parenting Archives - now & gen

Mother’s Day Gift Guide

Nowandgen Author — Wed, 05 May 2021 21:18:58 +0000

It's been a rough year-plus for moms everywhere. I've put together a quick list of items to shower the women in your life with love on Mother's Day.

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Need Parenting Help, Will Travel

Nowandgen Author — Tue, 27 Apr 2021 18:40:29 +0000

I'm fascinated by Michaeleen Doucleff's new book, HUNT, GATHER, PARENT, so I was thrilled to chat with her and learn more about the parenting tips she learned around the world.

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How to Set Children Up For Virtual School Success

Nowandgen Author — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 16:15:50 +0000

We talked to Allie Ticktin, who has her doctorate in occupational therapy and is the founder of @play2progress, on how to set children up for virtual school success.

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Parenting Through a Pandemic

Nowandgen Author — Sat, 25 Apr 2020 14:00:37 +0000

When I first started this blog, I wrote about how I wished we’d all stop the mom shaming. (And yes, for some reason it’s always mom shaming, not dad shaming!) So I was thrilled when I heard that Lindsay Powers, who was editor in chief of Yahoo Parenting when they created the #NoShameParenting movement, wrote a book. Called You Can’t F*ck Up Your Kids, the book is a research-based, judgment-free look at hot button parenting issues, from breastfeeding to daycare to sleep training. Lindsay spoke to dozens of experts, ranging from doctors (including the pediatrician who co-wrote the American Academy of Pediatric screen-time rules), to researchers, social workers, and more—she’d basically an encyclopedia of parenting information. Since we’re all learning as we go while parenting through a pandemic, I asked Lindsay to answer some questions I’ve had about how to keep yourself and your kiddos happy and sane during these crazy times. Keep reading for her level-headed tips on everything from screen-time restrictions to how to help anxious kids cope. And then let me know in the comments: What’s been your biggest parenting win and biggest struggle since having to quarantine at home? Covid-19 has changed the world—and parenting—in a […]

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6 Nature Livestreams We Love

Nowandgen Author — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 16:50:00 +0000

As the quarantine days tick by, I’ve been wishing I was back at Nimmo Bay. My boys and I took a trip of a lifetime there in the fall, where we escaped into the wilderness and saw grizzly bears, humpback whales, jellyfish and more. Since most of us are stuck at home these days, it’s even more important to turn off the news and get outside. And if you can’t get outside, whether because of bad weather or because you don’t have a yard to hang out in, I’ve found that nature livestreams are a fantastic and needed substitute. In fact, studies have shown that even just looking at photos of nature can reduce stress. That’s why Sierra Club is one of my favorite follows on Instagram. The environmental nonprofit posts beautiful nature pictures and cute clips of penguins and other wildlife. Whether you’re looking to bring down your blood pressure, or just want to show your kids some cool animals, here are our six favorite wildlife cams to check out. And tell me in the comments: What’s your favorite nature livestream? I’d love to discover others great finds! Monterey Bay Aquarium This California aquarium is letting fans keep tabs […]

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How to Keep School Lunches Interesting

Heather Catania — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 16:50:15 +0000

We’re a few months into the school year, and if you’re anything like me, packing lunches for the kids every day is getting O-L-D. I want to be that mom who packs something healthy, colorful, and exciting every day of the week, but it is so much harder than it looks! For school lunch inspiration and advice, I reached out to one of the best school lunch packers in the business: Catherine McCord of Weelicious. If you’re not following Catherine’s awesome Weelicious Instagram page, you should be. She posts gorgeous, nutritious, creative school lunches comprised of everything from a huge variety of fruits and vegetables from the farmers’ market, to homemade baked goods, to items that are gluten-free or dairy-free, to treats and snacks that look like cute animals. It’s my go-to place for lunchbox inspiration, so I was thrilled when Catherine offered to share some of her tips on the blog. Keep reading to steal her secrets for keeping school lunches interesting for kids—and for parents. What kinds of foods should parents pack for school lunches? My philosophy is pack a fruit, veggie, carb, and protein. If you know you have those things, you’ve already won. Adults eat so […]

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DIY: Feathered Halloween Masks

Heather Catania — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 16:25:03 +0000

Confession: I’m a huge stan of Martha Stewart. I used to hoard all her magazines growing up and could spend hours flipping through the pages. She has this inner toughness mixed with femininity that I admire. Not to mention all those amazing crafts! I’ve always found crafting fun and relaxing, especially when the items you make, like these Halloween masks, are pretty and usable. My friend Virginia Davidson saw these DIY feathered Halloween masks on Creative Bug and suggested them to me as an activity to do with the kids. They were a huge hit and a fun way for me to channel my inner Martha. When doing this craft with kids, you will need to be careful of burning little fingers (yours included) with hot glue. But the gorgeous end result is well worth it. Keep reading for a step-by-step guide to make your own DIY feathered Halloween masks. And let me know how you feel about crafting with your kids (crazy fun or crazy stressful?) in the comments! What You’ll Need store bought white or black masks hot glue gun scissors craft felt in a variety of colors loose feathers Step 1 Pick three or four felt colors. (For an owl, […]

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9 Things on My Fall Bucket List

Heather Catania — Wed, 09 Oct 2019 17:05:18 +0000

I love this time of year. The weather is finally getting cooler, which means I can pull out my boots, sweaters and jackets (layering makes me so happy!), watch as the leaves change from green to yellow to orange, and cozy up with my family over hearty stews and roasted root vegetables. I also love that it reminds me to be more present and enjoy family time before we launch into the chaos of the holidays—which inspired me to make a fall bucket list this year. Here are some of the things I hope to do this season with our family (or just for me). Check out my list below and let me know what your fall bucket list looks like. There’s even a graphic you can pin and print for yourself if you need some inspo! Spend one-on-one time with each of my kids As my kids grow up and participate in more sports and after-school activities, I’m finding it harder and harder to spend quality time together. And the older they get, I’m finding the more different they are and the more unique their experiences. For instance, Tom isn’t as vocal about what’s going on at school and […]

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All the Lessons 2018 Taught Me

Nowandgen Author — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 18:44:53 +0000

Happy New Year! The start of a new year always makes me reflect on the last year and what a year 2018 turned out to be… My sweet daughter turned one whole year old. My eldest lost FOUR teeth and won his first medal in his first chess tournament. My middle learned to ride a bike without training wheels and began to write and read. We took the boys on their first real camping trip. I managed to carpool three kids to three different schools (do not recommend). I ran my first half marathon. Now & Gen celebrated its first anniversary and we hit one MILLION followers (holy sh*t, you guys!). It’s been a wonderful whirlwind and I think I succeeded and failed multiple times at all things. In fact, I kinda feel like I fumbled my way through most of 2018 – and not very gracefully. But that’s what it’s all about, right? We live and learn, and I definitely did a lot of learning this year… Some lessons of 2018: #1. I’m bad at saying no. I don’t want to let family or friends down so I overcommit myself. Then I end up doing too much without doing […]

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Simple Ways to Practice Gratitude

Heather Catania — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 06:00:34 +0000

Thanksgiving gives us the opportunity to pause, sit down, and reflect on what we are thankful for. Every Thanksgiving, like many of you, my family has a tradition of going around the table to say what we’re grateful for. (Me? I’m most thankful when someone else does the cooking.) I know it’s a little cliché, but it’s a sweet ritual and I look forward to hearing what the boys come up with each year. It also reminds me that I should be practicing gratitude more often—not just when I’m shoveling another bite of stuffing into my mouth. Because between diaper changes and shuttling the boys to school and sports practices, the days can feel like a blur. And I’m not exactly thinking,” I am so grateful for this moment.” No. I’m usually thinking, “Oh crap—I’m late, I suck at this mom thing, or what time exactly is too early for a glass of wine?” Gratitude really is good for us, though. Research shows that it can lower blood pressure, improve sleep, boost our immune function and reduce our risk for depression. In a recent study, they even found that the simple act of writing gratitude letters—regardless of whether they’re sent—can […]

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