I’m not a regular mom; I’m a cheer mom. My daughter started cheerleading a few years ago, and we’ve found our new family. Our cheer family. It hasn’t always been easy for me (or my daughter, but today I’m just speaking to the cheer moms). I have had many things to figure out, from what to pack, to how to navigate competitions to hair and makeup and everything in between. So here are some tips to being an organized cheer mom. Here is a crash course on what I’ve learned about staying organized (being a cheer mom can be a full-time job on top of a regular full-time job). I learned through experience, and I want other newbie cheer moms to have an easier go – so follow these tips and you’ll go from rookie to All-star in cheer-mom organization! There is much more to cheer than I imagined before…
If you’re already decking the halls and singing Christmas songs at the top of your lungs, chances are you’re getting prepared for the holiday season. This time of year is supposed to be full of joy, laughter and rest. For moms, however, it can be a time of stress, exhaustion and overwhelm. Here are five simple ways to overcome feeling overwhelmed this holiday season.
The daddy-daughter relationship is a huge and important one. Inevitably, it will change as your little girl grows up. We all know it will happen, yet so few dads are prepared. It often occurs far younger and much quicker than many dads know. So it’s time we open up the conversation with our girls and start teaching dads how to navigate this awkward time so it isn’t so uncomfortable. Dads need to learn how to support their daughters through puberty. It hit me hard when I learned that 3 out of 10 girls experience puberty at the age of 8. That means you only spend about 8-10 years parenting your little girl. The rest of the time, you’re parenting your daughter as a woman. So, it’s about time we focus on what it means to parent a young woman. Did you know? Studies have shown that since the covid pandemic,…
Cis-gender, transgender, agender, non-binary, genderqueer. These are big and scary words. Worse, their use is seemingly fluid, and what was perfectly acceptable yesterday is suddenly offensive today. Some of the people who use these terms are remarkably forgiving when we make mistakes, but some aggressively enforce their ‘correct’ use at all times. All of these factors combine to make the topic of gender a seeming minefield of political correctness over what is a seemingly trivial thing that has only very recently become a prominent issue. The easiest thing by far is to avoid talking about non-standard gender topics entirely, right? After all, this wasn’t an issue when we were growing up. Why is it so important now all of a sudden? There has been an explosion in growth of studies being done on transgender and gender non-conforming folks. At the same time, we’ve opened our eyes as a society to…
My dad died just over a month ago, in the midst of lockdown. Even though he was sick, the events surrounding his death were fast and distressing. I hadn’t yet told my 4 year old that her Dad-Dad (grandad) was sick, because he didn’t appear sick or unwell.
I take it you’re just as thrilled as I am that summer camp is back! For some of you, it never left. For a lot of you, it’s been over a year since the last “first day.”
Sensory play is becoming very popular and with reason. It is now part of our everyday life. When we got pregnant, I had no idea how it would play a vital role in our daughter’s development. Nor did I expect all the challenges that would be presented to us along the way.
As we all prepare for a holiday season like no other, you may be feeling the pressure of making this year’s celebrations extra special for your kids to provide some much needed delight after the challenges of lockdowns, school closures, and cancelled birthday parties. The annual mission of finding the perfect gift for every age—one that is both fun and educational—is coupled with thoughts of a long winter spent at home where kids need to be kept entertained for hours. For some holiday shopping inspiration, look no further!
If you’re like me and you’re stuck at home with small children, getting exercise into your schedule can be quite a challenge. I’m not going to be one of those hardcore trainer-types that tell you to get up at 5am to get a work-out in, because let’s be honest, no one wants to do that. Instead, I’ll show you a workout that will include your kids!