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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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

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: