photo credit: Bindaas Madhavi

I have been very inspired by TED Talks lately. You can also check out my previous article on 10 TED Talks for Renewal. TED Talks are presentations from passionate, brilliant and innovative individuals in a variety of fields.  You can read more about this non-profit organization and their mission to spread ideas by exhibiting powerful, engaging presentations.  Each presentation is 18 minutes or less, and well worth the investment. Here is a compilation of my top 10 favorite TED Talks for parents. Some are funny, some are informative, and all are inspiring.

10. Nancy Frates: Meet the mom who started the bucket challenge

Meet the inspirational mom who started the ice bucket challenge to raise awareness for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) — and how this mission impacted her and her family.

9. Jennifer Senior: For parents, happiness is a very high bar

Jennifer Senior discusses the significant changes in our roles as parents and the ways in which our expectations of happiness in our children is a difficult aspiration.

8. Colin Stokes: How movies teach manhood

Colin Stokes, shares his thoughts on how cinema provides role models for both boys and girls and the ways in which we should consider male and female roles in movies and their effect on our children.

7. Rufus Griscom and Alisa Volkman: Let’s talk parenting taboos

Husband-and-wife team, and publishers of Babble.com, offer a forthright and humorous look at parenting taboos as well as parenting expectations.

6. Sarah Kay: If I should have a daughter

Poet, Sarah Kay, through her unique style, shares what lessons she would share with her future daughter. 

5. Julia Sweeney: It’s time for “The Talk”

A hilarious talk about the “birds and the bees” inspired by Julia Sweeney’s 8-year-old daughter. You won’t want to miss this one.

4. Kevin Breel: Confessions of a depressed comic

Comic, Kevin Breel, offers a serious glimpse into his life when he first realized he had depression as a high school student.

3. Adora Svitak: What adults learn from kids

Author and child prodigy, Adora Svitak encourages adults to be empowered by children – and to ask children some powerful questions. An advocate for “reciprocal learning”, she encourages us all to consider what children can teach adults.

2. Steven Addis: A father-daughter bond, one photo at a time

Photographer and writer, Steven Addis, shares his experience taking the same photo with his daughter throughout her childhood and the power of creating memories.

1. Bruce Feiler: The council of dads

In this moving talk, Bruce Feiler, an accomplished writer shares his vision of enlisting “A council of dads” after his diagnosis of cancer to impart their wisdom to his daughters as they grow up.

There are many ways to get TED Talks. Click here if you would like to browse the TED archives for other topics. It is also easy to follow TED Talks via apps and social media. My favorite way to view TED Talks is via the free app for iPhone, where I can bookmark or download my favorites. The app is interactive, so I can even specify how much time I can commit at the moment and request a certain topic to watch.

TED Talks videos, logos and visuals highlighted here are untouched and unedited. All video and images of TED Talks are copyrighted by TED and are used here under the Creative Commons license.

Did any of these TED Talks resonate with you as a parent? Which one is your favorite?

photo credit: Adrian Pimpam

Sleep is important for our overall health. Sleep affects mood, energy levels, productivity, and mental clarity.  Recent studies also indicate the amount of sleep can impact weight gain/loss. So whether you are having difficulty catching those zzzzz’s, or just don’t feel rested, try a few of these strategies to see if your counting sheep days are over.

1. Create a bedroom oasis.

One of the most important things to consider is creating a bedroom oasis, where you can relax and rest. I don’t know about you, but too often laundry, papers, or other distractions try to worm their way into my bedroom. It’s best to leave these influences behind, since they are not part of creating a relaxing retreat. Decor should also be serene and uncluttered.

2. Establish a calming evening routine.

Once you have created your bedroom oasis, it is beneficial to establish an evening routine that you find relaxing. To learn more about how to create a calming evening routine, check out this article.

3. Develop and maintain technology boundaries.

As part of establishing the calming evening routine that is right for you, some experts recommend no television in the bedroom. My husband and I agreed when we were married that we would leave the television in the living room. For us, that has been an easy decision to maintain over the years, but the distractions such as the laundry listed in #1 have been more challenging for us to overcome as a family!

If you do choose to have a television in your bedroom, try to turn off the tube at least an hour before you go to bed. Same goes for computers, tablets, and smart phones. Read here if you want to learn more about blue light and how electronic devices may have a negative effect on sleep.

4. Try a few apps.

Yes, I know what I just said about technology in the bedroom, but these exceptions may be helpful to you. I have used all three of these apps and I have found them to be extremely beneficial, so see if one of them might be right for you.

• iSleep Easy – Meditations for Restful Sleep
  • Choice of 9 guided meditations, which can be combined with music or nature sounds.
  • This app allows you to combine sounds with music.
  • 3 music choices and 6 nature sounds

   

• Simply Being – Guided Meditation for Relaxation and Presence
  • Good basic music choices, with the added benefits of guided meditation.

• Relax Melodies – Sleep & Yoga
  • By far, the relaxation/sleep app with the most diverse playlist. Music and other sounds range from everything from Gregorian Chants to sounds of the seashore or a vacuum cleaner.
  • This app allows you to combine sounds, with music, say, a lullaby with white noise and a heart beat for a baby’s ears or a mix of ocean waves, seagulls and sounds of foghorns for a beachy mix.
  • Other nice features include favorites and timers.
  • 52 nature sounds or melodies

5. Check out the new sleep guidelines.

The National Sleep Foundation has updated their guidelines on How Much Sleep We Need. Check out this Infographic to see the amount of sleep considered appropriate for you and your family.

Disclaimer: If you have concerns regarding sleep, please check with your doctor for information specific to you or your family’s needs.

photo credit: B. Fernari

photo credit: Kelly Teague

Recently, I have been reflecting on renewal and self-care and have particularly appreciated several TED Talks that inspire me. TED Talks are presentations from passionate, brilliant and innovative individuals in a variety of fields.  You can read more about this non-profit organization and their mission to spread ideas by exhibiting powerful, engaging presentations.  Each presentation is 18 minutes or less, and well worth the investment. Here is a compilation of my top 10 favorite TED Talks to foster renewal and self-care. Some are humorous, some are gripping, and others are truly fascinating.

10. Benjamin Zander: The transformative power of classical music

Benjamin Zander, conductor of the Boston Philharmonic, makes it seem as if he is in your home having an insightful and entertaining conversation with you about a vision for classical music for all. Whether you currently appreciate classical music – or not – this is a must see.

9. Neil Pasricha: The 3 A’s of awesome

Neil Pasricha, author, discusses how his blog grew to become an international sensation – and his growth as a person in the process of finding awesomeness in every day life.

8. Pico Iyer: The art of stillness

World renowned travel writer, Pico Iyer moves beyond his standard travel writing by proposing that one can release ourselves from distractions and focus on travel as it relates to stillness and mindfulness.

7. Andy Puddicombe: All it takes is 10 mindful minutes

Former Buddhist Monk, Andy Puddicombe shares how being mindful for just 10 minutes per day can help your outlook.

6. Emily Balcetis: Why some people find exercise harder than others

Emily Balcetis shares information about different people’s vision of themselves, and how changing your mindset can help change your success of exercising.

5. Arianna Huffington: How to succeed? Get more sleep

Journalist Arianna Huffington shares her story on the power of sleep and sleep’s association with success.

4. David Griffin: How photography connects us

David Griffin, photo director for National Geographic, showcases the power of visual storytelling.

3. Amy Cuddy: Your body language shapes who you are

Social Psychologist, Amy Cuddy shares critical information on “power posing” and how this can encourage success, even if you aren’t feeling successful.

2. Mark Bezos: A life lesson from a volunteer firefighter

Mark Bezos shares his experience making a difference in someone’s life in an unlikely way.

1. Phil Hansen: Embrace the shake

Phil Hansen learned a new way to create when he let go of his physical limitations. Seeking a renewed way of seeing and representing art, he visually documents working through the creative process and redefining barriers. 

There are many ways to get TED Talks. Click here if you would like to browse the TED archives for other topics. It is also easy to follow TED Talks via apps and social media. My favorite way to view TED Talks is via the free app for iPhone, where I can bookmark or download my favorites. The app is interactive, so I can even specify how much time I can commit at the moment and request a certain topic to watch.

TED Talks videos, logos and visuals highlighted here are untouched and unedited. All video and images of TED Talks are copyrighted by TED and are used here under the Creative Commons license.

Did any of these TED talks encourage you to focus on yourself, wellness or renewal? Which ones resonated with you?

photo credit: Tom Hart

Brotherly Love: Picture Perfect

3 Things I have learned about siblings:

1. The only thing predictable about sibling relationships is unpredictability
2. They can be sweet, loving and cooperative – until they are so not
3. They can take each other down, but if anyone else commits any wrongdoing to their bro or sis, they will each come to the other’s defense.

And that is the extent of my knowledge – the rest is all a mystery to me. You see, my husband is an only child. And I am an only (what are the odds?). I always longed for a brother or sister. We would have so much fun! There would always be something to play, do, or make.

Alas, it wasn’t meant to be, so growing up, I went to a friend’s house who had 3 siblings. A raucous family with 2 girls and 2 boys. I spent as much time in their chaotic home as possible, since it always seemed like something was happening.  I happily served as what I hoped was “honorary sister” status. If I was visiting and it was time to go to the grocery, I tagged along. We all piled into the back of a brown wood paneled station wagon (sans seatbelts), leaning and rolling over one another laughing as we turned the corner. Most of my memories are positive and filled with love (and envy) although I am sure there was some fighting. I am not sure how much of my memory was selective, but there it is.

My husband and I have two sons. When we brought our youngest son home from the hospital, the transition was smooth as far as a new brotherly love developing between older and younger brother. Although there was this memorable moment, hinting at the future:

Big Brother colored Little Brother with green marker on his face

Fast forward a few years, and my boys are now 9 and 7 years old. We have had peaks and valleys of “getting along.”

A few summers ago, on a memorable trip home, my boys started poking each other in the car. When I pulled the car into the driveway, the boys tumbled out of the car and had an all-out brawl on the front lawn. Cars driving down our quiet street slowed down to see what all the commotion was about. Neighbors looked on gawked as my sons pummeled each other, a mass of twisted arms and legs. And I thought to myself, “Why can’t they just fight in the privacy of our home?”* After they had worked themselves into a lather, both boys came inside to take advantage of the cool air conditioning. Only moments later, they started quietly playing with Hot wheels cars. And the conversation went like this:

Son #1: “Sooooo, sorry about that eyeball thing.”

Son #2: “Yeah, sorry about that kicking thing.”

Son #1:  “And sorry about the stick.”

Son #2: “Yeah! You hit me in the face, too! Sorry for poking you in the ear.”

Son #1: “Friends? I think that is about it.”

I wish I could say that the scuffle on the front lawn was rare. I also wish I could say that they always talk things out as nicely as they did as they were playing with toy cars. But the fact is the fights occur more frequently than I ever thought possible. The good news is that their power struggles are equally divided, there are clear episodes of love and sweetness in between, and they show remorse for their actions.

Along the way I have learned a few strategies. Sometimes they work, and sometimes they don’t –

• Separation, sometimes to include the “take one, leave one” strategy, where my husband takes one boy and I take another – in separate directions.
• Let them work it out (ha!).
• Counting to 10.
• Consequences
• Channeling inner peace (for me!)

Do you have any stories of brotherly or sisterly love – or tales of woe and conflict? What strategies have worked for you and your family?  Help an “only” out and please share!

*The cultural notion that “men fight outside” and the irony of it all is not lost on me.

If you suspect that sibling rivalry in your home may be part of a larger issue, check out 5 Signs That Sibling Fighting May be Bullying.

Quarreling brothers: photo taken approximately 3 minutes after “brotherly love” photo

Like this article? Check out these:

Welcoming a New Baby? 10 Tips to Pave the Road for Sibling Bliss

Here are a few tips on Alleviating Sibling Rivalry

one jolly green giant cookie

When I was about 10 years old, I enjoyed making peppermint brownies with lime green frosting. It wasn’t an old time family recipe, but a recipe that I found on the back of the Duncan Hines brownie mix box. My parents politely ate a token amount the first time I made them, as well as the second time. After that, however, they respectfully told me that the brownies were probably more suited to a child’s palate than an adult palate, because they were so, “How should we say it, Dear, minty? Oh, and green!” Yes, they were very  green. Bright radioactive lime green.

When my relatives visited, preparations in our household were in order to welcome them, and I did my part by making peppermint brownies.  Aunt Lois simply raved about these brownies. My parents looked a little uneasy, which made my aunt even more enthusiastic about the flavor and all of its greenness. I will never know if she sincerely liked them or not, but I remember her kind words like it was yesterday and her encouragement was very important to me.

I haven’t developed a love of cooking or baking, and at best, I tolerate it. But I am still amazed at how cooking and baking teaches us so much more than a mere recipe. Ever wonder what your kids can get out of creating in the kitchen? Other than watching the anticipation on their faces as they peek at the goodies bubbling up through the oven window, that is? Here are a few skills they can develop that you may not have considered.

• Kitchen and Food Safety – Ensure safety around major appliances and kitchen gadgets, as children need to master safety rules to ensure everyone’s protection. Always supervise children and discuss rules prior to getting started.
• Reading – Reading the recipe, package labels, instructions, expiration dates, you name it!
• Following Directions – Whether it is scouring the pantry for  ingredients, following what the recipe calls for, or following the rules, this one is a biggie!
• Math – Counting, measuring, and you may want to consider the extra challenge of “doubling” a recipe for a little extra brain power.
• Fine Motor skills – Measuring, mixing, rolling dough, using cookie cutters, placing cookies, pinching and adding ingredients all foster fine motor and strength, coordination and dexterity for little hands.
• Turn Taking and Sharing – Enough said.
• Task Completion – My kids are usually very excited about starting the cooking process, but sometimes lose interest half way through. Strategies such as selecting recipes that have short preparation time, or alternatively, that preparations can be made in stages are helpful.
• Responsibility – Planning, cleaning up, and all those important life skills.
• Nutrition – Okay, the giant cookie with mega food dye isn’t the best nutritional choice, but in general, talking about healthy foods and which foods are only considered “treats” is important. Also, children are more likely to eat nutritious foods if they are part of the process.
• Problem Solving – When a culinary food disaster strikes, enlisting problem solving skills is a huge asset. My kids worked together to figure out how to get the large cookies off the cookie sheet without breaking.
• Self-esteem – Kids feel proud to cook and bake — and if they are contributing a food source to the household, it is even better.

By the way, when my boys showed my husband their finished product, he said, “Wow! That is one big green cookie! And I love it!”

Is your child ready to take on a few meals?  Check out 8 family dinners kids can make, here.

Do you cook or bake with your kids? What have you learned about the experience? What have your kids learned?

My first cookbook (by Patricia Petrich and Rosemary Dalton)

Have you considered welcoming a new pet into your home? Is adopting a pet something that you have been thinking about for some time? If you have done your “homework” and your family and home are ready for a long-term commitment, this might actually be the right time of year to include a furry friend in your household. I had always heard that the busy hubbub of the holidays was not a great time for bringing pets home.

However, Elizabeth Thomas, of Richmond Animal League, says that if a family is ready to commit, the holidays might be a great time. “Actually, I think it is a really good time to bring a pet home, as long as the family isn’t traveling. People are off from work, kids are home from school; it’s a good time to start getting bonded with a pet.” Elizabeth advises that families will want to carefully consider the long-term commitment and avoid impulse decisions to provide a home to a furry friend. “All pets deserve a `forever home’”, Elizabeth explains. “Do research to make sure you know what you are getting into.” Considerations include financial commitment, life span, home preparation and knowing the size and general temperament of the pet that is a good match with your family.

If you are looking for more of a short-term option, providing foster care may be right for you. And, if you choose to go this route, Richmond Animal League provides all the supplies needed. Elizabeth says, “All you need to do is provide a safe space, time and be willing to open your arms and home to a homeless pet”.

Richmond Animal League is promoting their upcoming campaign, Operation Silent Night, offering extended adoption hours, reduced adoption fees, and extra volunteers to lend a helping hand in finding a good match. This initiative has had a 100% success rate in providing homes for all of the animals in their no-kill shelter over Christmas.

Resources abound in helping you make a sound decision for you, your loved ones and a potential new pet. Here are some preliminary questions to help you figure out if you are ready to adopt. You might also want to check out a step-by-step dog adoption or cat adoption checklist, to see if the choice is right for you. There is even help available for addressing behaviors. And if you have a baby or toddler in your pet-less household, check out these tips for bringing a pet home.

…man’s best friend by Soggydan Benenovitch is used under Creative Commons license 2.0
 Portrait of a Cat by Chriss Haight Pagani is used under Creative Commons license 2.0

Infographic from The Steward School

Recently, I attended a lecture called, “Helping Children Create Balance in a Digital World” at The Steward School. The evening began with an icebreaker about the statistic in this Infographic,  “40% of iPhone users would give up their toothbrush for a week before their phone.” After a tongue-in-cheek promise not to poll the audience on their preferences regarding toothbrushes vs. iPhones, the evening got underway with several mini-keynote sessions.

A world-renowned panel of experts presented and/or discussed this important topic about technology:

• Catherine Steiner-Adair, a clinical psychologist and author of The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in the Digital Age.
• Paul Andersen, a science teacher who has been named a YouTube EDU Guru, the 2011 Montana Teacher of the Year, and a finalist for 2011 National Teacher of the Year.
• Jonathan Becker, the director of online academic programs in the Office of Online Education at Virginia Commonwealth University.
• Prescott Nichols is a senior director at Capital One, where he leads the recruiting, infrastructure operations, selection, and strategy analysis teams.
• Sonali Shetty served as the moderator, and is the co-founder and CEO of Hodges Digital, an innovative agency specializing in digital strategy, web and social apps, and data analytics.

I anticipated that the evening would be a full plate of do’s and don’ts and the ubiquitous “Do not expose children to screen time for more than ____ hours daily”.  Unexpectedly, the evening was more of an empowering discussion than a rulebook — for parents and educators alike. (But in case you are interested in the current guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), please see resources at the end of this article).

Here were the top five “take home points” I took from the evening:

1. Every child’s experience with technology is different.
2. Parents should decide what is appropriate for his or her child and their family.
3. Families and schools should collaborate and work together.
4. Children problem solve differently today than just a few years ago due to the abundance of technology.
5. Children take their cues from adults using technology.

The most important strategy that participants left with, was that as parents, as teachers, as a community, we should feel empowered to make our own choices that are right for our children and our families. In addition, some food for thought to make an informed decision includes considering:

• What makes for a good childhood?
• What memories of growing up do you want your kids to recall?
• What is your child’s capacity for solitude? How do children entertain themselves without technology?
• Has technology affected how your family interacts? (Consider this – years ago for family game night, we might have all been huddled around a board game. Nowadays, we are more likely to be playing games in the same room, each on our own mobile devices)
• However technology influences your family, have a consistent routine for the other things your child needs to do in life (e.g., face-to-face interaction, exercise, homework before gaming, etc.).
• For more “food for thought” consider this powerful interview with Catherine Steiner-Adair about “Are we using technology to be our best selves?”

Allison Slater Tate,  in her popular article in The Washington Post, (here is the link to the full article,) writes:

“We can try as hard as we want to push back and to carve space into our children’s lives for treehouses and puzzles and Waldorf-style dolls, but in the end, our children will grow up with the whole world at their fingertips, courtesy of a touch screen, and they will have to learn how to find the balance between their cyber and real worlds. It is scary. I don’t think I even believe there is a “right way” to parent with technology. But acknowledging that what we are doing is unprecedented – that no study yet knows exactly what this iChildhood will look like when our children are full grown people – feels like an exhale of sorts.”

So when was the last time you saw your toothbrush? Just kidding. What are your thoughts about technology and its impact on you and your family?  How have you seen technology influence your children so far?

For additional information, please refer to these resources about children and technology:

Safety and Internet Use

APA Resource Guide on Media Use and Children

Media Statement for Babies and Toddlers

Media Education: Positive Media

Media in the Lives of 8- to 18-year olds

photo credit: Catherine Matheny Bell

Dominion GardenFest of Lights at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden promises you a magical evening. Enjoy a festive atmosphere with holiday decorations, lights, bicycles and flowers all rolled into one. Archways, walkways, fountains and everything in between are aglow with shiny bicycle streamers, bicycle baskets, and bicycle wheels. Celebrating Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden’s 30^th anniversary, this year’s theme is: A Legacy in Lights: 120 years from Bicycle Club to Botanical Garden, a nod to the Lakeside Wheel Club, founded by Lewis Ginter in 1895.

Whether you have visited GardenFest in previous years – or are new to the festival of lights – you are in for a beautiful evening. The creatively decorated bicycles appeal to audiences of all ages. Bicycles of yesteryear and modern bicycles all have a home here, artfully displayed. Bicycles, tricycles, and penny-farthing bicycles. Some bicycles are bedecked prominently with lights, flowers, and other decorations and others almost seem camouflaged. My kids excitedly pointed out the bicycles and took photos of them. Each and every one.

photo credit: Patricia Cancro

So just what goes into making GardenFest a magical winter wonderland? Lights, volunteers, and months of preparation to plan and install lights. I asked my oldest how many lights he thought made up GardenFest. He thoughtfully suggested 500 million. (Yes, Virginia, it certainly seems that way). Actually, the answer is a half a million lights, an impressive number.

As a first time visitor of GardenFest, I expected it to be packed. Although there were plenty of folks enjoying the evening, the displays were spread out over the Garden’s expansive grounds, so it did not appear crowded.

Need to warm up while you are there? Take a break from the cold in the Conservatory where you can check out botanicals, model trains chugging past historic Richmond landmarks, and a larger-than-life Christmas tree. The Kelly Education Center also offers a warm respite, with a chance to enjoy Victorian decorations, dollhouses, and a gallery walk of photos documenting the Garden’s rich history. Other strategies to warm up include enjoying hot chocolate, and s’mores (for purchase).

GardenFest is appropriate for the entire family, but check out these tips for visiting GardenFest with children before you go. Check out this link for additional information about GardenFest, including nightly events as well as an Instagram contest.

Dominion GardenFest of Lights at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden runs now through January 12, 2015 from 5-10pm.*

Tickets:
$12 adult
$11 seniors (age 55+)
$8 children (ages 3 – 12)
Free for children under age 3
$7 Garden members
$5 Child on Garden Membership (ages 3 – 18)
Tickets are also available by phone at 1-800-594-TIXX (8499) and online; please note there are convenience fees.
Online sales for General Admission
Online sales for Garden Members

*closed December 24 and December 25

I was provided free tickets to GardenFest in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.

Our department is relatively small and we knew we could get together the makings of a single basket. We could possibly even do more than one. As we discussed logistics for providing more, one of my colleagues shared, “I think we should do as many baskets as possible. I have been on the other side of the basket. It really stinks not having enough money to even buy food.” My heart sank. Actually knowing someone personally that has experienced being “on the other side of the basket” is sobering. My mind raced to wondering what their specific circumstance was, what they thought about needing help and most importantly, how they got through it all.

Somehow, this made preparing our baskets all the more personal. I thought back to when I had put my first offerings in the basket on a recent trip to the grocery, and having not had the opportunity to have lunch until 2pm that day due to my work schedule, I was getting a little hangry. I placed my large can of yams in the basket and then, having checked that item off the list, I casually said, “I’m starving. I am eating lunch now.” No sooner than the words came out of my mouth, I regretted my poor choice of words. However, it also made me consider –  if I am grumpy after having a meal a few hours late, how are those coping that might not have eaten all day? Or for several days in a row?

So this Thanksgiving and beyond, if you are fortunate enough to give back, please do. Whether it is volunteering at the food bank, donating cash or canned goods, or making a basket for a family –  it all helps. The folks on the other side of the basket will be glad you did – and you will too.

If you need assistance OR can provide assistance, please contact FeedMore.

photo credit: Joakim Wahlander

Have you ever heard the phrase, “Never put anything smaller than an elbow in your ear?” Sage advice, indeed.

My parents told me when I was 3 years old, I put a cocoa puff in my nose and it got stuck. Quite a pretty picture, eh? My dad reportedly put black pepper in my other nostril, I sneezed, and the situation was remedied.* I have no memory of the event and cannot imagine why I would do such a thing.

Apparently, incidents of young kids putting objects in their ears, noses and throats are not uncommon. According to the American Family Physician Journal, the most common ear foreign objects include beads, plastic toys, pebbles, and popcorn kernels. The majority of patients with an object in their ear are younger than 8-years-old.

A few years ago when my oldest was 6-years-old, he complained that his ear “felt weird” and that he could not hear very well out of that ear. He had no fever, and had only had one ear infection in his young life, so we waited it out for a few days. Since he swims regularly, I wondered if he had water in his ear. When it had not resolved, I took him to the pediatrician and I watched in horror as she expertly and gently flushed it out. It was one of the most disgusting things I have ever seen.

The dislodged object looked like a large piece of popcorn (popped and expanded) coated with thick wax. The object had become very porous, so in addition to being coated with wax, there were large nooks and crannies filled with wax. The doctor showed it to my son and asked him what it was. My son casually said, “Huh. Well…huh. It looks familiar to me, but I can’t identify it right now.”

Fortunately, there was no follow-up necessary – we went on our way and my son proclaimed that his ear “felt great and totally not weird”. Well done, son!  It turns out that popcorn is much easier to extract than an unpopped kernel, due to density and shape. It could have been a lot worse. Read on to learn the interesting story of one young boy’s astonishing ear bean.

Have your children ever put any foreign objects in their ears, noses, or throats? If so, how did you handle it?

*Please seek medical treatment if you suspect your child has a foreign object stuck in their ear, nose, or throat.