LilSugar

Does It Offend You When Strangers Offer Help?

LilSugar — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 07:00:01 PST

Life is full of surprises when you have kids. One tot might throw a tantrum in Target and another may meltdown mid-meal at a restaurant or dart out into traffic when you are walking down the street. It happens, and moms deal, but how they resolve the circumstance makes a difference. Motherhood is a sorority of sorts, and many women with children offer to lend a hand when they see one of their sisters struggling in a situation that is all too familiar. How do you respond if or when other people ask if you'd like assistance?

Moses Martin Is Gwyneth Paltrow's Lil Critic

LilSugar — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 09:00:31 PDT

If your tot has ever thrown a fit as you've headed out the door, Gwyneth Paltrow can relate. The Oscar winning mama to two, Apple, 4, and Moses, 2, had a harried experience with her lil man prior to the premiere of Valentino: The Last Emperor. The glamorous actress chatted about the incident. A People report said:

“It was hectic getting ready. We just flew in yesterday for this. And my kids are really jetlagged. And my son had a meltdown. But we got out the door,” although not without a struggle. “He was very upset by these hair clips they put in to keep your hair back when you’re getting your makeup done,” she explained. “He hated them. He was livid. But I’m here. I made it.” So did Moses have an opinion about the dress? “He did not like it,” said Paltrow. “He’s very specific. My daughter really liked it. She also chose my nail polish color.”

It seems like Moses, who will be three in a couple of weeks, already has definite opinions on things.

Source

Family Ties: Airport Meltdown

LilSugar — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:45:53 PDT

You hear about kids that have meltdowns on planes and in airports and you feel for the parents, not ever really believing it will be you. And, then it is. My daughter is a trooper and a traveler, my son is a different story. After three trips without incident, we never could have anticipated what happened to us.

My charming darling who points out every airplane he sees in the sky pitched the mother of all fits as our family was about to go through airport security. At 20 months, he unleashed a guttural howl that could peel paint off walls and make a person's eyes bleed. With one hand on my umbrella stroller and the other wrapped around my flailing child, I flew across the airport looking for an elevator to take him outside where I figured he would fall asleep. But in fumbling for an exit, an airport employee approached my son and ordered him to be quiet. Giving us both the evil eye, she told me he was terrorizing travelers and that I was a lousy mother. A kind woman in her sixties came up behind her asking if I needed any help just as the elevator doors shut and my out-of-sorts son and I descended. A few moments later, she tracked us down, told me the airport staffer had been out of line and noticing my dwindling milk supply, offered to go buy my son a refill. The woman, a grandma, who had just dropped her granddaughter off for a flight, returned with milk, a muffin, and encouraging words for my son. In the process, he calmed down.

Not knowing if we'd missed our flight, she checked its boarding status. We went back upstairs as I braced myself and she told me we could stay with her if we were unable to fly. I gave her a huge hug and expressed my gratitude before filing in line behind a hundred people to go back through security. To hear what happened,

read more. We met my husband and daughter just in time to board the plane, and then we sat on the runway for thirty minutes, before being told that everyone was being deplaned as a storm had come in and there were dozens of planes stuck on the runway. After exiting, my husband and I discussed the possibility of driving home for thirteen hours through the storm as we didn't know how long our son would last at the airport. We stocked up on beverages and snacks and while he took my daughter and proceeded to the gate, I strolled my son down the people movers determined to put him to sleep. It worked and we re-boarded, only to sit on the runway for another 45 minutes. At the time we should have been back home unpacking, we finally took off. And, with an hour left of the flight our lil guy woke up. I spent the next sixty minutes reading books like I have never read before - acting out the characters and flipping the pages back and forth to hold his interest. All the fluids caught up with him and I felt a bit of a leak on my leg, but stayed seated knowing that if I got up, it would be over. I have never been more exuberant or exhausted than when the plane touched down at SFO. As we taxied, having not made a peep during the flight, my wild child waved to the other landing planes. As we exited he high fived the pilot. Though we won't be flying again until next Summer, in addition to giving me a few gray hairs and wrinkles, the experience strengthened the bond between my son and me. As a mother, the piercing stares, shaking heads, and opinions of a stranger don't matter because the only person you are focused on and committed to is your child. Source

Baby Wellness: Tantrums

LilSugar — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 13:00:12 PST

Most children pitch fits every once in a while, but how can new parents tell when the upset is more than just a tantrum?

While little research has been done on tantrums, Washington University recently conducted a study of children aged 3-to-6 years old that found five red flags that may prove a child's fit is indicative of a psychiatric disorder. A WebMD article said:

"Essentially, we found five tantrum styles. They were strongly associated with specific diagnoses," Belden says. "No one I have met can look at a tantrum and give a diagnosis, but these are definitely red flags worth looking into in terms of getting a mental health referral from a pediatrician."

While many children exhibit some of the following warning signs, the constant occurrence of these indicators is what proves worrisome.

Aggression toward caregivers and objects.
Injuring themselves.
Frequency - 10 to 20 tantrums a month or five a day on multiple days.
Tantrums that last more than 25 minutes.
Not able to calm down after fit.

Source

Wah! Wah! Wah! Temper Tantrums Deconstructed

Natasha Dantzig — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:07:00 PST

Head banging. Feet stomping. Screams at maximum volume and intensity. Any parent knows these are some of the telltale signs of a dreaded temper tantrum. While many parents have resigned themselves to dealing with this unpleasant, but perfectly normal part of toddlerhood, scientists studying the meltdowns may have found ways to empower parents to help their children through the episodes, rather than just praying for them to be over.

Published in the journal Emotion, the study found that tantrums aren't simply out of control, emotional meltdowns, but rather have specific rhythms and sounds that represent distinguishable feelings. Take the following quiz to see how your tantrum knowledge stacks up against the new research, and if there are better ways to cope with the dramatic fits.

Take the Quiz

A Whole Lotta Lil in This Week's Links

Rebecca M Gruber — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 04:21:54 PST

We're loving Jessica Simpson's maternity style!
Get ready to spend plenty of time in the theater with the release of great kiddie flicks in 2012.
Tight quarters in the nursery? These space-saving nursery options can help!
Don't have time to shop for maternity clothes? These online maternity shops sell the hottest styles!
Here's what we're craving this month!
Celebrate the baby-to-be with these beautiful baby shower invitations.
Decipher your tot's next meltdown with new insight into temper tantrums.
Do dads need a dudela to help them through the childbirth process?
What ever happened to the genderless baby?
Expecting? These movies about pregnancy are packed with belly laughs!

Real Mom Gift Guide: All Debra Messing Wants For the Holidays Is . . .

Rebecca M Gruber — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 08:31:18 PST

Window shopping has never been so charitable! If you happen to be doing some holiday shopping in New York City or San Francisco, take a look at the store windows you pass - some may be filled with a high-tech way for mama to do some charitable giving without ever opening her wallet. Ebay just unveiled Give-a-Toy Store interactive storefronts that allow shoppers to use their smartphones to scan QR-coded price tags to make an immediate donation to Toys For Tots.

Debra Messing, mom of 7-year-old Roman, and the upcoming star of Smash was on hand to kick off the new endeavor and spoke with me about her favorite holiday traditions.

LilSugar: With the holiday season upon us, how did you come to work with eBay on this project?
Debra Messing: The holiday season is a time when people are more inclined to give, and I just thought that eBay's initiative was so brilliant. They have this window with virtual gift tags with toys, and there are different donation amounts - there's $5, $10, $20 - you just scan your [smartphone] over the window, you're on the sidewalk, and instantly you're donating to Toys For Tots and 100 percent of the money goes to Toys For Tots. Being able to make things really quick and easy and meaningful is important.

LS: What family holiday traditions are you most looking forward to this year?
DM: We just moved back to New York, but have always had family here. We love to go skating at Wolman rink, and go see plays - musicals specifically. Waiting for the snow to come. Looking forward to putting on the snowsuit and stomping through Central Park.

LS: So much of the holiday focus is on kids. What's on your wish list this year?
DM: For me, there is no better present than a massage. Flowers are beautiful, but they die. Champagne is fun, but it's gone - very quickly. As a mom we're on 24/7, and if we're working moms, which most of us are, we're exhausted, and sleep deprived, and we don't take care of ourselves. We feel guilty if we take too much time for ourselves. It feels like an extravagance, but it really is a necessity for moms to take an hour to shut down, rejuvenate, and have someone to rub out the kinks from carrying the baby on your hip too much or whatever you're doing. My son's now at a place where he likes to jump on my body to wake me up at 6 in the morning, so I've literally got bruises all over my body.

Keep reading to see how Debra Messing our famous Four Lil Questions about motherhood!

Lil Gift Guide: Great Gifts For 2-Year-Olds!

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 08:32:01 PST

Terrible twos? Sure they exist, but they're not as bad as everyone would have you believe. Plus, when they look at you with those adorable eyes, mama's sure to give in! One way to combat the tantrums is to have a steady supply of activities on hand. Here are some that should do the trick!

A classic like Mr. Potato Head has been keeping lil hands and minds busy for decades. The Mr. Potato Head Silly Suitcase ($16) is packed with so many combinations that tots will be creating funny faces for years to come. HABA's Rainbow Whirls Pegging Game ($32) is a fun take on the classic stacking rings. A combination puzzle and ring game, tots can pile up the rings by color or any reason they see fit. Lego's are another classic that continues to entertain a new generation. The company's Duplo line brings toddlers in on the action and their new sets range from movie-influenced themes - like Cars Flo's Café ($55) to more familiar sites like the farm or the grocery story. It's never too early to get kids active and Fisher Price's Grow With Me Inline Skates ($24) to do just that! Finally, for lil ones who want to mimic mom and dad in the kitchen, this wooden play kitchen ($200/piece) will help them whip up some imaginary food for upcoming tea parties!

How to Speak Up During a Beauty Treatment

Allure — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:39:00 PDT

We're excited to present this story from our friends at Allure:

Last week, I found myself in an uncomfortable situation while getting eyelash extensions. It wasn't the pads and glue stuck to my face, sealing my eyes shut; it was the complimentary leg rub that almost had me squirming off the table.

For someone with extremely ticklish knees, the rubdown was more grueling than soothing. Having endured a few unpleasant beauty treatments in my time at Allure, I always try to remember beauty news editor Heather Muir's advice: "If you're uncomfortable, speak up!" But sometimes on that massage table it's a little hard to express your discomfort without feeling rude or awkward. We asked experts from Bliss and Red Door Spa how to avoid suffering in silence. To see their advice, just keep reading.

OnSugar Blog: Dinosaur Toast

OnSugar Blog — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 00:15:27 PDT

Lots of moms like to think out loud, and Hazelnutt is one of them. Here is the latest post to her Hazelnutt House blog.

Before I had a kid, I always wondered why mothers and grandmothers or whoever cooks for little ones for that matter are always cracking their brains on what/how to feed a child. Now that I am a mother, I realize that on good days, a child eats whatever is served . . . on a not-so-good day (which happens pretty often), they reject even their most-favorite food. Very often, a well thought of menu goes unappreciated and eventually gets flung onto the floor by the grubby-lil-hands of a tantrum-peaking toddler.

My Tod seems to like her bread served this way for now.

Here's what I do . . .
Step 1: Cut slices of bread using fun shape-cutters. Daiso has some or you can get huge cookie cutters.

Step 2 (above): Cut slices of cheese using the same cutters.

To see the rest of Hazelnutt's instructions, click here and start following Hazelnutt House. Or start your own OnSugar blog. It's easy, it's free, and we just might feature your content on our site!