We know how difficult it is to juggle parenthood and self-care. Whether you used to be a regular gym-goer or fitness fanatic who wants to get back on track, or you want to get fit to be able to run after your toddlers, these five ways to get back into shape while simultaneously mastering the challenging world of parenting. Managing Your Time As you probably already know, being a ... Read more
Things to Try When Your Baby Is Ready to Start Trying Food
One minute you have a newborn and the next minute they are a few months old and already looking for more than just milk. You blink and they are growing up! Sometimes it can feel like a bit of a minefield and there is so much information and advice thrown at you that you won’t know what to do. In all instances, it is easier to just keep it simple and use common sense. The world has made it easier ... Read more
Safety Tips For Remote Learning
The Internet is an incredibly useful tool and one that can enhance children’s learning, helping them to build on the information they are being taught at school and give them a chance to gain more knowledge. Recently, children have been using the Internet for a different reason; for remote learning. This has been a necessary change, and for the most part, it works well, but there are several ... Read more
Be Patient and Kind in Remote Learning
School has been back in session for almost two weeks now. It's eye-opening and challenging for everyone involved. Whether your child is in school or remote learning, we need to have patience with each other, especially with teachers and ourselves. There is a lot being placed on their shoulders right now. In addition to teaching often larger classes, teachers have also become tech support. The ... Read more
Building a Coco Village Treehouse Bunk Bed for Our Girls
My daughters were quickly outgrowing their beds -- a toddler bed and a crib -- and requested bunkbeds, which I was nervous about. I worried A would roll off the bed and hurt herself. Over the past year I have seen Coco Village's beds and loved them, and the treehouse option seemed like a good fit for the girls. This is because the lower bed is low to the floor and because the top bunk is almost ... Read more
A Quarantine Kindergarten Graduation
I am officially the mom of a first grader. Last week we celebrated V's kindergarten graduation via Zoom, as one does during quarantine. I realize most people care more about high-school and college graduations, but we love to celebrate these moments in our family. Of course, it's not what I envisioned the end of her first school would turn out to be. I pictured gathering in her school cafeteria to ... Read more
Teacher Appreciation Day in Quarantine
Teachers deserve all the praise and much more. I've appreciated V's teachers before the pandemic forced me to facilitate my child's learning, but now even more so. V's teachers created lessons for the remaining weeks of school that contain activities for each subject. Each Monday-Thursday we find new lessons on her school iPad, while Fridays are catch-up days. I struggle with not only balancing ... Read more
Working From Home With Kids During the Pandemic
You would think that since I've worked from home with at least one child at home for a few years now I would be a pro at it now that both my girls are home every day, but I am not. The truth is the reason I was able to do it before the stay-at-home order was that one of my girls was in school until 3 p.m. and that I hired a babysitter to come over and care for my youngest on my busy workdays. Now ... Read more
What’s in My Kids’ Easter Baskets
** This post about what's in my kids' Easter baskets contains affiliate links. I'm trying to keep our daily life as normal as possible given the circumstances, and that includes planning to have an Easter egg hunt at home and give the girls their Easter baskets. This year I purchased their Easter basket gifts ahead of time, in early February. Luckily I have not needed to go anywhere to shop for ... Read more
Our New Normal | Quarantine Thoughts
Remember when I shared 2020 goals? March goals? I was so full of optimism, as I'm sure so many of us were, and then, well, you know. This past two and a half weeks of quarantine, as we all seem to be calling it, has been surreal. I've lost count of how many times I've asked myself whether this is real life. Is this actually happening? Right now the focus is figuring out this new normal. I've ... Read more