MothersRest

4 stellar toys for boys (and girls)

Tried and true gift ideas for the boys in your life. For Christmas, Chanukah, birthday, your-kid-is-awesome Day – whatev. I’m pretty sure GIRLS will appreciate all these toys, too. But I’m a boy mom and “toys for boys” rhymes. My...

The lazy mom’s guide to survive elf on the shelf

8 tips to make Elf on the Shelf the easiest part of Christmas. So you can enjoy the holidays.

woman shopping and laughing in the street

Holiday shopping DEALS on Amazon for moms

Ah, Black Friday will be here before you know it! In the meantime, can you resist the urge to decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving? I can. Because I love BLUE VELVET PUMPKINS on the dining room table. Baby Jesus can...

5 tips for easy, breezy Christmas decorating

Got the tree trimmed? Stockings hung? Wreath on the front door? Wait, no? Not yet? Well, if you haven’t decorated for Christmas yet, perhaps one of the following applies: 1. You don’t do Christmas. 2. You hate Pinterest. 3. You’re...

Believe me, it’s possible to raise respectful and thankful tweens

Does your middle schooler say PLEASE and THANK YOU? Are these manners important to you? Here are tips to teach your kid how to show respect and practice gratitude - daily.

How to rock daylight saving time this fall

First off, I’m having a super hard time dropping the “S” from this twice-annual event. It’s been “daylight savings time” my whole life. Kinda like how “February” doesn’t actually have an “R,” whereas, “Washington” does. Not kidding on that one...

It’s time to break the silence and talk about miscarriage

The first time I heard the date it was such a joyous and unexpected surprise. Two years of waiting was rewarded with the words, “Your due date should be November 24th. Congratulations! I’m going to count this as one of...

5 ways to get rid of your kid’s Halloween candy

My daily diet looks like this… Breakfast. Peanut butter toast. And milk with a splash of chocolate milk thrown in for good measure. Lunch. Spinach wrap filled with deli meat and cheese, with a LARGE side of cheez-its. Followed by...

3 questions you should totally ponder during the pandemic

Life is busy and chaotic, right? Ain’t no one got time to think about fancy things, like balance and yearning and vision. Especially during this time of pandemic. When you’re basically just trying to hold your shit together from one...

Why you need PEANUT BUTTER TUESDAY in your life

Stick with me here. Peanut butter is a loaded phrase these days. Some of my best friends are managing peanut allergies and it is NO JOKE. So think of PEANUT BUTTER as a proxy for YOUR KID’S FAVORITE (healthy-ish) FOOD....

Savor the moment: It’s back-to-school time!

Motherhood: the days are long, the years are short. So savor the season and enjoy the chaos. And mark this back-to-school time with a new family tradition to celebrate the milestones along the way.

Why a potty mouth does you good

Whenever I drop “holy shit!” during normal conversation, my husband laughs at me. He says he’ll do the same thing if I start speaking jive or suddenly morph into a discussion on the relativity of time. It’s obviously not my...

The first time I met a real, live TEST TUBE baby

I vividly remember when I met her. I was 20 and it was a perfect, blue-sky day. My friend Liz introduced me to Amy, a gorgeous, red-head who could not stop smiling. She laughed easily. She was delightful. I was...

Here’s why you might need to pay the TUTOR TAX this year

Are you hiring a tutor (because: remote learning)? Definitely consult a tax expert. Unless you wanna pay under the table and call it a day.