Sometimes the only moment of peace and relaxation in a parent’s life is the brief time we get to enjoy a cookie or two––unless it’s interrupted. Luckily for us, OREO wants to give parents back their much-needed treat time.
OREO is launching the OREO THINS Protection Program so that parents can be inspired to get creative and hide their goodies. They’ve paired up with Green Giant, Ford, Hanes and Better Homes & Gardens on a special collection only a parent can love.
The specially designed camouflaged packs mean you can hide your cookie stash out in the open. Each one resembles a common household item or product like a drivers manual, cookbook and more.
The genius packs won’t be available to shop in store but OREO THINS is giving fans the chance to win them! Share your sneaky efforts on how you hide your treats on OREO’s social channels starting today, Wed. Jul. 14 for a chance to win the camo packs and a grand prize of $25,000!
Use your personal Twitter or Instagram account to enter between now and Jul. 23. Official rules can be found here.
I write this in my basement, as my toddler and infant tromp around above me—all while trading childcare shifts with my husband because daycare’s out of session due to covid.
Clearly, the current era has been all about juggling. But at a time when it’s harder than ever to achieve balance in our work and home lives, striking some kind of peace treaty between work and home life is especially crucial.
As the Millennial Money Expert at Fabric, a startup that’s a one-stop-shop for families and their financial lives, I speak to all sorts of parents. Between these conversations and the tenuous line I’m also trying to walk, here’s how I’ve been thinking about work-life balance in 2021.
Leave work at work, even if you’re now working from home: In practical terms, the best way to do this is to set aside a designated place for WFH-ing. If I try to work on my laptop at the kitchen table, I can guarantee that I’m going to be interrupted with a request to bake cookies (where did she get the impression that was on today’s schedule?), build a puzzle or help with the niggly parts of dressing a baby doll. Finding a work-only space can be difficult if your home isn’t giant or you don’t have a separate office. Still, even if “home office” means throwing on a winter coat and working out of the basement (ahem), it’s vital to have a designated space where you can concentrate—and where your kids understand that you’re off-limits.
Set time limits on technology for your kids and yourself: When your top goal is to get your kids to be quiet long enough for you to get through a conference call, it can be tempting to plop ‘em in front of a screen. Likewise, when the weather’s cold and all the stores and restaurants are closed or potentially coronavirus-ridden, it often feels easier to tune out and tune into Netflix. I’m not here to take a stand on whether screen time is good or bad in general, but my own experience is that after a long day of screens, I often feel better if I can step away. Sometimes this takes the form of cooking and baking or listening to an audiobook. Lately, I’ve been rediscovering my crafty side by drawing kids’ books and puzzles for the children in my life. Whatever your release, try asking yourself: After the fact, which action will make me feel better about how I spent this hour?
Get your financial life in (better) order: With so much going on, dealing with finances and long-term planning can feel very stressful and overwhelming. But in a world of chaos, it can be reassuring to impose some order. Think about what tasks are on your financial and organizational to-do list. Which ones can you knock off between kids’ bedtime and your own? Start there. Whether you are a new parent or not, nows the time to think about the status of your life insurance, will, and college savings plans and update priority documents so you can relax a bit.
Iron out a schedule with the people in your life: If you’re a single parent, this time is incredibly challenging. I hope you have other support systems in your life, like family and/or “learning pods” with friends’ kids. Whether your pinch-hitters include spouses and partners or grandparents and friends, this pandemic has gone on long enough that it probably makes sense to formalize your arrangements, if you haven’t already. If your kids are typically in school or daycare, what’s the backup plan for if and when they close for the dreaded 14 days for COVID? If you have a nanny, what’ll you do if they end up getting sick? If grandparents or other family members can help out, can they come on regular days each week?
This hasn’t been easy for any of us. I can’t pretend that work-life balance is going to magically fall into place, especially when it was hard enough previously, without a pandemic! But I know I’ll be taking a deep breath and thinking more consciously about how I can create the boundaries I need to maximize my work and family successes.
Allison Kade is Fabric’s Millennial Money Expert. She has written about parenting, money, travel, careers, and time management, for publications like Bloomberg, Forbes, The Today Show, Business Insider, The Huffington Post, and more. She is also a Pushcart Prize-nominated fiction writer. Follow her on Twitter @amkade.
With remote and hybrid learning becoming the norm many kids are missing the excitement of in-person field trips. Kansas City-based Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) decided to create a cure for the “Zoom fatigue” facing countless kids and teachers. Hundreds of students across the country have been treated to surprise virtual field trips when local dairy farmers interrupted their classes with very special guests – their cows!
Family farmers who supply milk to local DFA dairy brands, such as Kemps, and their cows have been welcomed with cheers from the students as each farmer taught how the milk makes it from their farms onto families’ tables.
“It was priceless to see the kid’s reactions as they noticed a not-so-familiar face during our classroom Meet,” said Tricia Casey, a science teacher at Bryn Mawr Elementary School in downtown Minneapolis.
Unbeknownst to Casey’s kindergarten and first-grade students, local dairy farmer Charles Krause and his cow popped into the virtual classroom. “They went from bouncing around with excitement to hyper-engaged as they peppered Mr. Krause with questions,” Casey added.
“Milk from my farm travels less than 50 miles to the Kemps processing plant in Minneapolis,” said Krause. “Dairy milk was a farm-to-table food long before farm-to-table was trendy, and it’s fun to show kids exactly where their next glass comes from.”
Krause, along with family farmers across the Midwest, taught students a little cow biology, discussed the nutritional benefits of simple, wholesome milk and gave students an overview of a cow’s typical day on the farm. Students also learned the steps involved in getting milk ready for drinking, and how it’s transported from the farm to local stores.
“As kids continue to adjust to new ways of learning, we wanted to provide local students with a fun, educational experience that they wouldn’t get in a regular classroom,” said Rachel Kyllo, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Innovation, DFA Dairy Brands. “Making the ‘farm-to-table’ concept relevant for younger generations through the dairy milk they know and love helps spread awareness of the sustainability and local benefits associated with knowing who produces your food.”
On average, milk travels just 315 miles from the farm to a local store. It goes through strict controls to ensure its quality, purity and great taste. Dairy farmers and companies are often local small-business owners, parents, school supporters, and active members of community organizations.
Like so many parents this year, to say our family is adjusting to a new way of life would be a massive understatement. Both my wife Jenny and I work full-time, and I’ve gotta admit, it can sometimes make being a full-time parent (our most important jobs) challenging. Meetings are now taken from the kitchen table, often interrupted by at least one photobomb from my youngest son. Time seems irrelevant. The Zoom fatigue is real, and I’ve traded adult conversations over beers, for Star Wars conversations over mac and cheese. Yet, I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge how grateful I am to be in a position where everyone in my family is together, healthy, and safe. As some adjustments start to wear on me, I’m finding that others are giving me a new perspective. Life’s been put on hold for a while and I’m here for it.
Being outside in nature is something that I grew up loving, and today it’s still my favorite way to spend time with my family. As the son of a geologist, I developed an unwavering appreciation for nature and the outdoors at a young age. Some of my earliest memories are of my parents, my sister, and me piling into our baby blue station wagon and visiting the National Parks, spending as much time together on the trail as possible.
Yet somehow, somewhere, this simple, back-to-basics, and down to earth (literally), outdoor family time has been replaced with lavish birthday parties, overly competitive team sports, and excessive screen time. Then 2020 came along, and with it, a really big secret I’ve been keeping: many of the adjustments we’re making this year have been softened by the silent satisfaction I feel every time we’ve been forced to put plans on hold.
Another canceled birthday party? “Oh darn.” Rescheduled baseball practice? “Oh well.” Postponed recitals? “There’s always next year!” I find myself not only breathing a sigh of relief but delighted in my contentment of these canceled plans. My 10-going on 16-year-old daughter later explained to me that “…it’s called JOMO, Daaaaaaadddddd….” (aka, the joy of missing out).
For me, time spent outdoors with my family is and always has been quality time in its purest form. Even when I’m not working, as CEO of a leading health & wellness platform I often catch myself physically in the presence of my family but mentally focused on work. Now, as I find myself with more time to commit to my family, we’ve made a point to get outside together at least once a day. Sometimes it’s just a walk or quick bike ride around the neighborhood. Other times we have enough flexibility to hit the trail for a family hike. Slowly but surely, as we rack up the miles, it’s become apparent to me that time spent together on the trail is drastically different from time spent together indoors. I’m not a doctor, but something about getting your blood pumping outdoors with your tribe does incredible things for bonding, morale, and overall happiness. The sibling fights stop. The conversations start. Questions are asked. Curiosity is at an all-time high. We’re mentally and physically recharged. We’re connected. We’re a team.
Even when Jenny and I were stressed about homeschooling, I quickly realized that my kids were learning things they could have never learned from a book, absorbing life lessons that are molding them for the future, all while getting dirty on the trail. I personally do my best thinking while outdoors, but to watch lightbulb after lightbulb go off in each of my kiddo’s brains as they overturn rocks, race up hills, and play hot lava has been one of my most rewarding parenting moments to date. I’ve always wanted to make sure that the wild places that shaped me are still here to continue teaching and be appreciated by my children. Now, I’m watching this desire unfold as my kids step up, learn to appreciate our planet, experience her beauty, and develop a renewed sense of protecting our environment.
Time may seem irrelevant right now, but ironically, it’s the gift of time that’s helped me stop and appreciate the little things – the truly important things. During such an unprecedented period, it’s necessary that we come together as a community, look outside of ourselves, and help impart change. Yet, amongst all the anxiety and angst, I’m thankful for even the chaotic moments that I share with my personal Schneidermann community of five. As we start to adjust to whatever our new normal will be, I’m taking a new and improved outlook on the mental and physical health of my family with me. I’m not sure what the rest of the year will hold; none of us are. But you better believe, I’ll be taking my time. Bring on the JOMO.
Ron Schneidermann is the CEO of AllTrails, a leading health and fitness app that helps people find and navigate trails for hiking and other outdoor activities. An avid mountain biker, Ron lives in Northern California with his family where he is living out his favorite role - dad.
Working parents are feeling the pressure and strain of the new school year which has been impacted by the pandemic. FlexJobs surveyed more than 2,5000 parents with children ages 18 and younger living at home. Almost half have needed to change their employment situation by either voluntarily reducing their hours or quitting entirely.
Many schools around the country have decided to open only remotely or use a hybrid approach. After a stressful spring, working parents found themselves trying to balance their career and childcare responsibilities in unprecedented ways.
Working parents said having a flexible schedule (58%) would have the greatest impact on their ability to juggle career, distance learning, and childcare responsibilities. The survey also found that working mothers and working fathers report different experiences around changes to their employment, childcare, and distance learning responsibilities as a result of the pandemic.
“For moms, dads, employers, and the workforce at large, these findings offer insights into what it’s really like to juggle parenting and a career, and how flexible work options (or the lack thereof) can impact decision-making,” said Sara Sutton, founder and CEO of FlexJobs. “In order to help working parents not only stay in the workforce, but also be productive employees during this challenging time, employers should absolutely consider offering flexible schedules. When executed thoughtfully, giving employees more control over when they’re able to work during the day can help create the critical space they need to meet all their competing demands. The pandemic has really forced companies to see the struggles that working parents and other caregivers routinely face and hopefully has shed light on just how impactful granting remote and flexible work accommodations can be,” Sutton concluded.
Regardless of the challenges, about half of working mothers (49%) and half of working fathers (50%) still say they have been more productive working from home during the pandemic than when they were in the traditional office.
To help parents manage working from home and their children’s virtual learning responsibilities, FlexJobs offers the following tips:
Communicate expectations with your team and let them know about your reality. Some flexible work conversation starters:
To talk with your boss or coworkers: I want to share my current reality to give everyone a solid understanding and try to stay ahead of any potential problems.
To ask for more flexibility: I’d like to get a good sense of what my flexible work options are right now. The more I’m able to shift my schedule, the better I’ll be able to meet work priorities and stay productive during this time.
For the beginning of meetings: As is the case with a lot of you, I’m working from home and caring for my ____ and ___ year old kids. I wanted to give you a heads up that I may get interrupted during our call but I’ll let you know, mute myself, deal with the situation, and jump back in.
Let your boss know your new responsibilities with remote learning and ask for flexibility in your schedule. Prioritize the “live” classroom sessions as must-attend, and try to be close by when your kids are on them.
Split-shift the workday. If you have a partner who can work at home, split childcare and work shifts with each other. That way, each day you each will have a designated time for work and a designated time for being with your kids.
Develop a focused learning space for your kid(s). For example, use a tri-fold display board to section off their workspace.
Secure the fastest internet speed. This is important when there are multiple users at home simultaneously online. Use a plugin connection to the internet when possible.
Recreate what your child’s classroom would have had with schedules, visual cues, binders, bins, etc.
Consider printing worksheets when possible. Most kids like the physical action of doing the work.
Give yourself a break. This situation is extremely difficult and stressful, and no one will do it perfectly. Working from home with kids is not what remote work is normally like. Outside of this unusual situation, most remote workers have regular childcare.
I’m planning your retirement party next week, even though you’ve mostly just been a pain in the butt for that last year. You regularly made me late to meetings or required me to duck out early. You interrupted my work flow at your convenience, and you made me stress out like crazy if I didn’t get to you on time. Thanks to you, I ate lunch at my desk almost every day because you took up what little free time I had. You are loud and annoying, and frankly, you’re a little embarrassing.
You gross some people out. You require so much attention, and in some cases, that time and effort provides so little return. Sometimes you make me feel like you’re just extra baggage to carry around. So many people questioned why I associated with you for so long, knowing how much I disliked you. Some people thought I shouldn’t have formed a relationship with you at all in the first place. Most people are shocked that despite our rocky relationship three years ago, I still opted to work with you again this last year.
I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to give up on you. There were so many moments I felt that putting effort into our relationship just wasn’t worth the mental and emotional costs. Often, I even worried that associating with you was affecting my career growth. But I guess when I think about it, you’ve done some good, too. Despite the tax on me mentally, there’s no arguing that you’ve helped me lose some weight.
You’ve saved me thousands of dollars, too. You’ve also shown me that I have grit and commitment like I never thought possible. It’s almost hard to believe you’re retiring. I’m fairly confident that after your retirement, I will never see you again. I can’t really say I’ll miss you, but I can say thank you. Thank you for nourishing my babies even when I was working 40, 50, or even 60 hours a week.
Thank you for showing my family that my stubbornness could be put to good use. Thank you for being the reliable, rhythmic workhorse that allowed me to breastfeed as a full-time professional. So here’s to you, breast pump! Cheers to your retirement. I can say with certainty that I will absolutely have a drink (or three) in your honor!
Keren is a business owner x2 (flat-fee lawyer and digital marketing operations) in active pursuit of the elusive work-life balance. With a couple of demanding jobs, a husband who travels for work and two little kids, she maintains her sanity by reading and engaging in inappropriate banter with friends, family and strangers.
To the mom that second-guesses her decisions all the time, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that raised her voice at her kids today, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that sometimes feels inadequate as a mother, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that feels guilty about leaving the house every day to go to work, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that feels like she can’t ever get ahead, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that just wanted to curl into the fetal position in the middle of Target, while her kids wreaked havoc on everything, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that always gets mom-shamed by her family members, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that compares herself to her friends, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that feels like a bad mom for just wanting to be alone sometimes, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that feels like no one else pulls their weight around the house, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that watches the dishes pile up in the sink and has no desire to wash them, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that dresses herself each day straight from the dryer, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that works hard to provide home-cooked meals every night that no one ever wants to eat, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that looks at herself in the mirror every morning, and hates what she sees, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that tries to keep her house in some sort of order, that no one else respects, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that let her kid eat three doughnuts for breakfast, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that hides in the closet to have a snack, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that’s shoveling food into her mouth, over the sink, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that was scanning the grocery store for the nearest exit, as her toddler was having a meltdown over their goldfish being two different sizes, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that wants to get through one episode her favorite Netflix show without getting interrupted, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that barely got through one load of laundry today, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that hates waking up early to pack school lunches, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that wants to just give the entire school drop-off line the middle finger, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that dropped an F-bomb in front of the kids, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that had Daniel Tiger babysit the kids for a bit, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that sat on her cell phone at the park, instead of socializing with the other moms, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that volunteered to bring napkins and plates to the classroom party, because she just didn’t want to bake or cook anything, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that feels like she is absolutely failing her children, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that spends so much time hoping that she raised her kids to be decent human beings, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that wants to savor every moment, but finds herself counting the hours until bedtime, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that ventured out of the house today, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that managed to get out of bed today, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that did her hair and makeup today, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that didn’t do her hair and makeup today, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that’s feeding her kids pizza, or chicken nuggets, or mac-n-cheese for the eighth time in a row, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that sent her kids to bed early, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that picked a fight with her husband out of sheer exhaustion, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that’s barely hanging on, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that’s begging for help, you’re doing a great job.
To the mom that just doesn’t feel like herself, you’re doing a great job.
For every mom out there—no matter what season you’re in, no matter what you’re going through, no matter what happened yesterday or today, and what happens tomorrow, for everyone that needs to hear this, because you DESERVE to hear this—you’re doing a great job.
My name is Dana and I am a not-so-typical Millennial woman navigating her way through marriage and motherhood, one clueless experience at a time. I am journeying into motherhood for the first time and hope others can relate to my utter lack of inexperience!
Riding in the car that day you sat, as always, on my lap (which really meant taking up half the front seat). Daddy drove, and our meticulously packed duffel bag sat in the backseat. As we prepared to drop you off at Nana’s, it dawned on me – this might be the last time with just the three of us in the car together. Everything was about to change. And you, my sweet pup, would no longer be an “only child.”
Let’s be honest, you had it pretty good those first six years – doggy daycare, long scenic walks, a bed and toys at the office; you joined us for friends’ game nights, al fresco dinners and vacations. Some saw you just as a pet, we saw you as a family member. And we were about to add another family member – but human.
Four days after that tense drive (an eternity to you), we came home, but we weren’t alone. We brought a tiny, pungent, noisy… thing. It was hard to get a good look at it through the blanket, and you couldn’t understand why we guarded it so closely from your wet nose and eager tongue. Our nickname for the thing, “Baby Sissy,” only piqued your curiosity.
As much as we all hoped things at home would go back to normal, nighttime was anything but. Throughout the night we were interrupted by Baby Sissy’s sharp, demanding cries. I’m sure we wondered the same thing – how could a noise so loud come from something so small?? The days of snuggling up together for eight hours of uninterrupted sleep were gone.
Daytime was just as hectic. For awhile, I was not a good walk partner. A few times, Nana had to remind us to feed you. Your space was taken over by new toys and gear that you couldn’t play with. And your usual stroll around the yard for the perfect spot was cut short as we stood in the doorway with a crying… lump.
Friends had warned me that in the anxiety and sleep deprivation of those early weeks, we might take stress out on you. But it was actually the opposite – you were a reprieve. Though we loved your Baby Sissy immensely, there was so much about her that was new and unknown; but you were familiar. When I felt at my lowest, you were there to remind me it would be ok. When it seemed all Baby Sissy could do was take – my body, love, time and sleep – there you were to give. Uncomplicated, enthusiastic and overflowing with affection.
Those moments also reminded me that you’d make a great “Big Sissy.” It wasn’t overnight, but a wonderful thing happened in the time since we brought home the lump – a tiny human emerged.
Now you know Baby Sissy as the little person who drops tasty food scraps for you, squeals with delight when you enter a room and gives you whole-body hugs. We’re confident that for most of your days together, Baby Sissy will multiply the affection and love you receive – not take it away.
I know the first few months were hard on you, pup. Believe me, they were hard on us, too. But if there’s one thing I hope to communicate to you, it’s that you haven’t lost our love or your place in our family. You’ll always be my first baby.
Rachel Jones-Pittier is a millennial mom, marketer and writer based in the Twin Cities. She enjoys coffee shops, fawning over her adorable baby and dog and family trips to the cabin. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @rachrific.
I’m sorry that your sister was crying while you were getting your award at the school assembly today. I feel bad that I had to turn my back on you so I could pick her up and tell her, “No, you cannot watch YouTube” while she whimpered, eager to get out of the quietness of the room.
I’m sorry about other things, too:
I’m sorry that your big brother seems to get all the discipline while your little sister claims the spotlight. You deserve the spotlight, too (and sometimes the discipline).
I’m sorry that it’s always noisy when you’re trying to do your homework—and that I’ve got a 20-minute time crunch to help you, after which your hard work will be interrupted by the boisterous presence of your siblings.
I’m sorry that the only “special time” we have together is when I’m driving you to and from your weekend activities. I want you to know that I LOVE those times, and I wish there were more of them.
I’m sorry that the dinner table is a nightly battleground for who can talk the loudest and act the craziest. (Sorry, also, that Daddy and I are always getting mad about that aforementioned craziness. We just want a quiet dinner!)
And I’m sorry about bedtime, when you’re the most open to conversation and when I wish I could talk with you longer, rub your back more, and wrap my arms around you for all the time it takes until you finally close your eyes and drift away. I want to—and I try my best—but your brother and sister need me, too, and some nights I’m just so tired that I just want to drift away, too.
But, Middle Child, here’s what I am NOT sorry for:
I’m not sorry that you have a big brother who lets you bunk in his room when you’re scared at night and who reads his favorite books out loud to you until you decide they’re your favorite books, too.
I’m not sorry that you have a baby sister who adores you, who thinks you are her “prince” when you take her hands and dance around the living room to endless Alexa song requests. I’m not sorry when I see how sweet you are with her, how you encourage her, teach her, and play with her (even when all she wants to play is the make-believe fairy tale stuff that you don’t really like).
I’m not sorry that you have a playmate. A video game ally. A dance partner. A co-conspirator. Someone to catch your throw, to bounce with you on the trampoline, to jump up and down on the couch with you until we (once again) tell you to “Stop jumping on the couch!”
I’m not sorry when I see all three of you racing around the house, a wild herd of sweat and giggles that inevitably ends when one of you falls down and another runs to fetch an ice pack from the freezer.
And… I’m (sad, but) not sorry that… someday… when I’m no longer your everything.. you’ll have two people out there in the world rooting for you. Two people to fall back on when you’re lost or confused or heartbroken. Two people who know you better than anyone.
I’m not sorry you have these two special people to share your childhood with, these two special people who will love you in spite of all the bickering and battles and noise we face today.
I love you, Middle Child. And what I need you to remember is this: While I can’t always give you all of me—you always have all of my heart.
Love, Mommy
P.S.: To Little Sister and Big Brother: I love you with all of my heart, too! (Because mommy hearts do that.)
Melissa Heckscher is a writer and mother of three living in Los Angeles. She is a former staff writer for the Los Angeles Newspaper Group and the author of several books, including,The Pregnancy Test: 150 Important, Embarrassing, and Slightly Neurotic Questions (Quirk Books, 2011).
When you’re a working parent it can be hard to juggle your kids and work responsibilities, but when you’re living in the spotlight those challenges can sometimes be put on display for the whole world to see. Just like the hard lesson the BBC dad learned last year, California Gov. Gavin Newsom’ son Dutch, taught his dad that toddlers and politics don’t always play nice.
In California, millions watched as Newsom took the stage to give his inaugural address as the state’s newest governor. Unfortunately, the ceremony was adorably interrupted when Newsom’s two-year-old son Dutch stole the show by climbing onto the stage with his dad—not once, but twice!
Armed with a blankie and a pacifier, Dutch approached his dad mid-rhetoric and there was nothing the dad could do but scoop up his son and give him a kiss, adding and improvised line to his speech, “Now more than ever we Californians know how much a house matters and children matter.”
Newsom carried on speaking with his son in his arms for a few minutes before finally setting him down, only to have Dutch comically run to the front of the stage and then dart back behind the podium for a mom fake out. The seasoned toddler move sent the crowd into a fit of laughter.
California’s First Lady and mom Jennifer Siebel Newsom managed to finally pull him away only, to have him appear on stage again minutes later. His final attempt at attention from his dad was finally foiled, however, as his mom nabbed him and carried him away one last time.
While Newsom handled the moment with a bit more grace than the BBC dad, we can’t help but think he could use a few tips on the secret to well-behaved kids from another famous family (paging: the Royals!) to avoid being upstaged by his kids for the rest of his term.
