Parenting Quick Challenge: Date Night

Children make our lives complete. They are our everything. Our children are our hearts and souls, and it's difficult to remember what life was like before them. But for just a second I want you to try. I bet you had more date nights before you had kids, didn't you? 


Since young children rely on us to meet so many of their needs, it's easy to let the relationship with your partner fall to the wayside while we fill sippy cups, cut waffles, and give baths. Don't. That love is what created your family in the first place and it deserves to be nurtured just as you nurture your children.


Here's my challenge to you. Make a plan for a date night. Weekly, bi-weekly, whatever. There are a million excuses not to, but I promise you and your partner will feel reconnected and reenergized.


And just in case those excuses do start creeping into your mind:

• Low on money? Hire a babysitter for two hours (fairly cheap) and do something free, like walk in a park, take a drive, or look at the stars
• Really low on money? Do a babysitter exchange with a friend (you watch all the kids one night, then switch on another night), then do something free
• Exhausted after a long week? Do something relaxing. Drop the kids off at grandma's and have a movie marathon with the hubs or go see a funny movie
• I don't have a spouse/significant other. Plan a girls' night/guys' night. You deserve it. You need it.
• We just don't have time! Make time. That's part of it. No easy fix for this one :)

How do you and your partner keep the love alive?

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Parents of the Week: Emily and Doug

 Aren't new babies just the best? There's really nothing like them. They rest so peacefully (at first...), they have little chunker cheeks, and that new baby smell. 

On Friday, October 1, 2010, Emily and Doug welcomed little baby S. to the world. It sounds so easy doesn't it? Well, Emily labored all night and most of the day, but baby S. was knock, knock, knockin’ on Emily’s pelvis and was just not going to come out the good old fashioned way. So on Friday afternoon, baby S. entered the world via modern technology (C-Section)- healthy, beautiful, and perfect.


Right after birth, Baby S. latched on perfectly and spent some quality mommy-baby bonding time. Later, Emily, whose friends and family clearly live through real-life comparisons to television sitcoms, would sit through at least seven of the following conversations: ‘Hey- did you ever see that episode of ‘The Office’ where Pam has the baby and she accidentally nurses her roommate’s newbor-‘ ‘Yes.’


Emily and Doug head home from the hospital today, so leave them some love and encouragement in the comments. They are doing a great job so far. Isn’t this just the cutest little family you’ve ever seen?!

Fun fact: Emily is my sister :)


If you would like to be featured as an Avant Garde Parent of the Week or have someone you would like to nominate, please email me at deluna.jamie@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you! Read more...

Two Things

Well, three really. But one and two go together. I've been blogging for almost two months! Thank you, thank you, thank you, my readers, for checking in day after day to see what I have to say. Thank you for telling me when you agree and when you don't. Thank you for telling me about your precious children and your parenting moments of sanity and insanity. In case you though anything else, I read and reread every comment, star them in my gmail inbox, and have loved getting to know you all. For two months, I've been telling you what I think you might want to hear about. I've told you about daycare, lying, cleaning up, attachment, and lots more. So here's what I want to know:


What do YOU want to hear about?


Comment and tell me what child and parenting issues you want to read about. Admittedly, I won't know everything about all of them. But chances are, I'll at least know where to tell you to look. 


Second thing. I'm featured today over at Mommy Monologues! Not only is this blog super cute, but Kate's posts are always either hilarious, inspiring, uplifting, or just plain entertaining. She recently wrote a post on her siblings that I just loved. So go give her some bloggy love! Read more...