1. His stovepipe top hat served as more than just a signature look: He used to stash his important documents there.
2. He loved animals and had a cat named Tabby and a dog named Fido. He loved his cat so much that she ate dinner at the White House table.
3. He was born on Feb. 12, 1809, in a one-room log cabin in Kentucky (So in a way, he brought you Lincoln Logs, too).
4. At 21, he left home and canoed from Macon County, Illinois to New Salem, Illinois.
5. Lincoln’s favorite food was fruit.
6. A fun fact about Abraham Lincoln is that he was a wrestler. Over 12 years, he only lost one match out of 300.
7. Abraham Lincoln is the only U.S. president to ever hold a patent. He invented an inflatable bellows system to help boats navigate in shallow waters.
8. Abraham Lincoln supported the right of women to vote and said so as early as 1836. Women did not gain the right to vote officially until 1920!
9. Lincoln lost five separate elections before he became President of the U.S. (Never, ever, ever give up!)
10. Apparently, he did not like being called Abe and preferred people to call him Abraham.
11. Lincoln was the first president to be born outside the original 13 colonies.
12. Lincoln and his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, held séances in the White House.
13. At 6’4,” he was the tallest president.
14. Abraham Lincoln never slept in the Lincoln bedroom.
15. On the night of his assassination, General Ulysses S. Grant had been invited to attend the play with Lincoln but declined because his wife did not like Mary Lincoln.
Set up your child for a great start with this list of must-haves
Diapers? Check. Lunch? Check. A sleepy child? Check! If you’re wondering what to pack for daycare, and even if your childcare provider has a list of items kids will need on a typical day, some things can make all the difference in your little one’s day. From weather-appropriate gear to a family photo, here’s your handy daycare checklist of must-haves and why they’re important.
1. Labels Slap your kid’s name on everything, from bottles to clothes. We love Mabel’s Labels because they’re pre-printed with your child’s name, come in easy-to-use packs, and stay put through hundreds of washings. Put waterproof labels on your child’s bag, lunch bag, jacket, and inside shoes. If your child has food allergies, order allergy labels, too.
2. Bottles & Liquids Depending on how long your little one will be at daycare, you’ll need baby bottles plus breast milk or formula or, for older kids, a leak-proof water bottle. Be sure to pre-measure the formula. Most daycares have refrigerators or freezers available to keep liquids cold.
3. Lunch Bag & Bibs You’ll also need a lunch bag and bib if your little one eats solid food. An insulated lunch bag is best, as it keeps food cool and can be used later on for picnics and other excursions. We love the PackIt lunch bags with built-in cold packs.
4. Diapers & Wipes Gather up diapers in the right size, and send off as many as your little one will need at the start of each week, with a few extra just in case. It’s easiest to label diapers with a Sharpie. Be sure to send a labeled pack of wipes, too. And pack diaper cream if your little one is prone to rashes.
5. Spare Clothes Pack at least two spare outfits for your child. You never know when your little one will have a blowout or get food or art supplies on themselves, and childcare centers don’t usually have spare clothes in every size. Check the size and seasonality of the spare clothes in your bag every two or three months so your kiddo isn’t stuck in shorts two sizes too small in January. Oh, and don’t forget extra socks!
6. Medication If your child takes medication regularly, bring a brand new bottle with you in its original packaging. Most daycares have very specific requirements due to licensing and keeping little ones safe. Be sure to follow those requirements carefully so your baby’s medication is readily available and can be dispensed by daycare staff when needed.
7. Sunscreen & a Hat You want your baby’s skin protected during outdoor playtime, so packing baby-friendly sunscreen is a must. Send a labeled bottle of your favorite sunscreen, and add a sun hat for extra coverage.
8. Weather Gear Fresh air is brain food for babies, and most daycares bring kids outside as often as possible, even if it’s just for a few minutes. That means toddlers might stomp around in puddles or stare up at snowflakes. Pack weather-appropriate gear (boots, jackets, hats) so your little one is comfortable, no matter the weather.
9. A Family Photo Many daycares put family photos up on their walls or have them in a readily available photo album. Little ones love to look at pics of their family members—just like we do. Check with your child’s school to see if they have specific requirements for what types of photos to send.
10. Lovies Lovies make the transition from home to daycare a little easier, so it’s a must on our daycare checklist. Remember, while it’s a good idea to pack a favorite snuggly item, don’t send something irreplaceable (or buy a backup), as blankies can disappear. Also, ask if your daycare center has policies on what you can and can’t bring. Order a pair of matching lovies, like the snuggly offerings from Bunnies by the Bay, or the two-packs of security blankets from Copper Pearl, and you’ll be all set. A few days before the big drop-off day at daycare, hold the lovie to give it some of your comforting scent.
11. Lists of Your Little One’s Likes & Dislikes, Plus Paperwork Does your baby love a good lullaby before naps or hate avocados? Daycares usually send home paperwork that includes a getting-to-know-you child form, plus essential information like medical history and development and milestone updates. Fill out these forms and include any additional information your baby’s caregivers might need so they can take good care of your sweet babe.
Make sure to snap some photos of their first day of daycare—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.
Check out these spooky Halloween minute to win it games that all the kiddos will love!
Halloween is right around the corner, and if you’re looking for fun Halloween games to make the holiday extra spooky, these minute-to-win-it ideas are exactly what you’re after. Whether you’re staying in this year or going out for trick-or-treating, these party games will keep your kids entertained for hours. While you’re at it, make the night extra special with some fun Halloween jokes, kid-friendly ghost stories, easy Halloween treats, and awesome Halloween crafts.
What’s a minute to win it game?
Simply put, it’s a 60-second game using items typically found around the house. Participants attempt to see who can finish a challenge first or who can complete a task the most times in under a minute. You can try these holiday minute to win it games when Halloween is over or attempt some year-round minute to win it favorites!
Take their favorite piece of Halloween candy (that isn’t too messy, of course) and place it on your child’s forehead. They’ll need to use their facial muscles to move it down their face into their mouth without using their hands.
2. Pumpkin Balance
This involves two players balancing mini pumpkins on their heads and racing to a certain point without dropping the pumpkin. You can make it tougher by making it a running race!
3. Donut Race
Slide a donut on a string and see who can eat it off the string the fastest. What a delicious game to play!
4. Candy Balancing
Put the end of a craft stick in your mouth and stack a candy of your choice on top. Whoever stacks the most pieces wins! You can make the game more challenging by choosing a non-flat candy.
A two-player game that involves wrapping the other player in toilet paper to look like a mummy.
6. Stack 'Em
Using apples, gourds, or mini pumpkins with the stems cut off, little ones have one minute to stack five apples or pumpkins (or three for younger kids) on top of each other and get them to stay for three seconds.
7. Candy Toss
Have two players take turns tossing their favorite candy (wrapped or unwrapped) into a bowl or cauldron. Whoever gets the most pieces into the cauldron in a minute wins.
8. M&M Switch
Each player will need two plates; one filled with M&Ms and one empty. Players use a straw to suck up each M&M and drop it onto the other plate. Whoever gets the most M&Ms onto the other plate wins!
Make ghost or mummy Halloween pins out of toilet paper rolls or white/clear plastic cups. Use a mini pumpkin or a regular-sized pumpkin (real or fake) as your bowling ball and get rolling.
10. Witch's Hat Ring Toss
Connect glow sticks or fuzzy craft sticks into rings. Each player takes turns tossing their rings onto the witch's hat, and whoever gets the most rings onto the hat wins (You can also use a pumpkin stem to catch the rings.)!
11. Candy Unwrapping
Have your contestants take a wrapped piece of candy (choose a difficult one for a challenge) and have them unwrap it one-handed.
12. Dig for Creepy Crawlies
Crumble up your favorite cookie (that resembles dirt) and fill a bowl or bucket. Hide plastic creepy crawlies inside the dirt and have the players dig for them with a spoon. Whoever finds the most creepy crawlies wins.
Dear Day Camp, Hi. I want to say right off the bat that we are cool. I like and need you. Because you take my complicated, sensitive kid every day, and then she comes home later, and she did things, and she was safe and happy. You must be doing something right.
But I have a request. Please, please be a true partner to working parents and stop with the crazy hat days. Or, more realistically, go crazy with crazy hat days and any other silly accessories—I’ll even donate that questionable furry purple stole thing that keeps falling on me when I try to get stuff out of the top of my closet—but please don’t make it another to-do for me.
Because no matter how many e-mail reminders you send during the days leading up to these cute spirit activities, it is a mathematical certainty that some of us just won’t be able to get it done and our children will be left out, wondering why their parents overlooked them. For all the articles about the invisible mental load, this one is not invisible at all, and it needs to be addressed.
Crazy hat day is “hey, let’s see if moms can handle another thing” day. Well, today I couldn’t. And I don’t need to see the sad photos to know that many other moms (and dads) couldn’t, either.
Today wasn’t a surprise. I knew crazy hat day was today. At least three days ago, I saw the e-mail pop up as I was responding to the latest midday text from a caregiver in between meetings at work, asking about someone’s eczema cream or where the velcro shoes were. I knew somewhere in my brain that my 5-year-old would go to camp today, and if she didn’t have a crazy hat packed in her bag, she would arrive and feel slighted and left out when all the other kids produced their lovingly packed crazy hats. And I still couldn’t get it done.
Not because I didn’t want to. But because my brain, and my partner’s brain, simply ran out of RAM to keep it on the to-do list. Or maybe we simply ran out of time. As two practicing attorneys with two children, every single day is an exercise in triage, all day, at work and at home. It is difficult to even find the time to register for camp—which we rely on as a critical piece of our childcare in the summer months.
And then to get the health records in. And label the clothes. And find a way to ensure that no one goes into camp without sunblock on. None of these tasks, individually, seems too daunting. But for parents who work literally around the clock, they are collectively oppressive. We get them done (just barely and only because my husband is aces) because if you want camp, you get the vaccine records in—that is non-negotiable for safety. No issue there.
But what about all the extra stuff. Why is that on me/us? (I am lucky, I think, that my partner even feels responsible for these extra assignments—I suspect most mothers are on their own. There’s definitely data on that.)
The point is, we pay good money to have our children loved and safely cared for during the day. And then we do all the things to make sure they can attend. And then we set up the system for the various supplies and accouterments to go with them in the camp routine and for someone to be home when they get off the bus and all that jazz.
Is it too much to ask not to be handed nearly daily extra assignments that are ultimately just more opportunities for us to drop the ball? Because we will. I will.
Sure, I could have spent some of the two whole hours I had free on Sunday locating or shopping for a “crazy” hat. But those are the only two hours I had to actually spend time with my babies whom I love and try hard not to disappoint when I can avoid it. I chose to use that time to bathe them, make them terrible grilled cheese (you use butter on the inside and outside, right?), and do bedtime with them—which is only even an option for me two days per week.
However, in choosing to spend the time that way, I was also, subconsciously, making a choice to screw my kid at camp today. And that just sucks.
Unfortunately, disappointing my children is part and parcel of my existence as a working mother. I often have to do other things when they want (and need) my attention and love. Work things. Things that are necessary for our livelihood.
But it doesn’t make sense that I am paying others to manufacture more opportunities for disappointments. I have gotten very good at letting my children down all on my own—and for free. I want—no, I need—the others in the village I have constructed to help me rear my children to minimize those opportunities for sadness and let-downs, not add to them.
Please don’t get me wrong. I am not down on camp. I loved it as a child, and I get why they do all these fun spirit things. My kids are enjoying their experiences at camp, and I am sincerely grateful for the peace of mind it affords me to know that my kids are safe and happy when I cannot be with them because we have a mortgage.
But few things are as crushing to a mother, who is killing herself to pay the bills and also find some time to actually sit with her children and love them in person, as seeing a photo of her daughter watching quietly from the side while the other kids revel in front of the camera with their crazy hats.
When I saw it posted on social media, I wanted to run out of my office and drive to camp and hug her and explain to her that she isn’t an oversight. That I don’t not care about sending her to camp with the right stuff. I care so much.
Please, camp. Help me not fail at this one. I’m not asking you to cancel crazy hat day or whatever other crazy days are coming up that require supplies. It looks like great fun for the kids whose mothers (and fathers) managed to get it together.
But I am asking you to understand that I got home after 1 a.m. last night, and I didn’t see my children this morning, either. And under the current setup, I simply don’t stand a chance.
My household cannot take on any more things, and we need you to be a real partner in our children’s happiness, not working against us (knowingly or not).
And if that means we pay a little more for camp and you take that cash and send out a counselor to buy whatever colored shirts or armbands you need to stick in a closet somewhere so that I never have to see that look on my daughter’s face in a camp photo again, I will gladly do so.
I’ll make the same plea to my kids’ teachers in September, too. I’m happy to contribute extra up front—I hereby authorize you to spend all of it on trips and party snacks to avoid breaking my child’s soul and my heart at 2 p.m. on a random Tuesday.
Also, while I’m focused on this. Please put me down now for all of the 8:15 p.m. parent-teacher conference slots and know that Grandma is coming to all the parties at 11:15 a.m. Sounds funny but she’s really coming to all of those. I may not even meet you this year. And not because I don’t want to.
💔
The full version of this post was originally published on @mamasaidf.
It’s time to try defying gravity—here’s everything we know about the movie version of Wicked
Everyone deserves a chance to fly—and to see Wicked the musical. If you haven’t had a chance to experience the Broadway sensation, you won’t have to wait much longer forever. There’s a movie version of Wicked that’s coming to theaters—and its release is even sooner than we expected.
Part of the reason we’ll be able to return to Oz so soon is because Wicked is now being split into two movies. But the first installment has also been bumped up a month earlier than planned. Originally slated for a release around Christmas, Wicked part one is now set to open in theaters nationwide on Nov. 27, 2024. According to Variety, Universal thought a Thanksgiving release would give it a better chance of success since Christmas 2024 is already stacked with Avatar 3 and a new Sonic the Hedgehog movie.
Wicked will be directed by Jon M. Chu, who announced the new release date on Twitter.
WICKED NEWS: We are deep into production on WICKED and everyday we get more and more excited to share with u the mischief we’ve been up to. So…We’ve decided to get it to you all a little earlier than planned. OUR NEW RELEASE Date is NOV 27th 2024! A little Thanksgiving treat! pic.twitter.com/6YvjA1gRDr
Wicked acts as a sort of prequel to The Wizard of Oz, telling the story of how green-skinned Elphaba became the Wicked Witch of the West, long before Dorothy and pals hit the Yellow Brick Road. The original Broadway production opened in 2003, with Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth in the iconic roles of the two witches, Elphaba and Glinda. The Broadway show is well known for hit songs like “Defying Gravity,” “Popular,” and “For Good,” and the movie version is expected to feature at least two new songs.
Who is starring in Wicked?
The leads in the movie version have some big (pointy) shoes to fill. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are set to star as Elphaba and Glinda. Also on board: Bridgerton‘s Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard, Oscar winner(!) Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, and Ethan Slater as Boq.
From bunny hats to tulip forks, these Easter paper crafts are perfect for springing into your Easter celebration
Your completely creative kid is ready for a paper craft, and you can practically smell the spring in the air. Yup, it’s time to get artsy with Easter paper crafts for kids! We found some of the best, so between bouncing bunnies and fun flowers, there’s definitely an easy art activity here for everyone.
Surprise family, friends, and neighbors with these adorable DIY easter cards with pop-out breaks. An easy-to-make easter paper craft that announces spring is on its way. Simple enough for all ages! Check out The Mad House for the full tutorial.
How about these adorable bunny party hats? Perfect for lightening up Easter lunch, buy some pastel cardstock and head over to the House that Lars Built to get started.
Who says your crafty kid needs a brush to paint? This paper art activity celebrates spring with a paint print and a fringe of green, green, green grass. Learn how to make these oh-so-cute tulips with Growing Up Gabel’s easy tutorial.
Paper crafts don’t always happen on a flat 8x10 piece of cardstock. Nope. Sometimes they’re round, and still other times, they pop off the page. These paper plate bunnies from The Best Ideas for Kids are easy Easter crafts that your littles can transform into stick puppets (add a craft stick to the back). Decorate for the holiday with the bunnies, or use them for hours of pretend play.
Ah, the art of origami. Don’t worry about this Easter craft being too tricky for your young child. With the printable template from Easy Peasy and Fun, your child will fold a sweet spring bunny like a champ. Or at least like a little artist.
Peek-a-boo. Um, wait. Make that peck-a-boo. That’s what the cute chick in this paper card-making activity says. Your crafting kid can give this card to grandma, grandpa, aunts, uncles, big sis, little bro, or anyone else to whom they want to send a holiday greeting. Get the how-to from Teach Me Mommy.
Make sweet sheep with paint, paper, and a few of your child’s favorite art materials. This spring-time Easter craft is perfect for preschoolers. And as a bonus, it’s easy to adapt to your toddler or grade school kiddo. Get the details on how to get artsy with DIY stamping from Buggy and Buddy.
Doilies don’t just belong under your grandmother’s tea set. Your kid can transform the lux paper lace into a completely cute Easter chick with this creative craft. Check out Crafts on Sea’s tutorial for the full how-to.
Your child can explore and experiment with color, texture, and negative space in this Easter art activity. They can practice scissor skills or keep the fine motor fun going by tearing the tissue. Add glue to a card stock paper cut-out, and you have the recipe for a really cool rainbow rabbit. Get the details on how to make the tissue paper bunny from Mini Monets and Mommies.
Sponge painting might not sound like a paper craft, but… well, it’s not. But this Easter art activity from Buggy and Buddy is actually all about the paper. Learn how to craft a construction paper basket and then have your kiddo continue with the crafting and fill it with ‘eggs’.
Making paper Easter eggs isn’t just artsy, it’s also educational. At least, this activity from Kiddy Charts is. Not only can your kids decorate pretend eggs, but they can use their cute creations as part of a memory-building game!
As if a bunny hat isn’t enough awesomeness for one artsy kid, your little one can also craft a crown that looks like a spring rainbow. Forget about the traditional Easter bonnet. This paper egg carton craft from Having Fun at Home is a creative way to dress up for the holiday.
Easter is a time for bunnies, chicks, chocolate, and spring! Celebrate the season with this flower power tissue paper art activity from Mini Monets and Mommies.
These Easter paper craft eggs are a great way to use up some old tissue paper that doesn't need to go to waste. Find the how-to at Fireflies and Mudpies.
It’s some-bunny’s first Easter and we’ve got the basket stuffers to make it memorable
Another “first” is around the corner! There’s nothing better than watching your baby experience their first, well, anything. From their first laugh to the first time they pet a dog and everything in between, we moms love firsts. Holidays are definitely some of the most exciting firsts to celebrate, so with Easter coming up next month, it’s time to start planning. Those giggly photo ops don’t just happen, and filling your baby’s first Easter basket with goodies to make them smile big is a must!
Of course, whether you’re Team Candy or not, chocolate bunnies aren’t exactly the best thing for your little-little ones. We put together a list of the best first Easter basket ideas that are candy-free but still oh-so-sweet! There are cuddly stuffies, adorable toys, comfy Easter-pic-ready outfits they can get to hopping in (if they’re ready for that sort of thing, that is). Get ready to pack their baskets with the best baby-friendly Easter surprises, and don’t forget to post those precious moments to your Tinybeans App! Your family and friends are gonna want to Peep these pics!
Loulou Lollipop Silicon Bunny Teether
LouLou Lollipop
With two tasty food-grade-silicone ears to nibble on and a soft handle to grab onto, there's a lot for babies to love about this soothing teether!
These GUND baby booties will look adorable while keeping your newborn's toes warm and cozy. The fluffy lambs (size 0-3 months) attach with hook and loop fasteners and have a gentle rattle inside to entrance your little one! Machine washable.
KiwiCo created this adorable baby piano/xylophone for little hands! Big keys and egg shakers mean they'll learn to love music early and have so much fun doing it, long after Easter!
Copper Pearl is known for luxurious fabrics with darling designs, and this set of 4 bibs is no exception! They're made of 100% cotton on the front to absorb drool and 100% fleece on the back that keeps babies dry and feels soft against the skin.
Little Naturalists: Beatrix Potter Wrote Stories (BabyLit) Board book
Amazon
Best known for her children's book The Tale of Peter Rabbit, English author Beatrix Potter wrote 23 children's stories and was a talented artist. In this sweet rhyming board book, we learn about her love for animals and how she left more than 4,000 acres to the National Trust! Beatrix Potter Wrote Stories is part of Gibbs Smith's Little Naturalists book series, which includes children's books on other famous naturalists, including Jane Goodall, John James Audobon, George Washington Carver, Wangari Maathai and more.
This adorable wide-brim hat provides full sun protection and stays on thanks to a tie chin strap. It has UPF 50+ sun protection and keeps baby cool with lightweight, quick-dry material and a wicking liner that pulls moisture away from baby's head! The adjustable toggle customizes the size for your baby's head and grows with them. Available in 0-6 months, 9-18 months and 2T-4T and in lots of cute colors and patterns.
Jingle, twitter, rattle, and more with these Musical Eggs! Beech wood eggs, brightly-colored, and each filled with a different sound that babies won't be able to get enough of (plus they're great for little hands!).
This plush bunny from GUND's Tinkle Crinkle line is both a soft, snuggly companion and a sensory toy with colors and textures to explore! There's a flower-shaped, nubby teether for chewing and a ring on top to hang this bunny from a car seat or stroller for outings.
Babiators Polarized Flower, Rose Gold Mirrored Lens in Peachy Keen
Maisonette
Get ready for the sunny, summery days ahead with a pair of baby sunglasses, like these from Babiators. With UV400 lenses that offer 100% UVA and UVB protection, they'll protect baby's eyes from the sun's rays. And the flexible frames and shatter-resistant lenses resist breakage. Available in a variety of colors and styles (even heart shaped!), you can also purchase a silicone strap to keep your child from taking them off!
In Babylit's alphabet primer E Is for Easter, your little will learn the ABCs while enjoying fun, vintage-inspired drawings that celebrate Easter and spring, from Easter egg hunts to the beauty of spring flowers!
These Tomy Hide & Squeak Eggs will stay a favorite long after Easter is over! Younger babies will love to pull off the shells to reveal the colorful eggs underneath (and to give these toys a good chew). Older babies can match the colors of the shells and eggs, push on the egg to hear it squeak, and sort the eggs into the right spot in the egg carton. Each has a unique shape on the bottom and fits only in one spot of the carton.
Soft and sweet, this basket is filled with an age-appropriate plush set of four holiday-themed toys from GUND: a carrot crinkle toy, a squeaky egg, a chick rattle and a bunny that makes sounds!
This minimalist-designed set from Manhattan Toy was created for little ones from newborns to toddlers! It includes a cute bunny, soft book, and unfinished all-natural wood teething ring.
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Looking for good New Year’s party ideas? Ring in 2023 with a festive craft for kids that’s as easy as it is fun. Using basic art supplies (and leftover holiday trimmings), you can help your little party people pop it like it’s hot when it’s time for the 10…9…8…! Find out exactly what you’ll need to create confetti poppers for kids at home, and then plan your menu from our favorite easy appetizers.
Supplies for confetti popper for kids
Paper Rolls (toilet or towel, whichever you have on hand)
Construction Paper and/or wrapping paper in festive colors
Balloons
Ribbon (regular and curling)
Markers
Scissors
Hole Punch (if you don’t have one handy, just cut up the paper)
Using the hole punch (or scissors) create paper confetti using construction paper and leftover holiday wrapping paper in festive colors.
Step Two: Decorate the Popper
Using markers, have your handy helpers decorate their roll. Little doodlers can go festive with stars and fireworks, write fun New Year’s Eve-themed words, or even draw pictures. It's all about creativity!
Tie a knot in the balloon, in the same spot you would if it was full of air. Then, using the scissors, carefully cut off the top of the balloon. Note: If you cut the balloon too close to the knot, there’s won’t be enough at the bottom to lay over the end of the paper roll.
Step Four: Create the Popper
Place the cut balloon on one end of the decorated roll and secure, using the tape. Cut lengths of regular ribbon, and using either hot glue or Elmer’s glue (if using Elmer’s, you’ll have to wait until it’s dry to continue) line the popper where the tape and balloon meet the roll. Once this is complete, cut pieces of curling ribbon and tie them around the knot of the balloon.
Optional Step: Fasten jewels to the thick piece of ribbon using glue. Hot or regular glue will do the trick.
After all the crafty work, let your party people do some popping. Fill the open end of the tube with the confetti, pull down on the balloon knot and release! The confetti will explode everywhere, so be prepared for giggles. You can refill over and over for more New Year’s Eve fun.
I was lucky to have an easy baby. My daughter grew up to be a great kid with a level head and patience beyond her years. But even when the cosmos are in your favor, things can go wrong. My kid has a sweet tooth like Willy Wonka and an obsession with collecting stuffed animals and art supplies.
Like most parents, I found myself saying “no,” “not now,” and “maybe some other time” more often than I liked. I caught myself slowly turning into my mother when, “We don’t need to buy an ice cream cone, we have ice cream at home!” would tumble out of my mouth.
My little lady would hang her head, sadly whisper “Okay mama,” and walk on by whatever had caught her eye. Every time I’d feel like I won a victory of responsibility while simultaneously sabotaging her happy childhood.
It’s no wonder so many adults give in to the whims of children. It’s easy to feel like a jerk.
Then one day, we decided to give an idea a trial run: Yes Day. The first of the month would be heralded as a shining beacon of possibilities and extravagance, much like a child looks forward to his or her birthday. Now instead of saying “no” all the time I could say, “Let’s save that for Yes Day.” I had no idea what to expect.
When the first day of the next month rolled around, the first request came in: chocolate chips in pancakes, with extra chocolate chips on the side. As the next dozen hours chugged along, more requests came in: extra TV time, a later bedtime, and a skipped shower. In essence, our first Yes Day had turned into a lazy Saturday.
I had mentally prepared for the worst, but in reality, the limits were only tested in quantities small enough for a child to grasp. In our case, it turned out that when you can have anything, you realize you’re okay just as you are.
A decent kid with a responsible moral compass won’t suddenly turn into a monster for 24 hours. So go ahead. Give it a try. Your kids may be amazed to spend a day hearing “Yes” all day long. Take off your responsible grown-up hat for a while and jump in the puddle, eat the extra chocolate and climb a little higher right alongside them.
Maggie and her family roost in the Pacific Northwest and share their travels, homeschool field trips, curriculum ideas and lifestyle tips from a city-based homestead. Maggie is a cooking enthusiast and avid student of history and science. She's also mother to an "old soul" tween daughter.
Whether you’re planning a beach vacation, a leisurely day at the pool or even an afternoon outing to the local splash pad, you’re going to need the right gear (and accessories!). The good news? You don’t have to go far to stock up. From a beach towel that doubles as a cover-up to a portable mini bonfire you can take to the beach, these DC companies will have you summer-ready in no time. Scroll down for the best products from local DC companies to fill your summer tote with.
Get your pedi pool-ready with Black woman-owned nail polish company Janet & Jo. Named as one of the top nail lacquers on the market by beauty magazines like Allure, Nylon and Cosmopolitan, this DC-based business boasts bright, vivid colors perfect for the pool or beach. You can purchase Janet & Jo at The Wharf’s Shop Made in DC shop.
Beach cover up, beach towel, beach tote…. roll those all together and you get the Go Go Towel, the original wearable beach towel. Created by the same DC company that brought you the Dad Vest and the Dad Hoodie, the Go Go Towel is made of a quick drying, odor resistant and sand-free microfiber that comes in both kid ($29.95) and adult ($39.95) sizes so the whole family can match!
Rainy days at the beach can be a drag! Bust beach house boredom with an illustrated educational game by DC company Little Likes Kids. These picture puzzles come packaged in their own cardboard tote so you can easily pack an activity for your beach rental or Airbnb pool house. Splash Park is a 24 piece set perfect for kids 3 & up featuring everyone’s favorite summertime activities: the playground, splash pad and ice cream truck.
Make bonfires kid-friendly with Maryland-made City Bonfires, a portable, reusable candle-sized bonfire you can take on all of your outdoor adventures. These small bonfires, created from a non-toxic soy wax, are perfect for making s’mores even if you don’t own a firepit.
Clink, clink… it’s summer! Whether you’re hosting a BBQ with a baby on board or you just want a refreshing drink everyone can drink (we’re looking at you, Shirley Temple crew) check out DC-based Mocktail Club. Mocktail Club is sold at local Whole Foods and served in some restaurants so look for it in the wild.
Suit up for summer fun at Kinder Haus Toys in Arlington, VA. Kinder Haus is a one-stop shop for all your beach-bound needs. Pick up whimsical swimsuits from Tea Collection along with summer basics like brightly colored shovels and pails, water toys, bug nets and rainy day musts like puzzles and games.
Protect little feet with these Montessori-inspired footwear by DC’s Auggie Froggy. This company specializes in “cool stuff for creative kids” with handmade products featuring pops of color and bold, fun prints. Auggie Froggy products are available online and at Shop Made in DC stores.
