As someone who is on a computer all day, I love social media. My Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat accounts have been key to keeping me connected to friends and family all over the country. In my adult life, I’ve lived in two countries, four states, and 10 cities, so I have friends and family who’ve never met my kids in real life. I’ve appreciated that social media has given family in far-away places a chance to get to know the two little people who mean the most to me.

It’s the most dreaded time of year for many moms — cold and flu season. Follow these simple tips to help keep your defenses up: 1. Invest in a neti pot Nasal irrigation consists of pouring saline water through one nostril and letting it come out through the other. This practice can alleviate cold, allergy, and sinus symptoms. Although doing it might look and feel weird, the results are worth it.

I first noticed the problem when it was in every picture and video I was taking of my toddler. And considering that I always have my camera ready, aka my iPhone, I take a lot of photos and videos of my adorably precocious toddler. And it was in every single picture — the iPad. My husband and I both work from home, so rather than shell out more than we pay in rent for daycare for our toddler and baby, we keep them home with us while we work away on our laptops.

My bipolar disorder actually led me to having my first child, Ivy, now 10. I wasn't being careful. I was manic, and while I thought I was taking precautions, I'm sure I wasn't. I had a surprise pregnancy from a casual relationship. I was 28 at the time, and I absolutely had doubts about my ability to parent. Even though I was relatively stable, I was afraid that if something happened and things went haywire, the baby would be taken away from me.

Sure, sure, you’ve read the parenting books and blogs, but there are a lot of parenting tips you might not know. Here are five parenting hacks to help you out: 1. Instead of buying nighttime diapers, buy diapers one size up. They’ll catch any nighttime accidents, plus they are cheaper and more cost-effective, since you’ll need them eventually. 2. Once kids start solids, freeze berries or applesauce in an ice cube tray and use them to cool down hot foods like oatmeal.

We all want our kids to grow up to be amazing. We want them to be smart, determined, brave, ethical, wise — the list goes on and on. We also want our kids to grow up to be successful, and honestly, sometimes kindness gets pushed down the list. Even the Hufflepuff house from the Harry Potter series gets a bad rap as “less than” the other houses, and Hufflepuffs are defined by loyalty and kindness.

Before I gave birth to my son, I was going to the OB’s office twice a week. Every doctor was concerned about every part of my daily life. It meant I was getting great care, which would ultimately mean my son had the best possible shot at arriving unscathed. Even socially, everywhere I went people took notice of my changing body and, for the most part, did what they could to accommodate it, whether it was getting me water or offering a seat.

For as long as I can remember, I've always had big breasts. They developed early and increased in size all the way up to an F cup in my adult life. They've always been sort of a running joke in my close-knit group of friends — jokes I absolutely participate in. I am aware of their size. This is nothing new to me. I absolutely see the attraction to breasts and even believe sexualizing them is appropriate in the correct consenting settings.

It’s that time of year again — the one all parents dread: cold and flu season! Is there anything that sounds worse than a stomach flu making its way through the entire family? Um, no. But here’s a sneaky mom hack that just might help you and your loved ones avoid catching the norovirus this year: Stock up on grape juice. That’s right, that dark purple beverage you probably already have in your fridge can also be a miracle stomach bug worker.

Holiday season is officially here, which means it’s time to start stocking up on gifts. Instead of waiting until the very last minute this year, here are some tips to help you knock all that holiday shopping out of the way ASAP! 1. Make a list Yes, it sounds basic, but it’s so necessary to stay on top of it this time of year. Write down everyone who will get gifts — and how many — from you this year: kids, in-laws, office Secret Santa, kids' teachers.