on how not to overpay when planning a spring family vacation (or one at other times of the year).  

Taking the Dis out of Disability

Imagine the birth of your baby. You anticipated the baby’s arrival and dreamt about how life will be when he or she is born. You love your baby with all your heart, even before birth. Now, imagine your baby is born with a disability. Imagine further the doctor or nurse wanting to take your baby from you and send him away before you even hold him. Sound unbelievable? Not so long ago, if someone was born with a disability, the family was encouraged to send them away.  It was viewed that disabilities were something to be ashamed of and families couldn’t possibly be equipped to care for someone with a physical or cognitive disability. So, our society built special homes and schools and locked people away in institutions.

What To Expect In The First Week of Life With a New Baby

You have just had a baby! Are you prepared for what lies ahead? I think no matter how well prepared we are, there is still a lot of challenges we hadn't anticipated and big adjustments to make.

The first weeks at home with your baby are filled with changes. While you adjust to being a mom, your baby is adjusting to life out in the world. You may feel extreme happiness and possibly tremendous fear! Having someone depend on you for absolutely everything can be quite overwhelming. Do not try to do too much and take help when it is offered!

Everybody loves the creamy, chocolately hazelnut delight known as Nutella! These delightfully simple no-bake cookies take the delectable taste of Nutella just a step further. My kids call them, “Nutella Dreams”.

The Recipe

Ingredients:

• 3 Tbs. Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
• 1 stick Butter or margarine
• 2 c. sugar
• 1/2 c. milk
• 1 tsp salt
• 3 c. Quick Cooking Oats
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 c. Nutella

Happy March—it’s one of our favorite months since it's almost spring and who doesn't love St. Patrick's Day (who cares if you're not Irish)? There’s good food and an excuse for good times without all the stress of a normal holiday (buying, wrapping, cooking, stuffing, etc). While you are either picking up your cornbeef, Guiness, shamrocks, and more or making ressies at your local pub that will be packed with flavor, why not stock up on the eco-friendly green essentials for your home. You know the non-toxic, formaldehyde free formulas that will clean your house after the party is over, but are safe for your kids to be breathing in and will leave you in good graces with Mother Nature.