ML Interest Tag: niece

DIY Tips to Live By for Baby’s First Family Photoshoot

by Whitney C. Harris

There’s no reason you can’t be the mastermind behind your own baby photoshoots

You’ve probably been taking impromptu pics of your baby since day one—an unexpectedly adorable expression here, a snuggly selfie there. But wouldn’t it be nice to have a few really good shots of your growing family? Yes, you could hire a professional photographer to create the perfect experience, or you could get creative and do it yourself (which can be a lot more fun!). With the holiday season on the horizon, you have a great excuse to get everyone together for some quality, photo-worthy time, and then share the amazing snaps from your baby photoshoot with friends and family on Tinybeans (check out our app here!).

Here’s how to plan and execute your DIY photo shoot.

1. Enlist a friend or family member

Do you have a teenage niece or nephew who’s passionate about photography? What about a neighbor with a really great DSLR camera? Call in a favor and ask if that artsy pal of yours would be interested in setting aside an hour or two to capture your family for a moment in time. Offer to return the favor in some way (especially if he or she has a family to be photographed!), and say “thanks” with a gift card to a nice restaurant or a bottle of wine and some gourmet chocolate.

2. Nail the timing

Think about your baby’s fluctuating energy and moods throughout the day, and pick a time when you know your little one will be the most calm and content. For some, this is first-thing in the morning. For many, this is right after a nap or feeding. Be flexible with your baby photoshoot and work around the youngest one’s temperament. Also, if you’ll be shooting outside, try to maximize the natural light by taking advantage of early morning or late afternoon rays, but avoid the harsh overhead sun at midday.

3. Coordinate outfits—without being matchy-matchy

We’re all familiar with the matching khaki pants and crisp white shirt look found in countless family photos. While you want to look cohesive, don’t feel obligated to match outfits, which can look canned and inauthentic. Instead, decide on two or three colors (at least one being a neutral) that you will use as your inspiration and find outfits that fit the bill. Simple, solid (non-patterned) clothing is always a safe bet.

4. Carefully consider props

Think about what toys and objects mean something to you and your little ones. If your child has a favorite, love-worn stuffed animal, why not include it in the shot? Be selective, but try a few different props that are unique to your family. And be sure to bring plenty of soft blankets to lay on the grass, curl up in, and play peek-a-boo with.

5. Get low and close

If you’re all sitting on a blanket or casually lying down on the grass, ask your photographer to get as low to the ground as possible so you’re all at the same eye level. And see if he or she is willing to do some close-up shots in addition to wider angles. The variety will make for a really nice collection of photos.

6. Be goofy

Encourage everyone to be silly in an effort to get the baby to laugh and smile. Too often, parents are focused on “looking” polished and perfectly happy in their first baby photoshoot. But feeling carefree in the moment and trying to have fun will result in nicer, more natural images.

7. Forget the camera

Some forward-facing shots are a good idea, but try not to focus on where the camera is at all times. Ask the photographer to move around and achieve different angles that way, rather than trying to coax your baby to turn in a specific direction. Candid shots can be unique and just as gorgeous as posed photos.

8. Don’t stop shooting

If your pal hasn’t photographed babies or tots before, kindly explain that fast-moving little ones make for difficult models so he should use continuous shooting mode and keep snapping. Chances are, one or two of the series will be the perfect pic.

9. Take turns

A big, happy family photo is a great idea, but don’t hesitate to take turns experimenting with who’s in the photo. Take some with just kids, just Dad and baby, just Mom and baby, and all potential iterations. Don’t get too preoccupied on everyone being in same photo.

10. Just go with the crazy

If you have an older toddler running around in circles or your newly crawling baby wants to be on the move, grab a kid, have your partner do the same, and flip them upside down for a playful shot. If tears or tantrums are part of the mix, don’t stress. They can actually make for great, memorable photos.

For parents who want to share special moments with friends and family without making it a public display, there’s the Tinybeans app (you can learn more and download here!). The secure platform puts parents in total control of who sees and interacts with photos and videos of their kids.

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Santa Meltdowns, Gift Snafus & More: A Holiday Survival Guide

by Maria Chambers

Here’s what to do when your child gets three of the same toy for Christmas

Wouldn’t it be great if everyone’s holiday resembled a scene depicted in a Norman Rockwell painting? It’s just not realistic—and where’s the fun in that, anyway? Smiles and tantrums, calm and kerfuffles, serenity, and debacles are all the things that make the holidays unpredictable and beautiful. Our holiday survival guide includes a list of possible snafus and tips to help you keep your cool.

Possible Snafu: Meltdowns on Santa’s Lap

holiday survival guide tip: what to do when they meet santa
_drz_via Unsplash

Imagine you’re standing in the line of melting children and anxious parents waiting to overpay for that annual snapshot with the mall Santa. It's your turn and suddenly one of your little angels develops an irrational fear of all things Santa. Mr. Claus props your kid up like a wet noodle as you’re looking for the nearest exit.

Holiday Survival Guide Tip: What's the problem here? A cheesy mall snapshot capturing a Level 4 toddler freakout and an obviously annoyed Santa is Instagram gold. Get the shot, dig out their favorite lovie you’ve stashed in the diaper bag, and smile because this is a picture you’ll treasure.

Possible Snafu: Gift Duplication

iStock

An adult who receives a duplicate gift will proclaim their love of the item while discreetly digging through tissue paper in search of a gift receipt, careful to preserve any tags. Children, however, are prone to reactions anywhere on the spectrum of matter-of-a-fact “I already own this” proclamations to window-shattering, rolling-on-the-floor screaming fits.

Survival Tip: Never underestimate the value of role-playing. Prepare them for the possibility this could happen and coach them on ways to respond— "No matter what you receive, just say 'thank you" It's also a great time to remind them it’s the thought, not the gift, that counts. Play a fun role-playing game and simulate opening something they already own, allowing yourselves to get a little silly. Should the situation occur, it’ll be an amusing wink-and-nod secret between you.

 

Related: 15 Genius Photo Hacks to Try This Holiday Season

Possible Snafu: Toy Surplus

bedtime routine
iStock

Once the pine-scented dust has settled, post-holidays, you’re left with a mountain of toys and tchotchkes that need to find a resting place in your already-busting-at-the-seams home. Finding space for the 25 spider rings and 16 pencils accumulated at the school Halloween party drove you to tears, and now you need to find space for a life-sized panda bear, Barbie’s Beach House, and Ken’s midlife-crisis cherry red Corvette.

Holiday Survival Guide Tip: Resist the urge to meet the garbage man at the curb come trash collection day and adopt a one-in, one-out rule. A couple of weeks before Christmas, review your kid’s wish list with them and explain in order to receive, they need to give. Be prepared: They’re resourceful little boogers and will try to convince you they can find space for it all—even if it means shoving things under chairs, stacking items precariously, or throwing out their underpants to make room in a drawer. Donate gently loved but no longer wanted toys to a worthy local nonprofit organization.

 

Possible Snafu: Batteries Not Included

holiday survival guide: make sure you have lots of batteries
Kevin Woblick via Unsplash

Toy manufacturers seem to enjoy the idea of parents wrestling with a mini screwdriver to get battery compartments open. And they usually don’t even throw us a bone by giving us the first round of juice with a starter set of batteries. What do you do if it's Christmas Day, no stores are open and Johnny cleared out his closet to make room for a life-like dinosaur that walks, talks, transforms, and is slated to crush his little sister’s My Little Pony herd?

Survival Tip: Do yourself a favor and buy batteries in bulk before Santa makes his rounds. For the most part, you know what gifts they’re receiving, so research the batteries requirements and be sure to have them on hand. Throw a few extra in the cart for the unexpected gifts from the family.  While you're at it, grab a toothpick-sized screwdriver the next time you're at the hardware store— you're going to need it.

Related: 30 Life-Changing Hacks to Save Your Holiday Season

Possibly Snafu: Understocked Pantry

Mara Lin Kim via Unsplash

Holiday euphoria has fueled a sudden burst of energy and you have an inexplicable urge to bake 15 different types of cookies and a fruit cake. After a quick ingredient review, you realize you're a ¼ tsp. of vanilla away from your destiny, but your little one is napping. Even if he wasn’t, you risk getting stuck in line behind the people clearing out the bottled water supply preparing for snowmageddon because they spotted a flake.

Holiday Survival Guide Tip: Stock up on baking essentials. Most ingredients required for baking have a long shelf life, so if it takes you until Easter to use them all, no biggie. You can also get simple ingredients and lots of staples delivered to your home fast by using a food delivery service such as Instacart.

Possible Snafu: There Is Noise ... Lots of It

holiday survival guide: how to deal with loud toys
Kelli McClintock via Unsplash

Maybe before you were a parent it brought you great joy to buy the most annoying gift you could possibly find for a sibling's kids. Why not? You didn’t have to live with it and plus, when you were little your brother teased you relentlessly, so he totally deserved to lose partial hearing because you gifted his two-year-old cymbals. The day of reckoning is upon you—the gifts your kid receives will be big, they will be loud and they’re going to have more pieces than stars in the sky.

Survival Tip: We can't help you here. If you fired the first shots, you have no choice but to accept an annoying gift or two. After the scores have been settled, initiate a peace treaty so no one needs to live in fear of what might be under the tree. Discuss parameters for gifts and work together to complete wish lists. If they break the treaty, you are well within your rights to unleash a wrath that can only be calmed by buying your niece or nephew a rambunctious puppy or a matching drum set for those cymbals.

 

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Which Grocery Stores Are Open on Christmas Day? More Than You’d Think

by Karly Wood

You can totally still find everything you need, even a last-minute gift card for that niece you left off your list, at these stores

Picture this: it’s Christmas Day and just realized you forgot to get apples for the pie. Or, maybe you don’t celebrate Christmas and you just need to buy some milk. So, what do you do? Luckily there are a decent amount of grocery stores open on Christmas that can save your day. So where should you head when your entire family is just minutes away and you need something ASAP? We’ve compiled a list of convenience and grocery stores open on Christmas Day.

But first—the bad news. While there are several convenience and grocery stores open on Christmas, some of your go-to grocers will be closed for the holiday. Grocery stores giving their employees the day off include Aldi, Costco, Hy-Vee, Giant, Kroger (hours vary by location so check your local store to confirm), Publix, Stop & Shop, Target, Trader Joe’s, Walmart, Wegman’s and Whole Foods.

Convenience and Grocery stores open on Christmas Day

  • 7-Eleven: Most locations are open 24 hours
  • Acme: most stores open at 7 a.m.
  • Albertsons: Most locations are open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Bravo Supermarkets: Most locations will be operating with special hours
  • Cumberland Farms: Open from 7 a.m. to midnight
  • Circle K: Most locations are open 24 hours
  • CVS: Most locations are open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
  • Pavilions: Most are open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Safeway: Some Safeway locations will be open on Christmas, so check your local store for hours
  • Sheetz: Open 24 hours
  • Starbucks: Not a grocery store, but if you need more caffeine to survive the day you can make a pit stop as most locations will maintain regular hours
  • Walgreens: Stores that are regularly open 24/7 will stay open on Christmas, and most other locations should stay open with reduced hours
  • Wawa: Most locations are open 24 hours
  • QuickChek
  • QuickTrip: Most are open on Christmas Day

Your local stores’ actual holiday hours may vary depending on where you live, so be sure to check before you head out.

 

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Welcome to the Gender No-Reveal Generation

By Elizabeth Brunner

Recently, actress and model Emily Ratjakowski made worldwide headlines when she penned an essay in Vogue about her decision to not know her baby’s gender until after the baby is born. Her decision isn’t unusual. A 2007 Gallup poll of over 1,000 parents found that 51%  wanted to wait until their baby was born to find out the gender. Of course, that poll is from 2007.

While there’s no concrete data from more recently, the endless gender reveal parties, sonogram shots, and color-coded registries can make parents who don’t know feel lonely. The “to know or not to know” question can also bring up feelings for parents who have decided. Is it wrong to decorate the nursery pink for a girl or have a football-themed shower for a boy? The answer to that is no. Ultimately, knowing your child’s gender is just the first choice of what will be many choices in parenting. But being aware of gender—and how you discuss gender—can be done at any stage in your parenting journey. Being gender aware isn’t about looking down on princess movies or bypassing superhero costumes. It’s simply recognizing how gender affects the worldview of you and your child. Here, how to recognize and reframe it.

Understand Your Expectations
When you imagine a future child, you may see images in your head: A tutu-wearing toddler at her first dance class or a little boy kicking the soccer ball with his dad. Those images aren’t shameful or embarrassing—they’re rooted in your desires. Now, go deeper. What else is going on in the image. It might be the little girl falling in love with dance. It may be the little boy having a close relationship with his dad. The more you see the desires behind the picture, the more you can see that these scenarios can play out no matter who your child turns out to be.

Question the Generalizations
Boys love their mama! Girls are so emotionally mature. Whenever you hear a generalization, point it out. A gentle question of “Why is that,” will reframe the conversation toward their experiences—and will help remind anyone listening that a generalization is not based on reality, but more so from a previous experience. It may not change Aunt Frannie from ditching her “Great Aunts Know Best” observations—but it can be a way to redirect the conversation.

Think And. Not No
Sparkles are pretty. Superheroes are fun. Rethinking gender doesn’t mean skipping out on pink and frilly, or the blue and scary. Instead, it means mixing everything together. It means choosing what your child likes, being drawn to the onesies that make your heart sing, and realizing that your child is unique and different just because they are exactly who they are. Take “boys” hand-me-downs if you’re expecting a girl. Buy the truck set for your niece’s third birthday. Mixing and matching can bring out the best in clothes, toys, and your child’s distinctive personality.

Share by Example
So does that mean you should boycott gender reveal parties? Not at all! But you can gently share your perspective by offering gender-neutral cards and gifts, talk up the baby’s future in non-gendered terms, and remind people that there’s a whole rainbow of opportunity in between blue and pink icing.

This post originally appeared on StereoType.

Elizabeth Brunner is a San Francisco-based designer and the founder of StereoType, a gender-free, st‌yle-forward kids clothing brand that’s designed to celebrate individuality and freedom of self-expression by blending traditional ideas of boys’ and girls’ wear. StereoType combines st‌yle, design and comfort to inspire creativity, individuality and freedom of expression.

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Holiday Card Time! San Diego Photographers You Should Book Today

by Aimee Della Bitta

Whether you’ve been blasting holiday music since pumpkin spice lattes arrived, or you’re still adjusting to summer being over, we’re going to let you in on a little secret— right now is the PERFECT time to book a local photographer for your holiday card. San Diego has a fabulous selection of snap-happy, professionals ready to capture the perfect annual photograph. Click through the slideshow to check out a selection of photographers ready to help your family say, “cheese!”

Jamie Street Photography

Jamie Street Photography

Jamie Street has had a camera in her hand since junior high. So it's no surprise her family photography business is a one-woman labor of love that brings her happiness every single day. Jamie likes to make her families feel as comfortable as possible, from helping to choose a location meaningful to them and letting them have fun and interact, so they are comfortable in front of the camera. Jeni told us, "I love capturing timeless and classic portraits of families on film, but some of my favorite photos tend to be from documenting all of the dreamy, intimate moments of connection in between the perfectly posed shot." She shoots all over San Diego and even ventures to Los Angeles and other parts of California if needed. Be sure to book your holiday photos as soon as possible to ensure enough processing time for the film. Families can choose from mini or full sessions. 

Jamie Street Photography
619-913-0763
Online: jamiestreet.com

Sarah Tolmay Photography

Sarah Tolmay Photography

North county photographer, Sarah Tolmay is a master at capturing shots that feel full of life. For holiday shoots, you'll get a 50-minute session and access to an online gallery of 100 high-resolution photos of you and yours. The hardest thing will be choosing which one makes the holiday card! Holiday shoots book quickly so contact Sarah today to hold your spot. 

Pro tip: Sarah also offers puppy portraits that will melt your heart. 

Sarah Tolmay Photography
Online: Sarahtolmayphotography.com 

 

Of Stardust and Earth Photography

Of Stardust and Earth Photography

Get a cutting-edge photo shoot with local photographer Jen from Of Stardust and Earth. Her work is colorful, fun and fashion-inspired. A true portrait photographer at her core, Jen offers families an opportunity to dream up their own editorial.  Book early and be guaranteed some candid moments that are anything by cheesy.

Of Stardust And Earth
Online: ofstardustandearth.com/contact/

Holly Ireland Photography

Holly Ireland

As a mom of two herself, Holly loves to shoot families. And shoot families she does! Based in Carlsbad (but available to shoot all over San Diego), Holly helps capture candid family moments and turn them into pieces of cool art with clever composure, lighting, and editing. This photog is great working with families -- especially young kiddos -- making sure they are comfortable in front of the camera. She can even work with your family on what to wear, types of props, and great locations. Her sunset beach shoots for the holiday season fill up quickly, so make sure to book early if that's the look you want.

Holly Ireland Photography
760-715-0807
Online: hollyireland.com/

Tiffany Kelterer Photography

Tiffany's goal during your photography session is to capture you (and your crew) in a way that is both authentic and candid. The hope is to forever preserve those special moments with your family. Her photos are stunning and pure and will make you smile for years to come. Capturing a family's true essence in all its glorious mayhem is a gift and the perfect way to celebrate the season. 

Online: www.tiffanykelterer.com/

Stills by Hill

Hillary -- the "Hill" behind Stills by Hill -- is an expert at taking portraits. She started photographing kids when her oldest niece was born 17 years ago and has since found her niche in shooting newborns, kiddos, and family portraits. If you'd like unlimited time, a location of your choice, and custom art, a regular portrait session is available. Limited edition holiday sessions are on-location, up to five subjects, and are 20 minutes long. Special note: pricing goes up as it gets closer to December so book early to save money! 

Stills by Hill
619-246-7016
Online: stillsbyhill.com/

—Aimee Della Bitta

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DIY Family Photos: Pros Share How & Where to Capture Amazing Holiday Pics

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15 Photo Hacks to Capture Your Holiday Memories

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Jason Derulo & Jena Frumes Are Expecting!

by Erica Loop

There’s no shortage of celeb baby news in 2021. Along with Meghan Markle’s announcement and a recent rash of births including Ashley Tisdale, Hilary Duff and Bindi Irwin, you can now add another celebrity to the new parent list—Jason Derulo.

The singer and his girlfriend, Jena Frumes, are expecting their first child together! Derulo revealed the pregnancy in a recent Instagram post, writing, “Couldn’t be more excited for this new chapter in our life.”

In their IG video clip, the happy soon-to-be parents walk sweetly hand-in-hand on the beach. Derulo stops to gently rub and kiss Frumes’ growing baby bump as the couple strolls through the super-scenic setting. As the singer’s IG video comes to a close, the camera moves from the couple to the beach, with the words, “Coming soon” drawn in the sand.

Derulo and Frumes met just before the pandemic began. He later opened up to Page Six about his relationship with Frumes, spending time with his four-year-old niece Skylar, and whether he has “baby fever” saying, “You know, I think I’m getting to that age, you know what I’m saying? So, I don’t know.”

Congrats go out to the happy couple!

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Jaguar PS / Shutterstock.com

 

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Bindi Irwin & Chandler Powell Welcome a Baby Girl!

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Don’t Call Her “Bossy.” She’s a Leader—& She Might Be a Budding Entrepreneur

By Brian Weisfeld

Ask a little girl what they want to be when they grow up and you’ll get a variety of answers, many of them similar—fireman, dancer, doctor, singer, pilot, maybe a mommy or a police officer. You’d probably rarely hear the word entrepreneur. You might hear CEO.

Not every girl will want to grow up and start her own business. But the skills and concepts kids learn from entrepreneurship at a young age can help prepare them for whatever path they choose in the future.

If you have a young girl in your life—a daughter, niece, sibling or friend—you may see certain characteristics that may make you think, “This kid is going to be in charge someday—of something.” Entrepreneurs come in all shapes, sizes, temperaments and personalities, of course, but many have similar traits in common.

If you spot these in a young girl, they are good traits to encourage and develop.

She’s a natural leader.

Natural leaders aren’t always just telling other people what to do, and even kids who seem shy may have leadership tendencies. Leadership attributes can look different in each individual. Your daughter may have a knack at assembling a team of people and getting a group project done. She may be able to easily identify someone’s skills and match them up with the perfect task.

Maybe she’s someone who marches to the beat of her own drum or would rather blaze her own trail than follow the crowd. All of these things point to signs that she’s a natural leader.

She’s willing to take risks.

We’re not talking about being risky for the sake of being a daredevil here—the kid who climbs the tallest tree at the park or wants to ski the black diamond runs before she’s ready is not going to necessarily start her own business by 17.

But a girl who’s not averse to starting conversations with adults, speaking her mind with confidence, talking in front of a group about her passions or spending money to make money (e.g. allowance money for lemonade stand supplies) may show signs she’s willing to step out of her comfort zone when there may be a payoff. In fact, taking a risk may be a lot more attractive to her than playing it safe.

She’s doesn’t label herself.

It’s natural for people to want to categorize themselves, kind of as a way to say, “Here’s where I fit in,” “I want to help people, so I want to be a nurse,” or “I want to work with kids, so I want to be a teacher”—these are normal things you might hear a kid say when asked what they want to be when they grow up.

Natural entrepreneurs may not think that way, however—they may not be looking for a place to fit in as much as a way to stand out. If your child hems and haws when she’s asked, “What do you want to be someday?” don’t take that as a negative sign. It could be that she wants to create her own place in the world.

She’s self-motivated and driven.

Maybe you rarely have to ask about homework because she often has it done before you even get the chance. Or maybe she took it upon herself to start learning a second language or some other skill simply because she’s interested, not because she has to.

Is her list of extracurricular activities longer than either you or she has time for? Natural-born entrepreneurs are often driven to go beyond the status quo and have ambition to accomplish and do more than what’s expected.

She problem-solves.

The Warren sisters—Lilly, Chloe and Sophie—started their company, Sweet Bee Sisters, when they realized that their parents’ beehives were not going to produce enough honey to sell, only enough for their family and maybe a few friends. Then they noticed the beeswax. Could that be worth something? They did some research, started producing lip balm, and have since expanded their product line to include lotions and sugar scrubs.

This is a perfect example of problem solving: Honey wasn’t going to make them much money, but another byproduct of the bees certainly could. If you know a young girl who thinks less in terms of “we have a problem” but more with the mindset, “let’s find a solution,” she may be born to be a business owner.

This isn’t an exhaustive list. And we’re not saying if your daughter doesn’t have these traits, she won’t be an entrepreneur. These are simply traits that might suggest you have a budding future business owner on your hands.

Nurture them. Encourage her. And let her know that, above all, she’s capable.

Sometimes that’s all a girl needs to hear to get the wheels in her head spinning with possibilities.

This post originally appeared on The Startup Squad.

I've always built businesses, from a childhood gummy bear business to adult gigs at IMAX and Coupons.com. I founded The Startup Squad to help girls reach their potential and my book series, The Startup Squad, is published by Macmillan. I live in Silicon Valley with my wife and two daughters.

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American Girl “Heroes with Heart” Contest Winners Announced

by Jennifer Swartvagher

American Girl wanted to thank real-life community heroes helping out on the frontlines during the pandemic. As part of their #ThankYouHeroes program, they held a “Heroes with Heart” contest.Five Grand Prize winners were selected and received a one-of-a-kind, custom-made American Girl doll and outfit in the hero’s likeness, along with a $200 American Girl gift card for the nominator.

“At American Girl, we’ve always celebrated the idea of acting with courage and compassion,” says Jamie Cygielman, General Manager of American Girl. “That’s why we’re proud to recognize these local heroes who all play critical roles in helping our friends, families and communities every day. It’s this kind of dedication and service that shows true strength of character.”

There was an amazing response with more than 1,000 nominations of really moving stories. Five “Heroes with Heart” contest winners have been announced. 

Heroes with Heart

  • April is a paramedic nominated by her niece for working on the frontlines in Virginia.
  • Xavier is a grocery store worker nominated by his sister for working five days a week at a grocery store during the pandemic.
  • Pam is a teacher nominated by her students who visited each student’s house with a smile, an encouraging sign, and a bag of books.
  • Sarah is a Nurse assistant nominated by her granddaughter for her dedication and patience as a caregiver and in feeding the homeless in her community.
  • Laurent is a pilot for Spirit Airlines nominated by his daughter for volunteering to fly a team of American doctors to Haiti to help them fight COVID-19 and a return flight full of stranded U.S. citizens.

“Heroes with Heart” is part of American Girl’s #ThankYouHeroes program, which also includes an exclusive Scrubs doll outfit to honor frontline healthcare workers with a donation of books benefiting First Responders Children’s Foundation.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: American Girl

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The Tree That Got Away

By Shelley Massey
Partner Content

It was about 10 feet tall and the morning sun was burning off the dew on its needles, making it glow. It was halfway down a hill of trees, but none of them was as full nor held as perfect a pyramidal shape as this one. It was perfect, and we would soon discover it would become the standard-bearer for every Christmas tree to come.

There was just one hitch. It was July, and we were two states and 5 months away from our home, and Christmas.

We were riding on the Virginia Creeper Trail, a rails-to-trails descent in Virginia that rolls through miles of farmland. Halfway down, nature and 20-ounces of blue Gatorade paid a visit to my 5-year old son, who raced for the privacy of a nearby grove of fraser firs.

I should note here that he did not drop trou on any of the trees. Realizing even in the heat of the moment that these beauties would end up in someone’s living room, I redirected his aim. So, while he found relief in the grass, I couldn’t help but notice what a delightful oasis we’d stumbled upon. The air smelled of Christmas morning, and trees grew along paths reminiscent of Scottish labyrinths. Our footsteps fell silently on needle-cushioned earth.

“We’re in the Candy Cane Forest!” exclaimed my niece, who had tracked us down, and who was also a big fan of Buddy the Elf. “Hey, look at this!” my oldest son shouted. We found him, awe-filled, in front of our perfect, glowing tree. It was pure magic.

After persuading them that we could not, in fact, take it home with us (no saw, hadn’t paid for it, nothing to strap it to except for Mom’s back, and besides, it was still swimsuit season), we hopped back on our bikes.

The morning after Thanksgiving, we were bundled up, still full from the previous day’s feast and sluggish from hours spent watching football on the couch. While making coffee, my husband suggested we take a ride to the hardware store to pick out a fresh Christmas tree.

“The hardware store?” my son balked. “No, Daddy. We already have our tree. We have to go back to The Creeper. I know exactly where it is.”

A 12-hour drive was not on my husband’s agenda, but neither was the hardware store on my children’s. They’d seen the promised land of treedom and would accept nothing less. We compromised. Just north of the city, we spent a lovely day in the fresh air, without a single electronic device nearby, walking off some of the thousands of calories that had been the gift of the day before.

We came home with a very fine fresh Christmas tree. It wasn’t THE tree, but we loved it anyways like you sometimes must. And so began our family tradition of trying to forever fill the tree stand of the “Tree That Got Away.”

Now through Christmas, share a photo of your family’s REAL Christmas tree memory-making experience for a chance to win $1,000!

photos: Shelley Massey

Shelley Massey is a writer and editor for family travel, fitness, and lifest‌yle publications. She enjoys exploring with her four kids ages 10 & under, running, good food, entertaining, and great stories. And though she and her family live happily in Atlanta, their hearts are in Tennessee. 

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The Secret Life of Nursery Rhymes

By Cali Notte

When you hear the phrase “nursery rhyme,” you probably think of “simple”. They’re short, and obviously have to be able to be understood by the youngest of us. But a lot of our feelings of simplicity come from the fact that they are so familiar. We hear them thousands of times by the time we’re adults and I’m sure you can recite dozens by heart without a second thought. But many of the rhymes hide a deep complexity. To me, they prepare us for the greater stories and experiences we’ll have throughout our lives.

Take “The Itsy-Bitsy Spider.” I’ll use that as my example today because it’s one of my favorites and has been one of the favorites of every kid in my family growing up. The

First thought: It’s a boringly simple story. Not true! It follows perfectly the five act structure made famous in Shakespeare’s plays. It starts with some exposition (“The itsy-bitsy spider went up the water spout.”), the tension rises with the conflict and rising action (“Down came the rain and”) till the climax hits and calamity strikes (“washed the spider out.”). The matters begin to resolve in the falling action (“Up came the sun and dried up all the rain,”) and finally we are left with the conclusion or denouement (“and the itsy-bitsy spider climbed up the spout again.”). It may have simple concepts, but that’s anything but a simple story.

Now, I’m not saying you should go explain Gustav Freytag’s Pyramid to your child so they can understand the deep hidden meaning of this tragedy of the tiny spider, but it’s a great introduction to the stories we love best. Whether it’s Hamlet or Endgame, we learned to appreciate heroic tales sitting on our mother’s lap.

The poem contains some pretty complex language structure, too. Take a look at the rhyme broken down as a sentence diagram. (Don’t worry! There won’t be a test. I know many people break down into panic sweats when they remember diagramming sentences in school.) Notice how involved those middle two bits are. When a sentence is simple, you can basically read the diagram left to right, but you can’t do that here. That’s not to mention all the tails and branches and implied words they contain! Plus, do you notice the symmetry? Without even knowing it, your teaching your child the beauty and the complexity of language and getting them ready to enjoy the language of poetry.

Finally, nursery rhymes not only help teach story and language, they’re an introduction to social interaction as well. For my family, who live so far apart from each other, Skype has fundamentally changed how we stay in touch with each other. My little niece has been so lucky that despite living so far away from aunts and uncles and grandparents, she still gets to see our faces almost every week. It’s so normal to her that my sister has to explain to her that sometimes she won’t be able to see our faces if it’s just a normal phone call. (I’m still not sure she fully understands this). I bring this up because, like me, The Itsy-Bitsy Spider is her favorite story and she lets us know that. Before she could even really talk, she would sit in front of the camera and touch index finger to index finger and thumb to thumb, over and over again until we obliged and sang the song to her. She’d join in the motions, and clap her appreciation when we finished. Or maybe (if the adults were having a conversation) we’d say no, and she learned to patiently wait and ask again when the timing seemed right. That’s incredible social knowledge that you can’t impart on a kid by explaining it, we pass it down through interactions like this. In this day and age of screens and instant gratification, those kinds of social skills are getting harder to impart on our kids, it’s important that we continue these old traditions that do just that.

There are so many other benefits that I could list. They teach us history and metaphor. They teach us patterns and numbers. They teach us humor and morals. I’m sure you could list more. (And I’d love to hear some of them in the comments!) So I hope we never look down on our trusted nursery rhymes for being too old and simple, because they are wonderfully complex and some of the best tools we have for preparing our children for tomorrow.

This post originally appeared on Cali’s Books.

I'm a mom of two lovely chilren living in LA. I trained as an engineer and worked in banking and for Disney. Now I create musical board books for children like those I found in France, my home country. I loved books since childhood and wanted to introduce children to the joyous world of words and music.

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