research-based parenting

When I finished graduate school I joined the alumni association as a lifetime member because they offered a ridiculously low one-time fee for recent graduates and because it was clear Zach and I were planning on staying in the area for a while. It hasn't actually been that useful, but two interesting/helpful things have come of it: 1) the lost key return program - When you join they give you a magic key chain. On one side it has the Berkeley insignia and on the other side it promises postage paid to return the keys if found. I figured I had nothing but my keys to lose and put it on my keychain. And guess what. I lost my keys (imagine that!), and they were actually returned! 2) they send an alumni magazine every month that is, as Zach put it, actually interesting. My point is not that I'm really happy that I didn't lose my keys permanently that one time. Rather, it's to point out something interesting I found in the magazine a few months ago: the Greater Good Science Center [http://peacecenter.berkeley.edu/]. This research unit at UC Berkeley is "devoted to the scientific understanding of happy and compassionate individuals, strong social bonds, and altruistic behavior" and committed "to helping people apply scientific research to their lives" (yes, there's a research center in Berkeley devoted to feeling good). Anyhow, the point of the article was to point out one of the research centers new endeavours - you guessed it, research based parenting. Through short videos and blog posts a sociologist "gives moms and dads practical tools for raising happy and emotionally literate kids." Turns out a lot of the information is useful for every part of life, not just parenting, but it's focused on kids (actually, parents). Recent topics have included forming good habits, and how to fight with your partner. Good stuff. :)