Blog Posts by SheKnows.com

By Elizabeth Weiss McGolerick for SheKnows.com

Whether your baby is due in March or you simply love Irish names and want to honor your Irish heritage, the following baby names are inspired by St. Patty's Day and all things Irish (green beer excluded).


PATRICK, PATRICIA, AND BEYOND

It's natural to think of the names Patrick and Patricia when considering what titles are associated with St. Patrick's Day. But these are nickname-rich monikers with plenty of options for different spellings, unique derivations and unexpected nicknames.

For boys, you can stay in the key of P with Paddie, Paddy, Padraic, Padraig, Padrig, Padruig, Pat, Paton, Patricio, Patrizio, or Patten. But don't forget about nicknames like Rick or Ricky.

There are also some interesting alternatives for baby girls: Patrice, Patrizia, Patsy, Patti, Tricia, Trish.

Boys and girls can even share some of the Patrick/Patricia nicknames: Pat, Patten, Pattie, Patty, Payton, Peyton, Rickie.

Get more "P" baby name

Read More »from St. Patrick's Day inspired baby names

By Kim Grundy for SheKnows.com

One of the big issues parents grapple with is discipline: Are we being too strict... or not strict enough? One mom decided to sell her kids' favorite toys on eBay as punishment. Did she go too far -- or do you think this was a good lesson for her kids?






Teaching a lesson

How far would you go to teach your kids a lesson? One mom was so upset that her kids destroyed her bathtub with a toy called Beyblades that she put them up for sell on eBay. The picture shows her children holding the bag of toys - one child is in tears.

Her description reads:

"We are selling 8 Beyblades, 2 of them light up. As you can tell they are not happy about this! They have been using their bathtub as a "battle arena" and Beyblades + Bathtub = Destruction!!! With the metal ones they managed to scrape the enamel off the tub, take a chunk of tub out and break off the soap holder. SO if you 'win' this auction DON'T play with in a bathtub!!! We have received a quote

Read More »from Selling toys on eBay as punishment: Good parenting?

By Geralyn Broder Murray for SheKnows.com

We're out to dinner on a weeknight -- which seems like a great idea until you are actually seated at the restaurant table with two tired, hungry children who have already lapsed into laments of "When will my food get here?" even before the server has left with your order, most likely to pledge herself to a life of childlessness -- when Reese, my first-grader, goes first in telling about her day. She's sad she missed out on something when she was off in the second-grade classroom for an hour, a new thrice-weekly attempt to up her level of intellectual challenge at school.

"But while I was gone," she says, taking a sip of milk from her plastic cup for dramatic effect, "While I was gone they read a book on Abraham Lincoln!"

(The nerve of that first grade teacher, continuing to educate the class without Reese in attendance.)

"Honey," I say, in what I hope is my compassionate voice and not my

Read More »from Should you push kids forward, hold them back, or simply fly alongside?

By Molly Cerreta Smith for SheKnows.com

These days, you don't have to worry about looking like a Pollyanna if you and your daughter want to dress alike. When it comes to mommy-and-me outfits, there are really some great new options out there! We scoured the fashion world for some outfits that are cute and coordinated versus mortifying and matchy-matchy. Check out these three age-appropriate and adorable mommy-and-me coordinating styles.

Sundresses

Lilly Pulitzer manages to make this dress for mom sexy and fun, while making the coordinating dress for daughter cute and sweet, ($88). Mom is wearing Jack Rogers Navajo Palm beach sandals, $96; and we love these super-sparkly pink Converse Chuck Taylors for daughter, $35. These matching hers and lil hers bright pink and green canvas totes, $32 for the set, are ideal for a girls' day of shopping. If it gets chilly, toss on coordinating white sweaters, this cable-knit zip cardigan for daughter, $24.50, and pointelle cardigan for mom,

Read More »from Mommy-and-me outfits you'll actually wear

By Lauren Fairbanks for Sheknows.com

Kids are becoming more and more integrated with technology every year -- so much so that gadgets that were marketed toward adults a mere 5 to 10 years ago are being re-designed and re-targeted toward toddlers and young children.

Given the ever-changing market of tech toys, we've picked out four of our favorite new gadgets for kids. Don't worry, we won't tell if you want to use them too.

Hello Kitty Walkie-talkies

Walkie-talkies are no new tech venture for kids - these fun devices have been circulating for a while now. But the Hello Kitty-branded walkie-talkies we tested out recently had a pretty good range of 20 to 30 feet and the ability to educate your young one on how to use and interpret morse code, if you're into that sort of thing. Price: $20

Hello Kitty Photo and Video Camera

For the aspiring documentary filmmaker, there's a Hello Kitty-branded video camera. Equipped with AV outlets that you can sync up to a television (which

Read More »from 4 Tech gadgets your kids will love

By Michelle Maffei for SheKnows.com

Whether you're new to the mom-and-dad game or experienced at it, there are certain issues that make your partnership seem more like a game of tug-o-war.

From grandparent involvement to the division of household duties, find out the top six parenting issues and tips for how to get on the same page during your journey through parenthood.

Grandparent involvement

When it comes to grandkids, grandparents can tend to undermine you and spoil the kids rotten without a second though. Although your in-laws may drive you up the wall, try and broach the topic calmly and with solutions in mind.

Criticism about parenting

There are no set rules for parenting, but when it comes to the way your partner changes a diaper or the fact that you rock junior to sleep on occasion, it seems like parents are quick to criticize one another. Before you voice your opinion on why feeding your little one like an airplane is better than a choo choo, remind yourself Read More »from Top 6 parenting issues couples fight about

By Sarah W. Caron for SheKnows.com

Planning a trip with your kids that involves airplane travel isn't as easy as it used to be. These days, there are many regulations regarding what you can and can't bring. At security, there are new methods in place including full body scans for some and major pat downs. As if that's not stressful enough, many airlines have ended the days of checking bags for free, so you will likely be carrying on more than ever.

Here's what you need to know so that you can fly easily with your kids!

Shoe matters

Everyone has to remove their shoes to pass through security -- even the kids. So stick to slip-ons with socks. "This makes the task of getting through airport security go that much quicker. Plus, if the children want to take their shoes off on the plane, you don't have to deal with tying them up before disembarking," says Tonya Staab, mom of 4-year-old twins and a teen.

Make sure your kids slip off their shoes fast -- or even before it's

Read More »from Flying with kids: What you need to know

By Geralyn Broder Murray for SheKnows.com

The hard questions

It's always at bedtime, when my resistance is lowered. I'm already fantasizing about the possibility of bad reality television, raiding the kids' forgotten Valentine candy and time alone with my sweet husband when bam, Reese hits me straight between the eyes with the tough questions.

Luckily, it's dark. I'm hoping she can't see me squirming.

Is there really a Santa, Mama? Promise me, pinky swear, that it's not the parents leaving the presents under the tree?

When are you going to die Mama? Not until I'm 100, right? What happens when you die?

And last week this one:

How does the baby get inside the Mommy's tummy?

I didn't panic at first -- we've been here before. I tried my usual just answer the question, truth-without-unnecessary-details route:

The baby is created from the love of its parents.

No go.

That doesn't make sense, Mama. Babies and love aren't the same thing.

I flash

Read More »from The birds and the bees and all that jazz