Batman and Superman have nothing on us moms. We have amazing superpowers and we don't even need silly capes or leotards to unleash those powers. Perhaps your special power is your Momsonic Hearing, which, according to The Stir, means you know which kid is coming down the stairs based on their pace and stomp intensity. Or, perhaps your superpower involves the ability to translate the seeming gibberish of a toddler into coherent thoughts and phrases. Maybe you can catch poop with a single hand or use your inhuman strength to carry two babies and several bags of groceries up the stairs in a single load. As moms, we often beat ourselves up for all of the things we can't do or didn't get done. Instead, let's take a moment and boast about the amazing things we can do, like taking two toddlers and an 80 lb. puppy for a walk around the block and living to tell about it.
When it comes to kids and money, do you allow an allowance?
Your toddler may not know their ABC's yet, but are they financially literate? Many experts say that if kids are old enough to be potty-training, they're old enough to be learning about money. Many kids grow up without a good understanding of finances and find themselves in trouble as a result. One consumer advocate says that a lot of kids have managed to ruin their credit before they're even old enough to drive. According to Mile High Mamas, a huge number of bankruptcies today are in the 25-and-under crowd and it worries many that kids are growing up without a strong, fiscal foundation. Experts advise letting kids listen in on your budget discussions and teaching older kids the differences between charge cards and credit cards. Letting them handle their finances in an age-appropriate manner also helps them learn. If kids are young, have them divide their money into three categories, save, spend and donate. Some say that parents should charge older kids interest if you loan them money for a big-ticket item. Of course, this leads to the inevitable question of where do young kids get their money? Should kids have an allowance? Some say that an allowance gives kids a chance to learn how to manage their money. However, others say that kids need to perform chores around the house simply because they are contributing members of a family and that money earned should come from work done above and beyond. Do you give your kids an allowance? If so, what do they have to do to earn it?
What is it about Chuck E. Cheese's that makes parents forget their kids?
Thanks for dining at Chuck E. Cheese's. Please make sure you take all belongings and children with you when you leave. Recently, there have been not one but two cases of parents forgetting their kids at a Chuck E. Cheese's restaurant. Many parents have lamented that a visit to the Cheese drove them to distraction and that appears to really be the case for a few parents recently. First, there was three-year-old Harmony, in Maryland. As reported by the Bel Air News & Views, she and her parents had dined there with a large group, but when it came time to leave, the little girl got left behind because various family members all thought she was with someone else. Since the group paid in cash and hadn't made reservations, the restaurant had no way of tracking the parents down and took the case to the 11:00p.m. news. Luckily, her parents saw it and called in. Next to get left behind was a five-year-old girl in Houston. According to the Houston Chronicle, her mom had brought all 10 of her kids to the cheesy establishment, along with another nine kids and two adults. This time, the mom didn't realize that a kid was missing until the next morning when she called 911 to tell them she thought she'd forgotten her daughter at Chuck E. Cheese's the night before. In the meantime, a restaurant employee had called the police, who couldn't track down the girl's family and placed her in temporary Children's Protective Services. No charges have been filed against the mom, who is said to be remorseful.
Swaddling causing hip problems in babies
Swaddling is a practice as old as time itself. Heck, even Baby Jesus was said to have been swaddled. But, some doctors are worried that today's parents are swaddling babies too tightly, leading to hip dysplasia. According to the Daily Mail, a hip problem that was nearly wiped out 25 years ago is returning as mothers swaddle their babies so tightly the little ones can't bend their legs. Some doctors say that some of the tighter-fitting swaddlers now sold on the internet are causing problems for those little hips. These doctors advocate swaddling, but want parents to remember to leave them room to move.
Dana Macario is a TODAY Moms contributor and Seattle mom to two sleep-depriving toddlers. Once properly caffeinated, she also blogs at www.18years2life.com.