
4. Give children fresh starts: Don’t broadcast to everyone they “had rough mornings.”

You offer me a space to be vulnerable and to feel safe. A place to be a mother, but also a full person outside of motherhood.

Actually, to suggest women “should” do anything other than what they feel is right for their families is anti-feminist.

There's no reason to fit into JUST the working mom or stay-at-home mom box.

Being a mom has made me really tired, and really happy.

Before kids: Confesses his love for me. After kids: Says, “I will clean up this puke.”

The benefits kids receive from working or home-based parents basically equal out.

Be kind. You never know how often a mom got up last night. Life changes every day when you have a toddler. One of the huge changes is where they sleep. Knowing if it's time, when and how to transition him from his crib to his bed doesn't come naturally, but your love for him does. So don't sweat the changes, mama. You've got this. XO, TeamMotherly P.S. First nights in a big kid bed are made way easier by bed bumpers, to keep your little one in place.

My full name is “mom mom mom mom mom mom". I whine, you whine, we all whine... but it will be fine! While it can seem like YOUR kid is the ONLY one whining at Target, rest assured that whining is actually biological—everyone does it. And, there are ways to approach whining that actually work (without driving you crazy in the process). XO, TeamMotherly P.S. To unwind from the whining we love Kiehl's Foam-Relaxing Bath.

“You're the one who can fill the world with sunshine."—Snow White. Fact—dance parties and musical jam sessions are good for your toddler's brain (and your mood). So unleash your best air guitar, make a microphone out of a wooden spoon , and let the music flow. XO, TeamMotherly P.S. Melissa & Doug's Band in a Box will keep your aspiring musician busy for hours.

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. Peace on earth begins at birth and grows at home with you. Your little one is learning all the aspects of becoming a good human being from you, and before you know it, she'll be out there make the world a better place. Look at you, raising a change-maker.XO, TeamMotherly

“What is mom but the sunshine of our days." —Robert Brault. Children are inherently good. Sure, they may have trouble sharing, and getting a "thank you" is sometimes impossible. But their hearts really are pure and kind. What an amazing opportunity it is for us to foster and encourage what already exists within them! And on this latest journey around the sun, it's fun to look back at the magic you've created. Look at you, making the world better, one toddler a time. Happy Birthday, sweet one. XO, TeamMotherly P.S. For a book that teaches kids to be kind to others, you'll both love Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud.

Mom was not my first name, but it's my favorite. Your little explorer has questions about EVERYTHING, and as far as they're concerned, you have ALL the answers—#momgenious. Embrace their curiosity—you may just find yourself re-rediscovering the world right along with them. XO, TeamMotherly P.S. Never hurts to have some Starbucks coffee in the house to fuel your question-answering power ☕️.

“We love with a love that is more than love." —Edgar Allen Poe. If your family is growing (yay!), one of your 17,000 thoughts might be about where to have your little ones sleep. Turns out that when siblings spend time together, the whole family benefits! So deciding to bunk your tots together may be one thing on your list you can go ahead and ✔️. XO, TeamMotherly P.S. In the market for a toddler bed? We are swooning over this one from Pottery Barn Kids.

Young children simply cannot think about how an action will affect them later. Here’s what you can do instead.