Parenting is one of the hardest but most rewarding journeys. Here we share all of the ups, downs and tips from our experience. Topics include: raising children, dealing with colic, coping with judgement, preparing siblings for the new baby, tips for partners, traveling with kids, and everything in between!
8 Tips for Holiday Travel with Littles
As a breastfeeding mom with a demanding career, my oldest daughter went where I went! By the time she’d was one year old, she’d been to California, New York, Washington, DC, Vermont, Ohio, and Arizona, just on business travel! Along the way, we added two more daughters. While our travel has slowed down some, we’ve…
Outnumbered Parenting: More Kids than Adults
After the birth of my first child, I wondered how it would be emotionally possible to add another child to our family… where would I find the love? How could I possibly subtract anything from what I give to my darling daughter? And where would I find the time? It turns out that just like…
Leah Remini on Why She Hired a Doula
My husband, Mike Rinder, co-hosts the TV show Scientology: The Aftermath with actress, comedian and best-selling author Leah Remini. She visited the Tampa area a few months ago. At dinner one evening, I was pleased to learn that Leah Remini’s doula provided invaluable support after the birth of her daughter, Sofia, 12 years ago. She graciously agreed…
Sex After Childbirth
Intimacy and sex after childbirth can be a source of concern or relationship tension for new parents. While this topic may seem taboo to some, it’s helpful to keep some factors in mind. Your midwife or doctor will likely recommend refraining from sex until at least six weeks postpartum whether you had a vaginal birth…
The Boo Hoo Breakfast Recipe
My oldest starts kindergarten tomorrow. On this momentous occasion, I’d like to offer a recipe of sorts. Have you heard of the Boo Hoo Breakfast? This is when parents gather together at a diner or coffeehouse to commiserate and commemorate one of their babies heading off to school. Who wants to join us? The Boo Hoo…
A Floridian Mom’s Tips for Disney with Kids
I worked at Magic Kingdom in my late teens and it was my favorite job, aside from being a doula. I worked in a special section called “Glow.” We sold the light up toys at night during the parades. Each night I wore a different costume, based on where in the park I was working,…
Best Kept Secrets – Summer Fun in Tampa Bay – Part 2
It’s mid-July and Tampa Bay parents are hot, tired and asking in unison… “When does school start again!” While we can’t make school start any sooner, we can tell you about a sort-of secret splash pad at the Florida Aquarium! Scroll all the way to the end for the best part of this cool destination. A…
Who Hires Postpartum Doulas?
As awareness of postpartum doula support grows, many people ask us what type of family hires a postpartum doula. They often ask “Who hires postpartum doulas?” Here are just a few examples of who hires postpartum doulas: First-time parents. When bringing your first baby home, everything is new! Feeding, sleeping, diapering, washing, doctors, daycares… it’s…
MOSI: Best Kept Secrets, Summer Fun in Tampa Bay, Part 1 (updated July 2022)
Hey Moms & Dads, One of the best things I ever did was get a MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry) membership. There are different levels but we bought a basic membership for a family of five. MOSI in Tampa has wonderful features that both of my children enjoy. There are educational exhibits to interact with, rope climbing…
Partners Are Parents, Too! 3 Ways to Promote Bonding with Newborns
It’s a pretty common idea that a “great way” for partners/fathers to bond with your new baby is to express milk and let him/her feed the baby. And while it is a fun activity, expressing before your milk supply is well established – by your baby – is not recommended. It’s best for your baby…
The Problem With “Enjoy Them While They’re Little”
If you have children, you’ve surely received this bit of advice multiple times. It’s a favorite bon mot, offered usually from wiser, older, more experienced parents and grandparents. It has happened to me in a group on Facebook, a grocery store, a public building and sitting on a park bench; a well-meaning, grandmotherly-type woman observes me…
I Made a Resoluation
I am not going to shoulder the burden of mother guilt anymore. You know this guilt: it’s an incessant mosquito whirring in your ear.