© cottonbro studio from Pexels via canva.com Mom confession: I’m not a huge fan of toys. Some of my reasons are personal: We have a small house. I have a low clutter threshold. I don’t like the feeling of throwing or donating boxes of largely unused toys. And keeping up on the latest toy fads is exhausting. But it’s actually my boys who are directing me to the path of toy minimalism (if only they knew)! Play, Creativity, & the Concept of Loose Parts Like many kids, my four-year-old can weave a pretty convincing story as to why he needs that totally amazing toy gleaming brilliantly from the ..read more

© Daria Obymaha from Pexels via canva.com My mom is one of my biggest role models, which is surprising. Is it possible for someone who hasn’t been involved in half your life to be one of your biggest role models? I think so. When I say my mom is a role model, it’s not the type of inspiration most people think. I haven’t spoken to my mom since I was 16 years old. Yet she is one of my biggest role models for how to be a mom. How? Let’s rewind many years. When I think back to my childhood it honestly was the best. It’s filled with so many happy memories, so many fun adventures, creativity, travel ..read more

Your guide to all the local plant stores in Fargo & Moorhead! ©️ PIKSEL from Getty Images via canva.com It’s time to start planning how to fill planters and what to put in flower and vegetable gardens! Looking for places to shop locally? Here are some great options for nurseries and plant stores in Fargo and Moorhead! Plant Stores & Nurseries in Fargo & Moorhead Baker Garden & Gift 2733 S University Dr, Fargo, ND Baker’s houses an extensive amount of indoor plants, outdoor plants, and gardening supplies. They also offer the opportunity to shop online and host various workshops ..read more

Thanks to our partners at Healing with Hyperbarics for sponsoring this article and advocating for concussion awareness in our community. Photo credit: Alexis Scott As a mom of 4, I’ve always been immensely proud of my children’s passion for sports. From the early days of pee-wee leagues to high school athletics, I’ve cheered from the sidelines at countless games and shared in both the victories and defeats. There’s one aspect of being a sports mom that has become increasingly important to me: concussion awareness. March is Brain Injury Awareness Month Concussions are more than just bumps on th ..read more

© LPETTET from Getty Images Signature via canva.com Every birth experience is unique for mother and baby. Some births are vaginal, either unmedicated or medicated. Other births are planned caesarean, or even emergent cesarean. While cesarean section (C-sections) started out being used only in emergent situations, now over 32% of babies being born via C-section.  C-Section Recovery* C-Sections are most definitely a major surgery. With most major surgeries there’s information provided on how to care for the area, as well as plans for rehab. However, post C-section moms are given very few in ..read more

©️ Chau Nguyen Thi Hong via canva.com It’s almost time for the Easter bunny to hop into town! Is your basket ready? It’s easy to fill a basket for toddlers and younger children. Throw some sidewalk chalk, bubbles, and candy in a basket and you’re good to go. But, those older elementary kids can be harder to buy for. Here are some Easter basket ideas for older kids! Books Our Easter baskets always have at least one book in them. Think beyond the bunny-themed board books and choose stories that captivate their imaginations. For younger kids, consider books like Magic Tree House which combines ad ..read more

We got to check out the new Fargo Kids Play Museum! Photo credit: Kallie Swenson Finding places to explore with young kids can be especially challenging, especially in the colder months or on those stormy summer days. Despite troublesome weather conditions, children often keep their energy up! Thankfully, Fargo has a variety of indoor play spaces for toddlers! One of the newest indoor play spots for young children is the Fargo Kids Play Museum. It opened in November 2023 and is located at 5670 38th Ave (off of Veterans Boulevard and 40th Avenue South), near Sheyenne High School in West Fargo ..read more

Happy World Down Syndrome Day! Photo credit: Trisha Stibbe Today, March 21, is World Down Syndrome Day. I find myself reflecting on the immense gratitude I feel for the individuals and communities that have embraced children with Down syndrome like never before. Our daughter, Claire, turns 9 next month. The last nine years have profoundly changed me. The joy she brings to everyone is immense, but the life she has today would not be possible without so many individuals and the parents who walked in our footsteps before. Today, I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to those who have made an ..read more

©️ fizkes from Getty Images via canva.com After sharing details on our miscarriage ‘publicly’ on Facebook and Instagram, these messages among the many condolences, thoughts and prayers, stood out.  “It’s so hard to share, but so important.” “Thank you for sharing this heartbreakingly beautiful perspective.” “God is proud of you for sharing your heart.” “You have so much courage to share your journey with this.” “Thank you for your vulnerability.” “Thank you for sharing so that even one other may not feel alone in what they’ve experienced.”  What Miscarriage Taught Me about Vulnerabil ..read more

© Kristina Paukshtite from Pexels via canva.com Motherhood is full of surprises. A baby comes when we least expect it. Or, a baby doesn’t come when we desire it most. Pregnancies that we prayed for (or didn’t) wreak havoc on our bodies and some babies don’t survive, leaving us with an unimaginable and unexplainable void as we navigate a life full of loss, grief, and what-could-have-beens. Our birth plan quickly falls to the wayside once we get into the terrifying and painful process of bringing a human into the world. The late nights and early mornings hit us harder — physically, emotionally ..read more