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This Saturday-- The Park Slope Parents Members Only Kids Clothing, Gear, and Maternity Swap

Details: Parent Category: Newsflashes; Category: Newsflash

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When: Saturday, March 2nd, 2019
Time: 10:00AM - 12:30PM
Where: All Saints Church 463A 7th Street, entrance on 7th Street (the Park Slope Senior Center)

How much and details:

$5.00/member - only payable at the door
You must be a PSP member (we will be checking at the door). Not a PSP member?
- Join
- Renew

2019 SIPPY TIPS FROM THE PSP HIVE

Details: Parent Category: Newsflashes; Category: Newsflash

SIP SIP HOORAY! Someone asked fellow members for recommendations of the best sippy cup. Here are the top winners!

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Munchkin Click Lock Weighted Straw Cup – Recommended by the parent of an 8-month-old who is holding and drinking from it by themselves. This cup is described as leak-proof and the weighted straw allows for tipping while drinking.
Think Baby Thinkster Straw Bottle – Another favorite brand with a spill-proof straw that doesn’t leak in bags. They will also donate 10% of the profit to a foundation of your choosing.
Pura Kika Straw Bottle – A plastic-free bottle that grows with your kid. This bottle was recommended by a parent who has had the same bottle for 3 years!
OXO Tot Transitions Straw Cup with Removable Handles – Spill-proof and leak-proof for easy drinking.
Philips Avent My Bendy Straw Cup – A short straw bottle that promotes natural swallowing.
The First Years Take & Toss Spill-Proof Straw Cups – A pretty indestructible, easy to clean cup that a 3-year-old can’t even get the lid off of. However, these cups were not made for transportation as they will leak around the straw when thrown in a bag.
Munchkin Sippy and Straw Lids for Miracle 360 Cups & Munchkin Miracle 360 Trainer Cup – This combination also came recommended and helps with the transition to straw and open cups.

Time and Sanity Saving Tips for Parents

Details: Parent Category: Newsflashes; Category: Newsflash

TimeandSanity

Do you ever feel like there just aren’t enough hours in the day? Trying to balance cooking, cleaning, and parenting in general is not an easy task. The good news is that you are not alone! The Park Slope Parents Working Moms group had a discussion of how to make life less hectic that they have found to help stave off the insanity. We have compiled the helpful tips and advice on how to balance it all while still finding time for yourself.

Strengthening Relationships: Valentine's Day Ideas

Details: Parent Category: Newsflashes; Category: Newsflash

VALENTINE'S DAY IS COMING

Parenting puts a lot of pressure on a relationship, even a good one. With this in mind, here’s a short list of things to do to strengthen relationships. Make these things priorities starting this Valentine's Day (if you haven't already)!

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Date Night: If you can swing it, get out alone with your partner. There are good reviews of Date Night Restaurants on the Park Slope Parents website.

Recharge: Send your partner out to get recharged, or recharge yourself. The Pampered Parent recommendations page has massage therapists and other services to help. These folks give PSP discounts on pampered parent services. It doesn’t have to cost a lot. For dads, getting out and playing poker, going to Dad 411, or meeting up with other dads in your monthly or seasonal group are great ways to recharge. We also have an article on avoiding Parental Burnout .

Consider Therapy. This can be hard when you have limited time and young kids, but it can save a marriage. We have this list of Couple’s Therapists and Counseling. If you’ve got issues that start with you, or if your partner doesn’t want to attend, consider going to individual therapy.

Read books about Relationship Resilience and do workbooks together. Parenting can stress relationships. The big names in couple’s therapy right now are John Gottman (The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work) and Sue Johnson (Hold Me Tight and Emotionally Focused Therapy) but don’t discount oldies but goodies like Harvell Hendrix (Getting the Love You Want, Imago Therapy) and simplified but useful constructs like Gary Chapman (The 5 Languages of Love are: words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service, physical touch; quiz here.)

Cuddle without expectation of sex. Be explicit that you just want to cuddle (and mean it).

Have sex. Schedule it if you need to. I’ve talked to many moms who feel like sex was a hassle, but they were always glad they did it afterward. If you’re co-sleeping, try a new place like a shower with the lights off. (We started a Sex after Kids Survey years ago; a Babeland/Park Slope Parents initiative that we never followed through with—maybe we need to dust that off!)

Practice Gratitude, especially with your partner. Have a Gratitude Jar (or text each other 3 things each day). Write 3 things that you are grateful for each day and re-visit them regularly. Especially tell each other what you appreciate about them.

Take charge when your partner needs a break. One friend said that the best thing her husband did was to put a beer in her coat pocket and tell her to go take a walk in the park when she was totally overwhelmed.

Do more little things. Texts for no reason, flowers just because, notes on the bathroom mirror, phone calls. Little things can do a lot to help a relationship. Put the dishes away, fold the laundry, offer to make dinner… do things that aren’t typically “your” tasks.

Laugh more. Surround yourself with more comedy and less tragedy (including your steaming binges). Share funny jokes and cartoons and reflect on funny times together.

Practice Active Listening. Remember, it’s NOT about the nail. This takes energy and time.

Watch things together. Co-viewing creates a shared history that helps couple's bond.

This is a snapshot of some of the things that I discuss in my NYU Interpersonal Communication graduate class.

So that’s some relationship help for ya. We also have this article: Wisdom/support for serious marital rough patch

Dr. Susan Fox

Ph. D. 1994, UCSB, currently NYU Adjunct

Founder, Park Slope Parents