5 Reasons the New Show “Pitch” Is Great for the Whole Family

by Erin LemSeptember 7, 2016

You make it a point to encourage your kids to reach for their dreams. Get a little help from the new FOX series, Pitch premiering Thursday September 22nd at 9/8c on FOX. This new series follows Ginny Baker as she becomes the first female pitcher in MLB.

We recently spoke to five parents around the web who detailed their take on FOX’s new drama. Read on to hear from these parents and why they think Pitch will inspire your own kids to follow their hopes and dreams.

1. You Now Have a New Female Role Model
We can probably count on one hand the number of female women of color role models who we’d love our kids to idolize. Good news: this new show adds one more to the pack. Ginny is strong and determined. Click here to read one mom’s take on how this young female athlete protagonist is reason enough to tune into Pitch.

2. It’s All About Believing in Your Kids
If there’s one golden rule of parenting you aspire to fulfill daily it’s to always believe in your kids. According to one mom we spoke to, Pitch exemplifies this and will inspire you to say, “yes you can”, no matter what your child’s dreams are. Read more from this mom and how the new show inspires her to be a better mother.

3. Let’s Break Some Gender Stereotypes
Gone are the days barbies are for girls and trucks are for boys. One dad we spoke to wrote that he would never tell his boys what to play with if it’s not geared towards their gender. Find out more about this dad’s take on Pitch and how it relates to his approach to parenting.

4. Not Just About Sports
Sure, the show follows a rising female athlete, but if sports really isn’t your jam, you’ll still find Pitch inspiring and relatable. In fact, one mom thinks Ginny represents all parents who step up to the mound of parenthood. Hear more from her by clicking here.

5. You’ll Relate to Ginny as a Mom
Now that you’re a parent, your mom goggles are on 24/7. According to one mom, Pitch and the challenges Ginny faces are incredibly relatable to some of the hurdles mothers face daily. Read on to find out how your life as a mom isn’t so far off from Pitch‘s protagonist.

Curious about this new show? Watch the trailer below:

What are your kids dreams? What do they want to be when they grow up? Will you tune in to this new show with your family? Leave us a comment below!

Here’s What Clinton and Trump’s Child Care Plans Mean for Parents

by Red TricycleSeptember 4, 2016

Photo: tylerhoff via Flickr Creative Commons

The election is (finally) just a few days away, and both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have pledged to revolutionize American child care if elected president. Given that child care in America often costs more than college tuition, most parents agree that we need daycare that is affordable and accessible.

Care.com released a report that explains just what Trump and Clinton have planned for child care and family leave — and what it means for you. The data was collected from the candidate’s website, along with reports from the Care Index, the Census Bureau, AARP, and Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Clinton’s plan:

Caps the cost of child care at 10 percent of a family’s household income.
Gives families more in-home and in-center savings.
Seeks to make quality child care available to more college students by awarding scholarships of $1,500 per year for up to 1 million student parents and increasing access to on-campus center care, serving an additional 250,000 children.
Provides up to 12 weeks of paid leave for a mom or dad after the birth or adoption of a child, and to anyone to care for sick family members; it would be paid at two-thirds of the employee’s regular salary.

Trump’s plan:

Allows parents exclude the state’s average cost of childcare from income tax until children reach age 13.
Offers more incentives to stay-at-home parents.
Says families would be able to deposit up to $2,000 per year (tax-free) for each child in a Dependent Care Savings Account, which they could use for child care, education or enrichment.
Provides six weeks of maternity leave for women after the birth or adoption of a child, paid at the same amount the mother would collect in unemployment benefits had she been laid off. This proposal excludes fathers.

Under both plans, Care.com estimates found about 2 million additional American mothers would be able to take paid maternity leave in a given year.

Care.com illustrates this information in an infographic. It’s calculations used households with two parents at three different income levels– the federal poverty level, median household income, and Top 1 percent in the United States– and in five “swing” states: Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Photo: Care.com

Of course, there’s no guarantee the winning candidate will actually implement any of this. Still, for the first time perhaps ever, family-specific policies could make or break the election.

Who’s plan do you prefer? Let us know in the comments below!

The Affordable Way to Visit SoCal’s Top 4 Attractions

by Erin LemJanuary 19, 2016

If you’re looking ahead to a summer vacation that’s packed with fun (and a little sun), head to Southern California for the family getaway of your dreams. With warm weather and theme parks with something for every age and interest, the region promises a memorable trip. The best part? You can visit without breaking the bank thanks to CityPASS. Flip through the photo gallery to discover four must-visit attractions in SoCal and why you should grab a CityPASS (it’s available as an admission ticket or e-ticket) before embarking on your adventure.

Disneyland® Park and Disney California Adventure® Park

A trip to Southern California wouldn’t be complete without a journey to the Magic Kingdom. Zoom through a desert landscape in Cars Land, meet your favorite characters like Cinderella and Mickey, and head into space in a 3-D, motion-simulated flight in Star Tours - The Adventures Continue.

CityPASS Perks
Your CityPASS will get you a 3-day Park Hopper® ticket with unlimited back-and-forth access to both Disneyland® Park and Disney California Adventure® Park.

photo: © Disney • Pixar

CityPASS Details and Cost:
Click here to save $136 off combined admission to Southern California’s family-friendly theme parks with CityPASS. The cost is $341 for adults (a $477 value) and $311 for children 3-9 years old. Buy yours now.

What is your favorite SoCal theme park? Do you have any tips for navigating these destinations with a family? Leave a comment below!

— Erin Lem

New Study Ranks the Best & Worst States to Raise a Family In 2017

by Red TricycleJanuary 18, 2016

Photo: Pexels

When choosing a place to settle down and raise a family, many factors come into play: career opportunities, location of family and friends, school districts, outdoor settings, etc. Yet, according to a study by WalletHub, some states are simply better to raise a family than others.

In the study, WalletHub’s data team evaluated and compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on 40 key indicators of “family-friendliness”– such as housing affordability, paid family leave, daycare quality, and (uh-oh!) divorce rate.

Read through for the rankings as well as some notable highlights from the study.

10 Best States to Raise a Family

1. North Dakota- Total Score: 65.81 (Ranked #2 in socioeconomics*)

2. New Hampshire- Total Score: 65.59

3. Vermont- Total Score: 65.24 (Ranked #1 in health and safety*)

4. Minnesota- Total Score: 65.22 (Ranked #2 in affordability*)

5. Nebraska- Total Score: 64.18

6. Massachusetts- Total Score: 63.98

7. New Jersey- Total Score: 63.84 (Ranked #1 in education and child care*)

8. Iowa- Total Score: 63.25 (Ranked #1 in affordability)

9. Connecticut- Total Score: 62.93

10. South Dakota- Total Score: 62.70 (Ranked #1 in family fun*)

10 Worst States to Raise a Family:

10. Alabama- Total Score: 44.32

9. West Virginia- Total Score: 44.27 (Ranked #51- in family fun)

8. Georgia- Total Score: 44.13

7. Arizona- Total Score: 43.56

6. Alaska- Total Score: 43.37 (Ranked #50 in health and safety)

5. Nevada- Total Score: 42.39

4. Louisiana- Total Score: 42.00

3. District of Columbia- Total Score: 41.13 (Ranked #51 in socioeconomics)

2. Mississippi- Total Score: 39.85 (Ranked #50 in affordability, family fun)

1. New Mexico- Total Score: 38.58 (Ranked #50 in education/child care, socioeconomics; ranked #51 in affordability)

Notable highlights:

The most affordable housing can be found in Iowa, Nebraska, the Dakotas, and Kansas, whereas homes in Massachusetts, New Jersey, California, Hawaii, and DC are the least affordable.
The lowest infant mortality rate can be found in California, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, whereas Alabama, Mississippi, and Oklahoma have the highest.
The lowest childcare costs can be found in Mississippi and South Dakota, whereas District of Columbia and New York pay the most for child care.
Utah, North Dakota, and New Jersey have the lowest divorce rate. District of Columbia, Nevada, and Florida have the highest divorce rate.

*Categories:

Family Fun (includes number of attractions, fitness & recreational sports centers per capita, and average commute time)
Health & Safety (includes quality of public hospitals, infant mortality rate, water and air quality)
Education & Child Care (includes public high school graduation rate, child-care costs, and parental leave)
Affordability (includes housing affordability, median credit score, median family annual income, and employer-based retirement plans)
Socioeconomics (includes separation and divorce rate, share of families receiving food stamps, paid family leave, and job security)

Scroll over to see where your state ranked.

Source:

ML Interest Tag: family-leave

5 Reasons the New Show “Pitch” Is Great for the Whole Family

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