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Parenthood

6 Reasons Why Pumping Is The Actual Worst

Pumping is the stupidest thing ever. I hate it. Hate it so much. If it wasn't for the fact that there's apparently a million benefits for the baby and it's given me the metabolism of a teenager, I'...

A Wild Child

This is a submission in our monthly contest. January’s theme is "Wild." When I dreamed of children, I conjured a wild child. Loud and bright. The kind you could not slow down. That leaps before she...

Parenthood young girl covering her face with hands

The Science of Your Kids' Trust (and 5 Ways to Keep It)

Parents not only have the task of maintaining trust with their children, but they also shape how their children view trust in general.

Parenthood woman looking at her laptop screen sitting in night

Going Back to School When My Kids Were Young Was a Lesson in No Regrets

During the first two semesters, my “mom guilt” set in, but it didn't last. Going back to school while having kids at home was the best decision ever.

Parenthood pregnant woman showing at the ultrasound to her friends

A Thank You Letter To My Friends Without Kids

There is not enough acknowledgement of the role kid-less friends play in forming the village it takes to raise a child.

Parenthood two women sitting on red couch holding new born baby

4 Cliché but True Bits of Advice for New Parents

No single resource holds all the pertinent wisdom necessary to successfully raise a child or children. Mostly, because every kid is completely different.

Parenthood baby sitting on potty seat

You’re Being Lied to About Potty Training

The potty industrial complex has tricked us into thinking that potty trained is the dream. Potty trained will make life better. Except, it doesn't.

To the New Mother: There Will Be Days

There may be days when you think, I can’t do this. Days when you don’t feel good enough, when you look around and feel inferior to every other parent on the planet. Times, maybe, when you feel like...

Parenthood falling car illustration

The Journey to the Land of Done

There is a place called “Done” where no mom wants to go. You hate it. Mom hates it. She tried to keep you from going there, but you just kept on driving.

Parenthood little girl holding her father's hand smiling at him

Why I Let My Daughter Tell Me What to Do

Part of our job as parents is to show our kids what it should look, sound, and feel like when someone you love treats your body, needs, and desires with respect.

Parenthood pencil drawing of a mirror image and ladder

All the Other Parents Have Got it Together, Right?

There are days, sometimes weeks, when I find it real easy to convince myself that everyone knows what they’re doing – everyone but me.

Parenthood girl opening champagne bottle

FOX's "The Mick" Teaches Us That Mothering Is So Easy, Even a Hungover Child-Hater Can Do It

Apparently, parenting is actually no biggie. Driving this idea home is Fox’s new series "The Mick."

Parenthood middle aged man smiling

Advice My Dad Would Give Me If He Were Here Today

What advice would he give to us now as we forge ahead into this fragile world, uncertain of what’s to come? With the utmost confidence: Love each other.

Parenthood little boy sits on the ground holding his father leg

15 Benefits the Stay-at-Home Parent Has Over the Working Spouse

This list is in appreciation for the working spouse. It is not about whose role is harder as both roles have their own unique challenges and benefits.

Parenthood young man jumped into the water from a height 

When the Boy on the Couch Is No Longer Your Own

When does it happen? That slide from an infant, completely dependant, to a person, complete and unleashed on the world? It's slow and unnoticeable until it's not.

Parenthood smiley face different color balloons

How to Talk to Your Kids About Sex at Any Age

Let’s lay out some things research advises us to avoid when communicating with our children about their sexuality.

Parenthood siblings putting their hands up in the air

5 Things I Could Not Have Known About My First Born

What I learned about my daughter, my firstborn, was mostly in retrospect after my second arrived.

How to Raise a Warrior Girl

I’m determined to raise my daughters to be strong, confident, and happy. I want them to grow up to be warriors.

Parenthood little newborn baby boy with pacifier sleeping

Why I Refuse to Feel Guilty About Sleep Training My Kid

Sleep training is one of the most controversial and debated topics in the parenting world. But when you're at the end of your rope, it becomes a consideration.

Parenthood young girl sitting on sofa with book and teddy bear on floor

I'm Raising an Only Child and It's Not the End of the World

The decision to be one and done seems to be hard for others to understand

Parenthood son sitting on mother lap watching cartoons on tablet

Why Do We Refer to Ourselves in the Third Person When We Talk to Our Kids?

What is it about talking to our kids that makes us slip into, "Mama this," and "Mommy that?"

Parenthood teenage girl looking into the distance 

What if We Loved Our Teens Like They Were Still Kids? (And P.S. They Are)

Just because their bodies have matured into a nearly adult form, teenager's brains are still developing. We need to treat them in a way that honors that.

Parenthood happy young boy covered in dirt and mud

How My Sons Help Me Embrace the Great Outdoors

As a self-proclaimed "indoors mom," having three boys who love exploring the great big world has caused a serious shift in interests.

Parenthood Sunlight in lady's eyes while driving

No, I Don't Want a Device That Monitors My Kids When They Drive

A possible contender for "worst parenting gadget ever invented" is the Verizon Hum. Why would I want one more reason to worry? And how would it help?