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ParentMap Magazine •

Talking to Kids About Rape and Sexual Assault

“Mom, what does rape mean?”

There are few aspects of parenting more universally terrifying than talking to kids about sex. Most parents tackle this topic gradually, trying to keep the discussion positive, informative and age-appropriate. However, it has become almost impossible to shelter our children, especially once they can read and are exposed to social media, from accounts of rape and sexual assault. As difficult as it is to talk about rape and sexual assault, it’s a critically important s...
ParentMap •

Start the Conversation: How (and When) to Connect With Your Child’s Teacher

How should parents approach their child’s teacher? This is a topic not generally covered on back-to-school night. As a parent of an elementary school student, I realize how daunting it can be to contact his teacher with a concern. Yet, as a former teacher, I also understand that early and respectful conversations between parents and a child’s teacher can have a lasting impact on that child’s relationship with school.
So, what’s the best way to connect?
ParentMap Magazine •

Heads Up: How to Spot and Avoid Non-Sports Concussions

“Mommy, I don’t feel good. I think I need to go to bed.” My 7-year-old son, Henry, stood in front of me, glassy-eyed and nauseated. Normally, his asking to go to bed half an hour early would have set off alarm bells, but I was sick myself. Figuring he was coming down with whatever I had, I put him to bed. Looking back, I could easily have killed him.
The next morning, I found out Henry had hit his head on the concrete floor of the garage while playing. I rushed him to the pediatrician’s office,...
ParentMap Magazine •

Building His Own World: Why I Try Not to Help My Child Solve His Problems

It was Friday afternoon.
My classes were over, my students’ papers were graded, and the other teachers had left the building faster than Elvis. Just as I was shoving my laptop into my bag, I heard a knock on my office door. It was Dan’s mother, and she was not happy.
She wanted to know why I gave Dan a C+ on his English paper. As I reassured her that Dan could, and would, rewrite the essay, a familiar thought ran through my head: Where was Dan in all this?
When I was a teacher, few conversations...