Blog Posts by Redbook

"How was school?" "Fine." How many times have you had this weary exchange with your children? Parenting author Sarah MacLaughlin shares her best tips for expanding the after-school chat. By Alexa Tucker, REDBOOK.

mom and kid

One look says it all

To build a platform for a meaningful post-class conversation, MacLaughlin says, "Connect with your child nonverbally. Look her in the eye. Smile. Wink. Beam her with love. This warms up your relationship with your child without putting any demands on her." This will also let her know you're ready to give her your full attention.

Related: 20 Things Every Mom Should Know

Remind them of your affection

It's no secret how important it is for kids to feel cared about. Before diving into conversation, MacLaughlin suggests, "Express your love and gratitude. Tell him, 'I love you!' This fortifies your connection with him further." Give him a genuine compliment, or give his hand a squeeze. Not every talking point in your chat has to be a

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With summer comes vacations, trips, and relaxed time in the backyard, all of which I'd like to capture on film - hopefully with my kids' eyes open. Here are ten pro tips to help capture your favorite moments. By Joslyn Gray, REDBOOK

pictureWork on their schedule and turf. Schedule your photos around the time that is best for your kids, be sure they are fed and rested, and find a place where they feel comfortable, like their favorite playground or a familiar beach, says Sherry Sutton, who photographs clients in the greater New York City area. Don't rule out taking photos at home; this photo was taken in the family's own backyard.

Get down on their level.
Too often we take the picture from our height and only see their little heads, photographer Karen Cooley says. Get on your knees or lie down on your stomach if you have to, then start snapping away.

Related: 20 Things Every Mom Should Know

Hold the cheese, please.
Let your kids be themselves, says Sherry, and forget about telling them to

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Wishing your sex life was a little more exciting? Follow these moves inspired by Fifty Shades of Grey to add some oomph to your orgasm. By Cari Wira Dineen, REDBOOK.

Getty ImagesFifty Shades of Grey has women talking-and thinking-a lot more about sex. But, it also has many of us feeling inferior. A recent Goodinbed.com poll found that 50 percent of people are bored in their relationships, and crave more sexual adventure. So how can you turn your love life into the stuff of fantasy literature, even if your idea of a "playroom" houses your kids' toys? Read on for 10 moves you'll want to try ASAP. Feel free to forward them to your guy to get his wheels spinning...

The best place to start: with Christian and Ana themselves. Ian Kerner, founder of Good in Bed and author of the new book, The Big Book of Sex, suggests reading your partner a passage of Fifty Shades of Grey, or another piece of erotic literature that turns you on. Although going beyond missionary position might push you both out of your

By Charlotte Hilton Andersen, REDBOOK.

Getty ImagesBad news, pregnant ladies: All that obsessive reading of the "The Complicated Pregnancy" chapter of What to Expect When You're Expecting may be doing worse things to you than just giving you nightmares. A Norwegian study recently found that women who are afraid of childbirth end up with longer labors. Women who were reported "greatly afraid" of labor and delivery ended up, on average, with an extra hour and half of labor compared to less-afraid moms.

There are some research studies that have me scratching my head, but I have to say this one makes perfect sense to me. Having gone through labor and delivery five times - two with an epidural, two without any meds, and one half-and-half - I can tell you from experience that being afraid of the pain can actually create more of it. It's that half-and-half delivery that really convinced me.

Related: 3 Women Who've Learned to Be Happy Living on Less Money

My first two deliveries were relatively short

We turned our office into a mini scoop shop to test the new crop of guilt-free, low-fat ice cream treats. Yes, that's how much we care. By Dana Vogel, REDBOOK.

Courtesy of Manufacturer Blue Bunny Champ! Snack Size Ice Cream Cones
140 calories, 8 g fat per cone

Like the ice cream cones you remember having as a kid--but smaller and easier on the waistline. One tester said it best: "Hooray for snack size! Just the right portion."


Related: Eat to Beat Your Health Problems

Alison Gootee/Studio DOrganicville Caramel Swirl Organic Low Fat Ice Cream
120 calories, 3 g fat per ½-cup serving

You never know what you're going to get when you reach for a diet-friendly ice cream, but this one was so rich and full-flavored, at least one tester thought we were pulling a fast one: "No way this is low-fat."

Courtesy of Manufacturer

75 calories, 0 g fat per bar

Just like regular Greek yogurt, these dessert bars contain healthy bacteria to aid digestion and boost your immune system,

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