Andy Cohen shared a seriously relatable parenting moment featuring his 4-year-old’s epic tantrum
Stars: they’re just like us. Well, not really. But their kids sure are! Here’s the proof: Andy Cohen, who just returned home from his latest book tour, was welcomed by his toddler son promptly having a meltdown over having to share a bite of a cookie with his little sister. Parents everywhere feel this in their bones.
Dad-of-two Cohen shared the hilariously relatable video on his Instagram.
“Welcome back from book tour, Daddy!” he wrote in the caption. In the video, we see him trying to reason with 4-year-old Ben, who is already in full meltdown mode.
“So you’re crying because I gave you a cookie? Is that why you’re crying?” Cohen asks as Ben wails in the background.
It turns out that it’s not really about the cookie, but the fact that Cohen broke off a piece of it to give to Ben’s 12-month-old sister, Lucy.
“Because I ripped a little piece off for Lucy so that you would share with her? Well, I think it’s nice for you to share,” he says, as Ben continues to sob.
At the end of the video, Cohen arrives at the natural solution: “I shouldn’t have given you the cookie; maybe none of these problems would’ve happened.”
[Cue all parents nodding their heads in recognition.]
Cohen (and Ben) found plenty of sympathy from his famous friends in the comments. Sharon Stone joked, “Learning to share is a life long ego struggle buddy.” Cheri Oteri joked, “Wait till you say, you can’t go if Lucy can’t go. Someone’s going through the wall!”
Don’t worry, Andy. The toddler yearsdo end eventually. Good luck in the meantime.
It seems Channing Tatum and Sandra Bullock’s daughters have ended their beef
Ain’t no drama like some preschool drama, are we right? It’s all ‘who’s down with pretending to be a cheetah for months on end,’ ‘who’s playing house with whom’ and ‘why does that kid keep following me?’ And if you’ve ever met one, you know that preschoolers do not keep their cool. About anything. So when Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum were called in to the principal’s office when their daughters were in preschool together, it wasn’t to try to edge an autograph out of the celebrity parents.
“We were called in together because Everly and Laila were trying to alpha the other one out, and we prayed it was the other’s child that caused damage,” Bullock revealed in a joint interview with Tatum for The New York Times. Sandra, we’ve been there. We see you. And we, too, have hoped that damage was inflicted by another’s child, if it must be inflicted at all.
Well, there’s been an update to the drama.”Our daughters got into a couple scraps at school because they’re both very, very, very strong-willed little girls,” Tatum confessed in a recent lie-detector interview with Vanity Fair. “It was a very fun year that year.”
VF asked if the girls “still have beef,” and Tatum says the two are now thick as thieves! “They love each other now, literally can’t get enough of each other,” he said. “They just want to hang out all the time.”
“Telling the truth,” the polygraph administrator ruled.
“I’ve blocked it all out,” Tatum, 41, joked. Not so easy for Bullock. “There’s some PTSD attached to it,” she added of the preschool “drama.” But now that everyone’s playing nicely in the sand box, Bullock’s daughter Laila, 10, and Tatum’s daughter Everly, 8, had possibly the most luxe playdate ever together in the Dominican Republic, where The Lost City—the 2022 film staring both their parents about a reclusive romance novelist on a book tour, her cover model, and a kidnapping attempt… in the jungle—was shot.
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Bullock joked “That’s the reason we did this film, so they could have one long, Covid-safe play date… All we cared about is that Everly and Laila were just having the time of their lives.” Considering the site shots of The Lost City, we can affirmatively say they had pretty good odds stacked in their favor of having some fun.
Earlier this month, Bullock, who is also mom to Louis, 12, announced she’s taking a break from acting to focus on her kids. “I take my job very seriously when I’m at work,” the Oscar winner told ET. “And I just want to be 24/7 with my babies and my family.”
His children have also impacted and shaped Tatum’s career. The actor and producer is now an author of children’s book Sparkella, “a charming ode to self-esteem and the love between a father and daughter.”
Black Girl Magic is a powerful thing! Rebel Girls, the global empowerment brand dedicated to helping raise the most inspired and confident global generation of girls, is releasing a new book to celebrate the stories of Black women and girls. Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Real-Life Tales of Black Girl Magic is available for pre-order now!
Inside the book you’ll find women from over 30 countries featured, with plenty of familiar names: tennis player Naomi Osaka, author Toni Morrison, singer Aretha Franklin and filmmaker Ava DuVernay. You’ll also discover the stories of astronaut Jeanette Epps, journalist Ida B. Wells, Empress Tatyu Bedel and many more! Like all Rebel Girls publications, it features beautiful content, this time focusing on Black female and non-binary authors, illustrators and editors.
This is the fourth volume of the New York Times bestselling Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls series. It’s hardcover and a hefty 260 pages for hours of story time with your family. You can pre-order it now for $35 and it will ship on or after September 28.
To celebrate the release, Rebel Girls has launched a multimedia campaign that includes a book tour, new apparel and a partnership with various organizations to amplify community and give back. You can also buy an audiobook version that’s narrated by a stellar cast of Black women, including several award-winning actresses. Learn more on the brand’s website and get excited to celebrate these inspirational stories!
Twilight fans have something to look forward to. Stephenie Mayer announced that Midnight Sun is close to will be available to purchase on Aug. 4. The new book in the Twilight series tells the story from Edward’s point of view.
“I thought seriously about delaying this announcement until things were back to normal,” Meyer said in a statement. “However, that felt wrong, considering how long those who are eager for this book have already waited.”
She added, “I don’t know how everyone else is coping, but right now books are my main solace and happiest escape. Personally, I would be nothing but delighted if one of my favorite authors announced something new for me to read. (No pressure, Laini Taylor.) So, I hope this announcement gave you some pleasure and something fun to look forward to.”
Meyer acknowledges that working ona book for 13 years is an unusual experience and a lot has changed in all of our lives since the first book in the Twilight series was released.As she looks back over all the good times we all have experienced. She writes, ““I hope going back to the beginning of Bella’s and Edward’s story reminds you of all that fun, too.”
More information on music, contests and information about the Midnight Sun book tour will be posted on Mayer’s page.
Joanna Gaines has a lot to celebrate. Her new cookbook, Magnolia Table, Volume 2 was released earlier this week. Since her book tour needed to be cancelled, she decided to stage her own hilarious book signing at home.
In a video posted to Instagram, Gaines signs copies of the book for her husband, Chip, and their children, Drake, Duke, Emmie, and Crew.The couple’s other daughter Ella stands by her mom’s side to play her “bodyguard” during the singing. The “guests” wear various disguises throughout the video.
“Since my book tour isn’t happening this week, we still wanted to celebrate the book launch in our own unique, stir crazy kind of way,” she wrote on Instagram. “I felt the love for sure, but I also missed getting to see all of your beautiful faces!” She also thanked her fans for their support and asked them to tag her in any of their own posts about their projects in the kitchen.
My husband and I feel lucky to be entrepreneurs who work from home. We’ve designed our lives so that there’s always time for a surf (him) or a trail run (me). I’m an author/jungle lodge owner. My husband is a sustainability guru. Working hours? No such thing—our mantra has been to get work done between adventures—no real difference between weekends and weekdays.
Then we got pregnant (yay!). Our flexible lifestyle would be perfect for a newborn…right?
The reality was a bit of a shock. I was suddenly juggling two babies—a newborn and a book launch. Maternity leave? Yeah, right. I soon found myself breastfeeding with a computer on my lap and cell phone in hand (yes, it can be done, but this isn’t exactly ideal!!). I barely had time to brush my teeth and make a meal, let alone keep up with work e-mails and publisher deadlines.
The 4th trimester pushed me way out of my comfort zone—personally and professionally. We argued plenty, realized that was useless (and exhausting), then embraced the challenge and decided to become masters of artful mistake making.
Our little one (son, Zephyr) is now nearly 6 months old. As I reflect on the journey of being a mama entrepreneur, I hope these 5 tips might help new self-employed or work at home parents.
1. Find a carrier you love. Our baby naps a lot longer in the carrier and we get free hands for computer tasks (win-win!!). We decided as parents to minimize screen time for baby. Easier said than done…baby carrier to the rescue!!! Our baby loved to be held (all the time) and with the carrier, he’d be facing away from the screen. Note that there are a ton of different styles of carrier out there. Try a bunch of models and see what works best for you (my husband and I each have our own favorite carrier).
2. Prioritize and become efficiency masters. Work time becomes scarce, use it wisely. Think of this as an opportunity to let go of the non-essentials. Prioritize your to-do list. Give yourself twice as long (at least) to accomplish tasks and meet deadlines. You may have to let somethings go for a bit. I made no social commitments for several weeks (your friends will understand!).
3. Ask for 2 hours. We whined about not getting our work done, then realized the real problem was that we just weren’t communicating well. We learned that the simple request: “I need 2 hours of uninterrupted time to get (fill in the blank) done,” can really help. Time is a different creature with a baby. Schedule and communicate with your partner about your work projects, deadlines, etc. We’ve found that giving each other 2-hour windows of uninterrupted time is like gold. It’s amazing what you can accomplish with undistracted bursts of work time.
4. Power siesta. Mama brain is very real!! My brain felt like a fried egg (our little guy is not a sleeper). 10-minute siestas throughout the day made a huge difference to my focus and thinking power. Before you get to work, consider that a quick nap may make you more productive.
5. Hire helpers and use grandma. As an entrepreneur, I’m used to being independent and wearing many hats. With a newborn, I quickly learned to ask for help in a variety of different forms. Professionally I hired little helpers—a social media expert, publicist, graphic designer and coaches. They helped my postpartum brain stay focused and on track (life coach, business coach, nutrition coach, etc.). I had a small budget for these helpers and when funds ran low I asked about work-trade options (and got many yeses!). Personally, I looked to my mom for help as well (I’m lucky to have her nearby and she was happy to go to the bank, pick up groceries, play with baby etc.). Plus, I think she’s really enjoyed being a helper.
These tips may seem simple or obvious but they’ve made a huge difference for us so far. We’ll see what work/life/baby adventures come next…
Bonus: I’ve actually discovered that life with a baby has made me a more mindful and balanced entrepreneur. Juggling a baby and book launch have brought some surprisingly beautiful synchronicities and benefits (breastfeeding + oxytocin = I’ve overcome my fear of public speaking…very helpful for book tour!). As I slow down daily to play with Zephyr, new inspiration is catching up with me. Thus, I’m writing this article for you! I haven’t written since I finished the manuscript for my book (before I got pregnant). I hope to have more mama entrepreneur inspiration for the Red Tricycle community soon.
Known as “The Jungle Mama”, Tamara Jacobi is the author of Wildpreneurs:A Guide for Turning Passion into Business (HarperCollins Leadership, Feb. 2020) and founder of the Tailwind Jungle Lodge on the Mexican Pacific. Tamara is loving the adventure of motherhood! Her son Zephyr was born on Oct, 2019.
It’s no secret that we think kids are pretty fantastic. And, as the year winds down, we thought it was high time to put the spotlight on some of the little people who (in our opinion) totally owned 2017. Whether they shot for the stars or walked for a cause, their stories are all uplifting and inspiring. Read on to learn more about the young writers, educators, dancers, and more who made the list!
When NASA let it be known they were on the hunt for a Planetary Protection Officer, nine-year-old Jack Davis knew he was the right guy for the gig. Among other qualifications, he cited his video game skills, alien movie knowledge, and the kicker: “I am young; I can learn to think like an alien.” While he didn’t land the job, he did receive a letter back, and a call from NASA’s D.C. headquarters, as well as tons of media attention when his hand-written job application went viral.
While NASA invited him to re-apply when he was older, Paul Hoffman, President, and CEO of Liberty Science Center in Jack’s home state of New Jersey didn’t think he was too young to start guarding our galaxy. Hoffman took to YouTube to personally invite him “to be our first Kid Science Advisor” and to give him a call.
So Jack called and got to work! This month, he attended the VIP opening of LSC’s Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium (the largest of its kind in the U.S.) and got a first look at some of his input. “The coolest thing I got from the letter to NASA was getting the job at the Liberty Science Center because it’s really cool and I have a job. None of my friends have any type of job,” he says. “It’s been fun getting to meet Mr. Hoffman and everybody else.”
Since the wise age of six, Savanna Karmue has known exactly what she wants to be when she grows up: a cardiologist. She started posting informational videos to YouTube at age eight. A year later, she wrote a book, Happy Heart Advices, Vol. 1. In order to focus on educating and empowering those affected by childhood obesity, her non-profit organization, Happy Heart Advice, launched its Happy Heart Challenges, inspiring children to participate in making healthy snacks and committing to daily exercise, all led by Savanna, who is now 11.
“Savanna’s drive has changed our entire family to see things differently and embrace a healthier and happier lifestyle,” her mom, Wendy Karmue shares. And her proud parents aren’t the only ones taking note, as 2017 has been a banner year. In June, she was honored directly by the American Heart Association for making such an impact at such a young age. She was a keynote speaker not once but twice at related conferences in California. She’s also getting guidance from natural food company Hampton Creek on Happy Heart Approved food and is hard at work on an app that will make it easier for families to shop healthy for happy hearts. Stay tuned!
There’s a little radical, and then there’s A Little Radical: The ABCs of Activism, a new book that 10-year-old Gavin Danger Russel and eight-year-old Everley Darling Russel wrote with their parents in order to empower kids and their families to take action. Since publishing the book back in March, the sibling scribes kicked off a book tour at the Telluride Literary Arts Festival in May and picked up the 2017 Moonbeam Spirit Award’s silver medal for Best First Picture Book in October.
And 2018 is lining up to be one epic year as well. In the true spirit of activism and adventure at the heart of their book, the whole Russel family downsized their lives to one suitcase per person in order to set off on a world tour. They intend to connect with 26 people and organizations that represent the A to Zs of activism laid out in the book. A docu-series on their website will also capture the lessons they gather along the way and enable other kids to connect with and support these causes.
When Henry Jensen was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age five, he may not have imagined that in another five years he would be helping Beyond Type 1—a global nonprofit founded in 2015 by Nick Jonas among others—use the power of social media to educate and advocate. Among other outreach efforts, Henry sends uplifting messages to those just starting to deal with the disease. “I remember being sad and scared and I did know anyone else that had Type 1 when I was diagnosed,” he says. “Now I can be that friend to other people newly diagnosed. I even help grownups!”
This year, the 10-year-old also sat down with actor Victor Garber on behalf of Beyond Type 1 to talk diabetes “power-ups” and show off some serious dance moves! (Click here to check it out!) The dichotomy is a perfect one—in all that he does with such verve and style, Henry is living life without letting a chronic disease slow him down one bit. He has medaled in Taekwondo, is playing the role of the Nutcracker with the Salish Sea Youth Ballet this month, and often hits the beach with his sister on San Juan Island, Washington. He was also one of several kids who helped Nick Jonas accept the Hero Award on stage at the Radio Disney Music Awards in Los Angeles this year.
In front of 700 people, 10-year-old Saylor Burgoyne proudly walked across the stage to be crowned the 2018 Little Miss Arc Broward during the 5th Annual Miss Arc Broward Pageant. As a contestant, she had displayed four pieces of her artwork (in addition to wearing a hand-painted dress of her own design) for the talent portion of the competition. “I like to be creative and wear clothes that I have painted on that become art,” she says. “Art and fashion both make me happy.”
Saylor intended to compete in the pageant last year but had to step out in order to recover from brain surgery. Recover she did, and so much more. “When they called my name, I had a mix of emotions go through me,” she says. “I was shocked and happy and nervous and proud! I couldn’t believe I won!”
As Jessica Rodriguez, Chief Marketing & Development Office for the organization explains, “For more than 60 years, Arc Broward has worked to change the perception of individuals with disabilities and life challenges throughout the South Florida community. This effort of changing perspectives came to life as the girls competed in front of their entire community.”
Saylor doesn’t think those life challenges are the crux of the story, however. “I don’t know of any challenges I have to tell,” she said after beaming about her passion for art and fashion. “That is the beautiful thing about Saylor,” her mom, Ronna, adds. “She focuses on what she can do and not on what she can’t do.”
Two years ago, a then seven-year-old Alia was inspired to leave rainbow-painted rocks outdoors with the mission of spreading kindness and making people smile. “Ever since I could draw I've drawn rainbows!” she writes on her website. “They are my favorite thing to draw and just make me happy! So began the Rainbow Rock Project, with the original goal of making 500 rocks to raise money ($1 per rock) for Alia’s favorite cause, her local homeless shelter, Bay Area Rescue Mission.
While her goal was met in all of TWO days, her project has continued to evolve. She swiftly upped the goal and personally delivered her collected donations to the shelter and food pantry. This year, Alia helped shoe company PLAE kick off their PLAE-it-forward community program as their first kid ambassador. The San Francisco-based company designed custom rainbow shoe tabs in support of Alia's beloved cause (raising a whopping $5,000) and has since partnered with several more inspiring kids this year, going to show what big impacts little people can make with some support.
And if you have rainbow fans like Alia at home, she invites them to join her in putting colorful joy out into the universe. Just snap a pic and tag it #rainbowrockproject. The Project’s Instagram page is full of inspiration!
From Texas to Florida to California, 2017 was a tough year for the hurricanes and wildfires that ravaged those areas. While five-year-old A.J. Troiano was safe at home in New Hampshire during Hurricane Harvey, when his parents and grandparents showed him photos and explained all that Houstonians had endured and lost—particularly little Texans—he was certainly inspired to help.
To fundraise for the American Red Cross, he decided to walk two miles (five laps around his block). In anticipation, he made a poster and the very next day set out on foot when he got home from kindergarten. As A.J. walked, motivated neighbors and friends joined in and contributed, making him happy enough to sprint the last lap home with $200 in earnings for the cause. It sounds like more service is in A.J.’s future, too. He and his family will regularly serve meals and play games at a local kids’ club. And one day A.J. hopes to become a Sheriff.
When 10-year-old Hailey Reighard was at a Detroit Lions game, something caught her eye, and it wasn’t on Ford Field, but on the jumbotron. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) was partnering with the Lions to present a competition: the #MIKidsCan Turkey Day VIP Sweepstakes, inviting Michigan families to help them endorse healthy habits and an active lifestyle. And out of 1,200 entries, Hailey won! She was also featured as the #MIKidsCan Champion of the Month for her own dedication to wellness, which means her dedication to dance. She practices 4-5 days a week. “I just want to keep dancing,” she says.
As a winner, Hailey helped BCBSM promote “a healthier Michigan” on their float in America’s Thanksgiving Parade, presented by Art Van, and handed the commemorative game ball to quarterback Matthew Stafford back on Ford Field. “Giving the game ball was awesome, incredible, and the best thing ever,” Hailey remembers. “It was so great to meet so many people.”
Chances are you associate her last name with the mega-Facebook empire that’s taken over so much of your free time. But, Randi Zuckerberg (she’s the sister of Mark Zuckerberg and former marketing honcho at Facebook) is much more than what meets the eye. For starters, Randi is the CEO of Zuckerberg Media and Editor in Chief of Dot Complicated, a new lifestyle community. This month the savvy businesswoman will add published author to her resume with the publication of two titles–Dot, a children’s book and Dot Complicated, a book about how technology influences and frames our daily lives. To top it all off Randi is mom to two-year-old Asher. We recently spoke to Randi about her life as a working mom, her new children’s book and what we’d find if we took a peek inside her bag.
Tell us about how the idea for your children’s book “Dot” came to be. I have a two-year-old son who can navigate my iPad with baffling ease, loves to ‘cheese’ for a picture whenever he sees my phone, and believes he can see his grandparents at any time of day through Skype or FaceTime. Our children are the first generation of digital natives that have grown up immersed in technology. And we’re the first generation of parents that are figuring out to be parents (and role models) with all this technology around us. How much screen time is too much? Is it too soon to let my kids play on a tablet or phone? How do I instill in my kids a healthy love for active play and the outdoors? I hope that spunky Dot can teach kids (and adults!) the beauty of unplugging, a lesson I want to keep close to heart in today’s digital age.
Can you fill us in about what your typical day looks like? Are there any family rituals baked into your daily routine? In the mornings, I love waking up to the sound of my son Asher singing to himself (amazingly, he has never been a fussy riser). My husband and I take turns driving him to preschool throughout the week, after sneaking in our favorite morning cuddle with him. Then, we’re off to a busy day of work – though no work day is typical. I love those days that are booked with a mix of everything – from meetings to team brainstorms and new project discussions with clients. We make it a point to try to eat as a family as many nights as possible. We always look forward to Fridays, where we join other families from Asher’s preschool for traditional home-cooked dinners.
What’s your idea of an ideal Sunday with your family? Checking out a new exhibit or festival with my family. Recently, we went to the brand new Star Wars exhibit at the San Jose Tech Museum – a hit for the entire family! Asher loves trains, and we’ve been to quite a few train expos and parks. My favorite part of any Sunday, though, is the lazy morning spent with just the three of us at my favorite restaurant in Los Altos for brunch, Bumble. After Asher is in bed, my favorite weekend indulgence is to relax with a cup of coffee and browse some of my favorite shopping websites: ModCloth, Stella & Dot and Sole Society, to name a few.
Any advice for working moms who are trying to “do it all”? I feel like a lot of parents are trying to “do it all” – and I’ve realized how much pressure I put on myself just trying to fit everything in. So, I’ve stopped trying to do it all in one day. Between family, work, fitness, friends, and sleep, I choose three things each day to focus on doing really well. There’s no way to do all five perfectly in one day, but this way, I find that I’m able to balance what is most important to me over the course of each week.
Do you have any rules when it comes to letting your son have access to technology? At what age will you let him sign onto social media? Since he’s so young, my tech ‘rules’ for my son are pretty simple. I limit his tablet screen time to when we’re outside the house (to distract him on a long flight or waiting at a casual restaurant, for example). He enjoys playing actively at home and outside. As for social media – who knows what new norms will be when he grows up? The legal age restrictions for each platform will guide us in making decisions for each situation independently.
What are you most looking forward to doing with your family/son during the holidays? I’m looking forward to sharing Thanksgivukkah with Asher this year. Thanksgiving and Hannukah fall on the same day once every 70,000 years! It’s going to be quite a celebration in our household this year. Sweet potato latkes? Cranberry-sauce glazed brisket? Yum! It will be such a special family time.
If we opened your purse, what would we find?
My polka-dotted wallet (because I’m wearing polka dots every day in celebration of my book releases), hand sanitizer (trying to stay healthy for book tour), Starbucks app on my iPhone, an extra phone charger for those long flights, and a nutritious KIND bar.
If you could tweet or Facebook one thing on your mind right now, what would it be? Here’s a tweet: “Feeling appreciative of all of your support as I release my 1st books. Let me know if I can do anything for you this Thanksgiving & beyond!” And on Facebook and Instagram, I would post a photo of polka dots: “Wearing lots and lots of polka dots on my book tour! #FeelingDotty #dotcomplicated”.
If you had to ask Randi one question what would it be? Fill us in below!
Back in the ’80s, little girls all over the country idolized the independent, feisty heroine of the TV show Punky Brewster. Whether it was her fashion sense or her general joie de vivre, we’ll never know, but “Punky Power” was the battle cry for kids back then. These days, Soleil Moon Frye, the cute little girl who played Punky, has become a major force in the parenting world. In 2008, Soleil, together with Paige Goldberg Tolmach, founded The Little Seed, an eco-friendly kids boutique in Los Angeles’s Larchmont neighborhood. The Little Seed specializes in innovative organic products for kids, and in 2010, the store launched its own line of brightly colored, eco-friendly clothing for children and infants.
Soleil has now ventured into the world of online parenting support. Feeling overwhelmed with her daughters Poet, now six, and Jagger, two, she posted a few “Am I the only one who feels crazed when…” questions on her Facebook and Twitter accounts, and instantly saw thousands and thousands of similarly exhausted parents respond with “Yes! ME TOO!” Recently, Soleil has found even more ways to reach out: first, with her Mommy Ambassadorship with Target, second, with her website Moonfrye.com, and most recently, newly released book, Happy Chaos.
We caught up with the multitasking dynamo for a few minutes to hear about her latest projects, her family, and her hope that parents can just let go of their crazy expectations and enjoy spending time with their kids.
Can you tell us a little about your book, Happy Chaos? How it came about, the inspiration to write about your life, and what you hope to get across to other moms.
I thought back to my moments when I felt like everyone had all read some manual or guide that I hadn’t been given. And I wanted to share some of the great advice I’d received through social media with the world, as well as my own stories and advice.
So, how do you find a happy balance as a working mom?
Well, you have to create it. When you’re stressed out because your kids are asking them to play with you and you’re trying to get dinner made, sometimes you just need to get on the floor, and play with them and forget about making dinner for a few minutes. Get down on their level. Because that’s what they’ll remember, not the dinner you made.
Is it that easy? The words “Happy” and “Chaos” don’t necessarily go together for everyone. Trust me, I had a hard time with those two concepts too! Like trying to go somewhere for a business meeting and being covered in spit-up, or worse! But with all the craziness, I think parents are too hard on ourselves. We just have to try our best, and if we have a bad moment or fall apart, we just have to try better the next day. I also think parents need to work harder at connecting and supporting each other instead of making judgments.
Between the book tour and the Target Ambassadorship, you’re on the road so much right now. Do your kids travel with you?
Not always, but it’s Poet’s sixth birthday this week, so I brought the girls with me to New York City. In fact, I went to the Target in Harlem and bought streamers and balloons and party favors to decorate the hotel room for her. I also bought my first copy of my book, which was awesome!
Do you like to cook? If so, what’s your go-to dish for the family?
Yes, me and the kids love to cook and bake together. It serves as a great opportunity to be creative and teach the kids how to measure at the same time. Our go-to dishes include: blueberry pie, chocolate chip cookies and lots of fun pastas and salads.
What are your favorite parks and playgrounds?
Any place where the kids can run around and have a good time. There are some fantastic parks in Los Angeles and of course our favorite is when we indulge and go to Disneyland.
What do you guys do for family fun when you’re back home in California?
We love being at home, doing crafts or baking, or having an ’80s dance party! Another big activity our whole family loves is geocaching. And when Jason (my husband) and I can sneak out on our own, we go to the movies—it feels so indulgent!
What’s in your bag? Tell us what must-haves you carry at all times.
I have my favorite Bonnie Bell lip smackers stashed in every bag, and always carry baby wipes and try to bring sunscreen and a change of clothes for the kids just in case. I also like to keep fun things like crayons and coloring books in my bag for the girls! If I have room, I throw in my camera so I’m always ready for impromptu photo-ops. Plus, something with caffeine to keep me going.
What’s the best family vacation you’ve ever had?
This last winter, we all went to Mexico together. My husband surprised us with a trip and we had a great time bonding with the kids. We spent a ton of time reading, drawing and being in the water.
