South_agency/Getty Images Have you ever declared "cleaning time!" only to watch your kids vanish, leaving you at war with stray blocks, crayons, and plastic dinosaurs? Every Sunday, I rally my troops (ages 4 and 8) to put their toys away. My optimism lasts about two seconds — until I realize I’m the only one actually cleaning. Welcome to invisible toy organization, that behind-the-scenes realm where moms do most of the work after kids’ so-called "cleaning time." Don’t worry; you’re not alone. Here’s why it happens and how we can actually get our kids to pitch in so we get a...
Wife Shares The Ultimate "If He Wanted To He Would" Experience From Her Husband
TikTok A common refrain in relationship advice these days is the idea of “If he wanted to, he would.” It’s usually used as a kind of reality check for women who feel as though their boyfriend/husband/partner isn’t contributing their fair share, either in the relationship, household, or parenting. The idea is that if he wanted to step up, he would, so if he’s not, it’s because he doesn’t. TikTok creator Sarah Baus recently shared that she actually hates this adage, but has a problem: “I have the embodiment of ‘if he wanted to he would’ in my home.” And guys?...
A Psychologist Says Large Friend Groups Are "Too Much Drama" For Teens
Instagram / @adamgrant There is truly no soap opera that can capture teen friendship drama — and parents can attest that the only thing worse than suffering from the Shakespearian plots of middle school lunch table politics is watching your own child struggle through it. The hardest part of witnessing your teen’s friend drama is that there’s really not much you can do to help (at least, without taking an great, big leap into helicopter parent territory). But a psychologist has a suggestion that might help your kid avoid the mess in the first place. On an episode of the...
A Pediatric Occupational Therapist Says No To Kids Wearing Jeans
TikTok/@Kali.ot Pediatric occupational therapists do so much good for our kids. Whether working in schools or in our homes, they help our kids stay healthy, learn, and thrive. And they have a huge knowledge base, both from their training and their education and from just spending a lot of time working with kiddos. In other words: it’s worth listening to them when they’ve got some simple advice for parents. One children’s occupational therapist, Kali (@Kali.ot on TikTok) made a short video to share one simple way that parents can prepare their kids to have the best day possible: don’t put...