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When to 'Let It Go' and When to Tone It Down, Mom

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.
 

Tone it down, Mom

Surprising, the “everybody gets a trophy” mentality many parents shower on kids may actually be hurting the very children it’s supposed to “protect.”

When our children are struggling, we think that being their own personal cheerleaders on Red Bull will keep them motivated. However, researchers at Ohio State University found that when we bestow inflated praise on children with low self-esteem, we actually lead them to shy away from taking on new challenges.

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Thanks, Honey. But I Hate It.

My husband and I are not what you would call gift people. Wait – let me rephrase that. My husband is not what you would call gift people.

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18 Ways St. Louis Parents Can Survive Yet Another Snow Day

With snow on the ground, snow in the forecast and subzero temperatures keeping everyone indoors, St. Louis parents are starting to go a little crazy. For many of us, this potentially never ending winter break has now lasted for more than two weeks.

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3 Ways to Be Happier in the New Year (Hint: Your Kids Know the Secret)

With 2014 just around the corner, it’s resolution time again. Instead of planning on exercising more or eating better – because where’s the joy in that – I decided to focus on things that would make me truly happy.

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New Year's Eve Celebrations For Kids (and Some for Parents Too!)

As St. Louisans ring in 2014 your kids can join the party at these New Year's Eve events designed just for the younger crowd. We've even included one event the whole family can enjoy.

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Middle Schoolers Can LEAP Into Art Education at CAM This Winter

For teens and tweens in middle school, their days can be full of confusion, frustration and struggles with low self-esteem.

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Why Moms are Flocking to The Nest

A new gathering place for moms, kids and families has “hatched” in the St. Louis area, much to the delight of local parents – and particularly local moms.
 
The Nest, a self-described “stay and play creative café designed to function as a modern day community center, restaurant and membership club for women and families,” officially opened its doors in Frontenac last week. With an indoor play forest, drop-in childcare, classes for women and children and unique and healthy dining options, The Nest fills a niche that has been long overlooked in the St. Louis region.
 
According to Co-Founder Christina McHugh, the idea for The Nest was born from what she describes as “a HUGE deficit in the current market.”
 
“For me,” says McHugh, “what was lacking was a space that caters to children AND offers variety to adults. That was really missing in our area. We try to create an environment that supports families – where mom feels comfortable breastfeeding, where the kids are going to have a good time and not want to leave, where parents will always have that helping hand.”
 
“We’re the ones,” she continues, “who will hold the baby while you pay your check or put on your coat.”

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5 Reasons You Won't Find an Elf on Our Shelf

Like a lot of moms, I have a love-hate relationship with the holiday season. I love baking (okay, mostly eating) gingerbread cookies. I love decking the halls with lights and garland and bright red bows.

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Festival of Frights

The most important lesson I've learned this holiday season is that life is as precious as it is fragile.

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So long Emma and Aiden. You've been Bumped. See the Top Baby Names for 2013.

A friends of mine who is due to give birth to a girl later this month recently told me she and her husband had finally agreed on a name for their precious bundle of joy. And that they had made it up.

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Mom's Happy Hour: Trouble In Toyland

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.

Stockings are a death trap

With the holidays upon us, it’s time to weed out all the dangerous toys from our children’s shopping lists and replace them with cotton balls (no wait, they can swallow them!) and feather pillows (no wait – allergies!). The U.S. Public Interest Research Group has released its “Trouble in Toyland” report featuring toys equivalent to a Bag o’ Glass. A number of products like Littlest Pet Shop sets are mislabeled and can offer up choking hazards while the Captain America Soft Shield has 29 times the legal standard for lead. For a list of harmful toys, check out the full report.

Your son is by far the smelliest

In the movie Big Daddy, Adam Sandler is honored to hear his kid is the smelliest in the class. In real-life, a preschool teacher in New York is under fire for sending home a note to all of her parents

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Children Who Face Unimaginable Odds Find Help at Marygrove (and You Can Help Too)

Each year, more than 900 young people suffering from the emotional and psychological damage of abuse, neglect and other traumas find an open door and a helping hand at Marygrove, the second largest

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16 Holiday Events Your Kids (and You) Will Love This Season

It’s beginning to look a lot like the holiday season in St. Louis! As we look ahead to the December holidays, many beloved area attractions are celebrating with amazing seasonal events that offer festive fun for the entire family.

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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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Things to Do

Sea Lion Shows at the Saint Louis Zoo
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Wednesday, July 2, 2025

See the Zoo's California sea lions perform acrobatic and athletic feats, including Olympic-style dives on a high-diving platform, flipper walks, frisbee tosses and plenty of surprises. While on stage with the sea lions, the Zoo's trainers explain sea lion behavior and positive-reinforcement training, in addition to the need for conserving the sea lion's ocean habitat.

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Storytelling in the Museum from the Missouri History Museum
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Storytelling in the Museum is an in-person storytelling event happening at 10:30 a.m. at the Missouri History Museum. This event, perfect for the preschool set, features engaging stories with themes like Juneteenth, Sweet Treats, Summer and more. Storytelling in the Museum is free.

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Popular Stories

Festivals & Fireworks to Celebrate July 4th in St. Louis

It's time to celebrate Independence Day in St. Louis, and because this year July 4th falls on a Friday, your family can look forward to a full weekend of festivals and fireworks. Check out these family-friendly celebrations that include carnivals, fantastic fireworks and lots more.

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Summer Fun in St. Louis Starts Now! Your Guide to Family Fun this June

For many St. Louis families, the start of June represents the real start of summer. That's when the summer fun really starts to kick in, and the fact that so many activities and attractions are free is just a bonus!

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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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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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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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