Today, Carole Arsenault of Boston Baby Nurses shares four summer baby care tips:
During the summer, baby or toddler care isn't as simple as loading up on the sunscreen and bug spray and heading to camp or out to play in the yard. The heat can be challenging and little ones can't tell you what they need. Here are four ways to keep your little one happy and healthy over the remainder of the summer (also be sure to check out my tips for sun protection for the whole family!):
Today, Judy (also of Talking Thirty) shares 6 tips for negotiating in-law to grandparent transitions:
When you have kids, not only do you become a parent, but your in-laws become grandparents -- sometimes overzealous ones who suddenly want a lot of contact. This can be fantastic when you are blessed with wonderful in-laws, but I know many people who are not so fortunate -- the most common complaint being that the frequent visitation requests become burdensome (e.g., time to tidy the house, make food, explain how to handle things, etc.) rather than fun or helpful. Today I wanted to share 6 things to keep in mind to help you adjust your perspective as everyone tries to sort out their new roles.
Today, Miriam (also of Other Pieces of Me) shares thoughts and resources for those considering home sandboxes:
A few months ago, I decided I was tired of having to redirect our almost three-year-old son from my (then dormant, but soon to be planted) raised garden beds. He was overwhelmingly attracted to the 8' x 4' plot of dirt to the point that the area became replete with sand toys and multiple baths were required each day.
Today, Kate shares a great lead for those who want to try their hand at canning (perfect for preserving summertime bounty!):
My young daughter has never been a fan of peanut butter, but she loves strawberry jelly. On toast, on waffles, between two slices of bread, or licked off a spoon, jam is the queen of sweet condiments in our house. Given the quantities that we consume, I recently became interested in learning how to make jams and jellies at home. An experience about a decade ago had left me with bad memories of bubbling pots of steaming, sticky peach-flavored goop and lots of small and hard-to-handle jars, but I decided to give it another try.
Today, Lindsey (also of A Design So Vast) recommends a book/journal that I am totally ordering for myself and Laurel (and several friends with daughters) after I publish this post:
My daughter is approaching 10 and my primary concern at this point is to keep her communicating with me. Somehow I feel like if I can just keep her talking to and trusting me, we'll be okay in what I know are some more complicated waters ahead.
Today, Jules shares 8 tips for encouraging kids to consume vegetables:
In a home where parents love to eat vegetables and other healthy foods, wouldn't it be awesome if the "monkey see, monkey do" theory meant that kids would grow up happily munching on carrot sticks and string peas? Alas, it never seems to be that easy. Here are 8 tried and true approaches I use to get my kids more interested in trying vegetables.
Today, Judy (also of Talking Thirty) shares 8 tips to help diffuse tension due to differences in parenting styles:
It's not surprising that many families -- mine included -- wrestle with tension due to different parenting styles. After all, many factors (e.g., personality, culture, education, how we were raised) contribute to our unique perspectives, and it's unrealistic to expect that couples will agree on every parenting decision, whether it's related to sleep training, discipline, nutrition, or something else.
Today, Sheri shares five tips for teaching kids netiquette:
Given that kids interact online as much (hopefully not more) as they do in person, it's important to teach kids "netiquette" -- how to behave when it come to social interactions on the internet. Now that many kids are off (or soon to be off) for the summer and have more free time to spend online at home, it's a good time to have these conversations. Here are five basic netiquette rules that parents can model and teach to their kids:
Friends, I'm diverting from regularly scheduled editorial today because my mind is swimming after my trip to Washington, DC yesterday. I am humbled and honored to share that I am now part of the ONE Moms advisory board, through which I will work on inspiring community action around issues such as maternal and child health, agriculture, and the empowerment of women and girls in developing countries. As part of this work, this fall I will travel to Ethiopia -- I can barely wrap my head around the magnitude of this upcoming trip; I know it will change my lens on, well, everything else in my life. And you all are part of why this is happening and I can't thank you enough.
Today, Jennifer shares five tips for making joint birthday parties simple yet special:
Since my twins Liam and Brielle were born, I have tried to find simple ways to celebrate their birthday, while also recognizing them as individuals and making them feel special. Here are five easy ways to do just that, whether you are celebrating multiples, or kids who opt for joint parties with siblings or friends with birthdays in close proximity.
Today, Carole Arsenault of Boston Baby Nurses shares 5 sun protection tips for families:
This time of year I always field a lot questions from parents about sunscreen safety and how to protect their family from harmful UV rays. And rightly so -- now through August the sun's UV rays are at their strongest. Whether it's short transitions outdoors or longer periods, as long as skin is exposed, it's vulnerable to the sun's rays (especially from 10am to 2pm). Here are 5 tips that will help you and your little ones have fun in the sun while avoiding harmful burns:
Today, Priya shares six tips for rocking the weekend move:
I move a lot. So far, I have retained at least 20 different addresses (not counting the multitude of college dorm rooms) in 2 countries, 5 states, and 11 cities. You might think that would mean I have moving down to an art form, but no. I have grown to dislike moving so much that I usually procrastinate until the last moment and then throw everything haphazardly into boxes. The end result is I lug stuff around I should have parted ways with, and end up with countless "miscellaneous" drawers and boxes everywhere I go.
Today, Miriam (also of Other Pieces of Me) shares a wonderful local developmental resource:
What do you do when your child doesn't qualify for early intervention (EI) but still needs help? It's a question that many parents don't think about until the moment they're told by their daycare provider that their child may have developmental challenges that should be evaluated. That's exactly the situation my husband and I were in this past winter, a mere 6 weeks after our second child was born. While we were confident that our firstborn was expressing behaviors within the range of "normal" for a 2.5 year old with a new sibling, we wanted to have him observed in his classroom.
Today, Debbie (also of Two Adopt Two) shares ideas for easing end of school transitions:
The end of school often signals relief for busy families. Gone is the scrambling associated with homework, packing lunches, dashing for the school bus, and extracurriculars. However, for kids who love routine -- and particularly for children who have experienced major life changes and often fear goodbyes (especially when they haven't initiated them) -- losing the structure of school can be stressful.
This year I've been feeling a bit emotional about relationships. After several years with little activity on the wedding circuit, there's been so much love to celebrate -- within one year, three of my sisters and five other dear friends (!) have tied or will tie the knot. And on the other end of the spectrum, I've seen friends struggle in their relationships -- my heart aches mightily for them. So, following the tradition of my reflections on Jon and my 9th, 10th, and 11th anniversaries, today, in honor of our 12 years of marriage, I wanted to share 12 points of gratitude. Because as I have watched life unfold for us and our loved ones, it's clear that we should never take good things for granted.