So, you've gone vegan/paleo/gluten-free, but you're craving Chipotle. You shimmy up to that counter and start asking questions. A lot of questions. You become one of those people. "Um, excuse me, do the corn tortillas have gluten?" It's a legit question because, as our gluten-free friends know, food companies sneak gluten into all kinds of foods without even telling you.
Well, you've been saved from this ordeal because Chipotle just unveiled their new dietary options tool. Behold! You just select your diet and it shows you what ingredients you can and should not eat — with pictures.
So, this is pretty much brilliant. Somehow, it's a million times easier than looking at every single menu item/ingredient and searching for some vegan/whatever icon that tells you if it conforms to your dietary restrictions. Oh hooray, one fewer barrier between you and your Chipotle fix.
This side of 10 years ago, one of my closest couple friends shared the happy news with me — they were going to be parents! I was just as overjoyed for them as they were for themselves, and I was happy to be a supportive spectator as the next nine months flew by in a blur of baby showers and Braxton Hicks.
It wasn't until after their sweet little boy came into the world that I realized there are certain unspoken things new parents want their kid-free friends to understand. Actually, that's not entirely accurate. While the changing dynamic in my friendship with this couple clued me into the fact that things would be different moving forward, I never fully understood what those unspoken things were until my husband and I became one of the first couples with kids in our circle of friends where we now live.
We all shoulder some of the blame for the radio silence in regard to these hushed feelings — every single one of us who is a new parent or who is kid-free but has new parents for friends. So, yeah... all of us are complicit in this perpetuating cycle of not talking about what happens to our relationships with our friends when kids enter the picture.
In the spirit of breaking that cycle, here are some of the things that new parents want their kid-free friends to know.
1. We're #SorryNotSorry for filling up your social media feed with our kids' faces
If someone were to print out a scrapbook of all of my social media posts prior to having children, I imagine it would include a lot of pictures of my husband, late nights with friends and obligatory fancy food shots from the upscale restaurants we used to frequent. Those were the things our life was centered around then. Now, our day-to-day operations largely involve keeping these tiny humans alive. That's kind of a big deal to us, and hey, they happen to be cute too. Why wouldn't we want to share this part of our world with the other people in our lives who matter the most?
Beneath the dad bod or the mombie stare, the smear of chocolate candy on our pants leg (God, I hope that's chocolate), the Cheerios in our hair and the fact that we can't seem to keep ourselves from segueing every convo into one about our kids, we are still the same people you know and love. Sure, we are now much more aware of things like immunization schedules and school zones, but the old us is in there too. Please don't feel bad for reminding us of that sometimes. We want you to sit us down with a pitcher of margaritas and coax out that part of us when we're together.
3. We will flake on you, but it doesn't mean we don't love you
When you are friends with a new parent, you can pretty much plan to get bailed on with alarming regularity. Despite our best intentions and the fact that, yes, we would trade in our eyeteeth to get out of the house and converse with adults about something other than Paw Patrol, shit happens — and at times, we mean that in the most literal sense. Kids will get sick, babysitters will cancel... if we're really being honest, sometimes we are simply so tapped out by the time the big night rolls around, we just want to stay home and breathe in the comforting scent of our baby's head (weird, I know).
Like, a lot. We miss you so much sometimes that it physically hurts. It's not just the fact that we don't get to see your face as much — it's also the fact that this new tiny human can be a wedge that creates emotional distance from you too. It's not intentional, and it certainly doesn't mean that having a baby and having kid-free friends are mutually exclusive. It just takes time to adapt to this new arrangement. We've got to find our friend stride, you know? Until then, know this: We miss you something fierce.
It took me a long time to realize that spending time with my kid-free friends at home was better than not spending time with them at all. It wasn't that I didn't want to hang with them... I just always felt guilty asking them to come sit on the couch with me and have the girl talk I so desperately craved while I caught up on folding laundry. Eventually, we will be able to join you again for fun nights out on the town, but in the beginning at least, it's often easier for us to be home. If you pick up some Chinese takeout and trade going out for staying in with us, the gesture will never be forgotten.
I believe the expression we are looking for is bone-tired, as in, we are so tired we can feel the fatigue in our very bones. Being a new parent is all-encompassing, and part of what it encompasses is time typically reserved for sleep. We will yawn continuously. We will say silly, nonsensical, sleep-deprived things sometimes. We will look like extras on the set of The Walking Dead. Just love us anyway, OK? And if you really want to earn our gratitude for life, offer to sit with the baby for 15 minutes so we can squeeze in a power nap. Or at the very least, don't be offended when we nod off mid-conversation.
There's an expression about parenthood that goes, "The days are long, but the years are short" — and it may be trite, but it's true. That first year feels like an endless parade of unbearably long days that bleed into nights that bleed back into days until you have no idea which way is up, much less how to be the sociable, functioning friend you were pre-parenthood. Then you hit that one-year mark, and you wonder how 365 days flashed by in the blink of an eye.
Each year is much the same, and after a few years, another shift in the parenting paradigm occurs: Your kid needs you less. They are more mobile and more independent. You feel more comfortable leaving them with a sitter. Eventually, they'll start day care or preschool. New parents will find themselves once again on the precipice of a life filled with time for tiny indulgences like meeting a friend for a latte or catching a matinee. So bear with us, dear friends. We'll come back to you. Promise.
Despite having endometriosis, I think it's so important to not let endo slow me down too much (because there's no stopping it slowing you down a little) and to keep on doing the things I love. For that reason, I wanted to share some tips on the more everyday aspects of living with endometriosis. If you have it, then I don't need to tell you twice about how much it impacts your day-to-day activities. These are just some tips that have helped me, so hopefully they can help some of you too.
When your bloating is extreme like mine and you swell out to look six months pregnant at a moment's notice, then this one is a must! I didn't used to wear flowy clothing because it doesn't really suit my body shape, but since dealing with endometriosis, I have found it to be more and more helpful in providing a little bit of comfort. Sure, I still look six months pregnant when I swell out, but at least I avoid the uncomfortably restrictive feeling of pants about to explode!
Find your trigger foods
There is such a thing as the "endo diet" where you pretty much cut out caffeine, dairy, processed foods and stick to a Paleo diet, which many have found to be helpful in relieving their symptoms. Everyone is different so find out which foods are worse for you then avoid them like the plague.
You already have enough pain in your life without adding in more! For me, my worst trigger food is actually coffee which sucks because I enjoy the odd cup of joe! Turns out, my body does not enjoy it, so I don't drink coffee anymore. This simple change provides me with some much needed relief.
One of the tricky aspects of endo is that it's an invisible illness – meaning, you look normal on the outside while your body is waging war on itself on the inside. This can put a little pressure on you to keep up with others.
Remember that your body needs a little extra TLC at times when the pain you have is enough to give Freddy Kruger nightmares. It's not to say that you use endo as a crutch and become a victim of life, but your pain will usually be cyclical, so remember to give yourself a break during the worst times and rest when you need.
Perhaps plan ahead and keep your schedule a little more free in the worst times so you have time to rest and relax. Then in the easier times, you can plan for a more "normal" schedule.
Read
Read as much as you can to learn from others who live with the disease. I swear this has been the most helpful thing for me in terms of understanding how to manage it.
I think best of all it reminds you that you are not alone. It's not nice to think of others in the same pain, but at the same time, it is almost a comfort to know that you can connect with others who understand what you are going through and can offer helpful advice.
If you have any other tips please share them in the comments below because you know it will help someone!
Chris Hardwick might be pulling a Ryan Seacrest and taking over all the hosting duties in 2017.
During Watch What Happens Live last night, Hardwick revealed to host Andy Cohen that he would indeed be interested in taking on the Live! with Kelly co-hosting position that has remained vacant since Michael Strahan's surprise exit in April 2016.
Hardwick was one of the latest guest hosts to appear on the show opposite Ripa.
"Kelly's amazing!" Hardwick gushed of his experience to Cohen. "Kelly is so to the point where on commercial breaks, and you've done the show, she jumps up and does warm up for her own show."
Hardwick has a busy 2017 as it already is. He is the host of the new gameshow The Wall, and he continues to host @midnight, The Walking Dead after show The Talking Dead, and his podcast Nerdist.
He said he would only consider taking on the Live! with Kelly hosting duties if he could balance the job with the rest of his gigs.
"I love doing it. I guess I would have to see if they ask me," he explained to Cohen. "I don't think that I would stop doing anything that I'm currently doing, but if I could do everything, I would say I would really strongly consider it."
Check out Hardwick's full interview with Cohen below.
chris hardwick watch what happens live interview
chris hardwick watch what happens live interview
Other potential suitors for the Live! with Kelly co-host position include Fred Savage, Anderson Cooper, Neil Patrick Harris, Morris Chestnut, Keegan-Michael Key and even Ripa's husband Mark Consuelos.
On Season 4 of Bringing Up Bates, both Erin and Whitney Bates gave birth just weeks apart. Tonight's Season 5 opens with the two of them rocking motherhood and clearly staying in shape while doing it.
erin bates paine instagram pic 1
erin bates paine instagram pic 1
erin bates paine instagram pic 2
erin bates paine instagram pic 2
They look so good! Whitney's face was so thin, I almost didn't recognize her at first.
"They sleep all night and then they have so much energy all day long," Whitney said during the premiere about her busy schedule with the kids.
She added to the cameras, "Life with Kaci Lynn and Bradley is just so fast-paced, and especially with Zach having to work the hours he works. He works 12-hour shifts and there's a lot of days he doesn't get home until 11 or 12 at night."
whitney bates instagram pic 1
whitney bates instagram pic 1
whitney bates instagram pic 2
whitney bates instagram pic 2
Whitney got such a response from people on social media wondering how she lost her baby weight, she wrote an Instagram post about it.
She said she doesn't use "wacky diets or weight loss pills," nor does she count calories. Instead, Whitney explains she drinks lots of water, tries to stop eating after 6 p.m., cuts down on carbs and sweets and allows herself cheat days. Whitney added that she also tries to do intense workouts like running at least three times a week.
whitney bates instagram pic 3
whitney bates instagram pic 3
What advice do you have for women who are trying to lose their baby weight? Tell us in the comments.
Parenting an anxious child, even with the best intentions, can grind you into a rut of reaction and negativity. With the new year comes the opportunity to break free of old patterns and reframe how you and your child tackle their anxiety together.
Say it with me: “This year, I will... ”
... Embrace anxiety as a fact of life
Think of learning to deal with anxiety not unlike learning to walk. You can’t carry your kid around all their lives, and you certainly can’t do it emotionally. Help them learn how to balance on those legs. While you (so understandably!) may want to eliminate your child’s anxiety all together, you simply can't. Life has stressors. Your goal is to help your child learn how to modulate their anxiety and develop tools to deal with whatever comes along.
“Some kids have more anxious temperaments than others, so they'll worry more,” says Dawn Friedman, a Columbus, Ohio-based counselor who works with children, teens and adults. “Helping them to understand and manage their anxiety will serve them better in the long-term since it's likely to crop up again in the future.”
... Respect those feelings, and then build on them
You know you can’t argue away that anxiety, but sometimes you can’t help yourself. If your child is melting down about taking the bus to school, listen with empathy. Instead of arguing, validate. “Taking the bus seems to be stirring up feelings for you. What are some of your feelings?”
First, recognize the behavior for what it is. “By far, anxiety (often masked as problem behaviors) is the No. 1 reason kids are seeing me,” says Friedman. Next, help frame what the worry is about: Is he concerned that he’ll get off on the wrong stop? Is she scared that she’ll have to ask someone for help?
Rather than handing out solutions, walk your child through the thought process people typically use to solve issues that may arise. Let your child be part of the brainstorming. What about asking the driver to tell him which stop is his? Can she use her smartphone to follow her trip progress on a real-time map? Proactive problem-solving can go a long way toward building confidence and lessening that anxiety.
... Expect emotional growth
It won’t always be this hard. You and your kid both need to hear this... frequently. Express confidence to your child that they’ll be OK, and that with practice, their anxiety levels will drop over time. Be realistic — they’ll feel safer knowing you’re not expecting instant confidence and that you won’t push them to do something they can’t (yet) handle. And you need, too, to know this will get better. (You probably won’t be carrying your 6-foot-2, college-aged, hockey-goalie son on your shoulders to help him get past the neighbor’s barking dog. Probably). Hang in there!
We’ve all caught ourselves doing this one. “Are you worried about your math test?” “Are you anxious about the field trip?” Stick with open-ended question, like, “How are you feeling about the field trip?” This is also a great time to help brainstorm those solution-based ideas. Also? You need to honestly assess how you’re feeding into the message that your kid can’t handle a potentially anxiety-provoking situation. When you trail behind the school bus in your car or fall sleep every night on the floor below the toddler bed, you’re giving your kid the message that their fear is right — they can’t handle that anxiety.
... Reinforce calm, even nonverbally (especially nonverbally)
Sure, you say all the positives, but what’s your body language shrieking? Watch those gasps, sighs and grim facial expressions. If your child is afraid of the neighbor’s cat, are you tensing up at the sight of Ginger, regularly crossing the street or otherwise telegraphing that the appearance of the cat signals meltdown time? Take a moment to recalibrate your own behavior. Anxiety can run in families, and you need to take care of your own anxiety too. Remember that your child takes cues from you, and you know they’re watching you like a hawk.
... Ask for help
Many children suffer periods of anxiety — they're part of typical cognitive development. But for some children, the anxiety is so intense that it seriously interferes with their lives and with the entire household. We know a family who couldn’t eat outside for a year due to the 5-year-old’s fear of wasps — but at least they could enjoy the view from a 10th-floor restaurant, unlike the family of the 9-year-old terrified of elevators. When life is that constrained, it’s not only OK to get help, it’s unkind not to — for all of you! Untreated serious anxiety typically gets worse over time.
“Anxiety becomes a clinical issue when it gets in the way of your child's education or relationships, but it can be tough to know when to get help,” says Friedman. “I tell parents that if you're wondering if your child's anxiety is developmentally normal or is a cause for concern, talk to their teacher or give your pediatrician a call. They can help you figure out what's typical and what needs intervention.”
Intervention may take the form of professionals who offer cognitive behavioral therapy or medication (often short-term), or it may be as simple as you and your child going over some gentle, child-friendly anxiety workbooks. More than one mom has suggested What to Do When You Worry Too Much: A Kid's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety by Dawn Huebner with Bonnie Matthews, but there are hundreds and hundreds of books out there, both fiction and nonfiction, that address child anxiety in helpful ways.
The bottom line? There is a lot of help out there for your child — neither you nor they have to grapple with anxiety issues alone. And maybe that’s the resolution that’s most important. Acknowledge that together, you can take advantage of every resource available to make 2017 a less anxious year.
For many kids school can be incredibly stressful, especially when they have to come back after a long break and jump back into the fray of studying and exams. To help kids lower their anxiety and return to calm, try these three easy techniques.
You might think that quiet calm breathing would be the best way to bring focus inward. And yes, that is wonderful. But this breathing exercise can be even more powerful. It helps kids express their nervous energy while grounding and empowering them. It’s a great way to release anxiety and find your inner power anytime a child needs to feel strong on the inside.
To do it: Stand with slightly bent knees a bit more than hip width apart in what can be called a “horse stance.” Bring both arms straight out in front of you with open palms. Breath deeply in through the nose and as on the exhale let out a loud "HA!" while pulling arms into the sides making fists, then shoot arms back out in front and repeat. This can be done about eight times with arms extended in front of the body and then repeated with arms overhead. Counts can go from eight out and eight up to four, up to two and then stop.
Let the feelings of this practice settle in for a few moments. Ask kids how they feel. You can read a deeper explanation and video demonstration on my blog.
Mindfulness meditation:
Having children do a mindfulness meditation practice can bring them from a nervous state in which their sympathetic nervous system is activated to one that’s calmer, activating their parasympathetic nervous system, and the parts of their brain needed for things like test-taking. Paying careful attention to what they are feeling in the body and the emotions associated with test-taking anxiety without judgement will help make this transformation and let those sensations and emotions pass.
To do it: Sit comfortably with eyes closed, breathing in and out through the nose. Bring the attention to the breath – not manipulating, just noticing. Ask the children to focus their attention on the inhale and the exhale, and when their minds wander, tell them to notice the feelings that arise without judgement. Ask them to “label” or name the feelings as they pop up. For example, if they start to worry about an impending exam have them say to themselves “nervous” and then let that thought go bringing their attention back to their breath. By naming feelings without judgement, stress levels decrease and bringing attention back to breath helps with focus and calm. Do this for a few minutes as you see fit for your particular group of kids.
Be sure to again let them sit with the effects of this practice before jumping right into a test. It helps to remind them that even during high-stress moments like an exam, they can reconnect to their breath anytime to alleviate stress.
Getting the blood flowing and doing some brain balancing yoga before a nervous moment can also help not only with focus, but also a sense of strength in body and mind.
To do it: Beginning on hands and knees, raise and reach out with opposite arm and leg then switching sides can activate and balance both sides of the brain while providing a bit of a stretch and some fun. Practicing a tree pose that requires balance and focus on one unmoving spot will translate to the skills needed for concentration. The warrior poses can boost confidence by building strength and stability.
Doing a group pose with hands held or arms interlocked can also create a sense of community and support. Knowing you are all in it together can alleviate stress. Try sitting in a circle, knees bent and big toes touching. Place palms under the ankles and lift the feet into the air. Grab the hands of those on either side and you are in group flower pose. See if doing this pose as a group helps with balance.
Try one (or all!) of these three techniques to find your way back to calm and collected.
Christina and Tarek El Moussa's divorce may be getting heated thanks to HGTV.
According to a new report by InTouch Weekly, HGTV sees the El Moussas as a profitable married couple for their network, and the end of their marriage could mean the loss of a lot of money. Enough money, in fact, that HGTV is reportedly considering legal action for breach of contract.
A network source told InTouch, "This is getting really ugly. HGTV is livid with Tarek and Christina. Flip or Flop just won’t be the same if they’re not together, so execs desperately want them to reunite to save the show. If they can’t do that, the network wants to make it seem like they’re getting along, at least until their contract is over. They were given an ultimatum: Either finish out your contracts or we’ll take you to court [for breach of contract]. The network basically said, 'You guys need to work together, be seen together as a family, walk down the street together.'"
In other words, Christina's reportedly relationship with contractor Gary Anderson will be put on hold, and the couple will play nice for the sake of their careers.
HGTV has yet to comment on the rumors.
Meanwhile, the El Moussa's have been maintaining throughout news of their split that they have plans to continue to work together on their show Flip or Flop.
Ben and Jessa Seewald have been living off their Counting On paychecks, but it seems that with baby No. 2 on the way, the couple has decided it's time to plan for the future. After all, as the Duggar family knows well at this point, a reality TV career can quickly come crashing down.
According to The Hollywood Gossip, Seewald is starting 2017 off by building his career as a... wait for it... preacher! The position is absolutely fitting, considering the family's well-known conservative values. Not to mention their willingness to be outspoken about their beliefs.
The website reports Seewald is scheduled to preach for the Evangelism Reformation Conference in Hurst, Texas on June 16 and 17.
No word yet if Seewald is planning on expanding his conference speaking skills or if he's hoping to find a parish of his own in the coming months.
Meanwhile, the Duggar family is prepping for the return of their show in January, which means Seewald's journey to preacher status could be documented on the reality show this year.
It's definitely going to be a big 2017 for the family. Jessa is due to have her second child in just a few weeks. Jill Duggar is also expecting her second baby while Anna and Jinger Duggar pregnancy rumors are rampant.
Lamar Odom's stint in rehab has come to an end, and now that he's focused on getting his life back on track, he reportedly has some big plans for the future.
After seeking treatment last month to ensure that he stays sober, Odom was released from a San Diego, California, facility on Thursday, Jan. 5, after a month-long stay, Us Weekly reports. He wanted to start the year off fresh, and apparently he has: a source told the publication, "He is doing so great and looking forward to the New Year."
This isn't the first time we've heard about Odom's ideas to venture back into the world of reality TV, but this is probably not the smartest move considering the pressures that come with having your life constantly scrutinized. But despite the direction Odom decides to take his future, one thing we do know is that he's apparently doing very well, as he described his rehab experience to TMZ reporters as "life changing."
Ideally, we’d all have our own private team of professional makeup artists waiting in the bathroom each morning, ready to buff and blend our faces into a picture-perfect finish, without ever needing to lift a finger. But that’s not real life. Real life is having approximately 10 minutes (or, like, two minutes), to do your entire makeup routine before running out the door, which means your current beauty routine probably consists of powdering your face, brushing on mascara, maybe attempting a bit of eyeliner, and, well, that’s it.
And that’s fine—don’t get us wrong. It’s worked for you for years, right? But if you want to feel like you’re doing a look each day, and not just a this-is-all-I-had-time-for relay race, we’ve got you covered, with a bunch of simple makeup tutorials that don’t require Kim K-levels of thick, stage makeup, or an art degree.
If you have 3 minutes…
3 minute makeup challenge video
3 minute makeup challenge video
Repeat after us: foundation, brows, mascara. That’s all you need (and all you’ll basically have time for) in a three-minute makeup look, but as long as you highlight the best parts of your face, you’ll look like a zillion bucks. And if you don’t believe us, watch this beauty vlogger do a full face of makeup in exactly three minutes (including contouring).
If you have 5 minutes…
5 minute makeup routine video
5 minute makeup routine video
Surprisingly, it’s still possible to get a simple makeup look in under five minutes (just, like, don’t get distracted), as long as you stick with simple, smudgy eyeliner, a thick coat of mascara, and a few layers of concealer and lip gloss.
If you have 10 minutes…
10 minute makeup routine video
10 minute makeup routine video
If you’ve only got 10 minutes to spare, keep your makeup glowy and sheer, with cream-based bronzer, foundation, and blush, and sweep on a light layer of matte eyeshadow and copper eyeliner.
If you have 15 minutes…
15 minute makeup routine
15 minute makeup routine
This tutorial breaks down pretty much every single aspect of makeup you could want, like subtle contouring, foundation, concealer, and blush blending, brow filling, highlighting, and more—all with an incredibly natural, airbrushed finish.
If you're a parent, you're in need of one thing: a good laugh (and maybe a nap). From constant interruptions to kicking — yes, kicking — to prove one's love, here are this week's most hilarious tweets from parents. Your sanity will thank you.
We don't always read reports about notoriously private Katie Holmes and Jamie Foxx's relationship (and we see even less of them together) but it turns out things are going great between the couple.
So great, that they probably rung in the new year with a massive smooch, because the rumored couple reportedly spent New Years Eve together in Miami, a source told Us Weekly.
The pair reportedly enjoyed an intimate dinner in South Beach on Dec. 30, a source revealed, while a second source spoke of how the pair went to Soho House Miami on Dec. 31, and were later spotted "holding hands while walking near the pool" at the hotel and members-only club.
This trip marked their second within several weeks, as the super discreet couple enjoyed a luxury getaway earlier in December in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, to celebrate Holmes' birthday. And while the pair are rumored to have been together since 2013, no one knows much about their relationship (other than the few sightings here and there). However, a source told Us Weekly that they were "very serious" adding that Holmes' daughter, Suri Cruise did not accompany them on their romantic New Year's getaway.
Well, there you have it, Katie Holmes and Jamie Foxx's decision to keep their relationship out of the limelight is clearly working for them.
Drake has been linked to a series of beautiful and talented women over the years, but he's believed to have now set his sights on Jennifer Lopez. However, she's not the only women who he's been texting lately — although it's not what you think.
According to a new report from Hollywood Life, Drake has been texting Nicki Minaj quite a bit after she recently confirmed her split from Meek Mill with a tweet about being single (the couple are suspected to have parted ways in December).
Nicki Minaj Twitter
Nicki Minaj Twitter
And Drake has offered to be a shoulder for her to lean on.
"Drake shot Nicki a few texts after hearing she broke up with that loser Meek," a source told the publication. "Drake's hella happy they're over but wants to make sure that Nicki's cool and that she's not hurting or anything. He cares about her and certainly wants to be there for her and be a shoulder for her to lean on and talk to during this breakup."
While this report may raise a few eyebrows and leave fans concerned that DraLo could be over before they even really began, that's really not the case, because according to the source Drake is completely committed to Lopez.
"Things with Drake and JLo couldn't be better," the source said. "They're going strong [and] Drake doesn’t want JLo to feel threatened or anything."
And the best part is that the reason Drake wants to be there for Minaj is because he genuinely cares about her. The source confirmed that they are close friends and, in fact, almost like family.
"They have a five year plus friendship and that means everything to him," the source revealed, adding, "He's going to be there for Nicki during this time."
What do you think of Drake reaching out to Nicki Minaj, is he a good friend? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
After her daughter was admitted to the ICU, Laura Correada-Silva took to the popular image-sharing website Imgur to make a public plea for parents to keep their sick kids home. Her daughter, Chloe, is 3 years old and has asthma, which means the symptoms of certain infections can have more severe consequences than they would in otherwise healthy kids. Over Christmas, she was exposed to RSV after spending time with her cousin and it wasn't long before she developed a fever.
On Imgur, Correada-Silva explained that her brother knew his daughter was sick but didn't believe she was contagious when he brought her to their family gathering. Once Chloe was diagnosed with RSV, she was prescribed antibiotics by her pediatrician, but her symptoms grew worse. She was hospitalized and admitted to the intensive care unit because she was struggling to breathe on her own.
Now, Chloe's mom has reported that she is making improvements and that she hopes Chloe will be home from the hospital soon. That's great news, but that doesn't really change that fact that all of this could have been avoided if she hadn't been exposed to RSV in the first place. That's why Correada-Silva used Imgur to advocate for more caution when taking your sick kids outside your home.
“Please. If your child has a cold, or a flu, or an upper respiratory infection, please keep them home and take care of them,” she wrote on Imgur. Along with her plea, she included a sobering picture of her 3-year-old daughter connected to a high-flow breathing machine in the ICU.
Since making her public request, she's faced mixed reactions. Some have her back, agreeing that sick kids belong at home, especially if they could be contagious. Others think she is asking too much, pointing out how hard it is to get time off, especially if you don't have paid vacation days or you are the sole income-earner in your home.
So, do parents really owe it to other parents to keep their sick kids at home?
Dr. Chris Carroll, leader of the American College of Chest Physicians and CHEST Foundation Board Member, believes that parents should do whatever they can to keep kids with contagious illnesses away from other children until they are well, especially if they may be in the presence of someone with a weakened immune system or an underlying condition.
"Every year, right after Thanksgiving, we see dozens and dozens of babies in my hospital who have been kissed over and over again by grandmas and end up in the ICU with respiratory infections," Carroll explained. "The CDC reports that 5 to 20 out of 1,000 kids under 6 months who get RSV will end up in the hospital. One in 3 children who are hospitalized for RSV will be admitted to the ICU and 1 in 5 of those kids in the ICU will end up on life support."
He also explained that children with additional medical conditions are at an elevated risk for being hospitalized after contracting RSV. They are also more likely to be admitted to the ICU or put on life support after being hospitalized. These children include babies and toddlers who were born prematurely and children with weakened immune systems. Both asthma and cystic fibrosis are the most common respiratory conditions that can cause serious complications after contracting a respiratory infection. Children receiving chemotherapy medications are also at a high risk of experiencing dangerous symptoms if they contract an infection.
Carroll also pointed out that some parents may not have the facts straight on when their child is no longer contagious.
"Children with RSV are contagious for a full day before symptoms appear and will remain contagious for five to seven days."
Let's face it — for many parents, staying home for an entire week is impossible. Carroll offered a few ideas for preventing the spread of viruses to children with weakened immune systems.
"Keep your child home for the first few days after their symptoms appear. If you can't stay home longer, teach your child to wash their hands regularly and to sneeze or cough into their elbow," he suggested. "Since RSV is spread by contact, washing surfaces down frequently can also help prevent spread of the virus."
The holiday season may be over, but the time to send kids back to school is here. When it comes to protecting the immune deficient children in our lives and in our communities, it seems that mom Laura Correada-Silva has got it right — sick kids are better off kept at home.
On Wednesday, Jan. 4, Amber Rose posted an adorable photo of herself and Val Chmerkovskiy locking lips, ultimately squashing any doubt that they are a couple. And Chmerkovskiy proved he was equally as smitten when he took to Instagram to share a sweet photo of himself and his new lady.
While their affections for each other should make people feel happy, that has unfortunately not been the case. Both Rose and Chmerkovskiy's Instagram feed has been filled with hateful messages, some of which include one from anita_erika, who wrote, "Val you can do better, so much better."
Slaviche shared similar thoughts, writing, "Oh god Val nooooooooo!!!!! You don't want Kanye's sloppy seconds among many others!!!!! I hope its just a picture!" While stephg120 wrote, "Nooooo she doesn't deserve you."
And, unsurprisingly, the hate left Chmerkovskiy feeling hurt.
Val Chmerkovskiy Instagram
Val Chmerkovskiy Instagram
In a series of since-deleted tweets, Chmerkovskiy shared his frustration with fans on Twitter. According to People he wrote, “not surprising but still fairly disappointing how ignorant and vile people are.”
He continued, "The hypocrisy. All these bible proverbs and absolutely zero follow thru [sic]. All this 'love' yet zero empathy. I'm speechless. TBH. Not because I have nothing to say. Just don’t have anything to say y'all capable of understand [sic.]"
Then on Thursday morning, Jan. 5, Chmerkovskiy returned to Twitter, this time to share more thoughts on love — and he seems to have had a change in attitude, because he no longer cares about what other people think of his relationship.
There's nothing more disturbing than hearing your kids' cherubic voices belt out an extremely inappropriate song. If you've ever heard a child under the age of eight sweetly sing all of the lyrics to Tove Lo's "Habits (Stay High)" while it plays on the radio, then you know what I'm talking about.
But then again, blasting Raffi on a road trip doesn't exactly sound like fun — and listening to the Frozen soundtrack even one more time might lead to a parental meltdown of epic proportions at this point.
There has to be a happy medium between raunchy, violence-filled lyrics and annoying kids tunes, right? Thankfully, there are some kid-friendly pop songs out there that are enjoyable for adults.
Image: SheKnows Design
1. "Firework" – Katy Perry
Katy Perry Firework
Katy Perry Firework
Common Sense Media says this "unusually clean" Katy Perry song emphasizes self-esteem. It's profanity-free, has no references to sex or substances and encourages kids to rise above their insecurities, light their inner spark and let their colors shine. You go, girl!
2. "Stereo Hearts" – Gym Class Heroes (ft. Adam Levine)
Stereo Hearts - Gym Class Heroes
Stereo Hearts - Gym Class Heroes
This love song compares the singer's heart with a stereo that beats for his true love — pretty tame stuff. You'll be singing along to your own stereo when you listen to this song by American band Gym Class Heroes, with Adam Levine, the lead singer of Maroon 5.
3. "I'm Only Me When I'm With You" – Taylor Swift
I'm Only Me When I'm With You - Taylor Swift
I'm Only Me When I'm With You - Taylor Swift
This sweet love song by Taylor Swift is a wholesome tune you can play for the whole family. Swift's trademark country pop sound will get the kids and moving.
Get out the disco ball and blast this techno-pop tune from young UK singer Ellie Goulding. This song is free of mature subject matter and full of fantasy and fun.
7. "What Makes You Beautiful" – One Direction
MattyB cover of One Direction
MattyB cover of One Direction
No worries about sex and drugs in thisbeat love song by One Direction. Check out rapper Matty B's cover of the song on YouTube, from when he was just 8 years old. Pretty sweet!
The whole family can safely enjoy this clean pop song about recovering from the pain of lost love. Lots of "woo-hoos" to sing along to, and a great fast-paced beat for kids to get their groove on.
9. "Steal My Kisses" – Ben Harper
Steal My Kisses - Ben Harper
Steal My Kisses - Ben Harper
This song by Ben Harper may be about a boy trying to steal kisses from his girlfriend, but it's also fun to sing to your little ones while chasing them around and trying to steal a few kisses of your own. It doesn't get much sweeter than that!
American Idol winner Phillip Phillips delivers a wholesome debut song with "Home" — a story of hope and encouragement from one friend to another. "Just know you're not alone, 'cause I'm going to make this place your home." His raspy voice and accompanying guitar music make this a catchy tune you may find yourself (and your kids) humming throughout the day.
11. "Shake It Off" – Taylor Swift
Shake it Off - Taylor Swift
Shake it Off - Taylor Swift
Swift recently made the dive into pop with this absolutely perfect jumping-off point. Is it just us or does it seem like we hear of far more bullying than we did back when we were kids? Swift's peppy message is simple: The haters will always hate someone and heartbreakers will never go away. Your best bet? Just shake it off and remain confident in yourself. Sounds like a good message to us.
12. "Cool Kids" – Echosmith
Cool Kids - Echosmith
Cool Kids - Echosmith
This is another amazing song that is not only safe but empowering. Echosmith is made of a family of hip, sweet brothers and their sister and in "Cool Kids" they sing about the constant struggle to fit in and be cool. Does it pay off? Not if you lose yourself.
OK, OK. You're probably sick of it by now, but here's the thing: It's a good, happy song in a world of broken hearts and dreams. Kids genuinely prefer to be happy, which is why they've latched onto Williams' catchy song. Why take away such a good thing?
14. "Riptide" – Vance Joy
Riptide - Vance Joy
Riptide - Vance Joy
This is a love song through and through, but there's nothing inherently wrong with it. It's simple and sweet with a simple message that could easily translate well to a friendship, too. "Are you gonna stay?" You'll love the deepness of the lyrics and feel awash with the feelings you felt when you first fell for you high school sweetheart. Your kids will get a kick out of the alternating melodies.
These Brits recently burst onto the scene in a very big way and we're utterly taken with their accents and lyricism. "Pompeii" in particular is fun because there are actual references to historical events while, ultimately, just being a very good, danceable rock song. Why not turn down the radio afterwards and tell your kids the story of the almighty Vesuvius volcano.
Caillat's sweet voice is the perfect pairing for this song about the things girls go through to try to fit in. It's slow and simple and easy to sing along to, sure. But, just like "Cool Kids," Caillat pushes the message that you shouldn't have to try so hard to fit in with those people. You should be able to be exactly yourself.
17. "Best Day of My Life" – American Authors
Best Day Of My Life - American Authors
Best Day Of My Life - American Authors
Quite possibly the only song happier than "Happy," American Authors seem to have channeled every moment of happiness they ever felt to write this pop-y jam. It's sobeat! So perky! And so insanely optimistic. Can we suggest you wake your kiddos singing this to them every morning? Maybe it will encourage them to shake off the morning grump and aim for the best day of their lives.
18. "Rather Be" – Clean Bandit (ft. Jess Glynne)
Rather Be - Clean Bandit
Rather Be - Clean Bandit
Everything about this song reminds us of jamming on the bus in fifth grade in the mid-'90s. While the music is most definitely a pop-rock kind of song, Jess Glynne's vocals have a certain soulful, R&B hook to them as well. Plus, we're all for love songs that aren't overly sexualized. This one is just straight love — no lust.
Your children might already be familiar with The Vamps thanks to their time on commercials on various kid-friendly television networks. Their new song "Hurricane" is featured in Alexander and The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. It's another example of a truly optimistic jam worthy of replaying over and over, again. (And you know you will.)
20. "House of Gold" – Twenty One Pilots
House of Gold - 21 Pilots
House of Gold - 21 Pilots
When was the last time someone released a song a son and a mother could bond together on? Twenty One Pilots and their ukulele did it in one fell swoop on "House of Gold." It's fun,beat and ultimately entirely innocent and utterly overrun with sentiment.
Expert tip: Common Sense Media advises parents to listen to appropriate music when the kids are within earshot. "Your child will sing along with whatever you select, so make sure you choose songs with lyrics you won't mind your child repeating if you aren't around."
We know Kim Kardashian West is contemplating a third baby, but little sister Khloé Kardashian might just beat her to it. According to Radar Online, Kardashian is "baby crazy" and so committed to getting pregnant in 2017, she's even willing to bid farewell to her abs.
Decisions, decisions. Keep the hot bod, or let it become a softer, spongier home for another Kardashian? It's a tough call.
Khloe Kardashian abs
Khloe Kardashian abs
Apparently, Kardashian always wanted to become a mom before she hit 30, and she turns 33 in June. She's made no secret of her desire to start a family in the past, revealing on an episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians last year that after her divorce from Lamar Odom was finalized, she wants "to have kids and maybe to be remarried one day."
Kardashian is, of course, already an aunt to six mini versions of her equally famous siblings. Kim Kardashian West has daughter North West, 3, and son Saint West, 1, with husband Kanye West. Kourtney Kardashian has daughter Penelope Scotland Disick, 4, and sons Mason Dash Disick, 7, and Reign Aston Disick, 2, with ex-husband Scott Disick. And the newest member of the clan was born last November, when Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna welcomed daughter Dream Renée Kardashian.
Confirming our post-election fears, Congressional Republicans are wasting no time moving forward with plans to strip away health care coverage, starting with defunding Planned Parenthood.
Yesterday, House Speaker Paul Ryan announced that removing hundreds of millions of dollars of funding for Planned Parenthood would be part of a special fast-track bill to repeal Obamacare. The ironically titled “reconciliation” procedure allows legislation to bypass a Senate filibuster, so it would only need a simple majority of senators to pass instead of a 60-vote supermajority, The Washington Post reported.
In 2014, Planned Parenthood reported receiving $553 million in government funding. Should this Republican bill pass, the organization estimates that it would lose around 40 percent of its funding. A similar reconciliation bill passed both houses of Congress in 2015 but was ultimately vetoed by President Barack Obama. This time, Republicans are confident that President-elect Donald Trump will have no problem signing it into law.
For some context, Planned Parenthood provides services and information to 2.5 million people — yes, that includes some men — each year, and an estimated 1 in 5 women in the U.S. has visited a Planned Parenthood health center at least once. The organization estimates that it helps prevent around 579,000 unintended pregnancies each year.
The bottom line is that a drastic cut in federal funding for Planned Parenthood would essentially be a large-scale government-sanctioned experiment involving the lives of millions of nonconsenting women as subjects. Republicans are making no secret of the fact that they are willing to see what happens when wide-reaching women’s health treatment and prevention services are no longer accessible for many people.
The thing is, we already know the results of this experiment, and they are not positive. Taking away services like cancer screenings and birth control — resulting in more complicated cancer treatments down the line and increasing unplanned pregnancies — will only decrease the already relatively low standard of medical care in the United States. And because women’s lives have never really been a concern for Republicans, they should know that it will only end up costing more in the end.
Before he was the beautiful hunk of ginger we all know and love, he was widely known to be a trouble-making teen. But even before that, he was apparently a handful as a kid.
A collection of never-before-seen letters from his mom, Princess Diana, gives us a little inside look into not only Harry's childhood, but William's, too. Spoiler alert (but not really): William was the good kid, while Harry was the problem child, for sure.
The handwritten letters were from Diana to Cyril Dickman, a steward at Buckingham Palace, and they're dated throughout the mid-1980s and early 1990s, when Harry and William were just lil guys.
One letter from July 1993 reveals how Harry, then 8, was handling boarding school.
"The boys are well and enjoying boarding school a lot, although Harry is constantly in trouble!" Diana wrote.
When Harry wasn't getting into trouble, though, he was being adorably loved on by his big brother. Another letter from just after Harry was born in 1985 describes how quickly the two royal kids bonded.
"William adores his little brother and spends the entire time swamping Harry with an endless supply of hugs and kisses, hardly letting the parents near!" Diana wrote. Too cute.
This little piece of palace history is about to go up for sale, so if you're a royal family superfan with a grand to drop (they're expected to bring in at least $1,110), Cambridgeshire auction house Cheffins is gonna be the place to be.
