Can playing music to your baby or young child make her smarter? That was the claim of the much-hyped “Mozart Effect” several years ago, but the truth isn’t exactly black and white. Certainly, music is a great complement for stimulating babies’ brains and teaching toddlers vocabulary, but the jury’s out…
Grandparents Day began with the idea of honoring the elderly and championing the cause of the lonely in nursing and retirement homes. Marian McQuade, a housewife from West Virginia, brainstormed the idea, which was later to become a nationally recognized holiday, thanks to Jimmy Carter in 1978. Now the holiday…
Everyone benefits from a good night’s sleep. Children also need to learn how to unwind at the end of the day with an uninterrupted period of restorative sleep. For some children, this comes easily. For others, it may mean a night of counting sheep and difficult morning rises. Break the…
The title of “working mom” could be applied to any mother — as we all know, raising children is a full-time job in itself. For those who also work outside the home, the tug of war between mommyhood and a 9-to-5 job can be downright exhausting. If you want to…
Whether you had a Caesarean section or a natural birth, it’s important to take care of your own body after giving birth. While a C-section, which is major abdominal surgery, is the more invasive and traumatic procedure, women who deliver naturally still need to care for themselves postpartum. Expect to…
‘Tis the season to crave those sweet treats. From festive fruit cakes to Christmas cookies, it seems like mid-November to January is just one long binge. But if you’re going to indulge, you might as well do it right. So why not dive in to these gourmet goodies that go…
Taking the kids along on a shopping trip can be a treat or a hassle, depending on how you handle things. With a good plan in mind and the right supplies you can turn a dreaded chore into a fun and potentially educational experience. Pre-Planning Your Shopping Trip Before you…
No means no, even when you’re saying it to your child. For many parents, no quickly turns to maybe or even yes once they’re bombarded by cries, whines and pouts. At the time it might seem easier to give up and give in than deal with the fallout, but in…
It’s not their party, but they can cry if they want to. We’re talking the dreaded odd man out experience where your child isn’t invited to a party or gathering. It can happen to the best of us, but that doesn’t make it any easier. Being left out is never…
The emotional rollercoaster of trying to have a baby can take its toll on the relationship that you share with your girlfriends, whether it’s you or them who’s trying to conceive. If you’re the one trying to get pregnant, then stress, self-esteem issues and hormonal fluctuations have probably made you…