motivation Archives | Sleeping Should Be Easy

How to Be a Good Mom (Even When You Feel Discouraged)

Apr 06, 2021

Feeling discouraged about motherhood? You CAN be the best mom to your kids—learn how to be a good mom with these important tips and reminders! We've all had those days. Those days when you yelled at your toddler just because he kept turning the light switch on and off. When you wake up delirious in the middle of the night with the baby and think, "What have I gotten myself into?!" When you resorted to doing everything you swore you'd never do, like giving your kids junk food or letting them watch an extra hour of television. And other times, those days happen when you feel guilty for … [Read more...]

5 Maya Angelou Quotes that Apply to Parenthood

Parenthood

Apr 04, 2021

Get inspired by one of our most beloved writers and her words of wisdom. Read 5 Maya Angelou quotes about parenthood we can learn from. Maya Angelou is someone whose every word sounds like poetry and beckons you to dance with its meaning. Like most kids in high school, I read I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and was hooked. I also watched her interviews (especially with Oprah!) and would always come away with something new I'd learned. When she visited UCLA for the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, I was among the crowd who got to see her in person. Her very presence already made … [Read more...]

How to Cope with Feeling Depressed After Moving

Family Life

Apr 03, 2021

Moving to a new place can be a challenge. From missing your old home to settling in, here's how to cope with feeling depressed after moving. I'm pretty lucky: both my family and my husband's are all here in Los Angeles within driving distance to our home. We also grew up here, went to colleges nearby, held jobs in the area, and still have a few friends to call on. I can't imagine moving to a new place and losing all the roots and ties I'd developed all these years. But for many people, this is a reality. They move from everything they've ever known and settle in to a new place, with … [Read more...]

7 Ideas to Pull Yourself Out of a Bad Parenting Day

Parenthood

Mar 23, 2021

Having a bad parenting day? You're not alone. Check out these ideas to pull yourself out from a bad day you're having with the kids. A toddler who refused to eat and didn't listen to instructions. Miscommunication with your partner about plans for the weekend. The curtain rod that collapsed and that you now need to fix. And a baby who woke up multiple times throughout last night. These are the bad parenting days that can so often make you feel burned out. You can't wait until bedtime, before you realize that it's barely even noon. Even though you know you still have a chance to turn … [Read more...]

8 Reminders to Help You Overcome Obstacles in Life

Family Life

Mar 19, 2021

Are you struggling with an obstacle, big or small? Here are 8 tips to overcoming obstacles in life and getting through the challenges. We'll all face obstacles throughout life, to varying degrees. And these days, it seems much more than ever. These challenges could be as simple as losing a package in the mail or as dire as losing a job. And while our thoughts and actions will reflect the severity of the obstacle, one this is certain: we can overcome it. Often, overcoming obstacles in life was exactly what we needed at that moment to move in a different direction. My husband had lost … [Read more...]

How to Deal with Gender Disappointment During Your Pregnancy

Pregnancy

Dec 26, 2020

Disappointed about your baby's gender (and feeling guilty)? Learn how to manage gender disappointment during your pregnancy with these tips. A girl. That was what I was hoping my second pregnancy would reveal. I already had a boy and thought it'd be awesome for him to have a little sister. I wished so much that the sonogram would reveal that one of the twins would be a girl. But when I learned that they were both boys, I ended up dealing with gender disappointment I didn't know I'd feel. Gender disappointment isn't as strange as you might think. I know so many people who really … [Read more...]

THIS Is Why Your Child Is Testing You

Behavior

Oct 06, 2020

We often hear that our kids test us when they misbehave. They test cause and effect and consequences, but THIS is also why your child is testing you. My two-year-old refused to let me strap him into his car seat. "No!" he screamed, arching his back so I couldn't latch the buckles together (you know that move). I had just picked up all three kids from school and was desperate to finally get home. Dealing with another stubborn standoff wasn't my idea of starting my afternoon. We know the importance of standing your ground. We don't want to be permissive or allow our kids determine the … [Read more...]

Finding it Hard to Raise Twins? You’re Not Alone.

Infant

Jun 28, 2020

Are you struggling with twins and feeling isolated and alone? Learn why it can be hard raising twins, how to cope, and the encouragement you need to hang in there. If you're like my husband, you were ecstatic to hear that you were expecting twins. Double the love, right? But if you're like me, raising twins wasn't exactly your plan. You recognized early on that raising twins meant double the sleep deprivation. That you can't carry a crying baby from your stroller and keep pushing it along so the other can keep sleeping. Maybe you're juggling between putting one baby to sleep in the … [Read more...]

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