Here are five things we just couldn’t believe/felt in our souls/bought tickets for/got out butts in gear/and of course, something we ate:
How does the Pink Supermoon affect you?
The Cockatoos Have Eyes, starring Moira Rose
Feeling stuck or unmotivated? Reset with these simple acts.
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with music and this recipe, just leave the sombrero out of it.
Have a great weekend!
-Chelsie & Michele
By Michele
Do you have a green thumb or a brown one? I think I lie somewhere in the middle. I love my plant babies and strive to have a healthy garden but I’ve also killed my fair share of plants. The thing is though, I keep trying because there is something about planting seeds and watching them sprout, or seeing my indoor plant grow a new leaf right in front of my eyes that makes makes me try and try again. I’ve made gardening part of our family’s summer ritual too. Maybe
it’s because my dad grew and tended a huge garden when I was small and my memories of him working in his garden, and me helping him, encourage me to share gardening with my family too. And there’s nothing like a fresh cherry tomato off the vine!
If you’ve never gardened before, but always wanted to try, start small; but just start! You don’t need a ton of equipment or space. All you need is a patch of sunshine and a few containers. Most of all make it fun and make it family time. Little ones love to do what you do and help out so let them! Depending on their age and ability, there are lots of ways that your little one can take part in gardening. You and your child may be a gardener just waiting to bloom! Now, I’m no expert, but here are my novice tips for gardening with your little one.
Maintain expectations…
There are so many factors that can make and break your garden success year after year so don’t sweat it. Have fun, enjoy the process, and learn as you “grow”! Each garden season you’ll learn more and have more success. Plus your child will be learning too! Last year, my two year old helped me plant seeds, water and weed the garden, and pick veggies. He also pulled a new tomato plant out by its roots at least three times. (Needless to say that one did not
survive). But we learned, spent time together, and he ate all the peas right off the vine last summer so it was all worth it!
Start small…
Containers like terra-cotta pots are inexpensive and can be found at the local big box hardware store as well as your local nursery supply center. If you don’t know which plants grow well together just choose three – something to smell, something to see, and something to eat such as a fragrant herb like lavender, a colorful flower, and a small tomato plant. You can buy your plants right where you purchase your pots along with the potting soil. You can even make it
organic. Your child can help to scoop the soil and pat the plant in place.
Plant what you like…
Do you love butterflies? Plant flowers that attract butterflies like daisies, snap dragon, and lantana. If you like mojitos, grow some mint. Italian food? Plant basil and oregano. Veggie fan? You can grow smaller types of vegetables in containers like cucumber, peas, and peppers. Just make sure you start with large containers which hold more moisture and nutrients. You can choose one or try all of the above! Make sure to plant flowers alongside your other plants to
attract pollinators like butterflies and bees. That’s what I plan to do this year!
Keep your tools handy…
You don’t need much for a small garden. A small watering can for your little one to hold and a spray bottle will keep them entertained, and your plants from drowning. You can purchase child size garden tools or let them use your own. I have a trowel and a small rake that my son uses because, let’s be honest, your child will want to use your tools anyway. You could even use their beach toys in the garden. A bucket, shovel, and a rake are perfect for the garden as well
as the beach. Some gardening gloves, shears, and basket to carry your harvest are not necessary but can be helpful. Most importantly, keep your tools nearby so that you are not having to run around to find what you need while also watching your child. Just grab your things and head out the door. I think it would be helpful to have a basket near the door with the watering can, spray bottle, gloves, sunscreen, and hats so you are always prepared when the garden needs tending.
Get involved…
You can start your baby’s green thumb early by placing them in the bouncer or on a blanket in the shade while you tend to the plants nearby. Baby will enjoy playing and experiencing the outdoors and will love looking at the butterflies and colorful flowers you grew together all summer long. As your child gets older, they can help to rake, dig, and scoop soil, plant seeds, water, and (sometimes) weed. Just make sure you are not using fertilizers that could be harmful. Always check the labels and make it organic when you can. Eventually, your child can help choose the plants you plan to grow. They will be so curious about what is growing as you watch the plants change, sometimes overnight!
I hope this has inspired and encouraged you to enjoy gardening with your family this season!
Now, go play!
Here are five things we wish we were eating/did outside/ordered multiples of/intrigued by/awed at this week:
Cheesteaks have nothing on his love for teaching.
Every day can be Earth Day at Home
These slippers for every Mom I know.
Apparently, it is easy to be green.
Have a great weekend!
-Chelsie & Michele
By Chelsie
Growing a family is a big change for everyone: yourself, your partner, your current child, even pets, heck it affects the whole world if you think about it. Whether you grew up with siblings or as an only child, you always dreamed of having a big family or small, planned or not, adding a new baby to the household can be overwhelming. But it can also be magical. I polled some of my closest mom friends who have more than one child or grew up as a sibling themselves to give you some tips on how to get you and your family ready for baby number two.
But, before we get into ideas that worked for others, and no matter what you see on the internet, see on your feed, read in a book, or even what I’m about to write, the biggest thing to remember is DO WHAT WORKS FOR YOU and YOUR FAMILY. Even if it is something that worked the first time around, this baby is not the same baby, and you are not the same mom. You’ve lived and learned. Your new baby has his/her own plans. And everyone in the family is growing together.
YOU
You are a strong mother. You will be tired and stressed and overwhelmed at times but you will get through it. You will figure it out, we always do.
-Plan and prioritize: meal plan, shop, and prep when you can. Make two “to-do” lists. One of the the things you can only get done when baby is sleeping. Such as prepping dinner, writing thank you cards, making appointments, playing with big brother/sister. The other list is those things you can do with a baby on your hip or crying or feeding, such as creating a shopping list, exercising, putting dishes away, or running errands.
-Invest in a baby carrier and a back pack as a diaper bag. Maybe you received one at your shower but never really used it, ask on your local buy nothing group or mom groups, and keep an eye out at yard sales. Being hands free with two or more children is golden.
-Make time for your self: Haha, I know, but just like making time for big brother/sister (see below) it doesn’t have to be a grand event (although that would be nice). A ten minute shower, a ten minute solo walk around the block, a drive through coffee with a napping baby in the backseat after school drop off, a play date with other moms just for socialization, painting your nails (Color Street nail strips because you don’t have to wait for them to dry!), or even just binging 15 minutes of a show or the gram with your feet up. All of these are simple but important things for you to do to stay you, and sane.
SIBLINGS
A lot of parents worry about how their first born will handle the arrival of a sibling. Some may be excited, others not so much. Overall, it’s important to remember that just like everything else–it’s just a phase. How they are feeling and acting this week will change next week. If the homecoming doesn’t go as smooth as planned, hang in there, keeping on momming, and big sister/brother will come around.
-Have a small gift for the baby to give to the big sister/brother. A great way to make friends is bring a housewarming gift right? A new baby doll or stuffed animal or this kid’s camera. My oldest loved taking pictures of the new baby and everyone that came to visit, as well as a lot of carpets and ceiling shots.
-Put together a busy box. This can be a handful of toys, coloring pages and crayons, random household items, or a dollar store haul (think stickers, colander and pipecleaners, cups and plates for a tea party, chalk and black paper etc). If possible, before baby arrives, have your little help you decorate the box. Pull out this busy box for desperate times- when baby needs to be fed, put down for a nap, or on the bathroom floor so you can get a shower. Similar to toy rotations, if it’s something that mostly out of sight, it will be like new toys when you need a break.
-Mommy and Me Time: Of course big sister/brother may feel left out at times and miss all the attention they used to get. When possible, schedule in some mommy and me time. And it doesn’t have to be a big production. When baby goes down for a nap, read a book together and cuddle on the couch – doesn’t that sound nice! Walk to get the mail together. Play for five. For five minutes, get down on the floor and play. These little things add up and your big won’t feel so “second”.
-Tell baby to wait. This was one of the best advice I received and it came from my pediatrician. Your first born will likely hear “Just a minute, I have to feed the baby” or “You have to wait, the baby needs me right now” a hundred times over. Make sure big sister/brother also hears you say “Baby, you have to wait, I need to help -big sister’s name- right now” or “I’m helping -big brother’s name- right now, you need to wait baby.” Trust me, they will notice this too.
Don’t let mom guilt ruin your day. You are giving each other a gift. A friend for life. Someone that will be there every day to play with. And that’s what will stand out. Not the times they had to come second because baby needed a diaper change or bottle.
YOUR PARTNER AND FRIENDS
The same idea goes that it doesn’t have to be a big production. Spending a few minutes a day talking, enjoying a late meal together after everyone is asleep, or a weekly phone chat reminds everyone that you’re still there and thinking about them.
Overall, a new baby is a big change for everyone. Take it one day at a time. Enjoy what you can, get through the hard times, and ask for help when you need it, even if it means asking someone to switch the laundry over or bring the waking baby to you on the couch so you don’t have to get up.
Now, go play!
Here are five things that we smiled at/ate/fist pumped for/teared up over/disappointed us this week:
“I didn’t just cook for them, I made sure they ate.”
Lastly, our hearts are once again with Adam Toledo and Daunte Wright’s families. We encourage you to use your resources to help the BIPOC community:
-Demand your local officials take action against police violence in your own neighborhood.
-Join a march.
-Stand up against racism when you see it.
-Shop from the BIPOC community.
-Read a book by a BIPOC author.
-Be a kind human.
Have a good weekend!
-Chelsie & Michele
By Michele
How do you accomplish self care?
What strategies help you to de-stress, calm down and regulate?
For some it’s taking a walk or a bath, practicing yoga or meditating.
For others, it’s scrolling the gram, shopping, getting pampered at a salon, or pouring a tall glass of something soothing. Whatever you have learned and chosen to soothe yourself it’s helpful, its easy, and it works; albeit somedays better than others.
Now, think about your baby or toddler and their strategies for self soothing, self calming, and self regulation. What came to mind is probably something that YOU helped to give them such as feeding, holding them, cuddling, a turn in the baby swing or a cozy swaddle, story time, a walk, or a bath. Clearly, your child is not able to seek these things out him/herself. Your child has yet to fully develop their ability for self regulation on their own. When feelings bubble to the surface, as they do for all humans big and small, we need a way to press the release button on the pressure in a safe and secure way. As adults we have the capacity and the experience to de-escalate our feelings of fear, anger, frustration and sadness before it becomes unsafe or inappropriate (like at a work meeting, or in line at the DMV). However, for our children we need to offer them our love, attention, and unconditional support as they navigate this brand new world and their brand new feelings. You cannot spoil your baby by hugging, holding, or feeding them and you cannot spoil your baby or toddler by allowing them the ability to express their feelings in a safe way while validating and supporting them until they are calm. You cannot spoil your child when offering the love and security that a caregiver can offer. What you will be doing is supporting your baby as they learn to regulate themselves, helping your toddler to express their feelings by using words, and teaching your child through your example of what it looks like to feel frustrated, to ask for help to calm those feelings, and what strategies they can use to accomplish it.
It’s not easy to navigate the crying, fussing, and tantrums of childhood but know that it has nothing to do with parenting and everything to do with appropriate healthy developmental stages. So the next time the baby is blubbering and the toddler has a temper, take a deep breath and give them (and yourself) a big hug.
You can also try…
Now, go play!
Five things that made us smile/dance/drool/ponder/plan this week…
Shaq puts a ring on it. “I’m just tryin’ to make people smile. That’s all.”
The best end of shift dance I ever saw.
Step up your binge watching snack game. The Sweet and Spicy Chex Mix!
My daughter seemed disturbed at the fact that I don’t have matching PJ sets like she does. She told me I should get a nightgown.
Have a great weekend!
-Chelsie & Michele
By Chelsie
Rainy day? Cold day? Sick day? In need of a quiet day activity? Break out the board games. Board games teach turn taking, patience, following directions, and more depending on the game. Board games are also a great way to establish one on one time with your little one. In addition, board games strengthen your child’s social skills such as turn taking, sharing, and patience as well as cognitive skills including memory, vocabulary, and problem solving.
Some of our favorite board games that can be adapted for ages 1+ Elefun, Go Fishing, Hot Potato, Don’t Break the Ice, Hungry Hippos, Walk Like a Chicken, Candy Land, GO Fish, and Uno. If your child likes surprises, Shark Attack, Pop the Pig, any other Jack in the Box style game are great for turn taking. The waiting time is short, and the pay off is big! Practice colors and counting too!
Remember, it’s okay to bend the rules for toddlers. Pick one skill to work on and let the others fly, such as, work on waiting for your turn by sitting on your hands or squeezing hands together, then the adult does the counting or point to where the game piece needs to move to. Or maybe you’re working on identifying numbers on the spinner, your child could be “the master spinner” where he spins for everyone and identifies the number, then each person moves their own piece.
And as a Play to Grow motto reminder, LET THE CHILDREN PLAY! While it can be frustrating to play the game exactly how the rules state, if your child just wants to play with the game pieces or sort pretend money, let them. They may not be ready for the game yet, or just not today. If you force them to sit and roll the dice and count spaces and leave their game piece on the blue spot, they are not going to be happy, neither of you will have fun and boards will get flipped and you’ll be the sore loser. Instead, follow their lead and play their way.
Does your family play board games? What is a house favorite?
Now, go play!
Here are five things we mourned over, searched for, laughed at, cried over, tried and failed this week…
First and foremost, we are once again, saddened by the outright discrimination in our country. Find ways to support the Asian American community here.
Have you heard of Geocaching?
Have you been able to reconnect with someone after this past year? Was it as sweet as this?
What, your Easter eggs don’t look like this?
Have a great weekend!
-Chelsie & Michele
Play to Grow 