Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council takes your questions, gives advice and shares solutions. Our conversation starts today with a broad topic, but a good one. This week, we asked the Moms Council: From a parent's perspective, what makes Reading a great place to raise kids? And what is one thing you would change if you could? Here’s what they had to say: Alicia Botticelli-Tarasuk Reading is such a great town! I was born and raised in Reading, so I may be a bit biased, but nonetheless, it is wonderful. I live AND work in Reading. Having gone through the schools I saw first hand how great …

Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council takes your questions, gives advice and shares solutions. Our conversation starts today with a topic that has been a very controversial one since the law went into effect back in 2002: No Child Left Behind. President Obama recently granted a waiver to 10 states—including Massachusetts—exempting them from the law. With that in mind, we asked the Moms Council for their take, as parents, on this development. Here’s what they had to say: Alicia Botticelli-Tarasuk No child left behind in theory was a great plan. The reality of it seems to be a much different…

Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council takes your questions, gives advice and shares solutions. Our conversation starts today with a topic that all parents will deal with at some point: Bullying. Last week, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Patty de Garavilla presented the results of the fall bullying survey to the School Committee and the results indicated that Reading students are less likely to report bullying to an adult than they were last semester. So this week, we asked the Moms Council: How can you make sure your kids are comfortable reporting things like bullying to an adult? …

Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council takes your questions, gives advice and shares solutions. Our conversation starts today in response to Michelle Obama and the USDA's announcement of the new nutrition standards for school lunches. We asked our moms council: As a parent, do you want the government to tell you what to feed your children? Meghan Cogswell I don't think this is as much about the government telling me what to feed my children as it is the government setting guidelines for what the cafeteria's serve our children. Either way, I don't agree with it.    The bottom line is, if I …

Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council takes your questions, gives advice and shares solutions. Our conversation starts today in anticipation of Local Election 2012, held in March. We asked the Moms Council how important the elections are to their families? Erin Calvo-Bacci As a business owner, resident and mother of children who attend school in this town, the upcoming election is extremely important to me. My family and I discuss current events openly and our girls ask questions and we try to answer them to their level of understanding. Elections are important teaching tools and certainly…

Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council takes your questions, gives advice and shares solutions. Our conversation starts today with a topic that is, unfortunately, not a new one. In light of Monday’s observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we asked the Moms Council how holidays such as these can help people talk with their kids about racism?  Meghan Cogswell In short, just the fact that the holiday exists opens the door for discussion and is reason to talk about MLK specifically and his accomplishments. I think the schools do a great job of teaching the kids the meanings behind each of …

Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council takes your questions, gives advice and shares solutions. Our conversation starts today with a topic that is growing ever more pertinent as new technologies continue to develop: Between video games, smart phones and TV, it almost seems like actually reading a book is becoming an outmoded pastime. How much emphasis do you put on reading for your kids, and how do regulate the aforementioned activities to ensure kids don't neglect more "intellectually nourishing" activities? Erin Calvo-Bacci My favorite memories of the girls as babies is the time spent …

Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council takes your questions, gives advice and shares solutions. Our conversation starts today with a topic that was very much at the forefront in 2011 and unfortunately figures to reprise that role in 2012: Substance abuse.  What is the right age to start talking about drugs with your children? Alicia Botticelli-Tarasuk The age of which you start talking to your children about drugs is a per child thing I think. Some children are immature and don't have a clue until they are faced with such things other children ask many questions early because they are in …

We asked our Moms Council some tough questions in 2011, and they responded in their usual thoughtful and insightful manner. Whether it was talking with kids about the tragic murder of Joe Ronan, how, as a parent, to deal with bullies or how to approach the dreaded “talk,” Reading Patch’s all-star moms knocked it out of the park every time. Here are the top 10 Moms Talk columns from 2011: 10) Moms Talk Takes on Video Games: Oct. 5—We asked the Moms Council if they allow their kids to play video games, and, if so, are violent titles permissible? The Moms Council was in agreement about putting …

Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council takes your questions, gives advice and shares solutions. Our conversation starts today with a holiday-themed topic:  With all the candy canes and reindeer, it can sometimes seem like Christmas is the only game in town. How can you use the holiday season to teach kids about tolerance and diversity? Erin Calvo-Bacci: I do not teach my children that Christmas is “the only game in town” and we do respect diversity of other religious beliefs. In our lives and home, Christmas is a major celebration of our religion and I would like others to not only ask that…

Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council takes your questions, gives advice and shares solutions. Our conversation starts today with a holiday-themed topic:  How do you make sure your kids maintain a reasonably healthy diet throughout the holiday feasting season? Erin Calvo-Bacci: As a person who was overweight as a child, and healthy now, the best way to maintain a healthy diet is to change the way you think about what is healthy. A healthy diet includes good food choices, exercise and plenty of rest. With the holiday feasting season I think more adults over indulge than children, but …

Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council takes your questions, gives advice and shares solutions. This week's topic: "What lessons do you use the holiday season to teach your children?" Erin Calvo-Bacci: As a parent, I find teachable moments every day and am truly blessed and thankful for the children I have, the husband who is still by my side and the roof over our head. The Christmas Season is a wonderful time to focus on virtuous lessons. Those lessons my children are learning, but may not know how to articulate are the following: patience, charity, diligence, kindness, humility (humble) …

Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council takes your questions, gives advice and shares solutions. This week's topic: “How, if at all, do you talk to your children about the ‘Occupy’ movement?” Alicia Botticelli: The Occupy movement confuses me. I won’t lie. I thought it was for one thing. Then, it was for another. Now, I think people just want to do the 1960's thing and protest everything. My kids don’t ask at all about it. They have no idea about it, and, actually, I would love someone to explain it to me! Meghan Cogswell: We have not talked to our kids about this "Occupy" movement. That is …

Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council takes your questions, gives advice and shares solutions. This week's topic: “When your children have problems with their friends at school, how deeply do you get involved?” Erin Calvo-Bacci: I’ve always encouraged my daughters to speak openly about their daily happenings in school. While they do, I listen intently for clues about any problems they might be experiencing because they’re not always forthcoming if something is bothering them. My child had problems with friends, and she internalized it to the point that she acted out and started hurting …

Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council takes your questions, gives advice and shares solutions. This week's topic: Should you let your infant or toddler cry himself to sleep at night? Erin Calvo-Bacci: I don’t think there is anything wrong with having a child self soothe. After having three children I have learned that all children develop differently and have their own patterns. I believe in routines and have seen the positive benefit of a routine, such as a scheduled bed time which had me put my children to sleep without any issues. I know routines work with my children because I’ve …

Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council takes your questions, gives advice and shares solutions. Our conversation starts today with a question that all parents should probably give some thought: "What activities do you do as a family?"  Alicia Botticelli: My family and I do many activities together. Usually, they include my parents as well; my kids love to be with Nuna and Papa.  We do the typical movies and family fun stuff, however we do some not so typical stuff sometimes.  My family and I are famous for just taking a drive, to nowhere. We will hop in the car pick a direction and see …

Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council takes your questions, gives advice and shares solutions. Our conversation starts today with a question that most parents with children in school must consider: "How do you deal with your child when they bring home grades lower than you expected on his or her report card?" Meghan Cogswell: When it comes to grades in our household, and both our children are in elementary school still, we focus more on the effort grade. We are trying to instill in our children that hard work and effort will pay off and that, if you make a true good effort, that is all …

Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council takes your questions, gives advice and shares solutions. Our conversation starts today with a question that gets to the heart of a shifting trend in America: "Does your family practice or observe religious holidays? Why or why not?"" Alicia Botticelli: My family celebrates the usual holidays that most do, such as Easter and Christmas.  I wish I could say we take part in Ash Wednesday and days of that nature. I should. We are Catholic, but I have dropped the ball on that.  My kids go to CCD and have received first communion, but as for going to church …

Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council takes your questions, gives advice and shares solutions. Our conversation starts today with a question that has existed as long as public schools have:  "Would you consider sending your child to a private school over the Reading Public Schools? Why or why not?" Erin Calvo-Bacci: As a child I attended a private school until I moved into Reading during my third year. At the time, I hated the public school because I came from a Parochial School where the teacher’s were in total control, and, as students, we made no waves because of the severe consequences…

Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council takes your questions, gives advice and shares solutions. Our conversation starts today with a controversial topic: "Do you allow your child to play video games, and if so, are violent video games allowed?" Erin Calvo-Bacci:  Hi my name is Erin; I only have one television in my house, the household computer is actually our business computer and it’s in the office and we don’t have video games in the house, so I certainly don’t allow my children to play violent games. I don’t like video games because I’ve never been able to sit and stare at a screen and …