Hi friends - well it may be Christmas time, but I know a lot of people who wont be able to relax until those college acceptance letters come in the “right” way in the next several days. If you are in that position, or you will be next year or in 10 years, you will want to see this from TIME magazine. You will definitely be able to relax and enjoy your Christmas time a little more!

TIME and college - don’t worry so much!

Happy parenting.

Betsy Hart

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The new movie is simply lovely family fare. Does Hollywood get that?

Here’s a review I wrote for the Chicago Daily Observer.

Fairy Tales and Hollywood

Happy Parenting!

P.S. - for all the folks writing to me about the women in combat column, you’ll be interested to know that on this week’s radio show I interview Kate O’Beirne of National Review Magazine, and a former member of the President’s Commission on the Assignment of Women in the Armed Forces, about that very issue. That’s Thursday at 2:00, central time, on AM1160 Chicago, streaming at wyll.com, or podcast here after the show and on NationalReview.com

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Hi friends - here’s a great piece by New York Times columnist Judith Warner. She shows the deadly side of Helicopter parenting. But I have to say I think there are some words of wisdom here for all of us!

The New York Times and Helicopter Parenting

Have a great day.

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Hi friends - here’s a really interesting piece in today’s Wall Street Journal. It talks about family friendly cities, but it has a great deal in the piece about what today’s family looks like - and it’s not all discouraging! You’ll want to take a look.

The Rise of Family Friendly Cities

Happy parenting.

Cheers - Betsy

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Hi friends - here’s something you will definitely want to watch and share with family over the holidays. A mom singing all the things. . . moms say (in about 3 minutes).  It’s hilarious and It’s on Youtube.com. Enjoy!

Video

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Hi friends - here’s more from the New York Times on ADD/ADHD. Is it possible that at least one of the reasons for it is that we push our kids so hard so early in school that we no longer allow for old fashioned immaturity? Is it likely that many kids will outgrow it in high school? (Which even if true doesn’t negate dealing with it effectively in the early grades.) The topic remains controversial, but I think you’ll find the article really interesting.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/13/health/13kids.html?ei=5070&en=6456fc1ae81a2682&ex=1195707600&pagewanted=print

Happy Parenting!

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Hi friends - here’s a really good piece in Today’s Wall Street Journal on teaching kids how to handle money.

Love and Money

Happy Parenting!

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Another reason for your kids to get enough sleep!

News reports out today tell us that sleep affects childhood obesity. The more sleep they get as youngsters, the less likely they are to be obese in middle and high school.

Sleep isn’t the answer to kids eating too much, but this is interesting and potentially very helpful.

http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/health/635493,CST-NWS-sleep05.article

Happy Parenting - Betsy

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The spiritual matters. . .

I just came across this very interesting piece on some recent findings by Christian pollster George Barna. (This was reported in The Baptist Press on-line, a really great source for all kinds of cultural news.)

Anyway, what Barna found is that a high percentage of parents with young kids who self-identify as committed Christians, are not particularly concerned about their children’s spiritual life - or their own.

Now that’s concerning! (Read Below.)

“http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?Id=26249.

For more information, visit www.barna.org.

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Hi friends - well it’s a new week and there’s lots going on. . .

This week, National Review Online (www.nationalreview.com), THE website for all things thoughtful/conservative, will start podcasting my show, “It Takes a Parent.” Look for it on Fridays!

They’ll also post (and we will too) a 3-minute “highlights” reel of the show. We had fun putting it together. It will give you a great feel for what we do on the air.

(We hope to share more good news about the show in the next few weeks!)

Meanwhile, I will soon launch a brand new blog with a great new look and lots of terrific features. I can’t wait for you to see what you think!

More to come so keep checking back. . .

Have a great day - Betsy

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