With the Summer school break quickly approaching, now's the perfect time to add some fresh titles to your child's bookshelf. To help, we asked moms who have also been teachers to share some of their favorite children's stories. Whether you have a color-loving toddler, a beginning reader needing practice, or a preteen looking for an exciting plot, there's something in here for kids of all ages.
That baby ought to be in pictures — lots of pictures! Baby's first day will seem like a blur to everyone involved in the lil one's birth. For some moms, it takes looking back at photos of the day to actually recall some of the events. Before handing your camera over to a friend or relative who's promised to capture it all, make a list of the pictures you want to ensure they are recorded before everyone falls off to sleep. Here are our top 10 must-take photos on baby's first day.
Many a mom puts off creating their child's baby book, as assembling an album of baby's first year often takes a backseat to parenting. But a start-up called Blinkbuggy aims to simplify the process, helping moms and dads put together the traditional piece of memorabilia online, TechCrunch reports.
Google ad sales manager Emma Weisberg says she recognized the need for a virtual baby book because so many baby photos are captured by mobile phones and shared by family and friends via email, Flickr, Facebook, and YouTube. Thus, she designed Blinkbuggy to allow parents to record all of their memories — photos, emails, notes, artwork, milestones, etc. — with one cloud-based service. Parents can categorize items for multiple children, as well as control privacy settings, depending on what content they want to make public and share with friends and family.
If all that sounds like a great way to organize and preserve memories of your child, then stay tuned. Weisberg says the ability to print albums and use a mobile app is in the works.
I got my tubes tied when I was 33 years old, right after the birth of my daughter. She was my third child, and even though I wasn't entirely sure that I was "done" with the whole baby-making thing, I knew that my husband and I couldn't handle any more.
I became pregnant the first time while I was on birth control. I did not know that antibiotics and birth control didn't like each other, and I unwittingly asked them to play nicely. They didn't; the antibiotics won, and I found myself in an ER in the middle of the night, writhing from the sharp pain of a kidney infection, and thinking that surely I was hallucinating when the nurse told me that I was six weeks along.
When most people think about retirement, they dream of picking up a leisurely new hobby, traveling the globe, or spending more time with their families — but starting a new family of their own? The New York Times reports on the growing number of retired individuals or couples adopting children. Some of the families featured were empty nesters who had already had a "first round" of raising kids, some were taking over for family members who were unable to care for their own children, and still others were first-time parents.
"Children do far better in families than in institutional or temporary care," said Adam Pertman of the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute and author of Adoption Nation. "These are competent, vetted people." The approval process for becoming an adoptive parent is a rigorous one, and the need for qualified families in the US is great. According to federal data, in 2011, more than 50,000 children were adopted with the aid of public child-welfare agencies, with more than 104,000 waiting to be adopted, the Times reported.
What do you think of couples or individuals in their 50s, 60s, or even 70s adopting children? Weigh in by voting in our poll below.
The role birth order plays in shaping children's personalities and IQs has been debated and researched for years. But do the stereotypes hold water?
"They say that children's behavior and development depends . . . a big percent on what role they play in families," Brenda says, asking other Circle of Moms members, "Where is your child at?" Another member named Charlie P. has a similar question. "Birth order and personality: Where do you fit in? Do you think this is an accurate description of you or your children?"
As you parent, Circle of Moms members say it's worth considering your children's birth order, and subsequently how you work through some of the less desirable traits. Read on.
Summer hasn't even started yet, but we've already got our eye on Fall after previewing The Land of Nod's upcoming collection of delectable room furnishings. The Fall 2013 collection, which will be in stores (and online) in July, is filled with new furniture pieces — many of which take a sharp and exciting turn from the retailer's usually eclectic fare.
Among the most exciting things to come out of the line is a new collaboration with NYC-based contemporary furniture designer Ducduc. The Ducduc for Nod collection will include custom cribs and case pieces designed just for the retailer (at a fraction of the brand's regular cost, natch!). Other key finds include a handwoven wicker headboard, a variety of nightstands, and lots of geometric shapes spread throughout the collection. Keep reading to see some Fall picks, and tell us: which are you craving?
Would you let your child poop in the potty in a restaurant?
That's just what one Manhattan woman did at an outdoor restaurant, allowing the boy to do "No. 2" right next to the table while others were dining nearby, Today reports.
Even if you needed to keep your child on a strict schedule, Today show hosts Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb suggest moms choose less offensive options, like taking the potty to the bathroom and having the child use it there.
After all, Gifford says, "Children on a potty are adorable, but . . . "
"Not what happens after, which is the wiping portion," Kotb concludes.
We know the dangers of huffing and smoking, but who knew that our kids' safety could be in danger from a simple spice in the cupboard? Kids are actually dying from taking the "Cinnamon Challenge." What is it, why is it so dangerous, and what are moms doing to address it? Keep reading.
Having a baby is the most emotionally charged time of our lives. Within hours, minutes sometimes, we can swing from elation to despair and back again. The first days, weeks, and months after having a baby, our body (not to mention our life) goes through so many changes, it is no wonder we may experience massive highs and lows.
So how can we tell what are normal, natural responses to an incredibly emotional time? And what are in fact warning signs of something more sinister? Postnatal depression is discussed a little more than it used to be, but the subject of postnatal anxiety is hardly ever spoken about.
Having suffered with anxiety myself, and running a 40,000-strong online community for mental health, I have come into contact with literally thousands of anxiety sufferers. So here I have put together a checklist of what are regular emotions for new parents, and what are likely warning signs you should contemplate seeking help.
