This classic Matt Damon SNL skit is so real, we feel attacked
Christmas is a magical time, but making all that magic happen isn’t exactly a walk in the park for parents. At some point after you’ve dressed your (unwilling) kids in holiday outfits for photos but before you fake-smile about the one and only gift you received (surprise! It’s a robe), parents have a jam-packed day of fun… starting at around 5:41 a.m.
In this classic “Best Christmas Ever” SNL skit, guest host Matt Damon and Cecily Strong play parents reminiscing about how truly awesome their day was—and giving some behind-the-scenes peeks into what spreading yuletide cheer really looks like for moms and dads.
There’s the child-present-attacking ritual long before the coffee hits, a flashback to Dad struggling to assemble a giant playhouse in the wee hours of the night, and kids fighting and shouting over their newfound spoils.
But that doesn’t even come close to the madness of hosting the family. Relatives who complain upon arrival? Check! Those who can’t stop spouting off about their political views? Check! So just how does one cope with so much delight? Mom claims, “I guess I was just full of Christmas cheer!” when shots clearly show she was fueling up with something else: wine and the occasional hidden cigarette.
Hands up if you can relate! A dad of four himself, Damon is probably no stranger to the joys of putting together impossible-to-assemble toys on Christmas Eve and being awakened before the sun rises to the screams of over-excited kids on Christmas morning.
Here’s to all the exhausted moms and dads making this Christmas the best Christmas ever, too.
Celebrate the beauty of spring by making a magical fairy garden all your own
Your little one is no stranger to enchantments: from peering under rocks to fashioning wings and wands, the kingdom of the fairy is a magical place perfect for budding imaginations. What better way than to combine a love of the fae with a little small-scale gardening, of the little people, by the little people, and for the little people! We’ve got an easy tutorial on how to make a fairy garden for kids right here. For more seasonal fun, try a different gardening project for kids or giggle at a few spring jokes.
What You Need to Make a Fairy Garden for Kids
Sara Olsher
A garden pot. Preferably one that is wide and/or bowl-shaped, so you have more room for all the tiny things, but any will do. Don’t forget the potting soil!
Plants. You can use annuals like lobelia, violets, or marigolds, or use succulents/sedum or other dwarf ground covers. If you want to get elaborate, get some bonsai trees. If your garden is indoor-only, look for teeny-tiny house plants, which you can pick up at a garden center for only a few dollars. Be sure and water the plants when you bring them home and before planting.
Shortcut: no plants or place to really grow them? Try a little florist moss for a woodland effect without the woods!
Little Things.Here’s where you can get creative. Decorate your fairy garden with little items found or created. Pinecones trees, stick teepees, and stones for benches or garden paths all give the fairy garden an au naturel feeling. Many nurseries now carry miniature “fairy house” items, but you can scour your toy boxes for the just-right accessory: a petite teacup could become a fountain or reflection pool, little flags from hors d’oeuvres designate fairy territory, large marbles become garden globes. We love this popsicle stick house (and table and chair set). Also, try aquarium stores for tiny castles and similar structures. And don’t forget LEGO bricks!
Create Your Fairy Kingdom
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Fill your pot with soil. If you have any larger “structural” items, such as a tiny house, put that in place before you plant. Designate an area where you will put your garden path. Most of the smaller items can be added after, or in some cases, on top of the plants.
Make sure your plants have been watered but aren’t still soaking wet.
Tip: Layout your plants and larger garden decor in the pattern you’d like before you remove the plants from their pots. That way, you can rearrange them a bit before deciding exactly where they’ll go.
Plant your plants with enough space in between them for them to grow. As a rule of thumb, plant the largest plant you have first (i.e. the bonsai tree) and anything that might trail over or creep a bit closer to the edge of the pot. Before you accessorize, be sure you are happy with the placement of your plants. You can move them a bit after planting if necessary, but it’s best to avoid this too much as it will traumatize the plants and they may not thrive.
Tip: If you aren’t using live plants, you still need to create an elevated surface in your pot. If you prefer to skip the dirt, you could try using small pebbles to create a relatively flat surface on which to create your garden.
Now place in an area where fairies are sure to visit: garden, deck, porch, bedroom windowsill, or dresser near a window.
Seattle has an amazing Instagram community of uplifting, inspiring and awesome accounts. Here are some of our local favorites
Are you looking for Instagram inspiration? We tirelessly scrolled through our Instagram feed to bring you a round up Pacific Northwest influencers. These Seattle-area handles will be your go-to guides for things to do, where to play, where to eat in Seattle with kids, and where to book your next travel adventure. Get ready to meet your next Insta-bestie!
The Best Seattle-Based Instagram Accounts You Should Follow
This PNW mama of two is an amazing resource for the best playgrounds, hikes and kid-friendly adventures Washington has to offer. She posts amazing photos of all the places her family explores and writes honest reviews. We love her positivity, inclusivity and feed full of incredibly bookmark-able material. Your next outing is a follow away!
Emma is a Seattle content creator with a feed full of fashion, lifestyle and beautiful photography—and she’s expecting! Who doesn’t love adorable baby bump pics? Whether you’re looking for outfit ideas or a place to frolic in a field of towering sunflowers, Emma has you covered. Her account is, in a word, gorgeous!
Honestly, you need Andrea’s tips for tasty eats in your daily feed! Her reels are so good you can practically taste and smell the food. Be warned though, this account comes with serious cravings. Find the best, most unique (and delicious) hidden gems here!
This awesome Pacific Northwest mama has great recommendations for things to do around Seattle with little ones. We love her tips and if you sneak on over to her curated account, @nicks_plate21, the feed is full of the cutest kids’ plates. If you’re like us and your child is a picky eater—this is the account for you. You’ll be making heart shaped waffles and bento boxes in no time.
Krista is a mama of 3, and her account is all about navigating the friendly skies with kids—she loves adventures near and far. We love her travel tips and travel hacks. Book your next adventure with @mamabearintheair!
Are you always on the look out for a good book? We have the perfect Instagram account for you to follow next. Sara has the best recommendations for picture books. Make room in your library (and feed) for colorful, wonderful, page-turning books.
Janet Kim is a TV reporter turned PR pro, and we love her feed. She juggles it all—kids, career and adventures. She makes planning outings a breeze with great tips, detailed itineraries and fun ideas for kids (and adults). We also love how kind she is—you’ll regularly see shoutouts on her stories to other amazing PNW mamas.
Do you like easy recipes, shopping, travel, family fun and savings? We thought so. Because we do too! Follow along with these two thrifty moms. They have the best local guides insider tips.
Whitney is one of the most inspiring mamas we know. Her feed is filled with Malachi (her awesome and adorable son). She gives a glimpse into being a wife, caregiver and “medical mom.” And she’s an advocate for more equitable and inclusive communities for children with disabilities. From lifestyle content to travel and self-care, her feed is so good!
Have you every scrolled through someone’s Instagram feed and had serious photo envy? Yep! Emilia is your photography role model. Her content is breathtaking. Her photos give a beautiful lens into motherhood, and we are here for it.
Editor’s Note: We can’t help but add our very own writer, Katheryn Mueller to this list—she brings so much fun and joy to Instagram while keeping it real. We love how she totally embraces the PNW lifestyle and we can’t get enough of her insider intel when it comes to hikes, wine content, and snow play with kids.
PS: Don’t forget to follow @tinybeanskids for more content crafted perfectly for you!
Acts of kindness can be small gestures or big efforts, and they’re all important
Kids are naturally compassionate, so why not take a few minutes today (and every day) to foster that inherent kindness? From simple gestures like giving up your seat on the bus to giving your kids’ teacher a “just because” gift, we’ve found over 75 simple acts of kindness that’ll allow you and the kids to pay it forward.
1. Offer to pick up groceries for an at-risk or elderly neighbor.
2. Compliment a stranger.
3. Collect your child’s old books that they no longer read and donate them to a children’s center, shelter, or local library.
4. Pay the bridge toll of the person behind you.
5. Bring flowers to a coworker or friend.
6. Carry someone’s groceries to their car for them.
7. Send a friend a positive text.
8. Ask a stranger how they are feeling today, and actually listen to the answer.
9. Bake cookies and deliver them to the local fire or police station.
10. Leave a big tip for a server or delivery person.
11. Make sandwiches and distribute them to the homeless in your neighborhood.
12. Help a senior cross the street.
13. Give up your seat on the bus.
14. Deliver a meal or a potted plant to a random neighbor.
16. Donate dog or cat food to the local animal shelter (call to ask them what brands they need). Many shelters want and need old blankets and towels as well.
17. Send a postcard to someone you love, even if they live nearby (or in the same house!).
18. Make a donation of a birthday box to a local food shelter: include items like cake mixes, frosting, candles, balloons, and party hats.
19. If it’s a hot day, hand out cold bottles of water.
20. If it’s raining, share your umbrella for a few blocks.
21. Make kindness cards from drawings and paintings of kids’ art. Drop a few by the nearest senior center and ask if they can use them for anyone who needs a bit of cheer.
29. Give thanks for everyday things, not just big acts or gifts. “Thank you for making me laugh today,” or “Thank you for helping me figure out that math problem,” or even simply, “Thank you for loving me.”
64. Add extra time to your meter for the next person.
65. Gather up gently used clothing and donate via ThredUp using their Donation Clean Out Kit.
66. Starting today, thank someone once a week for a year. You can send a thank-you via mail, email, text, phone, or in person. Make a little list of thank-yous and revisit them in 52 weeks.
67. Sit with someone new at lunch.
68. Ask a kid you don’t usually play with to play with you at recess.
69. Find a story or post you like, and let the writer know it meant something to you.
70. Be patient while waiting in line.
71. Leave a glowing review for a business or employee who helped you or your kids.
72. Give someone the benefit of the doubt.
73. Be a courteous and kind driver.
74. Be kind to urban animals and wildlife: do not chase pigeons or throw coins in a fountain where fish live.
75. Leave a note of kindness in the pocket of a coat in a clothing store, like “You look great in this!” or “You are more important than you could ever know.”
76. Order a new book from our list of diverse books for kids, and have it sent to a friend.
77. Send a friend or relative a sweet surprise from Sugarwish.
78. Wave hi to someone you don’t know!
79. Ask a friend if they need any help: could you walk their dog or drop off a book to read?
The network’s annual event starts Oct. 1 and includes lots of kid-friendly picks as well as scarier options for when the kids are in bed (we see you, A Quiet Place).
Check out the full “31 Nights of Halloween” schedule from Freeform below. With at least two movies a day there are plenty of ways to get your Halloween spirit on all month long! (Note: All times Eastern, unless otherwise noted.)
Week of Oct. 1
Disney
Saturday, Oct. 1
7:00a/6:00c - Edward ScissorHands
9:10a/8:10c - The Witches (1990)
11:20a/10:20c - The Haunted Mansion (2003)
1:25p/10:20c - Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas
These names aren’t old-fashioned; they’re classics! These traditional baby names are the most popular names for girls and boys in the past 100 years, according to the Social Security Administration. We’ll also tell you where each name comes from and what it means.
Top 10 Classic Baby Names for Girls
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Mary Origin: Hebrew Meaning: Beloved
Patricia Origin: Latin Meaning: Noble
Jennifer Origin: English Meaning: White wave
Linda Origin: Spanish Meaning: Pretty
Elizabeth Origin: Hebrew Meaning: My God is an oath
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Barbara Origin: Greek Meaning: Stranger, foreigner
Susan Origin: Hebrew Meaning: Lily
Jessica Origin: Hebrew Meaning: God beholds
Sarah Origin: Hebrew Meaning: Princess
Karen Origin: Scandinavian Meaning: Pure
Top 10 Classic Baby Names for Boys
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James Origin: Hebrew Meaning: Supplanter
John Origin: Hebrew Meaning: God is gracious
Robert Origin: English Meaning: Bright fame
Michael Origin: Hebrew Meaning: Who is like God?
William Origin: German Meaning: Strong-willed warrior
Anyone else feel a mild sense of panic at the word “resilience”?
You worry you aren’t doing enough to build your kid’s resilience. You worry you aren’t doing it right. You worry because the stakes are so high. You worry because you don’t even know the difference between “resilience” and “resiliency.” (Is there a difference?) And your kid quit T-ball after just one practice. And your kid cried after losing Parcheesi. And your kid just seems, well, flimsy.
[Cue timid hand raise.]
Fear not.
Whether you mean to be or not, you are building your child’s resilience all the time.
That’s right. ALL THE TIME.
Each time you sign your child up for soccer or baton twirling or chess club, you are teaching the value of cultivating passions. Each time you ask your child to do a chore, you’re imparting self-efficacy. Each time you insist your child floss, you are instructing them on self-care. Each time you remind your child not to interrupt when you’re on the phone, you are teaching empathy and effective communication. Each time you say “After you,” and hold the door open for a stranger walking into a store at the same moment as you, you are modeling generosity and connection for your child.
So is this enough? Probably. But there’s an easy way to make all that you do and all that you say more than enough.
Simply help your child realize how they feel after they do something good.
That means not just teaching your child self-efficacy by assigning chores. It’s taking it one small step further by asking how your child feels about helping the family in this way. It means not just creating a self-care routine in flossing, but taking a quick moment to ask your child how it feels to be doing something for their physical well-being. Obviously, your child knows that he likes chess. But does your child know what it is about chess that he likes? The strategizing? The black and white pattern of the board and the miniature pieces? The feeling of winning?
And instead of just opening that door for the stranger at the store, it means saying afterward to your child, “Wow, that made me feel really good to do something for someone else.” Not only will you be modeling this type of thinking for your child. You’ll actually be triggering your child to think about how they feel. Hearing YOU talk about your emotions will cause your child to think about THEIRS. That’s because it’s just about impossible to hear someone talk about a sensation, without reflecting on your own experience. If someone says, “I feel cold,” our natural inclination is to check in with ourselves to see if we’re cold too. That’s built into our biology.
One of the most important protective factors we can possess on the journey towards resilience is self-awareness. And conversation is our gateway to awakening.
When kids know themselves—their needs, their strengths and weaknesses, when they know what drives them, what gets their blood flowing, as well as what gets their blood boiling—when kids understand who they really are, they’re able to set realistic goals for themselves, they are able to tend to their own needs, recognize their own limitations, and make responsible choices.
According to Thrive Global, Arianna Huffington’s company that aims to improve the well-being of people and communities, self-awareness is all about asking yourself the right questions.
When it comes to sparking self-awareness in our children, it’s all about asking them the right questions. Our job as parents is to help our kids learn toreflect on their experiences, not just have an experience.
Plus, growing our children’s self-awareness will not just help them understand themselves better. It will help you understand your child better, and along with that, it will help you connect to them better.
And perhaps you’ll never wonder if it’s “resilience” or “resiliency” again.
After losing a brother to suicide, Devin Tomiak was driven to understand youth resiliency. Her personal mission to strengthen her relationship with her children, develop their emotional intelligence, and improve the communication skills of her whole family led her to create The Biggies Conversation Cards for elementary-aged kids.
Remember that 14-hour trip to New Zealand, that 10-hour trip to Japan or even that 6-hour redeye flight cross country? Did you sleep a lot? Did you sleep at all? Chances are if you’re a mom, you didn’t sleep much on that flight and here are the top 10 reasons why.
1. There are so many movies to watch that you haven’t seen—and won’t get to see at home. When was the last time you got to watch a movie uninterrupted? Most kids can’t stay up the entire flight, so choose a flick (or two or three) and watch that movie.
2. You don’t want to miss the meals. They may not be good but someone else cooked them AND will clean up the dishes and trash for you. For a mom, that’s first-class service even if you’re stuck in coach.
3. This may be the only quiet time you get (ever) so you stay up to enjoy it. Just you and the hum of the plane.
4. The guy across the aisle to your right has a bright light on his laptop keeping you from sleeping. You can’t turn left cause your toddler will start pulling on your eyelids. (This may or may not have happened to me on the way to New Zealand).
5. Speaking of movies, there’s bound to be a movie starring the Rock (aka Dwayne Johnson), meaning there’s a huge chance you’ll get to see him with his shirt off. Okay, it doesn’t matter who it is. Any cutie in a movie might take his shirt off!
6. Your partner is already asleep and somebody has to stay up to watch the kids. #momlife
7. You’re on a 12-hour flight but there’s a lot of life to be had so you’re already making a to-do list for when you land.
8. You’re just straight-up hardcore. You don’t get sleep at home so why would you sleep on a plane?
9. You’re enjoying an adult conversation with a stranger on the plane.
10. It’s finally, FINALLY, an opportunity to read a book that isn’t made from cardboard, doesn’t rhyme and is longer than five pages.
Angie Stubbs is a mom of two little ones and a wife. She's a travel blogger, agent, cute and quirky, who is traveling her way through her middle age years. Whew! She's authored 2 books, so far, about traveling with her kids as she's seen the positive impact travel has on her family, especially her girls.
We spend most of our children’s lives telling them not to take anything from strangers and definitely do not go to their homes. Except once a year when it becomes totally okay to do those two activities.
That time comes every October 31, greeted by delight by some and eye rolls. When that day comes around, we encourage our children to ring on the doorbells of total strangers and threaten them with a trick if they do not hand over a miniature piece of candy. In an overpriced costume they will wear once. At night. Past their bedtime.
Now I’m not some curmudgeon opposed to candy, costumes, and fun. I personally love that I can make up how many fun-sized Snickers bars add up to one regular sized one (my guess is 27) and delight in hearing the squeals of delight when I pretend that I see a real life (albeit miniature) Jedi standing at my front door. It is great to exchange hellos with the people in my neighborhood and to watch their kids grow up.
And of course, it’s wonderful to see my daughter and her friends show off their costumes and compare their hauls of candy. But there is that part of me that wonders what they must think that one night when the basic rules of stranger danger seem not to apply. Most likely they do not even give it a second thought. I know I didn’t when I was a kid.
Catherine lives with her husband, two daughters, and rescue dog. She can usually be found reading, compulsively volunteering at her daughters' schools, or glaring at an ever growing mountain of laundry.
Ah unwanted but good intentioned advice, the bane of every parents’ existence. From the family member who lets you know that in her day children were much better behaved than they are now to the random parent at the park who launches into the evils of prepackaged food when he notices you hand your child a snack, everyone seems to know how to parent your child better.
It is challenging enough to navigate the ups and downs of parenting without feeling like you’re not only doing your child some irreparable harm by letting them start school without taking a first day photo next to a customized chalkboard or nagging them to just brush their teeth for the love of everything holy without somehow disappointing the well-meaning stranger on the airplane.
Sometimes it takes every bit of will-power not to offer a snarky response or to growl that you are doing the very best you can. And in the end, that is all any of can do. The very best we can. No matter what the lady at the grocery store thinks.
Catherine lives with her husband, two daughters, and rescue dog. She can usually be found reading, compulsively volunteering at her daughters' schools, or glaring at an ever growing mountain of laundry.
