If you have gone through bed-wetting issues with your child, you are not alone!!! While my daughter Lily never had any big challenges with this, my son needed a lot more support to finally stay dry through the night. While it can be difficult for a parent and embarrassing for your child, it is possible to work through! Just how much of a problem is this? It can be a comfort just to know that bedwetting is actually fairly common, although the likelihood of it drops as a child ages.  It is estimated that 20% of 5 year olds, 10% of 7 year olds and even 5% of 10 year olds can struggle to stay ..read more

We were so thrilled when we brought Lily back from the hospital after she was born, we really weren’t thinking about all the diapers that we would be changing, especially when she was a newborn!  I have to say that getting her potty trained and graduating from the constant diaper changing really did make life easier.  But it’s a marathon, mamas, not a sprint!    So sit back, take a deep breath, and let’s dive into one of the most important milestones in your toddler’s life! When can I start? This is probably the question that parents ask the most, but unfortunately there is ..read more

Although my daughter Lily is a tween now, I still remember like it was yesterday how happy I  felt bringing her home from the hospital.  And I also remember how overwhelming it felt to think about all the different things – like changing a diaper – that I had to do to take care of her.     It seems like there are a ton of sites out there, offering advice to new parents, but I think that it is better to keep things simple and follow three basic rules:    Rule 1: Be Prepared    To make diapering easier for you and your baby, be sure to have the suppli ..read more

Japan is open for tourism for the second year since COVID. Last year, people were still nervous about traveling… but this year is different! Japanese tourism is super hot right now. Japan’s official tourism site notes that compared to 2019 (i.e. pre-COVID) levels, visits were up 7.1% with 2,788,000 Visits in February alone. (In fact, I was just there with my family and wrote all about it here!) While in Japan, I took some notes on what worked (and what didn’t) on our recent trip in order to make your trip a little easier!  Here’s the low-down! What To Pack For Japan In Your Purse/ C ..read more

My family’s recent trip to the Carlsbad Flower fields got my daughter, Lily, non-stop talking about our upcoming flower-centered trip to Japan! After an 11 hour flight, the whole family landed in Tokyo this last week, and I have to admit that (as a frequent Japan traveler, but someone who was never able to time the blooms quite right) this year was the most beautiful I’ve ever seen them!  In Buddhism, cherry blossoms have a long history of symbolism, one of those being a symbol of mortality and brevity. This ties in with what I’ve always been told: that the first rain after the initial bl ..read more

Hello, mammas! It is April in SoCal and I have to admit that this is one of my favorite times of the year! If you are thinking about what to do for a staycation as spring break approaches or are just wanting some fun activities to celebrate the spring, I have made up a list of some of my family’s favorite activities and places to go during this very special time of year.  Here are 31 Things to Do in April to welcome in the California spring! At Home Start a rooftop or balcony garden.  I have a blog post on this coming soon! Turn your home/apartment/condo more pollinator friendly! Ma ..read more

SoCal Mamas, if you have never been to the Carlsbad Ranch in the spring, you are really missing out on one of the most beautiful sights in the state! The trip was a total surprise for me and I wanted to share our family adventure. It all started one cozy afternoon last week while I was going through old family photo albums with my children. We were having a good laugh at my husband’s baby pictures when my daughter’s eyes lit up at the sight of a beautiful flower field in the background. “Umma, where is that?” she asked, pointing excitedly at the colorful blooms. Surprisingly, I remembered seei ..read more

As a parent, if you have a child in school, or if you’re navigating the academic waters yourself… you’re well aware that we’re in the thick of midterm season. To begin with, in my household the tension during exam time is almost palpable. Meanwhile, balancing the fine line between employing tiger mom tactics and adopting a gentler parenting approach has always been a challenge for me, and my husband feels equally lost. Bracing for another taxing testing season, I was venting my frustrations over the phone to my mother-in-law. I didn’t expect much when she offered me her advice… To my astonishm ..read more

Oh, the sweet whirlwind of parenthood! Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, your little one takes a curious leap into the world of heart-flutters and first crushes. It’s a journey of discovery, both for them and for us. With the arrival of spring, my daughter has found a new interest, tiptoeing into the romance section of Barnes and Noble during our cozy, post-church Sunday visits. It’s a chapter of her life that’s blooming right before my eyes, and I can’t help but feel a mix of excitement and nostalgia. What’s heartwarming is seeing the shelves now adorned with Tween-friendly r ..read more

Can you believe it’s already March? This year is just flying by! Today, as I watched the dance of sunlight through the fluttering leaves, a cup of jasmine tea cradled in my hands, my heart swelled with the anticipation of sharing this new chapter with you. In the spirit of renewal and the joyful embrace of spring, here are 31 spring-inspired activities for you and your loved ones to do this March! Craft Spring Festival Lanterns: Illuminate your home with homemade lanterns, celebrating the longer days and warmer nights. Plant a Vegetable and Herb Garden: Together with your family, plant seeds ..read more