ML Interest Tag: only-child

What Stage of Motherhood Are You In?

By Kim Ennis

As our children grow from infant to toddler to school age, so much takes place in each of these young stages of life. Same goes for us Moms. From Newborn Mom, to Preggo Mom, to Two under Two Mom, here are some of the many stages of a young mom.

The Newborn Mom: A new mom, brand new, with big eyes of excitement and a little (or a lot) of fear of the unknown. This stage is so beautiful, and one of the greatest transitions of your life. You try so hard to do it all perfectly and sometimes it can feel like you are failing. Just working on the basics, sleeping, eating and changing diapers can be overwhelming. This is unchartered territory. You are constantly searching for the right answers and struggle to find them between our instincts, and input from others and what a book or website says. It can take a while to find your groove and get into a routine. As new mothers, you strive for perfection. You aim high and hold yourself accountable. 

The Amazon Mom: When I discovered Amazon, I felt like I hit the jackpot! At the time, Amazon Mom was a new thing and I happily paid my annual subscription to have 2-day delivery and diapers and wipes on my doorstep. I was on maternity leave and my baby slept a lot, to my surprise. After the first few weeks home, I then had time to research and look for all of the things that could possibly help me and my baby. And of course, I didn’t want to leave the house very often with a newborn. All of the things I thought we needed were at my fingertips, right there on Amazon: pumping accessories, lanolin, muslins, pacifiers, diaper cream, teething toys and even nursing bras. A new humidifier, why not? The baby things in our house really began to accumulate.

The Organic Mom: You reach a point where you are ready to begin introducing solid foods and swear you will never feed our baby McDonalds or processed food ever. You strive to make our baby only organic, homemade fruits and veggies and later grains, and chia seeds and then document and chart all of the new foods weekly. If your baby is in daycare, you may provide the most specific and lengthy instructions about the feeding of your baby to their caregiver. You stress and worry if they are getting enough nutrition and healthy balance of fruit, veggies, protein and Omega-3s. If their dirty diaper looks weird, after eating said fruit and veggies, you Google it. 

The Pregnant Again Mom: Pregnant Mom, aka tired as hell mom. Now you have a toddler and are afraid of introducing your first baby to a new baby almost as if you are cheating on them. You fear for the full 9 months of pregnancy about how they are possibly going to handle not being an only child and how you will divide your attention. The worry is so intense you forget that you yourself actually have a sibling, you are fine (mostly), and in fact realize your sibling may have been the greatest gift in your childhood life. (I know my brother is.) You need someone to remind you that giving your baby a sibling is a beautiful thing, a friend for life. But regardless, you are a tired, pregnant Mom and begin, for the first time in your motherhood, to let things slip a little. You consider dozing off on the couch while watching Saturday morning cartoons. You might skip bath night here or there because you are simply exhausted. You also worry about the costs of another baby and naturally, your mind starts thinking about efficiency in your budget, time and life. Can we reuse these clothes, the crib, car seat and stroller? Yes, you definitely can.

The Two Under Two Mom: Hello second baby and that amazing sensation, all over again. The incredible smelling head, teeny tiny feet, sweet yawns and the newborn size diapers. How much you have already forgotten! Things really start getting into perspective here. And then there’s guilt. Your first cries because you are holding your second. Your second cries because, well, babies cry. And then you cry too. So much transition has to take place for months to come. But eventually #1 warms up to #2 and actually likes their new baby. You see them interact for the first time and it warms your heart like nothing ever has before in your entire life, ever. And you cry again. Happy tears, sad tears, this stage is the fullest of emotions.

The Mom of Multiple Kids: A few months pass and once again you have found your groove. You learn that you can reuse all of those blankets, the car-seats, bottles, stroller, etc. But you upgrade your diaper bag from your old designer one to a new handy, extra-large duffle bag to handle your size 1 and size 6 diapers, bottle and sippy cups, wipes, snacks, and change of clothes for two. And you couldn’t be happier! Yes, you are running off coffee and fumes but you feel like a million bucks when you get everyone dressed and out the door in the morning as if you have conquered the world. Now two lives depend on you and Dad and you realize THIS is the time of your life. Who needs sleep anyway?

If It Isn’t Broken Mom: Your new routine becomes normal, you match their clothes for fun and your oldest can talk now, is potty training and can be a sweet little helper. You can start bathing them together and maybe, just maybe, things are getting easier. You feel yourself relax a little and you don’t worry so much about the small stuff. You are a pro by now! A fly on the wall might say, “Aren’t you going to do something about that?” when the kids are in disarray. But no one is getting hurt, or in danger and for goodness sake, you just sat down. You might even rip tags off clothes and put them right on your kids without even washing them! (Ha! Newborn Mom would have never done this.) This may also be the stage where you realize your social life is nonexistent (unless you count meet-ups at the park) and your clothes may be going out of st‌yle. Have you bought any new clothes since you purchased your maternity wardrobe? When is the last time you and your husband had a date night?

The Soccer Mom: This is the season for mini-vans, huge SUVs and soccer, baseball, ballet, piano, gymnastics and karate. It is all about efficiency and running from one extracurricular to the next. How do you run kids in different directions when both parents have extraordinarily busy and demanding jobs? I do not know because I am not here yet. But I know plenty of parents who do it and juggle everything else on their plate. I know this stage will certainly be busy but I am prepared, with a three row vehicle and all, for when the time comes.

 

The Light at the End of the Tunnel: Whether existent or not, this is the stage that we all aspire to. The days get easier. They have to, right? You lean on your Mom tribe to give you insights and to tell you that it does get easier. One day they will be wiping their own butt, reading a book, doing homework and maybe even caring about their grades. This transition may hard to accept when they don’t need us for every little thing. It may be freeing and equally saddening. But as strong, amazing mothers to littles, who feel as though we have already lived a lifetime at this point, we will reflect fondly. We have to cling to and remember all of the beautiful stages we lived through with our babies, when they were young.

This post originally appeared on https://lifeloveandlittleboys.com/.

Located in Bloomington, Indiana I am a wife, full-time working Mom to 3 boys, a part-time graduate student & a writer. I am also an optimist, problem solver, peacemaker, gardener, runner and a crazy-busy mom just trying to enjoy each moment. I truly value my friends, family and my mommy tribe.

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A Letter to My “First Baby”

By Rachel Jones-Pittier

Photo: Rachel Jones-Pittier

Riding in the car that day you sat, as always, on my lap (which really meant taking up half the front seat). Daddy drove, and our meticulously packed duffel bag sat in the backseat. As we prepared to drop you off at Nana’s, it dawned on me – this might be the last time with just the three of us in the car together. Everything was about to change. And you, my sweet pup, would no longer be an “only child.”

Let’s be honest, you had it pretty good those first six years – doggy daycare, long scenic walks, a bed and toys at the office; you joined us for friends’ game nights, al fresco dinners and vacations. Some saw you just as a pet, we saw you as a family member. And we were about to add another family member – but human.

Four days after that tense drive (an eternity to you), we came home, but we weren’t alone. We brought a tiny, pungent, noisy… thing. It was hard to get a good look at it through the blanket, and you couldn’t understand why we guarded it so closely from your wet nose and eager tongue. Our nickname for the thing, “Baby Sissy,” only piqued your curiosity.

As much as we all hoped things at home would go back to normal, nighttime was anything but. Throughout the night we were interrupted by Baby Sissy’s sharp, demanding cries. I’m sure we wondered the same thing – how could a noise so loud come from something so small?? The days of snuggling up together for eight hours of uninterrupted sleep were gone.

Daytime was just as hectic. For awhile, I was not a good walk partner. A few times, Nana had to remind us to feed you. Your space was taken over by new toys and gear that you couldn’t play with. And your usual stroll around the yard for the perfect spot was cut short as we stood in the doorway with a crying… lump.

Friends had warned me that in the anxiety and sleep deprivation of those early weeks, we might take stress out on you. But it was actually the opposite – you were a reprieve. Though we loved your Baby Sissy immensely, there was so much about her that was new and unknown; but you were familiar. When I felt at my lowest, you were there to remind me it would be ok. When it seemed all Baby Sissy could do was take – my body, love, time and sleep – there you were to give. Uncomplicated, enthusiastic and overflowing with affection.

Those moments also reminded me that you’d make a great “Big Sissy.” It wasn’t overnight, but a wonderful thing happened in the time since we brought home the lump – a tiny human emerged.

Now you know Baby Sissy as the little person who drops tasty food scraps for you, squeals with delight when you enter a room and gives you whole-body hugs. We’re confident that for most of your days together, Baby Sissy will multiply the affection and love you receive – not take it away.

I know the first few months were hard on you, pup. Believe me, they were hard on us, too. But if there’s one thing I hope to communicate to you, it’s that you haven’t lost our love or your place in our family. You’ll always be my first baby.

 

Rachel Jones-Pittier
Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Rachel Jones-Pittier is a millennial mom, marketer and writer based in the Twin Cities. She enjoys coffee shops, fawning over her adorable baby and dog and family trips to the cabin. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @rachrific.

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Family Tales: How Being a Working Mom Has Made Me a Better Parent

by Erin Lem

Our new series, Family Tales, is an honest peek into the daily lives of families across the country who are on this crazy ride we call parenthood! From divulging childcare costs to breaking down family finances to managing bedtime routines with multiple kids, we tap into the Red Tricycle army of parents to find out how they’re making it work. This series is a judgment-free zone.

Interested in telling your story? Start by filling out our questionnaire here. All stories are anonymous.

How Being a Working Mom Has Made Me a Better Parent (and Human Being)

My age and occupation: 32, executive assistant
My partner’s age and occupation: 34, engineer

Annual household income: $145,000
City: A Denver suburb

Childcare costs per year: $16,000 (we pay over the table)
How we found our childcare: We visited five different childcare centers in close proximity to work and home and went with our gut.
Our kid(s) ages: one son who will turn two in May

Despite my husband’s new job (and higher pay that comes along with it), after giving birth I knew I didn’t want to be a stay-at-home mom as much of my confidence and happiness come from my work. So, even though we live in a suburb where one parent (which I noticed almost always happens to be the mother) can stay home or work from home part-time, I knew that path wasn’t for me. And, it works for our family. As I remind myself, a happy mom is the best type of mom.

Here’s what a typical day looks like for our family:

Morning: We Play Offense Instead of Defense

My husband and I both wake up between 5 and 5:30 a.m. daily. We both like to get dressed and ready for the day before our 21-month-old wakes up. We prefer to play offense rather than defense when it comes to morning time with our son.

My husband eats before leaving for work between 6:30 and 7 a.m. My son wakes up sometime between 6 and 7 a.m. It’s a total crapshoot, but he sleeps through the night so we don’t mind. I never wake our son up, I always wait until he is awake on his own to get our day started. He eats breakfast at daycare and I eat mine at work, so I get him dressed and he heads to daycare for the day. My office arrival is flexible so I arrive between 7 and 8:30 a.m. depending on the day and how much I have going on.

Believe it or not, we started looking at childcare options when I was about 4 to 5 months along which I thought was plenty far in advance. We were 20th on a wait-list at some centers, which seems crazy. If you want to give yourself plenty of options, I’d recommend starting the childcare search as soon as you know you are expecting. We chose a center over in-house daycare or a nanny because the extra structure and professionalism at a center (plus, the state license) personally gives me peace of mind. Plus, there is always back-up care at the center if one of the teachers calls in sick.

Afternoon: You Don’t Have to Do It All to Get It All Done

My stay-at-home mom friends wonder how I can go to work and I wonder how they can stay home, but there is no right way to be a mom.

I work until 3:30 or 4:30 p.m. depending on how my day goes. I know that when I’m at work, my son is learning all kinds of things that I would have never thought of as a stay-at-home mom—songs, sign language, and more. He is learning to play with others which is important to us as he maybe will be an only child (we haven’t decided on whether to have #2 just yet). They feed him breakfast and lunch, which is a huge help.

I know that I made the right choice for myself in going back to work, but it certainly wasn’t easy and not without some disappointment. I chose to breastfeed which meant I was hauling my pump to work every day. I would have preferred to breastfeed until our son turned one, but my supply dropped and we only made it through seven months before we had to supplement with formula. I also sometimes feel bummer that I miss out on mommy-and-me classes that seem to only be offered during the week like music, dance and story time at the library which all sound like so much fun.

When I leave work I might run a few errands (fueling up my car, picking up dry cleaning, groceries, etc). A lot of these errands I cram into the after-work hours because that’s the only time I have free to get it done.

I will always work, but I think that there is value in my son seeing his mom go to work everyday and having a dad that spends a lot of 1:1 time with him. If I make it home before the boys I change out of my work clothes, wash off my make-up and pick up around the house and start dinner while listening to a podcast. My husband picks our son up after he is done working between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m.

Evening: Keep It Consistent, But Not Rigid

Meal planning and grocery shopping has never been something I enjoy so our game-changing routine is this: I use a meal delivery service (we switch between Hello Fresh and Plated depending on their menus that week) four nights of the week. We order pizza on Fridays so I only have two nights a week where I am thinking about what to make for dinner. Those nights I do something easy like pasta, tacos, etc. Most importantly, we all eat dinner together around 6 p.m.

photo: Hello Fresh

After dinner we have playtime and our son is always wound up, full of energy and feels his best. We run, chase, jump and dance! We always listen to music while we eat dinner and it’s fun to see which songs our son enjoys the most.

My son takes a bath every other night (he is prone to eczema on his back, knees and elbows so we try not to dry out his skin). Then at 6:45 p.m. we start the bedtime routine, which is books, songs and then lights out by 7:15 p.m. My husband mostly does this routine. I clean the kitchen and living room and make my breakfast and lunch for the next day while he is putting our son down for the night.

 

In our family we know that everyday we have to do the following: 1) work 2) take care of our son 3) feed ourselves 4) keep our house in order and 5) manage our finances. My husband and I both work so that leaves 2, 3, 4 and 5 to be divided between the two of us. We make a great team and my husband spends a lot of 1:1 time with our son so that I can manage the household duties. I like doing them and my husband is a big kid himself so he loves his playtime duties. We split the responsibility of managing our finances and found that keeping a budget that we can both access and manage online is the best way for us. All of this is probably not traditional but it works for us and plays to our strengths as parents. I make sure our son gets to appointments, has diapers, pictures of his pet to share at school, etc. My husband makes sure there is fun and play.

I cherish our time together on the weekends and we make the most of it since weekdays our time is limited. It works for us!

Nighttime: An Early Bedtime Means Time to Ourselves

After 7:15 p.m. the night is ours. An early bedtime lets us be free to do what we want as soon as our son is in his crib. Ninety percent of the time my husband will do a little work or we’ll watch a movie together. If my husband has work to catch up on, I either do a few chores around the house or read. We are both in bed around 9 p.m. and either read or mindlessly scroll through our phones with lights out by 10 p.m. if not earlier.

Our new series, Family Tales, is an honest peek into the daily lives of families across the country who are on this crazy ride we call parenthood! From divulging childcare costs to breaking down family finances to managing bedtime routines with multiple kids, we tap into the Red Tricycle army of parents to find out how they’re making it work. This series is a judgment-free zone.

Interested in telling your story? Start by filling out our questionnaire here. All stories are anonymous.

 

 

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How Often Do You Give Your Kids an Allowance? Here’s What Other Parents Do

7 Creative Snow Day Boredom Busters to Save Your Sanity, Too

By April Sutphen

Snow day: they can be a beautiful thing and a scary thing. We love staying in our pajamas, skipping our commute to work and having that second (or third) cup of coffee. But it can also prove difficult to keep your littles ones occupied.

At least for my son, the novelty of a snow day seems to wear off around 10 a.m. When I report that there’s a snow day, he jumps up and down, never goes back to sleep and darts out of his room. He’s excited, happy, over the moon—until he’s bored. Suddenly, his toys aren’t appealing, he doesn’t like any of his video games and there are no “good shows” on television. How is this possible?

If it’s too cold or snowing too hard to go outside, you have to get creative with ways to keep your kids entertained and happy during snow days—and to help keep you sane!

Crafts

Crafts are a great activity for any day, but especially for a snow day. They allow children to explore their creativity, make their own choices about colors, design, and materials, and have a finished product to save or display when they’re done. Here are just a few awesome crafts you and your kids can enjoy doing together.

Rainbow Looms

Mine can’t be the only child who jumped on the rainbow loom bandwagon. They were all the rage a few years ago and are still popular today. The great thing about them is that they’re appropriate for children of all ages. Younger kids can make the basic fishtail bracelet designs, whereas older kids (and adults) can make more complicated and involved pieces. The color options are endless and since you’re using rubber bands, this craft is mess-free! As an additional bonus, your child will hone his or her fine motor skills.

Paper Projects

Who knew that simple paper could lend itself to so many fun and creative crafts? One of the most well-known paper crafts is the ancient art of origami. Even if you’ve never tried making a bird, flower, or other animal, don’t worry! There are plenty of books and how-to guides available for this fun past time.

Grab some paper and scissors and get cutting! You can make chains of people, snowflakes, or even rings to make necklaces and bracelets. Of course, you can keep it simple and break out paints, markers and crayons to simply draw, make cards or create different scenes from movies and TV shows. Make coloring more interactive and turn it into a game of Pictionary!

Do you have old magazines laying around? These are perfect for making mosiacs. Allow your child to cut out all types of pictures and words and glue them onto a large piece of paper. You’ll be amazed at the beautiful and different masterpieces your child will create. You can also hunt for specific items on the pages. See who can find a cheeseburger, dog or sneaker first. It’s like a mini-scavenger hunt!

Get Active

If crafts just aren’t cutting it for your kids, there are plenty of fun games and activities you can do as a family. This will help everyone get moving and burn off some of that pent-up snow day energy!

Hide-and-Seek

Hide-and-seek is a classic and fun game that you can play virtually anywhere. Be sure to discuss safe hide-and-seek places to hide. Your child can practice their counting and problem solving skills.

If your child is too young to hide themsleves, you can hid items instead of people. Take a small stuffed animal or toy and hide it somewhere in the house. Then, help your child find it by giving hints or guiding them using “hot” and “cold” directions.

Build a Fort

This might not be coined as a game per say, but who doesn’t love building an indoor fort? Whether it’s in your child’s room or in your living room, forts can create hours of entertainment. Grab blankets, chairs, pillows and large sheets and start brainstorming ways to keep your fort up and secure. This is another great problem-solving activity.

The best part is, once the fort is constructed, it gives your child a special place to relax, explore, and hang out for the remainder of the day. They can bring all of their special things inside—stuffed animals, toys and even snacks. Certain companies even make fort-building kits that include clips, suction cups and ropes for easier construction.

Look to the Kitchen

If the weatherman is predicting a snow day, stock up on some ingredients for the kitchen. Your child will love helping you cook and they’ll be learning at the same time. Why not bake some cookies, or banana bread? Baking will warm up the home and leave it smelling delicious. Not to mention, you’ll have a yummy snack to enjoy later in the day once things cool off.

Another fun kitchen activity is making mini-pizzas. Whether you use bagels, dough or premade pizza shells, lay out all the ingredients and allow your child to do it themselves. You can provide sauce, cheese, vegetables, meats and other topping choices.

Cooking and baking provide children with so many great lessons. They can practice their math skills while measuring and counting ingredients. Reading the recipe is great practice for older children. Mixing, pouring, kneading and even decorating help with fine and gross motor skills. The benefits to spending time in the kitchen with your children are endless.

Another non-edible kitchen creation is play dough! Whip up a batch with your child and then have fun playing with it. Just remind them that this mixture is not edible.

Make Snow Day a Fun Day

These are just a few ideas to help you create a fun and interactive snow day. With a little forethought and preparation, you’ll never hear your kids lamenting about being bored again!

Featured Photo Courtesy: Marco/Flickr

I am a 32 year old mother of a son and wife to an officer. I am honest about both the love and struggle of parenting. I enjoy being active and writing is my passion, second only to my family.

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Here’s the One Piece of Technology You Need This Holiday Season

by Erin Lem
Partner Content

In Partnership with Amazon Fire 7 Kids Edition

Thanksgiving week brings a lot to be thankful for: family time, great food and the merry excitement that the holidays have officially kicked off. This year, we’re especially grateful for one more thing: the new Amazon Fire 7 Kids Edition tablet. From its unparalleled parental control features to the thousands of vetted kids books, movies and educational apps, the Amazon Fire Kids Edition Tablet is about to save your Thanksgiving holiday.

Stay-at-home Dad, Alex and his ten-year-old daughter, Stephanie recently tried out the new Amazon Fire 7 Kids Edition tablet. Read on to find out why it’s a must-have for entertainment, education and all-around fun.

1. Worry-Free Guarantee: It Lasts Two Years!

Warranties that are actually no-questions asked are a parent’s best friend. Each new tablet comes with a kid-proof case and a two-year worry-free guarantee. If something happens, return it to Amazon for a replacement. No questions asked.

Alex says: Stephanie is an only child so she is showered with presents during the holidays from both sets of grandparents. We love that the Amazon Fire 7 Kids Edition tablet will last more than one season, and meet her needs as she grows and her interests evolve. And, while she’s a lot more careful with technology than she was a few years ago, accidents do happen. With two dogs and a constantly full house during the holidays, it’s nice to know if the tablet does break, we’re able to replace it with no questions asked.

Stephanie says: All of my grandparents and cousins stay with us for the holidays so it’s pretty crowded. We share each other’s toys and tablets and I like that I can lend my little cousins the Amazon Fire 7 Kids Edition tablet without having to worry about them accidentally dropping it.

2. Amazon FreeTime Unlimited: Boredom Be Gone!

Amazon’s FreeTime Unlimited is an all-in-one subscription service that provides access to over 15,000 kid safe books, videos, apps and games. And it’s good stuff too. We’re talking content from PBS Kids, Disney, Simon & Schuster, Amazon Originals and more. Bonus: each new tablet comes with a one-year free subscription to Amazon FreeTime Unlimited. Kids also have access to over 55,000 websites and YouTube videos that have been hand-selected by the FreeTime team. (Note: YouTube videos and websites are not part of the FreeTime Unlimited subscription and are an additional benefit included with FreeTime).

Alex says: I’m the cook of the family so Thanksgiving dinner is my responsibility. Because our family is so large, I feel like I’m prepping and cooking for three days straight. With Stephanie out of school for the entire Thanksgiving week (yep, the whole week), I don’t have the time to take her out to our usual haunts so it’s great that she can entertain herself with Amazon’s FreeTime Unlimited.

Stephanie says: Since I know my dad won’t be that free during Thanksgiving week, it’s fun to spend some time reading books my teacher recommended. I also like to show my little cousins cool apps and games. They’re a lot younger than I am so I can show them the apps, books and games that are appropriate for their age.

3. Parental Controls: Stop Hovering

Too busy to constantly supervise your kid’s screen time? Don’t stress. The Fire 7 Kids Edition tablet come fully equipped with parental controls, which allow adults to block access to entertainment content until after educational goals are met each day. The control panel also allows parents to manage screen time. Your child can only access the tablet during specified times designated by you.

Alex says: If it were up to Stephanie, she’d spent every single minute on the Amazon Fire 7 Kids Edition tablet. But, call me old fashioned because I still like her to get out for some fresh air. The Parental Controls allow me to set her screentime limits each day so even when I’m busy in the kitchen or running out to do an errand, her screentime expectations are clear and I can keep tabs on what she’s up to even if I’m not right next to her.

Stephanie says: My dad doesn’t keep asking me what I am looking at all the time after we got the Amazon Fire 7 Kids Edition tablet. When I show things to my younger cousins during the holidays, I switch the profile view so everything that they see is ok for their age.

4. Parent Dashboard: Easily Connect with Your Kids

The tablet’s parent dashboard features two main components: daily activity reports allowing you to review the digital content your kids accessed that day and discussion cards, which provides you talking points and sample questions based on the content your kids discovered. This combination of reviewing what your kids see and discussion cards will help parents connect with their kids during the busy holiday season and keep tabs on what they’re enjoying.

Alex says: Stephanie is getting to that tween stage where she’s wanting to exert her independence more and more. But as her dad, I still want to be able to connect with her in ways that go beyond asking superficial questions because let’s face it—soon she’ll be a teenager and I know our communication style will change. The Amazon Fire 7 Kids Edition tablet’s parent dashboard is perfect for this. I can see what she’s been reading and we can discuss it in a way that makes sense for her.

Stephanie says: Before I had the Amazon Fire 7 Kids Edition tablet my dad was constantly asking what I read or did that day online. The parent dashboard helps him know what I’m reading and doing without him always asking me.

––photo courtesy of Amazon

The all-new Amazon Fire 7 Kids Edition tablet includes a 2-year worry-free guarantee, kid-proof case and a one-year subscription to Amazon FreeTime Unlimited where kids have access to 15,000 popular apps and games, videos, books and educational content. Add even more content to your child’s profile in FreeTime to give them selected access to apps in your personal library such as Netflix and Minecraft. Kids can also enjoy access to over 55,000 websites and YouTube videos in the FreeTime kid-safe web browser. Parental controls allow you to manage usage limits, content access and educational goals, while the Amazon Parent Dashboard with Discussion Cards enables parents to discover the titles their kids enjoy and connect with them through rich conversation.

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Cool D.C. Parent to Know: The Hostess With the Mostess

by rtsarahvogel

A Mississippi native, Kimberly Nelson Hill came to Washington with political aspirations and party-planning prowess after being bred on the principles of gracious entertaining, family recipes, and the fine art of the thank you note. Today, as the owner of Party Bee Events, she uses her Southern charm to help Washingtonians host fabulous fetes for guests of all ages. Before your next celebration, check out this NoVA mom’s ideas for party planning and local family fun.

You started your career as a Senate staffer. How did you make the transition from politico to Party Bee?
The Party Bee was really just meant to be a creative outlet that would help friends throw parties. I started keeping a blog nearly 10 years ago and had business cards printed up. That was about the extent of my hobby business. I never would have envisioned this being my career! I followed my heart and what made me happy and it has made all the
difference. I often refer to this as my calling and I don’t say that lightly.  I truly believe my business is divine and the answer to a prayer I didn’t even know how to pray.

From food to decor, your Southern roots are a Party Bee
staple. What does Southern Hospitality mean to you?
I was raised in Mississippi, The Hospitality State. My mother and grandmothers taught me everything I know about entertaining and being a gracious hostess. The idea of Southern hospitality and opening your home to others is so intimate and special. It is all about attending to every detail and really putting in the effort to show others that you care. Whether you are on the farm or in a grand home, Southern hospitality is about sharing the best of whatever you have with those around you.

You recently opened The Bee Hive, a party design studio in Arlington. What will visitors find in this space?
A mess! But a beautiful mess. That’s because The Bee Hive is where all the buzz happens each day. I store all those goodies you’ve got to have to pull off a perfect event – tables, linens, china, glassware, custom colored napkins, and cases of fresh tonic water. Plus, I have my treasured collection of client thank you and congratulations cards I’ve received on a bulletin board. One sweet friend gave me a sign that reads: “Be Kind, Work Hard.” That’s hanging on the wall next to the staff aprons that we check in and out for each party. The BeeHive is just open by appointment and special occasion, but  I do host pop-up shop events there (think: Southern-style ice cream social, book signings, and mini dinners-for-two). To learn more you can follow me on Instagram and tag what you love about Southern entertaining with the hashtag #thatswhatIlikeaboutthesouth.

What’s your favorite party-planning tip for parents looking to host a fabulous fete for their little one?
I have three little boys and with the last one, I finally started following the rule of having as many guests as the age of the child. It’s so civilized and meaningful. I also do lots of “adult” parties with a kid component, and I find that having a zone for kiddos to graze at a popcorn bar or at a snack bar is popular. I make sure that there are things at their
height, and chairs of their size. That way, kids can draw on or sticker the little popcorn boxes and get to pick their own snacks. I recommend putting fruit and veggies into individual serving cups so that little ones can grab two apple slices and a carrot stick that’s already pre-portioned and their little fingers don’t touch everyone else’s serving. Make sure to have lots of tubs of wet wipes and paper towels around as well as hidden trash bags so you can triage throughout the party and keep the area looking nice. Hiding things under a skirted table is the way to go. You can keep extra crackers under the cheese board area and  juice boxes under the ice tub.

In addition to your party concierge services, you’re mom to three sons. What’s your favorite way to spend time with them?
We LIVE outside! I love watching them scooter in the street, ride bikes, play in the sandbox, participate in soccer and t-ball, and garden. We do it all together. I also love the simple one-on-one moments with each of them. Graham loves to play cars and transformers, Oliver loves building anything, and Hayden loves legos and pokemon. So while I am a pretty girly only child, I’ve learned all sorts of boy things from my sons, like the difference between a digger and a backhoe. Actually, I still don’t understand the difference.

It’s family date night! Where will we find you and your brood?
That would be Sunday night when I am tired of cooking and we go to Uncle Julio’s Rio Grande Cafe. The kids watch the tortilla machine and I have a margarita. Or, we just have family night in the yard and grill out and eat in with our neighbors.

 

What is your favorite part about being a parent in the DMV?
My husband and I are both very keen on raising our kids like we grew up. He is from a small town in Texas and I am from Mississippi. We love the other families and friends up here and the connections we have with fellow transplanted southerners. I am also lucky to have sweet mom friends who are trying to find their own way and resist all the busyness and competition that creeps from our career lives to our parenting lives. That’s the best part of being a parent up here. It’s the friends who also came here and are now trying to form a little community where we can share all the wonderful reasons we came here in the first place and now all the wonderful reasons we (and our kids) are making it work.

Do you know a super-cool parent? Tell us about them in the comments section below. 

–Sarah Vogel

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