Stars, Stripes, and Self-Regulation: Strategies for the 4th of July

The Fourth of July is one of my family’s favorite holidays. It’s an all-day event full of festivities, fireworks, and our favorite people. But don’t get it twisted, it can be the ultimate endurance test for kids and that all has to do with their sensory threshold.

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Smart Summer: Reducing Summer Slide

It’s the last week of school!!! We’ve been making plans all season to make it an enjoyable and fun summer, but we’re also plotting ways to reduce that summer slide. So here’s a collection of books, apps, and activities to keep kiddos (ages 3-10) sharp for the next school year.

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Coffee Chat: On Parenting Styles

Move over helicopter and free-range parents. New, trending parenting styles are in town and making themselves known. While gentle parenting has had its seat at the table, new ones have risen in response, and we can thank Kylie Kelce for bringing one into the light.

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What I Wish I Knew as a New Mom

Hindsight is 20/20 and getting nostalgic about how life was when our kids were babies, made me think about what I wish I knew as a newborn mother.

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The Baby Registry – 5 Years Later

It’s incredible how much can change in just five years! When Patti and I first stepped into parenthood, the landscape of baby essentials looked entirely different. The must-have items evolved. Mamaroos became less of a must-have while baby slings took center stage. Even the reigning travel system brands, Britax and Baby Jogger, have made way for newer favorites like Doona and UPPAbaby. Also, an RIP moment for our beloved (and recalled) Fisher Price Rock and Play sleeper.

Yet, despite the shifting trends, one truth remains: babies need stuff. But what exactly do they need, and how much of it is truly essential? The answer is often subjective and changes if you get to your second or third pregnancy. That’s why for this post, we’re doing a refresh—what baby items proved indispensable, what turned out to be unnecessary, and the unexpected game-changers that saved the day.

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