Author Archives: Jodi Cohen
Life in Perspective
My dad used to always say, “this should be your biggest problem” in an effort to put life and the hiccups along the way in perspective. As a kid, I found that insulting since all my problems (even those as pressing as what to wear on a date) seemed important and relevant. We spend a [...]
Posted in It Worked for Me Leave a comment
Is Feedback a Gift?
A friend likes to think that “feedback is a gift. You may not like how it is wrapped up, but it is always a gift.” I’m not sure I agree. I think some feedback can be a gift offering insight for the recipient. But… more often than not, I think feedback is more a reflection [...]
Posted in Conflict with Friends, Judgement Days 1 Comment
Don’t pick up the rope
A friend you used to tell me you can’t have a tug of war with someone if you don’t pick up the rope. This point was given home to me this weekend as another mother hovered around me throwing hostile glances and I choose to blissfully ignore her. It was a bizarre incident. We were [...]
Posted in It Worked for Me 1 Comment
Don’t let others define you
A few years ago we went camping with some other families. I let my children run around in nature and climb trees, even if they seemed a little high and potentially dangerous. I trusted they had the common sense not to climb higher than their comfort level and if they took a fall I [...]
Posted in Conflict with Friends, Judgement Days 3 Comments
The struggle not to compete
It’s hard not to second guess yourself when you watch a close friend make significant changes in her parenting approach. You might wonder if you should do the same or if her undertaking seems too great, rationalize why your approach is better. Take the friend who overhauls her discipline strategy or diet or whatever and [...]
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Tiger Moms picking our battles
While I am positively a slacker compared to the Tiger mom and focus on music, I have surprised myself lately with how much I do care about other pursuits. Like skiing. It’s completely illogical and probably not linked to success in later life, but I am adamant that my kids learn how to ski. [...]
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Telling another mother how to parent
Another parent is yelling in public or otherwise parenting in a fashion that makes you uncomfortable. Is it a good idea to try to intervene? “I was at a kid’s birthday, one of the mothers there was yelling at her two children the entire time. I overheard her saying the youngest has an ear infection—he [...]
Graduating from Mommy Friendships
Many of us make great friends with other preschool moms. We see them every day at drop off and pick up, often coordinating activities like walking or coffee between the two or scheduling play dates or park dates outside of preschool hours. These friends become our daily touchstones, our speed dial phone calls, our life [...]
To medicate or not to medicate
Your kid is disruptive and showing signs of ADD. The school recommended you medicate, and after thoughtful consideration you did so. Your friend’s son is disruptive but she chooses not to medicate. You see the child “suffer” and think she made the wrong choice. She sees that your child has dropped weight and seems drugged [...]
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Labeling kids