Welcome back to the L.A. Parent Podcast with Nina Harada -- Digital Editor and first-time mom. Today Nina has husband on the show as they chat about finding the right extracurricular activity for their 3-year-old daughter. It was her husband who took the lead in the finding a gymnastic class and so far it seems like a great fit. 

Should they be doing more? Music? Art? As parents we want to provide all the opportunities for our children. But how do we know what the ideal number of classes are? How do you follow your child's lead and interest and not impose your own? 

As always, thanks for listening and don't miss our latest July-August issue all about summer fun and discoveries. You can also find us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! 

For all things parenting, plus great travel stories and fun things to do, visit LAParent.com

Hello and welcome back to the L.A. Parent podcast, where our host, first-time mom and L.A. Parent Digital Editor Nina Harada talks all things parenting -- the joys, the challenges and all the feelings that come with parenting. 

Nina and her family recently spent 2 weeks in North California visiting with her husband's family. Being away from home and the daily routine is not easy for any of us, especially not easy for a toddler. Join us as Nina shares about her family's adventures, tantrums, meltdowns, cuddles and feeling sad, happy and excited all at the same time. 

How is your summer going so far? We would love to hear about your adventures. And for more inspiration and tips on how to travel safely, visit laparent.com.

You can also read our latest issue focused on family travel: LA Parent/Current Issue.

Share your travel ideas and best places to visit with us. Tag us with #LAParentTravels and let us know about your latest adventure close by or far away.

You can also find us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!

Happy Travels!

Hello families and welcome back to the L.A. Parent podcast, where we're celebrating summer and making travel memories. What's your summer adventure plan? Beach? mountains? camping? maybe a road trip? Our host and Digital Editor Nina Harada was back on the 5 this week with her family heading to the Bay Area. This is a road she has travelled often, first with her dad, then as a student at Berkeley and now with her family visiting her in-laws. 

There is something magical about long stretches of horizon, us, the road and something new and fun just ahead. Let us know where the summer takes you!

For the latest travel inspiration and tips on how to travel safely, visit laparent.com.

You can also read our latest issue focused on family travel: LA Parent/Current Issue.

Share your travel ideas and best places to visit with us. Tag us with #LAParentTravels and let us know about your latest adventure close by or far away.

You can also find us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!

Happy Travels!

Hello families and welcome back to the L.A. Parent podcast, where we chat about all things parenting with our Digital Editor and first-time mom, Nina Harada. Today, we're wondering why we put so much pressure on ourselves to get everything "perfect," especially when it comes important moments like a much-anticipated weekend away. 

The last few weeks were filled with fun times and adventures for Nina and family, but also with emergency room visits while visiting a local hot spring and a beloved dog passing away. And despite the things that will inevitably go wrong even though we spent weeks meticulously planning every detail, nothing is "ruined" and the memories will still be special. Take the weekend trip, go to that place you've been reading about. And most of all, stop worrying that it has to be "prefect." Bringing your family together, taking the time to explore somewhere new, talking, laughing and just being -- this is already perfect. The meltdown in the car, the cancelled flight, forgetting to pack the right snacks -- that's just life. 

For the latest travel inspiration and tips on how to travel safely, visit laparent.com.

You can also read our latest issue focused on family travel: LA Parent/Current Issue.

Share your travel ideas and best places to visit with us. Tag us with #LAParentTravels and let us know about your latest adventure close by or far away.

You can also find us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!

Happy Travels!

Hello and welcome back to the L.A. Parent podcast. Today our host, Digital Editor and first-time mom, Nina Harada, is sharing her summer vacation memories from her childhood and how she wants to create different traditions for her daughter and family. Nina's summers growing up were spent in Japan with her maternal grandparents. Once she finished school in L.A., she flew to Japan with her mom and started school there 6 days a week. The idea of summer camp, family road trips or visiting national parks sounded so exotic when her classmates talked about their summer vacations. 

As a mom Nina is dreaming and planning for all the places she wants to take her daughter. She wants Naomi to have memories of family summer vacations and new experiences. She also wants to make sure she takes some time away with just her husband too. Whether it's a night  at a local beach-side hotel or a few days exploring a new city, travel has a way of invigorating us. We hope you start your own family travel traditions. 

For the latest travel inspiration and tips on how to travel safely, visit laparent.com. 

You can also read our latest issue focused on family travel: LA Parent/Current Issue.

Share your travel ideas and best places to visit with us. Tag us with #LAParentTravels and let us know about your latest adventure close by or far away. 

You can also find us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!

Happy Travels!

Welcome back families. Today we're chatting about Mother's Day. Hmmm, what do you think? There is a lot of messaging that comes with this day. Do you brush if off as a "cheesy" holiday filled with marketing gimmicks or do you lean into it and celebrate your way? So much goes into the daily life of a mom. Raising a tiny human is not always celebrated or appreciated. 

This year our digital editor and first-time mom, Nina Harada, is giving herself permission to enjoy this day. And she is urging all of us moms to also lean into this day and ask for what we really want. We also know that Mother's Day can be a hard one for many of us. Treat yourself with kindness and self-care. 

Thanks for joining us. We love connecting with you in this space -- a place to be seen, to be heard and to be cheered on. Happy Mother's Day!

For more parenting inspiration and resources visit laparent.com

Connect with us on Instagram.

Welcome back to the L.A. Parent podcast. Our host, Digital Editor and first-time mom Nina Harada just got back from a family weekend getaway to Ojai. Tune in as she shares the not-so-perfect moments traveling with a wonderful, spirited 3-year-old. As parents we've learned that traveling with young kids is not always a "vacation." But that doesn't mean we can't enjoy it for what it is -- an opportunity to make family memories. Yes, there will be spilled food, tantrums and pure exhaustion. And there will be laughter, fun and the joy of knowing that you're sharing this new experience together as a family. 

In parenting and in life, there is so much that's out of our control. So why not lean into the adventure of it all. 

Thanks for joining us. We love connecting with you in this space -- a place to be seen, to be heard and to be cheered on.

For more parenting inspiration and resources visit laparent.com

Connect with us on Instagram.

Welcome back, families. Today our Digital Editor and first time mom Nina Harada shares about feeling "in between" being someone's mom and being someone's daughter. After a recent family trip to Joshua Tree with her sister's family and her dad, Nina is wondering how to best navigate shifting family dynamics. Do you openly discuss roles before a holiday gathering or family trip? Does that help diminish some of the bickering and hurt feelings? Exactly what do you say? We would love to learn from you, our L.A. Parent community. 

Thanks for joining us. We love connecting with you in this space -- a place to be seen, to be heard and to be cheered on.

For more parenting inspiration and resources visit laparent.com

Connect with us on Instagram.

Happy Spring Families! We're so happy to have you back to our L.A. Parent. podcast. Today our Digital Editor and first-time mom, Nina Harada, is sharing her intimate thoughts on who she is besides Naomi's mom. Before she became a mom three years ago, Nina had a career, hobbies, interests and curiosities. But as a mom to a toddler, her life pretty much now revolves around her daughter. Her situation is completely normal and so are her feelings that something is missing, but what is that something? Sometimes, us moms are just too much "in it" and simply too tired to try to even figure out what's missing. For now, let's try to engage in whatever "extra" activity we're drawn to during our rare few spare moments in the day between work, child care and just trying to keep our household afloat. And let's try to remember that wanting more and seeking new energy will definitely lead us to becoming calmer and more present parents. 

As we celebrate spring and new energy, we also put together some great roundups on where to find wildflowers in and around L.A. county, part one and part two, and the best spring fairs and festivals. 

Thanks for joining us. We love connecting with you in this space -- a place to be seen, to be heard and to be cheered on.

For more parenting tips and resources visit laparent.com

Connect with us on Instagram.

Welcome back to the L.A. Parent Podcast, where we chat about the joys and the challenges of parenting. Today, our Digital Editor and first-time mom Nina Harada takes us through her not-so-fun weekend that started off with a much-needed night out with friends and then took her back home to a sick daughter, an emergency room visit and more unwelcome surprises. As Nina kept wishing her parents lived closer to her, that familiar feeling of aloneness took over. But a friend's check-in text can change all that for the better, reminding us that we're never as alone as we imagine. One of the best things we can do for our fellow parents is to simply be there. Parenthood can be lonely and the challenges overwhelming at times. A simple text from a friend can mean so much. 

Thanks for joining us. We love connecting with you in this space -- a place to be seen, to be heard and to be cheered on.

For more parenting tips and resources visit laparent.com

Connect with us on Instagram.