Parenting

Parenting

It's not just what we say to them directly that they're absorbing; it's how we talk about ourselves and others, what we say to others about them and how we behave, too. We asked experts what sorts of things children pick up on that adults don't always realize they're noticing. This list isn't designed to be judgmental; rather, it's a reminder that we can all bring a little more awareness to our day-to-day interactions.

Leaving my hometown was another part of my letting go of my daughter, a process I began the day that I put her in the arms of her new parents. Seeing 6-month-old Hanna reach for her adoptive mother had helped to convince me that everything was as it should be - as it was supposed to be. Our connection had been severed. It was time for me to move on. We were now both free to live the rest of our lives.

While I understand the importance of advocating for your child, there is a time and a place for it. I never forgot that parent and always wondered if her incessant demands of the teacher worked out negatively for her child. To be honest, after witnessing her daily display of entitlement, I never wanted to approach a teacher at dismissal again. I stuck to emails, mostly.

While screens aren't exactly new - I mean, almost everyone's grown up watching television - they're not quite the same as they used to be, either.

"I have absolutely no idea why more people don't just stop at one," she writes. "I wasn't always one and done. I originally wanted 3-4 kids, but actually having my first child made me OAD. I cannot imagine having any more children; being a parent is SO hard."

Don't worry yourself too much about this. Your kids will spend a limited amount of time at the same wedding festivities as your sister, and you will be there to supervise their interactions. Give her an opportunity to meet them and if she does or says anything inappropriate, keep them distanced from her for the remainder of the celebration. If she charms your kids and they ask about spending more time with her,

Every week, we round up funny posts from moms and dads on X, Threads and Bluesky.

If your kids are like most teens, they sometimes struggle with organization, making the best choices, sustaining motivation, planning and achieving goals, impulse control, and emotional self- management. Frequently, the underlying problem is based on the still-developing strength of their attention-control systems. Even in normal teens' healthy brains, the expanded demands on their not-yet-fully-developed brain networks present challenges. When that happens, teens might struggle with falling behind in school, disorganization, forgetfulness, frequent mood swings, procrastination, high-risk behaviors, and inadequate skills in judgment, planning, and goal achievement.

Dylan shares her kids with Brian Fichera. In July, Dylan announced that she and Fichera, whom she married in 2012, were separating. "I want to share with you that a few months ago, Brian and I made the decision to separate," she said on Instagram at the time. "We began as friends, and we will remain the closest of friends. Most importantly, we will continue to co-parent our three wonderful boys together with nothing but love and respect for one another. Thank you as always for your support."

The five As, our original needs, are the qualities of a holding environment: attention, acceptance, appreciation, affection, and allowing. These five qualities foster secure attachment - both in childhood and in adult relationships. Fortunately, as children, all it takes for safety and security is to have our needs satisfied with good enough parenting. We do not need perfection, nor is it possible.

My 3-year-old daughter's best friend at day care is a boy. They have been together since they were little babies and are inseparable. His family and some of the nursery staff have encouraged the idea that they are boyfriend and girlfriend-when we went to his birthday party, even his extended family said, "Oh you're Sally's mom, his little girlfriend!" I know this is fairly common in the way people talk about children, but it's something I think is creepy and weird.

"I actually looked at it, and it broke my heart," Amin told Good Morning America. "Well, it sort of warmed and broke my heart at the same time."

When I first saw our home, I was absolutely blown away. The 4,500 square-foot 1906 Detroit house boasted giant historic windows, two staircases and so many doors that little kids could run circles through every floor of the house. There were nooks and crannies, tons of closets to hide in and a spacious yard. It was perfect for kids.

How do you honor the princely nature of having a new little boy in the family? Well, you can start by giving him a royal name, of course. Bestowing a monarchal moniker upon a newborn might seem like a daunting task. But in actuality, there are so many rulers all over the world with names that can serve as inspiration.

When I was pregnant with my first baby, I'd see moms wearing jewelry with their kids' initials or birthstones and dream of the day I'd get my own. When my kids were in preschool, I'd make a holiday wish list of things I thought would help me up my mom game, like a stand mixer or a fancy sewing machine. My elementary-aged kids may have wanted the latest video game or baby doll, but I asked for spa gift certificates and expensive new boots.

Let's talk about meltdowns and temper tantrums. Arms flailing, feet stomping, the full body drop-to-the-ground moment. For toddlers, the image is all too familiar. For those of us who have older children, we take a sigh. But are tantrums just for toddlers? No, they aren't. The tantrum meltdown isn't just for kids. It's also an experience many teens, young adults, and adults experience on the regular. They just look a little different now. Let me explain.

Farm work is part of our lives as a family 365 days a year - we need the kids to help out, but are they missing out on some part of their childhood? I say no Am I wrong to expect my kids to help with milking on Christmas Day? This is the question I was left pondering when I told some friends about our Christmas Day routine. I wasn't quite expecting the gasp of horror.

I made the mistake of hosting Thanksgiving in my new home. It is a three-story, two-bath home built on the water off a jogging path. The lot is long and narrow, so one hallway runs through the entire house, and it isn't fenced off. My brother was supposed to bring just his girlfriend. Instead, it was her, her two screaming sons, and another friend with her two uncontrollable dogs.

I was about to round up a dozen kids for cake when my daughter asked, "Can we wait a few more minutes? He's not here yet." She was talking about the owner of our favorite local shop - the one with handmade cards, chocolate chip cookies, and an ink stamp at the checkout counter she was allowed to use. My child had insisted on inviting him to her seventh birthday party.

A BabyBuddha sterilizer to stop you from having to juggle a tea kettle full of boiling water. This will save PLENTY of time as it sterilizes AND dries your bottles or breast pump parts - meaning you no longer have to wait for the water to boil, sit around at least 10 minutes, and then take them out to air dry (which takes foreverrr). In just 30 minutes, you can have perfectly clean pump parts and bottles all ready for your little one's next feeding.

Join us for the BART Plaza Posadita on Saturday 12/20 from 11-4PM! Family fun with kids activities, a DJ, and local vendors to support!

Most parents have been in a situation where a great aunt holds out her arms expectantly for a young child to dutifully provide a hug, and our child doesn't go rushing forward. The dynamics in this situation can be tricky for a lot of people, particularly in families where parents feel likely to be judged and criticized. Nobody wants their relatives to be offended and certainly nobody wants relatives huffing to others that our children are unfriendly or rude or ungrateful.

I first became pregnant at the age of 17, shortly before I graduated from high school in June 1988. Those days were different than now, and there was some shame around having a baby when you were young and unmarried. So, I hid my pregnancy for around five months until the cat got out of the bag. By the time I gave birth, I'd gained 75 pounds.