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  1. Family Life
    Not everyone keeps a naughty or nice list. And not everyone chooses to tell their kids about Santa. One mom tells us why she doesn't choose to do Santa Claus. 'Tis the season! The season to destroy the holiday spirit by debating about whether or not to do Santa Claus. Just kidding. Kind of...
  2. Toddler & Child
    I personally find toddlers hard to shop for. So here's a realistic list of what my toddler desperately needs for Christmas. It's that time of year again! Time to bust out the holiday decorations, hunker down for the cold season, and make lists for loving relatives who need to know what your...
  3. Family Life
    Have you ever been at a play date, or in a public play place when the inevitable happens? Two kids want the same toy. Both moms feel obligated to force their kid to share. After all, that's good parenting, right? I don't think so. I write bearing good news: you don't need to force your kid to...
  4. Other
    There are countless lists of what you need for your birth and in your birth bag. You can find a ton of different options on the internet and on Pinterest. You might spend your third trimester days on Amazon looking up postpartum essentials like a peri-bottle to spritz your "down-there" after...
  5. Baby
    Every developed country in the world offers its families some form of paid parental leave. All but the United States, that is. And though President Trump signed legislation into law late last year, for federal employees to have paid parental leave, the United States is still one of just two...
  6. Pregnancy & Birth
    Should you or shouldn't you? Rather, can you or can you not is more like it when it comes to eating during labor. For generations, women were not 'allowed' to eat during labor, but does that still hold? Should it? One mama reflects on eating during labor and the current belief that it may even...
  7. Pregnancy & Birth
    If you are new to the pregnancy scene, it doesn't take long to discover that everyone from the checker at the grocery store to your hairdresser has something important to share with you regarding childbirth, pregnancy, and the coming baby. People give advice, warnings, congratulations, help and...
  8. Family Life
    From birthday party favors to prize box goodies, my son has acquired a significant number of plastic trinkets in his few years. He would let you know that I refer to these toys as "junk" and that they usually go missing shortly after they make it through the front door. While I don't love them...
  9. Family Life
    Embracing the misery of motherhood actually makes life easier. Here are a few mantras to memorize to help you go through motherhood journey. I think it is time we all started embracing the misery of motherhood. I know, I know. Another buzzkill from yours truly. First I tell the world to suck...
  10. Baby
    A few years ago, when my now 7-year-old was a toddler, I was interviewed for a local magazine about Attachment Parenting [AP]. I described the basic principles of AP, explained how it helped me when I was a single parent, and discussed the science behind Attachment Theory. I thought I had...
  11. Family Life
    Fathers need support, especially in the early years with children. They are often neglected and forgotten about in our rushed world. The years having our four babies were some of the most stressful for my husband and me. In those early years, we lived in three different states, my husband...
  12. Family Life
    When did a messy house make us feel like we were inadequate? Weren't cutting it as moms or wives or just normal, tidy humans in general? Here's how an Instagram caption made me rethink what a messy house REALLY says about me. Some time ago, I walked passed my younger daughters' room, snapped...
  13. Family Life
    Compared to 15 years ago, the average person purchases 60% more clothing and only keeps it for half as long. The processes used to mass produce this cheap clothing excess are harmful to humans and the environment. I am certainly guilty of having enjoyed fast fashion. My closet is full of trendy...
  14. Family Life
    Xennials are people born between 1977 and 1983: people who experienced an analog childhood and a digital adulthood. Here's what's unique about the parenting philosophies of those of us who possess both the cynicism of Xers and the optimism of Millennials. As Xennials, we didn't really need a...
  15. Baby
    Responsible for the discontent, disillusionment and disconnect plaguing moms of every demographic, these myths can make motherhood miserable. I was seventeen when my eldest daughter was born. This fact, along with the fact that I am now thirty-eight, combined with the fact that my youngest...
  16. Baby
    When I meet with new moms, it's amazing how often the topic turns to the troubles they are having with breastfeeding. I hear about the struggles; the infections; the cracking; the latch; the tongue tie; the lack of sleep; I hear it all. What I often hear the most is mothers being shocked that...
  17. Baby
    When it comes to parenting, there is an overabundance of false information that can discourage even the most eager first-time mom. In fact, some mistruths have become so common and accepted that they could even be called myths. And then there are always those, "When I'm a mother..." phrases we...
  18. Toddler & Child
    I decided I'm not committed to shielding my son from all things superhero. What I am committed to instead is teaching him about real life superheroes. My son is a superhero enthusiast. If he is not dressed as a superhero (which is often), he is likely pretending to be one. He portrays each...
  19. Toddler & Child
    Praise can certainly be beneficial for our children. When we overpraise our children, however, we may be overusing praise and that may actually lower a child's sense of self-worth. You might be wondering...how is it possible to praise my children too much? Can we overpraise our children? I...
  20. Family Life
    I never encouraged my son to believe in Santa Claus. I never wanted him to believe. Yet, at nearly five-years old, he does anyway. After our son was born, my husband and I decided we would not celebrate Christmas with Santa Claus. Striving toward honesty ourselves, we saw no need to perpetuate...
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