They Say Parenting

10 Reasons Why Parents and Zookeepers Are Alike

(Posted on Thursday, March 7, 2019) 16 Comments

I’m pretty sure being a parent gives us the credentials to be a zoo keeper. Here are 10 reasons why parents and zookeepers are alike.

1. I can clean up poop like it’s my job.

Baby poop, toddler poop, poop where it shouldn’t be, identifying if something is in fact poop—we can do it all.

2. Taming wild animals—check!

Wrangling animals— another check! Sometimes having a baby with reflux is like wrangling an alligator… the kicks, the twists, the arching.

And then there are toddler tantrums… Need I say more?

3. Physical strength and endurance from chasing and constraining toddlers—got it!

If you don’t believe me, try … read more

The Best and Worst Parenting Advice from the Real Experts: Parents

(Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2019) 12 Comments

As parents, we receive a lot of advice. With three kids, I’ve heard it all.

Breastfeed. Supplement. Don’t breastfeed. Rock your baby to sleep. Don’t rock your baby to sleep—it’s a sleep association. Potty-train early. Wait to potty train. Offer baby food at 4 months. Wait until at least 6 months to offer baby food. Don’t yell at your child.

The list could go on.

Some advice is requested, but we get plenty of unwarranted advice too. I am sure the person giving the advice has good intentions, but sometimes this advice leaves me feeling like I am doing everything wrong.

What is the … read more

Alternative Valentine’s Day Ideas for Parents

(Posted on Wednesday, February 13, 2019) 10 Comments

Anyone feeling a little down because they don’t think they did enough this Valentine’s Day?

Don’t feel bad!

With Valentine’s Day can come a pressure to do something special for our significant other or for our kids. Where does this pressure come from? Well, even the Encyclopedia Britannica defines Valentine’s Day as “when lovers express their affection with greetings and gifts.” Not only this, but the Encyclopedia states that “formal messages, or valentines, appeared in the 1500s, and by the late 1700s commercially printed cards were being used.” Wow! Just based … read more

10 Valentine’s Day Activities for Kids That Won’t Break the Bank

(Posted on Thursday, January 31, 2019) 8 Comments

Have you heard them say Valentine’s Day is just a “commercial holiday,” a “money-making scheme,” or —my favorite— that it’s “just an excuse to eat chocolate?”

As unbelievable as it sounds, according to this article from the National Retail Federation (NRF), Americans were expected to spend 19.6 billion dollars on Valentine’s Day last year, which was up from the 18.2 billion spent in 2017.

This may be one of the reasons why some people love Valentine’s day and why some people hate it.

Still, no matter … read more

17 Time-Saving Parenting Tips

(Posted on Thursday, January 24, 2019) 10 Comments

What is it “they say” about time? Time is money. Time is gold.Yep, it’s gold. It is something I always wish I had, but it’s really hard to find.

Sometimes I feel like nothing gets done. With so many interruptions it’s hard to finish any of the tasks I start.

One day while I was in the middle of doing laundry, my toddler was calling for me, “Mommy, Mommy, Mommy!”

I thought to myself before responding, If I hurry, I can finish folding this laundry really quick. After all, I am almost done.

The next thing I knew, he was coming up the stairs carrying the little … read more

My Mom Life in Pop Song Lyrics

(Posted on Thursday, January 17, 2019) 32 Comments

Much like beauty is in the eye of the beholder, music is a wonderful form of art where lyrics can be interpreted in many ways. Lyrics or poetry can mean something entirely different to two people or even to the same person on different days.

Sometimes music makes me feel better. Sometimes it makes me feel understood.

On a rare occasion, I was driving alone in the car listening to the radio [instead of the typical nursery rhymes or Disney sound tracks]. On that day, I had a peaceful moment of clarity where I was able to focus on the music— … read more

Managing Self-Talk As a Parent: Ask Yourself This Question

(Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2019) 10 Comments

They say, “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”

I disagree. Sometimes words can hurt even more than physical pain.

Let’s say for a second someone threw a rock at me. This is not outside of the realm of possibility with a toddler around. Yep, that would hurt. Or more realistically, let’s say my toddler smacks me… maybe on accident [or to be honest] maybe on purpose. Yes, that also hurts, but the pain goes away.

Now words, on the other hand, can hurt for quite a long time. There are words that were said to … read more

Why I’m Not Making a True New Year’s Resolution This Year

(Posted on Thursday, January 3, 2019) 12 Comments

They say we should make a new year’s resolution.

You know what I need to work on more than anything else this year?

Giving myself some grace… cutting myself some slack. Because the truth is, I know I’m my own worst critic.

I could focus on all the things I need to change… yelling less, being more present, more patient, more organized, less cluttered.

And let me tell you, these are all great things to work on, but sometimes focusing on these thoughts only makes me feel like I’m failing. I mean I’m human. I am going to make mistakes.

I’m going to yell. … read more

3 Steps to Raise a Resilient Child Who Bounces Back

(Posted on Thursday, December 20, 2018) 12 Comments

I am thrilled to be featured in a podcast from Dinner Table MBA. The podcast focuses on how to raise a resilient child who can bounce back.

Resilience is not something we are simply born with. It is something that is learned. On the podcast, I talk about three ways we can help build resilience in our children. I will summarize these three ideas here.

You … read more

6 Keepsake Ornament Ideas

(Posted on Thursday, December 6, 2018) 6 Comments

Baby’s Hospital Hat and Bracelet Ornament

These are our favorite ornaments. What a great way to save the hospital baby hat and hospital bracelets. Every year I decorate the tree I am reminded of the most special days of my life, the births of my three babies.

To make this ornament, simply place the baby hospital hat and mom and baby’s hospital bracelets into a clear ornament. We chose plastic, so we didn’t have to worry about it breaking.

Here is a clear plastic ornament which is four inches across. In this ornament, the opening is in the top, so … read more