http://www.sheknows.com/authors/laura-owens/articles Thu, 28 Jun 2012 14:00:00 -0700 http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/962385/relationship-with-mom-when-you-become-a-mom Whether your relationship with your mother has always been close and comfortable, difficult and distant or somewhere in between, when a woman becomes a parent for the first time, she automatically reshapes her relationship with her own mother. http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/962385/relationship-with-mom-when-you-become-a-mom Laura Owens Fri, 22 Jun 2012 14:00:00 -0700 http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/962225/getting-baby-to-sleep Let's face it, when your child isn't sleeping you're both destined for a cranky next day. A 2011 study published in the journal Sleep found that an internet sleep intervention program with a behavior-based, customized approach is very effective — and also benefits Mom's mood. http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/962225/getting-baby-to-sleep Laura Owens Thu, 10 May 2012 12:00:00 -0700 http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/958445/is-your-sex-talk-sinking-in-with-your-teen Condoms, Chlamydia, contraceptives and Kim Kardashian's cleavage – your teen and her friends are yakking it all up. You might think peers are your kids' primary go-to pipeline when it comes to sex – but in reality, teenagers are more likely to get the message from you. http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/958445/is-your-sex-talk-sinking-in-with-your-teen Laura Owens Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:00:00 -0700 http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/956759/sleep-disruption-and-autism The hormone melatonin may improve sleep issues commonly found in children with autism and as a result, decrease bedtime and next-day family disruptions. http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/956759/sleep-disruption-and-autism Laura Owens Fri, 06 Apr 2012 11:00:00 -0700 http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/955341/postpartum-work-home-choice-affects-happiness A 2012 Brigham Young University study found that 71% of mothers weren't doing what they wanted to do regarding working full or part-time or staying at home, and among those moms, postpartum depression rates were higher. http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/955341/postpartum-work-home-choice-affects-happiness Laura Owens Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:00:00 -0700 http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/955181/maternal-gatekeeping-can-harm-father-child-relationship Researchers in a 2008 study published in the Journal of Family Psychology found that when mom constantly interferes with dad's involvement with the kids and housework -- a behavior referred to as maternal gatekeeping -- it can affect the quality and quantity of his relationship with the children. http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/955181/maternal-gatekeeping-can-harm-father-child-relationship Laura Owens Tue, 27 Mar 2012 13:00:00 -0700 http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/953427/light-exposure-affects-sleep-patterns-in-teens Is your teen super sleepy? A 2010 study found that the amount and timing of morning light may be affecting your child's natural nighttime sleep cycle. http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/953427/light-exposure-affects-sleep-patterns-in-teens Laura Owens Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:00:00 -0700 http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/952491/sexting-and-teenagers-educate-or-prosecute Sexting among teens has stirred parents, schools and law enforcement to push for more education, and in some cases, prosecution. What do you think is the best deterrent? http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/952491/sexting-and-teenagers-educate-or-prosecute Laura Owens Mon, 19 Mar 2012 13:00:00 -0700 http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/951849/stop-bullying-me-cosmetic-surgery-for-kids Most parents won't allow their kids to get cosmetic surgery but what if your child has an extraordinary physical feature that's hurting her self-esteem? http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/951849/stop-bullying-me-cosmetic-surgery-for-kids Laura Owens Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:00:00 -0800 http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/946741/encouraging-kids-to-embrace-diversity-and-differences “Children don’t come with instructions, but they do come with open minds,” writes Christopher Metzler, Ph.D, an authority on issues of diversity and inclusion. So how can you encourage your kids to remain open-minded and to celebrate diversity? http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/946741/encouraging-kids-to-embrace-diversity-and-differences Laura Owens Tue, 03 Jan 2012 11:00:00 -0800 http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/850399/the-tiger-mom-debate Swirling in the parenting trenches in 2011 was the controversy over Amy Chua’s book, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mom. Chua believes Western parents don’t raise their children to excel. What do you think? http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/850399/the-tiger-mom-debate Laura Owens Tue, 13 Dec 2011 23:00:00 -0800 http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/848969/why-your-kids-might-need-more-vitamin-d Research suggests 70 percent of children in the U.S. are either low or deficient in Vitamin D. Find out why adequate D is important for your family’s health. http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/848969/why-your-kids-might-need-more-vitamin-d Laura Owens Tue, 06 Dec 2011 09:30:00 -0800 http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/848393/how-to-talk-to-your-only-child-if-she-asks-about-siblings "Mommy, how come I don't have any brothers or sisters?” The question might come up if you’re the parent of an only child. Here are a few tips to help the conversation flow naturally. http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/848393/how-to-talk-to-your-only-child-if-she-asks-about-siblings Laura Owens Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:00:00 -0800 http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/846569/getting-your-teen-to-talk Teens sometimes clam up when their parents try to get them to talk. Prompting our kids to let us into their lives may mean stepping outside our world and going into theirs. Here are a few expert tips to get the conversation flowing, naturally. http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/846569/getting-your-teen-to-talk Laura Owens Thu, 17 Nov 2011 12:30:00 -0800 http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/846017/how-to-handle-parenting-peer-pressure It starts the second you tell the world you’re pregnant: the avalanche of well-meaning advice. For moms wading through the piles of “you shoulds," the pressure can feel overwhelming. Here are a few tips to help you stay true to yourself and your family while you move through motherhood. http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/846017/how-to-handle-parenting-peer-pressure Laura Owens Fri, 04 Nov 2011 11:30:00 -0700 http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/845413/parenting-according-to-your-childs-personality Are you an extroverted parent with an introverted child? When you were young did you join every school club and social circle yet your child spends most of her time alone and avoids the limelight? Having a child with an opposite personality sometimes creates tension. Here are a few suggestions to help you embrace the differences. http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/845413/parenting-according-to-your-childs-personality Laura Owens Mon, 31 Oct 2011 08:00:00 -0700 http://www.sheknows.com/health-and-wellness/articles/845303/improve-your-holiday-health-with-the-power-of-forgiveness Loved ones gathered together during the holidays can bring out the worst in people who continue to harbor resentment toward a particular friend or family member. Anger-filled reunions take all the fun out of the fa-la-la. Even worse, holding hurt, anger and hostility is bad for your mental and physical health. Forgiving someone of their trespasses not only opens up new pathways in a relationship, it’s good for you. Here’s how to learn to forgive and what making amends can do for your health. http://www.sheknows.com/health-and-wellness/articles/845303/improve-your-holiday-health-with-the-power-of-forgiveness Laura Owens Mon, 06 Jun 2011 10:58:00 -0700 http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/830641/moms-and-flexible-work-how-to-negotiate-a-winning-work-schedule If you’re like most working parents today, you’re running like a madwoman on the family/job treadmill, scrambling to spend quality time with your kids while trying to give your employer the work performance they demand. Flex time or telecommuting from home has for a least a decade been an attractive and realistic option for many parents and their employers. Keep reading to learn more. http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/830641/moms-and-flexible-work-how-to-negotiate-a-winning-work-schedule Laura Owens Tue, 17 May 2011 09:02:00 -0700 http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/830603/moms-like-me-finding-or-starting-a-niche-parenting-group Whether you just had your first child or you’re a seasoned mother of three, surrounding yourself with other mothers can give you a lifeline of emotional support and priceless grass roots parenting advice. For more than a decade, support groups for parents have been springing up across neighborhoods, inside churches, across online cyber meet-ups, at local playgrounds and during Mommy and Me classes. http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/830603/moms-like-me-finding-or-starting-a-niche-parenting-group Laura Owens Tue, 21 Sep 2010 11:11:00 -0700 http://www.sheknows.com/sheknows-cares/articles/817652/Mammogram-guidelines-Breast-cancer-detection-confusion-and-controversy Are the revised breast screening guidelines boggling your brain? Join the club. The controversy that started last year has many of us scratching our heads. The jury’s still out on the advantages of the old versus new recommendations and experts from all sides are hotly debating the issue. In the meantime, here are the old and new guidelines, along with the buzz over breast cancer screening. http://www.sheknows.com/sheknows-cares/articles/817652/Mammogram-guidelines-Breast-cancer-detection-confusion-and-controversy Laura Owens