How playing a Star Wars video game helped my parenting skills
There is no “reload” button on life, no restarting quests if you screw up a step, no taking back what you said if you’ve said it and realized the outcome was less than desirable. But you do get to do all of that in video games! I admit, I take advantage of the luxury in video game just to satisfy my curiosity on the possible outcomes. Sometimes the answers are really obvious, but there are some situations that require much thought (and system saving) before venturing forth on a decision.
All you need to entertain your kids are marshmallows, sticks, and a free hour or two
With fall and winter weather on the way, I start to collect ideas for indoor projects that will keep my kids busy for longer then five minutes. This simple activity is perfect and the materials are readily available and cheap. You simply need toothpicks, mini-marshmallows, and willing hands!
How do you tell your kid you’re an atheist?
How do you have the atheist talk? We don’t believe in any religion, therefore we don’t have any literature, examples, or classes to give him. We tried to explain what other people think “god” is, but just couldn’t find the words to describe it. He ended up thinking that there is a god who is a magician who lies to people, which is not what we want him to think.
Breastfeeding without the milk (using the Supplemental Nursing System)
I waited for my breasts to change the nine(ish) months I was pregnant — to grow or change in some way. I knew that they didn’t always get larger during pregnancy, but I never really experienced anything at all in the way of breast changes. The only time I remember any breast-related pregnancy symptom was having tender nipples once or twice — it was uncomfortable, but secretly I was cheering on the inside because I was worried about the lack of changes. One more than one occasion I did wonder out loud if I would have milk production issues since my breasts were not showing any indication that they would be up to the task.
How can we establish good baby-sitter etiquette with our neighbors?
We live in a townhouse and my significant other’s friends live next door. They have a four-year-old son who occasionally needs babysitting. I don’t have a problem babysitting him, but they’ll send us a text only a few hours before or the night that they need us. How can I initiate a (polite) conversation about being respectful of us?
Because anyone should be able to be a princess AND Darth Vader at the same time
Who wouldn’t want to be a princess AND Darth Vader? Somebody hand me my pink lightsaber already.
Two mamas + one baby = three family members happy in the park
Lindsay is a regular contributor ’round these parts, and I was stoked when she sent over the family photos she and her wife recently had made by Angie Tabaczynski of Portland-based Kate Kelly Photography.
Make a new area rug with $10 and 10 minutes
We are apartment-dwellers, which means we have shitty carpet. Maybe some apartment managers put in nice, expensive flooring that looks awesome after ten years, but our landlords didn’t. After ten years of parties, dogs, and one wild child, the carpet in our place is spotty, threadbare, and wrinkled in places.
When we made over our eight year old’s room recently, one thing we really wanted was a big area rug. Unfortunately, rugs are expensive. Lucky for us (and you), making a rug is easy and cheap!