Fetal Alcohol Syndrome affects 1 or 2 out of every 1000 births and it’s a completely preventable disorder. But, with the United States in one of the worst recessions in history, more and more people have been turning to drinking to ease depression. Experts recognize losing a job as one of the...

Help support GIMH! Vote for our Room of Your Own at BlogHer! Log-in to BlogHer and then vote as an attendee. More of my ideas and techniques are below, continued from part one (don’t miss it…).  Same disclaimers apply:  I’m not an expert and these aren’t all my ‘original’...

My grab bag of RAD techniques Parenting a child with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) is a struggle.  There are those saintly folks out there who can do it with grace and dignity and I am not one of them.  However, through many readings, daily research, an ear to listen to those who’ve gone before...

This morning I completed my first round of genetic testing, an intensely painful endometrial biopsy. On Monday I have an ultrasound and on Friday I see a geneticist – my mother beside me to help answer questions about my own family history. Why all this? I am lucky enough to have a brilliant OBGYN...

Russian tea cakes first appeared in Russia in the 18th century, as a pastry in a tea-sharing ceremony. By the 20th century, they were a part of wedding and Christmas traditions in the US…and now they are seen in bulk at Costco and in the  Betty Crocker recipe file. INGREDIENTS * 1 cup butter *...

Last year I hope you tackled the Russian Stockings that I showed you how to make (my son is clearly not at an age to start making those so we stuck with the paper wreaths). This year I found Russian Matroyska Ornaments made from small wooden bells. For little ones it may take a little extra time on...

From the all knowing Wikipedia: It is a spongy yeast cake that is traditionally baked for Easter Sunday in Poland, Belarus, Ukraine and Western Russia. Darra Goldstein, professor of Russian at Williams College says “babka comes from baba, a very tall, delicate yet rich yeast-risen cake eaten in...

Did you know that Christmas used to be banned in Russia? After the 1917 Revolution Christmas was banned. Not until 75 years later, in 1992, was Christmas allowed to be openly celebrated. However, most of Russia celebrated in private because of their religious beliefs. Christmas is rooted in the Russian...

If you have adopted from Russia then you surely know about Grandfather Frost, or Ded Maroz…the Russian version of the man in red. He comes decorated with traditional embroidering and edged with the same snow white fluffiness, the red cap, white mittens, and felt boots. He has the same snow white...

I used to talk with friends at lunch about how I was preparing myself for the “worst”…reading up on FAS, sensory issues, making sure I baby-proofed everything and they thought I was crazy. They told me that that having children was supposed to be easy. That attachment and bonding came...