Parenting answers that work

4+ hour, 23+ min ago (354+ words) Comedian Amy Poehler, during the SmartLess podcast with actor Will Arnett, shared, "Supposedly, when your kids become teens, you go from producer to consultant. That's the difference. You're no longer producing their lives. You're there for them to consult. So you have to kind of let them start producing their own lives, which is not easy." Deepika Padukone, who recently embraced motherhood, opened up about her journey in an interview with Harper's Bazaar. She said, "You can plan how you think you'll navigate work and motherhood, but the reality is very different. I feel strongly about how new mothers need to be supported when they return to work. That's something I want to focus on." Actress Emily Blunt opened up about her motherhood journey in a PORTER magazine interview. She said, "I feel bedtime is this essential anchor" The 10-minute…...

13+ hour, 4+ min ago (321+ words) It's a really simple but powerful idea. I was absolutely thrilled to become a mother and I loved taking care of my baby. At the same time, though, some of those late nights breastfeeding her during those first six months were some of the loneliest and most desperate hours of my life. I had never been so tired. In the dark of my daughter's nursery, it sometimes felt like I was the only awake adult on the planet. Now, the new Beacon Postpartum Support app lets moms know that they aren't alone. The concept is simple but powerful: moms can get on the app, "light their beacon" and see all the moms in the country who are also awake with their babies on a map. You can zoom in and out, seeing moms in your town or state or even…...

14+ hour, 48+ min ago (714+ words) From fast card games to immersive strategy, these picks are perfect for hunkering down at home this winter. The days are short, the nights are long, and it's cold The universe is basically telling us to stay inside, where it's nice and cozy And, really, who are we to argue with the universe? Besides, when the temps drop, nothing beats gathering around a table with a stack of snacks and a board game that will either bond your family forever.. or start a friendly feud that may or may not last until next December In all seriousness, there's just something about sitting around with people you love, laughing, bickering over the rules, cheering each other on " it feels like the best antidote to the winter blahs Whether you prefer epic strategy games, fast-paced card games, or even group-play video games,…...

16+ hour, 16+ min ago (317+ words) Fill your Hannukah music playlist with these family-friendly songs'for a festive eight days and nights. FamVeld / Getty Images Hanukkah is spread out over eight days, so there's plenty of time to sing, dance, and enjoy festive music. The best Hanukkah songs for kids are fun and upbeat but still honor the importance of the holiday. Some songs help kids understand the miracle that's celebrated during Hanukkah, while others teach about the resiliency of the Jewish people. Looking to create a Hanukkah song playlist of your own? We rounded up our favorite Hanukkah songs for parents and kids to enjoy this holiday season. You might remember singing some of these songs at school and at home in the run-up to Hanukkah. They're classics for a reason, so play them for your own kids to continue the tradition! These contemporary Hanukkah songs…...

17+ hour, 2+ min ago (202+ words) Look, everybody's just doing their best. And I do mean every mom. The stay-at-home moms, the work-from-home moms, the working moms. The moms who have three other kids at home, the single moms, the moms who were up all night with a sick child. The moms who love every moment of this stuff and the moms who wish they could snap their fingers and find themselves at January 2. She's got Christmas wreath earrings, she's wearing a Christmas sweater, she has a purse in the shape of a candy cane. She's the one whose kid came to school with an actual Cindy Lou Who hairdo and is wearing jingle bells on her shoes. She's also sweating her ass off in this auditorium and has no storage on her phone to actually record the program. She dreamed about these moments "about going…...

17+ hour, 38+ min ago (473+ words) Snack-sized cleaning ideas that will actually make your life better. The cabinets under kitchen and bathroom sinks are where things go to rot, honestly. Toss old, dried-out cleaning products, unearth some things you forgot you had, and maybe note what kind of containers or extra shelves would help you make better use of the space, should you choose to spend more time on that later. Take that sock or undie drawer and dump it out. Toss anything with holes, wear and tear around the edges, you name it. Any socks without matches must go. You'll be surprised how much easier it is to find your favorite pair of gym socks when you don't have to sift through a bunch of loners. I know, I know, it's painful to think about. But hear me out: How many of those mugs do…...

18+ hour, 10+ min ago (351+ words) Here's how I handled the situation. My daughter is shy. She's always had a hard time talking about her feelings, big or small, and as she's gotten older, her go-to coping mechanism is to shut down. So I've worked extra hard to try and make her feel safe and to let her know that she can come to me and talk about anything. After asking her some questions, I told her to make an appointment with her doctor and I offered to go with her. She was scared and nervous and wanted me to make the call for her, but also didn't want to tell me every detail, so she decided to do it herself and declined my invitation to go with her. Her doctor took some tests and then we waited. We talked a lot those next few days…...

19+ hour, 10+ min ago (556+ words) One holiday tradition that I still do with my teenage daughter, even though we've never had a lot of holiday traditions, is decorating a gingerbread house. We use a kit rather than making gingerbread from scratch, and sometimes have a friend over to decorate with us. It's always a lot of fun and then we keep the house on display for a few weeks as part of our holiday decor." If you want to do gingerbread houses without the mess, or you're looking for a holiday classroom craft that doesn't involve food, these gingerbread houses made from paper bags are a great option." Of course you could also start kids off with basic shapes like circles, squares and rectangles and have them draw their own windows, doors and roofs if you want." The printables also include things like giant lollipops…...

21+ hour, 50+ min ago (548+ words) We're not just doing numbers; we're expanding our horizons. If we're not reading books by people who are different from us, how are we ever going to learn anything? Whether you choose books by BIPOC authors, LGBTQIA writers, or authors from different countries, set a goal to have a more diverse TBR in 2026. For the uninitiated, DNF stands for Did Not Finish. There are a million reasons to DNF a book, like maybe the author uses the word verisimilitude every third page and it's throwing you off, or the main character turns out to be an insufferable dimwit. This year was the first time I let myself quit on a book when I just wasn't absorbed by it, and I regret nothing. If you're trying to get back into reading, this is a bite-sized goal that will get you eyes-on-page…...

21+ hour, 56+ min ago (243+ words) The Honeycomb Smock Stitch is a captivating crochet pattern that produces a solid fabric with a distinct and enchanting texture. Unlike many other stitch patterns, the Honeycomb Smock Stitch is unique in that it creates its mesmerizing design predominantly on one side of the fabric. However, don't let this deter you, as even the reverse side boasts a charming texture reminiscent of moss or extended moss stitch. One of the standout features of this stitch is its dense fabric, which offers both warmth and durability. To achieve the best results, it's advisable to keep your stitches loose or use a hook size larger than recommended on the yarn label. This helps prevent the fabric from curling and ensures a smooth, even finish." You can see the full tutorial here. Elegant columns of freesia petals adorn this stunning throw, evoking the…...