Thoughts, Tips, and Product Recommendations
Why Every Day With Her Daughter Is a Victory Over This Mom's Battle With Infertility
For Candace, motherhood was always the end goal. Her battle with infertility lasted 10 years, and while that road was long and hard, she quickly realized after the birth of her daughter, Victory, that her true journey was only just beginning. Candace has had to learn to embrace the unknowns of parenting, while still taking care of herself and her needs. Watch the video to see what she tries to remember each day to get through the hard and harder moments of motherhood.
The Life-Saving Items That Will Get You Through the First Year With Your New Baby
While everyone talks about that big transition from infant to toddler, no one really discusses the day-to-day milestones — the small moments that show your child is growing and developing. Here are the products you can rely on for those everyday transitions during that first year of life. See the worthy investments and dependable products that work hard for new parents everywhere.
How Letting Go of Expectations Helped This New Mom Embrace Motherhood
Birth plan? Check. Hospital bag? Check. Diapers? Check, check. Expecting parents can't help but prepare for and fantasize about the day their little one will finally arrive, so when plans change it can be hard to reconcile. For new mom Zoe, the reckoning came when she was induced at 40 weeks with her son, Raiden. "I had this movie of what I thought labor was going to be like," she said. But after being in labor for 36 hours, Zoe needed a C-section, and she realized she just had to trust the process.
My Toddler Keeps Me on My Toes, So I Always Have These Things on Hand
It's not so much that the twos are terrible, it's that they give you whiplash. For every tantrum and mess there is another sweet hug or giggle. But I try to remind myself that this is how he learns and grows and I'm just along for the ride.
What Motherhood Taught This Family About Self-Love and Acceptance
Overwhelming, rewarding, and fulfilling — it's hard to put into words exactly how all-encompassing motherhood can be. But if anyone knows about embracing motherhood with all its joys and struggles, it's mothers and partners Ashley and Shaunda. See how the two of them thank their sons, Sebastian and Moon, for helping them embrace the change and grow as individuals and as a family unit.
Summer 2020 Looks Different For All of Us — Here Are Some Ideas to Help Deal
Just because this summer may be different, it doesn't mean you can't — and shouldn't — find the joy in this "new normal." As working parents, we know a thing or two about social distancing with young children at home. But we aren't just making it work, we're making it fun! From balancing working-from-home schedules to making the weekends together extra special, here are some ideas you can try with your own family this summer.
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Connecting With My Kids Was the Best Part of 2020 — I'm Going to Keep It Up in 2021
Even though my perfectionist self and my kids have struggled, complained, cried, and despaired over the uncertainty happening in the world right now (and the long, long days at home), I wouldn't trade the extra time with my family for anything. My one New Year's resolution is to continue enjoying life's simple pleasures in 2021, even when (if?) social distancing ends.
This Year Taught Me That It's Perfectly Normal to Not Know Everything About Parenting
This was the year I learned no matter how experienced I thought I was as a parent, new challenges can arise that I am in no way prepared for — and which can make me question everything I felt convinced I knew. It was a confluence of events that forced me into uncharted parenting territory in 2020: the coronavirus pandemic and an unexpected pregnancy loss.
How This 3-Category Shopping Method Helps Me Buy Meaningful Holiday Gifts
The holiday season is usually merry and bright, until it's time to decide what gifts to get for the important people in your life. The stress of finding the perfect gift, or even deciding on a gift-giving strategy, can be challenging — but it definitely doesn't have to be.
How You Can Teach Your Kids the Joy of Thankfulness From a Young Age
At 3 and almost 2 years old, saying "thank you" is practically automatic — but it doesn't prevent the "give me this" or the "where's my next present?" that inevitably comes out of their mouths at the worst possible moments. My husband and I don't get offended by this (we know they're still learning), but we still think it's important to instill an attitude of thankfulness and gratitude in them, especially during the holiday season.
6 Ways to Make Coparenting During the Holidays Easier on You and Your Child
Even once the ink on the divorce papers has dried, there's still work to do when there are children involved. The learning curve while going through a divorce and the whole coparenting dynamic is infinite. Just because the marriage is over does not mean the relationship is. There are legal documents and parenting plans, and everything is laid out for splitting time, including during the holidays, but coparenting is so much more than that.
No More Fighting — Here's How to Put Your Kids to Bed Peacefully Tonight
The secret to establishing a relaxing and effective bedtime routine is simple: treat your little ones like you would yourself. No, I don't mean giving them a glass of wine or a lengthy novel to help them nod off. I mean, look at the things you do to get into a calm state of mind, and apply that to your children, from 18 days old to 18 years old.
As a New Parent Amid COVID-19, It's the Little Things That Bring Me Joy Every Day
Postpartum hormones mixed with social-distancing ordinances are not for the faint of heart. Though, as the days passed and I slowly found my way through my physical and mental recovery, I realized I didn't need to leave my neighborhood or even my home to find joy as a new parent. Joy was all around me.
I Found Joy as a New Mom by Always Looking For the Silver Lining — Even in Tough Moments
It can be admittedly difficult to maintain some sense of normalcy as you are wading through murky waters of dirty diapers, midnight feedings, and mood swings. In my first few months as a new mom, I struggled to find moments of joy in some of the daily domestic drudgery that had come to define my life, but I also regret not fully appreciating those first few months with my little one. It didn't occur to me in the moment that those months would slip through my fingers like sand, with a few grains lingering on my skin as reminders of the memories made and the parenting lessons learned.
Remembering That the Tough Moments Often Brought Joy Helped Me Get Through New Motherhood
Accepting that parenting will be comprised of the tough and unexpected, day in and day out, is the quickest way to find joy in it. Because it isn't easy to feel joyful at 4 a.m. when you're up for the fourth time in five hours with your newborn. It isn't easy to feel joyful when you're home those first few weeks and incessantly googling, hoping to find what feels like the elusive answer to everything — from how to get that perfect swaddle, to whether or not your baby is sleeping too much or not enough, to how many diapers they should go through in a day.
From 1 Parent to Another — Stop Worrying About Your Baby's Milestones!
As a new mom, I wish someone had explained to me that while all of those things are important, it is more important to be present and to savor the small moments with your baby as they rapidly grow in those first six months.
6 Things I Learned in 6 Months of Motherhood
Being a new mom is an exciting time full of adventures of all kinds. (And, yes, sometimes those adventures are of the poop kind.) But what no one tells you about those glorious first six months of motherhood is that it's not all Pinterest nursery projects and Instagram-worthy candid-but-not-really candid shots of you gazing lovingly at your new bundle of joy.
When I Became a Mom, No One Told Me That I Could Ignore the Advice in the Baby Books
I think a lot of first-time moms feel inadequately prepared to thrive at motherhood and turn to parenting books and expert advice to help them find their way. But the fact of the matter is, no one can hand you a map about how to grow your little one into a well-balanced human being. So much of that wisdom comes from time and experience.
No One Told Me What a Wild, Emotional Ride Motherhood Can Be
As mothers, we have to do what feels right, appropriate, safe, and healthy for ourselves and our children based on our own intuition and the most reliable information available to us. As hard as it may be, I try not to compare myself to other mothers, and I try even harder not to feel guilty or inadequate if and when someone gives me parenting advice. The emotions I experience each day as a mom make parenthood unique and precious, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
No One Told Me 1 of the Best Parts of Being a Mom Is Looking Forward to the Future
Here's the thing about motherhood: it's not all perfect, but I wouldn't want to miss a single second of it. And despite what you might think — or might have been told — you won't long for the newborn, tiny baby stage often because you will be too busy enjoying each new thing that your little ones learn every day.
How My Family Is Embracing a New Kind of Back-to-School With a Positive Attitude
Attitude is everything as we step into the 2020 school year. Many parents are overwhelmed by the fact that they'll have the responsibility of educating their kids, and many kids are disappointed that they can't see their friends. Things will not be the same; there's no doubt about that. But that doesn't mean we can't make back-to-school exciting.
Maternity Leave Looks a Little Different When You Have to Stay Home All the Time
It is so important to have a support network both inside your home and out for moments when you are feeling emotionally fragile. Maternity leave during COVID-19 may seem more isolating than ever, but I learned it doesn't have to be.
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The 6 Rules I Have My Child Follow When We Go Out in Public Amid COVID-19
While it is certainly more safe and ideal to stay home 24/7, I fear that the complete isolation is going to take a toll on my child's well-being. I do not bring her with me when I need to run errands and I know the space will be crowded. But for the occasional break during the day, I have found steps that ensure our safety while also making sure that we are being respectful of those who surround us.
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Staying at Home Has Given My Family Time to Get to Know Each Other Like Never Before
In many ways, social isolation has made us more engaged and connected as a family. We may not be able to get together for our normal dinners and celebrations with our extended family, but communication with our family has actually gotten better, more frequent, and more rewarding.
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The 5 Rules My Daughter Has to Follow Now That We're Home 24/7 Amid COVID-19
Parenting during COVID-19 is hard. There is no doubting this. But establishing healthy boundaries has made my life as a working parent a touch more manageable.
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Shelter-in-Place Has Changed How We Communicate With Our Kids
Being a parent means learning from and adapting to new challenges every day, especially during this pandemic. It can be easy to forget that even our children are under stress and navigating some stormy seas, so why not try to navigate them together?
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