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A sense of community has long played a pivotal role in the Black parenting experience. In fact, many Black communities approach parenting as a group effort—offering everything from encouragement to a stern course correction, if needed. While all parents appreciate family and friends who help support their journey, Black parents take pride in a special sense of community. “Historically, child rearing has been approached from a collectivistic point of view within the Black community,” explains psychotherapist Kyra Ross, MSEd, MHC-LP....

Why It Can Be Problematic Because they see themselves as adults, gifted children may expect to be treated like adults. They can feel insulted if they are not asked for their opinion or if they are not allowed to make their own decisions. A three-year-old, for example, cannot be expected to make decisions that could affect their future, nor should they be expected to make decisions involving the running of the household....

It’s also important for them to know that they can do anything they set their mind to, such as growing up to own a business. If you are raising Black children, purchasing kids’ products from Black-owned businesses is a great way to do just that—and support your community. If you are not raising Black children, it’s just as important to teach your kids the value of diversity and representation from a young age....

Plus, when you go outside you get to run as fast as you want and be as loud as you can without anyone telling you to slow down or use your indoor voice. Basically a little kid’s dream! There’s one thing that can make spending time outdoors even more fun, though, and that’s bringing your kid’s artistic side out to play. Literally! Combining nature with art is not only fun, but it’s also easy-peasy for parents....

Best Nicknames for Grandpa AbueloBig DaddyGrandpaGrampaGrandpappyGrampsGranddadOpaPapaPop-Pop How to Choose a Grandfather Name Deciding on a name for you baby to call their grandfather can sometimes be more complicated than you think. Sometimes, the Grandpa in question has their own name picked out, but you and your partner just aren’t crazy about it. That being said, the grandparent may have their own strong feelings about what they are going to be called, and it is their name after all....

Most insensitive comments aren’t meant to be hurtful. They are made out of ignorance or out of a strong desire to say something that will defuse a tense moment. After all, we want to solve our friend’s problem, heal their pain, or make light of the situation in a joking manner. Instead, we unintentionally make things worse. Things to Avoid Saying If you have a friend or family member with infertility, you’ll want to avoid saying these 12 things....

But spending time together doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive. It could be as simple as watching a movie you know the whole family will enjoy. Over bowls of steaming homemade popcorn and overflowing cups of everyone’s favorite beverages, you can laugh and enjoy each other’s company without ever leaving the house. If you are looking for a great movie to watch at the next family movie night, here’s a list of 15 classic family movies that are always sure to please....

There’s no doubt that the high school years can be difficult for a teen. Not only are there social pressures and additional obligations such as sports or after-school jobs, but the academic requirements are also much more rigorous than in previous years. Here’s how you can help your teen be successful in high school in today’s world. Teenagers do better academically when their parents are engaged. You don’t have to hover (and you certainly no longer need to walk them into the building), but you can still stay involved without overdoing it....

Signs of Physical Confidence Being physically confident isn’t just about being physically active, although that is part of it. Kids who are confident in their bodies are: Comfortable with different kinds of sports and other physical activitiesWilling to try new things and take on new challengesSecure in their body’s ability to handle those challengesAware of their limits, but also aware those limits can be overcomeMentally tough — They realize that some skills are hard to master, but they keep trying...

Sometimes when teens are cruel or mean to others, it is referred to as mean girl behavior. But what this term means is that the person is engaging in a type of bullying often referred to as relational aggression. People of any gender identity can bully in this way. This type of behavior is particularly confusing and inconsistent. Your teen will likely have no idea how to respond without some coaching from you....

Eye color is determined by genetics, but it’s not as easy as just looking at the parents’ eye colors. Even if both parents have brown eyes, it’s possible for their child to end up with green or blue eyes. These traits can may be passed in the form of recessive genes, so long as both parents carry the gene. Read on to learn more about how eyes get their color and why eye color often changes over the early months....

The desire for a twin pregnancy can lead some people to wonder what they can do to increase the chances of having twins. If already pregnant, a person might wonder if they are pregnant with twins, triplets, or more. You can learn that you are pregnant with multiples in many ways, from signs and symptoms to the revelation on an ultrasound—or even at birth (although this is very uncommon if you have had routine prenatal care)....

This head pain is commonly referred to as a spinal headache because it also is a potential side effect of spinal anesthesia (rarely used in childbirth anymore) and a diagnostic procedure called a spinal tap. The more formal term for a spinal headache is post-dural puncture headache. Only 1% of pregnant people develop a spinal headache after having an epidural. Research shows the incidence is higher—about 4%—among those who are obese....

And of course, parents can always choose to not send their kids to school. Children who are home-schooled usually do not have to meet the same vaccine requirements as children who attend public or private schools. Kinds of Exemptions People have been trying to get exemptions from vaccine requirements as long as vaccines have been protecting people from vaccine-preventable diseases. Today, vaccine exemptions fall into three main categories: Medical exemptions: Includes severe allergies to the vaccine or components of the vaccine, immune system disordersPhilosophical exemptions: Also called personal-belief exemptionsReligious exemptions: Based on the tenets of an organized religion that prohibits vaccinating its members...

“My parents were serial entrepreneurs,” says Goldman, who lives in New York City, as a way of explaining how she was able to have not one but two very successful clothing brands. Both brands stemmed from needs she felt deeply—one, for her bridesmaids at her wedding in 2007, and the other for her own pregnancy. “I got pregnant with my first daughter Charlie in 2010, and I was going out looking for [clothing] to make me feel better about [being pregnant],” she says....

In more severe cases, the frenulum may be attached close to the tip of the tongue, preventing the tongue from sticking out past the baby’s gums. The tongue may even look heart-shaped when the baby cries or tries to push it out. However, a baby with a tongue-tie may be able to breastfeed without any problems, or they may have trouble latching and sucking at the breast. However, these issues can often be resolved with simple treatments....

It might seem intimidating at first, but after you get out and do it, you’ll see that breastfeeding on-the-go isn’t that scary after all. It’s better for you and your baby because when you feel more comfortable breastfeeding in a variety of different situations, you’re more likely to breastfeed exclusively and for a longer duration of time. You don’t have to stay cooped up in the house because you’re breastfeeding....

For moms-to-be, pregnancy is a time full of changes—including, of course, to their bodies. Thankfully, there are products out there designed to make pregnancy a little easier and as comfortable as possible. We zeroed in on a stretch mark cream, Burt’s Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter, that consistently gets tops marks from reviewers online and features high-quality, natural ingredients. We sent it home with a tester who used it for about three months, from the time she was five to eight months pregnant....

But while many soon-to-be parents start thinking about how their new baby will bond with their pet a few weeks before bringing baby home, pets may be thinking about it much sooner. In fact, cats may be able to sense when you’re pregnant—possibly before you do. “Cats do seem to sense when their humans are pregnant, even in early stages,” says Chyrle Bonk, DVM, a veterinary consultant with ExcitedCats.com. Discover how exactly your feline does this, how you can tell, and how to make sure introductions go smoothly when you finally bring your baby home....

Another product to add to the list is retinol, which should be avoided during pregnancy. If you are unfamiliar with retinol, think of it as a multitasking skincare powerhouse. This favorite of dermatologists can help with a range of skin concerns from anti-aging to acne. We asked the professionals if it is safe to use this skincare staple while expecting. Keep reading to learn what two board-certified dermatologists have to say about using retinol while pregnant, including what the risks are and what you can use instead....