When Younger Kids Have Questions About the Plural Nature of "Holidays"…

We suggest this new entry in the growing category of books, greeting cards and gifts that address the seasonal dualism of Christmas and Chanukah: "Are you Chanukah or Christmas?" by Felicia Miller-Stehr.  What we particularly like about this children’s book (geared to children roughly age 2 to 7) is that it speaks to children who only celebrate one holiday and are curious about the other (i.e. "how come WE don’t get to have Christmas tree?" or "How come we don’t get EIGHT days of presents?")… And at the same time, it speaks to children in bicultural families who are growing up celebrating both.

The book follows a little girl named Sofia as she walks along the streets of New York City, asking passersby which holiday they celebrate.  (In the next edition, perhaps Sofia can ask about Kwanzaa too)….  You can learn more about the book and author, and a schedule of upcoming book signings and readings at areyouchanukahorchristmas.com (or find Felicia on the Executive Moms Network – she’s a member)!

We are also GIVING AWAY a copy of the book to one randomly selected Executive Mom winner.  If interested, post here that you want to win (specify this book and why)… and it may be yours.  (Or, shop now for Are You Chanukah or Christmas? on Amazon)

When Teens Are in the House, And You’re Hoping for Happy Holidays…

Many an Executive Mom of a teen has attested that they yearn for the days when their most complicated parenting issue was how to answer a question about who gets to celebrate what.  Just in time for winter break, there is a new book/DVD set launching today from national leaders in family counseling services (Vive): "Chaos to Connection."  This book (and more) is oriented around "heart-centered" essentials for parenting a teen.  (Though we have not personally hit this stage yet, we are creeping closer with a 9-year-old’s entreaties for pierced ears and an iPhone.  Caved on the former, holding out on the latter).  Even so, it felt productive and comforting to read through this book with a view toward the road ahead, as their whole approach is predicated on the belief that an unconditionally loving connection and relationship with your child is more important and more healing that anything else.  The practical tools are convincing even for general skeptics of anything "self-help."

An interesting note on the self-help point: this is more like aided self-help, as along with the book and DVDs come packaged with a half-hour counseling session with Vive’s parent coaching team, and access to their 24/7 hotline (with different counselors for the teens and their parents.  (We just won’t think too hard about the need for the 24/7 part yet).

As above, we are also GIVING AWAY one complete box set of "Chaos to Connection" to one randomly selected Executive Mom winner (and this is a much higher value prize than your typical book).  If interested, post here that you want to win (specify this book and why)… and it may be yours.  Or learn more at chaostoconnection.com.