Blog Posts by Babble.com

Instilling Vivi's love of sports at a very young ageWithout sports I would not be where I am today; therefore, my daughters will definitely participate in sports. There are at least three areas of my life that have greatly benefited from my involvement on sports teams: my family relationships, my work ethic, and my social abilities. Those are all areas in which I want my daughters to have every advantage, and being part of a team will help them gain exactly that.

Related: 10 things to consider before enrolling your kid in activities

My dad and I spent many Sunday afternoons watching various football and basketball games. These games are memories that I cherish and will never forget. Every spring, summer, and fall, my dad and I would finish the yard work and head to the driveway where we would play a few hours of basketball one-on-one. The games were competitive, but never heated. It was good quality one-on-one time that I got to spend with my dad, one-on-one time that many of my neighborhood friends did not get to spend with their

Your toddler pooped on the potty? TMI!I mostly use Facebook as a way to reconnect with old friends and keep in touch with new ones. But, as a mom, I occasionally post status updates about my kids. I've shared photos of my daughters on vacation and on their first day of school. In general, though, I refrain from hogging the newsfeed with updates about my kids. While I enjoy seeing pictures of my friends' kids and hearing what they're up to, I don't need to hear what they're doing every single minute of the day. In fact, I can't stand when moms only post updates about their kids and tell us way more information than we need to know. Here are 5 things a parents should never post on Facebook.



Laundry Updates1. Laundry Updates
Hearing about your spin cycle is about as interesting as Farmville alerting us that you've planted 10 new crops of tomatoes. If you've spent all day during laundry, we're impressed (and sympathetic!), but we don't want to read about it. (Except for the day you accidentally turn all your clothes pink or fill the

7 Floppy Summer HatsI've never been a hat type of girl but lately I've been seeing all these women looking absolutely fab in floppy straw hats and big sunglasses. Not to mention the fact that they're protecting themselves from the sun at the same time! I've decided I can't go one more summer without attempting the look. Turns out, there are so many cute hats that it's hard to narrow it down to just one. Which one of these 7 hats in your favorite?



Bow Accent Floppy Hat 1. Bow Accent Floppy Hat
This hat comes in 7 different colors, one for every day of the week. And it's inexpensive enough, you just might want to buy them all.
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Striped Floppy Hat 2. Striped Floppy Hat
This sweet hat looks like something from Kate Spade, minus the price tag. Remember: Stripes go with everything!
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Ribbon Floppy Hat 3. Ribbon Floppy Hat
The ribbon on this blue and white striped number gives it a softer, girlier look.
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Related: 15 flirty, feminine blouses for every occasion

Colorblock Floppy Hat

A rose by any other name... It's true, my kids call me by my first name. Well, usually by my initials, but sometimes by my first name.

I'm not sure when it first happened, but as of right now, my 13-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son are more likely to call me MO (my initials) or Marinka than they are to call me "mom."

This doesn't bother me at all but seems to concern some other people.

Related: 5 things EVERY mom wants to hear

"Don't you want them to call you mommy?" my mother-in-law asked.

"That's so funny!" a friend said. (But I sensed that she thought it was more weird than funny.)

"So many people call me by my first name," another friend told me. "Only a few get to call me mom."

I understand those sentiments and why people are taken aback. After all, the saying is "as American as apple pie and Mom" not "as American as apple pie and Marinka."

Related: 11 signs you're a babysitter's worst nightmare

Don't get me wrong; I absolutely cherish being a mother and the relationship I have with each of my

Just can't get over this trend!Last summer I scored the silliest pair of overalls from a Levi's super clearance for something crazy like fifteen dollars. I figured it was a "fashion don't" waiting to happen but jumped in anyway. I mean, overalls are awesome! And why not? And things. You understand.

This year, I've kept my eye on the overall situation, just in case I was onto something last year. Turns out, maybe. I still haven't decided. Regardless, overalls are definitely making an appearance everywhere from Vivienne Westwood's latest collection to The Gap and J.Crew store windows.

Related: 21 must have pieces for your spring wardrobe

I thought I'd do a round up of all the overalls I could find this season (both for purchase and for inspiration) and then leave it up to you: Would you wear overalls? (I would. There's a reason we loved them so much as kids! They are insanely comfortable. And functional! And a lot easier to maneuver during bathroom trips now that I'm a "grown up," as it were.) Check out 8

6 best big dog breeds for familiesDeciding to bring a dog into your home is one decision that should not be taken lightly and never is it truer than when you have kids.

Bringing a pet into your life will require dedication and training for both you and your children. While some dogs are better suited for life with families, all dogs need to be trained and given limits, plus a whole lot of love. Any dog can become aggressive, big or small, so it is vital that young children are never left alone with them even for a second. It is also important that children are taught how to treat their pets.

One of the first things people should consider when looking for a pet pooch is if they want a big or a small pup. Large dogs are not for everyone. They naturally require more exercise on the whole, not to mention ample space and food. But rest assured because many of these gentle giants make fabulous additions to family life.

Related: The top 10 most popular dog breeds of 2012

If you are fond of big dogs and are looking to bring

8 Repurposed IKEA's items for your kid's roomNeed inspiration for your kid's room, or maybe you'd just like to come up with the coolest new toy? We've just discovered IKEA Hackers, an amazing site full of creative new uses for IKEA's affordable, well-made products. It's especially useful for designing a kid's bedroom or playroom, as they've got everything from a LACK table turned into a play kitchen to a rainbow bed using duct tape. We've picked 8 of the best kid's furniture IKEA hacks that are guaranteed to get the creative juices flowing!












Castle Bed1. Castle Bed
Your child could literally live in a fairy tale with this KURA bed that is transformed into a castle fit for a knight!
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Related: 16 ways to save space in your kid's room








BILLY Baby Changing Station2. BILLY Baby Changing Station
Two BILLY shelves create a cosy baby changing station. This design also adds a ton of additional storage space to your nursery.
Get the tutorial






















Bookshelf Dresser3. Bookshelf Dresser
A BEKVAM dresser and IKEA spice racks combine create a cool bookshelf dresser for a kids room.

Why I WON'T be talking If you have children of your own, you've probably noticed more then once that kids love to ask questions. It's their curious brain working, trying to make sense of the world, and who better to ask than their parents? It's adorable, annoying, and sometimes it leaves us stumped for what the heck to say.

My kids ask a million questions - seems like more than that with the three of them going - each with their own interest that has caught their curiosity. Most times I have no idea what the answer is, but we spend time thinking about it (and sometimes, when very tired of it all, I just say "I don't know," and leave it at that). But I love that they ask questions and that they ask me.

Related: 7 things you should NEVER say to your child

I have had a few friends of mine, with kids around the same age, post statuses on Facebook or questions on Twitter saying that their kids are at the age where they're asking where babies come from and how they are made - and they're wondering how to talk to