I’m exhausted, to be honest. Managing the lives of six people—myself, my husband, and our four kids who are 14, 12, almost 10, and six—is a full-time job. As a type A, enneagram 8, I can be what’s not-so-endearingly known as a “control freak.” However, these past two years have been different. What changed? I decided—and was even forced—to cease handling all the things. (More on that later.)
Perhaps you’re like me? Those dirty socks on the floor can grate your nerves worse than your sister-in-law boasting about her child’s high honor roll award. Why won’t anyone pick up the socks? Does anyone else even see them there? And if they do spot them, do they even care?
The old me would either pick them up myself, sighing loudly (hoping someone would notice), or go right into organizational mode. I’d update the family chore chart or gather the fam and lecture them on the importance of being a team player. I’d remind them that I am not the family servant, that it’s important that everyone pitch in and tidy up, or even “if you don’t gather your dirty laundry yourself, you’ll have no clean laundry when you need it.”
Let’s cut to the chase. None of these really work. Inevitably, I end up frustrated, the kids are confused as to why I’m so disgruntled, and my husband remains unbothered by the mess. Don’t even get me started on making medical appointments, organizing extracurricular activity schedules, and planning fun events, like holiday gatherings.
Now, I certainly don’t do well living among piles of laundry, papers, and random objects (LEGO pieces, anyone?). I need some level of tidiness to stay mentally cool. But just because there’s a drained battery—ironic, right?—sitting on the kitchen countertop, it doesn’t mean I need to be the one to toss it. Everyone else is fully capable.
The reality is, if I handle every single mess, no one even has the chance to notice it or look for the item they discarded on their way to the bathroom or out the door to basketball practice. Plus, kids need to learn life skills, which won’t happen via parental lectures. Life skills are acquired by practicing them—imperfectly.
Moms, we need to learn to let go a little (or a lot), because doing everything for the people we love sets us up for exhaustion and resentment. Let’s stop and think for a moment, what if we resolved to do less, not more, this upcoming year? What if we decided to intentionally reduce our mental load?
I am speaking from experience here. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021 and began a year (yes, a year!) of treatments. Three surgeries, 12 rounds of chemo, a year of immunotherapy infusions, and 33 rounds of radiation. I didn’t have a choice but to leave the sock on the floor, the cereal box on the counter, the dishes in the sink. I didn’t have the energy to tackle the tasks. And guess what? My family managed to handle everything when I was laid up.
The world didn’t fall to pieces. Bills got paid, the floor was sometimes swept, and the laundry was washed when absolutely needed. These are basic things that need to be done—and my family managed to do them without my reminders, exasperated sighs, and chore charts. Don’t get me wrong: they were never done perfectly or completely—but they were done mostly. You know, good enough. Meanwhile, I focused on fighting cancer and then healing.
I dare you to think, what if? What if during this new year, you decided not to take on every single random task with the ferocity of a lioness stalking her prey? What if you decided that if your child forgets their homework—again—you won’t run it up to the school in the middle of a weekday? What if you didn’t sign the permission slips and didn’t gather the dirty laundry off your teenager’s bedroom floor (and frantically wash their favorite sweatshirt)?
I’m not advocating that you become a jerk who refuses to love your family. However, loving our families doesn’t mean we take care of every teeny detail of their lives. After battling cancer, I can tell you that loving your family means loving yourself first, conserving your energy and effort, and looking at your family as a unit of humans who are learning rather than a project to be tackled.
If you have a partner, they can step it up while you step back. If you have older and able children, they can take on responsibilities that prepare them for life after they leave the nest. Younger kids can chip in, too. And the only way this happens is if you and I resolve to surrender some of our former musts and allow others to take the reins.
Get ready to add Christmas With You to your holiday rom-com rotation so you can see Freddie Prinze Jr. in the role he was born to play: hot dad
There’s certainly no shortage of cheesy holiday movies to choose from. In fact, now that streaming giants like Netflix have joined Hallmark and Lifetime to produce as many holiday-themed rom-coms as possible during the winter months, there are almost too many—how can one cheesy romance lover possibly watch them all? (Here’s a good place to start!) So when you’re making your watch list for this year, make sure Netflix’s newest offering makes the cut. Christmas With You stars Freddie Prinze Jr. as a hot single dad, and that’s something you aren’t going to want to miss.
Prinze, who starred as a teenage heartthrob in just about every movie millennials grew up on, has never played a dad before. This Netflix movie, which has him starring as a single, music-loving dad who falls in love with his daughter’s favorite pop star, seems like the perfect way for Prinze to try out a new type of role. Plus, as a real-life dad, he has plenty of experience to draw on.
“When my daughter was born, I walked away from the business and became a full-time dad,” he explained. “That was my main priority.”
Netflix
That meant that, even though he got plenty of offers over the years, Prinze turned down roles in rom-coms—until now.
“It wasn’t until my daughter took an interest in performing that my wife and I decided to take a more active role in our careers and show her what we think is important to succeed in this business,” said Prinze, who shares his two children with actress Sarah Michelle Gellar. “To do a romantic comedy, there has to be something different. Otherwise, it would be very hard for me to get excited. Otherwise, I just want to make a horror movie, because that’s kind of my favorite type of film. But Miguel was a father, and this was [the] first opportunity I had to be a father in a movie.”
Netflix
Prinze also explained how acting—especially in a role where he plays a dad—has changed as his kids have gotten old enough to watch his films.
“My daughter’s 13 and old enough to get all the messages,” he said. “That scene with myself and Deja Monique Cruz [who plays Cristina] was special. Miguel’s letting Cristina know how proud he is of her, and how her mother would’ve been proud of her. That was a big scene for me. I remember being nervous about it. It was the only time I’ve been nervous since I Know What You Did Last Summer. I would prep that scene over and over. I wanted it to be perfect.”
Christmas With You is currently streaming on Netflix, so look no further for a movie to watch ASAP to help you get in the holiday rom-com spirit.
The company has just released its Countdown to Christmas Lineup and the festivities start as early as Oct. 21! Not only that, get ready to settle in for a new batch of Miracles of Christmas Hallmark Movies and Mysteries Lineup, too!
Here’s the complete list of all the upcoming movie and their descriptions (thank you, Hallmark Channel!) so you can start planning all those festive movie nights.
Countdown to Christmas Lineup
(All premieres are at 8PM EST unless otherwise noted.)
The Christmas CEO, 2021 (Hallmark)
Friday, October 21: Noel Next Door
Starring: Natalie Hall (Charmed), Corey Sevier (Immortals)
A hard-working, single mom gets into a war of words with a neighbor who she feels is ruining Christmas, only to find that this misunderstood grouch just may steal her heart.
Saturday, October 22: We Wish You a Married Christmas
Starring: Marisol Nichols (Riverdale), Kristoffer Polaha (Jurassic World Dominion)
Becca and Robby are a married couple having a hard time connecting with each other as the holidays approach. Just before Christmas, they head to a cozy Vermont inn at the advice of their marriage coach so they can recharge. Their weekend away gets unexpectedly extended when a mishap puts their car out of commission and just may put them on the road to a very happily married Christmas.
Sunday, October 23: A Kismet Christmas
Starring: Sarah Ramos (Parenthood), Carlo Marks (Chesapeake Shores), Marilu Henner (Taxi)
Sarah is a children's book author who returns to her hometown, where she reconnects with her family and Travis, her teenage crush. She soon discovers that a long-held family legend might actually be true.
Friday, October 28: A Cozy Christmas Inn
Starring: Jodie Sweetin (Fuller House), David O'Donnell (In Search of Fellini)
Real estate exec Erika, travels to Alaska during Christmastime to acquire a bed and breakfast, only to discover that it's owned by her ex. While there, she finds herself falling in love with the town and quite possibly him.
Saturday, October 29: Jolly Good Christmas
Starring: Reshma Shetty (Blindspot), Will Kemp (Christmas Waltz)
David is an American architect who recently moved to London for a prime opportunity in a prestigious firm. With just three days before Christmas, he crosses paths with Anji, a professional shopper, who raises an eyebrow over his choice of a gift card for his girlfriend. David ultimately decides to hire Anji and, thanks to a series of unexpected events, finds himself on a wild adventure across Jolly Old London as Anji helps him search for the perfect present.
Sunday, October 30: Ghosts of Christmas Always
Starring: Kim Matula (LA to Vegas), Ian Harding (Pretty Little Liars), Beth Leavel (This Is Where I Leave You), Lori Tan Chinn (Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens), Reginald VelJohnson (Die Hard, Family Matters)
Katherine is a Ghost of Christmas Present and she must help one soul, Peter, rediscover his Christmas spirit. But this year has something unusual in store.
Friday, November 4, 2022: A Magical Christmas Village
Starring: Alison Sweeney (Days of Our Lives), Luke Macfarlane (Bros), Marlo Thomas (That Girl)
When Summer's mother Vivian moves in with her and her young daughter Chloe, her orderly existence is upended. Upon arrival, Vivian sets up an heirloom miniature Christmas village resembling their town, and tells Chloe it grants Christmas wishes. As Chloe begins setting up the figurines, real-life events seem to mimic the scenes she creates. With a little help from the magic of the Christmas village, the family will be brought closer together and just maybe, Summer will learn to open her heart to love again.
Saturday, November 5, 2022: Lights, Camera, Christmas!
Starring: Kimberley Sustad (Travelers), John Brotherton (Fuller House)
When a holiday rom-com movie shooting in her town needs a costume designer, Kerry, a local shop owner, steps into the role. While working on the movie, she rediscovers her passion for costume design and finds herself falling for Brad, the film's famous leading man.
Sunday, November 6, 2022: All Saints Christmas
Starring: Ledisi (Selma), Roger Cross (Murdoch Mysteries)
Lisette is a popular R&B singer who's getting ready to travel home to New Orleans for Christmas. When the media mistake a photo of her with her music producer ex as an engagement announcement, her family insists that he join her on the trip.
Friday, November 11, 2022: In Merry Measure
Starring:Patti Murin (Frozen, Chicago Med), Brendan Penny (Chesapeake Shores), Jennifer Robertson (Schitt's Creek)
When pop star Darcy returns home to spend Christmas with her sister and niece, she unexpectedly finds herself coaching the high school choir with her one time rival, Adam.
Starring: Rachel Skarsten (Batwoman), Dan Jeannotte (Star Trek: Strange New Worlds), Greta Scacchi (The Terror)
Claire is an MI5 agent who goes undercover as the royal nanny. She must overcome the challenges of her assignment, like resisting the charms of Prince Colin, while keeping the family safe at Christmas.
Sunday, November 13, 2022: Christmas at the Golden Dragon
Starring:Kara Wang (Good Trouble), Osric Chau (The Flash), Sara Canning (Nancy Drew), Antonio Cupo (Blood & Treasure), Barbara Niven (Chesapeake Shores)
When Romy and Rick's parents surprise them with the news that they will be closing the Chinese restaurant they have owned and operated for decades, the siblings each find themselves reevaluating their futures. Also impacted by the news are the landmark restaurant's loyal patrons and staff, who have all come to depend on the restaurant over the holidays.
Friday, November 18, 2022: Inventing the Christmas Prince
Starring: Tamera Mowry-Housley (The Santa Stakeout), Ronnie Rowe Jr. (The Porter)
Shelby is about to quit her job as a rocket engineer when her daughter becomes convinced that her Scrooge-like boss, Evan, is the Christmas Prince from a story Shelby invented years ago.
Saturday, November 19, 2022: Three Wise Men and a Baby
Starring: Paul Campbell (Turner & Hooch), Tyler Hynes (Letterkenny), Andrew Walker (Merry & Bright), Margaret Colin (Chicago Med)
Three brothers get the surprise of their lives when they are forced to work together to care for a baby over the holidays. As they slowly get the hang of things, they find themselves on unexpected journeys of self-discovery and begin to rebuild their relationships as brothers, as well as the damaged romantic and professional relationships in their respective lives…all while rediscovering their love of Christmas.
Sunday, November 20, 2022: When I Think of Christmas
Starring: Shenae Grimes-Beech (The Detail), Niall Matter (The Predator), Beth Broderick (Sabrina the Teenage Witch)
Sara Thompson returns to her hometown to help her mother move and is surprised to find her ex-boyfriend Josh Hartman is back home. The two had once planned a life in music together but Sara left to study law. The former flames slowly reconnect and try to heal wounds, both old and new. When Sara makes a surprising discovery, she and Josh forge a bold plan for the upcoming Christmas concert that will lead them all back to their musical roots and make this a holiday to remember.
Thursday, November 24, 2022: My Southern Family Christmas – premieres at 8p ET/PT
Starring: Jaicy Elliot (Grey's Anatomy), Bruce Campbell (Ash vs Evil Dead), Ryan Rottman (Guidance), Moira Kelly (The Cutting Edge,), Brian McNamara (Magnum P.I.)
Under the guise of a journalist, Campbell has a chance to get to know her biological father for the first time – without him ever knowing who she really is. As she spends time with him and his family, as well as with the town's record keeper, she realizes that families are messy, wonderful things. In the end, Campbell must decide if she's going to keep her identity a secret or reveal the truth to her father – a decision that will change their family Christmas forever.
Friday, November 25, 2022: #Xmas – premieres at 6p ET/PT
Starring: Clare Bowen (Nashville), Brant Daugherty (Pretty Little Liars)
When Jen gets the chance to enter a brand's design contest, she poses as a family influencer, enlisting the help of her best friend, Max, and her baby nephew. When her video is selected as a finalist, Jen is torn on whether to go on with her perfect "family" or reveal the truth.
Friday, November 25, 2022: A Royal Corgi Christmas– premieres at 8p ET/PT
Starring: Hunter King (Life in Pieces), Jordan Renzo (The Spanish Princess)
Reluctant Crown Prince Edmond returns home just before Christmas in anticipation of being named successor to the throne. To ingratiate himself to his mother the Queen, he gifts her with "Mistletoe", a rambunctious Corgi in need of some serious training. After several doggy disasters, Edmond turns to Cecily, a canine behavior expert from America for help –but to his great surprise, Cecily demands that he take an active part in the daily dog training sessions. Sparks fly between them as the pair work together to get Mistletoe ready to present at the annual Christmas Ball. Just as the precious pup captures their hearts, they discover that love can grow in the most unexpected places, leading them to question what they really want.
Saturday, November 26, 2022: A Tale of Two Christmases – premieres at 6p ET/PT
Starring: Kat Barrell (Wynonna Earp), Chandler Massey (Days of our Lives), Evan Roderick (Arrow)
Thanks to some Christmas magic, Emma gets to experience two different Christmases – one where she stays in the city and celebrates with a new crush and his friends, and one where she returns home for all the traditions with her family…and Drew, a longtime friend who may have feelings for her. Emma's double holiday ultimately helps her discover what will truly make her happy in life as well as in love.
Saturday, November 26, 2022: Haul Out the Holly – premieres at 8p ET/PT
Starring: Lacey Chabert (The Wedding Veil), Wes Brown (Sweet Pecan Summer), Ellen Travolta (Charles in Charge), Peter Jacobson (House), Melissa Peterman (Reba), Stephen Tobolowsky (One Day at a Time, Spaceballs)
Emily arrives home, hoping to visit her parents, only to discover that they are leaving on a trip of their own. As she stays at their house for the holidays, their HOA is determined to get Emily to participate in the neighborhood's many Christmas festivities.
Hallmark
Sunday, November 27, 2022: A Christmas Cookie Catastrophe – premieres at 6p ET/PT
Starring: Rachel Boston (SEAL Team), Victor Webster (Workin' Moms)
Annie Cooper has big shoes to fill when she takes over as CEO of her late grandmother's smalltown cookie company and is doing her best to help their struggling business get back on track. That task gets more daunting when her grandmother's secret recipe is stolen during the Christmas party. As Annie tries to crack the case and uncover the culprit she works with Sam, the owner of a local bakery, to recreate the recipe in the hope of saving the company and her job. As Annie and Sam bake batch after batch in pursuit of the perfect one, they begin to learn that their lives go together like milk and cookies.
Sunday, November 27, 2022: A Holiday Spectacular – premieres at 8p ET/PT
Starring: Ginna Claire Mason (Wicked), Derek Klena (Moulin Rouge! The Musical), Eve Plumb (The Brady Bunch), Ann-Margret (Bye Bye Birdie, The Kominsky Method) Featuring the Radio City Rockettes
In 1958, Maggie is an heiress from Philadelphia who puts her high-society wedding plans on hold in order to sneak up to New York City and make her secret dream come true: dancing live on stage in the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall.
Friday, December 2, 2022: A Big Fat Family Christmas
Starring: Shannon Chan-Kent (Woke), Shannon Kook (The 100), Tia Carrere (Wayne's World), Jack Wagner (When Calls the Heart)
Liv is a photojournalist eager to make it on her own. To get a dream assignment – shooting the Chang family's annual holiday party for a cover story – she doesn't reveal that they are in fact, her family. When she finds herself growing close to Henry, the coworker covering the story with her, she wants to confide in him but doesn't want to jeopardize her big break.
Saturday, December 3, 2022: A Fabled Holiday
Starring: Brooke D'Orsay (Royal Pains), Ryan Paevey (General Hospital)
Talia and her childhood best friend Anderson unexpectedly reunite in a curiously familiar looking town full of Christmas spirit that restores its visitors when they need it most.
Sunday, December 4, 2022: Undercover Holiday
Starring: Noemi Gonzalez (Selena: The Series), Stephen Huszar (Tribal)
When returning home for the holidays, newly minted pop star Jaylen tells her protective family that Matt is her new beau, when in reality, he's her overzealous security guard.
Friday, December 9, 2022: The Most Colorful Time of the Year
Starring: Katrina Bowden (30 Rock), Christopher Russell (Day of the Dead)
Ryan is an elementary school teacher, who learns that he is colorblind. Michelle, an optometrist and mother of one of his students, helps bring color into his life in time for the holidays.
Saturday, December 10, 2022: Christmas Class Reunion
Starring: Aimee Teegarden (Friday Night Lights), Tanner Novlan (The Bold and the Beautiful)
High school classmates, who once dubbed themselves the "cursed class," reconnect at Christmas for their 15-year reunion. Over the course of their time reconnecting, the classmates challenge each other to remember who they were, who they are, and who they want to be.
Sunday, December 11, 2022: The Holiday Sitter
Starring: Jonathan Bennett (The Christmas House, Mean Girls), George Krissa (Road Trip Romance), Chelsea Hobbs (Poisoned in Paradise: A Martha's Vineyard Mystery)
Sam is a workaholic bachelor who babysits his niece and nephew before the holidays when his sister and her husband have to go out of town. Completely out of his element, he recruits help from their handsome neighbor Jason and finds himself in an unexpected romance.
Friday, December 16, 2022: Holiday Heritage
Starring: Lyndie Greenwood (Sleepy Hollow), Brooks Darnell (The Young and the Restless), Holly Robinson Peete (Our Christmas Journey,)
Ella returns to her hometown to mend fences with her fractured family. With the help of Griffin, her ex-boyfriend, she encourages her family to celebrate Christmas and Kwanzaa and to heal their past wounds before it's too late.
Saturday, December 17, 2022: 'Twas the Night Before Christmas
A former actress trying to break into directing tests her skills with a town's annual Christmas Eve courtroom production in which the true authorship of the famous poem "A Visit from St. Nick" is debated.
Sunday, December 18, 2022: Hanukkah on Rye
Starring: Jeremy Jordan (Supergirl), Yael Grobglas (Jane the Virgin), Lisa Loeb
A matchmaker connects Molly and Jacob, but their new romance is put to the test when they realize that they are competing deli owners. Will a Hanukkah miracle keep them together?
Miracles of Christmas Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Lineup
(Premiere times are 10:00pm ET/PT)
A Christmas Treasure, 2021 (Hallmark)
Saturday, October 22: We Need a Little Christmas
Starring: Erica Durance (Supergirl), Patrick Sabongui (The Flash), Lynn Whitfield (Greenleaf)
Julie is adjusting to being a single mother to a grieving child while facing her first Christmas without her husband when she develops an unexpected friendship with her older neighbor Irene.
Saturday, October 29: Christmas Bedtime Stories
Starring: Erin Cahill (Every Time a Bell Rings), Steve Lund (Schitt's Creek), Charlie Weber ("How to Get Away with Murder)
When Danielle's husband goes missing in action during his deployment, she is left to raise her daughter on her own. Three years later, as she acclimates to life without him, she begins to tell her daughter bedtime stories of her father.
Saturday, November 5, 2022: A Maple Valley Christmas
Starring: Peyton List (Star Trek: Picard, Mad Men), Andrew Walker (Dying for Chocolate: A Curious Caterer Mystery)
Erica is a rancher who has spent her whole life working the family farm with her mother and sister. When Aaron arrives and disrupts her plans, she starts to question what it is she actually wants.
Saturday, November 12, 2022: Our Italian Christmas Memories
Starring: Sarah Power (Good Witch), Beau Bridges (The Fabulous Baker Boys)
The Colucci siblings, in an effort to jog the memory of their grandfather who is struggling with dementia, set out to recreate their late grandmother's legendary pasta sauce.
Saturday, November 19, 2022: Long Lost Christmas
Starring: Taylor Cole (Making Spirits Bright), Benjamin Ayres (Burden of Truth)
Hayley is an interior designer who plans to surprise her recently widowed mother Patricia with the perfect holiday present: the extended family she knows her mom yearns for.
Saturday, November 26, 2022: Time for Him to Come Home for Christmas
Starring: Holland Roden (Mayans M.C.), Tyler Hynes (Letterkenny), Tenille Townes (The Lemonade Stand) From Executive Producer Blake Shelton
Four days before Christmas, Elizabeth Athens receives a voicemail from a number she doesn't recognize. In his message, a man she doesn't know makes one final plea to the love of his life for a second chance. This is the fifth installment of the popular movie franchise, based on Blake Shelton's song "Time for Me to Come Home."
Saturday, December 3, 2022: The Holiday Stocking
Starring: Nadine Ellis (Our Kind of People), B.J. Britt ( Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Karon Riley (The Black Hamptons), Tamala Jones ( Castle), Mykelti Williamson (Fences, Law & Order: Organized Crime)
In this Hallmark Mahogany presentation, RJ is a new angel, who is given the chance to address his one regret, that he didn't help his sisters reconcile while he was still alive. Returning to earth as a stranger, he gets each of them to revive The Holiday Stocking, their parent's old tradition to encourage charity at Christmas.
Saturday, December 10, 2022: The Gift of Peace
Starring: Nikki Deloach (Five More Minutes), Brennan Elliott (UnREAL)
Artist Traci is a once-devout Christian who has stopped believing in God after her husband tragically died despite her prayers. As her second Christmas without him approaches, she tries going to a support group for inspiration and comfort.
Saturday, December 17, 2022: Five More Minutes: Moments Like These
Starring: Ashley Williams (Sister Swap: Christmas in the City), Lucas Bryant (Haven)
The second holiday story inspired by Scotty McCreery's song "Five More Minutes," a young widow's Christmas wish for her son is answered in unexpected ways when she returns to their old home for the holidays.
From Unexpected to Away We Go, parents-to-be can find everything from good laughs to relatable moments in these pregnancy movies
Whether it’s your first or your fourth baby, when there’s a bun in the oven, those nine months of pregnancy feel like the longest of your life. And while we can’t book you a hotel room or an all-inclusive vacay for that well-deserved break, we CAN supply you with plenty of entertainment options perfect for an evening of kicking back on the couch. If you’re done binge-watching all the very best shows out there right now, might we suggest some fun pregnancy movies? These films feature expectant characters dealing with surprise pregnancies, fertility problems, relationship issues, family drama, and more—and the good news is, there’s always a happy ending (ahem, hormones!).
What to Expect When You’re Expecting
This 2012 pregnancy movie features an incredible cast including Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz, Chris Rock, Elizabeth Banks, and many more. The movie introduces us to five different couples, all either hoping for or expecting a child, and handling it in very different and often hilarious ways. There’s the one-night stand baby, the IVF miracle, and a pregnancy where the meticulously crafted birth plan goes very much awry.
Why We Love It: Besides the amazing cast, one of the best things about What to Expect is that it shows the many different paths to parenting. The couples deal with everything from fertility struggles to miscarriage to adoption, just like real moms and dads everywhere.
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are a comedy dream team, and nowhere is that more evident than in the ridiculously funny Baby Mama. Fey plays a successful career woman who, when she decides she’s ready for a baby, enlists the help of a surrogate. She ends up with even more than she bargained for when the surrogate shows up on her doorstep, homeless and broke. Oh, and the surrogate may or may not be a con woman. Greg Kinnear and Dax Shepard also co-star.
Why We Love It: Two of the funniest women ever teaming up for a sweet and funny rom-com? What’s not to love?
Knocked Up
TV reporter Alison Scott (Katherine Heigl) is moving up the ladder in her demanding career until a one-night stand with slacker Ben Stone (Seth Rogen) throws a wrench into her plans. The two decide to give their relationship a shot after Alison finds out she’s pregnant, but their wildly different lifestyle create tons of problems (and lots of laughs). Can Ben grow up in time to help raise a kid?
Why We Love It: Writer/director Judd Apatow’s brand of edgy stoner comedy mixes surprisingly well with a sweet pregnancy story, making this pregnancy movie laugh-til-it-hurts funny.
This cute comedy stars Saturday Night Live’s Maya Rudolph and John Krasinski, AKA Jim from The Office, as an expecting couple on a quest to find the perfect place to raise their baby. The two travel all over the country testing out new locations and introducing us to a slew of flaky family members along the way. Schitt’s Creek’s Catherine O’Hara has a funny turn as a disinterested grandma, and Maggie Gyllenhaal also gets laughs as an uber-pretentious cousin.
Why We Love It: Rudolph and Krasinki are an adorable pairing as mom-and-dad-to-be Verona and Burt, and their mission to figure out where to live reminds us all that home is where the heart is.
The Back-Up Plan
First comes baby, then comes love in The Back Up Plan. Jennifer Lopez stars as a pet shop owner who decides to become a mother with the help of artificial insemination and a single mother’s support group for guidance. But things get a bit complicated when she meets her dream guy (played by Hawaii Five-0’s Alex O’Loughlin) who’s not at all ready for fatherhood.
Why We Love It: J. Lo is the undisputed queen of the rom-com, and this flick is just one more piece of proof. It shows us that timing isn’t always everything, but love truly does conquer all.
Waitress
Get your tissues ready for this 2007 hit. Pregnancy hormones or not, this one’s a tearjerker. Keri Russell stars as a waitress at a Deep South diner who’s got a knack for whipping up some amazing pies. When she finds out she’s pregnant, she begins hatching a plan to escape her abusive, loveless marriage. But things get even more complicated when she begins an affair with her long-time OB-GYN, who just happens to be married.
Why We Love It: Sure, there’s a lot of drama, but in the end, Waitress is as sweet as pie.
When a high school teacher finds herself unexpectedly pregnant, so too does one of her best and brightest students. The two moms-to-be strike up an emotional connection, bonding over everything from pregnancy yoga to food cravings—all while helping each other figure out their uncertain futures. How I Met Your Mother’s Cobie Smulders stars and that baby bump you see? It’s real! The actress was reportedly pregnant in real life while filming.
Why We Love It:Unexpected reminds us that pregnancy can be challenging in so many different ways, no matter your age, marital status, or financial situation. Smulders’s co-star Gail Bean also gives us a powerful performance as the pregnant high-school senior grappling with how to fit a baby into the life she’d imagined for herself.
A French film crew traveled the globe to document four different babies and their families in the first year after birth. There’s Ponijao, born in Namibia; Mari, living in Tokyo; Hattie, from San Francisco; and Bayarjargal, living in Mongolia. There’s no narration and very little dialogue, giving viewers an unadulterated look at different cultures and customs when it comes to bringing up babies (though these four are all happy teenagers now, according to the filmmaker).
Why We Love It: Besides the cute factor, which is absolutely through the roof, this thought-provoking documentary makes you look at babies in a whole new light.
Based on the memoir of the same name by author Beverly Donofrio, this movie introduces us to Bev at 11 years old in 1961, when boys are already starting to catch her attention—much to the dismay of her police officer father. The story follows her throughout the years as a pregnant teen, a young bride, and eventually a wife dissatisfied with the course her life has taken. There are some heavy moments, but a lot of light-hearted ones, too, and through it all, Bev’s best friend Fay (played by the late Brittany Murphy) is by her side.
Why We Love It: The always lovable Drew Barrymore lights up the screen while exploring the sacrifices mothers make—and how becoming a parent yourself can make you rethink your relationship with your own.
Doting dad George Banks (played to comedic perfection by Steve Martin) finds out he's going to be a grandpa in this sequel film—and he hilariously insists he's much too young for the title. As he grapples with his little girl becoming a mother, Banks then gets a massive surprise of his own. Not only is Annie expecting, but his wife Nina is, too.
Why We Love It: Father of the Bride Part II is one of the few movies where get to see an older mom celebrating a pregnancy. Martin Short also returns as scene stealer Franck, who's going to plan the baby showers instead of a wedding.
Juno
Elliot Page and Michael Cera star in this sweet coming-of-age tale about Minnesota high schoolers dealing with an unplanned pregnancy. When Juno decides not to go through with an abortion, she turns to adoption instead. She finds a seemingly perfect couple to raise the baby—but things get complicated the more time Juno spends with the not-so-happily married pair played by Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner.
Why We Love It:Juno tackles emotional topics with quirky charm and lots of emotion. It also features a killer soundtrack with songs from The Velvet Underground, The Kinks, Buddy Holly, and more.
After 18 years on the air, the show has a new landmark moment
Peppa Pig has been wowing children since 2004, but a new episode is the first to show a same-sex couple. The episode, titled Families, aired on channel five in the UK this past Tuesday and showed Penny Polar Bear’s two moms.
The episode sees Penny drawing a portrait of her family. “I live with my mummy and my other mummy. One mummy is a doctor and one mummy cooks spaghetti,” explains Penny.
Families comes a few years after a petition was started to encourage Peppa Pig creators to add a same-sex family. “Children watching Peppa Pig are at an impressionable age, and excluding same-sex families will teach them that only families with either a single parent or two parents of different sexes are normal. This means that children of same-sex parents may feel alienated by Peppa Pig, and that other children may be more likely to bully them, simply through ignorance,” reads the petition.
Currently the petition is just shy of the 25,000 signatures it aimed for, but now it seems there’s no need thanks to the new episode.
“Many of those who watch the show will have two mums or two dads themselves and it will mean a lot to parents and children that their experiences are being represented on such an iconic children’s programme,” Robbie de Santos, director of communications and external affairs at LGBT rights charity Stonewall, tells the BBC.
While admittedly, many parents have taken to Twitter to express their outrage at the scenario, there have been just as many if not more applauding the episode. British safeguarding organization Safe School Alliance tweeted “Really nice to see age appropriate representation of same sex couples on @peppapig with Penny & her two mummies.”
Whether or not parents agree, Penny’s parents are here to stay. Currently, Peppa Pig has over 1,000 licenses and has been translated into 40 languages in over 180 territories across the globe.
Inclusivity can be taught from a very young age and these companies are doing their part to make the toy landscape a diverse one. From a doll that looks like your child to one that teaches about their medical condition, diverse toys can make us feel valued as humans and show us that there’s a whole world beyond our front door.
Barbie Inspiring Women Series
Showcasing women who've made the world a better place through determination and fighting for justice and equal opportunity, Barbie's Inspiring Women Series includes change makers like Eleanor Roosevelt, Dr. Maya Angelou, and Hellen Keller. Now the collection has a new doll: civil rights activities and women's suffragette, Ida B. Wells.
Wells co-founded the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) which fight for freedom, justice, and equal opportunity to this day. Not only does the doll pay homage to this history-making woman, but Barbie has also partnered with Girls Write Now, a non-profit organization that removes gender, race, age, and poverty barriers to mentor future writers and leaders.
Teni and Tayo Creations are excited to share a piece of Africa with young children. Omobola Imoisili founded the brand after relocating to L.A. from Nigeria and wanting to give her small daughters something representative of their heritage while they attend school. Brand mascots Feyi Fay, a superhero fairy, and Captain Nosa, a Nigerian scientist, and superhero, encourage kids to do well in school and promote a love of learning in all the brand’s offerings. From STEM toys to books and apparel, there are diverse toys available for everyone.
ISH Dolls creates diverse toys and clothing that celebrate culture and the Hindu faith. Their colorful plush dolls are designed to bring joy to children of all backgrounds and to introduce them to the avatars found in Hindu culture. This mom-owned business launched at the height of the pandemic in May 2020 with its first plush, Baby Krishna, and followed up with his companions Rahda, Durga and Baby Lakshmi.
Everything—and everyone—is awesome! Inspired by the rainbow flag of the LGBTQIA+ community, LEGO's “Everyone is Awesome” 346-piece set features 11 unique monochrome figures with individual colors and hairstyles. Once completed, it’s the perfect size for a desk or window display, to bring a colorful pop to life every day.
Qai Qai is no ordinary doll; since appearing on social media alongside Serena Williams, Alexis Ohanian, and their daughter Olympia, Qai Qai has amassed thousands of followers of her own. According to Serena Williams, "When we first opened @RealQaiQai's account on Instagram two years ago, it was just supposed to be an inside joke, but we've come to realize that Qai Qai could be the beginning of a new kind of toy story, and one that we're excited to help bring to life so our daughter and millions of other children can see and play with more toys that look like them."
Your heart will melt at the cute offerings from Red & Olive. Not only are the knit ethical dolls adorable, but they also help support the artisans who handmake each one. Each fair trade doll is handmade by Peruvian artists, empowering them to provide for themselves and their families. The companion dolls come with either matching beanies or bows.
Celebrate the culture and traditions of India with Modi Toys. This family-owned small business offers plush diverse toys and gift baskets that feature Baby Ganesh, Baby Krishna, and Baby Hanuman along with books that explain their history. You can even personalize the plush toys with a baby's name—the perfect gift for a new arrival.
Diversify your child's bookshelf with the help of The Little Feminist Books Club. When you select the 7-9 age group, you will get two paperbacks or one hardcover book each month, along with a hands-on activity that goes along with the book, a discussion card, and a parent letter explaining why the book was chosen.
The Healthy Roots Doll Zoe is a life-like 18” doll with hair uniquely designed with curl power that allows it to be washed and styled, giving kids the chance to learn more about how to care for their curls by practicing on hers. The inspiration for Zoe came from Yelitsa Jean-Charles, a young woman—who like many others—never had a doll that looked like her growing up.
Kids can use real products and try out countless styles from puffs to box braids! Zoe learned to love her hair after she did the big chop with her mom. Together they learned how to love every single one of her curls. Now she’s here to help other girls learn to love their curls.
Check out these dolls for girls on a mission to change the world. Inspired by their upbringing in Brooklyn, New York, twin sisters Laken and Carlissa King sought to create dolls that spark creativity and celebrate togetherness.
Worldgirls are 18-inch dolls representing girls from around the world who are chosen to attend the top-secret school, Worldgirls Hall. Each Worldgirl is assigned 1 of 5 traits: WARRIOR, HEALER, EXPLORER, REBEL, and SCHOLAR. The company created the traits so children could connect with the dolls' unique passions rather than their looks.
When Dr. Lisa Williams, CEO & Founder of the only Black-owned major doll company, saw the psychological implications of the importance of your toy box no matter your race or ethnicity, she created the Positively Perfect Dolls for younger children. In recent years her company has created The Fresh Dolls featuring black and multicultural fashion dolls and accessories. The Fresh Dolls were intentionally created with fuller hips and thighs, and a more realistic waistline, with trendy fashion pieces. New this year is their Wakanda Forever superhero line!
If you’ve ever had the frustration of finding dolls that look like your family (or friends!), you’ll LOVE this. Multiracial families, same-sex families, single-parent families, and adoptive families can now construct dolls that capture the beautiful reality of their households. MyFamilyBuilders is a unique, educational wooden diverse toy that is stackable and magnetic to create the perfect doll.
Created by single adoptive mom Kayla Lupean, Play Maysie is a portable, customizable world in a case for the pint-sized bunch. Noted as “everything a dollhouse should be,” this diverse toy is a gender-neutral classic childhood favorite that is made for adventures. Play Maysie’s design was inspired by the nostalgia of vintage tin lunchboxes. It folds out on both sides to showcase interchangeable, magnetic rooms with fixed wooden furniture—built for frustration-free play, less mess and no more lost pieces! With an eye on teaching sustainability, each Play Maysie is made of eco-friendly, renewable materials for indoor and outdoor play either at home or on the go.
At the core of the company's mission, for every three Play Maysie cases purchased, they will donate another one to a child who is entering the foster care system. Their hope is, with an integral sense of ownership, foster youth can open their Play Maysie case at any time to create an experience where they feel safe, secure, and in control during a time where nearly everything in their world is unfamiliar.
While you might be used to seeing ribbon wands in rainbow or pastel colors, the Melanin Magic Ribbon Wands are a celebration of melanin. Kids need to see all skin tones all together all on the same toy. Each ribbon deserves a place and the rainbow would look incomplete if it were missing one. These simple toys make a wonderful gross motor skills tool for dancing, twirling, jumping, and shaking. They also make a great conversation starter for kids. Purchasing one of these diverse toys support Brown Babes Rep Too, an organization dedicated to ensuring a diverse environment in small business advertising.
Dolls with Autism, Dwarfism and Hearing Loss from Lottie Dolls
Lottie Dolls introduced a doll inspired by an autistic boy who loves astronomy. The diverse toy comes with an astronaut-in-training jumpsuit, companion dog, noise-reducing headphones, and sunglasses to reduce visual sensory overload.
Lottie Dolls offers dolls that highlight diversity, including the Mia doll, a wildlife photographer with a cochlear implant, and the Sinead doll, the world's first doll with dwarfism.
Crystal Kaye is the artist behind Kay Customz. Not only are Crystal’s custom dolls cute, but they’re also inclusive. She goes beyond creating dolls in a few different skin tones, and makes dolls with freckles (and not just the traditional two or three that are meant to look cute but don’t really represent what a normal person looks like freckles), vitiligo and albinism.
Build-a-Bear & Vermont Teddy Bear Company Amputee Bears
For kids with limb differences, Build-a-Bear and the Vermont Teddy Bear Company are there to create a bear with the same limb difference. Both offer customization that allows this treasured bear to match its owner.
Differently-Abled Dolls from Barbie's Fashionistas Line
The Barbie Fashionistas line, which already includes Barbie dolls with various body types and hairstyles, also offers two differently-abled dolls. The first doll is in a wheelchair and the second is fitted with a prosthetic leg. “As a brand, we can elevate the conversation around physical disabilities by including them into our fashion doll line to further showcase a multi-dimensional view of beauty and fashion,” Mattel said.
To encourage their daughter's interest in African culture, two parents created this doll company with different shades of skin complexions and hair textures available. They even have a buy-one-gift-one program!
Inspired by the letter from a six-year-old girl, the iconic green army men sold by BMC Toys now have an addition—women soldiers. They are available in four different military poses
The idea was inspired by Matthew Shifrin who was born blind and loved to play with LEGO bricks. As a child, he had a friend, Lilya who would painstakingly write down all of the LEGO building steps so that he could upload the written directions into a system that translated them in a Braille reader. For the first time in his life, he was able to build LEGO sets entirely on his own.
When Lilya passed away, Shifrin decided he wanted to share his experience with others like him. A friend from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology introduced him to the Creative Play Lab at LEGO Group and his wonderful idea was developed into the LEGO Audio and Braille instruction. LEGO also has LEGO Braille bricks!
With dozens and dozens of looks to choose from in the Truly Me collection, your child can bring home an American Girl doll who brings out exactly who they are. From singing to soccer to so much more, every child can find outfits and accessories to match their interests.
Kids can even have their dolls fitted with a prosthetic leg by the company A Step Ahead Prosthetics.
Lakeshore Learning's People with Differing Abilities
We all want our kids to be open-minded, but in order to understand other people's differences, it's important that kids see those differences first-hand—and talk about them. Lakeshore Learning's People with Differing Abilities include people with realistic details and adaptive equipment—from a girl in a wheelchair to a boy with leg braces. For younger kiddos, Lakeshore also has a "Soft and Safe" version of these diverse toys that feature children with various disabilities.
If you've got a superhero-loving kid who wants a doll—but not that kind of doll—Wonder Crew dolls are the perfect addition. The collection of boy dolls was designed to have the "adventure of an action figure with the emotional connection of the favorite stuffed animal." They're soft and perfect for cuddles, but they're also superheroes. What's even cooler? Each doll comes with two masks and capes: One for the doll and one for the kid who plays with it. Genius.
By taking care of Jerry's diabetes, children gain hands-on practice with counting carbs, monitoring Jerry's blood sugar and dosing Jerry with insulin. Kids care for Jerry using the virtual diabetes tools and the digital pantry in the product's app.
Follow along with Jerry's journey to train for the All-Stars Games! All 21 interactive storybooks are paired with care tasks to reinforce important diabetes lessons. The curriculum is co-designed with doctors, educators and families to create educational content that kids love.
Do you know what's not empowering? Dolls with body proportions that are impossible to have in real life. That's why the makers of Lammily Dolls decided to make a collection of dolls using proportions akin to the average 19-year-old American woman. That means everything from the hands, arms, and neck to the waist, legs, and feet are realistic. The makers hope that playing with "normal" dolls will help young girls see their own bodies more positively (because sadly, studies show girls start worrying about their looks by age five).
Diversity is the name of the game when it comes to this line of dolls. Maru and Friends dolls are making a statement, and it’s one that’s long overdue. These dolls are more than just pretty playthings. Maru and Friends tell the tale of life as an immigrant. And your child can learn Maru’s story, as well as what it’s like for her friends to grow up in America.
This line of dolls and accessories was created by Cynthia Watkins and Kathryn Burnett, a mother-daughter duo, in 2017. Different skin tones, sizes, and hair types are available and each doll is handmade with painstaking detail given to outfits with the ability to match a specific outfit if desired.
This award-winning game matches faces to countries. Twenty-four pairs of illustrated cards depict the happy faces of children from all over the world and make for a fun and educational memory game. At times challenging, the game helps sharpen recognition and memory skills. The back of the game box shows which country each child is from.
Great for multicultural arts and crafts activities. This set includes 10 sheets of each of these five colors: Manila, Salmon, Light Brown, Brown and Dark Brown.
New estimates show that inflation isn’t just jacking up the cost of groceries and gasoline, but childrearing, too. The cost to raise a child for a two-parent, married family with two kids on a middle income? Over $310,000.
The Brookings Institution‘s estimate addresses children born in 2015 and spans all the costs through the age of 17. And spoiler alert: it doesn’t include any costs for sending your kids to college.
That $310K price tag has jumped $80,000 from 2017, which equals out to be over $18K per year. Expenses that fit into the increase are plentiful and include child care, healthcare, housing, food clothing, haircuts, diapers and other must-haves like sports and lessons.
So how did experts arrive at that number? It came down to using an average inflation rate of 2.23% (2015-2020), plus another 1.77% for the last two years. Thank you, recession!
“The new estimate only crunches numbers for middle-income, married parents, and doesn’t include projections for single parent households, or consider how race factors into cost challenges” reports The Hill. The cost for those family dynamics are even more bleak.
“Rising expenses for raising a family could disproportionately affect lower-income families. For a single parent earning $20,000 or $30,000 a year, shelling out the extra funds for a child might be difficult,” says said Dr. Isabel Sawhill, a senior fellow at Brookings.
For Black families, the Opportunity & Inclusive Growth Institute found that “that Black households are more exposed to inflation fluctuations than White households.” The Wall Street Journals says that “can make it difficult for households to determine how much the money they earn will buy.”
At the end of the day, no one enters parenthood thinking they are going to get off cheap. But for the next generation, we’re betting they’ll think long and hard about opening the purse strings before having kids.
Alicia Silverstone may be our fave 90’s teen actress but she’s also a mom. The Clueless alum is mom to 11-year old son, Bear, who she shares with her ex-husband, Christopher Jarecki.
You may have seen headlines over the years about Silverstone’s vegan practices and her parenting style, but at her core the actress says she’s just “a loving mama.” On a recent episode of The Ellen Fisher Podcast, the 45-year old sat down with the host to chat about raising healthy kids and how she responds to critics of her “alternative” parenting.
“I’m a natural mama, and I’m a loving mama. I believe in love, I believe in nature and our society is scared of nature and love,” she says. When it comes to some of the parenting concepts she embraces, she admits she’s gotten flack. But in reality, “The things I’m doing, I’m not inventing. I didn’t invent any of it. I’d love to take credit for all of it…it’s just me following nature,” she says.
“Bear and I still sleep together and I’ll be in trouble for saying that and I don’t really care,” says Silverstone. While co-sleeping definitely isn’t for everyone, we totally get the single mom of one wanting to soak up all the love for their only child as much as possible. In fact, she says her focus on Bear was the reason she put off having any other kids for so long.
She goes on to talk about her use of the elimination communication method, raising her son vegan and convincing her then-husband that her practices were more than just hippie shenanigans.
“Being a mom is the most precious, most unbelievable experience in this world…it’s so divine.”
You might call it the “D” word—divorce. Many children are blessed to be overwhelmingly loved by two caring adults who are able to cohesively co-parent. Then there are some children, like my own, who are not only left in turmoil but are also left with an absentee parent.
The father of my first two children could be summed up as a slow-motion train wreck. There is too much to go into great detail about, but his biggest flaw is choosing to be the equivalent of a distant cousin as opposed to a father: going weeks and even months without contact, missing birthday phone calls and falling about two years behind on child support payments.
Seeing the heartache on my children’s faces prompted me to become the Queen Mother of Overcompensation. I now had to step into their father’s shoes. I had to make up for all that he was screwing up.
At first, it was harmless: trying to make sure I fulfilled every wish on the birthday and Christmas list. I mean, how couldn’t I? How could I make his lack of financial or emotional help be the fault of a child?
Next came the emotional compensation, choosing to ignore problematic behaviors simply because of the pain the kids were feeling due to the loss of a family unit. I can remember the day my then-third grader leveled a classroom following an angry encounter with his teacher. I remember being terribly embarrassed and expressing that to every faculty member in view, but moments later, taking him for ice cream to talk it out.
I was afraid of being the “bad parent.” That if my children saw me put my foot down, they would hate me. I feared they would want and long for the one who wouldn’t even take the time to pick up the phone to return a call. I had to be all they needed wrapped in one. Believe it or not, I needed their love during this difficult time as much as they needed mine. I was afraid to parent my own children.
As I continued this path of destruction, I slowly began to realize that my pattern of enabling them was like putting scotch tape on a leaky pipe; sooner or later, that tape slides off, and the real problem bursts through. The gifts and the ice cream didn’t stop the anger and only calmed the raging storms. The phone calls from school didn’t stop. The ADD/ADHD diagnosis came next, which led to bigger, more underlying issues being discovered. My children were in pain, and no toy could fix that. More needed to be done!
I had to recognize my own toxic behavior in being my children’s enabler. The naysayers were right—they needed love, yes—but they also need guidance and a strong mother who stood firm in her decisions and who wouldn’t waffle at their whimpering. They needed a mother who was confident enough to know that she could never fully fill the void of their absent father.
I also had to acknowledge that I, too, was in pain. Divorce is never easy for children, but for the parties who vowed to spend the rest of their lives together, it was devastating. I cried myself to sleep some nights, afraid to face the world as something I never wanted to be. I was now a single mother and, most of all, alone. Loneliness eats away at you, and I longed to fill the void.
As these thoughts came rushing over me, I realized what I was doing to myself. Trying to overcompensate for someone who couldn’t care less was like ordering a Big Mac with a Diet Coke—it made no sense. I was an emotional wreck and I was passing that disease to my own children. I had to make a choice. I had to decide if I wanted to continue to fill the emotional loss with worthless items or if I wanted to help my children heal.
I wanted them to heal, so I had to hold myself and them accountable for our poor choices.
Part of that process meant allowing my children to talk it out with someone other than myself. The school counselors were amazing in this transition; my boys opened up and let them into their safe zone. They were given strategies to deal with anger and to calm themselves. They began talking more about missing their father and how it made them feel that he rarely fulfilled his role. While these were steps in the right direction, the healing process takes time. We continue to take it step by step and remember that we are in it together.
I know that we are not all lucky enough to have the perfect co-parenting scenario, though that’s what we all want for our children. In the event that we don’t get that happy ending, understanding that we are in charge of guarding our children’s emotional healing—and proceeding carefully and responsibly—is key.
I am just regular mom of three wonderful boys and a married to the love of my life! I hope to reach people through writing and expressing my true experiences. My goal is to help a parent realize that no matter the struggle, they are not alone in the journey!
Parenting secret: One of the best resources for parenting advice is other parents. Whether you’re a first-time parent, a mom of twins, a father looking to connect with other dads or in search of some neighborhood families to share info with, there’s an NYC parenting group for you. Read on to find your fit. For more ways to connect try these NYC Parenting Facebook groups. For ideas on what to do with your new addition, check out things to do before your baby turns one, and what all new NYC parents need to know.
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A Mother is Born Sometimes the best resource for Parenting 101 can be found by turning to another mother with some serious child-rearing knowledge. A Mother is Born is a business owned by a mother, Meredith Fein Lichtenberg, who also happens to be a registered international board-certified lactation consultant, certified childbirth educator, non-fiction writer, among other talents. The business offers pregnancy and parenting services for New York City moms. The website provides insights, tips, events, and information on classes and groups for pregnant couples, new moms, working moms, and moms seeking lactation advice. Meredith Fein Lichtenberg teaches group and private childbirth classes, prenatal workshops, new mom classes, and offers private consults to smooth the transition for moms going back to work.
Bad Moms of Long Island One of the newer entries to our list, the Bad Moms of Long Island Facebook group was started by LI mom Jesse Curatolo back in September of 2018. It's a strictly no-judgement zone, and venting is encouraged! (If you get on a high horse, you'll be asked to leave.) Sorry dads—this one is just for moms. Talks of in-person meetups for the group are in the works for 2019.
Big City Moms Big City Moms was founded by city moms for city moms, and its biggest event is one no expectant mother or growing family should miss. Biggest Baby Shower Ever, held in NYC (and many other cities, including Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco) is a jam-packed event that promises and delivers and event filled with gear, info, demonstrations, and more. (Mocktails for all!) Expect to be pampered, receive goodies galore and gain some helpful information about the whole having-and-raising-a-baby thing. Plus, over 100 vendors attend hoping to seduce expecting parents with some of the newest and best baby and parenting products on the market.
Beyond this epic event, other Big City Moms upcoming events include UES New Moms Support Group weekly get together, Infant and Toddler Safety and CPR Class, Nanny Safety Class, and an Expectant Moms Dinner. The website includes a blog that offers tips for parents and those expecting, the hottest trends in the industry, as well as chances to win amazing baby products and more. The company was formed over 12 years ago and while they have accrued over 300,000 members throughout the years, they also acquired some hefty celebrity fans such as Jessica Alba, Christopher Gavigan, Susan Lucci and Kimberly and James Van Der Beek, to name a few.
BoCoCa Parents “BoCoCa” is not a widely used term but it means something for those families immediately south of Downtown Brooklyn. (It’s a blended word combining the names of three adjacent Brooklyn neighborhoods: Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, and Carroll Gardens. BoCoCa Parents is a restricted Yahoo Group that is a free network for local parents residing in one of these three neighborhoods and boasts almost 11,000 members. The mission of the group is “to establish community and communication amongst Bococa's families and to provide our children with opportunities in which to play, cultivate friendships and establish their roots”. This group is an active and evolving forum for sharing information and advice, making connections, finding and selling items, arranging playdates, and much more.
Bowery Babes Once upon a time, in 2005, a group of women took a prenatal yoga class on Bowery Street, and they just couldn’t quite get enough of each other so they formed a group. Bowery Babes has evolved ever since and has become a large collection of local moms in Lower Manhattan. The group is a NY non-profit that supports women from the time they are expecting through motherhood, and offers endless amounts of opportunities to thrive in a lively and loving community. From playgroups to classes, organized events and book clubs to night outs and daddy brunches, holiday parties and FREE beauty mornings, you can plug right into this group's energy and keep on ticking. If that hasn’t sold you, they also offer discounts and educational lectures on parenting.
The Bronx New Mommies Group Inc. This mommy group was formed by necessity in 2002 when a new mommy by the name of Roxanne Taylor felt a strong need to bond with other moms that shared similar interests and yet she didn’t know how to make such connections happen. Enter, The Bronx New Mommies Group, which grew from a group into a non-profit organization and then a registered charity. This social support group offers a range of support group meetings, activities and special events geared toward fostering a positive and nurturing community for parents and their families. Its website includes a resource directory that lists some key resources such as Walk Safer NYC, Parent Pledge Project, and more. But it doesn’t stop there. Their Sister Group, Dynamic Metro Moms, is geared towards moms with older children from 11 to 13 years old.
Dynamic Metro Moms Sister Group to The Bronx New Mommies Group, this Bronx-based mommy group offers an abundance of weekly social activities, classes and events for moms and their kids throughout the year, as well as special interest clubs including fitness bootcamp, yoga club and more. Upcoming events include an Annual Summer Outing and Mini Spa Party.
Families First Brooklyn Founded by two therapists and parents themselves, Families First is a not-for-profit member based early childhood center located in Cobble Hill. The organization offers parents and caregivers a safe and nurturing place to bring their young children. Among many things, it holds a Moms’ Meet Up every Friday at 11:30 a.m., where you can meet with other moms to talk about a variety topics, express ideas, and share and gather advice in a supportive environment. This meet up does not require membership or a fee to participate.
First Time Upper West Side Moms For just 10 dollars a year, this group will give you a huge Upper West Side slice out of the Big Apple, from midtown to Harlem. First Time Upper West Side Moms can be found on Meetup.com and offers moms and dads literally hundreds of free and/or heavily-discounted events each year. Parents can get discounts on a variety of classes such as music, baby sign, soccer, pilates and yoga, as well as trips to museums and zoos, diverse special events, and an assortment of get togethers at local libraries, Whole Foods, and local cafes and restaurants. Plus: stroller walks for those who want to burn off some extra calories.
HRP Mamas With over 2,000 members, the Hudson River Park Mothers Group serves as a vital and active community for mothers and expectant moms that reside in Lower Manhattan. There are many benefits to this group such as their online social network of verified Lower Manhattan neighborhood moms, weekly playgroups that meet in a comfortable and welcoming place and are facilitated by membership coordinators, educational events arranged through the group, and discounts at local retail stores. But what really stands out as a must for Lower Manhattan moms is this group's New Moms Group Series. Guided by childhood development educators, this weekly get-together for moms and their newborns or infants provides a child-friendly place to share experiences and get support on challenging topics ranging from sleep, development, and establishing routines to issues finding childcare.
Hoboken Family Alliance While there are many niche parent groups in Hoboken, one of the biggest and most active is the Hoboken Family Alliance. The HFA produces several big events throughout the year, including an all-schools open house and "Cabin Fever," a big summer camp open house event. It also sponsors several philanthropic initiatives, such as a school supply drive in the fall and holiday toy drive in December. Events include holiday party in December and a "spring fling" event that includes Hoboken's biggest egg hunt.
API Rainbow Parents API Rainbow Parents provides information and support to Asian-Pacific Islander (API) families with a family member who is lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT). The group is open to parents, other relatives and family members, and friends, as well as to LGBT people themselves. API Rainbow Parents helps families in the same way as PFLAG NYC’s other regular support groups, but has a special focus on meeting the cultural and language needs of API families. Find them on Facebook here.
Black Family Circle This is a free online meeting that provides a safe space for individuals who identify as Black and who have lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) loved ones. The group provides family-to-family support with a focus on the intersection of acceptance and one’s experience as a member of the Black diaspora. The group meets online on the fourth Sunday of every month from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. starting Sunday, July 26. Register in advance to receive a link to the Zoom meeting; the link is not posted publicly, so you must register to attend each meeting. To register and to receive more information, click here.
Love Makes a Family PFLAG NYC has now launched a support group for Latino families in collaboration with Oasis Latino LGBTS Wellness Center. “El Amor Hace la Familia - Love Makes a Family” is a group of parents and LGBTQ people that has come together for mutual support. The group meets every second Saturday of the month at 10 a.m. at Oasis Wellness Center. The group uses primarily Spanish, but flexibly uses English and Spanglish too.
The TransFamilies Project (TFP) The TransFamilies Project (TFP) is a support group for parents, relatives and friends of transgender children. No matter when a child disclosed his/her gender identity issues, or what stage of transition he/she is in, the TransFamilies Project is a place to meet understanding friends, share important information, and get (and provide) support. Meetings are currently twice a month online, and will take place in Greenwich Village when in-person meetings resume. For questions about the group, please contact group leader Judy Sennesh through PFLAG NYC at transgender@pflagnyc.org. Please note: If you are going to bring someone with you to a TFP meeting who is younger than high-school age, notify Sennesh prior to the meeting.
Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan Located on the Upper West Side, Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan's mission is to create “opportunities for people to connect, grow, and learn within an ever-changing Jewish landscape." Among the many types of programs and classes offered by the JCC are those geared to family life including breastfeeding and tummy time for new parents, parenting resources that offer infant CPR classes, a dad's meetup brunch and a bump bash complete with mock-tails for expectant parents. You'll also find prenatal and postnatal fitness classes here, such as innovative and safe yoga and water classes, as well as caregiver programs.
JC Families A great resource for all things parenting in Jersey City, JC Families is a go-to for info on local events, family-friendly businesses and school options for all ages. You'll also find listings for childcare, kids' stuff for sale, and more.
Long Island City Parents Meetup Group Established in 2007, this active Meetup group is more than 1000 parents strong. Members use it to coordinate playdates, parties, readings, workshops, and events, as well as advocate for improved playgrounds, schools, and housing. To join, you must live in the 11101 or 11109 zip codes or neighboring areas of Astoria, Greenpoint, or Sunnyside.
Lower East Side / East Village Parents Lower East Side and East Village parents and parents-to-be are invited to register and visit this online forum that connects local parents and covers a broad range of topics such as sleep, feeding, pediatricians, caregivers and challenges in parenthood. Online: lesparents.com
Katherine Lieber
Manhattan Twins Club As one of the largest multiples communities in the United States, this 25-year-old nonprofit club was founded with the mission to provide support for parents of twins and those expecting multiples. The club offers events throughout the year (many of them free) which address perennial parenting topics, hosts friendly get-togethers such as family picnics and parent socials. A sampling of this years’ past events includes Twiniversity 101 to help parents.
MOMally Astoria Founded by lactation consultant, parent coach, and sleep consultant Andrea Scannell, MOMally Astoria has both an active Facebook group and Meetup calendar. (There's also a general parenting FB group.) Members can request access so they can plan meetups, playdates, etc., and Scannell aims to have mom-hosted, free area events posted daily. She's also hosted experts on New York State family leave policy and District 30 schools. Past events with local parents include holiday parties, crafting events and singalongs.
The Moms Groups Founded by parent and lifestyle coach Renee Sullivan in 2008, this NYC mommy group is one of the most expansive, hosting groups in the Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Union Square, Chelsea, Flatiron, and Midtown in Manhattan, and Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn Heights, Williamsburg and Park Slope in Brooklyn. The Moms Groups hold weekly sessions mostly led by either Renee Sullivan or therapists on her team and caters to Expectant Moms, New Moms, Moms of Older Babies, and Second Time Moms.
Motherhood Later than Sooner If you’re 35 or older and you’re a mommy, then you may want to join this group. Motherhood Later than Sooner is a group formed by Robin Gorman Newman, who at the age of 42 became a mom and found it hard to connect to the younger moms. This midlife moms group offers online and face-to-face support for mothers who are 35+ and want to be a part of a community of moms that are raising kids later in life. Benefits of this group include mom group meetings, moms night out dinners, family events, as well as discounts on products and services.
The New Mom Support Group This community-funded group found on Meetup.com offers Queens Moms (and Dads!) with kids 0-3 years of age a place to vent about parenthood safely and without judgement. For nine dollars a month, members can participate in Meetup activities such as play dates, stroller walks, Mommy and me classes and activities for dads. While the title of the group sounds exclusive, stay at home dads, expectant moms, second time moms, and moms with older children are also welcome.
Newport Mommy Another Jersey City group, Newport Mommy is more than 4,300 families strong. Head here for nanny leads and info, local news and events, classifieds, parenting resources, birthday party ideas and more!
NYC Dads Group Finally, a parent group that is just for Dads! There are so many mommy groups that may mention the word “dad” but don’t cater to them. NYC Dads Group is a community started by dads with the simple desire to share similar benefits of being part of a parenthood community as those found in staple mommy groups. The mission of this group has expanded beyond NYC and across the nation, and has become City Dads Group. Meetups include outings, Dads’ Night Out, workshops and special events. Partnering with Boot Camp for New Dads, a nationally-acclaimed 20 year old program for training dads-to-be, this group offers a Boot Camp facilitated by a nationally-certified trainer for expectant fathers and new dads that want to learn baby-raising basics.
New York Single Parents Meetup Group Founded in 2006, this Meetup.com group offers single parents a community to connect with other single parents. With over 2,500 members, this group not only hosts activities for single parents and their kids to meet and make new friends, but also serves as a springboard for special events happening in the city geared toward single parent families. A recent meetup like this was the Microsoft Youthspark Free Weekend Summer Camp for Kids, which offered single parents a free, in-store summer camp for their children.
Parents of NY Teens The Italian proverb “Little children, headache; big children, heartache” may resonate particularly with parents raising kids in the city that doesn’t sleep. But this Yahoo group makes it a heck of a lot easier by offering a place for parents of teens and young adults located in the five boroughs to unite and confront the challenges of raising city kids head on. They actively post on their Facebook page and their blog site to keep parents informed and plugged in.
Park Slope Parents This parenting group originally began in 2002 on Yahoo groups as a way for local parents to connect and exchange ideas on a number of parent-related topics. The membership base grew and grew, which led to the development of a PSP website. The website covers a lot of territory in content and offers expectant parents, new parents and working parents that live in Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York and the surrounding neighborhoods an extensive amount of local resources, parenting information, tips and advice, and organizes local family events throughout the year. The group is also host to a diverse range of subgroups for parents looking to connect with other members of similar professions, interests and life situations.
SoHo Parenting Located in its namesake neighborhood, SoHo Parenting is a center offering myriad services to new and expecting parents, as well as parents of older children. While many of its services, such as advice on sleep or developmental issues are fee-based, its popular ParenTalk blog offers help on a wide range of parenting topics.
Sunnyside Moms Queens moms in Sunnyside and nearby Woodside gather at this Facebook group and in real life to exchange info about all things parenting in their neck of the woods. It's more than 2,000 members strong, so that a lotta knowledge!
UES Mommas With nearly 28,000 members, this private Facebook group for moms on the Upper East Side is a go-to forum for advice on everything from breastfeeding, local resources and shops to sleep issues, childcare, and preschool. (You can also score second-hand gear like strollers, furniture and more.) Yes, you'll find strong opinions here, and the community is not without drama, but aren't diversity and people with a point of view why we all love NYC?
UES Mommas With nearly 28,000 members, this private Facebook group for moms on the Upper East Side is a go-to forum for advice on everything from breastfeeding, local resources and shops to sleep issues, childcare, and preschool. (You can also score second-hand gear like strollers, furniture and more.) Yes, you'll find strong opinions here, and the community is not without drama, but aren't diversity and people with a point of view why we all love NYC?
