Thoughts on Parenting

Video On the Go

DVD makers are finally getting wise to the fact that many of us like to view movies on the go. You may have seen the phrase "Digital Copy" on newly-released DVDs. what this means is that there is a separate disc with a digital file on it - one that can be read by your computer and loaded onto your iPod or other portable player.

But what about all those movies you already own? How do you get those on your iPod or laptop without purchasing a digital version online? We use a free program called Handbrake, and it works beautifully. It is simple and easy to use, and comes in versions for Mac, Windows, and Linux (it's also open source, so you  programmer types can get the raw code).

Handbrake can encode any disc you have, and convert it to any size or format you want (iPod, PSP, laptop, TV, etc.). Though we don't do it very often, we have been saved on numerous occasions by being able to pull out my laptop or Elisa's iPod and give the kids something to watch when we're waiting at the doctor's office at naptime, or when the car breaks down and we're at the mechanic, or we're on a REALLY long road-trip...you get the idea!

Here's a screen Shot:

The No-Cry Sleep Solution

If I took an informal survey of parents and asked, "what is the most challenging thing about being a new parent?" I am confident that "sleeping" would be in everyone's top 3. There is no shortage of opinions and methods out there, and parents have a wide variety of goals and values when it comes to sleeping. Some want their children to make it through the night without them at an early age, while others will share their bed with their children until the children decide they are ready to be on their own. In between those two extremes lie an infinite number of possible approaches.

Needless to say, Elisa and I have our own opinions, too, but I'm not interested in standing on a soapbox. We were sure that we would "train" our first baby to sleep on her own. Then she came home with us. After a long and difficult pregnancy and near-traumatic birth experience (I'll forgo the details), it seemed that our baby's room was on the other side of the planet. We followed our hearts and our instincts and moved the crib into our room.

Of course, there are some who say that co-sleeping and attachment parenting are not the best for children and families, but that's where we landed. Sure, it's sometimes difficult, but we felt it was worth it. Our kids, now 4 and 6, are sleeping through the night in their own beds in their own room, occasionally waking up early and wandering into ours. But those early days of no sleep, a cramped bed, and failed attempts to transition them to their own room were taxing. Exasperated at times, we felt there had to be a middle-ground that respected the notion of attachment but provided a way to get some sleep!

We discovered The No-Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley. It's a really great book that accomplishes much of what all parents want: to love their child and get some sleep! For those with kids a bit older, there is the No-Cry Sleep Solution For Toddlers and Preschoolers. If you have difficulties at bedtime or naptime, these books are a great resource for those who want a middle ground between "training" and co-sleeping.

The Quest for the Perfect Toy

Sometimes I wonder why we even buy toys for the kids at Christmas. Feeling particularly happy with ourselves one Christmas morning a few years back, Duane and I rounded the corner to find the kids in an empty moving box playing pirates -- fancy Disney salon and basketball hoop nowhere to be found on "Ye Olde Pirate Ship". After that, I made one of my famous declarations emphatically stating that for next Christmas we would be visiting U-Haul to find the BEST. PRESENTS. EVER! 

Even though it is a little late in the season, there is help. It's the Parents' Choice Holiday Gift Guide put out by a great nonprofit that monitors quality children's media and toys. Their helpful website allows you to search by age, interest and budget making it pretty easy to get some ideas for toys that actually might get played with beyond Christmas morning. Of course, nothing will ever beat an empty box!

Here Come The 123s

Like many people who went to college in the 90's, Elisa and I have known They Might Be Giants for a while. We were suprised and excited when, back in 2005, we discovered their video for kids entitled Here Come The ABCs. It's educational, obviously, but the bonus is that the music is good, and the lyrics are witty. It's hard to find music for kids that won't make parents want to gouge their eyes out.

Well, TMBG has a new CD/DVD  entitled Here Come the 123's. For our family, the music ranks up there with BNL's Snacktime, but the greatest thing in my mind is the DVD. Like the ABC's, the DVD is filled with unique, creative animated shorts with a lot of character.