Parenting Roundabout

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week. Catherine's library find  is her response to Terri's challenge: Are there  etiquette  books for children? You better believe  there are , with options from  dinosaurs  and  SpongeBob  to  Clifford  and  American Girl ; and of course, there's a book specifically about  manners related to passing gas . Also mentioned:  365 Manners Ki...

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's  The Gilded Age . It's true that love is never easy (for Larry/Marian, Peggy/Hot Doctor, and more), but of course, Bertha gets her way when it comes to her daughter's marriage plans. Mentioned: Actor  Andrew Garman , who played the father of another potential duchess and was also in  The Holdovers . Nex...

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's  Lost . And this episode, for everyone except Tricia Tanaka, was a lot of fun (which we sorely needed). While we did learn that Hurley has daddy issues—who doesn't, on this island?—we also got to see the power of a joyride to make life feel a little less heavy. Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 3, episode 11, "E...

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week. Catherine's library find  is another of the parenting books we love to hate (or at least find fault with). It's called  Hunt, Gather, Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans by Michaeleen Doucleff. Mentioned: Similar "other cultures have this figured out" books on  Frenc...

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's  The Gilded Age . "What the Papers Say" is that Gladys is going to marry the duke, so her attempted elopement with Billy Carlton comes to a very abrupt end. No one is going to cross Bertha on this topic, not even railroad tycoon George. Thankfully, it seems that Peggy's illness and Oscar's poverty will...

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's  Lost . This episode, we learn from  Lostpedia , is considered one of the worst of the series, and was inspired by actor Matthew Fox's own tattoos. The creators admitted that this was because they were "desperate for flashback stories." We could tell. But we did manage to wring some parenting advice out of it! Next Tue...

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week. Catherine's library find  is a Lucky Day pick called West with Giraffes  by Lynda Rutledge. It's based-on-a-true-story historical fiction, which is right up her alley, and maybe yours too. Mentioned: The  audiobook version , the  history of the San Diego Zoo  (toward which the giraffes of the title are traveling). ​ Terri's random...

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and we've now traveled back in time to The Gilded Age with the first episode of season 3.  The battles for control of the title refer to the Ada/Agnes household, the Fane marriage, the Russell marriage, and of course the Russell mother and daughter, as we set up the game pieces for the season. We're ready! Next Wednesday, we...

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's  Lost . This week, we're mostly off the island, learning more about Desmond--who is both flashing back and flashing forward. It's confusing. Plus, Bad Dad Charles Widmore makes another appearance. Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 3, episode 9, "Stranger in a Strange Land." Tomorrow,  The Gilded Age  is back, an...

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week. Catherine's library find  is another for our scatology shelf: It combines farts (hilarious) with  Where's Waldo -style search and find illustrations. She encountered  Who Farted ? , but reports that  Find the Farter   is also an option, should you need more than one of these titles. ​ Terri's random recommendation  is a shout-out t...

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's  Duster . This episode was nothing but parenting, with kids trying to avenge their parents, parents sacrificing for their kids, and everybody using those family relationships against everybody else. And, of course, a couple of shoot-outs. This was far from a perfect show, and we're not too put out that...

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's  Lost . This week, we finally get some variety in our flashbacks: We're checking in with the Juliet of a few years ago and finding out how she ended up on Other Island (which is not, in fact, Portland or anywhere near it). Not mentioned, but relevant: This video Ryan Reynolds made to explain how to  pronounce Rob McElh...

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week. Catherine's library find  is a  novel by Elinor Lipman:  Every Tom, Dick & Harry . She picked it up because she remembered enjoying the  author's previous works ... and then didn't recognize a single thing on her website. No matter. because she enjoyed this one! Mentioned: Books by  Linda Holmes . ​ Terri's random recommendatio...

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's  Duster . And what's a show set in the '70s without both Watergate and Howard Hughes? Terri's having flashbacks as if she were on  Lost . We also discover here that Luna is both subject to TV trope (kid stowing away in trunk of car) and actually kind of a good partner to Jim. Next Wednesday, we'll conti...

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's  Lost . Here, we found out some of the lengths people will go to for love (or passion): They'll marry a cop even though they're a fugitive, for example, or withhold very crucial pieces of information, or purposely nick a patient's kidney with a scalpel. Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 3, episode 7, "Not in Por...

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week. Catherine's library find  is another nonfiction series about animals for kids. But this time, instead of arguing about  which animal would win in a fight , we are arguing about  which baby animal is the cutest .  ​ Terri's random recommendation  is your local small parking-lot carnival. She can't vouch for the safety of the rides,...

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's  Duster . Highly recognizable FBI agent Nina is now undercover, and that goes about as well as you'd expect. Plus, this week's TV trope: A character who's been told that he must avoid alcohol is forced to drink vodka with some scary Russians. Next Wednesday, we'll continue with episode 7, "K-129." We'll...

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's  Lost . On this Eko-flashback episode, it was another day on the island, another goodbye to a cast member, and another round of mind games. So, about what we've come to expect from  Lost . Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 3, episode 6, "I Do." Tomorrow, we'll continue our discussion of a newer show,  Duster .

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week. Catherine's library find  is an introduction to a longstanding, popular series: The  Chief Inspector Armand Gamache mysteries  by Louise Penny. She checked out the first one,  Still Life , and found it to be a good balance of "cozy" and "mystery." ​ Terri's random recommendation  is  Waffle , a time-wasting daily word game that doe...

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's  Duster . The tension is ratcheting up as Nina meets with Sax in person, Jim drags his dad (hi, Corbin Bernsen) into the mix, and Nixon shows up (it's 1972, in case you forgot). Plus, the old TV chestnut: Jim makes, and then breaks, a promise to a kid. Next Wednesday, we'll continue with episode 6, "Mee...

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's  Lost . In this episode, we return once again to a Sawyer flashback, which tells us that "con men gonna con." What a shock! On the island (or islands!), we get another introduction to Paulo (theoretically here all along) and whaddya know, Desmond can see into the future. Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 3, epis...

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week. Catherine's library find  is a series of non-fiction books for kids that finds new and clever ways to teach history and science. We agree that  You Wouldn't Want to Be an Egyptian Mummy   and  You Wouldn't Want to Live Without Gravity , but we're living just fine  without video games,  thank you very much. ​ Terri's random recommen...

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's  Duster . We're sensing a pattern here: Jim keeps escaping from immediate danger, but the coming consequences are piling up. Please stay away from little Luna until things improve, Jim!! Next Wednesday, we'll continue with episode 5, "Ravishing Light and Glory." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly ro...

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's  Lost . In this episode, we flashed back once again to the sad life of John Locke, understanding yet again why life on a very weird deserted island is an improvement for him. Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 3, episode 4, "Every Man for Himself." Tomorrow, we'll continue our discussion of a newer show,  Duster...

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week. Catherine's library find  is a book that frankly made us tired:  Survival Mom: How to Prepare Your Family for Everyday Disasters and Worst-Case Scenarios  by Lisa Bedford. Can't we leave this to the survival dads? Mentioned:  How to Survive History: How to Outrun a Tyrannosaurus, Escape Pompeii, Get Off the Titanic, and Survive the...