Spoiler alert: If your kids can read, do not let them read about how to send letters to Santa. Read this post in secret!
You stay up late wrapping presents in secret and make a show of setting out cookies and milk, but there’s one more thing you can do to prove Santa is real. This year, take the classic letter to Santa to a new level by not only sending it but also making sure your kiddos receive a response from the Jolly Old Elf himself. The USPS has an awesome program in place and if you’ve never done it before, this is your year. Here’s what you need to know.
Step 1: Write the letter to Santa!
First things first: write the letter to Santa. Kids that can’t write yet can dictate to parents and spend a little time decorating the letter with stickers or a drawing. If your kiddos are learning their letters, you can always have them trace over some of the words. For kiddos that can write, make sure they have enough paper on hand but try and keep it to one page. Remember, this does not have to be a list of all the things they want for Christmas. They can also just send a letter thanking Santa for his hard work or asking him what his life is like. Be creative!
Have them put their letter in an envelope, addressed to:
Santa Claus North Pole
Try to avoid sealing this envelope without being too obvious.
Step 2: Write a response to your child.
Okay, here’s the spoiler part! Using your stealth parenting-in-the-night skills, the same ones that power you to wrap presents and fill stockings undetected, you will need to write out the response from Santa (disguise your writing if you think necessary) and place it in an envelope addressed to your child with a return address of Santa Claus, North Pole.
Make sure you put a stamp on this envelope: The current rate is 66 cents, or use a Forever stamp.
Tip: USPS suggests writing the response from Santa on the back of your child’s letter to save space and to make sure your kiddo will remember what they wrote (plus this way you get to keep it without giving anything away!).
Place everything into a larger envelope (like a Priority Mail Flat Rate or manilla envelope) and make sure there is adequate postage. A flat rate is great because you can buy the postage online and print the label, saving you a trip to the post office.
Remember, in your envelope, you will have:
1 letter to Santa in an envelope addressed to Santa
1 response from Santa in an envelope addressed to a child with an actual postage stamp (and Santa’s return address)
Address this larger envelope to:
North Pole Postmark Postmaster 4141 Postmark Dr. Anchorage, Ak 99530-9998
The rest is up to Santa’s busy elves at the Postal Service.
Important: The USPS recommends having the letters sent no later than Dec. 1 so that they can arrive at the Anchorage, AK office in time.
The USPS also operates Operation Santa, a letter-writing program for any kid in need. Children can write to a specific address and make requests. They even have a letter-writing kit. To learn more about this program, or to answer letters and donate to kids in need, click here.
In honor of the big day, children’s hospitals all over the country are holding Valentine Drives where anyone can send a free digital valentine to a patient. Each hospital has its own designs––many of which are designed by patients––and are such an easy way to brighten up a patient’s day!
You can do a quick Google search for local hospitals in your area, or you can reference any of these hospitals listed below that are already participating with their own Valentine Drive.
Sending a valentine is easy: you need to use your desktop computer, phone or tablet to access the hospital’s page. Then just fill out the e-card with your info and a sweet message before pressing send. Some hospitals even have pre-written messages if you’re at a loss for words to make the process even more simple.
Wonder Woman Gal Gadot has added a third daughter to her crew! The actress announced the news on Instagram today with the first shared photo of the family of five. She and husband Jaron Varsano welcome daughter Daniella, who joins Alma and Maya.
Accompanying the candid snapshot, Gadot wrote, “My sweet family 🖐🏼 I couldn’t be more grateful and happy (and tired 🤪) we are all so excited to welcome Daniella into our family. I’m sending all of you love and health. GG ♥️🖐🏼🖐🏼🖐🏼🖐🏼🖐🏼”
Varsano posted the same photo to his account with the caption “And now we are 🖐🏼 So happy and grateful. My dear wife is a lioness! So thankful and humbled by your powers.”
The 36-year-old Gadot married Varsano, an Israeli real estate developer and businessman, in 2008. Oldest daughter Alma was born in 2011 and Maya joined the family in 2017. In an earlier post this year, Gadot praised her husband as “the greatest dad in the world!”
Congratulations to the happy family! No doubt Gadot’s powerful superhero will be an inspiration to all three daughters for years to come.
—Sarah Shebek
Featured image courtesy of Tinseltown/Shutterstock
The soccer team huddled around one boy’s phone, leaning in to get a closer look. The image on the screen was of a 13-year old student’s breasts. The private photo, taken months earlier, had gone viral.
Yes, unfortunately, sexting happens in middle school. To start, let’s clarify the definition of sexting.
Sexting is defined as “the action of sending sexually explicit photos, videos or messages via mobile phone or the internet.” Middle school counselors and teachers are concerned about the behavior as it is becoming increasingly common.
Youth Sexting Statistics
According to a 2017 Study by JAMA Pediatrics, 14% of youth reported sending sexts, and 27% reported receiving sexts. Also, 1 in 8 youth reports either forwarding or having a sext forwarded without their consent.
Why are middle school students sexting?
According to KidsHealth, there are various reasons kids are sexting, such as peer pressure, getting attention, flirting, or as a joke or dare. The fact that tweens and teens’ prefrontal cortex is not fully formed, the part of the brain that manages impulse control, also contributes.
What problems result from sexting?
As illustrated in the opening story, private photos are often widely shared, negatively impacting reputations and mental health. In some states, sharing illicit photos and videos is a crime. Tweens and teens may face charges and legal consequences. Sharing or having a nude photo on your phone could result in a child pornography charge. One impulsive decision can affect a student’s life for years to come.
What can parents do?
1. Regular family conversations about online behaviors build a foundation as tweens and teens navigate their lives online. Helping kids understand and avoid oversharing is an important step. Share real stories about teens that overshared online and how it impacted their life. Share stories of how colleges and employers look at social profiles before accepting or hiring students. Make sure kids understand the legal consequences of sexting.
Conversation starter: “I was watching the news and saw a story about some kids who got in trouble for sending nude pictures to friends. Did you hear about that?”
2. Regularly remind teens that nothing shared online is ever private.
Before posting anything, it’s essential for teens to consider how they would feel if a wider audience saw the image or message. (i.e. Grandma, school principal, coaches, other friends, other parents, your whole school, college admissions person). Remind them that once images are out there, they leave a digital footprint. They can’t “take it back.”
Conversation starter: “Can we talk about the types of things you and your friends share online? I want to make sure you’re taking care of yourself and looking out for your friends too.”
3. Keep the tone of conversations non-judgemental and informative.
This will help to keep the dialogue going instead of sounding like a lecture. Rather than leading the discussion, make sure you listen to your tween/teen. Discuss the pressures that teens often experience to send inappropriate photos.
Conversation starter: “Have you heard about sexting? Do you know anything about it?”
Bottom line, sexting is becoming increasingly common. Start conversations as soon as your child has a smartphone and revisit conversations regularly. Developing healthy online habits takes attention, discussion, and lots of practice. The road is full of bumps but luckily gets smoother as parents help kids navigate the potholes.
Jessica Speer is the author of BFF or NRF (Not Really Friends)? Girls Guide to Happy Friendships. Combining humor, the voices of kids, and research-based explanations, Jessica unpacks topics in ways that connect with tweens and teens. She’s the mother of two and has a Master’s Degree in Social Sciences.
Three’s not a crowd for Alexa and Carlos PenaVega! The former Spy Kids star and Big Time Rush bandmate welcomed their third child, daughter Rio into the world, more than a month early.
“Little Rio could not wait to come out and play with her brothers! Momma is feeling good and baby girl is kicking some serious booty in the NICU. Praying we can all be home together very soon! What a wave of emotions,” the PenaVegas both shared on Instagram.
Carlos PenaVega added, “I lift up my wifey @vegaslexa on this Mother’s Day. YOU ARE A CHAMP! I could never do what you do,” he added. “The best momma to our 2 boys and now little girl. Thank you for being a solid rock for this family❤️.”
Baby Rio joins brothers Ocean King, 4, and Kingston James, 1 ½. Alexis PenaVega revealed last month on Instagram that her daughter’s due date was in June. Sending good thoughts to the expanded PenaVega family!
—Sarah Shebek
Featured image courtesy of Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com
Congrats to first-time mom and dad Emily Ratajkowski and husband Sebastian Bear-McClard! The model/actress recently announced the birth of a baby boy with a sweet mommy-son Instagram pic.
The model and actress went public with her growing baby bump last fall, with a series of IG posts and an essay in Vogue on why she doesn’t want to reveal the gender of her baby.
Ratajkowski wrote last October in Vogue, “the truth that we ultimately have no idea who—rather than what—is growing inside my belly. Who will this person be? What kind of person will we become parents to? How will they change our lives and who we are? This is a wondrous and terrifying concept, one that renders us both helpless and humbled.”
She went on to add, “I think about my husband and what a son would bring up for him. Is he secretly yearning for a boy? When I ask him, he refuses to give me an answer, swearing that he doesn’t have a preference. But one Sunday as he’s watching football he makes a remark about how it’d be fun to have a little boy to watch with.”
As it turns out, Ratajkowski and Bear-McClard did have a boy—and they named their son Sylvester Apollo Bear. The new mom got plenty of congratulations on IG, with celebs such as Kate Bosworth and Ashley Graham sending well wishes.
A recent poll of 1,000 moms revealed what leading ladies really want for Valentine’s Day––and it’s not about flowers and candy.
The study, conducted by OnePoll with Zulily was all about uncovering what mamas want after the horror that was 2020. It found that the number one “gift” was “me time” and that’s pretty much all it takes to feel loved this V-Day.
photo: Zulily
The topic of “me time” arose out of the result that found 55 percent of moms believed they has spent too much time with their partner and needed a break. Nearly 75 percent also believed that it was just as important to spend time apart when in a relationship.
Amidst the pandemic, research also demonstrated that expressions of love have changed, with 33 percent of moms reporting a change in their love language. In fact, brand new love languages have emerged!
The updated languages now include
Partner doing household chores: 45%
Relaxing but doing own thing in the same room: 41%
Cooking a meal: 36%
Playing video games: 28%
Sending/sharing memes: 27%
Megan Marshall, director of brand marketing for Zulily says“Finding joy in the moment and understanding how to communicate, show love and receive appreciation is always important to all relationships whether it’s with a significant other, ones’ children, or other women in their lives. This is what we’re excited to celebrate this Valentine’s Day.”
No matter what your love language is, the study revealed that almost 80 percent of respondents believed their partners should know their love language, even if theirs differs. Now, about that “me time…”
Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard were pretty busy in 2020 with their family brand, Hello Bello. The company gave back in big ways, including diaper donations and Camp Hello Bello, but it’s not done yet.
To give back even more in 2021, the brand has announced a way to make sure that parents in all 50 states have the access they need to baby products:Hello Bello Giving. Each week, Hello Bello will select an inspiring family to win a free year of diaper bundles from submissions by fellow parents, who then get to pay it forward to 52 MORE families!
In addition, Hello Bello will highlight a charity doing good in that coordinating state with a community call-to-action on a weekly basis. You’ll be encouraged to give back in ways like sending supplies, donating and volunteering.
To nominate a family and an organization in your state, head to giving.hellobello.com to complete the form.
Not everything went sideways in 2020, but there were enough challenges to our normal lives that we can confidently say that 2021 is going to be the year to celebrate a return to normal. Which is insanely wonderful. Keep reading for the top things we’re looking forward to in 2021.
Sending Our Kids to School
While some districts and all private schools have figured out the magic system to allow kids return safely to the classroom in 2020, thousands of families experienced a very different (virtual) reality. It’s fair to say that we’ll all—parents and kids, alike—cherish the first day of school in 2021.
Birthday Parties
While we were pretty genius during the pandemic with our quarantine-friendly birthday parties, it’s fair to say that the idea of sending out an invitation to every kid in your child’s class (plus siblings!) is really, really refreshing.
Going to the Beach During Holidays
With the summer holidays, spring break, and fall breaks turning into a should-we-or-shouldn’t-we situation as it related to Covid, the idea of having a normal trip to the beach—whether on the 4th of July or October 15th—is thrilling.
Visiting with Loved Ones Everywhere
One of the hardest things of 2020 was the separation we felt—from neighbors, friends, and especially family. We can’t wait to find ways to spend time together as multigenerational families in 2021.
Going to a Concert
Family-friendly music festivals, live music on patios, or even the (gasp) rare date night that ends in a dive bar with great live music is definitely on our radar this coming year.
Attending a College Football Game
Soooo, we’re in Atlanta, which means everyone reading this probably went to a different college. But. While we can’t agree on our favorite teams, we can agree that it’s hellafun to support them by going to a game, instead of rocking the 2020 version of paper football at our kitchen tables. And in 2021, we’re all hoping for the best seasons ever.
Going into the Office (Really)
Right. So. Weird, no? We really do actually, maybe, kind of miss the water cooler talk, the closed door (without anyone naked and 2 feet tall barging in demanding Froot Loops), and the structure. We know everyone’s totally killed it at working from home in 2020, but we’re pretty sure that 2021 is going to mean epic times in the office.
Going to the Movies
Popcorn. Buttery popcorn. Reclining seats. Darkness. Noone needing you. The movies. Can we all just take a moment to imagine how great it will be to pay an arm and a let in the movie theatre for a new release?
Taking the Kids to a Performance
Remember The Fox? Cobb Performing Arts Centre? The Alliance Theatre? There are so many incredible live-performance options in Atlanta that there’s no doubt we will be buying season tickets for many of them in 2021.
Meeting Family & Friends at a Restaurant for Brunch
While we may never feel comfortable sitting in a crowded atrium waiting to be called to a table for our party of 12 again (let’s be fair… that wasn’t that fun, anyways), we are looking forward to a new year with possibilities for dining—even during the busiest part of the day—with our kids, somewhere fun.
Attending Assemblies—School, Church, & Even, yes, Work
While it may take a little getting used to, it’s going to be awesome to know where the belts and shoes are to every kid (because you use them weekly, at least), so that you can head right on over to a school assembly, a church service, or to a family-friendly work function. Being together in a crowd, even for a loose assemble, is kind of going to rock.
Planning a Trip and Expecting It to Happen
Oh, 2021, please, please be the year that we can book a trip with no concern over whether travel bans will be in place when it’s actually time to get on a plane. We’ve loved our drivable destinations, but sometime’s a family’s gotta fly.
Photo books connect you with the people you love, near or far! Print a photo book of all the 2020 moments they missed. And make plans to make more memories together next year! Nothing warms holiday hearts like a fruit cake and a family photo book.
Holiday Order Deadline – Express – December 17th
One of our favorite moms and Lifestyle photographer, Ana Gambutois sending her entire family these Chatbooks too! Check out her article here, for her tips and tricks on how to take cute photos of your kids like a professional.
Holiday Order Deadlines
Standard – December 8th
Premium – December 14th
Express – December 17th