LilSugar

Mommy Dearest: Should I Trust the Other Parents?

babysugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:30:58 -0800

Mommy Dearest,

I am entering new territory and could use some advice. My preschool son is starting to make new friends of his own from his classroom. A few of his little buddies have asked him to come over for a playdate, which is exciting and scary at the same time. Thrilled that he is advancing socially, I am nervous to let him go over to a friend's house where I don't know the parents at all. I could care less about snacks or sugary drinks but I wonder what the mom's disciplinary style may be or how she deals with her children. Heaven forbid she's a closet drinker like that woman who drove drunk and killed all of those innocent children. I don't want to be a helicopter parent but I don't want to regret anything, either.

- Scared to Be Helicopter Mom

To see the response from Mommy Dearest, just read more.

Scared to Be Helicopter Mom,

Your concerns are natural and admirable - you are looking out for your child's best interest. An easy way to solve your problem is to have an initial mommy and child playdate where the boys can play together, and you can get to know the other mother. During that time, you can chat and try to figure out where she stands on some issues. If she talks a big game of drinking or partying, it may be an indicator that you need a few more dual-parent supervised dates or that you need to host the playdates. Another idea is to organize a social event for a group of the moms so you can get to know them outside of your children. It will help you feel better about leaving them in their care and vice versa. More than anything, you should trust your intuition. It's always better to be safe than sorry.

- Mommy Dearest

Submit a question for this feature at the Mommy Dearest Group on our new community page.

Five Budget Friendly Activities For Fall

LilSugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:00:24 -0700

As the pools close down and the heat comes to a halt, so does our repertoire of Summer activities. Hang up your swimsuits and get ready for Autumn! Enjoy the changing seasons, while keeping a little extra change in your pockets with these five budget friendly activities for Fall.

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Eight Playdate Dos and Don'ts

LilSugar — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:00:37 -0700

Playdates with other tots and moms can be sanity savers when they go smoothly, but a rough playdate is hard on everyone. We've compiled a few dos and don'ts to help make your child's next gathering a success so you can both enjoy yourselves.

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Mommy Dearest: Playdate Mommy Doesn't Take Turns

LilSugar — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 09:00:57 -0700

Mommy Dearest,

My son loves having playdates with his best friend, but his mother never offers to host us. In the last year and a half, she has extended one invitation and when it's her turn, she always has an excuse - from her air conditioning being broken to just having the exterminator come - as to why it would be better to meet at my house. I am happy to have them over, but tired of being the one who has to put lunch out and do the major clean up. How do I tell her that she has to reciprocate?

- Always the Playdate Host

To see the response from Mommy Dearest, read more.

Always the Playdate Host,

The important part of a playdate is that kids get time to connect and have fun with each other. It seems that in this situation, the children get along well so why not just focus on the positive? If you want to host, it's your decision to set out a meal and tidy up the house, but don't expect anything in return. Perhaps the other mother isn't comfortable having guests to her home and you may make her (and her son) uncomfortable bringing up the issue. Rather than calling her out, suggest meeting on neutral territory like the local playground for the next get together.

– Mommy Dearest

Mommy Dearest: OK to Cancel Playdate When Child Has Lice?

LilSugar — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 08:00:50 -0800

Mommy Dearest,

My sister-in-law just called and both she and her three-year-old daughter have lice. My niece got it at daycare and passed it on to her mom, which is understandable. But, I'm hosting a family playdate on Wednesday for all the cousins (about 15 kids total) at my house and don't think either of them should come as it could get easily passed along to the rest of us. Is it out of line to uninvite them?

- Scratching My head Over What To Do

To see the response from Mommy Dearest, read more.

Scratching My Head Over What To Do,

I think it is completely appropriate to ask your sister-in-law to sit this playdate out as long as you do so in a polite manner. Simply call and explain that as the host, you'd prefer they stay home since lice can be easily transmitted between small children. If she doesn't understand, explain that it's similar to if her child had something contagious like the flu. She wouldn't bring her tot around all the other cousins if she was sick so this situation should be handled the same way.

- Mommy Dearest

Submit a question for this feature at the Mommy Dearest Group on TeamSugar.

Source

Allow Your Kid to Go on Playdate If You Don't Know the Parent?

LilSugar — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 13:00:00 -0800

These days mamas are known for being overprotective, which made way for the term, "helicopter mom" but when it comes to your children playing at their friends' houses, do you allow your youngsters to go over if you don't know the parents?

Source

Lil Find: Playdate NYC Birthday Shirts

LilSugar — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 05:00:00 -0800

New Year's Day gets mamas thinking about upcoming events and that inevitably includes their children's birthdays. Lots of moms spend a good deal of time searching for the perfect outfit for their tots to wear on their special days. These adorable, handmade number shirts from Playdate NYC may make them the easy answer to this year's attire dilemma. Founded by two working moms who met during a playdate in NYC's Central Park, the company hand-sews felt numbers and designs onto various cotton-shirt options like three-quarter-sleeve jerseys, long-sleeve thermals or short-sleeve tees, offering enough customization options to allow you to create the number shirt of your darling's dreams.

Delilicious: Sugar Cookie Cut-Outs

LilSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:00:37 -0800

Lisa Barnes, author of Petit Appetit: Eat, Drink, and Be Merry, shares with LilSugar a classic sugar cookie recipe that works for all seasons - though it's especially great for a holiday party, cookie swap or playdate activity. Kids can help dump the measured ingredients into the mixing bowl and turn on and off the electric mixer to help make the dough. Of course the fun really begins with the cookie cutting and icing decorating.

To see how to make this tasty and classic holiday treat with your tots, just read more.

Sugar Cookie Cut-Outs
From Petit Appetit: Eat, Drink and Be Merry

Ingredients

2/3 cup organic unsalted butter, at room temperature
¾ cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
1 large cage-free organic egg
1 tablespoon organic milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

Directions
In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar, baking powder, and salt and beat until combined. Beat in egg, milk, and vanilla until combined. Beat in the flour, ¼ cup at a time, until all is incorporated.

Cover and chill dough for at least 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

On a lightly floured surface, and using a floured rolling pin, roll dough out to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes. Place 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets.

Bake for 7 to 9 minutes, until edges are firm and bottoms are very lightly browned. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Once completely cool these can be frosted with your child’s favorite royal or powdered sugar icing. For easy, frosting set out small spreaders and squeeze bottles so frosting ends up on the cookies and not your child, floor, and table. Add sprinkles to wet frosting for even more fun (and mess).

*Makes about 35 (2½-inch) cookies

Print recipe with images | without images

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Are We Generation Mom?

LilSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:30:04 -0800

Are moms being spotlit more than before? Or are Gen X and Gen Y-ers, using their "with child status" to form Generation Mom?

Unlike most previous generations, many women spend a significant amount of time building their careers before venturing into the world of motherhood. They also to utilize their work skills in the home. Moms have written countless books about parenting styles and have invented new products designed to make their lives easier. In some circles, playdates have evolved into networking groups for like-minded ladies.

Have Gen X and Yers become Gen Mom-ers?

Don't forget to join our The Mommy Club over in our LilSugar Community to chat up the mom talk! Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.

Lil Links: Katie and Suri Make a Run For It!

babysugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:30:28 -0700

Katie Holmes and Suri take babydoll for a run - Celebrity Baby Blog
Down Syndrome awareness month - CafeMom
Daughter reports mom to police for her pot plants - ParentDish
Angelina says she wants more kids - Celebrity Baby Scoop
Skype is the new playdate - MomLogic
Pamela Anderson violates child labor laws as 9-year-old holds dress on the red carpet - The Laughing Stork
Kid and gun play: good or bad? - Momversation