Today our kids not only know how to pronounce quinoa (“KEEN-wah”), but their breakfast often consists of chia seeds mixed with organic raisins. How far we’ve come—we grew up eating processed sugar, bleached flour and food dye disguised as healthful options from the Four Food Groups. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. At least once a year we still mix Pop Rocks with a Coke. Scroll down to take a walk down memory lane with these 1970s and 1980s foods.

Fleischmann's Margarine

Cakcollectibles via Etsy

"I can't believe it's not butter!" Nope, just ingredients you can't pronounce.

Hi-C's Ecto Cooler

Amazon

You could watch your fave episodes of The Real Ghostbusters and sip Hi-C's Ecto Cooler in all its glory.

Nerds

eBay

You may still have one of these teeny-tiny pebble-like candies stuck in one of your molars today. 

Pop Rocks

Amazon

Pop Rocks might just be one of the few candies that have made a comeback.

Beech-Nut Gum: Yipes! Stripes!

Dinky Donuts Cereal

Did you write a letter to Ralston Cereal to enter to win the Atari video game?

Ding Dongs

Etsy

Ring Dings or Ding Dongs? Depends on which coast you lived on.

Swanson Frozen Dinner

A turkey dinner and a new episode of the Brady Bunch starring Davy Jones. Heaven.

Wonder Bread

The best thing since sliced...wait a minute.

Kool-Aid

Yup, we drank the Kool-Aid.

Hawaiian Punch

eBay

Contains 5% REAL FRUIT JUICE!

Tab, the Un-Cola

For those who want to keep "tabs" on their weight.

 

Twinkies

Way before they were deep-fried or used as a murder defense, they were the perfect addition to your Bionic Woman lunchbox.

Quisp Cereal

Which cereal was better, Quisp or Quake?

Hunt's Snack Pack

Not quite a good as the brand Bill Cosby was hawking.

Dolly Madison Fruit Pie

eBay

Peppermint Patty wouldn't lie, that's real fruit filling.

Devil Dogs

Big Lots

Did you ever stick them in the freezer?

Koogle

Chocolate Peanut Spread, a Nutella predecessor?

 

Fonzies

When your product doesn't sell (Twisties), rename it after a popular TV character!

Snack Mate Cheese Spread

A new food group category unto itself.

Wonka's Oompas Candy

If you lived in the UK, you enjoyed them with flavors of  jam doughnut, snozzberry, popcorn, caterpillar and mashed potato!

Carnation Breakfast bar

Behold, the grandfather of the "bar" phenomenon!

Fanta Soda

"Flavoured Beverage" just about sums it up.

BooBerry Cereal

The 1980s ushered in a new segment of monster-themed foods. Count Choc-ula, anyone?

Bubble Yum

eBay

Was it really spider eggs that made the gum so soft?

—Jacqui B

 

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While we can’t explain the science behind Santa’s global gift deliveries, we can offer a few ways to find out how and when he’ll arrive. This year, when your kids ask you about the big guy’s arrival, you can have an answer at the ready when you use any—or all!—of the following Santa tracker apps, websites and smart speaker/home assistant skills.

Read on for our the best kids Santa trackers that let your little elves follow jolly Old St. Nick on his gift-giving world tour this Christmas Eve.

NORAD Tracks Santa

Since 1958, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has fielded calls and emails from around the world to keep curious children (and adults) informed about Santa’s whereabouts on Christmas Eve. An impressive 1,500 volunteers staff telephones and computers to answer calls and live updates are provided through the NORAD Tracks Santa website (in seven languages), over telephone lines and by email.

You can also follow NORAD Tracks Santa on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Sirius XM Kids Place Live

Sirius XM

In collaboration with the NORAD Santa Tracker, kiddos can tune into Kids Place Live (Ch. 78) to get live updates on the big man in red. Starting on Christmas Eve at 3 p.m. EST, you can hear Santa's progress with update every 15 minutes, along with festive holiday tunes.

Google Santa Tracker

Google

On Christmas Eve, Google Santa Tracker will showcase Santa’s dashboard: the technology that powers his sleigh during his around-the-world journey making the most important of deliveries! Families can follow Santa’s progress and even learn a little about some of his stops. Starting Dec. 1, use the site to explore Santa’s Village, engage in some activities and even meet a few of his elves.

“Alexa, where's Santa?”

Courtesy of Amazon

If you want to get those kids off to bed so you can enjoy some quiet time and a glass of wine, convince them that Santa is on his way by enabling the NORAD Tracks Santa skill on your Alexa-enabled smart speaker. 

Santa Update

Jakob Owens via Unsplash

Santa Update is for those who can’t wait a minute longer for the holiday hype. You can already keep abreast of Santa’s work by reading the site’s daily blog, which chronicles newsworthy happenings like recent improvements in wrapping technology, the Elf Parade, the local light decorating contest and efforts to test fly Santa’s new sleigh. The site is bursting with creative links and thoughtful details that will show your kiddos how committed the North Pole team is to preparing for Christmas and making their deliveries. 

"Google, track Santa."

Paul Agrusti via YouTube

If you have a Google Home smart speaker, simply ask Google to “Call Santa” to make sure you’re still on the nice list or “Track Santa” to find out how close he is to making the magical delivery at your house before you go to sleep. Google explains this handy Christmas feature at its blog.

Email Santa

Google

Although the primary activity on the Email Santa website is—you guessed it—emailing Santa (fill-in-the-blank letters with near-immediate responses are available for the impatient!), you can also track his whereabouts, watch the countdown to Christmas Day, view “live texting” between Santa and his elf squad on Christmas Eve, watch “live tweets” between Santa and Mrs. Claus, read Santa’s blog, laugh (or groan) at elf jokes, watch Christmas webcams from around the world—and oodles more. Your pet can even email Rudolph!

Santa Video Call & Tracker App

Pixabay via Pexels

The Santa Video Call and Tracker app, available for iOS devices, purports to be the “only Santa Video Call app with varied and customizable conversation options.” When you purchase the full version, Santa will even call your child by her name and knows (thanks to you) her age, month of birth, where she lives, her interests, and recent life events—at least, as much as you’d like to share. The app’s Santa Tracker locates the big guy in red within an “Elfiish Micrometer” and children can send Santa on test flights as well as zoom in and out on the three-dimensional globe as they watch Santa on the big night. 

Happy Santa tracking!

— Katie Brown & Keiko Zoll

Feature photo by Filip Mroz on Unsplash

 

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The Green Bay Packers game against the Chicago Bears looked a lot brighter this NFL season. On Sunday, Dec. 12, Packers’ running back Aaron Jones wore custom-designed cleats, in partnership with the Northwestern Mutual Foundation, to support children battling childhood cancer.

The special NFL program, “My Cause, My Cleats”, raises awareness and funding for causes that are near and dear to players’ hearts. Participating athletes sport a custom cleat design that represents their passions beyond the field on game day, then auction off the cleats at the NFL auction to raise proceeds for their selected charity.

Earlier this year, kids with cancer and their family members submitted their original hand-crafted designs for Aaron’s cleats, from which he personally selected his favorite. This year marks Aaron’s second time partnering with the Northwestern Mutual Foundation for the “My Cause, My Cleats” campaign to support and raise awareness for childhood cancer.

On November 13, Ashley Herman of Marshfield, Wis. was selected as the program’s winner. The 18-year-old cancer hero was invited to visit Lambeau Field in Green Bay with her mom, dad, brother and boyfriend, where Aaron surprised her with the news that he selected her design for his cleats.

“You’re definitely strong and resilient. Never stop fighting,” Aaron shared on a virtual call. “I want you to know that I’m in your corner forever.”

Ashley was surprised and delighted to speak with Aaron about her design and thought process behind the artwork. When selecting her design, Aaron was particularly drawn to the phrase “be the change” on the cleats—a phrase that stuck with Ashley throughout her treatment. “All it takes is one person,” Aaron told Ashley. “And now when I wear those cleats, everyone will see be the change.”

To top off the victory, Ashley was not only gifted a pair of her own custom cleats but also learned she and her family would attend the Packers’ game on December 12 to see her design in action.

Cleats designed by childhood cancer heroes seem to bring a little bit of magic to Aaron’s game. He scored back-to-back touchdowns in Ashley’s cleats to help boost the Packers’ to a 45-30 victory over the Chicago Bears, while, last year, he ran for his longest career touchdown in Ethan Haley’s cleats.

Finding Hope and Courage Through Art

Both art and sports played a large role in Ashley’s everyday life growing up. When she wasn’t in school, she would spend her time painting or sketching or playing volleyball for Columbus High School.

This past winter, however, Ashley was faced with news that would change her life. On Jan. 27, 2021, the Wisconsin native was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma—cancer that affects specialized white blood cells within the body’s immune system, which hinders it from defending against bacteria, parasites, or viruses.

Despite receiving this startling news, Ashley’s perpetual positive attitude kicked in and her first words to her doctors and families were, “okay, what do we do next.” Today, her cancer is in remission.

For Ashley, “My Cause, My Cleats” campaign means more than just winning. She plans to continue to share her story with others battling cancer to help them keep pushing forward and to encourage them to share their own experiences.

Aaron also hopes his participation with the Northwestern Mutual Foundation will inspire others to make a difference. The Foundation, which launched its Childhood Cancer Program in 2012, has worked vigorously to find better treatments and cures, provide family and patient support and offer aid to children who struggle with the long-term effects of treatment. Since its inception, the foundation has contributed over $35 million towards its mission and also funded more than 455,000 hours of research.

In 2022, Northwestern Mutual Foundation’s Childhood Cancer Program is celebrating its ten-year anniversary by continuing to create moments of joy and drive connections amongst those affected by childhood cancer. Learn more about the Northwestern Mutual Foundation’s Childhood Cancer Program here.

If you’d like to hear more about Ashley’s story, watch it now!

 

Thanksgiving is a time of togetherness for family and friends.

Legend has it that the Pilgrims made it through their first winter in the New World thanks to the Native Americans who provided food and shared their means for survival in a harsh climate.

Traditional Thanksgiving fare includes mashed potatoes, stuffing, yams and other vegetables, cranberry sauce, ham, and of course, the main attraction, the Thanksgiving turkey. This is all followed by pumpkin or apple pie (or both, in my family) topped with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Wow, I’m salivating for that meal already, but it’s still more than a week away.

Wait, isn’t it Christmas already?

No, you say?

But everywhere I go, I see Christmas garlands strung across store aisles, Christmas tree farms are throwing open their gates, inflatable snowmen have replaced their jack-o’-lantern counterparts, and Santa has set up camp at the mall.

When I was younger, I remember that after Halloween, I would continue to see autumn-themed decorations and other trimmings wherever I went; it was basically Halloween décor minus the scare factor.

It was still autumn and everyone was celebrating the “Harvest Season.” Thanksgiving was always a nice, smooth transition into the “Christmas Season.”

Now with retail taking more and more of a chunk of our attention to the holidays, The “Christmas State of Mind” needs to start earlier and earlier to feed the gift-giving frenzy of a confused populace who keep thinking Christmas is right around the corner, forgetting that speed bump called Thanksgiving.

Why squeeze out a holiday that is totally non-denominational, brings family and friends together for delicious food, and reminds us to show gratitude for all our blessings?

So I’m here, with a defense of Thanksgiving—let’s slow down and enjoy November, its fiery show of leaves going out in a blaze of glory, the countdown to the Thanksgiving Feast, the constant reminder to “give thanks” inherent in the name of the season.

And to those who wish to rush, don’t panic. As soon as you finish that last bite of turkey and stuffing, you may don your ugly sweater and play those Christmas carols. You still have an entire month, after all.

This post originally appeared on The Haute Mommy Handbook.

Jen Kathrina-Anne is a blogger, freelance writer, and graphic designer. When she’s not writing or designing, she enjoys spending time outdoors in the California Bay Area where she resides with her husband and two fearless daughters. Find her at www.hautemommyhandbook.com.

 

It’s been several years since Disney World announced plans for Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. After several special sneak peaks like photos and a trailer, the time has nearly come to book that outer space adventure.

That’s right, starting Thur. Oct. 28, you can book that epic vacation of your dreams! To get all the deets on this immersive experience, keep reading.

If you’re not familiar with the concept of Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, guests will arrive and board at an appointed date and time. Then they’ll proceed to spend the next two days in a fully-immersive Star Wars universe experience where they can take on character roles in their own story.

Guests will enter a Launch Pod with windows where they’ll watch space zoom past them as they make the jump to hyperspace and arrive at the Halcyon. Once they board the starcruiser every window they encounter, including the ones in cabins, will display a view of deep space outside, with changing spacescapes as the Halcyon moves through the galaxy.

The two-day stay aboard the ship will involve a multi-day role playing story in which guests will be able to engage in experiences like wielding a lightsaber while facing off against a training remote, operating the ships defense systems on the bridge and exploring the hidden spaces deep in the mechanics of the ship. Guests will also make a planet-side excursion to the Black Spire Outpost on Batuu during a visit to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Disney has announced that departures to the starcruiser will launch in the Spring of 2022, but you’re probably here for the real deets: the price. First, it’s important to note that Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is not just a hotel, it’s a fully immersive experience with tons of perks.

Prices include lodging in a cabin or suite, all food and most non-alcoholic beverages, valet parking, entry into Disney’s Hollywood Studios plus one quick-service meal within the park. That being said, prices will start at $4,809 for two guests per cabin, $5,299 for two adults and one child and $5,999 for three adults and one child.

Who’s ready to head to a galaxy far, far away? Head to the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser’s website starting Oct. 28 to book your stay.

—Shahrzad Warkentin & Karly Wood

All photos: Disney /Lucasfilm

 

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It’s smart to be sun safe, but if you’ve been using certain sunscreens, it’s time to make a switch. Johnson & Johnson has announced it’s voluntarily recalling 14 sunscreen products from five different product lines due to the presence of benzene, a known carcinogen. All of the affected products are aerosol (spray) sunscreens.

Benzene is not an ingredient in any of the sunscreens, but it may have contaminated the products during the manufacturing process and internal testing identified low levels of the carcinogen. The following sunscreen lines are under recall:

  • NEUTROGENA® Beach Defense® aerosol sunscreen
  • NEUTROGENA® Cool Dry Sport aerosol sunscreen
  • NEUTROGENA® Invisible Daily™ defense aerosol sunscreen
  • NEUTROGENA® Ultra Sheer® aerosol sunscreen
  • AVEENO® Protect + Refresh aerosol sunscreen

If you have one or more of these products in your house, stop using them and discard. You can contact the JJCI Consumer Care Center with any questions. If you have more specific medical questions, contact your healthcare provider.

The Environmental Working Group recommends avoiding spray sunscreens due to inadequate coverage and potential inhalation risks. You can find a full report from the group on safer sunscreen choices online.

—Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of Pichara Bann on Unsplash

 

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It’s no secret being a mom is hard. I think it once was a secret, but it isn’t any longer. Too many of us blabbing about it on the internet. I knew before kids it would be, but It’s a different kind of hard than I expected. Mothering is a paradoxical life event. An ability I was born with. A biological and worldly life calling I never doubted. It’s a weight though. A heavy life-altering load. It changes your identity, It consumes you in every way.

I have two kids. They are my everything. My oldest, Johnny, is five and on the autism spectrum. Something I wasn’t prepared for. I’m consistently trying to learn and grow, but it’s hard. There is no guide book given to the parent of any child, but especially a child with autism. We have a lot of ups and downs.

Everything in our life is off the beaten path. It’s hard to explain, but we have days, and sometimes weeks, where Johnny is more engaged and aware. He is still autistic and himself but it’s like he is with us more. He has more gains and wins. I’m not going to lie, it’s easier. It’s the time of hope and payoffs to all the hard work.

The other times that my husband and I usually compare with babies “Wonder Weeks”, he’s grumpier, temperamental, and sensitive. These weeks bad behaviors like spitting, screaming, meltdowns, rough nights, etc. become the norm. During these times I feel down, lost, and discouraged. The older he gets, the back and forth between these times get harder.

I should expect the roller coaster, but I always hope they will level out, and hopefully with us on top. On the hard days, I try to stay positive but doubt and worry swarm my mind. This week, it’s very hard. It’s hard not to internalize your child yelling at you, hurting you, and hurting himself. The worst is how I don’t know how to make it better for him. I don’t know why or what is causing it.

When you have a child you take on the responsibility for their life. It’s your job to raise, protect, and teach them. I’m trying my hardest to do those things but it wears on me. Right now it feels like I’m talking at the wall. Like teaching is off the table. It’s pure protection, planning, and defense. I need breaks from my child sometimes. Not in the cute hiding in the bathroom eating a candy bar way, but in the crying into my pillow wishing I had more endurance and patience way. A way that hurts my soul that makes me feel wrong.

I don’t know what I thought motherhood would be. I’ve taken on an enormous task I knew wouldn’t be easy, but I didn’t quite understand the effects. I don’t feel like my child needs to change or fit, but more like I’m the one that doesn’t fit. I should be strong and endure. I should be able to do what needs to be done. I should be able to stay calm in the storm. I do those things 90% of the time, but it takes a toll. Some days it breaks me a little bit. It’s my darkness, but luckily I know it will go. I’ll go for a walk and I will recenter myself and get back to it because I’m the mom and I love my kid.

This post originally appeared on Johnny's Spirit.

Jaime Ramos, is a mom from Colorado. She's married to Isaac and has two kids, Amelie and Jesse. Jesse, her Johnny, is on the Autism Spectrum. She went to school to be a filmmaker, but now spends her days mainly as a stay at home mom.

 

Hank Aaron, the baseball legend and MLB Hall of Famer, passed away Jan. 22, 2021. During his lifetime, he broke records, racial barriers and fought for equality. Read on to learn a little more about his legacy.

Wikimedia Commons

Hank Aaron was born Henry Louis Aaron, on Feb. 5, 1934, in Mobile, Alabama.

His nickname was "Hammer" or "Hammerin' Hank" because of the high numbers of both home-runs and RBIs throughout his career.

A player's RBI total indicates their number of "Runs Batted In" or how many runs scored as a result from a player's hit. Hank Aaron had 2297, which is the Major League Baseball all-time record to date.

Smithsonian Institution via Wikimedia Commons

Hank Aaron signed with a scout from the Major League Baseball Boston Braves in 1952, but didn't start his official MLB career until April 1954 with the Milwaukee Braves (who later moved to Atlanta). 

He hit his first home run on April 23, 1954.

On April 8, 1974 Hank Aaron hit his 715th career home run, surpassing Babe Ruth's record of 714. 

His signature on a Braves jersey is on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. 

He finished his career in Milwaukee with the Brewers, with a total of 755 home runs. This record held for 33 years. 

Hank Aaron's brother, Tommie Aaron, also played in the MLB. Tommie's career of 13 home runs brings the MLB-brothers total to 768, the highest combined sibling total ever. 

Wikimedia Commons

Hank Aaron was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982.

Hank went pro in 1951 when signed to the Negro American League team, the Indianapolis Clowns.

Because of rampant racism in the United States,  American baseball was segregated. (Blacks and non-white players were not allowed to play on the same team as white players.) The Negro American League began in 1937 (and disbanded in 1962) was one of several"Negro leagues" established during this time.

This segregation in Major League Baseball was also referred to as the Color Line, which Jackie Robinson broke in 1945 when he signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson began playing for the Dodgers in 1947.

Hank said that he decided to become a MLB player after hearing a speech by Robinson. Hank was just 14. 

While playing for the Milwaukee Braves affiliate team, the Jacksonville Tars, Aaron faced rampant discrimination, especially when traveling in the South. He was often forced to travel separately from his (white) teammates and had to eat or sleep in different accommodations.

Throughout his outstanding baseball career, Hank faced prevalent racism. While playing for the (Atlanta) Braves as he approached the season (1974) where he was likely to break Babe Ruth's record, he began receiving death threats and a tremendous amount of hate mail. There was even a threat to kidnap one of his daughters. None of this stopped him.

Hank Aaron was a supporter of civil rights, the NAACP and countless other humanitarian efforts to better the lives and rights of African-Americans in the US. 

Wikimedia Commons

Hank was dad to five children: Gary, Lary, Dorinda, Gaie, Hank Jr. and Ceci. 

He wrote an autobiography called I Had a Hammer in 1999. 

He was the recipient of the Presidential Citizens Medal in 2001 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest honor a citizen can be awarded in the United States. 

In 2005, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund awarded him the Thurgood Marshall Lifetime Achievement Award. They also established the Hank Aaron Humanitarian in Sports Award.

The famous boxer Muhammad Ali once said that Hank Aaron was, "The only man I idolize more than myself." 

 In 2001, Hank Aaron was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from Princeton. 

Read more about Hank Aaron at the Baseball Hall of Fame.

—Amber Guetebier

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Having a child is the best and hardest thing in the world. When you double down (literally) on your parenting skills with a second child, you quickly realize that having two children is the best and hardest thing in the world…times two. Adding another little to your brood means not only having a whole new human to get to know, it also means lots of lessons coming your way. Here are 11 things every mom is sure to learn the second time around the mama-hood.

Christy Blevins

1. No two babies are alike.
When you’re a mom of one, it’s easy to assume every baby is pretty much the same. And, in a sense, it's true. They eat. They sleep. They smile. They cry. But any mom who has experienced a second baby knows that while what they do is the same, how they do it can be wildly different. One baby loves to be swaddled; another prefers arms out. One baby likes a pacifier; another is team thumb. These kinds of nuances in preferences and personalities are what make each baby a totally new adventure. (Note: They may be different on the inside, but on the outside, matching outfits for the win!)

2. Your sanity is worth every penny it will cost to buy double.
Sure, sharing is important—and as a mom of two, you want to instill those life skills…eventually. But for the first few years, it’s better to buy two of every toy, bowl or cup in the exact same color to avoid ending up with a ROY G. BIV-induced toddler meltdown every. single. day.

Haley Ross

3. Energy-saving mode is a thing.
When you’re a mom of one, you have a whole bunch of extra energy to devote to things like battling a toddler over dressing themselves and wearing a ballerina outfit to the grocery store. When you are toting two, your now-more-relaxed self says, “Go ‘head! Rock that, tutu, girl!”

4. The eyes have it.
When you have two little ones heading in a different direction, you quickly realize that popping out a second kid should automatically mean you’re gifted with pigeon-like vision, because, girl, you are going to need eyes in the back of your head to catch all the shenanigans. You won’t be able to stop every fall or prevent every mess, but as a mom of two, you know that staying alert is your first defense against total chaos.

Maddy Riddell

5. Babywearing isn’t just a cool party trick (Look, Ma, no hands!).
Once you’re outnumbered two to one, carrying baby hands-free isn’t a bonus convenience that frees you up to double-fist your coffee, er, be more productive. It’s a basic necessity that allows you to hold baby close while making lunch for a hungry toddler, wiping a bum, or hiking up a mountain. Check out the latest and greatest baby carriers.

6. Life with one kid was easier than you realized.
When you had just one baby, you swore you had no downtime and meant it! But now you realize those precious naptime hours with one were the stuff (sleepy mom) dreams were made of. For solidarity's sake, this one is meant to be experienced, not shared. So, please, mums the word to mums with one baby!

Binxy Baby

7. Being a baby-stuff snob is a must.
With two kids in tow, having the right gear is essential. For example, when you have one baby and go grocery shopping, plopping the car seat into the cart or even schlepping baby through the store on one arm works fine, but with double the fun, you’ve gotta up your gear game. (Like with the nifty Binxy Baby grocery cart hammock!) At the same time, some gear is non-essential (wipes warmer, we’re looking at you!), so you've got to draw the line before you run out of room.

8. Two kids are twice as nice loud.
Remember those sweet moments during the day when baby #1 was peacefully napping? Welp, unless you’re one of the .001% of parents to have children who nap in tandem, you can say so long to mid-day silence. But that doesn’t mean peace and quiet are gone forever; you may just have a little extra company and cuddles during your afternoon cup of coffee.

Dianne Booker

9. Mom of two=superwoman.
Being a mama to two little humans has tough moments—juggling schedules and emotions (theirs and yours), for starters—not to mention when you're actually juggling both kids, one under each arm or balancing them both on your lap. You’re basically a champion multitasker and queen of productivity now, or a fun circus act. But it’s precisely those moments that show you just how strong you are. 

S. Palmer

10. There's no sweeter sight in the world than watching your children love each other. 
Seeing your kiddos interact in a loving way (whether it's a game of giggles or a sincere hug) is the fuel that feeds a mama's heart. Suddenly, having to referee the occasional squabble doesn't seem so bad. There's no better reward to being a mom of two than watching your children's sibling bond blossom into friendship.

11. You’re an old-pro, and a newbie, too.
Sure, you were already in a routine of feeding, changing diapers and doing bedtime, but a new baby—with his/her own needs and wants—entering the scene means starting over. Siblings need the same things: their basic needs met and love tanks filled. But they don’t always need them done at the same time or in the same way. It's the oldest, most important job in the world that teaches you something new every day.

Suzanna Logan

featured photo: iStock