Happy Thursday,

Dive into today's discussions on safeguarding our kids from unintentional mishaps and harm, the domino effect on parents as their children's mental health declines, and an innovative childcare cost calculator for every locale. We also spotlight one dad's unique approach to parenting teens, some reminders that perfect isn't a prerequisite for good motherhood, a few tips for navigating parenthood in today's diverse society, and expert advice on the best ways to praise your child.

Let’s get into it!

Parenting Pulse: Trending Stories & Insights

• Is this ‘non-strict’ dad the perfect example of how to parent teens?

• How we can avoid unintentional injury and death of children

• Parents see their own health spiral as their kids' mental health worsens

• Here’s a calculator to determine the cost of childcare based in your area

• “You don’t have to be perfect to be a good mom”

Tip of the Day

• 8 tips on parenthood in a gender fluid and neurodivergent age

Read of the Day

• How to praise your child the right way according to a Stanford professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology

• ‘We shouldn’t have to choose between top-level sport and motherhood.’ An inside look at the choices world-class athletes are faced with

Parenting Perspectives: Your Stories Shared

When my daughter was born, everyone told me about the magic of holding her, the joy she would bring to my life, and the milestones I would witness. But nobody prepared me for the silent struggles of the sleepless nights.

At first, it was the constant feeding, then the colic. As she grew a bit older, it was teething pains and nightmares. But last Wednesday hit differently. My now one-year-old, wailed inconsolably for hours. I tried everything – singing lullabies, rocking her gently, offering her favorite stuffed toy. Nothing seemed to soothe her cries.

The house was quiet, save for her cries and my desperate attempts to comfort her. As I held her tight, tears streamed down both our faces, mirroring each other’s distress. My heart ached, feeling like I was failing her as a parent. The weight of responsibility, the desire to do right by her, and the sheer exhaustion were overwhelming. I wished for an instruction manual or a magic spell – anything to ease her pain.

And then, in the early hours of the morning, as dawn's first light crept in, she finally settled into a peaceful slumber in my arms. In that still moment, despite the exhaustion, I realized the depth of my love for her. That even on the toughest nights, when doubt clouded my judgment, my love for her was unwavering.

_{Got a parenting tale of your own? Share it with our community! Write to us, and you might see your story in an upcoming newsletter.}

Time(out) for Memes

Question of the Day

Why hasn't an alarm clock that sounds like a child crying been invented yet? Wouldn't it be incredibly efficient at getting us out of bed? Let us know what gets you up in the morning by replying to this email!

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