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The Pros and Cons of Elf on the Shelf; How I’m Choosing Self-Care Before Elf-Care

School

Keep Your Child Motivated for School All Year Long!

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Choosing the Right Postpartum Underwear: The Pros and Cons of Disposable vs. Period-Proof

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Tips For a Successful PTA Experience: How to Make a Real Impact as a Parent Volunteer

daycare drop-off
In Daycare

Tips for a Smooth Daycare Drop-Off: Short & Sweet

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Daycare drop-off can be a teary-eyed ordeal for parents and kids. The tears, tantrums, clingy to mom or dad, and screaming can be painful for parents to watch. The guilt is heart-wrenching, but there are ways that you can make it easier for everyone. We asked several daycare providers their top tips for a smoother drop-off. The consensus, keep it short and sweet. Here are five tips to keep the dreaded drop-off as smooth as possible  Prepare the night before.  Don’t rush! Do as much as you can the night before; rushing kids overstimulates them and increases their stress hormones, which leads to tantrums. Be prepared the night before, so you’re not rushing your kids and creating a stressful morning for everyone. Stick to a routine.  Babies and toddlers do better when they know what to expect. Keeping a routine means knowing what steps are coming and feeling less anxious about what’s coming.…

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gifts for new parents
In Mom Moments

Sanity-Saving Gifts for New Parents

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Receiving baby gear as a new parent can be fun and exciting, but once the baby comes, new parents aren’t clambering for a new swing or swaddling. They want sleep and relaxation. Having a newborn in your life changes everything. So, if you want to help the new parents in your life, consider spoiling them with some of these gifts for new parents that will save their sanity instead. Consider offering to babysit or bring them a meal or two. But if those options aren’t realistic for you, Mabel’s Labels presents a few others that might be a better fit for you while also helping the new parents take a moment for themselves. Creature Comforts Being a new parent is stressful. These gift ideas can help them decompress and relax. A Netflix Gift Subscription for When Sleep Isn’t an Option Gift At-Home Massage Products for Parents with No Time…

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lunch box review
In School

Bento Lunch Box Review

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With so many different brands and styles of lunchboxes available, selecting the right one for your child can be easily overwhelming. Will it break? Can my child open it? Are the more expensive brands worth it? Here is a review of six of the most popular bento style lunchbox brands on the market to help with your decision making process. Bentgo Cost: approx. $30 How is it to open: The two clasp style can take a little practise, but overall this is one of the easier lunchboxes for younger children to open. The lid is tough to lift up with the first use, but overtime it loosens up, making it easier for little grasps.  Benefits: Fits standard lunch bag. Removable, dishwasher safe tray. Easy to clean. Microwave and freezer safe. Leak proof seal around each compartment. Very durable.  Dislikes: A bit on the heavier side Smaller compartments, not ideal…

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Horoscope
In Seasonal

How to Raise a Virgo

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As someone who has been raising a Virgo for almost 14 years, you might think I have all the answers. Spoiler alert: I don’t. I have some insight and some experience for sure, but I wouldn’t say I have all the answers. In my experience, raising a Virgo has been quite pleasant overall. As a baby, he was always very happy and relaxed. As a toddler, he was super helpful with his younger brother. In school, he’s always done very well and not just because it comes easy to him, but because he WANTS to do well in school. He’s always had a very calm and patient personality too. Now, that’s not to say he doesn’t lose his temper and get angry. He does. But that might be more of a redhead thing than a Virgo thing… While diving deeper into all the typical Virgo traits, I nodded along with…

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extracurriculars overscheduled
In Parenting

Overscheduled Kids- 7 Tips to Prevent Burnout

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It’s that time of year again: activity registration. We all want our kids to be well-rounded individuals, and there is a long list of worthwhile programs available in art, science, sports, technology, music, leadership, aquatics, theatre, fitness and more. While we can agree that’s important to expose our kids to a variety of experiences, we certainly don’t want to overload them to the point where they’re tired, grumpy, unmotivated, or burnt out. It’s a fine line that can be tricky to navigate, but you’re more than qualified to steer this ship. Here are 7 tips to prevent burnout and keep a firm grip on your family’s schedule and prevent things from getting out of hand. Choose carefully. There’s no question that your child will benefit from participating in organized activities, sports teams or community groups. Even so, it’s important to remember that you don’t have unlimited resources when it comes…

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Horoscope
In Parenting

How to Raise a Leo

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The centre of attention. Ridiculously creative. Fearless. A born leader. Sound familiar? If so, you likely have a little Leo in your life. While I don’t have any first-hand experience raising a Leo, I do know quite a few. Three nephews, a niece, and my mother-in-law were all born under the Leo sign. So, it’s safe to say I have spent quite a bit of time around Leos. After doing some research about the stereotypical characteristics of Leos, I think it’s pretty accurate to say that Leos know what they want. They appear to have strong personalities and high expectations. They’re are Lions though, so they’re also warmhearted and super loyal. There’s a lot to cover when it comes to Leos, so let’s dive in and see what the experts say! First, we’ll start with the basics of the Leo sign. Birthdate – July 23 – August 22 Element –…

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Mothers with ADHD
In Mom Moments

Mothers with ADHD; Strategies, Struggles and Support

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For a long time, we’ve been talking about the “hot mess mom” we’ve created memes about her disorganization and laughed collectively about the struggles. Unfortunately, for many Mothers, the hot mess mom is far more than a joke; the prevalence of women being diagnosed with ADHD is growing, and we’re learning that some of the “hot mess moms” are struggling to fit into an ablest, neurotypical parenting world. The largest group of people currently diagnosed with ADHD/Autism is women, primarily Mothers.     Parenting isn’t easy at the best of times. ADHD is added to the regular Motherhood struggles, becoming completely overwhelming. It can bring up feelings of self-doubt, anxiety, and anger. Anything from forgetfulness, difficulty planning and following through, focusing, and decision-making becomes a massive burden as you try to cope with your struggles and manage your enormous role as a parent.  Parenting with ADHD can leave you feeling like a…

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sad mom
In News

I Won’t Cover for You Anymore, America

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My family’s move from Canada to the United States two and a half years ago came with much anxiety and trepidation. I thought about living in Trump’s America, and about guns, school shootings, and the cost of health care. But never in my wildest, most fevered nightmares did I ever imagine I was moving my daughters to a place where they’d grow up having fewer rights than I or their grandmother did. Usually, it’s not that hard to convince ourselves we’re safe. Bad things happen everywhere but statistically, they’re unlikely to happen to us. But all that’s changed with the Supreme Court’s repeal of Roe vs. Wade. Now, the bad thing is at our doorstep. So how do I raise my daughters in a country that doesn’t respect them; a country that punishes them for having a uterus? How do we stomach living in a place that allows for the…

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In Parenting

How to Raise a Cancer

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If you were to ask my boys, they would tell you that kids born in the summer months are the luckiest because they NEVER have to go to school on their birthday. My oldest kind of got the short end of the stick when it comes to birthdays though. He was born in early September, and his birthday has been the first day of school on more than one occasion throughout the years. In fact, he started JK on his 4th birthday. In my defense though, he was 10 days late! He was supposed to be an August baby. I blame him. Now while I don’t have any summer babies of my own, I do have three nephews and one niece who were born during the summer months. Two of them were born under the sign, Cancer. While exploring the stereotypical characteristics of Cancers, I would have to say they…

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dads and daughters
In Parenting

6 Ways Dads Can, and Should, Support Their Daughters throughout Puberty.

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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,…

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