About me…..
Mindy Carlson is a quilter, knitter, baker, reader, writer, life coach, and Administrative Head of School of Rock Creek Montessori in Kensington, MD. She also happens to be the mother of two spirited boys and the wife of an amazing economist.
After growing up on a farm in Iowa, she bypassed veterinary school to begin a winding journey that took her to UC Berkeley, Washington, DC, and Basel, Switzerland. Switzerland changed how she viewed parenting, travel, food, and the United States – all for the better! She combined the Swiss parenting philosophy with her Montessori experiences, developing a new philosophy of how we better relate to children. Inspired by the change in her own relationship with her children, she decided to inspire others through a series of parenting articles. You can find these articles at such outlets as AFineParent.com, Big Life Journal, and The Washington Post.
Currently, she is beginning a new journey into fiction and mystery writing, with several books trying to find a home with agents. You can follow her quest to publish on her blog, http://www.MindyQs.com.
For Media:
Mindy Carlson, M.S.O.D., is a parenting writer, wife, and mother of two spirited boys living in Washington, DC. After growing up on a farm in Iowa, she went into university administration and then Montessori preschool education before becoming an organization development consultant. Her entire parenting philosophy changed after her family moved to Switzerland and started to observe the success of the Swiss style of parenting. She blogs about parenting, cooking, and travel as the Swiss Family Carlson at http://www.MindyQs.com. Her writing can be found in such outlets as AFineParent.com, Big Life Journal, and The Washington Post.
Well hello there. I just read your post online about kids and boredom. I had no idea you lived in Switzerland and was involved in montessori.
I’m a New Zealander also living in Switzerland – but deep in the mountains of toggenburg, canton st Gallen.
My 5 year old is very social and is constantly complaining of boredom when she is not making play dates with friends. It’s very hard to engage her, she will sit and look out the window for what seems like hours on end. As a mum I’ve needed to turn Pinterest off and stop organising a program for the kids to allow them to be bored. I thought to be a good mum I needed to be crafting, doing science experiments and full on activity programs all the time (although none of this was on offer from my parents and that was ok!).
Anyways – lovely to read your blog and thanks do much for the timely article.
Do your kids really get through that long list b4 screen time? If so, full respect mama!!
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Hi Kathy! I have been to St. Gallen twice, once was just last week with my best friend. Don’t worry about your child staring out the window too much. Her thoughts and ideas are starting to perk up and pretty soon she’ll get up to do something. I actually like staring out the window of the tram as I go to pick up the kids and let my thoughts just go. And, yes, my kids do get through the long list of stuff to do before screen time. They were 9 and 6 when I started the list. If they don’t want the screen they don’t have to do the list, however, they do tend to be motivated to get a little iPad time. 🙂 I’m so glad you’ve like this article. I have others on this site. I’m hoping you like my post on St. Gallen.
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Hi Mindy.
I just wanted to tell you you’ve been nominated for a Kick Ass Woman award. The rules and such are in the link I have included. I wanted you to also know that on Dec. 21st you will be entered to win a $50 visa gift Card. Good luck and congrats. 🙂
https://syndolly.wordpress.com/kick-ass-women-award-the-sisterhood/
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Thank you!
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Very welcome. Keep up the great writing love ❤
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Just a heads up – Voting has begun for The KAW Award Winners today and will end December 28th. Winners Announced on Dec. 31st. Good luck lovely.
https://syndolly.wordpress.com/2016/12/21/kick-ass-woman-award-finalists/
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Wow! Thanks for the notice. I will check it out.
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You were nominated for a KickAss Woman Award and unfortunately do to my computer no nothing how I messed up on the poll. I wanted you to know that a new one has been put up and you are currently entered to receive a 50$ Visa Gift Card. Congrats and good luck The poll is here https://syndolly.wordpress.com/2016/12/21/kick-ass-woman-award-finalists/
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That is hilarious! Thanks for letting me know!
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Hi Mindy, I’d love to connect with you about a possible project involving your work. Would you please contact me if you have some time or might be interested? Eliane of Parenting For Wholeness
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Hello Eliane,
I got your comment on my blog. What sort of work did you have in mind?
Yours,
Mindy
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Hi Malinda! Love your writing style. What is the best way to contact you if you’re interested in writing for our blog (paid)? Thank you!
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It’s February here in Woodway, a small forested hamlet on Puget Sound about ten miles north of Seattle. We’ve been snowed for the past five days and I have been hankering for my mother’s honey drop cookies. On a whim I decide to Google other recipes. Yours, posted two years ago, is almost exactly my mother’s recipe. However, she always made them as little sandwiches with apricot or raspberry jam spread in the middle (I prefer apricot). Her recipe was passed down from my grandmother.
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I love the idea of making them into sandwich cookies. I will try it with some apricot jam. I am so thrilled that you found a recipe that reminds you of your mother and grandmother. I have recipes from my mother and grandmother and great-grandmother that I like to cook when I’m missing them. It makes me feel close to them.
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