Have you heard the term “choice mom”? It’s easier to say than “single mother by choice” and it was coined by writer Mikki Morrissette, who became a mother in 1999 and published “Choosing Single Motherhood: The Thinking Woman’s Guide” in 2008. She also founded an online community for other women who are at different points in their family-building journey sans partner.

There are so many ways that women come to decide that being a “choice mom” is their path. There’s also more than one way to bring a baby into your life. Accordingly, the information on ChoiceMoms.org is split into stages: Thinking, Trying, Waiting, and Becoming. { read more }

About Tracy Morris

I wear a lot of hats while spinning plates and true stories. In between taking care of myself and my family, I write about fertility and other health care topics. Most of my online time lately is spent at two very different places: FertilityTies.com and TrailerParkKarma.com. Perspective is everything -- my pre-teen reminds me daily.

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It’s no mystery that when it comes to feeding a baby, there is no better natural food than breast milk. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office states breastfed babies are less likely to develop a disease, while breastfeeding mothers experience a better quality of life after giving birth, including decreased chances for depression, and fewer health risks such as ovarian cancer, Type-2 diabetes, osteoporosis and even breast cancer.

With all these benefits, partners of breastfeeding moms should be compelled to do all they can to help a nursing mom succeed. Providing the proper support to a breastfeeding mother is essential to a parent partnership, and fathers who learn proper ways to support their partner can experience the benefit of having a healthy, happy family in the long run.

Here are some ways you, as a partner, can support breastfeeding in your family. { read more }

About Martine De Luna

I'm a freelance writer, editor, blogger and former preschool teacher. Married with one kid, I'm a work-at-home mom, but most of all, a mom-in-the-works. I'm a work in progress, and I believe that living intentionally day by day will help me become the best mom for my child.

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“For better or for worse.”

This vow in the marriage ceremony is often misunderstood or undervalued, especially when issues such as disagreements come in. Culture has long implied that marital arguments are taboo in a marriage, and may be a sign that something in the relationship isn’t working.

However, studies in recent years claim that fighting can actually be good for your marriage, and even make it stronger. One study, for example, suggests it is beneficial for married couples to fight at least once a week. { read more }

About Martine De Luna

I'm a freelance writer, editor, blogger and former preschool teacher. Married with one kid, I'm a work-at-home mom, but most of all, a mom-in-the-works. I'm a work in progress, and I believe that living intentionally day by day will help me become the best mom for my child.

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Co-parenting is the term used when biological parents (in most cases, anyway) do not live together as a couple, but still provide parental care for their child. Often times this situation arises when a couple splits up and it can easily be a very awkward, uncomfortable, and even contentious relationship.

But no matter how you and your co-parenting partner ended up, you’re here, and your primary concern should be to provide the best parental care for your child possible. And like it or not, that may include incorporating the other parent, and possibly step-parent(s), in your daily activities. It won’t always be easy, but read on for tips and advice on achieving your goal of successful co-parenting. { read more }

About Jeff Jacobson

Socrates understood himself to be the smartest man in Athens because he knew at least enough to know he knew nothing. That's me. I'm an inconsistently successful father, stepfather, husband, and writer. But at least I know it.

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Photo: Jeff Jacobson

Every birth is a little different. Some women give birth in a birthing tub at home, while others prefer a hospital. Some women have smooth, relatively quick vaginal births, while others struggle for hours at a time only to deliver their baby via cesarean section. But no matter your birthing style or method, one thing at the end of every successful birth is certain: you now have a new life to adjust to, and you have to adjust to it in a hurry. Here are some things every new parent can expect in the days and weeks after giving birth. { read more }

About Jeff Jacobson

Socrates understood himself to be the smartest man in Athens because he knew at least enough to know he knew nothing. That's me. I'm an inconsistently successful father, stepfather, husband, and writer. But at least I know it.

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Every relationship needs a healthy dose of on-going romance. Yet one of the biggest challenges is finding one-on-one time, especially when parenting tasks take the front seat. Remember, though, before you started down the parenting route, you were first and foremost partners and lovers. And you still are. By working to keep your romance alive, you set up your parenting journey to be successful, even if you’re only granted just a little time together. Here are a few tips on how to sneak in some “us” time for you and your partner when parenting keeps you busy.

{ read more }

About Martine De Luna

I'm a freelance writer, editor, blogger and former preschool teacher. Married with one kid, I'm a work-at-home mom, but most of all, a mom-in-the-works. I'm a work in progress, and I believe that living intentionally day by day will help me become the best mom for my child.

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Everyone knows that with a new baby comes a wealth of new responsibilities. But not all of those responsibilities are immediately obvious. Sure, there are diapers to change and appointments to keep, but most new parents also experience an increase of housekeeping duties, both in variety and in frequency of need. Before your home turns into something you might see on A&E, try out a few of these housekeeping tips for new parents to keep your home–and the people in it–clean, safe, and sane.

Clean means clean, not just not messy

In my pre-baby days, “cleaning the kitchen” meant doing the dishes and wiping down the counters daily, and sweeping and mopping “as needed.” Now that there’s a crawling baby who loves putting things in her mouth when I’m not looking, “as needed” means everyday. It’s no longer okay to simply let the dog lick the crumbs off the floor and walk away, because that dog slobber will find its way into my daughter’s mouth, and in all likelihood, sooner rather than later. { read more }

About Jeff Jacobson

Socrates understood himself to be the smartest man in Athens because he knew at least enough to know he knew nothing. That's me. I'm an inconsistently successful father, stepfather, husband, and writer. But at least I know it.

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Allow me to set the scene: my beautiful wife sitting across the table, a bottle of wine in between us; in my wallet a gift card — a holiday bonus, courtesy of my generous boss — without which we would never have chosen such a nice (read: expensive) restaurant to begin with; a free babysitter at home with the eleven month old.

My wife and I had not been out in public together, without our kids, in over a year. It was supposed to be a triumphant experience. We love our children dearly, but everyone needs a break now and again, and we were due. It was supposed to be idyllic. Quiet, calm, relaxing. Romantic. We were supposed to gorge ourselves on perfectly-cooked steak and have one too many glasses of wine. We were supposed to be using the time to get away from it all and reconnect.

So why, before our salads (mine a wedge, hers a classic Caesar) had even arrived, did we find ourselves in an argument? And a doozy of one, come to that. How had things gone so wrong, so quickly? { read more }

About Jeff Jacobson

Socrates understood himself to be the smartest man in Athens because he knew at least enough to know he knew nothing. That's me. I'm an inconsistently successful father, stepfather, husband, and writer. But at least I know it.

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The holidays are a stressful time for a lot of people, but especially for new parents. Aside from the presents shopping, travel arrangements, and the forty-seven other things we have to get done during the course of a normal work week, new parents also have to contend with the rigors associated with caring for a baby all day, every day. During these times, date night is usually the very last thing on the minds of new parents.

But it’s precisely these times when a well-placed date night can go a long way towards keeping the peace — as well as your sanity — during the most hectic time of the year. Here are a few date night ideas for new parents during the holiday season.

Holiday lights sight-seeing

Whether you’re a big holiday spirit kind of person or not, taking a leisurely stroll around the neighborhood at night can be a great way to share a peaceful moment with your partner and baby. It’s free, it’s good exercise, and you can take your baby along to avoid finding a sitter. Yes,  it’s a tough to call this single activity a proper date. But on the other hand, new parents know and appreciate the wonders what a half an hour of quiet calm can do during the course of a day. { read more }

About Jeff Jacobson

Socrates understood himself to be the smartest man in Athens because he knew at least enough to know he knew nothing. That's me. I'm an inconsistently successful father, stepfather, husband, and writer. But at least I know it.

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As John Hannah‘s character, James, in Sliding Doors so succinctly puts it, “Never make a joke about a woman’s hair, clothes, or menstrual cycles.” Quite right. But while most men learn about these and other taboo subjects when it comes to women at large, there are a few phrases and subjects specific to pregnant women that men should shy away from if they hope to stay married for long. Here are five of them (in no particular order):

1. Boy, your belly’s really getting big! 
It seems like this one should go without saying…but it doesn’t. The truth is that while pregnancy is every bit as exciting for dad as it is for mom, and it can be difficult for the former to contain that excitement from the latter, dads are not the ones who physically have to go through the pregnancy. Trust me, she knows her belly’s getting big, and she knows that you know. A big belly is usually a sign of a healthy baby, so just thank your lucky stars and keep your comments to yourself { read more }

About Jeff Jacobson

Socrates understood himself to be the smartest man in Athens because he knew at least enough to know he knew nothing. That's me. I'm an inconsistently successful father, stepfather, husband, and writer. But at least I know it.

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