Freelance writer and social media manager frequently published on sites such as The Washington Post and Momtastic. Specializes in parenting topics, health, education, autism and grief.
Why We Need to Talk About Pregnancy & Infant Loss
I am the mother to five children, four of whom I parent every day. My fifth child, Hadley Jane, died in my arms on her third day of life. She was one of triplets, just as perfect as her siblings and just as loved. I miss her every single day. When someone says her name or lets me know that something about her short life touched their own my grieving heart smiles a bit.
I’m not alone. So many parents out there have lost a child, whether by miscarriage, or still birth, or from complications sho...
‘Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2’ Premieres In NYC
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” premiered in NYC last night.
The movie’s cast and celebrity fans of the series turned out for the U.S. premiere, held at Avery Fisher Hall in NYC. It wasn’t quite as big as the London event, but thousands of fans turned out to catch a glimpse of their favorite Harry Potter stars.
Only 2 days, 15 hours, and …. what? Am I the only one counting?
This time around Emma Watson chose a bronze Bottega Veneta dress.
Tom Felton and Jade Olivia
Rupert Grint
...
Red Carpet Photos: 2012 MTV VMA’s
Pink, Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, Emma Watson and more showed off their best red carpet fashion for the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards. Check out the good, the bad and the eyebrow-raising outfits below!
Pink (with husband Carey Hart above)
Star Trek’s Zoe Saldana
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Katy Perry
Nicki Minaj
Amber Rose shows off her baby bump for the first time.
Former Gossip Girl star Jessica Szohr
Alicia Keys
Rihanna
Photos by WENN
Cast And Other Celebrities Hit The Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Premiere In NYC
Sarah Jessica Parker was among the celebrities who turned out to show their love of the Harry Potter series along with cast members Emma Watson, Ralph Fienes, Rupert Grint, Daniel Radcliffe, and Tom Felton.
The cast members made the trip across the pond yesterday to promote "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" and to attend the premiere of the film in New York City. Emma, Daniel, and Rupert were making the rounds to the morning talk shows and Emma also taped an interview with David ...
Funny Faces Made By Epically Cute Kids
If there is one thing that everyone can agree on, it’s the adorableness of all the funny faces kids make. I mean, when you take little kids—nature’s favorite thing to throw cuteness into—and combine them with the kind of funny faces grown-ups might make if we weren’t so busy trying not to show others what we’re really thinking, there is no comparison. Kids make priceless expressions! Hearts explode, giggles ensue, and joy is inevitable. It’s a beautiful thing. As are the reasons those kids ar...
50 Activities Your Kids Can Try If They Don’t Like Sports
PeopleImages / Getty Images
When my kids hit the age of three or so, I felt the clock ticking. I needed to figure out what to sign them up to do in order to keep them busy, help them make friends, and follow the unspoken rules of parenthood looming over my head. Most of my family had played soccer, so that seemed the obvious place to start.
My husband volunteered to coach (okay, maybe I volunteered him), and I set out on my search for extra-extra small shin guards and a number three (or was i...
Gifted and Talented Programs Don’t Work For Disadvantaged Students—Some Districts Aim To Change That
Gifted and Talented Programs have become an institution of our educational system. Where there’s a school system with a select group of highly-achieving kids, there is usually a special program designed to challenge them. Often started after a push from parents of gifted children, these programs are said to offer a place for quick-studies to thrive.
But are they really necessary? Do children with high achievement scores actually benefit from being set apart from their peers and being offered ...
First All-Female Space Walk Just Happened—Here’s What It Means For Our Daughters
There are collective cheers going up all over the world from parents and educators of girls. The all-female space walk, originally scheduled for late March, is back on. Astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir completed this monumental walk in space early this morning.
Koch and Meir’s space walk was postponed in March because of the lack of medium-sized space suits to fit both women. The STEM-loving women of the world were disappointed to say the least, but NASA assured the public that they...
Sesame Street Introduces Karli, a Friend For Kids Dealing With Addiction
Sesame Street has done an excellent job of tackling tough subjects over the years. From creating their first homeless character to the first muppet with autism, they’ve aimed to teach our children understanding through exposure to situations they might not be familiar with. At the same time, these characters offer support and representation to kids who are facing some of these tough issues themselves. Last year, Sesame Street introduced us to Karli, a character in the foster care system.
They...
Researchers Say Would-Be Moms (and Dads) Should Stop Drinking Alcohol 6 Months Or More Before Conception
Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) are the most common form of birth defect in infants. In a recent study, researchers found the amount of alcohol parents consume to be a contributing factor to these heart defects in infants, giving way to new guidelines for prospective parents.
According to the CDC, “CHDs affect nearly 1% of―or about 40,000―births per year in the United States.” This new study, published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, reviewed a compilation of 55 previous stud...
Dignity In Schools National Week of Action Seeks To End ‘School Pushout’
This week is the National Week of Action to End School Pushout. Unlike the term “dropout,” which is generally due to a decision or behavior on the part of the student, “school pushout” refers to the way zero-tolerance school discipline can push students out of school through suspensions, expulsions, and even arrests for minor misbehaviors.
The campaign to end school pushouts began out of a need to retain at-risk students in schools rather than have them end up in detention facilities. Statist...
‘No Phones New Friends Friday’ Is Changing School Lunch — And Student Attitudes
When a principal in Iowa saw the number of students spending their lunch hours with their faces in their phones, she knew she needed to do something about it. Janet Behrens, principal of Iowa Valley Junior-Senior High School, was disheartened by how many of the students in her school spent their lunch hour on social media rather than on socialization — so she decided to make a change.
Principal Behrens created a lunchroom policy requiring all students to leave their phones behind during Frida...
Micro-Scheduling to Period Parties: Top Parenting Trends Expected in 2020
With each new year come new predictions for the top trends expected in the next 12 months. Many parents wouldn’t have guessed just a year ago that in 2020 things like scheduling…
Why iPads Should Never Be ‘From Santa’
This advice from an expert about what parents should take credit for on Christmas is as true today as it was when her viral plea initially went out two years ago. Megan Dunn, a social worker and Family Court Case Manager in Atlanta, wrote an impassioned Facebook post about heartbroken families who can’t afford big ticket items, and pleaded with families to make sure expensive gifts don’t come from Santa. Thanks to internet sharing, her post is headed for viral status again this year.
In the p...