Month: March 2020

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This SNL Sketch About Kids’ Clothing Is Way Too Real

This sketch from Saturday Night Live is going to be hilarious (but only because it’s almost spring) (I hear) if you have kids.

We all know that most advertisements are total crap, and the things they promise are not actually going to happen to you and yours.

For example, no matter how adorable the “holiday” wardrobe you buy for your precious children, it doesn’t mean they will like it. At all.

Photo Credit: YouTube

Or wear it without a struggle.

This fake advertisement for a winter wardrobe for the whole family is hilariously accurate, from the itchy sweaters that don’t fit over his head to the snow boots that are so hard to put on you’ll likely forget why you were going outside in the first place before you get them tied.

Photo Credit: YouTube

Your little angels don’t care how many snaps you have to undo (and redo) before they decide to take a giant dump at an inopportune moment, and they sure as heck aren’t going to hold still while you do it.

I do have one note for you, fellow parents out there in the “we’re still dressing our kids” trenches – if you can’t wear jeans to church, please find a new church. Dressing up, and dressing your kids up, every single week is just depressing (and will most likely result in you never going to church).

Stay strong out there. I know our marriages can make it through these trying times (and you’ll always have those pictures to remind you how wonderful it was supposed to be.

At least you all look cute.

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You Can Blame Your Kids for Every Last One of Those Gray Hairs

I am a (barely) 40-year-old woman, and ever since I had my first child 3+ years ago, I’ve been sprouting gray hairs like it’s my job.

Because of the aforementioned toddler (and his subsequent brother), I also don’t have the time to color them, so I guess this is me, now.

Can I actually blame my kids, though, or is the timing just a coincidence? If I was 15 years younger, would this be happening?

According to science, probably. Because it really is your kids’ fault.

Statistically, if you have the genes that cause graying hair, at least 50% of the hair on your head will be gray by the time you turn 50. But things like sleep-deprivation, stress, and the 18 years of madness we call parenting can also speed up the process.

A new study out of Harvard University has all but proven the link between stress and gray hair. The researchers involved found the nerves responsible for the “fight or flight” response in animals also depletes the stem cells responsible for hair pigment. In mice, depleting those cells caused them to develop patches of gray or white hair.

What happens is that the emergency flight or fight response is activated in sympathetic nerves that reach into each hair follicle, releasing a neurotransmitter called noradrenaline. The transmitter causes the stem cells that give hair their pigment, melanocyte stem cells, to proliferate in large numbers before abandoning their posts. With fewer of these cells present in each follicle, the hair fades until its completely white.

In mice, the instances of graying and white hair began within five days of causing them acute stress.

More research will follow that attempts to understand the connection between the sympathetic nervous system and hair color change, the study’s lead author, Ya-Chieh Hsu, told Fatherly they hope this is an important first step.

“The reason we’re hopeful the mechanisms are related is that both of these systems (pigment-producing stem cells and sympathetic nerve) are very similar in mice and humans.”

Usually, the body returns to a normal state after confronting a flight or fight threat, but if it’s overactivated or the exposure plays on repeat (hello, babies and toddlers), the chronic stress will be an ongoing strain on the nervous system.”

“This research is critical to helping scientists understand how stress affects tissue repair in the body,” said Dr. Hsu.

Which all to say that no, there won’t be a new and improved way to hide the evidence of your stress from the world, and besides, your genetics will get you eventually.

For now, though, rest assured that you’re not lying to your child when you inform them that they’ve given you yet another gray hair.

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There is a “Right Way” to Wake up Your Kids

If you think this is going to be a funny post about waking up your kids as revenge for all of the mornings (and nights) they terrorized you as toddlers, it’s not that – it turns out there’s a real “right” way to get your kids up if you’re looking for ways to start the day with smiles.

And honestly, having happy, helpful kids in the morning is just as good as revenge waking…I think.

The way a kid wakes up in the morning can influence their attitude, and even their ability to learn, throughout the day. Unfortunately, for you (the parent), this means you’re going to have to learn how to be a bit more of a morning person yourself, first.

First up, lose the alarm clock and trade it for a smile, a good morning, and maybe a song from their (sometimes) favorite person in the world. You’ll have to get up earlier, says licensed psychologist Dr. Roseanne Lesack.

“I always tell parents that might mean waking up 20 minutes earlier to make sure that you are ready to provide whatever support your child needs. Think of whatever you can to get prepared ahead of time. Whatever you can get done the night before, get it done.”

You’ll have to make a list that works for you, but consider things like picking out clothes, deciding what’s for breakfast, getting backpacks ready or even prepping lunches the night before – and think of yourself, too, and set the coffee pot if your machine has that option.

“When they’re in a grumpy mood it’s really hard to make decisions. So when those decisions about what they want to wear and what’s for breakfast have already been made, there’s no conversations about that.”

Also, err on the side of caution when it comes to wake-up times – your expectations of how long your kid needs to get going in the morning need to be realistic. Give them enough time to wake up on their own schedule and not have to leap out of bed and immediately get moving in order to make it out the door on time.

“Know your child and stick with the schedule as best you can. We need to flexibly structure because every morning is going to throw something new at you.”

The bottom line is that your attitude in the morning will be reflected back at your in your child’s attitude – and if that’s not a reason to be calmer, less frazzled, and in less of an angry huff, I don’t know what is.

“They will feed off of you. When you’re present with your child, be present. Help and focus as much as you can.”

It’s not always possible for parents to get as much sleep as we’d like. Whether we’re staying up late to accomplish some of our own goals or are awakened by a scared, restless, or sick child, there seem to be more interrupted nights than not.

But if you can find a way to be mindful about rising before your child, everyone will benefit.

And there’s always coffee. Thank goodness for that.

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This ‘Friends’ Milestone Blanket Is a Must if You’re Having a Baby

There are a lot of things the modern mom thinks she has to have before bringing home baby, and one of those things is a cute way to mark the monthly milestones of the first year. For awhile, cute stickers and chalkboards (or dry erase boards) were all the rage, but recently, people have chosen blankets instead.

Which, as a mom of two, I can see working really well until the start moving. But I digress.

If you’re looking for the perfect blanket to mark the months, and you’re a fan of the television show Friends, you truly don’t need to search for another minute – here’s the perfect blanket for your bundle.

This Friends Milestone blanket was created by a mom of three boys after she created one to use for her own babies. It’s made from a lightweight, microfiber fleece material, and is super soft and cozy. You can toss it in your washing machine (vital) and it comes in three different sizes that range in price from $44-$80.

It’s customizable with baby’s name, the top of the blanket playoff the way every Friends episode is titled (The One Where…), stating “The One Where (Baby’s Name) Turns…” just underneath a Chandler catchphrase (Could I BE any cuter?!).

Underneath, there are 12 numbers in Friends-style text, and in the center, a replica of the yellow picture frame that hung on the back of Monica’s apartment door for the duration of the show.

No promises your little one will fit neatly inside it for the entire 12 months, but hey, they should be adorably framed for a few months, at least.

And listen, if this is your first baby and you’ve got time to be extra creative, I’m sure you’ll be able to come up with captions that will delight your friends and the other fans in your life because there are quotes for days that could apply to baby life!

If you grab one of these, please drop your IG link in the comments, because I really need to follow up and see how amazing these posts are going to be.

Oh. My. God.

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A Garbageman’s Message Of Hope Might Be Just What People Need

Things are very uncertain right now. A nasty virus is threatening our loved ones, we’re stuck inside with our immediate families 24/7, we might be out of work and wondering how we’re going to pay our bills, and the stock market is in a full-on freefall.

We’re all looking for hope wherever we can find it, and for many people, this message tweeted from a garbageman is just what the doctor ordered.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

The people who collect our garbage are some of the humans still keeping the world in order, and bless them for that, because the day I can’t put my kid’s diaper out on the curb is going to be a dark one indeed.

He admits that, even in the best of times, his job is not the easiest one in the world.

Now, though, in this odd and frightening time for so many people, Jester is feeling proud to be able to give people a sense of normalcy, that life continues, even as they’re trapped in their homes for fear of contributing to a pandemic.

He finishes up by reminding us that we’re all in this together, we’re all on this beautiful planet together, and if we just stay calm and help each other out when we can, it’s all going to be okay.

It’s just the message that many people need today.

To be honest, it’s a message we would do well to remember even once this is over – there are so many things we could do if we would remember that we are always better together.

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These Autism Awareness Sneakers Feature Sensory-Inclusive Elements

Vans has dropped a collection of sneakers geared toward kids and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The shoes’ designers consulted with the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards, who create standardized programs in a variety of industries for people with sensory disorders and other special needs.

The resulting line of sneakers are extra-comfortable, sensory-inclusive shoes that focus on touch, sight, and sound.

The shoes come in a palette of cool, calming shades of blue and gray, include additional padding for great comfort, and loops on the back that make them easy to pull on. One version features a textured, checkered pattern and another is topped with a polychromatic holograph of water.

CNN has reported that many parents with kids on the spectrum are enthusiastic about the product, which will hopefully help their children be more independent and experience fewer clothing-related frustrations.

One parent, whose child still struggles to put on and tie his own shoes, said that “the single strap hook and loop will allow him to put his shoes on and adjust them to the tightness he personally needs. The reinforced toe means that he will be able to wear a pair he is used to longer without the anxiety of changing shoes.”

Plus, they look really cool!

Photo Credit: Vans

Vans is also planning to donate at least $100k of its earnings from the collection to the A.skate Foundation, a nonprofit that promotes the therapeutic benefits of skateboarding for children on the spectrum.

If you’re loving this idea as much as I do, you can shop the collection here.

The company said in a press release that “since 1966, Vans has stood as a champion of individuality and self-expression. With this project, Vans celebrates the unique aspects of all people.”

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This Friends’ Onesie Is the Perfect Baby Gift

You could do something boring and helpful like buy your pregnant friends stuff that’s on their baby registries for a shower gift. In fact, you probably should do that…but if you’re looking for something extra and amazing to put into your bag, well, it doesn’t get better than this.

Everyone who is anyone loves the television show Friends, and we need to make sure we pass that adoration onto the next generation, don’t you think?

Enter this Friends onesie, which, y’all. Look.

It features a piece of dialogue that’s from one of the best episodes of the series – the one when Monica gets stung by a jellyfish and Joey and Chandler have to decide who is going to pee on it for her.

“If I had to, I’d pee on any one of you!”

Photo Credit: Etsy

As a parent, I can confirm that there are a lot of bodily fluids involved, most of them smell, and no, your kid is not embarrassed to be sharing any of them (not even when they’re old enough that you think they should be).

So, you might as well have a little fun with it – and let your friends know exactly what they’re getting into ahead of time, if they haven’t already guessed.

I for one, am going to stockpile these for baby showers from now until infinity.

I’m also about to go pull up that scene on YouTube because, like the “PIVOT” episode, it really never gets old.

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Feeding Vegetables to Your Dog

Some people believe that dogs should be fed meat-only diets because the current popular belief is that dogs are carnivores. However, the truth is that dogs are able to get nutrition from vegetables as well. Most vegetables are safe for dogs, providing that they are cut into little pieces and that the right vegetables are chosen. With that being said, vegetables should be fed to your dog as occasional snacks and should not replace meals. Dog-Safe Vegetables Carrots: High in fiber, carrots also contain a lot of sugar so if your dog is on the overweight side, you may want

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6 Ways Daily Writing Can Make You Calm

Writing is an amazing exercise that lots of people forget about. It has many benefits not only for cognitive development but also for mental health. Of course, students might think that they have enough of it with all the academic assignments. But it is not only about academic writing. Essays can always be delegated to professionals, such as essaypro.  When it comes to calming down and reducing anxiety, one of the most effective ways is journaling and expressive writing.   Benefits of Journaling for Mental Health A lot of people used to have diaries in their teenage years. This activity

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