As I sit and think about my baby girl and the hopes and dreams I have for her, most of them are fairly simple. I don’t care if she becomes a doctor or a photographer or a circus performer, but I do hope that she learns some important life lessons along the way. I suspect most parents … Read more about 9 lovely quotes I hope will guide my baby through life
Some children tend to be especially driven, passionate, and intense from the start. They seem to have an endless amount of energy and are willing to give 110 percent each time they do what they love. It is a blessing and quite mind-blowing to see them in action, because no matter how young they are, … Read more about When your child’s ambition is greater than you ever imagined
In the spirit of Mother’s Day, I decided to press pause on these past three years of motherhood to stop and consider all that I have learned. It has been quite a journey of ups and downs, lessons learned and re-learned. But here are my top 15: 1. You can’t be selfish. I had no idea how … Read more about 15 Life lessons I didn’t expect to learn from motherhood
As I write this, my due date is 20 days away, and as it approaches, I’ve been thinking about how different these final days are in comparison with the rest of pregnancy. Obviously, the end of pregnancy looks different for each woman, but for the most part, we’re all in the same boat once that third … Read more about 10 signs you’re (finally) nearing the end of pregnancy
Living in a large family is an endless adventure of laughter, laundry, grocery bills that could finance a small country, no volume control, and creatively finding new places to hide the Hershey bar you just stress-bought before the gremlins you call children consume it like air! I didn’t grow up in a large family myself. … Read more about The 6 best pieces of advice from parents of large families
I fell in love with my firstborn the second I met him. It took less than a week for me to physically feel like something was missing when he wasn’t in my arms or by my side. I knew him instantly; what he needed, why he was crying, what he liked. I missed him when he was … Read more about I’m terrified the newborn stage will destroy my marriage
“Why don’t you just shut the door?!” My husband is shouting at me after he, once again, barged in on me while I was in the bathroom. I shout back an unkind retort, frustrated that someone always seems to need me the second I go to the restroom. This time, instead of mumbling something and … Read more about This is why moms can’t just shut the bathroom door
Can I be honest for a second? Everyone prepares you for how difficult life with babies and toddlers can be. There’s judgment about formula or breastfeeding, staying home versus working … not to mention baby wearing, pacifiers, and just the sheer exhaustion of doing everything with one hand or a child clung to your body. Those things are hard. So … Read more about No one warned me how hard the “big kid” stage is
When we think of kids and cyberbullying, we tend to think of older kids or teens in high school. But the truth is, cyberbullying often starts much earlier — especially since children are getting their own smartphones as early as 6 years old, according to some studies. Here’s how to stay on top of things early, so … Read more about Cyberbullying starts earlier than you might think — here’s how to protect your child now
Talking to your child about school violence is one of the most important discussions you can have; but what you say and how you say it depends on their age, says Renelle Nelson, who heads PACER Center’s Children’s Mental Health and Emotional and Behavioral Disorders Project. “With older children, parents should look for opportunities to discuss a … Read more about How to talk to young kids about school safety — even if you think it’s too early to start