It was my child’s four-month checkup. She was thriving; ahead on all her milestones. Smiling, rolling, babbling, and snuggling were her favorite pastimes. We were happily growing and learning together; her as a little human, and me as a new mama. My husband and I had chosen her first pediatrician wisely enough. He was the […]

Sometime before Valentine’s Day every year, people start thinking about how to show their loved ones how they feel. Of course, we try to do it all year ‘round (and some boycott the holiday entirely for that reason)—but the world around us seems to primarily focus on February 14. I’d like to propose a happy […]

If "play is the work of childhood" (a quote by child psychologist Jean Piaget), then playful parenting is the best way we can work with our children. It's the absolute key to cooperation. Children play "rain or shine"---it helps them decrease stress, learn new things, and figure out the world (source). Parents do well to […]

For some stay-at-home moms (SAHMs), the decision to stay home with a child has always been clear. They've vividly imagined themselves with their children, available to care for them full-time. For many SAHMs, however, weighing the decision whether to stay at home---potentially leaving career or educational endeavors---is very tricky. Many factors play into this life-altering […]

We've all known people who've made goals at the beginning of a new year, but what about New Year's resolutions for parenting, specifically? Should we be making them? If so, what might they look like? First, some science. Do New Year's Resolutions even work according to doctors who've studied people's habits? According to this video, […]

We've heard that presents aren't always necessary or beneficial for development. And let's be real---gifts also aren't financially feasible for some families. We've also heard that experience gifts for kids are better than many traditional ones that come in a box, but what are experience gifts, anyway? As conscious parents, we want to do better […]

Elf on the Shelf is a common way for parents to encourage kids to "be good" before Christmas. The threat is that if kids are "naughty" according to the Elf, there's a risk that presents might not come at Christmastime. However, as many parents strive for more positive approaches to parenting, they're questioning whether there's […]

Growing up, I always wanted a white Christmas--there was just something magical about waking up to a blanket of snow on that special day. It was the perfect day to stay inside with all the physical and emotional warmth Christmas offered before diving into the snow and playing outside. I still hope for a white […]

"...and the stockings were hung by the chimney with care." Still, it's sometimes tempting to consider the stocking stuffers for kids a formality before moving to the "good stuff" under the tree. Truth be told, and writing as a Mom who shops for the aforementioned stocking stuffers for kids, they're sometimes an afterthought even for […]

Halloween may be over, but chocolate lives on forever. That is, unless it's in my house, in which case it has a very short lifespan. Let's face it, though. Candy is fun. Much of the Halloween hype centers around it, although in reality, most of the fun is about the novelty of the holiday. Kids […]