LilSugar

Has Parenthood Brought You Closer Together?

babysugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:30:00 -0800

Magical as they are, the first few weeks of parenting are no cake walk. They are wonderful and full of life changing moments but the shift from couplehood to parent life is drastic and a never-ending learning process. For many moms and dads, the addition of a new family member takes a toll on the romance, making it tough to maintain the closeness in the relationship. Others are finding quite the opposite effect. And by others, I mean married parents. According to a new study, children boost happiness for married parents. Unmarried parents? They don't fare as well. The research found:

Single, separated, and cohabiting people, by contrast, report negative experiences.

Evidence suggests that couples who are married are "ready" to have children where those who are not, may not have been prepared for the lifestyle change. Are you and your partner happier since becoming parents? And, are you married?

Can Having a Baby Save a Relationship?

babysugar — Sat, 30 May 2009 06:00:00 -0700

First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby in the baby carriage. But what happens when the hula dance is over and times get rough, is it time for a child or another baby? Some couples reason that an addition will bring them closer and tighten existing bonds. What many people forget is how hard committed life can be without kids. Add a crying babe (or two) to the mix and those troubled waters can get harrowing. What's your take?
Source

A Quote That Would Make Any Mother Melt

LilSugar — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 08:00:41 -0700

Sometimes the power of words make us weak in the knees. For every mom who has looked in the mirror dumbfounded by her postpartum body, there's the father of her children who is equally awed.

In a W interview that accompanied, Angelina Jolie's breastfeeding cover shot, the stunning mother of six talked about her relationship with partner and photographer, Brad Pitt. She said:

"I'm with a man who's evolved enough to look at my body and see it as more beautiful, because of the journey it has taken and what it has created," she says. "He genuinely sees it that way. So I genuinely feel even sexier."

Does your partner make you feel more amazing since you bore his children?
INF

Family Ties: Letting Kids Figure It Out

LilSugar — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 09:00:10 -0700

My kids get along fabulously most of the time. They are at ages where they enjoy each other's company whether they are on outings or playing around the house. They delight in the bizarre games they create feeding off one another's ideas, sharing belly laughs and cracking each other up. Every so often I catch my son looking at his big sis in awe because she colors in the lines or can reach things that he can't. And in that vein she cheers him on and tells him he couldn't be any cuter. Those are the good moments. To see what else they experience, read more.

Then there are the lil battles waged when they both want the same stuffed animal or to watch different movies - when kicking, grabbing and screeching ensues. While sibling squabbles are to be expected, I've noticed that when I am out of the room and late to referee, they figure it out. She's got a couple inches and pounds on him, but physically, they are an even match. When push comes to shove, I intervene, but since it's hard to know exactly what happened, they often take a different route. All on their own, they settle the storm. Sometimes she gives in or wraps him up in a hug. At times, he gets distracted or extends a peace offering. Either way, through these tug of wars, their relationship has turned into more than that of siblings, but friends.

Ladies' Home Journal: The New Nicole Kidman Is a Woman's Woman

babysugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:00:28 -0800

Oscar and Golden Globe-winning actress, producer, and vocalist are just a few things Nicole Kidman can rattle off from her long list of accomplishments. But the role the gorgeous red head relishes most is being a mother and wife in her new hometown of Nashville. As country crooner Keith Urban's partner, she is happy to sit back for a bit and let the spotlight shine brightly on him while she spends the majority of her time raising their young daughter, Sunday. The 42-year-old mother recently took time to sit down with Ladies' Home Journal where she talked about her content lifestyle and her desire to give back to the community.

On living in Nashville:

I love living here. . . . It's a long way from New York and Los Angeles, but that's part of the attraction. I feel protected here, especially now that I have the baby. . . . There are certain limitations to my career because I'm based here. And that's cool. Keith has enormous ambitions, which I support. His tours and albums are much bigger than what I'm doing right now.

On how she cherishes her new life:

I was running from my life, in a way. . . . My imaginary life was better than my flesh-and-blood life. That's a sad thing to say, but it was. Now I love my real life so much it requires an enormous belief in a film to want to take it on. . . . I think that we're in the world to connect. Because that's what you're left with. You're not left with your houses or awards or money, you're left with the people that you built relationships with.

On UNIFEM, a charity she has worked with for years:

It's so they'll [battered women] have a place to call. A lot of women are so terrified; they'll go to the police or court and don't win. We can set up shelters and raise money. . . . I'm constantly trying to find new ways to give back. . . . Women are nurturers. There's so much we can do with the power of our feelings, the power of our sensitivity.

To see what the leggy lady has to say about being a strong woman, her past divorce, and her marriage to the hunky, honky-tonk star, just read more.

On how she was raised to be a strong woman:

She wanted us to have a sense of our place in the world. . . . She didn't want us to be shaped by our relationship with boys. She wanted us to focus on our intellect instead.

On how she and her sister Antonia made it through their divorces:

A lot of it was literally holding each other and listening. . . . Our motto is, "Just get in there. Don't retreat. Stay in it."

On her marriage to Keith Urban:

Keith and I have a very honest, profound marriage, which we both contribute to every day. . . . We have a phrase, "Does this contribute to the good of our union?" Because that's what's most important. I love being in love. I believe in the power of love, the way it can heal. The more you keep choosing it - because there are times when you can choose to be angry at the person or to love him - the more it nourishes a family.

Mom-Me Time: Pick Up a Copy of The Help

babysugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:30:49 -0800

If mama's got a few minutes to herself and is looking for something that will take her mind to another world, she needs not look further than this gold and purple hardback book. The Help ($12) is a quick read that will steal her attention and her affection and leave her wanting more. Kathryn Stockett's first novel, the book about the relationships between mothers and the women that help them (nannies in particular) will have mommy laughing out loud, tearing up in the eyes, dog-earring pages with special passages and thinking about how she relates to some of the closest people in her life.

Just pages into the lengthy text and I was hooked. Unlike any book I've read in recent times, the characters in these pages immediately come to life and fully color the imagination. You can picture their hair, dream up their clothes and hear their voices like they're sitting on the bus right next to you. While they may be fictional muses, I wish I could meet them, thank them, reprimand them and have a tall glass of sweetened iced tea with them. Though the book is set back in the early '60s, some of the conversations and lessons are timeless. For the rest of my review, read more.

Centered around the lives of three caretakers, the hired "help" who tend to high society's children may occasionally be called "mama" as they often forge a closer bond with the child than his own mother. And while some women may have their best friends to rely on, the housekeeper frequently knows and cares more than her "best" friends -the phrase "dirty laundry" having a double meaning when it comes to life behind closed doors. In the end, it is a story about women taking extraordinary measures to right some wrongs, even if it means risking it all. Of all the lessons to be learned from this rich novel, the golden rule speaks loudest - "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Maybe that's why she wrapped it in a glowing cover.

Before this goes to the theaters, which it surely will, buy it, read it and gift it to everyone you know. It will not disappoint.

Share your favorite books, products, toys and trends with other parents. Join our Product Reviews group over in the LilSugar community!

The Gifted Child: Hip Holiday Gift List For Grandparents

LilSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:00:52 -0800

Ask most grandparents what they want this holiday season and they'll tell you time spent with the next generation. Ask any kid what they want from grandma and grandpa and expect the world. Each family's relationship with grandparents takes on its own form, but mas and pas are known to spoil their little darlings at birthdays, during the holidays and any given day of the week. Take control of the gift giving this holiday season by setting some ground rules and giving them a short list of items your wee ones would love and need. Classic toys like the Radio Flyer Little Red Wagon ($19) allow grandparents to celebrate vintage toys of the past - just don't say "vintage"! - and will be loved for years to come. Here are some other hip holiday suggestions to share.

For a full widget of adorable gifts any child would be lucky to receive from grandma and grandpa, as well as a guide to making a wish list you can share with family and friends, read more.

Want to make a holiday wish list for your tots and share it with the family? Log in to ShopStyle, hover over items and click "wish list." You will create a wish list just like mine that you can share with family and friends.

Lil Links: Try These Tasty Recipes For a Spooky Spectacle

babysugar — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:30:16 -0700

18 spooktacular recipes - Parenting
Jenna Elfman drags out her non-maternity gear in a mini - Celebrity Baby Blog
Registry must haves for moms-to-be - Fit Pregnancy
Oye! She's still using a sippy cup in grade school - CafeMom
Holly Robinson-Peete wishes the Travoltas spoke out earlier about autism - ParentDish
Salma Hayek says the pregnancy glow is a lie - Celebrity Baby Scoop
The baby manicure tragedy - The Laughing Stork
Help find these recently missing children - Mom Logic
Do you write down what your kids say? - The Poop
Mother-daughter relationships - Real Simple

Motherhood Isn't Always Instinctual, Sometimes It's Learned

babysugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 07:00:30 -0700

Sadly not every child can claim that their mother loved them unconditionally and with every ounce of their being. Many women will gush about that immediate affection and connection when they hold their babe in their arms for the first time while others know that it comes with time. Still some moms have to learn how to love their children, as it is not instinctual for everybody.

Author Peg Streep spoke with Robin Roberts about her lack of motherly love during her own childhood and how she has overcome it to be a better parent to her own child. In her book, Mean Mothers, Peg shares stories of other women who struggle with the mother-daughter relationships. While it is the darker side of motherhood, some may appreciate the voice on the taboo topic. Do you know someone who could benefit from a lesson on the subject?

Do you have a treasure trove of parenting tales? Join our The Mommy Club over in our LilSugar Community and share your tips! Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.

Should Parents Shield Their Children From Their Dating Life?

babysugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:00:07 -0700

Jumping into the dating game after a decade long hiatus may be more terrifying than dipping toes into a pool of starved piranhas. Aging and gravity can take a toll on a woman's body but that's not the toughest part for a widow or a divorcee to handle. Instead, much of the fear rests in a mother's heart of how to introduce a potential boyfriend to her children. Many moms wait for the relationship to get serious before greetings are exchanged and others can hardly wait for the ink to dry on the legal documents before declaring themselves single and available. In Cougar Town's debut, Courteney Cox's character berated her neighbor for swiftly entering the dating pool but it was she who embarrassed herself when her son walked in on her pleasuring her new boy toy.

What's your take on the mommy dating game? Tell us in The Mommy Club over in our LilSugar community! Photo courtesy of ABC

Wooden Animal Puzzles - $39.00	PlanToys Modern Doll Family - $20.00
Blue and Brown Dinosaur Pull Toy - $25.00	Prince Lionheart® Cow Wheely Bug® - Large - $85.00
Dieter the Monkey Wheelie Bag - $98.00	Percival the Dino Wheelie Bag - $98.00
Prince Lionheart® Ladybug Wheely Bug® - Small - $75.00	Walk Roll Pull Toy - $49.00
Sterling Silver Bunny Pacifier Clip - $36.00	Augusta Dollhouse - $79.00
Radio Flyer Classic Wood Rocking Horse - $119.99