The Ultimate Parenting Advice, Tips, and Tricks Guide

So, I am sure you have heard the expression: Parenting doesn't come with instructions or a handbook. Well... recently, I took to Instagram and asked some of my favorite Instagrammers to share their favorite parenting tips. Together, we made the Ultimate Parenting Advice, Tips, and Tricks Guide.

I will start with one of my favorites: There is no such thing as a perfect parent and it is okay to make mistakes! As long as you love your kids and do your best, you are an amazing parent.

Now, let's get into the amazing advice from some amazing Instagrammers. I will add their tags so please feel free to follow all these amazing mamas! So let's write this book!

~Keeping my kids on a strict schedule most, if not every day. Then they know exactly what to do :). Works for us. @neeshe

~Pick and choose your battles. @mamadoitblog

~Sleep when the baby sleeps 😆 Bear is two and I still nap when he does 🤷🏼‍♀️ @mom_of_bear

~What works for one kid might not work for another so be patient and flexible. @backpacksandfruitsnacks

~Your kids need a happy, present parent, so it is important to take care of yourself while also caring for them!! ❤️ @thedaughterdiaries

~It’s important to love yourself before you can someone else @shes_moving_mountains

~Hmm I’d say to take as many pictures and videos as you can because they grow up so fast!! @threetinydots

~Get in the pictures and if you can’t splurge and get them taken at least once a year @smalltownmrs

~Selfcare is so important. I am a better mom when I take care of myself and take a little time for my self every now and then. @kristinekirstein

~Parenting is so hard! The greatest tip for me is not to stress. It’s something I wish I realized when I was a first-time mom. Everything will work out, don’t sweat the little things. In our kid's eyes, we are always the hero’s and our best is enough! @barbells.and.diapers

~I would say a schedule is so helpful to make sure I can have my “me time” and also be able to get work done. @thefamilysimon

~My son is pretty good to follow when I give him instructions and scheduling works too!🙌🏼 @raeanndotnet

~I think one of my biggest takeaways is that each child is different and you can’t approach parenting only one-way @thesewildwilliamses

~You are the perfect parent for your kids, God gave you them and he trusts you to take care of them. That’s a big honor ❤️@_beautiful_reflections_

~I still struggle sometimes. I will say that not every kid is the same. I am living that right now. I have one that listens well, another pushes my buttons. So one thing will work for one and not the other @brittanymills4

~Be present! It goes so fast - pause everything else and give your littles the attention they need. ♥️♥️ @shopprettyjames

~Remind them to use their voice and as a parent remember to listen so often when kids “act out” or might not do something we think is the best plan the kid's actions are for reason of their own. Help them learn and grow by us parents listening to their voice and guiding them with grace. @mrscallijo

~Do all the little things people say are “unnecessary” they are only little once and every sweet moment counts @michaela_laskan

~Kids are all different try to find what works for each child. @krizman_family

~Don’t stress over every fall. There are plenty more to come. @melaninb_poppin

~ I think the biggest lesson I’ve learned is to let your kid lead when it comes to the big milestones (potty training, walking, etc) they’ll usually tell you when they’re ready @mama.mandyb

~Recently another mom told me that she had to just force herself to allow her kids to be kids and she never wanted to look back and her children not enjoy their childhood. That stuck with me! Instead of being worried about my son getting too dirty because it is more work for me, just let him be a kid and have fun! @simplysavvyoils

~Sometimes you can’t make a gourmet meal because the kids don’t want it - mad and cheese or a Peanut butter jelly is FINE! @wonderfully_aly

~My advice would be to trust your gut and what works for you/your baby might not be for everyone!! Breastfeed (or not) co-sleep (or not) just don’t let others judgments second guess yourself as a mom! @viajesconmami

~My tip is to go with the flow @careeohhlinee

~Know that you are not the only one going exactly what you’re going through so give yourself grace @maria_c_fitzpatrick

Well, there you have it. The Ultimate Parenting Advice, Tips, and Tricks Guide written by moms for moms. Want some more great tips? Check out the original post on my Instagram page. Make sure to leave your favorite parenting tip in the comments below!

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9/11 a Day I will Never Forget

Growing up in New York I always was fascinated by the skyline and how tall the buildings were. It is truly a magical view and there is a reason it is so famous and in so many films and t.v. shows. One of my favorite buildings to look at was the World Trade Center also known as the Twin Towers. They were the biggest things I had ever seen and almost too tall for my young mind to comprehend. I loved going to the city and just admiring all the architecture. Unfortunately, on a day that I will never forget.. this beautiful view and our way of living was forever changed.

The saying "Never Forget" is truly fitting for September 11th because it truly is a day I as well as so many others will truly never forget.

It started like any other day. I woke up, got ready, and went off to school at East Meadow High School on Long Island. I was in 11th grade at the time and while sitting in class at 8:45 am on a clear Tuesday morning our world was forever changed. I remember hearing chatter in the halls of fear then the news spread that the first tower was hit and we were under attack. I will never forget that feeling of fear taking over me. At that point, no one had any idea what was going on or what would happen next. I decided I did not want to remain in school any longer that day and walked out as many of my fellow schoolmates did as well.

I walked across the street to the hospital where my mom worked on the 18th floor. 18 minutes after the first plane hit we all watched in horror as the second plane hit the second building. Being in a tall building (even though we were about 30 minutes outside of the city) we were no longer able to see the beautiful skyline view that once brought us so much joy. It was now replaced with a huge cloud of black smoke.

I remember everyone frantically trying to get ahold of their loved ones. At that point, I hugged my mother and walked back to my school. I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to go home and be by myself because at that point we didn't know if they were going to attack anywhere else. I was more scared than I had ever been in my life. Luckily, I ran into my friend Jackie and was able to go to her house and wait for my parents to get off of work. I remember sitting on her couch with her and her stepdad watching the news and just crying our eyes out.

I remember being glued to the tv and watching this all unfold live in front of our eyes unedited. We watched as people jumped for their lives in hopes of saving themselves. As I sit here typing this the visions are forever embedded in my mind and I can't help but just get filled up with emotion. Then the news came that they attacked the Pentagon Military Headquarters at 9:45 am. Then we watched live as the towers came down. Just when we thought it couldn't get any worse another plane was reported to be hijacked in New Jersey. All the passengers were killed.

I remember living in fear for many days following these horrific events. I remember hearing friends of mine that had lost their loved ones or not knowing if they were still alive or not. I remember watching for days our brave firefighters and others dedicating themselves to dig through the rubble in hopes of finding people. We lost close to 3,000 human lives on this horrific day and for those lives, we will Never Forget!

Over the next few days... even with all the tragedy, I saw something positive happen. We as a nation started coming together. People were kinder than I had ever witnessed before. People cared about their neighbors. People were helping each other. We were the United States of America. It didn't matter what political party you believed in... we were all simply Americans. This was one of the first times in my then young life that I actually understood the United part.

Unfortunately, years after this horrific day we are still seeing people losing their lives due to the toxic dust they inhaled during this time. Many have suffered from PTSD. So many lost their loved ones and lives will never ever be the same. If you have a moment please check out this non-profit and consider making a donation: https://www.911memorial.org/support

In one single moment, the lives of so many had changed. September 11th, 2001 is a day that forever changed our country and the world will never be the same. It is a day that we will NEVER FORGET!

This blog post is dedicated to all those who lost their lives on this tragic day and to all of our heroes who helped all of the victims. We will never forget you! 🇺🇸 ❤️🤍💙

My Labor Day Weekend Labor Story

Warning: My Labor Day Weekend Labor Story starts out sad but ends with a happy ending.

The year was 2008 and the holiday season was in the air. But with all the Yuletide and dreidel spinning came some unfortunate news. My best friend and grandmother Norma became very ill. My grandmother lived in New York and I had just recently moved to North Carolina so it was extremely hard being away from her during this time. One thing about my grandma is she loved all of her grandchildren and wanted nothing more than to have great-grandchildren. Unfortunately, my beautiful grandma passed away two days after Christmas and I didn't even get to say goodbye. This weighed heavy on my heart and still does to this day but remember I said this has a happy ending? I promise it is coming.

I flew to New York to lay my grandmother to rest and to be with my family. Upon returning home to North Carolina I started realizing I was very lethargic but just chalked it up to being emotionally drained and tired from my travels. Then I started to feel sick. Tony and I hadn't been trying to have kids so that thought didn't even cross my mind. Well, after a few days of being back and calming my emotions down I decided to take a test. Low and behold... I was pregnant. I truly believe that my grandmother sent me this baby but I just wish she was around to meet him.

Fast forward 9 months...

The day was September 3rd, 2009, and it started like any other day and I wasn't due for another week. At the time, my husband was in a nationally touring band called All Thee Above, and they were set to play an acoustic set at Hot Topic at the Carolina Place Mall. I was really excited about this because in high school I worked at Hot Topic and thought it was so cool that my husband would now be playing in one. I wasn't sure if I should go with it being so close to my due date but I didn't feel labor coming on or any discomfort (besides the normal being huge).

So we ventured out to the mall. Let's just say I didn't even make it into the mall because as soon as I stepped out of the car my water broke. Luckily, my husband was the drummer so he wasn't really needed for the acoustic set so the show went on as we ventured on our way to the hospital. The labor was long (17 hours to be exact) and All Thee Above had a showcase the next morning for a major record label so the pressure was on. My labor went into the next morning and I remember at 10 am my husband saying that in order to make the showcase he would need to leave in 15 minutes. Well, at 10:14 am (with 1 minute to spare) our Brayden was born.

We were so glad that Brayden showed up in time for All Thee Above to make their gig. Tony was very happy to meet him before going off to be the rock star that he is. Notice the time in the picture:

Unfortunately, All Thee Above did not get that record deal but I think we got something much better. Also, circling back to my Grandma Norma... I still believe Brayden was sent to us from her. As he has grown he has a strong resemblance to my grandfather Harry (Norma's husband).

My Grandpa Harry Brayden

What is even crazier is this phenomenon didn't stop with my Grandma Norma and Brayden. A few years after the passing of my grandma my beloved Grandpa Harry passed away as well. Within days of his passing, I found out I was pregnant with my second son Tony. Tony's and my grandfather's birthdays are only a few days apart.

Fast forward a few years... I was lying in bed and woke up because I had a terrible charlie horse in my leg. At the time, the only time I ever had had charlie horses was when I was pregnant. Within seconds and I mean seconds my phone rang and it was my mom letting me know that my grandfather Ray passed away. After hanging up the phone, I turned to Tony and told him what had happened and that I think I need to get a pregnancy test. I went out that day and took one and it actually came back negative but I still sensed I was pregnant. A few days later, I took another test, and low and behold I was pregnant. 9 months later our Sydney entered the world and her beautiful face is graced with a dimple. The same dimple that adorned my stunning Aunt Debbi's face (my grandpa Ray's daughter) while she was with us.

Now, I am not a very religious person but I do believe that all of my babies were a gift from my loved ones who passed on. They each resemble my grandparents in their looks and their personality. They are my gifts to keep the memory of my loved ones alive long after they have gone and I thank them every day.

Well, there you have it... my Labor Day Weekend Labor story as well as the story behind my grandparents giving me the gift of my children. Thanks for reading and see you next week!

This blog post is in memory of my Grandma Norma, Grandpa Harry, Grandpa Ray, and Aunt Debbi.

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