Gamification and Parenting
I recently came across the term gamification and realized that this is why I enjoy DietBet so much: it makes...
Child care
The Best — and Worst — States for Child Care, Ranked in Order
This week, Care.com introduced the Care Index, the first comprehensive data report on the current state of child care in...
How to Make My Amazing Green Blend
As a busy mom, I love posting simple healthy recipes that are sure to become family favorites and this one...
Parents, we can’t manufacture friendships, for us or our kids
There’s this saying that I love (and use often), and it goes like this. We’re only as happy as...
Cleaning Frustation
Cleaning fits, that’s what I call it when I am so frustrated and the only thing I can do to...
Mariel S.
Meet Mariel. She is a high school guidance counselor and part- time babysitter. Three years ago she joined Care.com in...
4 Ways to Have Helpful Conversations With Teachers When Problems Pop Up
On most days, your child bounds into the classroom with nary a backward glance, but lately she’s been having a...
Note to Hospitals: I Shouldn’t Have to Pay a Fee to Hold My Newborn
I mean, honestly. Does this even need to be said? Apparently, the answer is “Yes.” As you’ve probably seen and/or heard,...
To My Son: Why Going Back to Work Will Be the Best Thing for Us
Dear Son, I can’t sleep. I’ve been lying here in bed for the past two hours, staring at my alarm...
How My 20-Year-Old Babysitter Helped Me Deal With My Anxiety Disorder
I saw the black Toyota pull up in front of my house. Right on cue, my chest tightened and butterflies...
How to Protect Your Child: Parenting Insight From a Childhood Bully
In my childhood, I was a bully. I was an angry child that verbally took it out on anyone that...
The Two Bullying Facts That Caught Me Totally Off-Guard
As a journalist, I’ve written articles about bullying. I’ve informed parents about how to look for signs that their child...
Health Options When Your Kids Say Take Me To Taco Bell
My kids love tacos. In fact, they would eat tacos every day if I let them. It’s almost an obsession!...
The Truth About Work-Life Balance — From a Mom Who’s Tried It All
“Work-life balance”: the thing everyone wants, but no one knows how to get. What every lifestyle or work-related article/book/blog/vlog would...
Keeping Baby Safe
There are so many things to know when you have a new baby that it can be pretty overwhelming. I...
What if She’s Shy?
You got the job! Congratulations! You have always loved children and feel such a connection with them. You’ve started to...
Happiness is a Choice
I told my 11 year old, soon to be 12 year old daughter that happiness is a choice. “No, it’s...
The 20 Most Family-Friendly Cities for Halloween in 2016
Halloween became one of my favorite holidays — but only until after I had kids. The whole season starts as...
Real Story: How I Hired a Sitter for a Destination Wedding Vacation
We could take the kids to the destination, but not to the destination wedding. So, we needed to find child...
Mom Gets Sexually Harassed After Posting Breastfeeding Photo
Honestly, I’m getting tired of having to write about these kinds of stories, mostly because I’m so absolutely tired of...
How to Rap and Other Funny Things To Ask Siri
I hate to admit it but I have never really found a way to implement using Siri in my daily...
Is Ivanka Trump Putting an End to Trophy Wives?
This past summer, the New York Times published an opinion piece entitled Why Men Want To Marry Melanias, And...
Pregnant Mom Gets Nasty Note From Stranger for Parking in “Women With Child” Spot
You’d think that the shared experiences of motherhood — and dealing with all the joys and frustrations that that the job of “mom”...
Angelina’s Infamous Kiss, Revisited
I don’t know what is going on with Angelina and Brad. Celeb Buzz reports that Brad just had his second...
30 Day Challenge – Clear Clutter
Do you have too much stuff in your house? My kids can’t even clean their bedroom because they feel overwhelmed...
Ever Been Asked If You Have Kids During a Job Interview? Well, It’s Technically Illegal
The process of applying to jobs is already stressful enough. Between all the applications you have to fill out (whoddathunk that...
Parents: The AAP Now Says Your Baby Should Sleep in Your Room for the First Year. Any Thoughts?
The news that’s taking the parenting world by storm: the American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP) now recommends that parents have...
How Child Care Could Swing the Election
This has truly been an election season unlike any we’ve seen before. In so many ways, the Democratic and Republican...
Dad Catching the Tooth Fairy on Camera Is the Worst Well-Meaning Parenting Fail
Losing the first tooth is a momentous occasion. For kids. For parents. For parents who don’t have any cash on...
How Motherhood Almost Destroyed My Marriage
“I can certainly tell Daddy dressed you today,” the mother said to her toddler with disgust as she performed a...
No Smoking Section
Trust is a huge factor in any relationship. This is especially true when someone is watching your children. So what...
How Can You Keep Baby Safe?
When my boys were babies, I worried about them so much. Ok, truth be told, I still do! Even when...
Does My 4-Year-Old Have Enough Friends?
I’m a little concerned that my 4-year-old doesn’t have enough friends. I’m also aware that I’m being a lunatic. My...
6-9 Month Baby Schedule
I quit work about a month and a half before our leaving for Kodiak. Since Madison was five months old...
Should Parents “Rescue” their Children From All Frustration?
There is a new debate, really an old debate about “No Rescue Parenting” which brings up an interesting issue....
I’m Not Throwing a Birthday Party for My 5-Year-Old
The boy turns 5 this month, and we’re happily celebrating the occasion by doing as little as possible. It won’t...
The Terrible Threes
Everyone knows about the terrible twos, but have you experienced the terrible threes? With both my two older children,...
Why Motherhood Caused Me To Lose Myself
Before becoming a mother I was carefree. My idea of a fun Saturday night was having date night with my...
How To Help A Child Cope With Scary Bedtime Stories
I finally let my daughter have a sleepover with her friend last week, and she came home and wouldn’t sleep....
Parents, Stop Doing Your Child’s Homework for Them
We all want our children to do well in school. We hope that their infinite potential will shine through, and...