Sleeping Should Be Easy

On Rediscovering Yourself After Motherhood

Feeling like you're losing your identity in motherhood? Get tips and inspiration on rediscovering yourself after motherhood and feel fulfilled again. Before becoming a mom, I could wake up at 8am every morning... and that was early. I could then make a cup of tea without feeling rushed to drink it, and even flat-iron my hair every morning. My husband and I also went out more, from movies to museums, and to long drives and day trips. I saw my friends more often, and those I couldn't, still spoke to them on the phone for hours. Sleeping at midnight was my norm, and coming home from work meant the freedom to do anything I wanted. Since becoming a mom, things are a bit different. These days, I wake up as early as 5am, pack school lunches, listen to Disney music, and … Read More...

Your Toddler Refuses to Sit on the Potty? Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Worry

development

Struggling when your toddler refuses to sit on potty? Discover why you shouldn't worry—and how doing so is can hold your child back from potty training. The potty. For one reason or another, it's become the source of power struggles between you and your usually cooperative toddler. You tried everything, like frequent trips to the potty, watching videos and songs, and even confiscating items. Rewards and incentives don't work either—he couldn't care less about wearing "big kid" undies or getting stickers and stars. He might even show many signs of potty readiness and knows what he's supposed to do. But the few times you manage to convince him to sit on the potty, he still holds his pee the whole time (never mind that he pees in the diaper the minute he pulls them back … Read More...

How to Stop Kids from Fighting Every Day

family life

2 girls fighting over a doll: how to stop kids from fighting

Tired of your children fighting, from arguments to hitting each other? Apply these effective solutions on how to stop kids from fighting once and for all. Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links, which means I will earn a commission—at no extra cost to you—if you make a purchase. Hands down, hearing my kids fight is one of my biggest triggers. You know, the kind that makes you snap, yell something along the lines of "Just stop it already!" or hide in your room. And it's always for the weirdest reasons, too. For instance, here are some of the things my kids fought about recently: When one brother copied another's drawing of Darth Vader That a banana and an apple do (or do not) make the number "10" About whose turn it was to read from the Harry Potter … Read More...

20 Examples of a 2 Year Old Sleep Schedule to Try

family life

2 year old sleep schedule: a little boy sleeping with a stuffed animal

Need samples of a 2 year old sleep schedule to combat sleep regression? These daily schedules will help you reset your toddler's sleep once and for all! Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links, which means I will earn a commission—at no extra cost to you—if you make a purchase. Once my toddler hit 2 years old, I had no idea how I ever managed putting him to nap three, four, and sometimes five times a day in the past. With just one nap to contend with in the toddler stage, our schedule got a lot less complicated, and freed up our time much more. That said, I know all too well when a 2 year old sleep schedule goes out of whack, both for naps and the bedtime routine. Rather than sleeping right away in his crib, he talked to his lovey, played, or sang, sometimes for … Read More...

Toddler Travel Essentials for a Fuss-Free Family Trip

family life

Toddler travel essentials: Toddler standing next to a luggage

Traveling with a toddler on a plane or road trip? Take a look at these toddler travel essentials and gear recommended by a well-traveled mom of four! By: Rachael Robison Some might think I'm crazy. After all, in the span of just four years, I've taken a: Thirty-two-hour drive to Florida with a three- and a one-year-old Twenty-six-hour drive to Ohio with kids aged four, two, and three-months Twenty-hour drive to Texas with three kids while pregnant And my favorite: a 7,000 mile, five-week road trip with a seven-, five-, three-, and one-year-old. After thinking, She's crazy, most people start wondering what my secret is. How do I manage to travel with kids without losing my mind? Am I some kind of superwoman? No, I'm far from a superwoman. I'm just like you … Read More...

The Real Reason Kids Should Have Chores

parenthood

Should Kids Have Chores? Little girl doing chores

Should kids have chores? You may have heard the benefits of chores, but here's one compelling reason parents overlook that will have you giving kids chores. There was always an excuse that held me back from having my kids load the dishwasher after meals. I worried that the dishes might break and we'd have to fish broken glass shards out of the tiniest nooks. They might not rinse the dishes well enough in the sink, and end up clogging the dishwasher pipes. I even blamed how roughly they turned the faucet on and off, convinced they'd break it given enough time. It wasn't just the dishes, either. I insisted on brushing their teeth, afraid that if I didn't, they'd have cavities (never mind that they have yet to have one). And I made their beds each morning because I figured … Read More...

Weighing the Real Pros and Cons of Baby Led Weaning

family life

Debating whether to introduce baby led weaning to your little one? Take a look at the baby led weaning pros and cons to help you make your decision. By: Tania Griffis During my pregnancy, I was consumed with reading baby books and browsing online forums. I was about to be a first-time mom and wanted to make sure I did everything perfect for my daughter. During one of my frenzied research sessions, I came across a board for "BLW," that I later learned stood for "baby led weaning." What is baby led weaning? Rather than making your child a special meal of purees and mashes, you give her whatever you're eating and allow them to feed themselves. For instance, instead of mashing an avocado and spoon-feeding her the mixture, you'd instead hand her a slice of the avocado to … Read More...

10 Awesome Physical Activities for 3 Year Olds

learn and discover

10 Physical Activities for 3 Year Olds: Little girl running and exercising

Looking for physical activities for 3 year olds to get your child moving? Whether indoors or out, discover 10 simple activities perfect for toddlers! How much can this kid read?! I thought to myself. My then-3 year old was and still is a book worm. He'd spend hours either flipping through books or asking me to read to him (I had once timed how long we read in one day, and the total came up to four hours). If he wasn't reading, he was inspecting his toy fire truck, building train sets, or coloring and drawing. All well and good, except I was starting to think that these activities were a bit too sedentary. After all, his pediatrician had recommended that kids should only be sedentary for an hour at a time (other than for sleep). As much as I wanted to encourage these … Read More...

Sleeping Should Be Easy

On Rediscovering Yourself After Motherhood

Your Toddler Refuses to Sit on the Potty? Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Worry

How to Stop Kids from Fighting Every Day

20 Examples of a 2 Year Old Sleep Schedule to Try

Toddler Travel Essentials for a Fuss-Free Family Trip

The Real Reason Kids Should Have Chores

Weighing the Real Pros and Cons of Baby Led Weaning

10 Awesome Physical Activities for 3 Year Olds

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