LilSugar

What's Your Take on Gwyneth Paltrow's Decision to Space?

LilSugar — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 13:00:04 -0800

In a recent interview with Britain's Daily Mail Weekend Magazine, Oscar winning mom, Gwyneth Paltrow, 35 spoke candidly about future additions to her and her hubbie, Chris Martin's clan.
A People story reported:

"Paltrow – mother to daughter Apple, 3, and son Moses, 1 – also admitted she's thinking of expanding her family. In four years, she dreams of having "two-in-a-row, really quick again," while Martin would like to adopt."

Source

Tell Mommy: Things You Don't Even Admit to Friends Edition

LilSugar — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 06:00:58 -0800

Nobody said it was easy. And it's not. Motherhood is life changing, amazing, tear-jerking and terrifying. Each day is different and each parent comes up with her own means for getting though it. One thing is for certain: Things can get hairy quickly. Our Tell Mommy feature explores where you stand on wacky, carefully planned or downright mystifying mommy moments. Check out the stories below and vent, mama!

Have You Done Something Wrong in the Name of Motherhood? - Moms can be a protective bunch - sticking up for their child when they are wronged or going to bat for their hubby when someone shoots him down. It's not always pretty.
Do You Judge Other Mothers? - Some would say it is human nature to judge others. If that's the case, it is certainly true when it comes to parenting styles. In motherhood, the narrowed eyes and hushed whispers can get a little out of control.
Has Your Child Ever Had a Close Call? - Most every mother has had a close call that makes her heart jump to her throat: losing a lil one at the mall, jumping in after a sinking child in the pool, or dislodging a hot dog from a toddler's throat.
What Is Your Guilty Pleasure? - Every mom's got one. We may not sneak into a closet to eat the Twinkies stashed in a hidden shoe box but everybody is guilty of an indulgence every now and then.

Overwhelmed by a crying baby, fighting tots, overbearing in-laws and competitive parents? Join our A Place to Vent group over in our LilSugar Community and share your stress with fellow moms who understand your plight.

Do You Plan to Take a Child-Free Vacation This Winter?

LilSugar — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 07:00:00 -0800

With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season about to become history, I'm already looking forward to 2009. Several moms I know said that the hectic holiday season has pushed them over the edge. Despite the economy, they are planning child-free getaways in the next month even if it's just one night at a local hotel.

Are you planning to take a break?

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Tell Mommy: What Do Moms Do That Dads Don't Do?

LilSugar — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 06:00:54 -0700

In Motherhood, which comes out today, Uma Thurman plays Eliza, a Manhattan stay-at-home mom of two who is planning her daughter's sixth birthday party while trying to finish a parenting magazine contest entry on the topic "What does motherhood mean to you?" Small potatoes, right? The film takes place in one day, examining Eliza's cluttered life - the early morning rush of getting the kids ready, the dog, the apartments (she and her husband have set up shop in a bohemian one bedroom and studio), inability to do it all despite the pressure to be perfect, and quest to make it all mean something.

The film, which BuzzSugar has a review of, was ripe with "been there" mommy moments, but it was a bittersweet quote from Eliza's daughter that brought a single sappy tear and smile to my face.

"Moms do everything, dads only do some things. It's different."

We all have our fair share of mom FAIL moments, and it takes effort to remain content with our choices and sacrifices, but sometimes it's the unintentional, unbiased recognition from a child that reminds us how wonderful motherhood is and how appreciated we are as mothers whether our children know how to verbalize it or not. So be honest and pat yourself on the back here: Is there something you do - or provide - as a mother that their father doesn't do?

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The Gifted Child: Three-Year-Olds

LilSugar — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:00:45 -0800

Three-year-olds tend to be a bit fickle as they express their independence. One moment they are telling you they can do it all by themselves, then the next they insist on holding your hand. When shopping for a gift for a preschooler, look for items that showcase their new found abilities.

Among our favorite selections for this age group:

The ballerina in your life will be begging to put on a recital with the Acting Out Dress Up Musical Skirts that either play music from the Nutcracker or Swan Lake with the flip of a switch.
The little John Bonham or Tommy Lee in your family will love the Plan Toy Musical Band drum set. Featuring drums and cymbals, this environmentally-friendly set, is not too loud and is made from replenishable wood.
One of the coolest new toys on the market, Automoblox, are more than just wooden vehicles. Each car can be taken apart and reassembled, and, once additional cars are purchased, the interchangeable parts can be used to create new, unique, creations.
Sprig Toys use kid-power, rather than batteries, to move their environmentally-friendly, paint-free vehicles. Unlike other vehicles on the market, the trucks and all terrain vehicles in the line use kinetic energy to move, make sounds and light up.
Get your tot up and moving with Animal Scramble a new game of hide and seek that encourages listening and following instructions.
What preschooler doesn't like ice cream? With the Melissa and Doug Ice Cream Set your lil one can dream up the quadruple scoop cones while practicing her colors and numbers.

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The Gifted Child: Flower Girls and Ring Bearers

babysugar — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0700

At the wedding I attended last weekend, the flower girls were rewarded for their hard work and petal spreading duties.

While adults sat around and sipped champagne, the lil girls delighted in the new found goodies that the bride had placed at their table.

To see what the wedded couple gifted them, read more.

Perfect for wee members of the wedding party, the bride and groom gifted monogrammed totes of goodies. The parents entertained the kids most of the night, but the coloring books, crayons, paddle balls, flip flops and disposable cameras put smiles on their lil faces during the dinner hours. Even the youngest gal ran around snapping pictures of the festivities.

To see all of our wedding season coverage, check out IDoSugar.

Crayola Markers ($3)	Paddle Ball Game ($3)
Scribbles by Taro Gomi ($14)	L.L.Bean Maine Flip Flop ($17)

You Know You're a Mother When: Sitting One Out

babysugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:30:05 -0700

As a mom, I have learned that one can expect the unexpected at any time. This past Saturday started out with high hopes and promises. To get our day started, I took my tots to a jumpy house birthday soiree that was blessed with clear blue skies and red velvet cupcakes. After some time, we packed up and headed back home for naps, the Blue Angels air show and a pumpkin carving party. My kiddos, however, had something else in mind. To see what happened, read more.

Just minutes shy of getting home, my eldest child got carsick and threw up all over herself and her car seat. I quickly handed her the burpcloth from my diaper bag, rolled all the windows down, and got home as quick as possible. Instead of naps, it was baths. Mama's downtime was spent spraying down the clothes and car seat in the bone chilling cold and tossing laundry all afternoon. As my pants got drenched and I canceled the rest of our plans, I couldn't help but think of all the years past where I had spent the same October day on roof decks watching planes buzz by with a beer in hand. The silver lining to the putrid predicament was that my lass was back to her old self and we made it home safely from the party. Sadly, it will be too soon if I ever see another red velvet anything.

Will Your Tot Be Attending a Swine Flu Party?

LilSugar — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 06:00:48 -0700

Is swine flu the gift that keeps on giving? While at the park the other day, I overheard a few moms chatting about the recent announcement that the FDA approved the swine flu vaccine. The mamas were debating whether or not they were going to be vaccinating their children and one woman shocked me with an unusual way that she was planning on keeping her lil one protected.

To find out her idea, just read more.

She proudly announced that she wants her child to get the swine flu and that she would take him to an H1N1 party if she could find one. I heard of such parties back when the swine flu hit mainstream media, but I didn't think anyone would actually consider attending one. And in case you missed it, an H1N1 party is where folks seek out the milder version of the H1N1 virus by coming into contact with someone who has the 2009 version of the flu. People are fearing the potentially mutated and more deadly strain of the virus.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends against attending or holding such parties as it's impossible to tell how the flu will affect each person, especially children. Furthermore, if someone has the virus they are urged to limit contact with other people.

I'm going to stick to teaching my tots about good hygiene and handwashing, but what do you think? Are H1N1 parties a good idea?

Did Your View on Spanking Change Once You Became a Mom?

babysugar — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 07:30:35 -0700

Spanking is so passé... or at least that's what the experts will have you believe. Contrary to mom's lil saying, it turns out that a little paddling may hurt the kid more than it hurts the mom. A Duke study claims hitting a child will do more harm than good and applauds new philosophies of parenting where the focus is on positive reinforcement and offering options. While that all sounds warm and fuzzy, I was adamant that I would use spanking as a method of punishment in our home... before I became a mother.

The hand was no stranger to my bum though it was only used on rare occasions. When it came time for me to teach my daughter right from wrong, I popped her tush a couple of times and found it completely ineffective. She actually enjoyed the quick tap and giggled her way to more mischief. Eager to try a new plan, I gave her a time out in a not so fun part of the house - the dark guest room. In 60 seconds, I discovered that the new system was more compelling than making physical contact. At this point, I'll admit I am a reformed punisher but one should never say never. What works for my lass may not work for my son and I may be back to square one in the spanking debate.

Do you have any mommy secrets you want to share with fellow moms? Join our Mommy Club group over in our LilSugar community!

Ease Back-to-School Jitters With a Few Easy Steps

LilSugar — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 04:00:52 -0700

First day jitters are nothing new. As adults we experience them when we start a new job, move to a new city or go on a first date. For children who don't know any better, nerves can be scary.

Whether they are going to school for the very first time, attending a new school or even veterans of the back-to-school process, your lil one may be bottling up some trepidation for their first day. Before heading off to class, be sure to spend some time addressing their fears and seeking out the ones that they are too shy to discuss aloud. Take a look at our tips for reassuring your child.

Plan a visit. If your child's school offers it, see if her teacher can drop in for a visit and introduce herself to your tot. In doing so, your child will make a connection between the person who visited their home and the person in their classroom.
Go on a field trip. If the teacher can't visit your home, visit the teacher at the school. Show your child where his classroom will be, who his teacher is and where he can find the bathroom. One kiddo concern is the possibility of having an accident in school. By mapping out their route to the potty, you will alleviate that stress.
Schedule some dates. If your child is new to the school experience, or attending a new school, peruse the class list and arrange a few playdates prior to the first day. This way, when she enters her classroom, she will recognize some faces.
Set your clocks. The lazy days of Summer may have your lil one (and you) used to sleeping in and lounging around. Ease the shock of an early morning alarm by gradually pushing the clock back in the days leading up to the first day.

For more tips for easing back-to-school jitters, read more.

Talk it out. Discussing what school will be like and what the teachers expect will help quell fears. Talk about the fun things your child can expect like snacks, music and a water/sand table.
Read up. There are plenty of books about going to school, like First Day Jitters that may help your child relate to others that are experiencing some nervousness.
Plan a special meal. Let your lil one help plan a special celebratory meal they can look forward to once they have completed their first day – be it lunch at their favorite place after pick-up or their favorite dinner with the family at home.