A common skin condition that many Ethiopian children have on homecoming is molluscum. Molluscum are small, harmless wart-like growths on the skin that are caused by a virus. Most often these growths can be found on the trunk, arms, legs, and face. They can also be in the hair.

Molluscum can be as small as a millimeter or larger than diameter of a pencil eraser. Some have a whitish top similar to a blister, and others look pinkish and wart-like. (photos) Kids may have just one, or many at a time.

Molluscum are spread by skin contact or through sharing items such as gym mats or equipment.... more

This afternoon we were at the grocery store, cruising through the dairy aisle. My 12 year old (home 6 weeks) said something in Amharic that I didn't understand. And then my two year old (home 2 years) said something back to her that I also didn't understand.

My 12 year old burst out laughing and explained. "I say 'I'm cold' in Amharic. She say 'really?'-- in Amharic!"

Keep in mind that until the big girls arrived home 6 weeks ago, the two year old's only exposure to Amharic has been the half dozen or so words I know. I do NOT know how to say 'really?' in Amharic. In fact, I can't even remember it long enough to blog the actual word. (It is something like 'ah-nut', I... more

If you’re planning to go pick up your child, you may be wondering what kinds of things there are to do while in Addis. You’ll probably want to pick up the Lonely Planet Guide to Ethiopia as it is a helpful resource. Some internet places you can visit include: www.gondarlink.org.uk/guide www.whatsupaddis.com www.ethiopiatravel.com

The National Museum is a very popular tourist destination in Addis.   This famous museum, close to the University of Addis Ababa Graduate School,... more

Here is another of the Ethiopian recipes that my 11 year old taught me. She made the recipe the week after she got home. We all loved it, though it is quite spicy and we had to down lots of water along with it.

Today when I made it, I thought I'd make it just a little less spicy. I added a couple tablespoons of berbere and thought it had a decent bit of heat. But the 9 year old kept coming through the kitchen, shaking her head, and saying, "More berbere..." I added a few more shakes of berbere, but still it did not meet her approval.

Finally, I got out a little pot and let the 9 year old spice a small portion of the stew the proper way. She dumped 1/4 of a cup MORE... more

Since my girls have come home, I've discovered that they know how to cook most Ethiopian food. However, this recipe is one I learned before they came home. They enjoy it, as do some of my family members who sometimes need a break from some of the spicier Ethiopian recipes. Zilzil Alecha (Beef strips in green pepper sauce)

Ingredients 3 green bell peppers (2 coarsely chopped and 1 cut into strips) 4 teaspoons finely chopped fresh hot chilies 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped. 1 T. finely chopped fresh ginger root 1 teaspoon turmeric 1 teaspoon black pepper 2 teaspoons salt ... more

I wrote the following post a year ago, but decided to pull it to the top of the blog for a couple reasons. First of all, this book just became available in paperback. It is also available in audio CD format, an excellent option for commuters who don't have a lot of time to read.

Another bit of news: Melissa Fay Greene now has an 'occasional' blog... more

After reading this post about parenting powerful children quite a few people were curious to know what consequences I have found to be helpful in encouraging good behavior in children. One of my guiding principles when it comes to consequences is that I need to make the misbehavior more of a pain in the neck than the behavior I want to encourage. One of the easiest ways to make disobedience less rewarding is the give extra work when you spot kids doing what they shouldn't.

For example, when I'm training kids to fold their own laundry, I first make sure they throughly understand the job and can... more

After reading this post about parenting powerful children quite a few people were curious to know what consequences I have found to be helpful in encouraging good behavior in children. I'll be sharing specific ideas later today, but I wanted to start with some of the prep work that will help you be more successful in motivating your kids.

First of all, make sure your expectations for behavior are clear. At our house we have three main rules: -- Respect mom and dad -- Be kind to your siblings -- Work hard and be cheerful about it

Along with those, of course we have various... more

Is your family planning on adopting a sibling group or a 'twin' close in age to one of your other children? If so, you would be wise to do some extra prep work before your new children come home to help those first 6 months go a little more smoothly.

First of all, remember that this is going to a tremendous change for your existing children. Even if the new child's adjustment goes smoothly, and your other kids are excited about the new child, reality has a way of surprising you.

There will be days when the new kids are sucking up time like a desert sucks rain. Times when the new kids are repeatedly getting into the 'old' kids' stuff. Times when mom and dad are crankier... more

Families with adopted children sometimes find that their children's classmates are uninformed about adoption. Unfortunately many young children will manifest that lack of information by asking the adopted children awkward questions or making unkind comments.

Families can handle this in a couple ways. We can coach our kids to think ahead and have an answer planned and ready when a friend asks a question such as, "Is that your real mom?" Some families also opt to go into their children's classrooms near the start of each school year to do a brief adoption talk, helping kids learn a little more about adoptive families.

If you opt to talk to your child's class, here are some... more