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The Missouri Botanical Garden Lights Up the Holidays with Garden Glow

'Tis the season for holiday lights! And for the first time ever, St. Louis families have the opportunity to see the Missouri Botanical Garden transformed into a glowing holiday wonderland. 

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Mom's Happy Hour: Paying Moms to Breastfeed. Really?

Welcome to Mom's Happy Hour, in which we sort through the latest news about parents, parenting and pop culture so you don't have to. And then we add a little bit of snark and a whole lot of judgment.

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Desperately Seeking Date Night

Like a lot of married couples, my husband and I rarely find time for date night. In fact, our 11-year wedding anniversary came and went last June, and we have yet to celebrate the occasion with a proper night out. Busy work schedules, family obligations, and – let’s face it – sometimes sheer exhaustion all prevent us from finding the time we need to spend alone together.  

But according to a study conducted by The National Marriage Project last year, we’re foregoing date night at our own peril. Researchers at The University of Virginia determined that couples who go out together at least once a week are three times more likely to report being “very happy” in their relationships. They have better sex lives, and are less likely to get divorced too.
 
And – as if this isn’t enough pressure already – their findings also suggest that date nights even make us better parents.  

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St. Louis Teens to Take Part in TEDxGatewayArch Youth Event

On November 18, some of the most creative and innovative leaders in St. Louis will gather together to share ideas, take action and change the world – and still make it home in time to study for their algebra tests.

Thanks to TEDxGatewayArch, the city’s brightest teens can take part in the revolution that has shaped the way many view the world. Since its founding 26 years ago, the nonprofit organization TED and its roster of renowned speakers have encouraged millions of listeners to shake up the status quo through their innovation, creativity and compassion.

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See the Winners of our Halloween Costume Contest!

Congratulations to the winners of our Greatest Halloween Costume Contest Ever! Kids from across the St. Louis metro area dressed in their Halloween finest and competed for these great prizes:

• 1st Place: A one-year membership to The Magic House. Your membership includes unlimited free admission for you and your family all year long! Plus, 10 free guest passes, 15% discount in the Museum Shop, 20% discount on birthday parties and summer camps, invitations to member-only special events, including Breakfast with Santa and Fairy Tale Tea and lots more!

• 2nd Place: A fantastic, high-energy birthday party at Vetta Sports. Your child's birthday party can have it all: inflatable bouncers, lazer tag, soccer challenges, and multi-sport games at Vetta. Choose the Vetta Sports location that suits you best, and get ready to have an unforgettable party!

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Mom's Happy Hour: Helicoptering Makes Us Happy

Welcome to Mom's Happy Hour, in which we sort through the latest news about parents, parenting and pop culture so you don't have to. And then we add a little bit of snark and a whole lot of judgment.
 

Helicoptering Makes Us Happier

When comparing the helicopter mom to the tiger mom, one comes out ahead, at least in terms of the mom’s happiness. According to a study from the University of Amsterdam, parents who focus their time and energy on satisfying a child’s needs as opposed to prioritizing achievement and success experience higher levels of fulfillment and joy. While this isn’t necessarily a call of arms to wrap your child in bubble wrap and chew his food for him, it does help show there needs to be some level of balance with any parenting style so everyone – parents and child – have an overall sense of well-being.

The Reason Every Kid Likes Jimmy Fallon Better Than Jimmy Kimmel

Besides the fact Jimmy Fallon performed the Sesame Street theme song with Big Bird and Abby Cadabby, kids hate Kimmel for one main reason – his annual “I Told My Kids I Ate All Their Halloween Candy” YouTube challenge.

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Morning Sickness: The Chaotic Rush of Getting 3 Little Girls to Preschool on Time

I am not a morning person. At all. But, to be clear, I'm not really a night person, either. I'm more of what you would call a sleep person. I mean... there's a small window of time immediately following my afternoon Starbucks fix from 3 – 3:30 p.m. where I understand exactly what it is Lady Gaga is singing about as I drive a little faster than usual, but for the most part whatever the time of day, whatever it is I'm doing, I would rather be catching some shut eye.

Before kids I would sleep until the last possible moment, hop out of bed just before I had to be at work, dash into a phone booth, strap on my jet pack and rocket out the door. I had my morning routine timed out to the nano-second to allow myself the most sleep possible.

But now that I have three little girls, morning life is oh so different.

 

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Vote in the Greatest Costume Contest Ever!

Voting is ongoing in the STL Parent Greatest Costume Contest Ever! Anyone can vote, whether your child is entered into the contest or not, so be sure to get your vote in for your favorite little monster!

Spooktacular Prizes include:

• 1st Place: A one-year membership to The Magic House. Your membership includes unlimited free admission for you and your family all year long! Plus, 10 free guest passes, 15% discount in the Museum Shop, 20% discount on birthday parties and summer camps, invitations to member-only special events, including Breakfast with Santa and Fairy Tale Tea and lots more!

• 2nd Place: A fantastic, high-energy birthday party at Vetta Sports. Your child's birthday party can have it all: inflatable bouncers, lazer tag, soccer challenges, and multi-sport games at Vetta. Choose the Vetta Sports location that suits you best, and get ready to have an unforgettable party!

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Parents Join the Fight to #SaveOurMuseum

For parents in the Metro East, a quick trip over the river for a family fun activity can be daunting.

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The Do's and Don'ts of Dining Out with Kids

If recent headlines are any indication, kids and restaurants are like oil and water – the two just don’t mix. From the Mexican establishment in Texas that implemented yet another ban on children last August to a recent incident at Applebee’s where the police were called on an “unruly” family, it’s clear that we as a society are conflicted when it comes to where our kids belong, and how we expect them to act when they’re there.

Children need to know how to behave appropriately in a variety of social settings. It’s a valuable life skill that will serve them well as they grow. However, it also happens to be one with a serious learning curve. And as parents, it’s our responsibility to figure out which public outings our kids are ready to handle gracefully, and which ones are setting them – and us – up to fail.

Dining out with kids isn’t for the faint of heart. Even the best laid plans can be foiled by a mid-meal meltdown.  But there ARE ways to make the entire experience a more positive one for you and your children, as well as restaurant staff and other guests.

Here are a few do’s and don’ts to consider: 

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From One 'Fit Mom' to Another

Recently, fitness enthusiast and mom Maria Kang made headlines for a photo of herself in a

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Mom's Happy Hour: Parenting News and Gossip Your Friends Are Talking About

Welcome to Mom's Happy Hour, in which we sort through the latest news about parents, parenting and pop culture so you don't have to. And then we add a little bit of snark and a whole lot of judgment.

Imma let you marry me

Last week, you could hear the sound of millions of hearts breaking when Kanye West proposed to new mom Kim Kardashian, complete with a 15-carat ring, a rented-out baseball stadium, and a 50-piece orchestra playing Lana Del Ray – quite the step up from his original idea of baking the ring in a Cheddar Bay Biscuit at Red Lobster. We’re pretty sure Kim is already pinning Mason jar candles and paper garlands to her Pinterest wedding board in preparation for her big day.

Dolphins take a bite out of tigers

Two years ago, tiger parenting was all the buzz in the child-rearing world. Born out of Amy Chua’s Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mom, tiger moms focused on their children’s quest for individual achievement and excellence. This year, dolphin parenting, which celebrates playing, fun, open communication, and intimacy, is gaining momentum among parenting experts.

While I think I’m more of a dolphin than a tiger, in all honesty, when this parenting stuff gets too rough, I switch into cat parenting mode. I hide under the bed when my kids are too loud, hiss when a toddler won’t stop touching me, and act aloof and bitchy for no apparent reason.

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7 Fun Ways to Celebrate the World Series with Your Kids

There’s a lot to love about living in St. Louis, but at this precise moment in history, it’s the St. Louis Cardinals who probably top the list. Fresh off their victory over the L.A.

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Enter the Greatest Costume Contest Ever and Win Spooktacular Prizes!

We've got some fun in store for you and your little monsters!

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Your Friday Dirty Laundry: Surprise! Parenting Makes Us Tired

Welcome to our weekly feature, Dirty Laundry, in which we sort through the enormous (and colorful) piles of news and gossip about parents and parenting so you don't have to. And we're throwing it in the spin cycle along with a little bit of snark and a whole lot of judgment. Here's the latest:

New app censors spoilers on social media

You’ve set the DVR for The Voice, headed to your daughter’s tumbling lesson, and spent an hour at the Y fantasizing of the moment you can get home to your couch, box of wine and Adam Levine. You casually open your Facebook account on your phone while you wait, and… “Goddamnit, Grandma!” – she just let the world know which contestant got the boot.

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The Wild Life of the Suburbs

I am the Cinderella of the suburbs. Lured by my Broadway-esque yearnings for my Prince Charming (where for art thou, Jon Hamm?), reptiles, rodents and birds alike regularly descend upon our suburban castle for a little Alan Menken-scribed sing-along.

But these forest friends aren’t buffing my dishes clean with their fluffy tails or sewing me fabulous dresses from old burp cloths – they’re eating all my food, mating in my closets and relieving themselves on my floor like a bunch of inebriated frat boys.

When we lived in the city, we had our share of vermin – like the opossum who became my own personal jack-in-the-box by popping out of the garbage can every time I pitched the trash. Or the squirrel who loitered in our back staircase and went Christmas Vacation on us every time we opened the door.

But living the burbs is a whole new Wild Kingdom. While we live in a neighborhood, we’re also surrounded by acres of cornfields that house a menagerie of creatures that need some place to hang out when the combines take out their natural habitat.

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Get Buggy at the Saint Louis Science Center

Lots of kids love bugs, and if yours are fans of the crawling creatures, the Saint Louis Science Center has the buggy adventure for them, complete with thousands of live insects, bug cuisine (gulp), and a live insect petting zoo.

The Science Center will open its doors for an insect invasion this week with its new exhibit: Harry’s Big Adventure: My Bug World! The exhibition is a multisensory experience that immerses visitors into the world of bugs by introducing them to thousands of live insects.

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Head to The Hill to Celebrate St. Louis' Italian Heritage This Weekend

I often tease my husband that if I ever write a book, I’m going to call it An American Girl’s Guide to Surviving an Italian Family.  In turn, he – a first generation Sicilian who shares a name with the Godfather – likes to remind me that hot-headed and easily offended Italians are known for leaving the people who cross them to “sleep with the fishes.”  

Okay, so if I know what’s good for me, I may never write that particular literary masterpiece. Or maybe I should remind my husband that we don't actually live in episode of The Sopranos. Either way, the truth remains that when an all-American girl like me marries into a big Italian family, there's going to be a bit of culture shock along the way.
 
“It’s like joining a secret society,” I joked to a friend, when attempting to explain how you have to kiss every single relative and acquaintance hello and good-bye, every single time you see them. If you skip the tradition, you risk offending an entire family – and igniting a feud that could last for decades.
Think My Big Fat Greek Wedding, but with pasta.

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You and Your Kids Can Bike Through St. Louis’ Haunted History

Love a good ghost story, but afraid of creeping out your kids? Just in time for Halloween, Trailnet is hosting “Ghosts of the Past” - kid-friendly bike tours of local graveyards that get your entire family up close and personal with the city’s spirit world as well as help you kill off a few calories on a six-mile bike ride.

“Trailnet has teamed up with historian extraordinaire - Harold Karabell – who will lead riders through Bellefontaine and Calvary cemeteries,” explained Josie McDonald, director of communications and marketing for Trailnet. “Riders will visit some of the most important ‘ghosts’ from the city’s past and learn about their roles in the history of both our city and our country – among others, Tennessee Williams and Dred Scott.”

Your family can choose from either “Ghosts of the Past” tour or participate in both for a well-rounded history lesson.

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You Are What You Drink

Gatorade is a thing of the past for my 10-year-old hockey player. At the first team meeting in September, his coach challenged the kids to nix sports drinks. In their place, he extolled water for hydration and praised chocolate milk’s nutritional merits. And all the while, he kept his eyes averted from the front row, where one of his skaters sat sipping a Mountain Dew at 9 a.m.

It got me wondering: How many coaches are taking a stand against the sports-drink marketing steamroller?

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Things to Do

Music & Movement

Explore songs, finger plays, music and more during this Music & Movement class for ages 0-6. Some sessions are held in person at various branches of the St. Louis County Library. Some sessions are virtual. 

 

 

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Potty Training 101
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Saturday, February 15, 2025

Is it time to potty train your toddler? The St. Louis County Library is offering Potty Training 101 to parents of children ages 2-3. This free workshop for parent and child includes a potty-themed storytime, and parents & caregivers will receive information to get them started on the potty training process. Attendees will also receive a potty seat, step stool, training pants and a potty-themed board book. 

 

 

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Open Gym at Miss Kelly's Gym in Cottleville

Open Gym at Miss Kelly's Gym is an opportunity for any child to have supervised free play in the gym.  They can work on existing skills, try something new, or simply play around. It is completely up to them! Open Gym is open to both members and non-members ages 12 and under.

 

 

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Curator Tour at the WCHOF featuring the St. Louis Aquarium Foundation
Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Attend a complimentary tour of the newest World Chess Hall of Fame (WCHOF) exhibitions, “Crown Jewels: Donation Highlights” and “Paws and Pawns: Exploring Animal Chess Sets.” WCHOF Curator Emily Allred will show exhibition highlights, and the St. Louis Aquarium’s Senior Educator Maxene Van Damme will offer insight into the animals represented in “Paws and Pawns.”

 

 

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Popular Stories

Why Summer Camp is Great for . . . Parents

Being able to focus on yourself, your partner, and other people in your life who mean a lot to you is no small matter. As parents, we’re used to being responsible providers and caregivers. However, there’s so much more to a person: we’re also partners and friends. These are important parts of our identities that we need to cultivate. Sending your kids to summer camp may bring out your more playful side that you haven’t shown for a while.

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Want Your Kids to Learn? Teach Them It’s Okay to Make Mistakes

It’s normal for parents to want to protect their children from failure. It’s also normal to want them to achieve, win, and do their best. But here’s the truth: We don’t learn anything new without making mistakes. I’ll say it again. Making mistakes is a crucial step in learning. If we’re fearful of making mistakes, learning comes to a screeching halt.

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Spring Break Camps Offer a Variety of Activities for Kids and Teens in St. Louis

Excitement is building for summer and the wide variety of summer camp experiences available for kids in the St. Louis metro area. But first! Spring break is around the corner, and there are plenty of Spring Break camps enrolling now. 

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7 Signs Your Kids Are Ready For Their First Sleepaway Camp

It’s time to decide whether to send your kids to sleepaway camp, but how do you know that's the right thing to do? How can you tell whether your kids are ready for their first extended stay away from home? Here are 7 important signs that experts say should inform your decision.

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Life Lessons Learned at Overnight Camp

With the perfect blend of adventure and responsibility, camp life teaches kids valuable lessons they can use for the rest of their lives. If you send your child to overnight camp, here are some life lessons they are likely to learn.

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