All articles from Debra Bruno
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Modern Parenthood Making macaroni and cheese in Beijing: The homemade childhood that wasn't
A mom believes she made her children homemade macaroni and cheese growing up, but they only remember the Kraft stuff. Now she asks whether she seasoned their childhood like Jacques Pépin or Sandra Lee.
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Modern Parenthood China pollution: Airpocalypse and the expat parenting dilemma
China pollution – aka airpocalypse – creates an expat parenting a dilemma: Do the pluses (a language and cultural education) outweigh the minuses (not being able to breathe) for kids?
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Disposable diapers or bare bottoms? China frets over potty training
As they rapidly enter the middle class, Chinese parents are scorning traditional environmentally-friendly split pants for disposable diapers.
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Potty training Chinese style: With a diaper-free child, look for potted plants
Potty training Chinese style fascinates Western expat moms who see the diaper-free baby style as a form of environmentalism – but they watch for potted plants, just in case. For Junior to "go" on command is a mother's dream.
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Modern Parenthood Halloween in Beijing: Pumpkins, pirates, and ... a man in a dark suit
Yes, Virginia, there is Halloween in Beijing. No one dares to toss toilet paper over the gingko trees or egg the local Sichuan restaurant, but a group of American expatriates held a party and trick or treat – and most of the guests were Chinese, including a man in a dark suit.
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Modern Parenthood Living abroad: Lifetime friends reconnect, reminisce in Beijing
Growing up together — classes, soccer, and prom — lifetime friends Joanna and Emily reconnect while living abroad in Beijing, a place they have both come to call home.
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Modern Parenthood Post graduation: A mom's defense of her boomerang kid in Beijing
The post graduation boomerang kid – part of the generation of adult children who move back home with parents – is a welcome addition to and American family's new life in Beijing.
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Modern Parenthood Forget Mother's Day: In China they get the gift of Moon month
Mother's Day is one thing -- "moon month" in China is another. The tradition keeps a new mother really, really off her feet for the first month after the baby arrives. Waited on hand-and-foot – allowed to do nothing including lift the baby or take a shower – women can see it as a gift as well as a penalty.
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