Let’s get babyproofing around the house

Although it seems like it was just yesterday you were bringing your sweet baby home for the first time, the months have flown by. You’ve joyfully witnessed baby’s first smile, first time rolling over (both ways), and don’t even get us started on how amazing it was the first time baby sat—without padding or leaning on anything. Sounds like crawling is just around the corner—yet another in the line of baby’s firsts. That means it’s time to start babyproofing the place.

Our handy babyproofing checklist includes clever DIY tricks that make your home safer for your child and can save you some money too. Whether you need to babyproof your cabinets, your fireplace, or drawers, these ideas are a great place for any parent to start.

When to Start Babyproofing

As your little one gets close to crawling, it’s time to babyproof your home and other places they visit frequently, like grandparents’ homes. To start, get on the floor and look at the surroundings from a baby’s perspective. See what’s tempting to grab and pull on, what’s at eye level, and what could injure them. Then, put away fragile items, move cords, secure furniture that could fall over, and put padding on sharp edges. Every few months, and when your child reaches a new milestone, like walking, evaluate your home for additional babyproofing needs. As kids grow taller, the danger zones will change and likely increase.

Related: 12 Babyproofing Tips to Corral Your Crawler

Babyproofing Checklist for Your House

1. Secure stairway railings

The railings on staircases or landings on upper floors may look narrow, but they’re big enough for kids’ limbs (or heads) to get stuck in. Secure clear plastic or fabric to railings to deter kids from playing on them.

2. Hide cleaning products

Plastic bins with lids and latches that baby can’t open are a safer place for cleaning products than under your kitchen sink. If you can store them on a high shelf or out of sight in a tall cabinet, that’s even better.

3. Corral cords

Cut a slit down an empty paper towel roll or piece of pipe insulation and thread multiple wires through it to keep them from becoming tangled in your tot’s curious hands. You can also use zip ties to pull together cords and then tuck them far away from baby’s reach. Don’t forget your USB cords that still hold a charge when they’re plugged in.

4. Cover outlets

Plastic covers are the easiest way to cover outlets around the house (and safest too). But in a pinch, or when you’re visiting relatives or traveling, you can put adhesive bandages or duct tape over electrical outlets. Avoid cartoon varieties of bandages that will attract little ones’ attention.

Related: 15 Products You Need When Your Baby Starts Crawling

Renee Servinsky of Sassy Wife/Classy Life

5. Block off the fireplace

Babyproof a fireplace without sacrificing aesthetics too much by covering the opening with a piece of magnetic chalkboard (we love the one above from Sassy Wife/Classy Life). The chalkboard blocks off the fireplace and give little ones a surface on which to draw with chalk and play with magnets (choose large magnets that don’t pose a choking hazard).

6. Place dishtowels out of reach

Nix the dishtowel hanging off your oven door handle. Kids can pull down on it and open a hot oven or bonk themselves with the heavy door. Move towels to a higher shelf or put them on command hooks out of baby’s reach.

7. Test choking hazards with a toilet paper tube

There’s no need to purchase a choke tester. Anything that can fit into an empty toilet paper tube is small enough for your baby to choke on. Keep all those wee things out of reach.

Related: Your Guide to Safe Sleep for Baby

8. Create a TP protector

Babies love to unroll toilet paper as much as pets do. Keep your TP intact and out of baby’s hands and mouth with a two-liter soda bottle! Cut off the top and bottom of the bottle and cut a slit down the remaining center piece. Use tape to cover sharp, raw edges and slide the container over your toilet roll to cover it. See the tutorial at My Frugal Baby Tips.

9. Protect with pool noodles

These summertime staples can be used for everything from door stoppers to crib-rail covers that prevent tots from rolling out of bed. They’re also good for wrapping around sharp edges, like around the fireplace, to minimize bumps and scrapes.

10. Pad corners with tennis balls

Tennis balls can soften sharp corners where a pool noodle doesn’t fit. Cut a few small slices into the ball’s core so you can wedge it over items like table corners. It may not look pretty, but this hack is pretty temporary. Before you know it, your toddler will be steady enough on their feet that you no longer feel the need to protect every corner in your home.

11. Shorten pull cords

Use clothespins or twist ties to shorten and hold up pull cords on curtains and blinds to remove this strangulation risk from your home. Command hooks are also handy for keeping cords out of reach.

12. Sock it to knobs

To keep little hands from turning door knobs, cover them with a spare sock and wrap a hair tie or rubber band around the base to hold the sock in place. An adult can still squeeze and turn the handle, but a child won’t be able to.

13. Band together on horizontal cabinets

Attach hair ties or rubber bands to keep paired cabinet doors closed. Just loop the tie around the handles and your baby will only be able to open the doors a little bit, not wide enough to slip a hand through.

14. Get a handle on vertical drawers

Slide a yardstick or tension rod (or another long, thin object) through the handles of horizontally stacked drawers, rather than spending time and money on individual locks.

Make sure to capture photos of your baby crawling around their newly babyproofed pad—and share them with your family and friends near and far—with the Tinybeans app. The secure platform puts parents in total control of who sees and interacts with photos and videos of their kids.

It happened just today. I woke up fine. It was a beautiful day and I was ready to conquer it!

Breakfast. Check. Water flowers. Check. Get out deck furniture. Check. Laundry washed. Check. Check. Check. Make lunch. Check. Shower and get ready. Check. Read a self-help book. Check. And then the paralysis snuck in.

Somewhere between being exhausted and overwhelmed with all I “should” be doing was me—pinned between the two emotions so suddenly I couldn’t move. I was angry. Frustrated. And as time passed, the shame settled in.

The kids were watching a movie on a beautiful summer day. Bad Mom.

I have a million things that need to be organized and cleaned. Lazy.

I could be reading or writing or learning something. Weak. Apply something you’ve learned! I kept shouting in my head. But I wasn’t sure what I had learned. Have I learned anything to help me deal with this? What is this? Anxiety? The depression? Did I let the bad thoughts in? I was supposed to control those. Should I call someone? How could I bother anyone? Who would I call? Everyone is working. Everyone is busy. And I’m not. I’m lying here—pinned.

I’m doing nothing. Lazy. Weak. Bad. And here I am. Beginning. All. Over. Again. I was reminded of how fragile I am. It was OK to be fragile a couple of months ago when I finally started seeing a therapist after episodes that included suicidal thoughts and self-harm. I was fighting for my life then; I was fighting for my family. I had to be gentle with myself. Forgiving.

It was OK that I didn’t cook dinner, that I did nothing but breathe all day long. It was OK to take a nap and let the kids watch too much TV. It was OK that we ate Hot Pockets too often and spent money we didn’t have on fast food. It was OK that the house was a constant mess. It was OK.

But somehow since then, as I slowly started to clean more, slowly began to make meals instead of heating them up, slowly started to do a little more than just breathe, I fell back into being a perfectionist. I began expecting more of myself. I began thinking I was OK because I was doing more.

But Brene Brown emphasizes that perfectionism isn’t the same thing as striving for excellence. “Perfectionism is not about healthy achievement and growth. Perfectionism is a defensive move. It’s the belief that if we do things perfectly and look perfect, we can minimize or avoid the pain of blame, judgment, and shame,” she says. “Perfectionism is a 20-ton shield that we lug around, thinking it will protect us, when in fact it’s the thing that’s really preventing us from being seen.”

I can’t even express how well this describes me! I don’t want to be weak, lazy or bad, not to mention all the other unkind shaming thoughts that race through my mind. So I use the little strength I have left to lift that giant shield up to cover the fragile me. The shield of having a perfectly clean house. The shield of making breakfast, lunch and dinner all in one day. The shield of having the laundry done and put away. The shield of devouring self-help books that give an illusion of healing. The shield of being organized. On and on. The shield is heavy. No wonder I become exhausted so quickly.

No wonder I am pinned down and frustrated with my own weakness and fragility.

I can’t hold it up for long anymore. And trying to has made me weaker and weaker. You see, I have been on this journey of growth for over a year now. I started writing almost every day and I read books by the best on becoming whole, better, happier. I became more organized with Marie Kondo and started a bullet journal to track and remember everything. I set goals and accomplished them. I spent time serving, being with family and with friends.

My journey and the understanding I gained are documented through these beautiful books and methods and habits, but I was missing something vital. I had unknowingly used all the wonderful things I had learned and added them to my shield. And oh, how it grew.

My shield was big, shiny, and clean. Witty and nice. It was helpful and willing. It showed up for everything, said yes, agreed, allowed. Performed. Damn. It was like Captain Freaking America’s shield. And oh how well I carried that shield. But under it was me. Just me. Amy. And Amy, although master at yielding fancy shields, was deeply tired. She was small.

The shield did its job well. She wasn’t seen; she wasn’t heard. People admired that shield. They enjoyed it. They loved it. So she believed she needed it, that they wouldn’t love and admire her without it. She had put so much work into creating it, but one day she was so exhausted that it came down. And frightened, fragile Amy couldn’t lift it back up.

There was nowhere to go. Nowhere to hide. And the shame and the pain swarmed. And there I was, beginning, again. And today, as I set that pretty shield back down on the ground, I am beginning, again. It is time for me—not my shield—to grow.

*If you think you may hurt yourself or attempt suicide, get help right away by calling your mental health specialist or by calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255) to reach a trained counselor.

Originally published June 2020. This post originally appeared on My Peace Project.

RELATED LINKS
I Know Why You’re Exhausted
I Gave Everything I Had to My Kids—and It Was Too Much
Why I Stopped Overcompensating for My Kids’ Absent Dad

Amy is a creator and believes everyone else is too. She strives to be artistic in all areas of life but writing is her passion and her family is her masterpiece. She uses her blog to address the joys and struggles of motherhood and is currently writing her first novel.

Let’s just all agree—eggs are pretty amazing! They are surprisingly strong and you can use them to do all sorts of STEM activities to learn about osmosis, strength, air pressure and physics. Use your bounty of Easter eggs to try out some of these science experiments with eggs!

Walk on Eggs

Photo: S. Massey

How can you walk on eggs without breaking them? An egg’s unique shape gives it tremendous strength, despite its seeming fragility. 

Insider tip: if this science experiment has you in the mood for eggs, check out our list of the best egg-cellent egg recipes for kids

Make Eggs Magical

This “look ma, no hands, wires or mirrors” trick will get them every time; an egg being sucked into a jar while your little scientist delightedly looks on is always a hit. To perform this illusory feat, you’ll need a glass jar with an opening just smaller than an egg (think: old school milk jug) and a peeled, boiled egg. When you and your little scientist have checked these items off your list, it’s time to start the show. Mom or dad should toss a lit match into the glass jar, followed by your mini lab assistant, who’ll quickly set the egg over the opening. Abracadabra! Alakazam! The match dies out; the egg gets (seemingly) inexplicably sucked into the bottle. And just like that you’ve performed another bit of parent magic without breaking a sweat.

Why it works: The match uses up the air inside the bottle. Once that happens the pressure outside the bottle is greater and pushes the egg down into the bottle.

Squeeze an Egg

Science Sparks

You may have seen this science experiment with eggs make its way around TikTok this past summer with people trying to crush an egg with their biceps. You'll find the science behind it described on Science-Sparks and everyone will be cringing when little hands put the big squeeze on a fragile egg. Try as you might, that baby won’t break (until you crack it into a pan to make breakfast for dinner afterward). 

Brain Boost Factor: The egg’s shape is clearly stronger than it looks.

Disappearing Egg Shell

Go Science Kids

Can you and the kiddos solve the mysterious case of the disappearing egg shell? Following the simple how-to at Go Science Kids, you’ll learn the step-by-step and talking points about the process along the way. Warning! Although it’s totally non-toxic, toddler aged kids will be tempted to squeeze the egg at the end so keep an eye out!

Crystal Egg Geodes

This grow-your-own experiment that lets you grow crystals inside an egg shell. Be sure to get alum powder that contains potassium, or else you won't get any crystal growth. Adding drops of food dye to the growing solution yields some super cool crystals. A perfectly formed geode takes about 12-15 hours to grow, making this a great weekend project. Get the full scoop on how to do it from Learn to Grow.

The Egg Drop Challenge

If you have fond memories of building your own egg drop contraption for high school Physics class, this is a great one to share with the kids. They'll love learning all the science behind what can protect the egg and constructing their own egg drop contraption. Get the full scoop here

Eggs and Osmosis

Teach kids all about how liquids pass through semi-permeable membranes in this fun science experiment with eggs from the QuadSquad

Make a Folding Egg

Kids will love being able to bounce this egg between their hands and fold it up into their pocket during this egg science experiment. How does it work? Steve Spangler shows you in this video

—Taylor Clifton & Kate Loweth

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Words. They matter.

I spent the better part of my post-high school academic career studying the written and spoken word and how those words matter.

I also have three children who struggled to find their voices. They have worked through intensive speech therapy to be able to find and use words.

The power of a word is not lost on me.

I teach my kids to think before they speak. Is it kind? Is it truthful? Is it necessary? If they can’t answer all of those questions with a yes then maybe they should think about saying whatever it is before they do.

This is why it bothers me so much when people say, “They are only words.”

Words have power.

The way we talk to people isn’t a reflection of them as much as it is a reflection of ourselves. The way we talk to and about our children becomes their inner voice.

I’ve had this on my mind a lot for a few months now. It seems like in our current culture it has become a social norm to be a “keyboard warrior” online and to excuse really, really awful behavior because “they are only words.”

I really got to thinking about this last night after what turned into a heated social media discussion, if we can call it that, with someone I respected. I generally try not to engage and avoid hot button issues—especially when I know the other parties aren’t particularly receptive to different points of view. I know it was 100% it was my fault for kicking the proverbial bee’s nest, but it was most certainly not a respectful discussion on either side. I am not too proud to admit it wasn’t a good look for either of us.

Follow me as I dig a little deeper.

It isn’t just the written word that matters. It isn’t just what we see each other write online that matters. It’s true that social media has empowered a lot of us to say things that we wouldn’t necessarily say to someone’s face and we should think before we type, but we also need to think before we speak.

The power of a word.

There have been moments in my life where words have been really influential on me: The words contained in the acceptance letter to my dream college. My husband asking me to marry him. My Grandmother’s marriage advice. My Dad’s wedding toast to my husband and me. The first time my children told me they loved me. Any time someone told me “You can’t.”

I also can think of moments where words didn’t just have an impact on me, but also on my view of the world or someone in it.

Once, after the birth of a new baby, some relatives came to visit and meet him. One of them had been wanting a baby of her own and working their way through the options. She mentioned how she was slightly discouraged because another family they knew had received another foster placement while she was still longing for her first. Her husband responded with a remark about how that child had autism and that family was able to get another child because they were willing to “take whatever garbage was thrown at them.”

Now, it was a passing conversation and the people involved probably don’t remember it, but I do. Six months later as my oldest son received an autism diagnosis, it resurfaced in my mind. It took up space and it lives there. Every interaction this person has with my child, his words come to mind.

A few summers back a new family moved into our neighborhood. My girls were thrilled to have more kids their age to play with. It was great at first. They played frequently and I was all for it until I started to hear the way these children were speaking. They were being mean to my girls and thinking they were funny.

Their words weren’t welcome and it was tough to navigate, but my girls learned they needed to speak up for themselves, but also to believe in themselves and they were worthy and capable of great things.

Around the time of my first son’s ASD diagnosis I reached out to the few mamas I knew with children on the spectrum. I was lost and looking for guidance. Out of them, most were encouraging, offered support, and gave some advice. One, however, told me to get over it and not make it about myself. She had nothing to offer and I would figure it out just as she had.

That stung and put a wall in our friendship. I often think about her words when I am sharing my perspective on our life with the spectrum. I hope should another mama ever come to me looking for a lifeline as I had been that I remember her counsel and offer better.

These are only a few examples of the power of words, but they were impactful enough to bear mention. They were said in passing and have an echo that remains.

Lately, this world doesn’t seem built for kindness. To have a soft heart or to admit your hurt almost instantly is met with more insult or a suggestion to “toughen up.” I don’t agree with that, but I am also not saying that we should all walk around in bubble wrap with fragile egos and tiptoe around people. But maybe, speak less and think more before you do.

Is it kind? Is it truthful? Is it necessary? If our answer is no to any of these questions, then maybe we need to rethink our words.

The old childhood rhyme “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me,” comes to mind. Maybe words can’t break a bone or cause visible damage, but words do in fact matter. Words can break and words can damage.

Words have power.

It’s up to you whether or not you use your words for good.

Choose your words wisely.

 

This post originally appeared on How Many Monkeys Are Jumping On the Bed?.

Marisa McLeod lives in Waterville, Ohio, with her husband and four kids. She's a Golden Girls, Disney, and organizational junkie. She can usually be found sipping coffee (or wine), watching reality television, or Pinterest-dreaming her next adventure. You can follow along with her on her blog How Many Monkeys Jumping on the Bed, Facebook, or on Instagram.

If you’re like us, taking care of your home is a daily struggle… so taking care of the environment, too, may sound like a huge feat—but it doesn’t have to be. We can do so many little things every day, like toting reusable shopping bags instead of answering “Paper” or “Plastic.” And it’s never too early: Young kids can easily learn what gets reused—helping with recycling items around your home is a great way to get them involved. 

Taking care of who is in our environment is just as important. We’ve found a joyful way to help kids grasp these values through an incredibly thoughtful and beautifully illustrated read, The Digger and the Duckling by Joseph Kuefler, a follow-up to his acclaimed picture book, The Digger and the Flower. When a tiny duckling waddles onto their construction site, Digger and his mighty crew are all annoyed, calling her a nuisance. The duckling isn’t bothered, though, and through understanding, patience and acceptance, Digger and his crew help take care of her and grow to love the duckling. They become an unlikely family and make their lives richer, all through having patience (something any young kid could use more of).

That’s just one of the reasons we love the new book, The Digger and the Duckling.

Get your copy of The Digger and the Duckling.

The Story

Digger and the other big trucks love to build. But when a lost duckling waddles onto the jobsite, Digger and his friends learn to do more than just scoop and hoist and push... They learn to become a family. Especially for ages 4-8, this beautifully illustrated book is an excellent introduction to taking care of the environment and one another.

Start reading The Digger and the Duckling today!

This book is hot off the presses, so no reviews just yet—but here’s praise for the first of the series, The Digger and the Flower:

 “Kuefler imbues the text with the heart and soul of the best storytime fare… One couldn’t hope for a better tale of rebirth and regeneration”

Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Kuefler’s simply written and beautifully illustrated tale has a powerful message about the importance of the environment…A wonderful, inspiring tale, perfect for read-alouds.”

—School Library Journal (starred review)

“The image of the clunky piece of construction equipment tenderly caring for the fragile plant gives the story charm, and so do its strong, simple images.”

Publishers Weekly

 

Looking for a fun activity as a follow-up to the story? Care for a plant together! From tiny succulents to flowy ferns, your little one can help make sure it gets the light and water it needs—maybe they can even read The Digger and the Duckling to their new plant friend!

 

Happy reading! (And don’t forget to shut the water off while you brush your teeth… )

 

—Jamie

 

If you buy something from the links in this article, we may earn affiliate commission or compensation.


2022, meet the Valentine’s Day tree. It’s practical, because that tree in your living room corner? It just got a new lease on life. It’s fun. And it’s all the rage. All we wish is that we were the ones to think of it.

Don’t over-think this. Just strip your Christmas tree of all the holiday decor and re-dress it with ornaments that say “love.” Whether you adorn it with the cute decorations we’ve found below, or turn it into the crafting frenzy that your four-year-old craves, your family will adore this new festive tradition.


Pink Artificial Tree

$37 BUY NOW

If you're an overachiever who's already tossed the Christmas tree, this petite pink artificial tree is perfect for your Valentine's Day.


Glittery Tree Topper

$19 BUY NOW

Glittery, kissing cherubs? Indeed. And it's the perfect thing to top your new favorite holiday tree.


Heart Shaped Ornaments

$19 BUY NOW

Perfect as-is, these ornaments also offer endless crafting possibilities. Add your own love notes, funny Valentine's Day jokes and more on the ornament with just a Sharpie.


Valentine Felt Ball Garland

$22 BUY NOW

We love, and your tree will be on-point wrapped up in this sweet garland.


Red Berry Garland

$19 BUY NOW

If you have any of this from Christmas, it pulls double-duty for Valentine's Day. Weave it into your tree limbs for an extra layer of love.


Vintage Valentine Ornaments

$10 BUY NOW

With 12 patterns and 24 valentines, this set comes with a roll of red ribbon to tie up onto your tree in any way your heart desires.

—Shelley Massey

All photos courtesy of Amazon

 

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The House and Garden at Filoli are impressive and stately throughout the year but transform into a whimsical, wintry wonderland during the holidays, making it worth a special visit. In addition to themed nights and Santa visits, your dilemma lies in this: will your family visit during the day for bright pictures or at night for the dazzling lights? We went to both to get the scoop and hopefully help you decide so read on and book your time slot today!

Daytime Visit

For both visits, we bypassed the House and headed straight towards the Gardens (continue past the House and make a left).This lets kids run and roam and get the wiggles out before touring the House where it's decidedly harder to run and roam. If your family is feeling frisky, consider taking the one mile estate trail for a short hike. Filoli’s family guide is also a great interactive option for kids to play Bingo around the estate.

Next, wander the gardens by the pool and restrain little ones that might try to sneak in for a dip which is most definitely frowned upon. Find the massive Christmas tree in the circular hedges for a photo op then check out the trio of trees inside the Garden House. If you visit the charming Clock Tower gift shop, beware that it harbors a plethora of fragile ornaments so you’ll want to keep curious little hands close by.

With its decadent holiday decorations, The House offers a glimpse into what life was like for the Bourn Family: lavish. Keep kids engaged by searching for statues of Toto, the family’s bulldog and also by counting how many Christmas trees they see (hint: 20). The main draw of the House is the Ballroom with its colossal fireplace—kids will ooh and ahh over the expansive room with its vaulted ceilings and larger-than-life Christmas tree. 

Nighttime Visit

 

The sun slipping behind the Santa Cruz mountains is cue for Filoli’s holiday magic to unfurl. Sparkling lights strung from trees and amongst flowers enchant the garden as far as the eye can see. Gleaming orbs of lights rest on manicured lawns while a weeping willow of lights will enthrall kids of all ages.  A bed of blue lights shimmers to mimic water gushing down a river as the reflection pool glistens with the surrounding lights and provides quiet solace for a moment to take a deep breath… and take it all in. 

Good to know

  • We loved sipping hot cocoa and cider at the Woodland Lawn Court in front of the fire pits (evenings only)
  • Outside food for picnicking is allowed in designated areas only
  • During a daytime visit, consider taking your picnic down the road to the scenic Pulgas Water temple 

Bottom line: if you can only visit once, a nighttime visit is undoubtedly our choice 

—photos and story by Christine Lai

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Our family just returned from our annual week at the Jersey Shore. Nothing recharges us like a day on the beach, listening to the rhythmic sound of the waves, breathing the salty air, and soaking up Vitamin D. However, it’s hard to ignore the shocking headlines about our fragile oceans that are increasingly in peril. So, what can our family do to help the oceans right now? 

Here are 10 simple ways to help the ocean starting today:

1. Use Metal or Glass Water Bottles
Water is an important step to giving your body the hydration it needs, but plastic water bottles often pollute our oceans. By opting for a glass water bottle, it’ll help alleviate the pollution in our oceans, but also saves you money by not buying water. It’s also important to note that most plastic bottles are actually not reusable because they can release toxins from heat, so carrying your water in a glass bottle is healthier for your body as well!

2. Use Metal or Wood Utensils
Also, most fast-food restaurants and food trucks give plastic utensils as a means of easy and cheap clean-up, but it’s doing a lot of harm. Plastic utensils such as plastic straws often get into our oceans, causing massive health problems for our ocean animals.

Our family now brings a backpack with us on just about every outing filled with metal water bottles and a few reusable sporks that we got at a camping store. 

3. Stop Using Styrofoam & Plastic Cups
Hot coffee or tea in the morning is essential for many people, but cutting out the styrofoam cups can help our oceans breathe a little better. Styrofoam is not biodegradable, making it nearly impossible to dispose of it in a safe way. Getting a thermos to fill up with coffee or tea (at home or at a store) can be a painless step that can help our oceans and ocean animals.

4. Bring a Tote Bag
On recent trips outside the country, I noticed that most stores don’t provide plastic shopping bags, and expect you to use reusable tote bags instead. Sounds like a good policy for our country, too! In the meantime, getting a sturdy tote bag can make sure we’re cutting out plastic bags when we don’t need them. Tote bags are affordable and available in an array of sizes, fun prints, and colors to choose from. Be sure to keep one in the car, and have reusable shopping bags ready for trips to the grocery store! 

5. Cut Up Six-Pack Rings & Masks
The plastic that keeps together cans and other drinks may seem like a tiny harmless thing, but our marine and ocean life end up getting stuck in the way too often. If you’re really craving that product and it contains these rings, just make sure to cut them up because it makes sure our animal friends don’t get tangled up in them.

Also, be sure to cut the straps on disposable masks, as people have found a number of seagulls tangled in them

6. Avoid Buying Plastic Packaging
You’ve probably heard about “dead zones” in the ocean consisting of vast seas of plastic garbage. Buying plastic-free packaging can help us cut out ocean pollution. Choosing products that contain easy to recycle packaging such as paper can make sure we’re not consuming a lot of plastic as shoppers. It is also important to note that only 9.5% of plastic is reduced, which means around 90% of our plastic consumption ends up polluting the earth. 

7. Travel the Ocean Responsibly
Make sure to research any cruise, kayak, or boating service before you go on your journey to make sure that the services aren’t harming our oceans. There are many eco-friendly options to choose from, so go on ahead and search!

8. Volunteer: Help Clean Up Beaches!
Does your family go to the beach every summer? The tides often carry debris and waste into the ocean which affects ocean water quality and ocean life. Find out if your favorite beach has any “clean-up” events for volunteers. Volunteering is a great way to strengthen your connection to the beach, and is very rewarding. Helping to clean up the pollution on the beach can also bring a huge impact on our oceans.

9. Support Organizations That Help the Ocean
By donating, helping, or spreading the news, you can help make sure that our ocean is protected. Every bit of help counts and there are tons of ways that a person can help. Do a little research on sites like CharityWatch.org and find a top-rated organization or charity that helps the ocean. 

10. Learn about the Biodiversity of Our Oceans
The world’s oceans contain millions of marine species, but that number is in decline. Learning about biodiversity and what affects oceans is a powerful tool, and it’s also incredibly interesting! 

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I'm Missy, a mother of three and a middle school drama teacher at a private school. I'm obsessed with my Vizsla (dog), traveling, and the musical Hamilton. I also enjoy writing and sharing fun parenting stories, which is what brought me here.

Another boy will meet the world, because Danielle Fishel is pregnant! The former Boy Meets World star turned 40 today and had a sweet announcement ready to celebrate. She’s expecting her second son with husband Jensen Karp.

“I couldn’t be more grateful to enter my 40’s with my amazing husband and son, excitedly expecting the arrival of baby boy #2. My birthday wish is for all of you to tell someone how much you love them and walk through today with more patience than you normally might,” Fishel noted in her caption on Instagram, accompanying a glowing bump photo.

Fishel and Karp married in 2018 and their first son, Adler Lawrence, was born a month before his due date in June 2019. The infant faced some health scares and spent 21 days in the neonatal intensive care unit, after being diagnosed with chylothorax. Today he’s healthy, happy and on his way to big brother status.

Proud dad Karp also posted a sweet tribute on his Instagram, penning “Happy 40th birthday to my life partner, a team captain and the greatest mom to our now soon to be 2 boys. She believes in our squad and even when I held a newborn Adler like he was a fragile piece of china for the 4 first months, she had the patience and care of a saint.” We’re looking forward to watching the Fishel Karp family grow!

––Sarah Shebek

Feature photo: Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com

 

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