"There is no way to be a perfect mother, but there are a million ways to be a great one."
Every year, we count down the holiday season with a little help from an advent calendar. But this year’s holiday season is shaping up to be quite different. We’re missing school holiday art projects, the opportunity to participate in toy donations and organized food drives, and the holiday concerts and caroling we'd all be doing under normal circumstances. So, this year I’m going to use our advent calendar to create experiences as a family and to fill in what’s missing this year.
For kids, Thanksgiving is a day to enjoy time with family, and also an opportunity to try new foods. At 18 months old, our son is an active eater and understands the routine and ritual of sitting down to a meal. Mashed potatoes, peas, and carrots are a win, but with Thanksgiving classics such as roast turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce also on the menu, what should expectations really be for the big day?
There were a host of reasons for selling my Boston retail shop. I loved everything about that little boutique, but managing a business and trying to keep a growing family unruffled was an impossible balancing act for me. After our move, I made a promise to myself that, for at least one year, I would not think about a next endeavor. I would focus on only my family’s needs in the present.
Nothing can prepare you for the change of having your first baby. Your entire world is that baby. You can pay attention to every coo, every squeak, and every cry; you can question every small detail. But for baby no. 4?
Because of the pandemic, my husband and I are working from home, and our son isn't in daycare. While difficult at times, this newfound together time has given us a wonderful appreciation for our days with a lively and silly little one. Each day differs slightly depending on what we have scheduled, but here is a typical day in the life of our 18-month-old toddler.
There's a lot of information that comes at us while we are pregnant. The internet, books, our doctors, family and friends are all providing bits of advice and knowledge they want to pass along. But oftentimes childbirth and parenting classes can help.
When my son was 14 months old I bought a baby book. I got to work on it right away. Will you remember things from his first months, my husband asked? Well, no, I didn’t remember every small moment and each wearisome newborn day, but that is part of the reason I didn’t start the book until later.
