ML Interest Tag: family-health

Study Says Having More Than 2 Kids Ages You

by Julie Scagell

If you have more than two kids, this study may not come as a huge surprise, but researchers in the U.S. and France found that having three or more children resulted in lower cognitive function later in life.

The study, published this week in the journal Demography, collected data from adults ages 65 and up across 20 European countries and Israel, all having a minimum of two biological children. The results showed lower cognitive abilities in both men and women. This is the first study of its kind to show causal effects of high fertility on cognitive outputs later in life.

“Understanding the factors that contribute to optimal late-life cognition is essential for ensuring successful aging at the individual and societal levels — particularly in Europe, where family sizes have shrunk and populations are aging rapidly,” said Vegard Skirbekk, PhD, professor of population and Family health at Columbia Mailman School.

There were several reason cited in the study that links to possible causes. One that that families with three or more kids causes considerable financial burdens by reducing family income. Second, the more children a woman has, the less likely she is to work full-time or maximize her earning potential. Finally, as anyone with kids knows, having children can be stressful, which can negatively impact cognitive functioning. Add to that a general lack of sleep, anxiety, and less time for ourselves, and it can be easy to see why parents of multiples are at risk.

“The negative effect of having three or more children on cognitive functioning is not negligible, it is equivalent to 6.2 years of aging,” said Eric Bonsang, one of the researchers in the study. “Given the magnitude of the effect, future studies on late-life cognition should also examine fertility as a prognosticator alongside more commonly researched predictors, such as education, occupational experiences, physical exercise, and mental and physical health,” added Skirbekk.

Of course, kids bring a great amount of joy as well. But if you’ve ever heard yourself saying, “I feel like I’ve aged ten years,” every time one of your kids celebrates another birthday, you can thank science for validating those feelings.

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Mommy Screen Time: Chicago Mom Bloggers to Put on Your Radar

by Wendy Altschuler

This is a city teeming with highly talented mamas. They work in and out of the home, cook, craft, PTA, keep the carpool ticking and the kids entertained—all with an upbeat attitude and their sanity intact. Mostly. Oh, and they blog, too. Whether you’re looking for practical parenting tips, honest product reviews, the neighborhood scoop or just a hilarious story or two, you’ll find a local blog worth bookmarking. Read on for a few of our favorite Chicago Mom bloggers to get you through the winter.

Second City Mom Leyla writes all about life in Chicago, from the perspective of a working mom. You’ll find urban highlights for what to do with littles around the city as well as off-the-beaten-path adventures.

730 Sage Street The mama behind this blog is Kim, a self-proclaimed health geek who doesn’t promote products that contain preservatives or GMOs. She loves to cook and share recipes (a large number being low carb and Keto), as well as workout routines.

A_dose_of_Melissa Wife and mom Melissa Diep is also an incredible photographer, which makes her Instagram a fun follow. She snaps pics of her family all over Chicago and shares relatable tales of momming three boys.

Making Time for Mommy Blogging mama Alicia covers a lot of ground with ease. She writes about frugal shopping, local events, homemaking, giveaways, recipes and her experiences with her two special-needs kids.

Mom and More A stay-at-home mom to three kids, Cher offers product reviews and giveaways because she wants to help others make educated purchases and save money. Also on her radar: tasty recipes, hot deals at local businesses and book reviews.

Toddling Around Chicagoland While looking for things to do with her boys, full-time mom Sarah was surprised at the lack of information. She started her blog as a resource for other Chicago-area parents to find fun local adventures.

Chicago Foodie Sisters Keep up with the adventures of two food-loving sisters as they share their culinary adventures. We like them for the wide variety of restaurants and events they report on, from the uber fancy to wear-your-flip-flops casual. And, they’re as friendly as they come.

West of the Loop Follow Emily on a journey through the ups and downs of parenting and feeding her family. She dishes techniques and recipes and makes a special effort to explore new ingredients. Also on her radar: books and fashion.

Chefdruk The talented mom behind this blog is a French foodie transplanted from the New York area to Chicago with her husband and four kids. She grew up in France, but has lived all over and her joie de vivre extends to her love of cooking and family fun. Look for easy and delicious recipes, travel adventures and musings on parenting. She hasn’t updated her blog in over a year, but her index of recipes merits a mention.

Momma Cuisine Johanna M. Cook hosts a food-related video series. Her site shows families that great everyday meals can be done with simple ingredients and basic cooking techniques. Check out her recipes (including special kid-friendly and gluten-free options), as well as parenting, healthy living, and home and garden posts.

The Night Owl Mama This blog is the place to go for no-holds-barred reviews and consumer tips. Blogger Tricia shares her opinions on products she and her family use, and also doles out advice on topics like recovering lost gift cards. Family photos and videos help you make a more informed decision about the way you shop.

Monstruitomom Check out “Little Monster Mom” on Instagram for adorable snaps of her kids, product recommendations, giveaways and DIY ideas. All of her content is written in both English and Spanish.

ChiIL Mama Bonnie is a bona fide culture vulture. She blogs about Chicago theater, multicultural events and live concerts. She also hosts giveaways and seeks out products and places of interest to tweens. Consider her the authority on the offbeat, alternative and eco-friendly.

This_lovely_life_of-mine Shannon is a mom and clothing designer with a goal to inspire you to create your own style, in an affordable way. Her Instagram is filled with design and style inspiration.

My Crafty Life Jen is a crafty, 30-something mom of three and wife of a truck driver. Her blog includes product reviews, giveaways, book reviews, recipes and crafts.

Clark and Stone The site that covers it all: fashion, food, lifestyle, travel and, of course, kids. This site is full of colorful and fashionable photographs, taken around the city, and insight on how this mom, Ceta Walters, has carved out a life for herself beyond parenthood.

My Thoughts, Ideas, and Ramblings This blog is run by work-at-home mom Lisa, who lives in the Chicago area with her husband and two children. She started blogging to keep in touch with long-distance family and friends and learned she could help others with her experiences.

The Windy City Mama Jessica Roe chats about everything from must-know sales to recipes and motherhood to fashion trends. She hopes to inspire other young parents to savor the journey, while sharing her own experiences raising a family in the city.

Mom Fuse Jessica started Mom Fuse while she was pregnant and on bedrest with her twins in 2008. The blog quickly grew and today is a resource for recipes, honest reviews and fabulous finds. Jessica also strives to promote moms who own their own businesses.

Everything Erica Erica is your insider-y helpful hand in the world of food, children and family, health and fitness and travel. She made a move to Florida, but we’re keeping her on the list because once a Chicagoan, always a Chicagoan. And, she has amazing recipe ideas on her Instagram page.

The Working Mom’s Travels Francesca created her blog to share her travel experiences and prove it’s possible for a working mom to hit the road with her family in a meaningful way. When she became pregnant in 2008, she heard variations of the same sentiment: “Your traveling days are over.” Her blog proves this wrong and is a great resource for moms who love to jetset.

All Dressed Up with Nothing to Drink Creator Cheryl Leahy is a millennial mom living on Chicago’s North Shore doling out date night advice, party ideas, parenting tips and mom-fashion that’s too cool to really be considered mom-fashion.

Tiaras & Tantrums In addition to being a blogger, Theresa is a photographer, homeschooler, social media expert and self-proclaimed city girl. Her blog showcases her beautiful photography and her musings about the highs, lows and adventures of motherhood.

—Wendy Altschuler and Abigail Matsumoto

Featured photo: Sai De Silva via Unsplash

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Your Guide to DC’s Best Mom Blogs

by rtguiomar

It’s no secret, the DMV is home to political powerhouses and mom bosses who manage to DO. IT. ALL. Now, some of these parents are sharing their experiences. Whether you’re looking for practical tips or just an empowering story for an exhausting and sanity-imperiling day, these DC mom blogs have got you covered.

photo: iStock

Angelica Kajiwara
Angelica, her husband, her mom and three kids are always up for an adventure! Whether it’s a family road trip in their RV, a weekend away at the newest family destination or a Tuesday at their scenic home in North Georgia, this fun-loving family shares the best, the real and the silliness of it all. Her roll-with-it attitude of, “If we can do it, you can do it” makes her blog a must-read (and her Instagram a must-follow).

Mama Instincts
Carolina was born and raised in Costa Rica but moved to DC in 2011, when she got married. She is a mom that’s obsessed in researching what’s best for her kids, from foods to toys and anything in between. Her blog provides information about all things parenting, the different phases of child raising, recipes, travel tips, product recommendations and living a non-toxic lifestyle. She hopes her blog will help other moms in their journey, whether to help them make a decision of what non-toxic toy they should get or to realize that they are not alone in this journey.

Adventure Moms DC
In 2017, Jen and Colleen launched Adventure Moms DC!  They are moms who are on the go with their little ones exploring the DMV. They not only want to share their adventure experiences but also offer practical advice and honest reviews They find the adventure in every day to share with other families. BONUS, they love to share their fave STEAM adventures, introducing families to different aspects of the arts and sciences. Go adventure with them!

Capitally Frugal DC
The mama behind this blog is Sarah, who compiles store deals, freebies, product reviews/giveaways, and everyday savings for families in the Washington DC Metro area. Check in daily to get the 411 on money saving in DC.

PWC Moms
This site is all about keeping your family busy in fun and fantastic ways. Mom Kristina seeks out the events and activities in Prince William County and collects them into a calendar that gives you easy access to the best the area has to offer. You’ll also find giveaways, reviews, and more on this handy site that keeps an eye out for fun.

Housewives in the City
Andrea is the Social Media-savvy mom behind this blog–and you can totally get a sense for her friendly personality through each post. In addition to social media tips, giveaways, and calls to connect and network with other fabulous women in the DMV, you’ll find posts that focus on practical parenting or Andrea’s own family adventures.

Kid Trips
Parenting playgroups, travel tips, summer camps, and more! This blog is a great resource when you want to check on the goings-on around town. The folks at the Kid Trips blog gather local events they think you should know about, share ideas for simplifying your life, and host great giveaways. Check it out!

A Parent in Silver Spring
Jessica McFadden is a mother of three children who loves providing her fellow Washington, DC-area parents with ideas for fabulous family activities, knowledge about local resources, useful information and entertainment. Her goal is to is to motivate readers to laugh, try something new, and find greater joy in their own families.

KidFriendly DC
KidFriendly DC is a go-to resource for recreation with kids in the DC-Metro area. From the tried and true to the new and cool, find out where to go and what to do with the kiddos in the nation’s capital. You’ll find everyday play ideas, a calendar of events, seasonal activities, and more.

Alexandria Mom
This site is a great resource to find out what’s going on in and around Alexandria. Primarily a catch-all calendar and local news source, this blog also has suggested summer reading lists for kids, family outing ideas, and more.

Very Busy Mamá
The mama behind this blog is María José, a very busy mom of two. Her blog is a space to share things that busy mothers and women love, such as fashion, beauty, fitness, but often put aside when the children come along. She knows that many moms no longer have the pre-kids income or body and writes about working with what you have, how to shop your own closet and staying stylish on a MAJOR budget.

Clarendon Moms
Angelica, part-time writer, blogger and a full-time devoted wife and mother, has lived all over the world but chose to make the Courthouse-Clarendon neighborhood of Arlington Virginia home. Her blog features practical tips and advice on pregnancy, parenting, family, cooking, career, health, wellness, beauty, books, entertainment with a focus on fashion, local events and other fun stuff.

Teach Mama
A Reading Specialist, writer, consultant, and mom to a three kids, Amy Mascott shares tools and resources parents can use to become the best teachers for their children. On her site, you’ll find posts such as “Top 10 Ways to Talk to Kids About Books,” craft and DIY learning ideas, critical thinking ideas, and more.

Stimeyland
Stimey is a stay-at-home mom, writer, and parent to three neurodiverse kids with a range of autism, ADHD, and SPD. Stimey herself was diagnosed with Asperger’s in early 2012 and writes candidly about her family’s experience, along with favorite and familiar topics like movies, parenting observations, and pop culture. Stimeyland was also selected as a top autism blog by both Babbleand The Stir.

The DC Moms
This site offers a dynamic view of the world through the eyes of some of the savviest and most entertaining moms in the DC metro area. The DC Moms bring you news, reviews and reactions on an array of subjects including world events, family, health, culture, sports, home, fashion and more. What else? Try giveaways, date night ideas, local outings, and pretty much anything else you can think of.

Tots 2 Tweens
This is a totally helpful online directory for parents in MD, DC, VA, PA & WV. Here, you’ll find everything from birthday party venues to summer camps to sports to music lessons and ideas for family fun in your area–plus, recipes, public school guides, and more.

DC Thrifty Mom
Run by a thrifty mom who hates paying full price, DC Thrifty Mom is a great place to get the scoop on free or cheap happenings in the Washington DC Metro Area. Join the community of other thrifty moms and share budget-friendly events and cost saving tips.

Momastery
The mom behind Momastery has had plenty of ups-and-downs; she is a recovering bulimic and alcoholic and her road to motherhood and who she is today included lots of struggle and learning experiences. Now, she blogs with a refreshing honesty and isn’t afraid to admit to mistakes and find the funny in everyday things. She writes about her faith, her family, and the importance of living a kind and brave life.

Hip Mama’s Place
This is a helpful and fun online community of moms who love to shop, save money, and talk about anything woman. The site also features local Washington DC events, daily product reviews, parenting tips, cooking, craft ideas, technology trends, money-saving tips, coupon sharing and more.

MomTini Lounge
On this awesome site, you’ll find tips and tools for “the business of motherhood.” Mom Amy has three active sons and is a nationally recognized source on parenting. On her blog, she writes about parenting tips, money matters, tech safety for families, and organizational ideas. You’ll also find recipes, Mom Inspiration articles, and lots more.

I’m Not the Nanny
As the mom of biracial children, Thien-Kim has too often been mistaken for the nanny in DC area parks!  Raising two Hapa children (Vietnamese-American and African American), she shares the fusion of these two cultures in parenting, food, and technology. She started her site as a way to share the challenges and joys of raising biracial children. It has evolved as she shares her foodie obsessions, journey towards a healthier lifestyle, and the latest tech and apps she’s addicted too.

 

—Ayren Jackson-Cannady, Guiomar Ochoa and Abigail Matsumoto

featured photo: Rawpixel

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10 Essential Apps That Take the Guess Work Out of Illness

by Kipp Jarecke-Cheng

With the ever-increasing complexities of the healthcare system, the adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure rings truer today than ever before. Caring for sick kids can be complicated, but a new batch of family-focused and user-friendly apps aims to help parents and caregivers provide appropriate health care with confidence. Flip through our slideshow of some of the most useful apps to help care for little patients.

Baby and Child First Aid

When it comes to tackling family health and wellness, proper preparation and education are often more than half the battle. The British Red Cross has developed a clever app, Baby and Child First Aid, that’s chockfull of useful video tutorials and easy-to-follow advice that cover what to do when various ailments or medical crises arise. The app also lets parents record their child’s medication needs, and includes a list of tips and a handy checklist. While the emergency numbers in the app are for UK users, the information and advice are useful to anyone, anywhere in the world.

Available for iOS and Android, Free.

What are your favorite apps to help manage your family’s health and wellness? Tell us in the comments below!

— Kipp Jarecke-Cheng

 

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