A pair of Texas twins were born just minutes apart, but their birthdays are in two different years
While there are many amazing things about having a twin, one of the things that’s less great is never having a birthday that’s all about you. But for a pair of twins born in Texas this week, that will never be a problem: while the fraternal twins were born less than 10 minutes apart, their birthdays happened to fall not only on different days but in different years.
Kali Jo Scott and Cliff Scott’s daughters both achieved milestones the moment they were born. When Annie Jo arrived at 11:55 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, she was the last baby born in 2022 at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton. Then, Effie Rose made her arrival six minutes later. She entered the world at 12:01 a.m. on New Year’s Day, which made her the hospital’s first baby born in 2023.
One of the things the new parents pointed to that they’re extra excited about is that, even though their daughters are twins, they will now each have their own birthday when they can be the center of attention.
“You always still want to make sure they have their own individual personality and know that they are special and unique,” Kali Jo said. “One will always get the glitter and confetti of New Year’s Eve, and one gets to kick it off with a brand-new year on New Year’s Day.”
Kali Jo Flewellen / Facebook
The proud new parents took to Facebook to announce the unconventional arrival of their twins, who were born about a week and a half before their due date.
“Cliff and I are so proud to introduce Annie Jo and Effie Rose Scott!,” Kali Jo wrote. “Annie was the last baby born in 2022 at 11:55 p.m. Then, Effie was the very first born in 2023 at 12:01! They both came out healthy and happy and weighing 5.5 pounds. Cliff and I are just so excited for this adventure!”
Kali Jo Flewellen / Facebook
The Texas Health Systems Facebook page also shared a congratulatory message for this adorable new family.
“Congratulations to the happy family and our new years babies!” they wrote.
The newest board books, picture books, and chapter books your kids will love to read
Books can shape a child’s perception and allow them to see places, people, and ideas from around the world and beyond. In 2022, children’s book publishing continues to make great strides toward representation in kids’ books, with epic adventures, untold stories, and plenty of gorgeous art. Here are just a few of the awesome books that came out this year.
New Children's Books: Board Books
LB Kids
The Golden Girls: Goodnight, Girls by Samantha Brooke, illustrated by Jen Taylor
Snag the board book of your ‘80s dreams, and join Dorothy, Blanche, and Rose for a sleepover, with Ma trying to settle them down. Their goodnight story? Picture it: Sicily. One of the sweetest new board books brings the best of the golden oldies right to your little ones' bedtime.
Penguin Random House
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eats Lunch: A Colors Book
Introduce your littlest ones to a variety of foods and Eric Carle’s iconic art at the same time with this die-cut board book. Follow the Very Hungry Caterpillar through lunch meals from mac and cheese to sandwiches to tacos. This one is a new release, and watch for The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eats Dinner (June 2022) and The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eats Snacks (November 2022). Ages: 0-2.
Union Square Kids
The Hair Book by LaTonya Yvette, illustrated by Amanda Jane Jones
This new board book (also available in picture book format) is a playful, poetic celebration of all kinds of hair! From party hair to long hair, cornrow hair to bun hair, all hair is welcome. The bold illustrations are the kind you wish you could frame for your walls. Ages: 0-3.
This new board book series will include four titles: Conservation with Jane Goodall; Restoration with Wangari Maathai; Preservation with Aldo Leopold, and Ecosystems with Rachel Carson. Kids will learn about important ecologists and environmentalists along with simplified ideas surrounding our impact on the environment. All books are written by former teacher and award-winning children’s author Maureen McQuerry and delightfully illustrated by Robin Rosenthal. A box set will be released in October of 2022. Ages: 0-3.
A book about community for the little ones, meet the new cats on the block who also happen to love baking cookies. It turns out, they don’t have all the ingredients, so they need to borrow them from all the neighbors, turning the book into a seek-and-find adventure for tiny hands. Full of lift-the-flap fun and vibrant art by author-illustrator Suzy Ultman. Ages: 2-4.
Another wonderful read by author/illustrator duo Jacqueline Woodson and Rafael López (The Day You Begin), the story follows a brother and sister stuck inside on a cold, rainy day. Encouraged by their grandmother to use their imagination to explore the world outside their home, the two take a fantastic journey, all in their minds. When finding themselves quarreling on a different day, they are reminded of their ancestors who came before and used their brilliant brains to show the world their strength. Ages 6-8.
Hyperion Books for Children
It’s a Sign by Jerome Pumphrey, Jarette Pumphrey, and Mo Willems
Mo Willems and his BFFs Elephant and Piggie teamed up with Disney-Hyperion publishing and some new authors/illustrators for a series of books aimed at encouraging reading for early elementary kids. In this one, we meet the loveable characters of One, Two, Kat, and Four who want to form a club. It’s a sweet story about the power of collaboration and subtly reminds kids everyone reads and writes at different levels and together we can achieve our goals—in this case naming their club! Ages: 5-8
“The ocean is turning into plastic stew,” I sing.
“O’, my friends, what shall we do?”
Mermaid Kenzie loves the ocean, exploring on both land and sea, but after diving with her mother one day she sees more plastic bags than fish and is determined to do something about it. Written in African American Vernacular English by Charlotte Watson Sherman, the entire book reads like a poem or a song and the lush illustrations by Geneva Bowers will make you feel like you’re a mermaid, too. Includes an author’s note about plastic in the oceans and how to help. Ages: 4-8.
All Molly wants to do is go to the park, and yet, her moms won't stop talking to the neighbors. She can be patient at school, at the dentist or at a dance recital, but when it comes to adult conversations? Nope! A laugh-out-loud book about patience and how kids see the world. Ages: 3-6.
New Yorker cover artist Bob Staake’s latest creation is possibly one of the most visually appealing and downright stunning books of 2022. As you might expect from the title, the book takes children on a walk along a path that leads through many landscapes. Some are calming, while others are a little scary (like a dark, chilly cave). The message rings clear: at some point you must choose your own path:
“When it splits in two, you will have to decide what to do next—and you'll create a path that's unique to you”
It’s like Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” meets Dr. Suess’s Oh, the Places You Will Go! but with an entirely unique landscape of words and beautiful art that together form the author’s own unique voice. PS: The book has a bonus illustration inside the jacket that can be put up like a poster. Ages: 4-8
Crown Books for Young Readers
Alexander von Humboldt: Explorer, Naturalist & Environmental Pioneer
One of the most amazing environmental pioneers you (and your kids) have never heard of, Alexander von Humboldt is considered to be the father of modern ecology. Author-illustrator Danica Novgorodoff, an explorer and traveler herself, details the life and times of Humboldt, a native of France who arrived in Philadelphia in 1804, with “seventy-seven boxes full of notebooks, sketches, plants, rocks, and other specimens.” He also held an extremely progressive attitude toward protecting the environment and, refreshingly, unlike so many colonial “heroes” are children learn about, Humboldt was deeply opposed to slavery. According to Novgorodoff, he was “the only well-known nineteenth-century scientist to argue, throughout his career, that race was not a biological category,” and declared that “all are alike designed for freedom.” Available Feb. 22, 2022; you can preorder it now. Ages: 4-8.
Inspired by formerly imprisoned human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Loujain AlHathloul, this is one of those beautiful little books that is about so much more than a beautiful field of sunflowers.
Little Loujain watches every day as her baba stitches his wings and flies. But in Loujain’s country, no matter how much she dreams of it, only boys are permitted to fly. But Loujain doesn’t give up and persuades her baba to teach her so that she, too, can see this field of sunflowers he has described to her. In doing so, she inspires other young girls to fly, too.
Loujain AlHathloul led the successful campaign to lift Saudi Arabia's ban on women driving. Written by Lina AlHathloul, Loujain’s sister, and Uma Mishra-Newbery, with dreamy illustrations from Rebecca Green, this is a story to read before bed to inspire dreams of courage and to read during the day to remind us not to give up. Available March 1. Ages: 4-8.
Did you know that she did not know how to cook until she was an adult and that even then the first meal she cooked for her husband, Paul, was "a disaster"? Or that one of her first recipes was shark repellant? This beautiful new picture book from by Alex Prud'homme, vibrantly illustrated by Sara Green, introduces kids to the story of how Julia Child went from being a young girl with a voracious appetite to one of the most famous chefs in history. The book even includes a bonus recipe kids can try themselves.
Ages: 5-9
A spin on the Sleeping Beauty story, Beauty Woke is a modern retelling that reads like a gorgeous, bilingual poem from author NoNieqa Ramos. Beauty is born in Puerto Rico—a proud Boricua of Taíno and African descent—beloved and celebrated by her family and community. But as Beauty grows older, she discovers a world hostile toward people who look like her. Beauty is discouraged and hurt by the insults hurled toward her community, but soon awakens to the truth behind what beauty really means. The rich illustrations by Paola Escobar are utterly sublime in this powerful cultural celebration which is also a reminder for kids that mean words can really hurt, and that it is important to celebrate the self, our differences, and the real meaning of being beautiful. Available now. Ages: 4-7.
Calkins Creek
Blast Off!: How Mary Sherman Morgan Fueled America into Space
Written with gusto by Susan Slade with splashy illustrations that leap of the page by Sally Wern Comport, for any fan of science, space, or women who rock, this is the book to add to your collection. "Blast Off" tells the lost story of one of the most important rocket scientists in history, Mary Sherman Morgan, whose diligence and intelligence helped create the technology that fuels rockets to this day. Ages: 7-10.
Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Inspiring Young Changemakers
Bindi Irwin pens the foreword in the 5th edition of the Rebel Girls series. Focused on young changemakers like Zendaya, the Linda Lindas, Greta Thunberg, Keke Palmer, and Bethany Hamilton, readers will lean about women from all over the globe and from different backgrounds who want to change the world. Ages: 6+
Sports Heroes: Inspiring Tales of Athletes who Stood Up and Out
Sports bring people together, and we have these 16 athletes to thank for it. These 16 individuals overcame barriers like racism, sexism and just plain uncomfortable clothes to become the best in their sport. Author Mia Cassany, along with illustrations by Iker Ayestaran, share inspiring and sometimes unheard-of stories that will inspire the next generation. Ages: 6 and up
For kids that love fantasy books (ala Percy Jackson), this new chapter series is a must. They'll follow the adventures of Skandar, a 13-year-old boy whose biggest dream is to escape the Mainland for the secretive island where unicorns run wild. He's been studying to become a rider for years, but on the day of the big exam, things go terribly wrong. With his hopes shattered, Skandar is shocked when someone knocks on his door late at night requesting his help; the island is in danger. Unicorn armies, sky battles, new friends, and mysterious enemies—this book has it all. Ages 9-12.
A chapter book with illustrations throughout, Cree author and known songstress Buffy Sainte-Marie weaves Indigenous stories, traditions, and language into the tale of young Tâpwê Tâpwê in an adventure story that is both relatable and enlightening for young readers. Before he leaves on a trip to the other side of the Cree reserve to visit his cousins, Tâpwê is gifted a Magic Hat from his Kokhom—his grandma. Kokhom also gives him a warning: to be wary of tricksters. Beautifully written with humor and energy, children will relate to the twists and turns along the way, all accompanied by beautiful black and white illustrations. The book includes a glossary and pronunciation guide of Cree words as well as a message to parents and teachers about trickster stories, making this an excellent read-aloud book for classrooms as well. Ages 6-11. Available June 7.
From Ching Shih—who commanded more than 80,000 ships, more than any other pirate in history—to Grace O’Malley, the long-ruling Pirate Queen of Ireland, this book is a marvelous collection of dangerous, daring, and courageous women pirates of history. Written by Leigh Lewis, who combines historical facts with pirate-point-of-view poetry to enlighten and inspire children, with appropriately bold, brash illustrations by Sara Gómez Woolley, a must-read for adventure-loving children. Ages: 8-12.
Hot off the press from Jenna Yoon, in this new children's book, you'll meet 12-year-old Lia Park, a middle schooler with strict parents who sneaks out to a birthday party with dire consequences. She’s not just breaking her parent’s rules, she’s breaking a protection spell. Lia now must rescue her parents from the undersea kingdom of the Dragon King in Korea. Ages 8-12.
Abrams Books for Young Readers
The Woman Who Split the Atom: The Life of Lise Meitner
From author-illustrator Marissa Moss, this illustrated chapter book details the mostly forgotten story of Lise Meitner, the scientist who discovered nuclear fission. Never heard of her? When you read her remarkable story, you'll wonder why. A female Jewish physicist in Berlin during the early 20th century, Meitner had already faced a fair share of sexism as a scientist. Still, when Hitler came to power, it wasn't just sexism: now, she was facing life-threatening anti-Semitism.
Meitner's discovery of splitting the atom would change the course of history forever, spurning the race to build the first nuclear bomb. Still, while her male lab partner was awarded a Nobel Prize for the discovery, she was given no credit. Meitner was deeply disturbed that her discovery was being used to build nuclear weapons and spent her later years as an advocate for pacifism. Moss' comic-like illustrations throughout will help children of any age grasp the magnitude of her contribution. Still, the recommendation for this book remains 10 and up due to the heavy subject matter. Ages: 10-14.
New from Disney Hyperion, this chapter book introduces readers to soon-to-be princess Solimar, a Mexican heroine on the brink of her Quinceañera and her official coronation. When she visits a nearby magical forest on the eve of her big day, she discovers she has the magical gift of foretelling the future, which proves to be a blessing and a curse. Written by Newbery Honor Medal winner Pam Muñoz Ryan. Available Now. Ages 8-12.
This full-color biographical book with illustrations and photographs from National Geographic and written by Gabby Salazar and Clare Fieseler introduces kids to amazing scientists including volcanologists, paleontologists, bioengineers, ecologists and more. In addition to showcasing boundary-breaking research by women, women from a variety of backgrounds, including diverse women from countries all over the world. For children of any gender, this is a powerful resource that is also chock full of interactive ideas and information. Ages: 10-14.
An epic adventure-style book in the vein of Tristan Strong and Percy Jackson, Pilar Ramirez weaves myths and magic of the Dominican Republic into a hero’s quest narrative. Written by Julian Randall, the book addresses a topic few history books cover: the Trujilo dictatorship of the Dominican Republic and the many people who were forced to flee their beloved country. Families were torn apart. Loved ones went missing. Inspired by the author's family history, the novel is written from the point of a 12-year-old girl whose cousin goes missing during the dictatorship. When Pilar attempts to learn her cousin’s fate, she is magically transported to Zafa: an island rich with beautiful creatures and sinister monsters, and the most feared of them all, El Cuco, the terrifying Dominican boogeyman. Pilar must face them all in order to rescue her cousin from the island’s prison. Ages: 8-12.
Join Osmo on a journey into the world of the dead in this magical adventure book from New York Times bestselling author Catherynne M. Valente. Osmo's mother accidentally kills an intelligent woodland creature, a Quidnunk, violating a treaty that ensured no killing between the people of his town and the Quidnunx population. Because of this error, it is decreed that her first-born son must go to the land of the dead to make amends. Ages: 8-12.
Andrews McMeel Publishing
Behind the Scenes with Burt: A Breaking Cat News Adventure
For a laugh-out-loud graphic novel told from the hilarious point of view of cats, the latest in the Breaking Cat News series will not disappoint. Burt decides to make the news station more dynamic and brings on a whole array of characters and includes some of the original Breaking Cat News newspaper comic strips before they became a bestselling book series. There are even paper dolls in this one! Available April 5, 2022. Ages: 9-12, primarily because the humor is sophisticated so older kids may "get" it more. Reading level-wise, it can skew younger.
If you buy something from the links in this article, we may earn affiliate commission or compensation.
Looks like there’s a reason eldest daughters keep getting it done
Do you have memories of being the de facto babysitter for your brothers and sisters from a young age? Then you might be a first-born child!
Several studies have emerged in recent years affirming what eldest daughters have known our entire lives: First-born kids are more stressed than their siblings. Not only do we now feel seen, but we also feel justified for carrying all that extra anxiety into our adulthood.
“It’s also not unheard of to hear parents say that they delegate some of the responsibility of looking after their youngest children to their oldest child,” psychotherapist Caroline Plumer tells Metro.co.uk. Because of that expectation, kids take on adult pressures and stress from a young age that often follows them into adulthood.
“Eldest sisters will have spent at least a small portion of their lives as only children, and as such, have largely had adults, and particularly their mothers, to model their behaviors on,” Plumer goes on to explain. “Even today, women are still typically seen as the family caregivers, and if the mother is incapacitated for whatever reason, expectation can fall on the eldest child to step into her role.”
And it’s not just outside pressures that instill us older children with a heart-thumping desire to take on excess responsibility. There’s a physiological response, too.
being an eldest daughter is like an unpaid internship for the rest of your life
A study from the 1970s showed that heart rate and respiration rate were found to increase more noticeably in eldest children who were exposed to four types of stimuli that included “tones, shocks, and problems.” Were the “tones” varying levels of screaming baby brothers and sisters? We think so.
Boomer moms are living laughing loving only because their eldest daughters are screaming crying throwing up.
In 1961, another study found that found that “first-born children are subjected to more inconsistent nurturance than are later-born children and consequently show more dependency behavior in the form of affiliative responses.” So basically, we lack independence and instead thrive on dependent behavior where other people need us and give us all the stress.
are you a natural born leader or are you just an eldest daughter
If you are a card-carrying first-born, you may have been given a ton more responsibility than your siblings growing up. But we’re betting that it turned you into the organized, self-reliant, and determined (albeit a little over-stressed at times) person you are today.
Not a bad hand to be dealt, if we’re being honest.
Many toddlers have speech delays. But sometimes, a speech delay is a symptom of something bigger—like autism.
Back in the late 1990s when my first-born son, Lucas, was diagnosed with autism, the rate was 1 in 500. Today autism is diagnosed in approximately 1 in 50 children. And 1 in every 6 children in the US is diagnosed with a developmental disorder including autism, ADHD, speech disorders, and learning disabilities.
Symptoms of these developmental disorders can look similar in very young children. So if you’re concerned about delays in a toddler, you are not alone.
Lucas started showing signs of autism shortly after his first birthday and was eventually diagnosed with autism the day before he turned three in 1999. Since then, I transformed from a confused parent to a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, online course creator, and best-selling author of two books including my latest: Turn Autism Around: An Action Guide for Parents of Young Children with Early Signs of Autism.
While I can’t diagnose autism, I have extensive training and experience in looking for early signs of autism versus “just” a speech delay in young children. And no matter what the diagnosis is or might be in the future, there is a lot you can do starting today to help catch your child up as much as possible.
Here are some skills and deficits to consider when trying to determine if it might be autism:
Speech Delays
Children with speech delays and those who have a diagnosis of autism have delays with expressive language or talking. For babies, they may not babble and reach their arms up to indicate they want to be held. By 12 or 18 months of age, toddlers might not use words or they might label numbers and letters but not say more functional words such as mama or juice. And for preschoolers, they may not talk in two-and three-word phrases and eventually in sentences.
Receptive Language Delays
Children who are delayed with talking can also be delayed with understanding language or have a receptive language delay. If a child isn’t talking as much as is expected but also doesn’t follow simple directions to touch their head or get their shoes, it’s probably a mixed expressive-receptive language delay which is more concerning to professionals who diagnose autism.
Pointing
I never realized how important pointing was, but it’s a critical gesture. By about 18 months of age, children should be pointing with their index finger for things that they want like juice or a toy and also pointing to get your attention to look in the sky, for example, when an airplane flies overhead.
Play & Imitation
In addition to looking at pointing and language skills, it’s also important to assess play and imitation skills. Does your child play with a variety of toys or is he focused on one object or toy? Is your child’s play repetitive? For instance, does your child spend a long time stacking blocks, spinning things, or lining up objects over and over? And finally, since young children learn language and play skills through imitation, we need to assess imitation skills. If these imitation skills are delayed or absent, this could be a sign of autism.
The Good News
Regardless if your child is delayed only in expressive language or if he is already diagnosed with severe autism, you as a parent can learn to detect and treat delays and help your child to catch up as much as possible.
In my book, I share the 4-step child-friendly system I’ve developed over the last two decades based on the science of Applied Behavior Analysis and Verbal Behavior. My goal is to empower parents to learn proven strategies to help their children talk or talk more, decrease tantrums and improve sleep, eating, and potty training. You can also use the strategies in the book to teach pointing, imitation, play, and social skills.
Now that you know the early warning signs of autism and you also know that a roadmap is available, it’s time to start turning things around for your child. There’s no need to wait, worry, or panic. You have the power to change the trajectory of your child’s life, starting today!
Dr. Mary Barbera is a mom to a son with autism and is also a behavior analyst and best-selling author. In her latest book, Turn Autism Around, Mary teaches parents how to use simple but proven strategies to increase language and decrease tantrums in children with autism or speech delays.
Ali Flynn Is excited to share with you the joys and hardships of motherhood with an open heart, laughter and some tears. Ali is a monthly guest contributor for Westchester County Mom and has been seen on Filter Free Parents, Grown and Flown, Today Parents and Her View From Home.
Everything I have known for the past six and half years has revolved around my children and around being a stay-at-home mom. It is how I have defined myself and I honestly do not know who I am without that title. Once I held my first baby in my arms, smelled her head, kissed her cheek, I knew I would dedicate my life to her forever. I quit my job and never looked backed…until now.
Once I had my first child, I became riddled with post-partum anxiety with a crippling fear that something bad would happen to her. My mind literally went to the worst place in every scenario. The older she got, the more my anxiety melted away, and the more I yearned to find “me” again. I started small, got a position in my field for 10 hours a week, and tried to stay active with hobbies that gave me joy outside of being a mom (dancing, working out, crafting).
Just as I was beginning to feel like I was possibly ready to send her to preschool and start working full time again, my husband and I decided to bring our second (and last) baby into the world to complete our family. During my pregnancy, I felt guilty about the thoughts of giving up part of myself again, instead of being completely overjoyed with planning for our newest addition. Once I got my head straight and got completely on board, I was determined to give him everything (and more) that my firstborn got. Well…second children never quite get that first-born treatment, let’s be honest, but I did my best. My heart exploded all over again, and I knew the moment I held my little boy in my arms for the first time and I watched him sleep blissfully, I would be dedicated to him forever.
So here I am, a stay-at-home mom of two and feeling a little less than fulfilled. My kids are at the age now where they are in school full time (or could be if COVID wasn’t putting a strain on life) and it is time to redefine myself again. Who am I if I am not a stay-at-home mom? Will I be able to jump right back into the workforce? How will I be able to juggle full-time responsibilities at work and still have more to give to my children at the end of the day? How will they adapt without me being there all the time? Oh, yes, and mommy guilt. I am feeling it already by just the mere idea of work, can’t imagine how that will be once I start.
Well, resumes were written, and jobs were applied to; now I have been offered and accepted my first full-time position, post-baby. I’ve still got it! But now comes the anxiety of actually being able to pull it off. Will mommy brain cooperate? Will old skills resurface from the corners of my memory? I can’t say for sure, but I am sure that I am excited to try. Even though I have my reservations, I do think it is important for my children to see their mother be passionate about something and put herself back out there. So, this stay-at-home mom, turned working mom will have to gain a new identity, find a new way to define herself, and make a new safe place for her children. Wish me luck!
Hello! My name is Brittany and I am the creator of Mama Bear Britt! I am a child development specialist, former preschool director and mama of two littles. I am working hard to create a place for parents to gather, learn and share. Join my tribe!
You may feel like your house is a zoo, but it’s still not as wild as the real thing. If your kids are starting to think tigers only exist in memes…it’s time to break free!
The San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park are back with a roar and thrilled to welcome you again! Their top priority is the safety and well-being of their guests, team members and their wildlife—which they’ve kept safe for over 100 years. Read on to learn more about safety measures in place, meet the newest additions to their family and to get excited about planning your trip!
After the zoo’s longest closure in its history, the team members and animals are excited to welcome you back! Visit old friends and meet some new ones, as you stroll through the zoo, getting up close and personal with your family’s favorite animals. With over 3,500 animals and 650 species and subspecies, you know you’ll be in for a wild adventure!
Two words: baby animals! While the San Diego Zoo was closed, they got a few adorable new additions. Akobi, a pygmy hippo calf (the first born at the zoo in more than 40 years!) and Agapito, an Andean bear cub are two of the not-so-little ones that your kids can see. The zoo also welcomed two Amur leopard cubs (an endangered species) and twin ring-tailed lemurs!
Get up close to your favorite wildlife at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park! With a diverse array of habitats, including Africa, Asia, Australia and North America, you’ll feel like you’ve traveled the world! The Safari Park’s expansive grounds give your family freedom to roam and explore at your own pace—meaning you can spend as much time with the giraffes as you’d like!
The Safari Park also welcomed a few new friends! Come meet the babies: an adorable cheetah cub, two porcupine pups (aka “porcupettes”) and an already-famous giraffe calf whose name, Zahara, was chosen by her online fans. You can also meet one-horned rhino calves, a zebra foal and the park’s first-ever echidna baby, which is also called a puggle!
Get Close to the Animals–Not Other People
Now you can always skip the crowds and experience the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park like never before. Capacity is reduced to less than half of full capacity to allow for social distancing, meaning you get to spend more time watching your favorite animals, all with a front-row view.
In order to keep people at a safe distance, the zoo has also modified how guests move through the park. The changes include posted signs, some one-way direction routes, ground spacing markers to indicate six feet of separation and socially-distanced seating.
Plus, they’ve got extra cleaning covered, with additional and more frequent cleaning and disinfecting throughout the facilities on an ongoing basis each day. Hand sanitizer and handwashing stations are readily available in the parks for guests to use, as well.
Hours, Tickets & More
The San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park are open every day, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Hours are subject to change, so check their zoo and safari park websites for the most up-to-date hours and information. Due to limited capacity, tickets in advance are recommended.
If your second child was born with a twinkle of mischief in his eye, there’s now a scientific explanation for the streak of troublemaking that follows.
A study from MIT economist, Joseph Doyle, claims that second child syndrome is a completely legit phenomenon. According to the report, second-born kids are more likely to be rebellious. Of the thousands of sibling pairs involved in the study, 25-40% of the second-borns were more likely to get in trouble at school.
One explanation offered by the report is that first-born children tend to get more time and attention from their parents than subsequent kids. It could also have something to do with the fact that younger siblings are also significantly influenced by more than just their parents from day one. “The firstborn has role models, who are adults. And the second, later-born children have role models who are slightly irrational 2-year-olds, you know, their older siblings,” Doyle told NPR.
Studies are one thing, but you can definitely see why this applies in real life. Ask any parent what the difference was between raising a first and second child, and the would probably give you a laundry list. And no matter how perfect your first child acts, there is no denying your second child has the opportunity to pick up on some more, um, unfavorable behaviors.
Thanks first children, for paving the way for the second child in the family to be a total pain in the butt.
I did not vote in the primary election. Please put your pitchforks down, figurative or not.
I tried. I really, really tried.
Between herding two little kids, ages 8 and 4, running our household, and all the other endless little tasks that make being a stay-at-home mom the most unrecognized superhero of all time, I failed my civic duty.
“It was poor planning,” I texted my husband, then to help express my feelings, I added a sad face emoji. But really the feeling behind the little yellow face with the upside-down smile was a feeling of being an abject failure.
Of all the tasks on my to-do list on Super Tuesday, voting was probably third, behind feeding and connecting with my family. I carried my sample ballot with me in my giant mom purse. It was nestled between the 40 bandages for boo-boos, the emergency granola bars to calm hangry meltdowns, and the book I have been reading for the last year. I am on page 10.
I crammed for the primary election like it was finals week in college. I quickly read the candidates’ statements and the ballot initiatives. Then I looked up endorsement articles like they were Spark Notes telling me how to think. Lastly, when still undecided—I’m just going to put it all out there—I looked at the political party as a tie-breaker.
I did this between school drop-offs, pick-ups, endless errands, appointments, and extracurricular activities. I really wanted to check that box on Super Tuesday.
And I wanted to involve my kids.
My first-born son has been coming to vote with me since he could toddle alongside the little corral in the basketball gymnasium. At our first election experience as a family of three, our little guy was knee-high, shaking the leg of the table while my husband tried to fill out the right dot, then he was waist-high peering over the table while I voted with one hand and held his baby sister in the other.
For the longest time, the “I voted” stickers was the piéce de résistance for my kids, worn like badges of honor while they played in the park after enduring the silence and stillness of the polling place. Now 8 years old, my son passes his sticker to sister’s eager hands. He is more interested in learning about the candidates, the issues, and which way I voted.
So on Super Tuesday, I waited until after I picked them both up from school to go vote.
Our voting center is within walking distance from our house in the suburbs of Los Angeles. It is located in a basketball gymnasium where my son first learned to make a jump shot. Usually, we walk right in and get swallowed up by the 10 poll workers looking for anything to do.
This Super Tuesday, the line of people snaked around the entire perimeter of the gym and out the door.
“Wow,” my 8-year-old exhaled. “This is like Disneyland.”
Except at the end of the line, there is no promise of a thrilling ride. Just a sticker.
The lines symbolized something bigger, right? Voters were galvanized to make their voices heard. Go, democracy!
This is all great unless you have young kids, who ate the emergency granola bars in the first 10 minutes in line. My 4-year-old sang and danced all the songs from “Frozen 2” then we all played “I Spy” until I am sure we ran out of things to spy.
“I don’t know how much longer we can wait here,” I texted my husband, who was stuck at work. “Maybe someone will roll out a TV with cartoons.”
No such luck.
Ahead of me were moms in similar duress. Little kids, whose little bodies were not built to stand in long lines, were falling apart. Threats were hurled. Then slowly, moms started dropping like flies.
One little boy stood on a bench and jumped down on top of his little brother like a professional wrestler. Their mom connected eyes with me as if to say, “That’s it!” And they left.
And after 45 minutes of pretending to be the mysterious voice from the enchanted forest in “Frozen 2,” my daughter said she was hungry and she didn’t care about voting anymore.
We were only halfway to the front of the line, so I called it, too. The voting center was open until 8 pm. We will walk home, have dinner and come back. Surely, the line would be shorter, right?
No such luck.
The line was out the door and down the sidewalk by the time we came back. People were standing with the slumped shoulders posture of defeat. As we walked up, my daughter slapped her brother in the back, yelled, “You’re it!” and ran off full speed until she slipped and fell.
She howled in a way that told me even 40 bandages wouldn’t do. That’s when I knew voting was not going to happen.
“Why is voting so hard?” my 8-year-old asked.
It’s a good question. News stories from the “LA Times” continue to come in about long lines, and glitches in the new voting system. I was not the only one.
Watching the poll results come in without my vote was surreal. It made me wonder if the other mothers who were forced to leave because of the long wait were able to cast their ballots.
I could have voted earlier. I should not have forced the issue of making it an experience with my kids, but in the end, it was not my fault. A voting system that doesn’t make it easy for mothers with young children to vote is a broken system.
The presidential election is eight months away. That’s plenty of time to fix it.
So the next time a mom says she did not vote, spare your judgment. Just give her a hug. Her kid might have body-slammed his little brother in line while she tried her hardest to perform her civic duty.
Lynda is a creative person, a wife, a mom and half a CrossFit athlete. Just half, because rope climbs suck. Despite the shiny veneer, the cracks in her identity make her marginally okay.
Taking care of our planet is the job of everyone, and that’s why we are totally on board when it comes up upcycling. From reusing old clothing and plastic bottles, to saving money and serving as a role model, there are plenty of upcycle ideas that benefit parents. Keep reading to see our top 12 reasons why everyone benefits from a little repurposing.
Whether you love a swipe of a paintbrush, feel handy with a hacksaw or just enjoy a little blood, sweat and tears, upcycling can bring about a huge sense of accomplishment and joy when you express yourself creatively. When you want to feel full of purpose outside the role of being a parent, upcycling projects can help put your mind to good use, all while saving the planet at the same time.
You're being a great role model.
iStock
Taking care of our planet starts with us, and our little ones will follow suit. Recycling, being mindful of food waste and only buying what's necessary are all ways to show our kiddos how to take care of our resources.
If your kid goes through art supplies like she's on fire, using materials you might otherwise throw out helps keep costs down (think: corks as stamps, toothbrushes as paintbrushes and TP rolls for just about anything).
You’ll be able to explain the “junk” in the garage.
iStock
“Oh that? No, it’s not an old rusty wagon without wheels or a bottom; it’s an upcycling project in progress.” Basically, your hoarding habit just went way up on the coolness scale.
Those tiny concert tees bought pre-kid take on a whole new meaning.
It's not easy being green. Do you ever wonder how much recycling actually gets... recycled? Repurpose stuff headed for the bin and you won't have to hope it ends up in the right place.
It’s a great way to get rid of the plastic bags under the sink.
Maybe, one day you’ll remember to drop all those bags in the recycling container at the store. Or, you could just use them in an awesome upcycling project. Gorgeous mini planters, anyone?
Give kiddos different and new materials; wait and see what happens. In a flash, cereal boxes, paper towel rolls and old jeans might become a miniature city complete with roads and cars. There’s no end to the creativity!
Empty wine bottles look nicer as candle votives.
Or a chandelier, or a vase, or even a bird feeder. There are tons of creative uses for those bottles (besides pouring a second glass), so drink up! Psst! Save the corks for reason #2.
Whether you use old crib bumpers to make a quilt for your first born’s big girl bed, or if the dining room table was made from the scrap wood from your grandfather’s barn—it’s a story you’ll share for years.
Need building blocks on the quick? Skip Target and try juice cartons filled with sand as an alternative. Want to give the play room an update? Make pillow cushions out of old pajamas. Upcycle, and save cash—plain and simple.
You’ve giggled with other parents about your neighbor and his upcycled messenger back (gum wrappers, seriously?) but the movement is going mainstream—so why not lead the eco-friendly, playground pack?
