Hello. Hello. Ever feel like parenting is just one big improv scene? One minute, you’re enforcing a no-snack-before-dinner rule, the next, you’re trying to read Pete the Cat (as requested) and being told to “shhh.” 🤫 Like most parents, I’m still finding my rhythm — maybe it’s slow parenting, panda, FAFO, or just whatever gets us out the door.
Read on for:
✨ How Skimm HQ moms handle public tantrums
📖 Parenting books from moms across the pond
📉 Plus, a ranking of outdated parenting wisdom — boomers, we need to talk.
— Kamini Ramdeen-Chowdhury / Managing Editor / Queens, NY
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we have to talk about
The latest in parenting news, tips, and trends:
How some Black parents are keeping their kids informed, empowered, and resilient amid DEI rollbacks. Community is key.
A research-backed way to sneak in some learning while your kids have fun: "Edutainment." Examples included.
How some parents are dropping thousands of dollars on gender reveals. Have they seen the price of eggs?
How it turns out, no amount of money or titles can save you from some parenting struggles — just ask Bill Gates and Prince William.
Why it’s OK if you’re doing the most — whether it’s emailing snack lists or pre-apologizing for your baby. Just don’t expect the internet to agree.
PS: Parents say this ’90s staple is making a comeback. It’s not flare jeans.
no one asked us, but...
We have thoughts. We’re ranking boomer parenting advice from mildly outdated to unhinged.
That’s…not right
2/10: “She’s probably hungry.” — It’s the default line we hear every time a baby cries, even if you just nursed, topped her off with a bottle, or served her a three-course meal. Not gas, exhaustion, or the existential crisis of being a baby.
4/10: “The baby isn’t wearing socks, he’s going to get sick.” — It’s 85 degrees and humid, Pat. Pretty sure they’re fine. But thank you for this new intrusive thought.
Ehh…
5/10: “Train them to sleep with light.” — Love the concept, but if my baby snoozes longer in a blackout cave, that’s where we live now. No regrets.
Please stop
7/10: “Finish your plate.” — You know all those issues with food guilt and portion control? Yeah, we’re not passing that down.
9/10: “Just put whiskey on the gums.” — Umm…who said I was sharing my drink? Also, I’ll pass on the felony.
ask an expert
Last week, we asked you what question you wanted Skimm moms at HQ to answer. The winner was:
How do you handle toddler tantrums in public?
💬 I decide if this is a battle I want to fight right now. If it is, I handle it just like I would at home: Move them away from anyone who might be impacted, address the behavior in the moment, and avoid giving it more attention than necessary. — Danielle
💬 If it’s a full-blown meltdown, I focus on helping my 2-year-old calm down first, so we talk about it after. I try to model the process — calm first, then talk — so it becomes a routine. I always get down to eye level so we’re looking at each other closely and directly. If it’s something like hitting, she may go to time-out — in her stroller with the shade on — since I’m trying to eliminate that behavior. — Kamini
💬 We used to have the kids step aside and come back when they were ready. They had a choice: Have the fit and not engage with others or pull it together and, when ready, come back. — Lisa
TOGETHER WITH GONNA NEED MILK
Drink Up
6 years
That’s how long it takes for parents’ sleep patterns to get back to normal after the birth of their first child, according to a recent study.
Sound familiar? If you’re looking to get more sleep, there’s a drink for that. Dairy milk provides nutrients like protein, vitamin D, calcium, magnesium, and zinc that help support healthy sleep. They’re associated with helping you fall asleep faster and staying asleep longer. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults get three servings of dairy a day. (Yes, having a latte or adding it to your smoothie counts.) Getting enough sleep increases brain function, improves heart health, and reduces stress. And it all starts with milk’s nutrients. Bottoms up.
the resource
Odds are you can’t book an international “research” trip (a girl can dream), but you can check out (and steal some parenting ideas from) these books on parenting in other cultures:
📖 There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather — In Sweden, outdoor time is nonnegotiable — rain or shine, just layer up and deal. Linda Åkeson McGurk, a Swedish-born mom raising kids in the US, breaks down how nature-first parenting builds resilient, confident children. Time to invest in some coats.
📖 Bringing Up Bébé — Some French babies sleep through the night at just 2 months, eat what's served (without launching peas), and play alone while parents do their thing. Is there magic in their butter? Nope — American journalist Pamela Druckerman figures out it's a combo of "La Pause," delayed gratification, and treating kids like mini adults.
📖 Achtung Baby — In Germany, kids walk to school alone, take the subway, and — yes — cut their own food with real knives. Sara Zaske explores how early independence makes German kids more self-reliant and why fear-based parenting might be holding the rest of us back.
relatable
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