Posts tagged: In Real Life

By Megen Disanto “Do you feel guilty?” It was a harmless enough comment made by a well-intentioned friend at an inopportune time. Which guilt could she possibly be referring to—the guilt I had from binge-watching Real Housewives instead of making homemade baby food? Or the guilt I had about placing suspenders over my baby’s stained onesie instead of changing him for the third time that morning? I took a deep breath before answering my friend—the tears were so frequent now I could feel them starting to form. Of course, I...

Welcome to The Delivery Room Dish—a place for new moms to spill on the highs, lows, and nitty gritty of giving birth. What you’ll learn: there’s no one ‘right’ way to have a baby, the delivery room is full of choices (even when labor doesn’t go as planned), and every mom’s got a birth story worth sharing. Up next: Forbes.com journalist and new mom Vivienne Decker, who gave birth to five-month-old Arthur late last year. I realized labor was starting when: I woke up at 4am feeling slight cramps. I...

After losing her newborn son Zachary in the hospital, Alexis Marie Chute entered what she calls her ‘year of distraction’—an attempt to fill every spare second of her day to avoid facing her loss and grief. It wasn’t until she became pregnant nine months later with her rainbow baby, Eden, that the slow process of healing truly began. Here’s her story, as told to Kristen Dold.When I became pregnant with Zachary, I had already had one healthy pregnancy. I was excited to do it again. Everything was fine until we...

Amy Nielsen and Jenylle Fideli had never dated another woman before—let alone thought about it—before they met at the gym (Amy’s the co-founder of boutique studio chain SPENGA), fell in love, and got married. Now they share the title of “mom” to their two kids Brooklyn, 5, and Jackson, 7, from Jenylle’s previous relationship, and have plans for a third. From the laughably awesome aspects of a household run by two women (let’s just say they’re on top of it) to their unique roles with the kids, here’s their story....

“I didn’t want to do this as a single mom, but I realized I didn’t have the time to find someone, mutually fall in love, make the decision to have a kid, and try it out.” Myriam Steinberg attempted a DIY insemination, seven rounds of IUI, three IVF transfers, and two egg donor cycles—all on her own—before becoming pregnant with twins using donor eggs and sperm. Now, finally home from the NICU with her three-month-old babies Abegail and Isaac (pictured above), just over three pounds each at birth, she’s opening...

You’ve heard it before—maternity and paternity policies in the United States are the pits compared to the rest of the world. But this chart from the Pew Research Center, below, spells out just how far we’re lagging behind other developed countries: Ready to move to Estonia—where parents can expect a year and a half of paid leave? Or how about Japan, Norway, or Austria, where new parents can take a year of paid leave as well? If you need a refresher on US paid leave policy, the gist is that—surprise—we...

Feeling wiped? Mom-of-three Anna Rodney hasn’t slept through the night since 2009—the year she started breastfeeding. (Her youngest, two years old, is still nursing and has yet to stop.) We caught up with the Founder of Chicago Family Doulas for an honest take on what it’s like to nurse a five-year-old (in public, to boot), how nursing on demand impacts her daily life, and why she's still making milk, nine years in. Can you take us through a timeline of your breastfeeding journey? I started breastfeeding in 2009 after my...

Designer, tastemaker, blogger, mom—Wit & Delight founder Kate Arends has had a transformative few years nurturing her St. Paul-based studio and global social following, not to mention two (very adorable) tots at home. We chatted with Arends about everything from designing with cozy corners in mind (she's a fan of Interior Define x Monica + Andy's new line of high-quality kids furniture) to her status as an 'accidental' influencer, and how you can find confidence in your work.How has your design aesthetic evolved now that you have two toddlers running...

We teach our littles how to clap their hands, hold a spoon, and roll a ball—but is there a lesson more monumental than the art of kindness? Sensitivity and empathy can be learned from an early age through actions both big and small, says Barbara Grant, a developmental specialist and Founder of Nudge and Cradle in Washington DC. 'What's most helpful is to be intentional as you talk about, teach, and model these ideas.' (Research shows infants as young as eight-months-old can display precursors to empathy, like showing concern if...

From its preppy boutiques to vibrant row houses and study-friendly cafes, Georgetown gives off a sophisticated vibe, but this historic neighborhood happens to be super kid friendly—so long as you know the right places to look! We tapped M+A friends Crystal Bowyer, President and CEO of the National Children's Museum, and Hilary Eldridge, Partner at Achilles PR, to show us around their favorite kid-friendly spots.Crystal's PicksCrystal Bowyer and her son Preston, 4-years-old @crystalbowyerPizza Paradiso This place is our son's favorite family fun night. The pizza is great—even to my Chicagoan...