The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are officially a family of four! Today Prince Harry and Meghan announced the birth of their daughter, Lilibet Diana. She was born Friday morning at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, California, according to a statement from the couple.
“On June 4th, we were blessed with the arrival of our daughter, Lili,” the couple added. “She is more than we could have ever imagined, and we remain grateful for the love and prayers we’ve felt from across the globe. Thank you for your continued kindness and support during this very special time for our family.”
She’s named after the family nickname of her great grandmother, Queen Elizabeth and her middle name honors Harry’s mother, Princess Diana. Lili joins her brother, two-year-old Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. The family is settling in together at home.
Buckingham Palace also released a statement on the happy news: “The Queen, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been informed and are delighted with the news of the birth of a daughter for The Duke and Duchess of Sussex.”
Congratulations to the happy family and welcome to the Queen’s 11th great-grandchild!
––Sarah Shebek
Featured image courtesy of ComposedPix / Shutterstock.com
Royally good news today: Queen Elizabeth’s granddaughter is pregnant! Princess Beatrice and husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi will welcome their first child together, after tying the knot ten months ago.
Buckingham Palace’s statement reads: “Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice and Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are very pleased to announce that they are expecting a baby in autumn of this year. The Queen has been informed and both families are delighted with the news.”
This will be the Queen’s 12th great-grandchild—Beatrice’s sister, Princess Eugenie, had her own first child in February. Princess Beatrice is already a step-mom to Christopher Woolf (Wolfie), her husband’s son from his first marriage. She’s the first grandchild of the monarch to have a step-child and no doubt it prepared her well for a new addition!
The new parent’s families had been friends for many years, before the couple began a relationship and announced their engagement in 2019. Their low-key wedding ceremony in 2020 included a very small group of loved ones, with Wolfie serving as the pageboy. Congratulations to the Royal Family!
—Sarah Shebek
Featured image courtesy of BAKOUNINE / Shutterstock.com
There is much research emphasizing the benefits animals have on children with autism. A new study from the University of Missouri has found that cats may help increase empathy while decreasing anxiety for children with autism. These findings are beneficial for families considering adopting a companion animal for their child.
Gretchen Carlisle, a research scientist at the MU Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction (ReCHAI) in the MU College of Veterinary Medicine studies the benefits that companion animals can have for families.
“Previous research has shown parents of kids with autism are more stressed than parents of kids with any other disability,” Carlisle said. “If a family is considering adopting a companion animal, we want to provide the best evidence-based information possible so they can make an informed decision, and cats might be more beneficial than dogs to some families.”
In the study, families that had children with autism aged 6-14 were recruited through the MU Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders and monitored after adopting a cat into their home. The cats were screened for temperament to ensure they were calm and a good match for the family. Not only did the families report an instant bond between their child with autism and their new cat, but the bond remained strong over the course of time, and the child’s anxiety decreased over time.
“We found the main benefit of these companion animals is their unconditional acceptance,” Carlisle said. “Some children with autism may have sensory issues or be sensitive to loud noises, so a cat may be an appropriate, comforting pet for some families due to their calming presence.”
Helping families make the best choice for their kids has motivated Carlisle’s research with companion animals, and the study’s findings highlight the benefits of human-animal interaction.
“As a former pediatric nurse, I have always strived to help children, and one thing I learned is that you need to involve the parents so they can make informed choices for their children,” Carlisle said. “I see pets as a way to enhance wellness, and it feels gratifying to provide assistance to families that have a lot on their plate.”
The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced that Graco has recalled several inclined sleeper accessories due to a risk of suffocation. Other manufacturers have been informed of infant fatalities involving inclined sleep products when infants roll over while unrestrained.
The recall applies to the Graco Pack ‘n Play Day2Dream Playard with Bedside Sleeper, Graco Pack ‘n Play Nuzzle Nest Playard, Graco Pack ‘n Play Everest Playard and Graco Pack ‘n Play Rock ‘n Grow Playard.
To see if you own a recalled product, check the associated model numbers located on a label on the underside of the playard on one of the tubes.
Graco Pack ‘n Play Day2Dream Playard & Bedside Sleeper: Model numbers 2034085, 2048753 and 2053215
Graco Pack ‘n Play Nuzzle Nest Playard: Model numbers 1947177 and 1896392
Graco Pack ‘n Play Everest Playard: Model numbers 1946902 and 1946903
Graco Pack ‘n Play Rock ‘n Grow Playard: Model number 2105055
The inclined sleeper accessory is the only part of the product under recall, and the playard, changing station and bassinets remain safe to use. As of now, no injuries have been reported to Graco.
The affected products were sold at Babies R Us, BuyBuyBaby and other stores, as well as online at Amazon.com, Target.com and various other websites for $270 to $350. The items were sold from:
Nov. 2017 through Sep. 2020 for Day2Dream Playard & Bedside Sleeper
May 2015 through Dec. 2018 for Nuzzle Nest Playard
Sept. 2015 through Dec. 2018 for Everest Playard
Dec. 2019 through Apr. 2020 for Rock ‘n Grow Playard
Parents should stop using the recalled inclined sleeper accessory as soon as possible and contact Graco for a refund for the accessory.
We are seven months into the pandemic and caregivers continue to be impacted by the increasing challenges of juggling work and family commitments. Recent labor statistics show that nearly 80% of the 1.1 million workers who dropped out of the workforce in September were women, and that number may continue to grow. A new study by Fidelity Investments finds that nearly 4-in-10 working women (39%) are actively considering leaving the workforce or reducing their hours due to increased remote schooling and caregiving responsibilities.
“As more women and caregivers nationwide find themselves contemplating stepping away from their career or reducing hours at work, Fidelity is here to support them,” said Kathleen Murphy, president of personal investing at Fidelity Investments. “From providing financial planning support in the workplace, to working with women one-on-one to evaluate options to keep savings goals on track, to helping Fidelity’s own associates navigate these work and family challenges, we’re here to help.”
The study also found an increase in financial engagement among women since the onset of the pandemic. While women were already building good planning and savings habits, many have amped up those efforts in the last six months.
Fidelity is collaborating with thousands of companies across the country to roll out Women Talk Money, a new program to help more women get financially engaged and connect with the guidance they need to address these pressing work and life decisions.
“Women and caregivers are being challenged like never before and are looking to become more informed and better prepared as they make financial choices for today and the future,” said Lorna Kapusta, head of women investors at Fidelity. “Women Talk Money delves into why women need to think differently about financial planning, how life choices may affect the growth of savings and future financial security, and how to create a financial road map to help reach individual goals and accommodate expected and unexpected detours along the way.”
The program’s flagship six-part video series provides an overview of the key factors that affect women differently and can have a significant impact on their financial futures. Each 10-minute segment is reinforced with a ‘What You Need to Know’ Resource Guide with key takeaways and actionable next steps to apply to personal planning.
I know that childless people (of which I am one) like to complain about how parents are raising their kids. I feel confident in saying that virtually every parent has had the experience of going out in public and being chastised for your children’s manners and behavior, your discipline, or the latest theories of child-raising. (Or for that matter, the good ol’ theories of child-raising.)
You’ve heard it all, from praise of Dr. Spock to “Dr. Spock is the root of all evil”; from “those kids could do with a good spanking” to “spanking is child abuse”; from “children should be seen and not heard” to “you’re stifling their creativity.”
The automatic reaction is, “You don’t have children, so you don’t know what it’s like.” And that statement is entirely true.
I don’t – and shouldn’t – have a thing to say about discipline, behavior, and manners (although I do wish your children wouldn’t fingerpaint with the salsa at a Mexican restaurant, especially when it’s at our table and you’ve assured me that the children know how to behave in a restaurant, to choose one example not completely at random).
Unless I see your child actually pocketing the server’s tip or harming an animal, I will keep my big mouth shut. And if I do see those things, I will do my best to respond in a polite, calm, and constructive manner.
What I can’t stand by and see without commenting is children not receiving a proper education. Even though I don’t have children, I still care deeply about – and will act upon – my notion of what is good for your children in school.
Part of this is selfish, I will admit. Your children will be the workers of their generation who will be affecting the quality of life for my generation. I don’t want to be governed by politicians who don’t understand civics, treated by doctors who don’t know the facts about human reproduction, or “informed” by scientists who have not had a chance to encounter the varied opinions of their field.
I also want my health aides, restaurant servers, mechanics, computer programmers, hair stylists, tour guides, garment workers – all workers – to be able at least to read and write basic English and do basic math. This is not entirely selfish – workers who do not have basic literacy and numeracy skills are more likely to be cheated by their employers and less able to negotiate the treacherous paths of bureaucracy that every American, without exception, must deal with. I want these things for children with disabilities as well, or at the very least the presence of well-educated aides and advocates.
For that matter, I want some of your children to grow up to be painters, musicians, singers, dancers, actors, athletes, craftspeople, writers, and animators who will make my future richer and more sustaining as I age.
In order to achieve these things, I have a vested interest in the education system. Just because I have no school-aged children – or any children at all – does not mean I should keep away from school boards, community volunteer programs, decision-making bodies, etc. I will support good education issues with my tax dollars and my votes. I will oppose any that limit a child’s access to good-quality, thorough, well-informed, factual, adequately funded, modern education.
I want your children to be smart, motivated, curious, skilled, artistic, problem-solving, conscientious, well-adjusted, healthy, helpful, effective, competent, confident adults, both for my sake and theirs.
The best way for me to contribute to that is to support, fund, and, yes, influence both the local and national system of education. I will help all you parents who want the same things for your children, and I will oppose those who settle for second best (or worse, given the international statistics).
Give me a well-educated world of your grown-up children and I’ll even overlook the salsa fingerpainting.
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Hi! I'm a freelance writer and editor who writes about education, books, cats and other pets, bipolar disorder, and anything else that interests me. I live in Ohio with my husband and a varying number of cats.
Editor’s Note: Here at Red Tricycle, we respect and celebrate every mom’s feeding journey. Bottle? Boob? It doesn’t matter—we believe fed is best. Our Spoke Contributor Network is inclusive and open to all parenting journeys—yours, too!
Breastfeeding is hard enough, but going through the ups and downs of lactation and feeding during a global pandemic makes things infinitely more stressful for moms. It’s such a vulnerable time for both mom and baby that extra care should be made to make sure everything is functioning properly and the mom feels well supported.
There are 5 essential things new moms can do while breastfeeding during this challenging time:
1. Go Big on Sanitizers: Wash your hands before feeding or pumping. Step up your sanitizing routine by creating a nursing nook that includes a hand sanitizer for your hands and disinfectant wipes for your materials. Make it an important part of your baby feeding schedule but also for any other time with the baby.
2. Balance Your Time Online. While it’s great to stay informed on current events around the web, prioritize time away from the screen to maintain balance of mind and body when feeding your baby. Embrace that time while keeping stress low, practicing both social and mental distancing.
3. Switch up the Normal Routine. You want the newborn journey to be enjoyable, but it’s hard to enjoy your time with your baby when you can’t leave the house. The key is to find activities around your home that are enjoyable—like creating fun new ways to play with the baby, taking the baby into the tub with you, going on walks, creating a fun nighttime routine, etc.
4. If You Have Been Diagnosed, Wear a Mask. If you have symptoms or have been diagnosed, you should still breastfeed, but do so with a mask. The CDC says breastmilk is the best source of nutrition for baby and limited early data suggests that there is no risk of infection to babies via breast milk. However, always check the CDC website for any updates and new findings around breastfeeding.
5. Control Visitors. Keep “non-essential” family members away from the baby. If grandparents want to be close, they must quarantine, or wash their hands, use sanitizer and wear a mask—and even though he/she may seem irresistibly cute, no kissing baby’s face.
This is a hard time for everyone but moms and babies are particularly vulnerable right now to experiencing challenges along the breastfeeding journey. These are just a few of the things moms and their caregivers and family members can do to make sure things go as smoothly as possible during this precious moment in time in the baby’s life.
Linda M. Hanna, RNC, MSN/Ed., IBCLC, and co-founder of Mahmee, has been a registered nurse since 1978. She pioneered the Great Starts program at Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills, which was so successful it was adopted by Kaiser locations throughout the US. She also developed Cedars-Sinai's Lactation Education program.
Unless you’re living under a rock on Dagobah, you’ve noticed an uptick in all things Baby Yoda. Well, move over Baby Yoda Chia Pet, there’s a new adorable planter in town. The Star Wars Mandalorian: The Child (Faux) Succulent Planter available on Boxlunch for just under $20 (currently 30% off so listed at $13.93 at the time of publication).
These little guys are going fast on presale, so don’t wait too long to snag one. Each small ceramic planter features the Child with a faux succulent. Our resident plant nerd informed us that you can probably swap to a real succulent if you add a few pebbles for drainage at the bottom.
While you’re at it, check out Boxlunch’s extensive selection of The Child items like this adorable backpack that looks soft enough to snuggle and this uber-cheap mood light.
Girls Scouts is so much more than selling cookies.The organization equips girls with the knowledge they need to take action on issues they believe in. Girl Scouts of the USA has just announced 24 new badges designed to help girls practice leadership skills in civics, entrepreneurship, STEM career exploration and automotive engineering.
Civics (Grades K-12)
The Civics badges help girls gain an in-depth understanding of how local, state and federal government works. (Funded by the Citi Foundation).
Entrepreneurship (Grades K-12)
Girls will create and pitch a product or service that solves a real-life problem and build a business plan that explores about topics like production, cost, profit, marketing, and competition. (Funded by Susan Bulkeley Butler and designed in collaboration with VentureLab).
STEM Career Exploration (Grades 2-8)
Explore computer science, nature/environmental science, engineering, design, health, and agriculture. (Funded by IF/THEN, an initiative of Lyda Hill Philanthropies).
Automotive Engineering (Grades K-5)
Girls will learn all about designing, engineering, and manufacturing vehicles, as well as the future of mobility. (Funded by General Motors).
“The world has changed drastically this year, and now more than ever, it’s imperative to have strong leaders who can make informed decisions,” said GSUSA CEO Sylvia Acevedo. Our new badges will continue to build the world-changing female leaders of today and the future, particularly in key industries that propel our country forward: automotive engineering, entrepreneurship, civics, and STEM.”
Also beginning this summer, all councils will also have the opportunity to host their own Girl Scout Cyber Challenge sponsored by Raytheon Technologies. Middle and high school girls will learn cybersecurity skills as they compete in challenges such as running traceroutes and identifying phishing schemes. The Cyber Challenge prepares girls to pursue careers in computer science and cybersecurity.
Since the coronavirus began to spread around the world, Instagram has been taking steps to insure their users stay informed and connected. In a blog post, Instagram announced new initiatives they are taking in light of the current pandemic. The social networking platform announced new ways to connect with friends over video chat, educational resources and a shared story, using a “Stay Home” sticker, to help those practicing social distancing.
To help people stay connected Instagram has launched media sharing, a new feature that allows users to view posts together over video chat. You can start a video chat by tapping the video chat icon in the Direct inbox or in an existing Direct thread. Then you can view saved, liked and suggested photos and videos by tapping the photo icon in the bottom left corner in an ongoing video chat.
Instagram has also launched a “Stay Home” sticker. Any accounts you follow that use the sticker will be added to a shard Instagram story, allowing you to connect with friends practicing social distancing.
Over the past few weeks they have also added an educational alert at the top of the feed for countries affected by COVID-19. The notice includes reliable resources from expert health organizations. In addition, they have been highlighting resources from these organizations when people view related hashtags. Instagram is also removing posts that spread misinformation about COVID-19.
Instagram will continue monitoring the situation and regularly share updates.