What I learned from 5 days away from my sonMy son is going into 5th grade next fall. I still can't believe that he's a tween. It seems it was only yesterday that he would not let go of my hand in preschool. He was one of those kids that would cry and need extra comforting to let go.

Although I did not consider sending him away for sleep away camp for this summer, when I saw a 4 weeks long day camp that provided the opportunity for him to go with his counselors on a five-day trip to Orlando and Tampa, I thought he would be ready. I convinced my husband, who sometimes has more separation anxiety issues than I would have ever imagined, to agree.

I then hoped, okay, even prayed, I was right.

I hoped I was right to make him feel that I trusted him to go on a short trip by himself and to empower him with the knowledge that he can be independent and self-sufficient.

Related: 8 things I never thought I'd say... until I became a mom

I admit I barely slept the night before he left. What if I was wrong? My husband's fears also made me

You may be surprised to discover the variations in childbirth classes-some are months long while others last a day; some take place in a hospital and others are conducted in the educator's home. Regardless, topics generally include labor signs, pain-relief options, stages of labor and comfort measures. Here are a few options that may be available in your area:

Lamaze classes educate women about practices that have been shown to maximize your chances of having a safer birth, such as allowing labor to start on its own, walking and moving around during labor and following your body's urges to push. lamaze.org

The Bradley Method is a 12-week class for women and their partners who desire to have a medication-free birth. bradleybirth.com

Hypnobirthing is a five-week course that emphasizes natural childbirth and teaches self-hypnosis techniques to combat fear and pain during labor. hypnobirthing.com

The International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) trains and

By Charlotte Hilton Andersen, REDBOOK. Getty Images
Potty training is the final gauntlet of parenting toddlers and definitely falls under the category of "better to laugh than to cry." Of course the end product is worth all the struggle, but in the meantime, those of us still in the trenches like knowing we've got company.

1. Cutsey talk. "Every time I squeal, 'Oh sweetie! That is the best poopy ever! Yay!! And it DOES look like a bridge!' I want to look around and check for the hidden camera." - Maria

Related: 10 Ways to Beat Bloat

"I felt like a 'poop midwife,' coaxing them to just 'push a little more,' and 'keep trying.'" - Melissa

2. How every toilet outside of our house becomes a huge attraction. "I like the enthusiasm, but we can't go to a park, store, or restaurant without having to visit the restroom-possibly multiple times." - Robyn

3. Laundry. "The other day I accidentally washed a pair of dirty toddler undies with my laundry-a fact I didn't discover until I made it to the gym, worked up

By Sasha Emmons

Veer

With tragic story of a mass shooting in Colorado flashing on the news this morning, parents may find themselves awkwardly fielding questions from their kids. How do you explain that scary events do occur while still making your children feel safe?

We talked to Dr. Paul Coleman, author of How to Say It to Your Child When Bad Things Happen, to find out the best ways to talk to kids about disturbing images and events.

Wait until they're older. Until around age 7, Dr. Coleman suggests only addressing the tough stuff if kids bring it up first. "They might see it on TV or hear about it at school (or heaven forbid even witness it), and then you have to deal with it. But younger children might not be able to handle it well," says Dr. Coleman.

Keep it black and white. Yes, the world can be a cruel place, but little kids, well, can't handle the truth."Younger kids need to be reassured that this isn't happening to them and won't happen to them," says Dr. Coleman.

What you should know about parenting a tweenParenting an older kid is as awesome as it is awkward. While I always knew the day would come when my son would begin his descent into preadolescence, I guess I didn't expect it to happen so soon.

It seems like only yesterday I was reading Thomas the Tank Engine books to him while he practiced sight words and snuggled into that sweet spot just under my open arm. We'd make up silly songs and he'd try to surprise me in the most obvious ways. He was such precious little thing until one day, he just changed.


Related: 8 things you should never say to a mom of boys

I realize I'm making it sound as though he changed overnight. Well, he did and he didn't if that makes any sense. While the change came about gradually, it's hard as a mom to re-imagine the person he's on the verge of becoming.

Boy Wonder will begin the 5th grade and turn 10 years old this fall. How we're nearing double digit status is beyond me. As he begins his prepubescent journey, I feel compelled to share

By GalTime Teen Parenting Expert, Barbara Greenberg, PhD

Signs that Predict Bullies

signs that a child may be a bully

Wondering what the recipe is for creating a bully? Well, I have some good news.

We are beginning to have some answers thanks to a new study by Douglas Gentile and Brad Bushman published in the July issue of the Psychology of Popular Media Culture.

This study identified six risk factors that, when co-existing in the same individual, are good predictors of that individual's risk of becoming a bully and of, at some point, engaging in aggressive behavior.

When all six factors are present, risk of aggression increases significantly. One or two risk factors are not enough to create a bully, but when you get to three and past four risk factors the risk increases significantly. By six risk factors, as stated above, it is fairly likely that the individual will engage in aggressive behavior.

The study by Gentile and Bushman looked at 430 children ages 7-11 in grades 3-5 from 5

Now that I've had 3 kids, the number one item I tell my newly pregnant friends to invest in is a good camera. Because once that baby comes out, you won't be able to stop clicking. Every single little thing they do is perfection - and it must be captured. Am I right? Well, I asked my very talented friend Jenny (of Jenny Lee Photography) who specializes in newborn photography for some insider tips. How does she get those amazing, artistic, heartfelt photos? Besides raw talent, that is. Here are her 6 professional tips for photographing your newborn.

- By Amy Heinz

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