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408 articles
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It was an early Sunday morning in March 2012. I did not get much sleep the night before, because I was 4 months pregnant with our second child, and our first child, Luke, had just received a diagnosis of autism and epilepsy. To say that I was stressed would be an understatement. Related: Your Child Received a Diagnosis, Now What? After speaking to my nursing pediatrician, it was recommended that I join a few community groups for support and resources. It was in this search that I foun
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Lately, there seems to be a growing trend of moms getting down on themselves for not fitting in to their pre-baby jeans a few weeks after having a baby. I have seen it posted on message boards, asked about in class and all of the magazine covers out there certainly don’t help. Your body goes through more changes during the 9 months of pregnancy than a man’s will his entire life. It’s important to respect that—you just grew a human being! Your body has changed, and it will take time to get back i
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Trending: Parenting Changes Dads’ Brains Too Anyone who’s experienced “baby brain” knows that it can be disorienting to forget basic information or not quite feel like yourself. Those sensations are all valid and come with a huge explanation: Pregnancy literally reshapes a mother’s brain. Brain rewiring: Pregnant moms’ brains shed gray matter—about 5% overall. Smarter for motherhood: Expectant mothers’ brains change in the areas that impact empathy and bonding, in anticipation of the work of m
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Preparing for birth, especially your first (as with all things parenting), can feel daunting. Birthing education classes are a common recommendation, but has mindful-based birthing been on your or your loved ones’ radar? We spoke with Certified Mindful Birthing and Parenting Teacher, Claire Zawa, about the basics of mindful birthing, and how the skills gained in this practice can translate more broadly into mindful parenting and living. 1. What is mindful-based birthing? Mindfulness as the awar
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Trending: The Rise of Home Births Earlier this spring I listened to The Birth Keepers, a heavy but captivating podcast series by the Guardian about the free birth trend, which involves giving birth at home without any medical involvement. Emily Oster covered this topic at the beginning of June and was adamant that no one pursue free births. Medically attended home births, however, are a different story. Oster and others point to data that shows more people are turning away from the hospital for
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Parenting IRL: Parenting Coaches, Anyone? Have you ever worked with a parenting coach? Are you interested in working with one? The profession has been on the rise in recent years as demand for parenting education has increased. One member’s asking for recommendations for parenting coaches who could improve a sibling rivalry dynamic in the family and ideally provide an in-home assessment. If you have personal experience or tips you’d like to share, please join the conversation. Trending: Par
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Our daughter is a little over 3.5, but we spent nearly nine months in her second year of life struggling with sleep. What were we thinking?! That’s something Linda Szmulewitz of Sleep Tight Consultants quickly helped us let go of. She taught us to stop troubleshooting in the sleep-deprived moment, set boundaries, and give ourselves a break. I was happy to have the opportunity to ask Linda five questions about sleep for NPN readers in a similar boat. Here’s what she had to say about sleep trainin
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Parenting IRL: Teaching Teens to Save Money Is teaching financial literacy on your parenting to-do list? It might be top of mind or maybnot, considering that financial literacy among U.S. adults is at a 10-year low. That figure includes Gen Z-ers. One NPN member wonders if other parents of teens also require their kids to save. Do you press your kids to save a certain percentage of what they earn? Did you start earlier than high school? Weigh in! Trending: Modern Parenting Is Tough Modern
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Parenting IRL: Venmo and Grad Invites? If you have graduates in your family or social circle, you might have a stack of paper grad party invites on your fridge, in your inbox, or all over your social feeds. But do any of these invites/announcements include a Venmo QR code, like one NPN member recently shared? The original poster is more than happy to give a graduation gift but finds the QR code a bit much. Are paper checks too much of a bother? Do kids not know how to deposit physical checks?!
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It’s the email every Chicago parent dreads. You’re navigating the morning rush, trying to get the kids out the door to school, when the notification pops up: “A case of head lice has been reported in your child’s classroom.” Immediately, your head starts itching and panic sets it. If you just got "the email,” or you’re dreading receiving it, take a few deep breaths and take comfort in knowing that for many families this is a rite of passage, and not a reflection of your parenting or cleanlin
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Parenting IRL “Does your school do personal gifts for teachers at the end of the school year, or do you collect money and buy a gift from the class/grade? What kind of gifts are appropriate/appreciated? I’m doing this for the first time, and I need ideas please!” Both approaches are fairly common, and both can land well depending on your school’s culture and how organized the parent community is. Class/grade collections tend to work better for bigger gifts (a
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Parenting IRL “My daughter is in 7th grade. She had what seem like normal periods, but she thinks they are so heavy and wants to go on birth control. I have no idea who put this idea in her head, but she is obsessed with the concept and wants to do this before camp as she is concerned about a heavy period there. Is this a thing? (And for those of you who question if she is thinking about having sex, it’s a no. She isn’t interested in boys yet — or girls I suppose.) Thoughts?”
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Parenting IRL “Does anyone know of an elementary school where parents have successfully reduced students’ exposure to screens and ed tech? I’ve been surprised by how much time my kids and my friends’ kids are on Chromebooks at school. For the most part, it doesn’t seem like the hardware and software they’re using adds any value or efficiency. Would love to hear stories where ed tech has been proven — in an unbiased way — to improve student and teacher outcomes, or the converse.”
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Compiled while… Wondering if the neighbor’s dog will ever stop barking at… clouds? Blades of grass? We can’t tell. Should you look at your kid’s cellphone? “I recently checked my 14-year-old son’s iPad for school-related things, and I saw some texts about skipping class to meet his girlfriend — along with some pretty explicit messaging and mentions of inappropriate pictures on Snapchat between the two of them. What should I do?” We’ve all said, “a
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Compiled while…Wondering if it’s finally safe to put the winter coat away. (It’s not, but we’re choosing optimism.) “I need to host an end-of-year party for a group of 15-year-olds… What do kids this age like to do?” Given that some of us (ahem) are a couple decades older than our kids, it can be tough to know how to host a party for today’s teens. They’re too old for a juggling clown or petting zoo, but too young to be part of the grown-up world.
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Compiled while marveling at how everything seemed to bloom overnight! Welcome to Chicago, spring!! Does this mean I need to get out and start doing some gardening…? — Joel from NPN Parenting IRL “Our son has been eating out at lunch way too often, and it’s just not financially sustainable or healthy. We’re totally fine with him grabbing food off-campus sometimes, but we really need him to eat school lunch at least 2–3 days
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This book is about how being on your device is not good and there are many ways to fix that. It is written for any young person with a device that they use every day, especially teens and tweens. · Did you know that if you turn your screen to black and white you are less likely to want to use your device? · Did you know that you need two screen-free hours before bed so your body can recharge, and you feel less tired in the morning? · Did you know t
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If summer camp is part of your family’s plan, January and February are key months. Many camps start filling up by March, and waiting too long can mean fewer options or settling for something that’s not quite the right fit for your child. If you’re thinking ahead (or trying to catch up), here’s a realistic summer camp planning timeline, along with tips that have helped Chicago parents navigate the process with less stress. A Realistic Summer Camp Planning Timeline for Pare
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Sleep is a tender subject for me. I’m neither a morning person nor a night owl. I hated sleepovers as a kid because contrary to the name, not much sleep happened. And then I became a mother. Obviously, sleep was elusive those first few years, but it really took a toll on me. My diagnosis of postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety had a lot to do with the difficulty I had parenting through the night and desperately trying to get my new baby to sleep. Nowadays, and two more kids l
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It’s every parent’s daily puzzle: you ask, “How was school today?” and your child answers with the dreaded one word response, “good.” While short responses are totally normal, they don’t always give you the full picture of how your child is really doing - socially, emotionally, or academically. The truth is, kids often need a little help opening up. By asking thoughtful, specific questions, you can create space for them to share their experiences and feelings in a safe way. Here are
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When we think about back-to-school season, most of the focus lands on the morning hustle of packing lunches, racing the clock, and getting everyone out the door on time. But here’s the secret many parents overlook (myself included...until now!): what happens after school may actually matter more than what happens before it. The after-school hours set the tone for the entire evening, influencing everything from your child’s mood to their ability to learn and your family’s overall stre
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What does resistance look like? A member posted this question to the NPN discussion forum in January and it sparked something in me. That night, while I sat in the car during my son’s soccer practice, I banged out this essay, below. Although we’re publishing it several months later, I think it’s still relevant. ------------------------ As a person, neighbor, friend, mother, and the director of an inclusive organization that works to make parenting in Chicago e
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Pride Month in Chicago is a vibrant celebration of love, acceptance, and community - and families across the city have more ways than ever to join in the fun. Whether you’re crafting rainbow art with your toddler, attending a family parade, or dancing at Navy Pier, there’s something for every age and stage. Here are a few family-friendly Pride events happening around Chicago this June: Story Time and Crafts Pride is the perfect time to read books that celebrate love in all its forms. Drag Story
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Mother’s Day in Chicago often brings to mind flowers, brunch reservations, and maybe a last-minute card scribbled with love (and crumbs) from the kids. And while mimosas and pancakes are always welcome, the truth is — many moms are craving something deeper this Mother’s Day. I asked moms across Chicago, from Rogers Park to Beverly, what they really want. The answers? They're refreshingly real. “I want a break. Just a real break.” "I'm with my kids all the time
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