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Tuesday, October 29, 2024

Help! I'm An Overstimulated Mom Who Is Dreading Halloween

Dear Good Enough Parent,

Halloween is the fishbowl parenting event of the year, really, and I’m already dreading the social dynamics. My kid wants to trick-or-treat with a big group of 7-year-olds, and their parents who will be at varying levels of Having Had a Few Drinks. I am not good in big groups and I just know I’m going to feel stressed and self-conscious, with the “wait, do we have everybody??” and “did we lose so-and-so’s third kid?” I would just so much rather be sitting around a firepit with my two best friends.

Of course I want my kid to enjoy their Halloween more than I want the firepit, but it sucks. And I’m wondering how more social people frame this night to themselves and if there’s anything I can learn from them? Or should I just go on antidepressants?

Well, friend, don’t let me stop you from going on antidepressants if that’s what you need. But I will remind you that there’s nothing pathological about parenting tensions. Parenting is hard. And being an introvert and a parent is, in moments like these, harder.

I am not an introvert. Speaking of pathology, the extent to which I need to be around people to feel content could be considered some kind of medical condition. I want to go to four birthday parties, all in a row, charming the crowd at each one, my kids in tow. The annoying thing is, though, my children don’t always feel this way. When my son wants to sit in the house all day, happy as can be, acting out battles on a giant piece of butcher paper or playing endless Battleship (he knows what he likes), I feel like I might explode any second. I look at the door, at the vast sky outside, at the people walking by, like I am gazing at a bottle of fine whiskey while fondling my AA chip. I do feel the purpose of what it is I am doing when I’m home with my kid. But I do not like doing it. It’s not for me.

I imagine that’s how you must feel tramping around town in a gang, all those parents holding their roadies, dreaming of your solitary couch or that cozy firepit. And you know what, it’s not just your introversion that makes you feel that way. Groups of parents can be a bit strange, can take on the energy of a makeshift friend group heading to their first college party. Together by accident and convenience, fueled by stress, overcompensating. I’ve heard many a brave parent complain about the specific vibes created by a group of parents getting a little too tipsy. Booze can feel celebratory and fast-track friendships, but it can also feel out of place and exacerbate social anxiety. Then, sh*t can get weird. When I asked a friend about her experience at a recent PTA fundraiser party, which is historically laden with alcohol, her response was, “Did you ever see Big Little Lies?” No, thank you. I’ll pass.

We’ve validated your desire to avoid the adults in this scenario, but what about the kids? Your kid wants to go, so you should go. Seems like airtight logic, but it’s not! I don’t presume to know the exact nature of your kid’s personality. They are all different, which is why giving parenting advice is such a fraught undertaking, even with all my long-winded caveats.

Lots of kids want in on the Halloween action. Like us, some of them want to go all night and others are satisfied to get some candy and go home. But, I’m willing to guess that for many 7-year-olds, whatever their parents do on Halloween is of little importance. Maybe when they are 3, or 4, or 5, they want to hold your hand the whole time, or need to run back and give you a hug each time they persevere through a tremendous fear and perhaps their own introvert overwhelm in order to actually knock on a stranger’s door and score that fun-sized Snickers. But, as sad as this might feel, you are likely rapidly fading into the background on nights like this one. It’s about the candy, and the fun, and the friends, and maybe a few grapes peeled to look like eyeballs. It’s not about you.

What if you just asked them, “Is it important to you that I come, or is it just the same if I don’t?”

It can be hard to know exactly when our presence matters to our kids. Mine will sometimes beg me to stay and literally push me away in the span of minutes. What if you just asked them, “Is it important to you that I come, or is it just the same if I don’t?” This could be an opportunity to learn more about what actually feels like special connection for them. It might also help them build their understanding of what fills and drains you (we use the metaphor of a “battery” in my family, but buckets do just as fine).

Maybe they’d actually rather you snuggle with them later that night to watch a Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror, or make them pumpkin pancakes in the morning, or just be yourself and give them all of the joy and attention they are probably already getting on the daily, more than almost all human children have gotten for the entirety of human existence.

If you have a partner, the conversation can extend there. Can your partner be the one tracking the mass of trick-or-treaters? Can you cook a late dinner, or get started on next year’s taxes, or simply recharge your battery? I bet there’s something they hate that you love, or at least can tolerate, in exchange. One self-identified introvert friend admitted to me that she doesn’t mind Halloween, she just become anxious about doing it “right” and that her nervous system will enter overload. This year, she decided to just let her husband take her kids for the whole mishegoss, walk herself around the block to catch the good part of the vibes, and head home to “hide in the house” (I’d recommend turning that porch light off).

As you can probably guess from my earlier admissions, I love Halloween. I just gobble it up. This year, I’ve spent all of Halloween weekend in bed, recovering from a bike accident. I missed the parade (actually, there were two), the dress-up party with my husband’s friends, the outdoor screening of Ghostbusters, the “Spooky Puppy” contest, which I’ve been dreaming about for a whole year, ever since I laid eyes on Edward Scissorpaws. I would give anything to be out there, soaking all that humanity (or canine-ness) into my pores. I am keenly aware of that skin-crawly feeling of being in the wrong place for you, at the wrong moment. And you know what, I think you deserve better.

So I’ve come up with a great plan for you: Say goodbye to your family, throw on some sweats, and get the firepit going. The memories will be made, with or without you. But you can’t get back your sanity. That, truly, is precious.

The Good Enough Parent is an advice column for parents who are sick of parenting advice. Let Sarah answer your questions about the messy realities of parenting! Send her your questions via this anonymous form or by emailing her at goodenoughparentcolumn@gmail.com.


Monday, October 28, 2024

It’s Time To Stop Posting Photos Of Each Other’s Kids Without Asking

Oscar Wong/Moment/Getty Images

There is something surreal about scrolling through Instagram and landing on a photo of your own child that you didn’t post. And if, like me, you’re someone who doesn’t share your child on social media, it’s enough to cause a pit in your stomach. Cue the awkward conversation with yet another friend: “Hey, could you please take down that picture of Cooper, crop him out, or put a sticker over his face?” They always oblige, but it’s also always a little uncomfortable — if I’m asking them not to post my kid’s photo online, what must I think of them for posting theirs, right?

In March 2023, my husband texted me a news article. A teammate from his college days had been arrested and charged with possession of child sexual abuse material. (It only made headlines because the guy had also been a contestant on a popular reality TV show.) My world went silent for a minute when it clicked for me that he followed my husband on Instagram, though he mercifully doesn’t post much anyway. And that was when the reality set in: Being private on Instagram wasn’t enough. Predators can sometimes be people you know, who are already in your circle, the ones who are all green flags. Shaken, my husband and I agreed right then: No more photos of our son on social media.

But just over a year later, what felt to us like a personal decision based on very specific circumstances is starting to feel less and less radical. Parents are deciding to keep their kids’ likenesses offline for all kinds of reasons. For some, it’s about letting their kids have privacy, deciding for themselves how they want to share photos of and details about themselves when they’re older. For my husband and I, and a growing contingent of parents, it’s honestly just about the predators.

For us, the first question was how, or if, we should tell our friends and family about our decision. We decided to text a few loved ones, like my mom and sister who loved to proudly post grandma and auntie photos. Thankfully they were, of course, happy to respect our wishes. When it came to our friends, though, things were more complicated. So many of them post pictures of their own children on social media, that issuing some statement in the group chat felt too holier than thou, when really, we don’t pass any judgment on them about it.

By setting this boundary of not posting him, I can drastically reduce the number of photos AI and child predators have to steal. If that takes a lot of awkward conversations with friends and family, I’m happy to have them.

Earlier this year, The New York Times published a bombshell report about how the profiles of Instamoms who use their kids as content often end up becoming favorites of child predators (and some moms lean into it). Men exchange the photos and links to their profiles on messaging apps. While my profile may be private, I’ve learned the hard way that the people who might screenshot my kid’s photo and send it to a disturbing thread of strangers might already follow me.

Which is how we wound up with our current method: approaching each of our friends one by one, apologetically asking them to take down photos of our kid with their child, swearing we aren’t trying to shame them.

Recent news reports about AI being trained on real kids’ photos makes me wonder if our awkward confrontations with friends will soon be commonplace. Whether or not your profiles are set to private, according to a report from Scripps News, AI can still access them, and learn how to generate fake images of kids using your own child’s likeness. In other words, if a predator requests that AI make sexual images of a child my son’s age or with similar traits, somewhere in that image, will there be a trace of his golden hair or blue eyes? In all likelihood I would never, ever know it happened. Even if I did, what could I do about it? A composite image of hundreds, if not more, children — are they all victims, or none of them, since the child in the end result isn’t actually real? There’s just no law for that yet. And how might a future bully use my son’s photos against him with the help of AI? Ask the parents of the high school girls in New Jersey, or the ones in Spain, whose classmates made nude deepfakes of them to circulate online.

When I take an adorable picture of my son in his Harry the Dirty Dog costume for Book Character Day at school, or get a hilarious video snippet of him saying the dog is “buh-skusting” because all she does is lick her butt, I want nothing more than to show everyone. But when I compare the temporary high of likes and comments next to these kinds of risks, I always come back to the same conclusion. We are opting out.

Of course, anytime I leave the house with my son, I accept the fact that other people can photograph and record him. When he strolls through a pumpkin patch or pets the stingrays at the zoo bumping elbows with all the other children, he’s going to be in the background of those parents’ photos. I will never be able to control how his image is shared 100% of the time, but that’s not really the point.

As his mom, I get to choose how much of him I serve up on a platter. I will never be able to erase his existence from the internet, but by setting this boundary of not posting him, for myself and our loved ones, I can drastically reduce the number of photos AI and child predators have to steal.

If that takes a lot of awkward conversations with friends and family, I’m happy to have them. Just this weekend, our neighborhood had a Halloween block party for kids. A group of my friends, all with kids 4 years and younger, took pictures of our children on the front porch steps in their costumes, all excited because we promised them candy if they stood still and smiled. The next morning, one friend texted me. “Hey, [our mutual friend] mentioned you don’t want pictures of Cooper on socials. Do you mind if I post and cover his face?” I thanked her for checking, and got the warm-and-fuzzies knowing my friends are happy to help me do what I think is best for my kid.

I am grateful to have such thoughtful friends, but it’d be really, really nice if we could stop treating posting photos of each other’s kids like they’re not a big deal. Because I didn’t know who was lurking in my own friends list, and I definitely don’t know who’s hiding in theirs.


I Breastfed My Daughter For 2 Years As An Act Of Resistance

Lisa5201/E+/Getty Images

Even before I gave birth, I knew that I wanted to exclusively breastfeed my baby. After a surgery to remove fibroids followed by infertility, it felt like my body had been failing me at every turn, and breastfeeding was the least it could do. This was my chance for something to go according to plan — for my body to finally perform the way it was “supposed” to. I’d be damned if I let anything get in my way.

And I didn’t. In the three years since I gave birth, my baby has turned into quite the vivacious toddler, and I’m starting to reexamine the ways I approached breastfeeding. Exactly why was I so stubborn about it? I’m grateful for the experience and proud of what my body accomplished, but if there’s a next time, I want to figure out how to be gentler to myself.

As a Black mom, I certainly felt like I had something to prove. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that rates of breastfeeding “duration and exclusivity” are 10% to 20% lower among Black infants, compared with white infants. This means that Black babies are less likely to breastfeed compared with other racial and ethnic groups.

Ymani Blake, maternal health advocate, doula, and founder of Indigo Road Collective in Chicago, has a few theories as to why.

“Even though I believe the Black maternal health landscape is shifting, Black moms often don’t have the support or resources to breastfeed the way they are anticipating,” she told me. She cites the fact that most parents in the United States are going back to work one to two months after birth as a huge factor deterring breastfeeding, not to mention a detriment to postpartum healing and bonding. “We are also experiencing trauma during pregnancy and birth at alarming rates,” she says, “which makes it difficult to focus on anything other than just surviving the experience. Culturally, I think we are beginning to have more conversations around normalizing breastfeeding because it’s actually something that we’ve always done, despite the narrative that claims we don’t want to.”

I’m not sure where, when or how this narrative that Black women don’t breastfeed began, but I know I was on a mission to prove whomever started it wrong. And to me, breastfeeding was not only a form of resistance but also resilience. I thought of how enslaved Black women were forced to nurse and nurture the children of their enslavers, and held my daughter tight — cherishing the special bond we got to develop while I fed her.

We’re told over and over that breastfeeding has health benefits for babies and nursing parents and I told myself that if “breast was best,” then I had to provide my baby the best at all times and by any means necessary, even at the detriment of my own mental health and well-being. As an anxious person turned anxious mom, I took all of the “shoulds” and “supposed tos” of new parenthood to heart. I remember one late night (or early morning, who’s to say exactly?) when my husband was practically pleading with me to let him give Violet a bottle. I’d been pumping to build up a freezer stash (another “supposed to”), but I was fearful that if she had a bottle, she would reject me and our breastfeeding journey would be over shortly after it began. (Just Google “nipple confusion” to see what I mean.)

And while my dedication to breastfeeding may have partly come from concerns about my baby’s and my health and well-being, it was probably more about not wanting to seem like a Bad Mom. Intellectually, I knew that fed was best, but mentally and emotionally, there was more going on. After all, everyone and their mama (literally) touts “breast is best,” and I feared judgment.

I’m grateful for the experience and proud of what my body accomplished, but if there’s a next time, I want to figure out how to be gentler to myself.

My initial goal was to exclusively breastfeed for six months, per the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendation — or at least that’s what I told people. Secretly, I knew I wanted to do it for a full year given all of the benefits breast milk has for babies (and, selfishly, to prove that I could do it). But when the AAP changed its guidance from the recommended one year of breastfeeding to two in the summer of 2022, I settled in for the long haul.

Within a few months of our daughter starting day care, though, that freezer stash I’d spent months building was gone. I thought I could keep pumping the equivalent of what she was consuming on a daily basis, but I was wrong, and we ran through the milk quickly.

I was frantic with my husband, Jeff. “I can set an alarm to pump every two hours overnight. I can power pump the next day and run the additional bottles to the school.”

“Stop,” he said lovingly, holding both of my shoulders and looking me in my eyes. “You’ve done enough.”

I wish I had started weaning then, but once again, my pride was getting in the way. There was also fear: Given our arduous journey to get pregnant, my anxiety convinced me we wouldn’t be able to conceive again. This would probably be my first and last chance at breastfeeding. And even if we were blessed to have another child, there was no guarantee our feeding journey would be the same. I wanted to hold onto this as long as I could.

I felt a lot of dread around what our last feeding session might look like — would I know? Would I be sad later? — but by the time December rolled around, 26 months after Violet was born, we were both done, and to my surprise, there were no tears from either of us. We were ready.

When I asked Ymani Blake whether it was possible to do what I did, but in a more gentle way, she assured me it was: “Even though breastfeeding can be a beautiful journey, that doesn’t mean that you need to sacrifice yourself for it. … Postpartum is a roller coaster ride where you will encounter so much joy and sometimes deep disappointment. No matter where you are or what you decide to do, please be gentle with yourself. You deserve the same support and care that you’re lovingly giving to your child.”

As parents, it can feel natural to put basically everyone and everything above our own needs, but it wasn’t until I became a mom did I understand the importance of putting yourself first — your mental health, your physical health, your emotional health, all of it. If tending to yourself means ending your breastfeeding journey earlier than you expected, that doesn’t make you a bad mom. Quite the contrary, it makes you a damn good mom.

L’Oreal Thompson Payton is a Chicago-based author, award-winning journalist and motivational speaker. Her debut book, Stop Waiting for Perfect: Step Out of Your Comfort Zone and Into Your Power, is a must-read manifesto for high-achievers.


Friday, October 25, 2024

These Are The Year’s Hottest Toys For Every Kid On Your List

You know that friend who always has the good recommendations for everything from hair stylists to laundry detergent? That’s basically The Toy Insider, but with an expertise in all things kid’s entertainment. Their team of experts has more than 100 years combined experience in the toy biz, and they recently put all that helpful knowledge together to launch their legendary Holiday Gift Guide. The guide features 375 of the very best toys, games, and gifts for kids of every age, and all of their selections come from trusted manufacturers and are sold by retailers you already know and love.

If you’re interested in checking out the full guide, you’ll be able to easily shop by age range. But since Romper editors know that holiday shopping can sometimes feel as easy as climbing Mount Everest in a pair of old flip-flops, we trimmed down the list a bit below to feature 20 top toys of the year.

Keep scrolling to check them out, then prepare to secure your status as the favorite family member.

Be Loved Babies

Unlock the possibilities of imaginative play with these adorable dolls. With baby-soft skin, a matching headband and onesie set, rooted eyelashes, and a soft articulated baby body, Be Loved Babies are perfect for nurturing those mama-in-training instincts.

Be Loved Babies

IMC Toys

Tonka Retro Mighty Dump Truck- Collector’s Edition

Mom win alert! With a design based on the original 1972 edition, this toy truck features double the steel of the original model, meaning it’s equipped to haul everything from backyard pebbles to your toddler's impressive stick collection. Fair warning: You might catch your partner sneaking off to "help" with sandbox construction projects.

Tonka Retro Mighty Dump Truck - Collector's Edition

Basic Fun!

Fisher-Price Rockin’ Record Player

It’s never too early for your tot to start their vinyl collection. This toy lets little musicians place the player’s arm, watch the record spin, and listen to 20 real songs on five doubled-sided play records — all without the risk of your actual records getting scratched.

Fisher-Price Rockin' Record Player

Mattel

Playmates Tales Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Roll ‘N Punch Figures

Ideal for the kiddos who have energy for days (we’ve all been there), these 12-inch turtles pack a punch — literally. Roll the turtle on a flat surface to activate the punching action. Plus, as they roll, their torso spins and moves their giant fists from side to side.

Playmates Tales of the Teenage Mutant Nina Turtles Roll 'N Punch Figures

Playmates Toys

Mini Brands Create Garden Capsule

These mini gardens are too cute for the plant mamas raising future green thumbs (or, you know, attempting to). Bonus: Unlike real plants, these won't die if you forget to water them! A win-win.

Mini Brands Create Garden Capsule

Zuru

Pokémon Deluxe Holiday Calendar

Countdown to the holidays Pokémon-style with this 24-day advent calendar that features over fifteen Battle Figures and eight accessories. Gotta catch 'em all, right?

Pokémon Deluxe Holiday Calendar

Jazwares

Despicable Me 4 Ultimate Fart Blaster

Fair warning: This one is for the moms who don't mind a little potty humor. This fart blaster shoots out — you guessed it — fart-scented rings up to six feet away. Don’t worry, it also comes with the option for banana-scented farts.

Despicable Me 4 Ultimate Fart Blaster

Moose Toys

Hex Bots Wall Crawler Gecko

Remember that lizard that had you shrieking at 2 a.m.? This robotic version is way cuter and won't leave you scrambling for the broom. With LED eyes and a remote control, it's like a tiny, house-trained Godzilla.

Hex Bots Wall Crawler Gecko

Spin Master

The Simpsons Living Room Diorama Set

This diorama set recreates iconic Simpsons moments right in your living room. It's like Springfield moved in, minus the nuclear power plant.

The Simpsons Living Room Diorama Set

Jakks Pacific

Plai: Poe The AI Story Bear

A teddy bear that tells bedtime stories? Yes, please! It's like having a built-in babysitter for those nights when you're too tired to think up another dragon tale. This cute teddy safely uses artificial intelligence platforms to create unique stories from ideas that kids or caregivers input into a companion app.

Plai: Poe the AI Story Bear

Skyrocket

Disney Doorables Micro Motion

Imagine Cinderella twirling in her gown or Stitch strumming his ukulele, but pocket-sized and actually moving. These teeny Disney figures are like magic beans for imagination (and sanity-savers during long car rides). With 20 possible characters, it's like collecting pixie dust in capsule form.

Disney Doorables Micro Motion

Just Play

Transformers Power Flip Optimus Prince Orion Pax

This Transformer grows to ten inches and converts between Orion Pax, a Cybertronian Truck, Optimus Prime, and Ultimate Optimus Prime. If only our kids' rooms could transform and clean themselves, right?

Transformers Power Flip Optimus Prime Orion Pax

Hasbro

Koosh Slingshot

Moms, meet your new secret weapon against boredom (and maybe sibling squabbles). This Koosh slingshot is so easy to use that even your "I can't tie my shoes" kindergartner will be a pro in no time. Load, pull, launch — boom, you've got entertainment! Watch those mini Koosh balls soar up to 50 feet and beyond. The best part? The handle doubles as storage when playtime is over.

Koosh Slingshot

Playmonster

Pokémon TCG: Stellar Crown Elite Trainer Box

For the Pokémon trainers in your life, this is like striking gold. Just be prepared to learn a whole new language of Pikachus and Charizards.

Pokémon TCG: Stellar Crown Elite Trainer Box

The Pokémon Co. International

Kanoodle Ultimate Champion

The newest addition to the viral line of puzzle games features 500 new brain-teasers (in both 2D and 3D modes) to keep kids quiet for hours. You might even sneak in a few rounds yourself during naptime.

Kanoodle Ultimate Champion

Educational Insights

MGA’s Miniverse Make It Mini Spa

DIY spa treatments, but oh-so-tiny. Each capsule contains everything kids need to make bath bombs, sugar scrubs, or soap. And the capsule doubles as a bathroom display.

MGA's Miniverse Make It Mini Spa

MGA Entertainment

Stumble Guys Articulated Action Figures Series 2

These little dudes come with exclusive surprise stickers, and what kid doesn’t like stickers? Fan-favorite Stumble Guys characters like Robot Guy, Golden Sensei, and Dusk Dragon are joining this lineup of articulated action figures.

Stumble Guys Articulated Action Figures Series 2

PMI Kids' World

The Legend Of Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom

It’s up to Zelda to save Hyrule by solving puzzles and using new magical abilities. Girl power in pixelated form? Yes, please!

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

Nintendo

Fortnite Supply Llama

It's Fortnite meets LEGO. Because why should kids choose between their two obsessions? Once the 691 pieces are assembled, the llama has a moveable head and opening mouth, plus the ability to stash gear inside.

Fortnite Supply Llama

The Lego Group

Siren Blasters

Foam dart blasters that shoot up to 200 feet. Perfect for those days when you need the kids to play outside... like, way outside.

Siren Blasters

NSI International

There you have it: Your ticket to holiday shopping domination. These toys are so fun, you might find yourself "testing" them after bedtime. For even more gifting inspo, check out The Toy Insider's 2024 Holiday Gift Guide and give them a follow on social at @thetoyinsider. Now go forth and conquer that gift list — you've got this!


Thursday, October 24, 2024

Raising Kids Is Hard. It's Harder When You’re Parenting Through Trauma.

J_art/Moment/Getty Images

When news of the Surgeon General’s Advisory on Parental Health and Well-Being hit my feeds in late August, I clicked on Dr. Vivek Murthy’s story in the New York Times with the mix of curiosity and skepticism I typically feel when I open my kids’ report cards. On one hand, I’m always hopeful for some unexpected revelation that might help me connect with them in a new way. On the other, these are my kids we’re talking about. I’m with them all the time, including every evening as they labor through homework, so there should be zero surprises.

I dug into Murthy’s piece like it was the teacher comments section, on a familiar hunt for whatever nuggets of insight he might have to offer. At the same time, as a mom of three young children who finds herself naturally and constantly in touch with all aspects of his thesis, I was doubtful I’d find anything I didn’t already know.

Murthy argues that parents exist in an unsustainable state of overwhelm. That our stressors are big and plentiful, from economic concerns to basic safety, and that this chronic stress threatens the whole ecosystem — parents, kids, and by extension, all of society. To this I thought, respectfully, Duh?

I quickly realized, though, that this report wasn’t intended to solve the state of modern parenting, but to establish the extent of the problem. And I recognized myself there, in the tricky, heavy business of raising kids and running a household in the face of fearfulness and uncertainty. But what happens when there's more to the story?

Sudden, unexpected trauma as the primary source of parental stress is touched on only briefly in the report, despite the fact that many of us have experienced something like this, or will: a tragedy so random and out of bounds that it leaves not only our hearts shattered, but our belief systems, too. For me, it was the death of my older sister in a bicycling accident, seven years ago, that turned my whole system on its head — an epic loss that made every assumption I had held about life feel flimsy and foolish. In an instant, everything became dangerous; nothing was safe. My generalized, dare I say “normal” new-mom worries escalated immediately into a stubborn, all-encompassing anxiety and habitual hypervigilance, snowplowing in the extreme. Except it didn’t come from a place of wanting my kids to get ahead — honestly, that was the furthest thing from my mind. I’ve operated this way because I genuinely believed that’s what was needed to keep them alive.

Parenting from this mindset is a disaster. We know this, and yet, it’s helpful to understand how many of us have landed here: about 5 out of every 100 adults (or 5%) in the U.S. has PTSD in any given year.

My anxiety didn’t come from a place of wanting my kids to get ahead — honestly, that was the furthest thing from my mind. I’ve operated this way because I genuinely believed that’s what was needed to keep them alive.

The year Maureen died, my oldest, Scotty, was almost three, and his sister Caroline had just turned one. I’d read enough Janet Lansbury by that point to know, intellectually, that it was healthy and necessary for them to explore and experiment. But if I had been a bit of a hoverer before, the post-traumatic shift happening inside my mind brought an alertness I couldn’t turn off. It was like living inside of a split screen: one side showing my kids doing typical kid things, the other with a night vision overlay that revealed lurking almost-accidents in every direction. I couldn’t get out of my own way. So I got into theirs — barking out dire warnings of coffee table corners, too-high climbing branches, and tricky playground obstacles. If I had a dollar for every time I shouted some variation of “Be careful!” I’d be very, very rich.

I’ve often wondered if, within a year or two, I would’ve eventually found a way to mellow (or, another word I love, integrate) on my own, but life had other plans. Our youngest, Will, arrived prematurely at twenty-eight weeks and six days gestation in November of 2019 after a horror show of pregnancy complications. His three-month NICU stay and subsequent post-discharge health crises dovetailed with the dawn of Covid, so things continued to be not only scary and stressful, but infinitely more complex.

For a solid year, Covid shutdowns did a lot of the work for me. It was easy to decline playdates and outings and limit visitors, and everyone, to my great delight, became as obsessed with hand washing as I did. But as life opened back up, I started to feel like the person time forgot. I didn’t yearn for socializing or in-person alternatives to Zoom. I was fine sending the big kids to school in masks if it meant keeping Will healthy. A controversial stance, I realize, but one I was glad to take after the common cold had landed him back in the ICU.

Turns out it wasn’t just the germs. My split screen came back online with all manner of calamities unfolding on the night vision side — truly the most random, micro-level stuff. Stairs and curbs freaked me out. The stomping sound of the kids running in the house. S’more making (marshmallow spear could poke someone’s eye out), popcorn eating (you’ll choke on an un-popped kernel), and standing near a tree for too long (Google “sudden limb drop,” it’s a thing). Halloween (a kid’s dream day!) was haunted not by witches and goblins but my own ghastly hollering at anyone who stepped outside the painted confines of a crosswalk, or, God forbid, into one without a firmly lit WALK signal beckoning. With each small freedom granted, the instinct to retreat grew. One day my Instagram algorithm correctly served up a meme that read “Actually, all my systems are nervous,” and I thought to myself, Umm, yeah. I should have shirts made.

In the choice between fight, flight or freeze, I was certifiably frozen. In thought and in time, unable to acknowledge what could not be more clear: my one-size-fits-all safety strategy no longer worked, if it ever did. The kids (even Will!) were growing bigger, stronger and more capable in all the ways, which made my hyper-vigilance the increasingly limiting factor in their lives.

I’d argue that the most unreasonable expectation of a parent is to raise children alongside the intimate knowing that stuff happens.

But didn’t the fact that we all had made it this far just mean I was doing a really good job? To me, the more obvious move here was staying the course: I’d keep on with my mental tally of fun times had vs. worry expended, forever balancing the karmic equation that determined the safety we were owed.

I should have known better, right? Didn’t the death of my brilliant, beautiful sister followed by a totally unforeseen pregnancy debacle teach me life’s essential lesson on the illusion of control? Yes, and: nothing made more sense than tightening my grip. If our multitude-containing son or daughter, spouse, sibling, parent, or friend can, despite everything else, be reduced to an unfortunate case of wrong place, wrong time, or, — worse — Oops!, is there any more appropriate response as a parent than limiting the places and shortening the times?

That is what I needed the Surgeon General to signal in the advisory: a cellular-level understanding of what life with kids can look like when loss and trauma have upended your world view. By all means, his calls for more parental support, through policies and other institutional improvements are woefully needed, especially where looming wrong place-wrong time tragedies actually can be avoided (no more salient issue here than gun safety, in my opinion). Surely, there is urgent work to be done. But where his focus lands more in the stress parents feel to “keep up,” I’d argue that the most unreasonable expectation of a parent is to raise children alongside the intimate knowing that stuff happens. Stuff we didn’t plan for, and indeed, stuff we might be spending our whole lives ferociously trying to avoid.

I’ve lived with this knowing for seven years now. At times it feels like a superpower; at others, a weight I wish to put down. There is a constant tension between expansion and constriction, between “yes” moments and “no, no, no, this is all too much” — broadly, a sentiment Dr. Murthy seems to share.

So while he hasn’t yet landed on a legislative solution for existential dread, I’m heartened that he does seem to get what makes all of this worse: silence. The weight felt heaviest when I thought I was carrying it alone.

Grief and trauma responses are tough neural pathways to rewire, and it’s taken me a long time to realize that my fear will never go away entirely, nor should it.

In truth, I never was alone — but, man, has it been hard for me to feel that. My husband, my friends and family, my wonderful therapist — I’ve been extremely fortunate to walk through these difficult years with people whose brains aren’t permanently set to my doom-and-gloom channel, but tune in often enough to appreciate why mine is. They’ve also helped me arrive at what I think my goal really is: to be less reactive and more measured in my most fearful moments.

Admittedly, the progress towards these ideals has been slow-going, and only moves in relation to how open and vulnerable I am willing to be about the extent of my fears. Grief and trauma responses are tough neural pathways to rewire, and it’s taken me a long time to realize that my fear will never go away entirely, nor should it. My perspective is hard-won.

But more and more, the shift is apparent. I’ve always been buoyed by the notion that despite my heightened state, I’m still able to experience moments of real joy and ease — and from the looks of it, so do my kids. Now, watching Scotty zip down our block on his scooter (helmet firmly affixed), or Caroline set off to walk home from school with her bestie (only via streets with crossing guards), my heart bursts seeing their smiles. Wide grins projecting their felt sense of freedom, of “Look what I’m doing!” (or maybe more accurately, “I can’t believe you’re letting me do this!”). It’s elation, satisfaction, and confidence — feelings and qualities they deserve to possess, along with the skills and intuition they are building to identify danger, should it come their way.

For good reason, easing up with Will has been a bit of a different story. But our baby steps are getting bigger. Last month he came home sick with walking pneumonia, a diagnosis that’s historically been a 10/10 scare factor for me and extremely dangerous for Will and his little preemie lungs. “Remember,” the doctor said to me as we were leaving his office, “We can’t prevent him from ever getting sick. It’s about having a plan for when he does.” Jeez! Could you have told me that four years ago?

Thankfully, we survived. Will even said to me, “See, Mommy? (cough, cough), I’m fine!” “Louder!” I told him, and he repeated his declaration, with another cough for theatrical effect. He gets it, I thought, and hopefully so does the universe. I don’t do subtle when it comes to these reminders, I need it loud and clear: he’s a different kid now. I suppose I’m becoming a different mom, too.

Catherine Nettleton lives in Westchester County, NY with her husband and three kids (ages 10, 8, and 4.5). Her writing is focused on the topics of grief and loss, parenting, and caregiving.


Thursday, October 17, 2024

'Dino Dex' Is Prime Video's Newest Show In The Dino Franchise — FIRST LOOK

Amazon

There are few things better than a STEAM show that combines all of your kid’s quirks — love of art, curiosity, science — and if you’re on the hunt for a new one, Amazon Prime definitely has you covered. Part of the Dino franchise that included previous beloved shows like Dino Dan and Dino Dana, there is now Dino Dex — and Romper has the exclusive clip.

Debuting Sunday, October 20 on Amazon Kids+ and Prime Video, Dino Dex is going to open up a whole new avenue for science-loving kids. Every kid has a dinosaur phase, but for the kids who question exactly why we think of a T-Rex as being a muscular dinosaur with a roar that could shatter glass, Dino Dex is the show for them. Set in the Dino universe, six years after the latest season of Dino Dana, Dino Dex picks up with 9-year-old Dex, Dana’s little brother, who has the same Dino Field Guide as his predecessors to magically see and study dinosaurs in the real world — but with a twist.

The show has taken real science knowledge and paleontology discoveries and weaved them into the show, by having Dex uncover new dinosaur facts and change everything we thought about some of our favorite prehistoric buddies. With the help of his next door neighbor Kayla, the two will question all of the world’s previous dinosaur knowledge and use it to see the dinosaurs for what they really are — and what they can really do.

Romper has an exclusive clip below:

I mean, that’s not exactly how you’ve envisioned velociraptors before, is it?I love how Dino Dex will encourage kids to not only question the world around them, but to get extra creative with their thoughts and ideas through discovery. The show will also introduce 10 new dinosaur species, so if you thought your little paleontologist knew a lot before — just wait. The Dino franchise was already doing a stellar job at making science accessible for kids, and now they’ll feel more empowered than ever to get curious, create their own opinions and ideas, and share those with others.

Not all of Season 1 will drop immediately — and there will be 26 episodes — so you and your kids can enjoy checking out new episodes together as they’re released. If you need a little refresh, Dino Dana — both the series and the movie — are available on Prime Video as well.

Dino Dex premieres on Sunday, October 20, exclusively on Amazon Kids+ and Prime Video. Even if your kid’s not fully into dinosaurs yet, this is a great show to introduce them to the wonder of the prehistoric age, especially as so much of what we thought we knew about this time changes with modern discoveries. There’s action, there’s fun, and there’s a whole lot of creativity in Dino Dex. I can’t wait to watch.


Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Halloween Is The Great Equalizer

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Holidays are always a little overwhelming — you want it to be a core memory for your kids and you want it to be magical, so you always feel a little panicked at getting it all right. When you mix in social media and all of the comparing and consuming we do through the apps during the holidays, it can really level up that stress and guilt. How can your family have a happy holiday when you see other kids going on $300 Polar Express trips and reels from parents who seem to have oodles of time for gingerbread house competitions and already bought the top-of-the-list gifts back in September?

For one thing, get off of Instagram and TikTok. It’ll help. And then: embrace Halloween. Because Halloween is the great equalizer.

Halloween just has a vintage vibe. It’s one of those holidays steeped in nostalgia, and I honestly think it’s mostly because not much has changed about the holiday in the last several decades. Sure, decorations have gotten bigger and the holiday has expanded to include more community events and not just one lone night of spooky season, but unlike Christmas — which has exploded with things like buying every single teacher in your kid’s school a gift and hosting Grinch-themed parties that cost a small fortune — Halloween has stayed mostly the same. You can go to a community Halloween event like trunk-or-treat or participate in a Halloween parade (events that are usually free to attend, by the way) or DIY a million pumpkins, but if you and your kids just trick-or-treat on Halloween night in a costume? Then you’ve done Halloween exactly right.

Because underneath the Instagram reels showing you the best way to carve a pumpkin and the only Halloween decoration you need and the trendiest costumes of the year, there is just October 31st. A day of spooky vibes, of soft orange light setting over your front yard, of holding hands with your partner as you follow your tiny Spider-Man down your neighbor’s driveway. It’s one of those few experiences — like elementary school field day or blowing out the candles on your birthday — that still feels like it did when you were a kid. And nobody’s comparing costumes or turning their nose up at each other’s pillow cases versus monogrammed treat baskets from Pottery Barn; parents are nodding at each other, laughing. Helping someone else’s little witch when they trip over the porch steps, telling each other that they love their family’s costumes.

There is so much to consider with other holidays. Even Valentine’s Day social media posts can leave you feeling flustered. (Seriously, is making every single meal into the shape of a heart necessary?) But Halloween is the great equalizer. Even if you don’t live in a neighborhood to trick-or-treat, there’s somewhere to go. Even if you haven’t watched Hocus Pocus or hosted a Halloween party, you’ve donned some sunglasses and pretended to be a “rockstar” to trick-or-treat. And nobody, and I mean nobody, is judging your kid’s DIY costume, because even if you walk out the door with an old bed sheet cut into a ghost costume, someone’s going to be delighted. You’re keeping it classic. You’re going for a good, old-fashioned Halloween.

Will one house on the street have hundreds of dollars worth of decorations? Sure. But on the big night, is anybody looking at that house and thinking the house next door with the single Jack-O’-Lantern should step it up a bit? Absolutely not, they’re just looking forward to ringing that doorbell.

Because everybody wins on Halloween.


Tuesday, October 15, 2024

13 Non-Scary Zombie Makeup For Kids For Halloween

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When you ask your kids what they want to be for Halloween, you might get a couple of different answers, but without a doubt, you know that they'll need your help to pull off the perfect Halloween costume. If they’re leaning far from the innocence of animated characters like Bluey and want to be something a little scarier, like a zombie, having a great makeup plan is key. Any clothes can be zombie clothes, but zombie makeup for kids is a must to pull off the spooky look.

Some kids want their Halloween costumes to be as scary as possible, but no matter how you feel about it, makeup can really help kids go either way. Even the least scary zombie makeup tutorial can look spooky in the right setting, and if you want to go all out with blood and scars, there are plenty of options. The zombie makeup ideas for kids on this list go from both ends of the spectrum, and you can do most of these with makeup you already have in your home. Keep some wipes nearby to clean as you go if need be, and just have fun with it.

Bruised Zombie

@beautybybelinda

@Beautybybelinda’s TikTok feed is full of creative and eccentric makeup looks, as well as other beauty tips and product reviews. She has over 63k followers and was even featured on Season 1 of Glow Up on Netflix. The best thing about her zombie makeup look is that it’s super quick and easy. You don’t have to be a skilled artist to pull it off or use any fancy tools. After applying foundation, line one side of the forehead with some contour, as well as on the inner and outer corners of both eyes. When you blend it all in, they should look kind of like bruises. Then, put some white eyeliner on the areas you want to look less bruised. Finally, use some liquid lipstick to create a bloody look on one side of the lip.

Vein-y Zombie

@alexabeautyy

Popular TikTok user @alexabeautyy is known for creating videos that rapidly show her adding makeup, and revealing the final look at the end. Oftentimes her makeup is a recreation of a popular character, like The Flash or Disgust from Inside Out. Her zombie makeup look, which emphasizes the veins of a particularly translucent zombie, got nearly 200k likes from her 7.5 million followers. Start with some yellow-green eyeshadow on the whole face and then brush some darker, purple hues onto the eyelids. Use red liquid lipstick or eyeshadow on the neck and blend with the same purple hues to make it look like both a bruise and a cut. Then, use a thinner eyeshadow brush to draw purple veins all over the face going in different directions. This part makes it a bit more scary so it can be optional if you want: add black eyeshadow to the eyes and splotch some red liquid lipstick around the lips that resembles blood. The veins are the best part, so you can emphasize that the most if that’s what your child wants.

Scarred Zombie

BeforeAndAfterTV on YouTube

This zombie look from BeforeandAfterTV on YouTube requires all-over coverage and some layering of colors. First, sponge on some light makeup. Then, mix green and black shadows together for the creepiest color to darken the eyes, cheekbones, nose, and forehead. Draw veins and things on their little face with black liquid eyeliner. They'll look like a zombie, but it won't be too scary.

Injured Zombie

RandomUsefulStuff on YouTube

RandomUsefulStuff on YouTube created a zombie look that requires you to apply makeup to the neck and shoulders, as well as the face. Then, use a dark eye shadow all around the eye to create that un-dead look. Blend it all together and then outline the bones in the neck, the outsides of the nose, and the mouth. Finish it up with some bloody cuts if you want to make it just a little bit spookier, or leave them off for a more G-rated version.

Black And Green Zombie

iCandiemakeupBri on YouTube

iCandiemakeupBri on YouTube has a zombie look that’s classic. Start with a layer of primer and concealer all over their face. Then, use black and green eyeshadows for a ghoulish look. Layer a different shade of green over the darker colors and blend. Then, use a light color (like white or gray) and apply there wherever the dark colors aren't. Contour the neck with the black and green color. Baby powder all over the lighter colors gives you even more of a spooky look. How easy is that?

Glam Zombie

Kim Conner on YouTube

For this subtle, glam zombie look by Kim Conner on YouTube, all you'll need is baby powder, some makeup brushes, dark eyeshadows to hollow out the eyes and do a bit of contouring, and black lipstick or liquid eyeliner. The key to this subtle look (minus the lip, of course) is to blend, blend, blend.

Subtle Zombie

Alyxify on YouTube

This zombie look, basically, just looks like you haven't slept in a while. Alyxify on YouTube uses primer, foundation, a light liquid makeup, and setting powder first. Fill in the eyebrows and then put smudgy eyeliner under the eye. Use purples, browns, blues, and greens all around the eyes and apply with your finger. Contour with dark colors, as well (use your fingers again). Don't forget about your lips. You'll look zombie-like, but not enough to really scare anyone.

Contoured Zombie

Kristi Collings on YouTube

This zombie look by Kristi Collings on YouTube looks more complicated to pull off than some of the others, but is really easy when you get right down to it. All you'll need is white and black makeup and some moisturizer. Apply a layer of light makeup with your hands, a makeup brush, or a sponge. Don't forget to cover their ears and necks as well. Use a dark-colored makeup stick to contour. Then, blend your contouring lines, adding more and more color until you get the look you're going for. That's it. Now they're Halloween-ready.

Baby Zombie

Zach Duty on YouTube

For this zombie look — by Zach Duty on YouTube — layer brown, green, and beige to create your base. Blend it all together with your hands. Then, go back in with shades of red and purple to make it look like they have scrapes on their face. Blend and blend in a little bit more of the brown tones if needed. They'll be the cutest, creepiest baby zombie on the block.

Bleeding Zombie

BlueEyedJackson on YouTube

This zombie tutorial includes directions for gashes and the like, but you can skip those if you don't want things to get too scary. BlueEyedJackson on YouTube says to apply a light face makeup all over their entire face, including the eyelashes and lips. Apply dark shades of eyeshadow on their cheeks and forehead and blend it in until you achieve the look you wanted. Smudge black eyeshadow all over their eyes for a hollowed look. Use red lipstick for blood if you'd like. They're ready to trick-or-treat!

Easy Zombie Effect

HalloweenCostumes.com YouTube

When it comes to getting a child Halloween-ready, sometimes speed and ease is of the essence. Your little zombie might not have the patience for a several hours-long makeup transformation. This HalloweenCostumes.com tutorial from YouTube is easy and will have them looking spooky faster than you can say “boo!”

Don’t Forget The Hairstyle

The Daya Daily on YouTube

Nailing a creepy makeup look is just part of the challenge of making your kid look like an A+ zombie. Don’t forget the hair. The Daya Daily’s YouTube tutorial will help you amp up the creepy look without totally freaking out your child and their friends.

Zombie Frankenstein

Momdotcom on YouTube

What was Frankenstein if not a man-made zombie? If your child wants to get that monster zombie look, then this Momdotcom YouTube guide is what you need. This tutorial gives you maximum effect with minimal scare

Ready for your child to be the most frightening versions of themselves? Then pick one of these tutorials, get out your makeup brushes, and get to work. Any of these looks will satisfy your child’s desires to look like the undead.


Monday, October 14, 2024

Bandit's Middle Name Is A Minisode Easter Egg & And IRL Homage

Disney+

A new batch of Bluey minisodes dropped last Monday (and not a moment too soon; we were starting to get shaky waiting for new content) and while there were lots of great moments, we want to talk about one of our very favorite new minisodes, “Browny Bear.” This one gives us Bluey silliness at its best— from Bandit being cheeky with Chilli and the girls to creating a pitch-perfect yet kid-friendly film noir parody. But we also got something else we love to see in a Bluey episode: Easter eggs! One of our favorite Easter eggs in “Browny Bear” was the revelation of Bandit’s middle name and birthday.

This episode opens with Bandit —what else— teasing his family. He reaches over to Bluey, Bingo, and Chilli’s opposite shoulders and gives them a tap. When they turn around, to their surprise, no one is there. While they all suspect Bandit is the culprit, Dad is vehemently denying any wrong-doing. But soon, Browny Bear (one of the girls’ stuffed animals) is on the case, puppetted and voiced by Bandit, naturally.

Browny Bear isn’t a very good detective. Mostly he zones out when people talk to him because he’s imagining he’s a drummer for Led Zeppelin. But soon he’s given a tip: while sitting at a “bar” in the playroom, someone slides him an ID for Bandit Heeler. And seeing this perfect replica of an actual Queensland driver’s license, we get some new information on our favorite TV dad. For one, his birthday is October 25, 1978. We also get his middle name: Custard!

Disney+

Now this would be fun information for any mega-fan in and of itself, but it’s knowing where these details come from that make it truly worth a chuckle. The answers primarily lie with David McCormack, the voice actor who does the voice of Bandit.

Bandit’s October 25 birthday makes him a Scorpio, naturally— what other star sign could dream up Unicorse? But it also means he shares a birthday with none other than David McCormack, who was born October 25 1968. Why the 10-year discrepancy, probably to put Bandit around 45 years old, which is about the same age as series creator and head writer Joe Brumm, who based Bluey on his own family life (and Bandit largely on himself).

Bandit’s middle name is also an homage to McCormack, who is the lead singer of the Australian indie band called (you guessed it) Custard!

Honestly, Bluey doesn’t need these details to be a truly engaging, fun family show, but the fact that the writers, animators, and everybody at Ludo chooses to include these “blink and you miss it” snippets is a reflection of how much thought and care they put into the characters and storytelling.


I Know Nothing About Soccer. I'm Still Coaching My Daughter's Team.

Olga Pankova/Moment/Getty Images

I’m coaching my eight year old daughter’s soccer team. You might be thinking, “What a kind thing to do!” but let me stop you right there: I am coaching because I am an absolute control freak who loves to be in charge. There is no generosity here; this is 100% Kristy from The Babysitters Club energy. There is also gratitude, as a mom with multiple sclerosis, I did not know if I’d be well enough to coach my kid’s sports teams. My health currently lets me run the field with my daughter and her teammates, and any side effects I have certainly don’t get in the way of me yelling some version of, “YOU ARE AN OLYMPIAN,” at a small child any time the ball comes near the goal.

Let me be clear, do I know a lot about soccer? No ma’am. (I played one year as a child, but cannot remember it through the haze of Capri Suns and childhood trauma). Do I know a lot about other sports? Also no. the sport I know the most about is soccer, and that is, as I said, nothing. But what I lack in skills I make up for in enthusiasm and ability to shout out a child’s name and specific athletic compliment. Is this coaching? No. Have we won some games, though? Yes.

Because we live in Seattle, a place that loves darkness, our team name is The Crows. I have the girls yell “CAW, CAW!” as they take the field, their arms waving like wings, friendship bracelets flapping in the wind. At the end of each game, I award a player Crow of the Game. Despite the fact that at the first game, the parents watching from the sidelines thought I was handing out a dead bird, they are stuffed animals and the girls love them.

I want her to know the joy of these movements before she settles into the joy of the right lipstick and outfit for a Friday night.

I decided to coach because I know what’s on the horizon for my daughter. Soon her body will be a container for more than just handstands and goalie kicks, and I want her to know the joy of these movements before she settles into the joy of the right lipstick and outfit for a Friday night. I want the girls on my teams to be given nicknames about how powerful they are instead of how beautiful they are. Current Crow nicknames include: the Brick Wall, Sparky and Killer. (Killer is the quietest kid on the team, and adores her nickname.)

I know how sport can completely shift the relationship one has with their body. After my diagnosis with multiple sclerosis at the age of 20, I immediately joined a gym. I decided I was “going to use my body while I still [could],” and found that focusing on my squat weight helped me when I worried about the future loss of my mobility. The gym, and movement, became a way to be in my body, to celebrate it, at a time when my body felt very scary.

This awareness — that exercise can ground me in my body, even when I don’t understand what my body is doing — is what I hope to pass onto my daughter, especially as she’s on the brink of puberty and growing up. Because while puberty is not the same as being diagnosed with a chronic illness (though when you’re an 11-year-old girl, sometimes it might feel that way), it shares the quality of the threshold. My daughter does not know what’s coming, and she is scared and, I hope, excited for what’s to come. I want sports to be a lifeline for her in the way it has been for me, for the repetition and difficulty of running the field to be a way to both anchor in her body and forget about her body at the same time.

Because honestly, what I care about isn’t soccer. It’s that she’s given the chance to develop her own relationship with her body, with what makes her feel good and powerful, before society inserts itself into that relationship. I want to hold onto my influence with her a little longer, just like she and Killer asked to hold onto my hands as we ran our final laps at last night’s practice.

As I stormed the field, running 20 years after my diagnosis, with ten 9-year-old-girls as the sun went down, CAW CAW-ing loudly, I thought maybe this is actually what winning looks like.


The Guidelines On Peanut Allergy Prevention May Surprise You

Like most milestones in your infant’s life, starting solids is a journey. Discovering that your baby loves broccoli and yogurt but turns up their nose at avocado can be a delightful surprise, though the journey can also feel overwhelming at times. We already know what’s running through your mind: What foods should I start with? How should I prepare them? What about allergies? In addition to your child’s pediatrician, there are several expert-backed resources available to parents when starting solids and navigating how to help prevent food allergies. The National Peanut Board offers evidence-based resources on peanut allergy prevention, especially important as your baby explores new foods when starting solids. And the latest offer excellent news: Based on the groundbreaking LEAP study, recommendations from both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans are clear in stating children should be introduced to infant-safe peanut foods at 4-6 months (much earlier than past guidelines) in order to reduce the development of peanut allergies by up to 86%. With new parents born every day, these guidelines are important for families to understand which is why the National Peanut Board has developed a new, first-of-its-kind health education tool to spread the word — Little Peanut.

Little Peanut is a loveable plushie with a scannable QR code that leads to information offering parents and caregivers the knowledge to safely introduce peanut foods early and help prevent peanut allergies. Designed as an educational tool, Little Peanut puts the expertise and knowledge of healthcare professionals like pediatricians, registered dietitians and food allergy experts into your hands — because you’ve already got a ton on your plate. In addition to the latest science and recommendations on peanut allergy prevention, you’ll find a range of easy-to-make steps to use when introducing your baby to peanut foods, along with recipes for the whole family. You can access all of the information through Little Peanut’s website, but you may soon spot the plushie character at your pediatrician’s or family doctor’s office, too. If you do happen to catch Little Peanut in real life, feel free to use its attached QR code to learn more.

Historically, peanut introduction was recommended in the later half of a child’s first year of life, but a growing body of research suggests beginning first bites of peanut foods at 4-6 months of age, depending on the child’s risk factors, is beneficial in preventing peanut allergies. Babies with severe eczema or a known egg allergy (or both) may even benefit from starting peanut foods as early as 4 months, while most other babies can start at 6 months with the introduction of other common allergens like eggs. One of the easiest ways to introduce peanut foods to babies is simply thinning out peanut butter with breast milk or formula to a thinned consistency that a baby can safely tolerate. For additional infant-safe ideas for introduction, check out these top five ways to help your baby enjoy peanut foods.

Not only can Little Peanut’s guidance help potentially prevent allergies from cropping up, it can also help encourage more adventurous eating — music to a parent or caregiver’s ears. Little Peanut offers family-friendly recipes and easy ways to get kids involved in the cooking process. They may even end up loving peanuts, a major bonus considering how nutrient-dense they are. Peanuts contain 7 grams of plant-based protein — the highest protein content of any nut — along with fiber and over 30 essentials micronutrients, making them a fantastic staple in your child’s diet.

To make solids and peanut food introduction less messy and more seamless, lean into the support you’ll find with Little Peanut. With all of its resources, you’ll feel like you have a pediatrician, allergy expert, and registered dietitian on speed dial, making the whole parenting thing (we all don’t know what we’re doing, OK?!) easier and a lot more comforting. Bookmark the site, send it to your mom, dad, or caregiver friends, and be sure to scan the Little Peanut plushie the next time you see it at your doctor’s office.


Friday, October 11, 2024

Can Pregnant Women Go To Haunted Houses? Experts Weigh In

Shutterstock

Halloween Horror Nights. Fright Nights. Howl-O-Scream. Scary movies and events galore. If you love getting a rush during October but have a baby on board this year, you may be wondering if you can still visit a spooky Halloween haunted house while pregnant. We asked experts to explain if pregnant women can go to haunted houses and they mostly agree that it’s totally safe, with a few caveats.

Can pregnant women go to haunted houses?

For the most part, expectant people can still enjoy some spooks and scares during the Halloween season, says Brittney Pohler, P.A., an OB-GYN physician assistant at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center. “In general, we consider haunted houses safe. For most haunted houses, the length of time is usually less than 30 minutes to an hour, and that’s kind of the same as moderate physical exercise. I don’t think just the heart rate aspect alone is worrisome for the mom or baby.”

Are haunted houses safe for pregnant women? What could be unsafe about them and why?

“Generally, we wouldn’t be worried about a pregnant woman deciding to visit haunted houses,” says Dr. Victor R. Klein, M.D., a board-certified OB-GYN and vice chairman of Obstetrics & Gynecology at North Shore University Hospital who specializes in high-risk pregnancies. His main concern would be bumping the baby bump. It’s crucial for pregnant women to avoid slips, falls, and physical injury to themselves and their bellies, and that’s the one caveat to keep in mind when you’re considering a visit to a haunted house while pregnant. “Haunted houses may be dark and enclosed spaces with fog machines, creating potential hazards of falls,” he says.

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“Haunted houses have props everywhere and are poorly lit,” Pohler agrees. “We don’t want you tripping or falling. We don’t want you to be pushed. I think if you’re going, be careful and aware of those things, and maybe have someone whose arm you can hold onto. We just want to avoid trauma to the belly.”

And lastly, Pohler reminds pregnant people of the importance of just listening to your body. “I tell my patients that they’re the best indicator, and to listen to their body,” she says. “If they’re getting crampy or feeling uncomfortable, maybe don’t continue all through the night.”

There are plenty of things to be avoided during pregnancy, but thankfully a visit to a low-key haunted house isn’t one of them. A little Halloween fun is more than OK.

Experts:

Brittney Pohler, PA-C, MPH, at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – College Station

Dr. Victor R. Klein, M.D., board-certified OB-GYN at Northwell Health and vice chairman of Obstetrics & Gynecology at North Shore University Hospital


Thursday, October 10, 2024

50 Instagram Captions For Baby's First Halloween

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While your baby’s first Halloween is usually just a photo op for you to place them in front of an adorable jack-o’-lantern and snap a photo of them in their extremely adorable and tiny costume, you’ll always remember it — even if they won’t. After you’ve snapped those sweet photos, you’ve got to do your friends and followers a solid and document it on the ‘gram. While older kids in Halloween costumes on Instagram feeds are certainly cute and fun, nothing beats the toothless grin of a baby wearing a bat costume, am I right? You’ll definitely have to slow your scroll for those photos. And to go along with these perfectly adorable Halloween photos of your baby’s first Halloween, you need a perfect baby’s first Halloween Instagram captions. Whether you’re looking for something punny, sweet, or matter-of-fact, this list of 50 captions has got you covered.

Baby’s first Halloween captions in costume

  • Aren’t they boo-tiful?
  • You’ve got me under your spell.
  • Mommy’s little mummy.
  • Too cute to spook.
  • Cutest pumpkin in the patch.
  • Bugs and kisses.
  • “They’re creepy and they're kooky, mysterious, and spooky.” — Andrew Gold
  • “I’m a mouse, duh.” — Mean Girls
  • “I am the Pumpkin King!” — The Nightmare before Christmas
  • Spooky and sweet. But mostly sweet.
  • Your cuteness has the power to shoo away the deadliest vampires and ghosts.
  • Cutest monster in town.
  • If you’ve got it, haunt it.
  • It’s always the witching hour at our house.
  • Wishing you all a fang-tastic Halloween!
  • Pumpkin spice and all things nice.
  • Sending you lots of boos and hisses this spooky season!
  • VIP: Very Important Pumpkin.
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Baby’s first Halloween captions for trick-or-treating

  • Gimme the goods.
  • No tricks, just treats!
  • Trick or treat, bag of sweets, ghosts are walking down the street.
  • “Nothing on Earth is so beautiful as the final haul on Halloween night.” — Steve Almond
  • “I don’t know that there are real ghosts and goblins, but there are always more trick-or-treaters than neighborhood kids.” — Robert Breault
  • Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat!
  • Just the soft candies please, I don’t have all my teeth.
  • Mischief managed.
  • Trick or treat!
  • Baby’s first trick-or-treat.
  • Excuse me, pardon me, just here for the candy.
  • Friends are nice, but friends who have treats are better.
  • “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” — L.M. Montgomery

Baby’s first Halloween captions eating treats

  • Eat up witches.
  • I’ll always share my candy with you.
  • Trick-or-treat yo’self.
  • Witch better have my candy.
  • Those cheeks aren’t going to sustain themselves.
  • This little one is all treats, no tricks.
  • All you need is love and a bit of candy.
  • A ghoul’s gotta eat.
  • Treat yourself before you trick yourself.
  • Come to the dark side, we have cookies.
  • Eat, drink, and be scary.
  • Spookylicious.
  • Some sweets for my sugar.
  • Baby’s first Halloween treat.
  • “A party without cake is just a meeting.” — Julia Child
  • “What is life without treats?” — Steven Magee
  • “Pour some sugar on me.” — Def Leppard
  • Best friends always share their Halloween treats.
  • Baby’s new favorite holiday.

So enjoy your baby’s first Halloween night, take lots of photos, and use one of these baby’s first Halloween Instagram captions. You’ll be so glad you captured the memories of this fun holiday. Happy Halloween.