Every parent I’ve ever met, or worked with as a pediatrician, has wanted what’s best for their children and has wanted them to be happy and successful. Yet those same parents often find themselves projecting their own likes, desires, dreams, and biases onto their children. It makes sense: if there is something we enjoy or […] Continue Reading

Former Major League pitcher Curt Schilling has made news recently by staunchly standing up for his teenage daughter. When proud papa Schilling tweeted congratulations to his daughter for her acceptance to college, suddenly several “Twitter Trolls” started responding with vulgar, inappropriate comments, harassing his daughter. But Curt Schilling went into action, tracking down the “anonymous” […] Continue Reading

One thing I’ve in my over 40 years as a pediatrician is that the bond a parent and child form with their pediatrician is critically important. I was very pleased, therefore, that Divya Raghavan invited me to contribute to her terrific post on betterdoctor.com: “Seven Steps to Picking the Best Pediatrician.” I was honored to […] Continue Reading

Constant fatigue… No time for yourself… Frustrated… Guilt-ridden… Everybody wants something from you… Sounds like you’re singing The Working Mom Blues. With approximately 70% of women with children in the workforce, many mothers are at least humming that tune. Dads work too, of course, but somehow it always seems like Moms shoulder more of the […] Continue Reading

The Minnesota Vikings star running back and 2012 NFL Most Valuable Player Adrian Peterson is back in the news: a league-appointed arbitrator upheld his season-long suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Peterson had been indicted in September on a felony charge for having seriously injured his 4-year-old son while whipping him with a […] Continue Reading

A young, and very conscientious mother in my pediatric practice once asked me, “Dr. Howard, what do I owe my child?” I was a bit startled by her question. I had never been asked that before, nor had I actually reflected on it so directly, myself, as a parent. It made me wonder if there […] Continue Reading

While it’s a step in the right direction that the Minnesota Vikings have reversed their decision and barred Adrian Peterson from team activities while his child-abuse case is pending, the fact that he is still receiving a full salary is still a disturbing sign that the NFL doesn’t take child abuse seriously. What I find particularly […] Continue Reading

How exactly DO we learn to parent? Is there a parenting gene? Are we born with the knowledge and the instinct? Do we learn most of what we know from articles and books? Or should there be college classes to help us learn to raise a child well? I do think there ought to be […] Continue Reading

How would you react if someone called you an “allowing” parent? Would you think it meant that they were saying you are too permissive? That your child is spoiled? That you’re not a good disciplinarian? Actually, “allowing” is a good thing! It’s an Eastern concept about reaching the state of  just “being.” To reach that […] Continue Reading

Last weekend I spent all of  Sunday watching my grown daughter’s kickball team  – – compete in a tournament.   I was happy to do it – we live on different coasts so I cherished that chance to celebrate her doing something she loves.  And, as I sat there in the hot sun, I was reminded […] Continue Reading