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Did you know that January is National Thank You Month?

Join Dorothy in her iconic red shoes - on pointe this time - the Cowardly Lion, Tin Man, the Scarecrow, Glinda, the Wicked Witch of the West, the Munchkins, poppies and the rest of Dorothy's friends when Dance St. Louis presents the Wizards of Oz.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Twitter hero reunites loved ones for the holidays

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

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.”

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.  

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.