Already a legislative leader in reducing children’s toxic exposure, Maryland is now the third state to officially designate today as Children’s Environmental Health Day. The state’s new eco-holiday is an ideal time to take stock of the clear link between negative health outcomes for kids and the 80,000 mostly untested chemicals found in our air, water, consumer products and food, and perhaps more importantly, to consider taking steps to reduce our kids’ exposure to everyday chemicals.
Yesterday, we were all out voting on who to fill the White House, represent us in Congress and other offices and whether to go with various ballot measures. Meanwhile, kids over at Port Discovery Children’s Museum were making some different (and possibly better) election picks.
Court Appointed Special Advocates of Baltimore County will celebrate 16 years of service to Baltimore County’s abused and neglected children at its 13th annual Harvest of Hope event on Friday, November 4, from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., at Martin’s Valley Mansion.
According to a newly published study from JHU researchers, many children who remain sedated in hospitals are better off moving around if they want to become stronger and healthier.
Families are welcome to drop-off and pick-up children any time throughout the day. They can even stay and hang out with us! Space is limited. Register today! For more information, please visit http://www.
WHERE: aMuse Toys, 2580 Quarry Lake Drive, Baltimore, MD 21209, (410) 415-000, http://www.amusetoys.
WHEN: Thursday, September 25, 2014
TIME: 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM
WHO: Children in grades 2-12
COST: $80 per child
World renowned Ladew Topiary Gardens is always a great place to bring the kids. After all, there’s plenty of space to run around, hide behind giant hedges, and appreciate the Alice in Wonderland-esque topiary masterpieces. But now there’s even more at Ladew to thrill the little ones. So this year’s Children’s Day also marks the opening of Ladew’s new Butterfly House. Dare we say it’s Ladew’s most eagerly anticipated family event yet? We think it just might be. After all, it’s a day long celebration of caterpillars and butterflies– those perennial kid favorites. Not that we as adults would turn down an afternoon of wondering at these most gorgeous members of the insect world ourselves. So save the date (Saturday, September 6) for Ladew’s most aflutter family day ever.
At first, it seems like a terrible idea. Thousands of child migrants have been flooding into the United States from their homes in Central America, and a professor from Morgan State thinks we should send them to Guantanamo. Yes, that Guantanamo.
Dear Whit,
This whole situation is driving me crazy! My husband and I have two kids and are expecting a third —all of the same gender. When we found out about the gender of the new one, my husband was disappointed and stopped being excited about the pregnancy. Before that he was always making sure that I was comfortable and well rested, etc. But now he doesn’t seem to care about me, or the expected baby. He even told me that he feels “less of a man” now that we know what the gender is going to be. Can you believe that? I don’t have the slightest idea about how to deal with this because it is so completely ridiculous! What do you think I should do?
Can’t Deal
Dear Can’t:
You can tell him that feeling like “less of a man” makes sense given how he’s acting. Tell him he looks and sounds like the little birthday boy at his party who pouts when he discovers that he didn’t get the present he wanted.
Hey Whit,
When my husband, “Brian”, and I got married (well, actually before we got married) we decided that we didn’t want to have kids. Now five years later, I’m 31 and he’s 32 and I’ve changed my mind after a variety of experiences.
For example, I often see friends with their children and how much they love them. And sometimes these are couples that said they didn’t want to have kids anytime soon, or at all. Other times I will feel kind of jealous when friends get together with other friends who have kids, and they talk while their kids play together. It just looks like what a family should be.
All of these experiences have got me thinking that I want to have kids now, and it’s not only is it a possibility, it’s a certainty—I know that I want to have a kid(or kids). But every time that I’ve broached the subject with my husband, he shuts it down by saying, “We agreed before we got married that we were not going to have any children.” What really bothers me even more than the fact that he doesn’t want to discuss it is the way that he acts like he can just decide, and that’s that.
Am I stuck because of what I said before we got married? Can’t a person change her mind? I don’t want to leave my husband, but I’m feeling kind of desperate about doing something. What do you think?
Wants to be a Mom
Dear Wants:
Dear Grace,
I miss you. I know it hasn’t been a whole week yet, but I do. I miss you like the sun would miss the moon, or the waves would miss the shore. For 18 years, we have been companion forces of the universe, rising and falling in time, coming and going together. But now, you are moving in your own direction, in your own time, as you should; and I miss you.
This morning, the house is quiet. I passed your empty room, and my heart got heavy. It will be months before you sleep here again. You will be so busy making friends, navigating roommate issues, adjusting to college classes, learning how to eat from a cafeteria every day (and possibly learning how to drink shots). I know you will do great – we have watched you conquer obstacles your whole life, and there is nothing you can’t do.
I will miss your beautiful face, and the radiance that surrounds you wherever you are. I will miss your sparkling eyes, wide open to the world of possibilities that lie in your future. I will miss your laughter – crazy, loud, quirky, and totally joy-filled.
