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This Airline Wins Customer Service by Helping a Panicked Mom in the Best Way

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How do you say "nice work" in Finnish?

It's been a brutal week of discussion about airline customer service and dubious flying policies after a video of a passenger being violently removed from a United Airlines flight went viral — and made the whole world wince. But on the opposite end of the spectrum, we were pretty thrilled to see this story about one airline crew that demonstrated pure in-flight awesomeness.

A harried mom recently boarded a Finnair flight with her four (!) boys. That would be a handful under any circumstances, but there's more: Two of the kids are infants.

"Naturally one cannot travel with two babies on one's lap, so we had to solve the dilemma of a missing lap," Ami Niemelä, a Finnair crew member, posted on Instagram. "Otherwise it would have been a no go for mom and the kids."

More: Breastfeeding mom (of triplets!) gets first-class treatment on flight

Did Finnair force the exhausted mom off the plane with her kids and require them to make alternate arrangements? We are delighted to report that the answer is a resounding no.

Instead, an off-duty pilot who was on the flight stepped in to assist — and immediately became the baby-holding heartthrob of the year. (Yes, that's totally a thing.)

Finnair baby

Finnair baby

"We had our positioning crew on board," Niemelä wrote. "And wonderful Tom took the task of being the extra lap. Don't you find them quite adorable?"

Um, yes — yes we do. This planet could definitely use a few more Pilot Toms waiting in the wings when overloaded moms are traveling solo with their kids. Can we order 500 for the United States? Kinda spread 'em out across flights? Probably not, but at least we can dream. Swoon.


Alec Baldwin Calls the US 'A Sadistically Shame-Based Blame-Centered Culture'

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Kendall Jenner has been laying real low since her disastrous Pepsi spot aired, was completely destroyed by the internet and got pulled by the company, who apologized to both the public and to Jenner. But one person thinks Jenner deserves a free pass in all of this: Alec Baldwin.

More: Could That Pepsi Commercial Ruin Kendall Jenner's Career?

In a series of tweets, Baldwin defended Jenner and her involvement in the ad, blaming U.S. culture for calling her out for participating in an ad that made light of Black Lives Matter and other protest movements.

"Don't blame @KendallJenner for that spot. Kendall is still a very young, inexperienced woman in an awful business. Blame her management," Baldwin wrote. "I remember when my daughter Ireland and Kendall were little kids in school. I think it's unfair to rake these younger ppl over the coals. The US is such a sadistically shame-based, blame-centered culture."

Alec Baldwin defends Kendall Jenner 1

Alec Baldwin defends Kendall Jenner 1

Alec Baldwin defends Kendall Jenner 2

Alec Baldwin defends Kendall Jenner 2

Alec Baldwin defends Kendall Jenner 3

Alec Baldwin defends Kendall Jenner 3

More: SNL Wrecks Pepsi's Tone-Deaf Kendall Jenner Commercial With Spoof

Sorry, but IMO, that's bullshit (and I'm not really sorry). Jenner is 21 years old. She's not a child. She is more than capable of being woke and paying attention to the world, and if she were doing that, she wouldn't have touched that Pepsi ad with a 10-foot pole.

This idea that Jenner gets a pass for participating in something that turns police violence against black people into something a can of Pepsi solves just because she's young is as problematic as the ad itself. The fact that Jenner has as much influence as she does makes it even more important for her to be called out for her part in this. It's the only way she's going to wake up and see that the problem here isn't the fact that she's being blamed for participating in such a painfully tone-deaf ad. It's that ad existed in the first place.

More: Kendall Jenner Displaces Blame for Pepsi Ad, but It Doesn't Work Like That

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

kendall and kylie rivalries slideshow
Image: Brian To/WENN.com

How My Mother's Miscarriage Held Clues About My Own Infertility

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As a little girl, I didn’t play with baby dolls, pretending to be a mother — I wrote stories in my room or tried to convince my brother and sister to have “reading parties” with me. In my 20s, a child was still the last thing on my mind. I was focused on building my career as a writer, proving that I could make a living with my words. It wasn’t until recently that I began to look at babies and wonder: Could I be a mother and also the writer I wanted to be and the wife and the woman, individual and apart from these complicated, beautiful burdens? I hoped so. For the first time in my life, I wanted to try.

How naive, how self-involved, to think that because I had finally come around, conception would be easy. As if an unmade baby were waiting in the ether for me to say, "Come — we’re ready for you now." That isn’t how it works; at least not for my mother and not for me.

* * *

It was late 1983, and the peso’s devaluation had hit my border hometown hard. Seven hundred businesses closed their doors, and unemployment jumped from 10 percent to almost 30 percent. Laredo, Texas, felt like the aftermath of a bomb, a ghost town full of stunned, baffled wanderers.

More: Dutch Game Show Features Fat or Pregnant? Segment

My mom taught English at the community college, but my dad owned an electrical supply store. With no more homes being built, there were no builders to supply to — the store was all stock and no sales. My parents sold their new home while they still could, moving into a tiny rodent-infested condo. My dad migrated four hours north, sleeping in a house with undocumented laborers while he tried to establish a discount lighting showroom in Austin.

Meanwhile, my mother miscarried.

She was devastated. After two years of trying, who knew how long it would take to conceive again? Who knew if she’d be able to carry full-term? But then, weeks later, my dad had a dream. In it, the Virgin Mary told him that all would be well with this child, a child newly conceived. She was gentle, serene, firm — beyond the snaking reach of doubt. My dad woke up convinced that my mother would give birth.

And she did.

MoreYes, You Can Get Pregnant If You're Already Pregnant

The story of my mother’s miscarriage always seemed mythic to me — perhaps because I was the happy ending (followed by my brother 18 months later and my sister two years after that). And because of that, it was somehow easy to forget the miscarriage itself and the two years of disappointment before it.

* * *

For 16 months, I made up excuses. My hormones are regulating after birth control. I’m just stressed. We haven’t gotten the timing right. Maybe it’s for the best; it’s been a tough year.

But it turns out I have polycystic ovarian syndrome.

The hallmark of PCOS — which affects between 5 and 10 percent of women of reproductive age — is insulin resistance, a catalyst for such symptoms as obesity, diabetes, hirsutism, acne, irregular cycles and, of course, infertility.

The diagnosis was a blow. I had an ideal BMI, ate fairly well (I thought) and was physically active. On the surface, I was not a likely candidate for PCOS. Except for one thing: Because of the disease’s hereditary component, it’s not just possible but likely that my mother suffered from it too.

It’s a strange grief, mourning the loss of something I never had. Something I didn’t even want until recently. I can’t help remembering all the times I panicked because my period came late. Times I couldn’t have been pregnant, even if I were ovulating, but my fear didn’t care about the math, only about those dizzy quicksilver moments of waiting for lines to emerge on a pregnancy test. Only one every time.

Then there was the night I touched my belly in the shower and whispered, "If you’re there, show me — show me so I can take care of you." I was startled by my disappointment the next day when my period came after all.

I ache for my younger self, for all I didn’t know. Every late period, not a harbinger of new life, but a warning sign. My body desperately trying to communicate its imbalance.

MoreTurns Out Period Syncing Is a Menstrual Myth

Since learning about PCOS, I no longer see conception as an end goal, but as a byproduct of a healthy body. Oddly, it’s a kind of gift because it means I’m no longer relegated to the passive perdition of waiting — for the next cycle of medication, to ovulate, to take a pregnancy test, to start all over again. It means I have some control. By dramatically changing my diet to sharpen insulin resistance, I now have the opportunity to help my body reboot, to prepare for the one-day task of caring for another. Only when my body is healthy will it be ready not just to create life, but to sustain it.

When will that day come? I don’t know. But my mother is the first to point out how profoundly fortunate I am despite my diagnosis and how profoundly fortunate she was despite her miscarriage. She’s right. And at least for now, that gives me peace.

The Queen's Diet Is Hardcore & Other Eating Secrets From Kensington Palace Chefs

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If you're in the British royal family, you got the dolla-dolla bills to eat any decadent food you can even think of. But if you're Queen Elizabeth Iand you want to be healthy and strong and still ruling well into your 90s, you also probably want to watch what you eat. And boy, does she.

More: The Queen Hands Bags of Money Out, Is the Literal Best

The queen's former personal chef, Darren McGrady, just dished (haha, pun fully intended) on the royal diet for Delish, and let's just say modern royals don't live on the fancy feasts you see in medieval movies. Instead, they're hella low-carb, because ain't nobody wanna give up the throne because they ate too many cheeseburgers.

"For lunch, it would probably be something like grilled fish with some salad," McGrady said about the strict, healthy diet Queen Elizabeth follows. "She wouldn't have potatoes. Or when she's on her own for lunch, she doesn't have the starch. She just does the protein and the salad."

More: Long Live Prince Harry, Boxing Toddlers and Cute Dogs

Thank God, the queen is human and likes to cheat on her diet a little. McGrady said she loves chocolate cake — and just chocolate in general — which is good because no one can live their best life powered by fish and lettuce, I'm sorry.

According to McGrady, Princess Diana was the healthiest of the royal clan. She ate chicken, fish and vegetarian dishes while religiously avoiding red meat, which is just a sad way to be. She did let William and Harry have sweets now and then, even though the royal nannies hated it, because "the princess just wanted them to be boys." Too sweet.

More: Princess Charlotte Has a Very Important Role in Pippa Middleton's Wedding

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Queen Elizabeth II Prince Philip slideshow
Image: Anthony Stanley/WENN

Sorry, DWTS Fans, Looks Like Sharna Burgess Has Her Sights Set on a Soap Star

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The only news the fans of Dancing With the Stars heard about after the premiere of Season 24 was the showmance between pro Sharna Burgess and her partner, Bonner Bolton. The former bull rider was seen accidentally brushing his hand across her crotch, and all hell broke loose across every entertainment outlet.

More: The Bold and the Beautiful's Pierson Fodé Shirtless Will Have You Fannin' Yourself

While everyone was distracted by the DWTS couple’s denials of a romance, Burgess was quietly dating The Bold and the Beautiful’s Pierson Fodé behind the scenes, according to E! News. For anyone who follows DWTS closely, though, this hot romance has been brewing for months.

Burgess and Fodé were openly flirting on Twitter back in February after Australia’s TV Week Magazine published a quote that the soap star is single but looking for an Australian romance. Was this a hint that he was already dating Burgess?

One fan chimed in that Fodé should date Burgess, but it seemed like the romance took off on its own. Their exchange was quite flirtatious.

More: DWTS' Sharna Burgess and Bonner Bolton Clearly Know Sex Sells

Pierson Fodé romance

Pierson Fodé romance

Pierson Fodé romance-3

Pierson Fodé romance-3

Pierson Fodé romance-4

Pierson Fodé romance-4

Pierson Fodé romance-5

Pierson Fodé romance-5

There's also evidence that Fodé visited the Seattle stop on the DWTS tour this winter, and he attended the premiere of Season 24.

Pierson Fodé romance-6

Pierson Fodé romance-6

Pierson Fodé romance-7

Pierson Fodé romance-7

DWTS fans take most showmances with a grain of salt. Even though Burgess said she had chemistry with Bolton, she was doing it for the dance competition. The real chemistry was happening in plain sight on social media.

"It's all a part of playing the character, for sure," Bolton explained to E! News. "You've got to practice your acting skills."

More: All the Injuries Sustained on Dancing With the Stars Through the Years

"Which we practiced a lot this week," Burgess chimed in. "We talked a lot about breaking down characters and bringing across a tormented romance that was a little bit one-sided. It's all about acting at the same time as dancing. If people feel like maybe we were having a romantic relationship, then we did our job in our dance, right?"

While the DWTS fauxmance is officially on ice, the real question now is whether Burgess and Fodé will make their first red carpet appearance together at the Daytime Emmys on April 30. All eyes off Bolton, all eyes on Fodé.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

DWTS dating slideshow
Image: Judy Eddy/WENN

Starbucks' New Magical Frappuccino Flavor Is Going to Blow Your Mind

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Like all things powerful and full of magic, Starbucks tends to be pretty secretive about its plans for the future. Whether it's the hotly contested designs of their seasonal cups or speculation about their upcoming beverage flavors, we have to rely on rumors and leaks to get information before anything actually launches.

More: Starbucks' New Avocado Spread Would Do Kermit Proud

But leaks there are, and judging by a few sly Reddit posts and a slightly more explicit Instagram pic, we're in for a real treat.

Starbucks is launching a Unicorn Frappuccino.

Starbucks Unicorn Frappucino

Starbucks Unicorn Frappucino

Are you still with me? Or did you fall on the floor from excitement, with visions of unicorns prancing around your little dazed head?

More: We tasted Starbucks’ newest home coffee system alongside the real deal

Apparently, the Unicorn Frappuccino is launching sometime next week (between April 17 and 19!) and will have a Skittles Tropical flavor that's made with mango syrup, white mocha and topped with pink and blue powder or sprinkles. Since it's made with a cream base, we imagine that it'll taste something like rainbow sherbet or a similarly fruity ice cream treat.

Other than that, much like the mythical beast it's named after, not much is known or can be verified about the Unicorn Frappuccino. But luckily, if the rumors can be believed, we'll be able to start sipping on this magical treat in just a few days.

More: Someone needs to tell you: You're drinking the wrong-colored Starbucks drink

All-American Baby Girl Names for Your Little Patriot

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People can keep coming up with trendy baby names all they want, but there's just something so sweet about a classic, old-fashioned baby girl name that gives a subtle nod to the good ol' United States of America. And All-American baby names are as diverse as the country itself — vintagey names like Ruth and Frances give us that down-home feeling just as much as virtue names like Justice and Charity do.

All-American baby girl names for your little patriot
Image: Becci Burkhart/SheKnows

All-American girl names have seen a resurgence among today's parents who are looking for names that are classic and beautiful. Here's a look at the biggest names for your All-American girl.

Popular American girl names

Each year, the Social Security Administration rounds up the top baby names taken from birth certificates in America. These 10 almost always make the top: 

More: Spiritual Baby Girl Names That Celebrate Your Faith

Old fashioned baby girl names

The Social Security Administration also compiled the top names over the last 100 years, between 1911 and 2010. If you are looking for a classic All-American name, this list if for you. Check out the top most popular girl names in the USA from the past 100 years.

More: Easter-Inspired Baby Girl Names Are Perfect for a Spring Baby

New American girl names topping all the lists

Pop culture has long had an influence on baby names. Thanks to the popular HBO show Game of Thrones, the name girl name Arya (after the character Arya Stark) is red hot, and of course Elsa and Anna, from the popular movie Frozen, are more popular than ever.

Check out the hottest new baby girl names in the US:

Vintage baby girl names

What's old is new again! If you want a girl's name that is not as popular, check out some of our picks of American names from the past decades, including the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. You are sure to love these old fashioned, yet truly American baby girl names.

Early American baby names

The Pilgrims were the first settlers in America — and they had some beautiful and meaningful names. Many of these names were virtue names, meaning the names were also a characteristic they hoped their child would also have. Consider using these early American baby names as a first or even a middle name for your baby girl.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below:

celeb baby names
Image: Praveenkumar Palanichamy/Getty Images

Originally published December 2015. Updated April 2017.

When Kids With Autism Reach Puberty

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Puberty isn't a breeze for anyone, but for kids with autism and other developmental disabilities (and those who are trying to help them get through it), the experience can be particularly challenging. Changing bodies, ever-increasing peer pressure and sexual and romantic urges may be extremely alarming for children on the autism spectrum.

More: What Your Teenage Daughter Wants You to Know — but Won't Tell You

Teach about puberty early and often

It's extremely important to talk to your child before any of these changes take place — explaining periods and how to use feminine hygiene products to girls, for example, and preparing boys for their voices lowering and their penises growing larger. Both sexes should be prepared for the growth of pubic and armpit hair and a higher probability of acne.

"It is important to teach children with autism about puberty early and often," said Dr. Cora Taylor, pediatric psychologist at Geisinger Health System’s Autism & Developmental Medicine Institute. "Children with autism, including those with co-occurring intellectual disability, generally experience puberty at the same time as typically developing children, and some may experience early puberty. Parents and teachers should use the same techniques to teach about puberty that they use to teach other concepts, which may include the use of visuals, social stories and lots of repetition. Some children with autism may struggle with change, so using effective techniques and prepping early is crucial. Children with autism who also have language concerns may have a hard time learning new vocabulary. Families should consider using formal words or family-decided words to teach the names of body parts as early as possible."

Establish good hygiene practices

One concern for parents of children on the autism spectrum might be putting good hygiene practices in place. Taylor recommends building in structure and having consistent expectations. "Some adolescents with autism may not recognize the social cues surrounding the importance of good hygiene," she said. "Visual schedules and hygiene kits are two helpful ways to help children understand what steps are required for good hygiene. A visual schedule breaks down each step of a hygiene task. For younger children, this may include the individual steps required in a very small task, such as brushing teeth. Older children may be able to use a schedule that includes a complete 'morning routine' (make bed, shower, brush teeth, put on deodorant). Hygiene kits are individualized boxes or kits that contain all items required for a specific part of a morning routine and can be used in combination with visual schedules. For example, a child might have a 'shower kit' that contains all items that need to be used for a shower."

More: Teen Turns School Restroom Into Self-Esteem Sanctuary

A child's unique challenges should always be taken into account when putting together a program to teach hygiene. For example, a child with fine motor deficits may need adapted equipment, such as a vibrating toothbrush, to help them carry out tasks independently.

Explain public and private behaviors

When children on the autism spectrum reach puberty, distinguishing between public and private behaviors is more important than ever. Taylor suggests using a sorting task as a simple way to start the teaching process. "Make a list of places and behaviors, some of which are public and some of which are private," she said. "Work with your child to identify which places and behaviors are public or private. If your child engages in a private behavior in a public place, use redirection to either guide the child to a private place (if available) or cease the behavior. Be mindful to not use punishment or draw too much attention to the private behavior, as this can sometimes make the behavior worse."

Set clear rules about relationship boundaries

Parents need to teach their children about the different types of relationships (family, friend, teacher, acquaintance, stranger) and explain what behavior is appropriate in each case. "This may include teaching appropriate types of greetings (hugs are for family and friends) and the types of things that we can talk about with each person," said Taylor. "Many children with autism will show an interest in dating or having romantic relationships. Like with other children, parents should set clear rules about what behavior is acceptable. For example, issues around how old a child must be to date and supervision of dates."

For more information, see The Healthy Bodies Toolkit.

More: Early Warning Signs of Autism Every Parent Should Know


Doug the Pug Is Back and More Adorable Than Ever

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If anything can make the start of your weekend even sweeter, it's a pug parody. That's right — Doug the Pug is back, and he's better than ever in his paw-esome spin on the hit sitcom, The Big Bang Theory.

Doug didn't choose the pug life, y'all. The pug life chose him, and he's just making the best of it. You may well remember the flat-faced fellow going viral last year when he took on Stranger Things, another online sensation.

More: Top 14 Small Dog Breeds for People Who Prefer the Tinier Things in Life

And he found a way to dig even deeper into our collective hearts when he remade Beauty and the Beast starring him and, well, him. Watch out, Dan Stevens — Emma Watson would likely be no match for Doug the Pug's next-level charm.

In fact, Doug has parlayed his intrinsic adorableness into quite the career as a thriving pug-preneur. Available for purchase on this enterprising pup's official website is everything from tie-dye T-shirts to lapel pins featuring the likeness of our hero.

The self-professed "King of Pop Culture," who's amassed over 7 million followers on social media, even made his literary debut last year with a coffee table book. (BRB, adding that to my Amazon wish list as we speak.)

So while you may think it's impossible to think Doug and his squishy pug face could get any cuter, you haven't seen The Big Pug Theory yet. In the spot-on 20-second parody, Doug nails the parts of Sheldon, Penny, Leonard and Howard.

More: Literally Just 21 Adorable Little Animals in Adorable Little Easter Outfits

On Facebook, Doug the Pug's owner Leslie Mosier explained, "Doug had the amazing opportunity to film on the real set of The Big Bang Theory thanks to our friends at Warner Bros. Entertainment! Hope you guys love the video."

Oh, we do, Leslie... we do.

Doug the Pug New Parody

Doug the Pug New Parody

Imagine This: RHOBH's Kim Richards Could Have Been Our First Lady

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Is it weird that I'm basically zero surprised that The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Kim Richards went on a date with Donald Trump? For some reason, that just makes sense to me. I can't be alone in this.

More: Kim Richards Has Two New Babies in Her Life: A Grandson & a New Business

Anyway, that happened. It came out during Part 2 of the RHOBH reunion, which is airing next week. In the teaser for the episode, host/Bravo deity Andy Cohen teases Richards, saying, "I heard a rumor you once dated Donald Trump."

Richards tries to hide it, exclaiming, "What?!" in mock horror, but all the other women giggling around her kind of give it away, so she cops to it.

"Yes," she says, looking genuinely uncomfortable in a way that only a woman who may have seen Donald Trump naked can look. "I had a dinner with him. I had dinner with Donald."

More: Kim Richards' Pit Bull Has Become the Center of Yet Another Legal Battle

Richards isn't giving up too much, though. Lisa Vanderpump immediately took it to the dark place and pressed for some more sordid details, asking, "Sex or not? Did you see him naked?"

Somehow, all the women react to that idea by laughing rather than recoiling in horror, which is all I can do with that image burned into my brain for the rest of time.

From her answer, though, it definitely sounds like Richards (God help her) did the hanky panky with the Donald, and suddenly so much about her life of questionable decision making makes sense. You don't just bounce back from something like sex with Donald Trump, the poor woman.

"I don’t want to get into it!" she said. "I don’t want to talk about the president."

While we wouldn't wish being married to Trump on anyone, Cohen did point out the real missed opportunity in this whole train wreck.

"Wow, Kim could have been our first lady!" he said.

What a world this could have been.

More: Kim Richards Violated Probation, but Her Missteps Really Weren't That Bad

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

kim richards through the years slideshow
Image: Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images

Why Are People Using the Terms ‘Womyn’ and ‘Womxn’ Instead of ‘Women’?

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As of late, many woman-oriented organizations around the United States are taking on alternate spellings of the words “woman” and “women” in efforts to be more inclusive.

“Womyn” and “womxn” are two of the most commonly used substitutes to avoid using the suffix “-men” at the end of the term, but others, like “wimmin,” “wimyn” and “womin” are also sometimes used.

“Women” and “woman” originate from Old English, where “man” was used as a gender fluid pronoun much like “one” and “they” have turned into today.

More: 6 videos that will transform how you think about feminism

These spellings are closely associated with the feminism movement, with some choosing to use the term “womxn” over “womyn” due to the latter’s roots in transphobia. As Tumblr user Sanpaguitagirl put it, the term “womyn” appeared at a festival that celebrated cisgender (identifying as the same assigned sex at birth) women’s accomplishments in art and music. This festival does not allow men or transgender women to attend, and some believe that represents the exclusion of transgender women (and other identities) from general discourse.

It “shows how a lot of feminist movements have chosen to ignore the many struggles, identities and intersectionalities of what it means to not only be born as a womxn, but to identify as a womxn,” according to Sanpaguitagirl’s Tumblr response.

While dictionaries do not officially recognize the terms (Google labels “womyn” as nonstandard), they’re often used to promote inclusivity among cis- and transgender women. By avoiding the “-men” or “-man” suffixes, people who use alternate spellings of the word “women” aim to achieve female independence from patriarchal linguistic norms.

More: Oxford Dictionary slammed for promoting sexist stereotypes — again

Some people think that the change in spelling is unnecessary given that they’re not officially part of the English language. However, feminists who use the terms argue that the English language constantly fluctuates with standardized dictionaries adding new words constantly. For instance, “selfie” was the Oxford Dictionary’s Word of the Year in 2013 — just one example of how new words have come into existence constantly.

Womyn Creating Consciousness Collectively, an organization at Michigan State University, stated that it was symbolically showing that they do not need men to be complete entities, as the word suggests.

“We, as womyn, are not a sub-category of men,” the group wrote on their organization’s website. “We are not included in many of the history books, studies and statistics that are done in male dominated societies, thus they do not apply to us, for in these items we do not exist. In these societies men are the ‘norm’ and women the ‘particular,’ a mere sub-category of the ‘norm,’ of men. The re-spelling of the word ‘woman’ is a statement that we refused to be defined by men. We are womyn and only we have the right to define our relationships with ourselves, society, with other womyn and men.”

More: Yes, you can celebrate Valentine's Day without losing your feminist card

Ultimately, the development of “womxn,” “womyn” and other terms symbolize a unique turn in how the second-wave feminism has progressed since its explosion in the 1970s. While most people have not adopted those terms, it is possible that it will become part of the English lexicon if others continue to use it.

By Gwendolyn Wu

Originally published on HelloFlo.

Corinne Low-Key Calls Out Nick and Vanessa's 'Phony' Relationship

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While we're just over here working on making America Corinne again, we gotta take as much of our favorite Bachelor franchise villain as we can get.

Corinne gif
Image: Giphy

More: Nick Viall and Vanessa Grimaldi Were All PDA During DWTS

There's talk of Corinne Olympios getting her own reality show, but until then, we'll be watching out for her to make a cameo during Rachel Lindsay's season of The Bachelorette, premiering next month.

"I filmed an episode with her and I met some of the guys she’s dating. [They’re] cute, yes," Olympios told SiriusXM Hits 1 during an interview this week. "We’re off to a good start."

In the meantime, since we really need some Corinne in our lives right now, she's weighing in on Nick Viall's relationship with his fiancée, Vanessa Grimaldi. Spoiler alert (except not really, because we saw this coming a mile away): She thinks they're faking it.

More: No One Expected Vanessa and Nick to Have Problems During DWTS... Kidding

"I have a lot of respect for both of them, I just personally — not saying anything bad about either of them — I just personally don’t think that they’re compatible," Olympios said.

She also agreed with one of the hosts, who said he felt like Viall and Grimaldi were staying together for fame.

"I think they’re both in it just for publicity and as soon as the publicity runs out, they’re going to break up," he added.

Olympios thought that was spot-on.

"I think that you’re on point. They’re so phony with each other," she said. "It sucks, because they’re both really real people separately, but whenever they were together looking at them — like, I lived with Vanessa and dated Nick — that’s not how either one of them really are. And I’m like, 'What are you guys doing?'"

So Olympios clearly isn't Team Nick. To be fair, though, not many people are anymore. Womp, womp.

More: Nick Viall & Vanessa Grimaldi Might Actually Love Each Other

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Jason Mesnick crying on The Bachelor
Image: ABC

Why You'll Want to Bring Your Old Car Seat to Target Next Week

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Target just hit the bull's-eye with its latest announcement.

From Monday, April 17 to Sunday, April 30, parents who bring a used car seat to Target will receive 20 percent off any in-store or online purchase of another car seat. Once you get the discount, you have until May 31 to use it (in case it takes you that long to choose a new one).

We love this deal, because 1) who doesn't love a bargain? and 2) it's part of Target's partnership with TerraCycle, which focuses on brainstorming solutions for hard-to-recycle waste. Plus, the endeavor is timed to overlap with Earth Day on April 22. So parents can be sure their kids are in the right size car seats (um, have you checked lately? Yikes, those growth spurts are no joke) and the planet's landfills have to swallow less junk. Everyone wins!

More: Target's (excellent) breastfeeding policy just went viral, and for good reason

If you're wondering just how much of a difference this campaign can make, Target expects to recycle more than 700,000 pounds of car seat materials. We had no clue that car seats were such a hefty contributor to landfills.

How does it work? Easy. Shoppers will find recycling bins for old car seats near the front of the store or in the baby section. Then they can flag down a team member and snag the 20 percent off coupon.

Target has already successfully tested the campaign, having trotted it out in 90 stores back in September. But this time, it will be available in most stores.

Safe kids, happier planet? Yup, we're on board. Nice one, Target.

Why Does My Sister Spoil Her Kids on Easter?

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Welcome back to Parental Advisory, where I answer all of your social media and IRL parenting etiquette questions. This week, let's talk about spoiling kids on Easter.

Question:

I'm childfree, but I have nephews and nieces who I love spending time with anytime I can. They're great kids. But something about the way my sister and her husband celebrate Easter has been bugging me. I know it's not my place to judge, but every year they seem to be spoiling their two kids and treating Easter more like it's Christmas. I guess it's trendy now for people to give their kids bigger gifts on Easter and not just the standard "regular"-sized straw basket with a few eggs and some chocolate, but the older they get, the harder it is to spend that holiday with them (which is a tradition in our family) because it feels kind of gluttonous. Another sister doesn't give her kids the same amount of toys, books, candy, etc., and even though I'm glad she doesn't, it feels like my other sister and her husband are showing off and creating an imbalance when we all get together. Growing up, we each got one basket on Easter, and we didn't get any fancy toys or new bikes. I'm not sure why she's choosing to spoil her kids on this day, of all days? It's totally beside the point of the holiday.

Do you think I should talk to my sister about it, or just find a way to skip Easter for the rest of my life? ;) I don't want to tell her what to do, but after seeing all the crap she gets her kids for Christmas on Facebook, I don't want to spend another Easter watching them open a pile of presents. I think my other sister feels the same way, but she won't talk to her about it, and my mother says she won't get involved, so I'm the only one left to say something. Do you think I should? Thanks!

— E.

Answer:

Happy early Easter, E.! You are not alone in your sentiments. As you mentioned, for several years now, parents have been purchasing more and more Easter gifts for their kids. Because this is a topic I feel I know well — having written about it a few times in the past — I'll just hop right into it. Parents are giving their kids more crap for Easter because social media has shown us that new standards dictate new norms. If the new standard is posting pictures of piles of presents and chocolate on Easter, then the new norm becomes parents filling inflatable pools with presents and chocolate on Easter. This is my No Parents Left Behind theory, and social media is the engine that fuels it. With that said, there has been some backlash to the showy overabundance on Easter, so it's possible that this is just a fad, and parents will one day return to their senses.

Easter
Image: STFU Parents

Whichever Pinterest mom came up with the inflatable pool Easter basket idea couldn't possibly have predicted the impact that her terrible — and oh so American — idea would have on a multitude of parents. I don't know what it is about the resurrection of Christ that has parents racing out to purchase new iPads, bikes and enough chocolate to feed every starving child in Somalia, but unless parents are giving away all of that garbage to kids whose parents can't even afford a box of Peeps, they have earned my wrath. Teaching kids that Easter is a day of luxuriating in consumerism and tasty treats is so gross, it'd be like if McDonald's "sponsored" Passover for Jews. There's a massive disconnect between the significance of the holiday and the way many parents are now choosing to celebrate it, and what it appears to come down to is the idea that "the kids deserve it" and "no one can tell anyone else how to parent their child."

Xmas
Image: STFU Parents

Of course Sarah is going to post some pics. What would Easter — a day that traditionally involves giving kids a simple basket and hosting an egg hunt — be without posting pictures of brag-worthy mountains of "loot"? I've even gotten one STFU, Parents submission in which a mom gloats about filling her first-grader's plastic eggs with $20 bills. Don't parents know that's unnecessary? Don't they realize that this clamoring for gifts will only result in the further commercialization of Easter? Soon, we'll have a Black Friday-style sale-a-thon for Easter too, and grown men in bunny suits will be featured in ads for Nintendo and Samsung, making kids think that's what Easter is all about. It's egg-sessive (I'm sorry), and it's just not right.

I'm not suggesting that parents can't give their kids the occasional big item on a special day, but why link it to Easter? Why not give a kid a new bike for getting good grades or for volunteering in his community? The only reason I can come up with as to why parents are dumping a load of gifts on their kids on Easter is because they want to keep up with the Joneses and they don't want their kids to have any less than even the most spoiled brats in their newsfeeds. This is what concerns me about your sister, E. Not only does she time things so her kids open all of their presents in front of family members (as opposed to when they wake up, prior to meeting with family), but some of those relatives are other kids who could be jealous, hurt or confused by the consumerist showing of affection to their cousins by their aunt and uncle. It doesn't set a great precedent for future Easters to come.

Umbrellas
Image: STFU Parents

It would be lovely if parents stuck to the traditional small-ish/medium-size Easter basket, but currently, we're stuck with inflatable pools, rafts, umbrellas, golf carts and whatever else parents decide to fill with disposable junk until overdoing it on Easter is no longer fashionable. I don't know if it's a stellar idea, or even an effective one, for you to confront your sister, E., but I'm not going to say you shouldn't address this issue in some way. Usually, I believe that with great risk comes great reward, but that motto doesn't apply to telling parents what they're doing wrong. It would be hard for you to convince your sister that spoiling her kids is detrimental to their development, so instead, if you do decide to discuss this with her, maybe focus on your other niece(s) and nephew(s) and ways she can avoid making a big show of opening Easter gifts.

Maybe you don't even need to crucify her; just ask her if, for this year, you can focus on food, family and the egg hunt and not set aside time to open presents. You can probably make this happen in part by truncating the time you spend with family this year — either by arriving late, or by leaving early — and explaining that you have a limited amount of time and want to make the most of it. You can also set a good example by only getting your nieces and nephews small, Easter-appropriate gifts/chocolate (and/or making gifts by hand) and making sure they're divided equally. You can even bring up the origins of Easter and discuss what the holiday is about, whether the kids open gifts from their parents in front of you or not. Just because they're wading in toys and clothes doesn't mean they can't pay attention to what the holiday signifies. And as an aunt who's involved in their lives, you still have an opportunity to transmit holiday-appropriate messaging, even if your sister and her husband are more fixated on spoiling their kids with goodies.

Good luck, and don't be afraid to bunny-hop someplace else when the time is right! There's nothing wrong with wanting to celebrate Easter without feeling like you're drowning in gluttony. Just don't forget to take some chocolate rabbits for the road.

Do YOU have a question about parents on social media? Send whatever is on your mind to stfuparentsblog AT gmail.com!

Meet the Anti-Aging Body Butter with a 2,000-Person Waiting List

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As a very wise, old woman once said, good things come to those who wait. Except we’re pretty sure Lady Mary Montgomerie Currie wasn’t talking about an anti-aging body butter that supposedly minimizes your body’s little lines and wrinkles, plumps and firms skin, and then tucks you in and reads you a bedtime story each night. But alas, here we are in 2017, where everyone is terrified of aging, and Ever Skin’s Lavish Ultra Rich Body Butter has a waiting list 2,000-people long. Yup.

More: 30 Gorgeous Spring Makeup Ideas to Copy All Month Long

The body butter, which is housed in a super-sleek, Instagram-friendly white jar, has a formula akin to that of a fruit smoothie: It’s infused with a “superfruit complex” (according to the website) that’s essentially a mix of apple, blackberry, cranberry, cherry, pomegranate, and kiwi seed oils, swirled with a few dollops of jojoba and cocoa butter. Basically, this butter is filled with some of the richest oils and butters you can throw into a jar, so it’s not surprising that people are freaking out about its restorative powers—if you rub a bunch of hydrating oils on some dry, crepey skin, your skin will inherently look plumper and glowier. It’s that simple.

Ever Lavish Body Butter
Image: Ever

Of course, we haven’t gotten to try this butter yet, so who knows, maybe the ratios of the concoction really do create a Fountain of Youth effect. But at $42 a tiny, 4.6 ounce jar, you’d kind of hope so. Still, if you want to get your hands on the anti-ager, you can’t, because the wait list is closed, and we’re sorry for getting your hopes up. Luckily, we’re pretty positive this butter will be back in stock in the coming months, thanks to its popular-as-hell demand, so keep checking the site for updates.

More: Meant Simply Might Be the Next Big Thing in Minimalist Beauty

Originally posted on StyleCaster.com


11 Tips That Will Make Your Dog’s Bath Time So Much Easier

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As spring peeks its head around the corner, we dog parents start to envision hikes, beaches, lakes and all the other fun we can have with our pups outdoors. But with that comes mud, bugs, fleas, allergens, skunk sprays and even in the best cases plain doggie BO.

More: Leaky Gut Syndrome Doesn't Just Occur in Humans — Your Dog Is Affected Too

Now, after working in animal welfare for 16-plus years with dozens of shelter dogs, foster dogs and my own brood at home, I’ve picked up a few tricks to make those home baths go smoothly. I also checked in with PetCoach’s chief medical officer, Dr. Christie Long and others, to chat about ways to make dog baths a piece of cake.

1. Consider your dog's state of mind

Dogs can get anxiety about bath time for a number of reasons, according to PetCoach veterinarian Dr. Melanie. The pup “could be scared of water, she may not like being bathed with cold water if you use a hose outdoors or if she is in the tub for her bath, slipping in it could cause her to panic.” Of course, these common scenarios that can trigger a lot of anxiety for you as well, which your dog can sense. Taking steps to reduce both of your bath-time anxiety can be a game-changer.

"My attitude about hating giving him a bath caused us both a lot of anxiety,” pet mom Jean Kristensen says, “I changed my energy around bath time. I calmly walked over, took him by the leash and walked him into the bathroom. He literally entered the bathtub with no fussing.” Find out how Jean changed her mindset and get more tips for making bath time Zen in "7 Tips to Make Your Dog Stop Hating Bath Time."

2. Don't over-bathe your dog

“Dogs shouldn't be bathed more often than once every 6 to 8 weeks,” according to the experts over at PetCoach. (See what else they have to say about toiletries here.)

Also, be sure to consider when you’ve applied flea and tick prevention. “Many flea and tick repellant products will lose their effectiveness if the patient is bathed within 24 hours of application,” Long shared with us, “so be sure to read the label of these products carefully and plan your dog's bathing regimen accordingly.”

More: 9 of Your Most Pressing Dog Health Questions Answered

3. Give a good walk or play session ahead of the bath

This helps your dog be relaxed, but also stops you from taking your pup out in the cold while he's still wet. A good muscle rub with shampoo and conditioner in the bath might even become something your tired dog learns to enjoy — like a doggie spa treatment after a hard game of fetch. Tiring your dog out can also help reduce anxiety. My own nervous Italian greyhound, Fiona, is no fan of baths, but when I tire her out beforehand, she enjoys the warm water and puppy massage enough that she starts to relax and let me pamper her.

4. Consider your shampoo, conditioner and tools

Cleanliness of your tools and soaps is important. “There is a condition known as ‘post-grooming folliculitis/furunculosis,’” Long warns, “which basically means that the patient has experienced a painful skin infection after grooming and/or bathing. These infections are intense, usually require [a] culture to insure appropriate antibiotic selection and treatment for 4 to 6 weeks. The infection can usually be traced back to the use of dirty clippers, scissors or contaminated shampoos. So be sure to use a quality shampoo that is well within its date of expiration when bathing your dog.” Ask your vet or groomer for suggestions of what to look for in a shampoo and conditioner for your dog's needs. If your dog's especially itch-prone, you may add some oatmeal bath to the mix.

5. Pre-dilute the shampoo and conditioner into fresh squeeze bottles

If you use a shampoo or conditioner that can be diluted, mixing bottles can be a big help. I love them because I can rub my dog down with one hand with the diluted mixture spreading the soap farther while I hold the bottle with the other hand. To use mixing bottles, you simply add your warm water to the dilution line, add shampoo or conditioner and shake. Prep it before you get your dog and keep it to the side at arm’s reach. Just be sure to clean these out well between uses.

6. Set your stage

Having everything in place before you bring in your dog is a good way to avoid having to get up during the bath (and giving your dog an opportunity for escape). Set yourself up for success by placing your dog’s towels, shampoo, conditioner, a shatterproof cup (for rinsing), toys or treats and a washcloth within arm’s reach. If you use diluted conditioner or shampoo, be sure to have these pre-diluted and in easy-open squeeze bottles next to you.

7. Help your dog get a grip

Slipping in the shower is scary — for your dog too. This is one of the best tips groomers ever shared with me and I’ve used it for years. Help your dog get some grip in your tub by adding a rubber mat for them to stand on. This helps your pup feel more secure and makes slips and falls more avoidable.

8. Stop the wiggles and mad dashes before they start

Remaining calm and focused can go a long way to reinforcing your dog’s “sit” or “stay” during your dog’s bath. However, sometimes enhancing the attraction with treats (if your dog will eat them), minimizing escape routes by closing doors or having a second set of hands can help as well. In our house, the bathroom door stays shut during bath time so there’s no obvious place for our pups to go.

IMPORTANT: Escape dashes are a common cause of slips, falls and unpleasant water getting into your dog’s face or ears. This can lead to increased anxiety or even some health issues, like ear infections. Water in the ears can be such a problem that Long suggests owners not even try to clean their dog’s ears while in the bath at all, instead doing it later: “In general, I would advise cleaning the ears separately with a good-quality veterinary ear cleaner, then placing cotton balls in the ear canal during the bath, taking care to avoid getting water in the ears as much as possible.” (Check out Long’s "Tips for Cleaning Your Dog’s Ears.")

More: Do You Need to Worry About BPA Levels in Dogs?

9. Use a detachable shower or sink head and rinse well

This one-handed tool is another major favorite of mine for any dog. The beauty of it is you don’t have to fill the tub or contort your dog into uncomfortable positions that stress him out to rinse well. And rinsing is something most dog moms don’t do enough of, according to Long. “The mistake I see dog parents make the most often when bathing their dogs is not rinsing long enough. It takes about 10 minutes of rinsing to rid the fur completely of shampoo — and for exceptionally hairy breeds, probably longer. So, I advise dog owners to set a timer when they start their rinse, use warm water (not hot) and rinse thoroughly for the recommended amount of time.”

11. Check the temp

Before your dog’s in the tub, start the water and let it adjust to be warm, but not hot. A good way to check the temp is to run it over your forearm, as you would for a small child.

10. Do not pour water on anything above his neck.

The sensation of water around your dog's eyes, ears and nose are more likely to make him freak out. Instead, use a warm washcloth around your dog's face and head, being sure not to get water in your dog's ears. At our house, we don’t even use soap on our dog’s face, just plain water. This helps us avoid any problems with soap to the eyes (although some no-tear shampoos are available).

11. Once bath time is done, give lots of praise and make it a game

Toys and treats can be used to reinforce good bath time behavior and show your pup (and you) just how fun bath time can be.

Now that you have the tools, go enjoy the outdoors with Fido secure in the knowledge that you can clean him up when you get home. Just be sure to consult your veterinarian if you see “redness or discharge in one or both eyes, scratching of the ears or head shaking or painful sores along the top of the back,” warns Long — all signs that something might have gone amiss during bath time.

Have a question about bath time? Ask the experts at PetCoach below.

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How I Explained My Mental Illness to My Kid

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Parenting is a hard enough prospect when everyone's in a good frame of mind. But mental illness is an additional — and daunting — challenge that many families deal with daily.

Maybe your child is so paralyzed with anxiety she won't go to school. Or maybe you're the one struggling to get through the day despite the chronic, debilitating depression, bipolar disorder or PTSD that feels like it's eating you alive, bite by bite, all the time.

Most glossy, cheery parenting manuals steer clear of mental illness and how to talk to your kids about what's really going on. Many parents stay mute on the topic, wondering how to handle the situation — not always the best approach, according to experts.

"When children aren’t given information, they fill in the blanks.... Talking openly is an opportunity to correct misconceptions and decrease the anxiety that comes with uncertainty," writes Elana Premack Sandler, a licensed social worker. "Talking with children about mental illness requires learning a new a set of parenting skills. It may push your limits at a time that is already challenging. But the most important thing for your child to hear, even if it feels impossible to get the words exactly right, is that you love them."

Premack Sandler also encourages parents with mental illness to let their kids know that they're doing their best to stay proactive and get better. "One of the hardest things to communicate to anyone about mental illness is that it's often chronic nature... Treatments that work at one time may not be as effective under changed circumstances. But having a child know that a parent wants to feel better is a way to instill hope and strength."

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry suggests making a comparison to physical illness to help kids understand. The AACAP site says, "People who have a cold are usually able to do their normal activities. However, if they get pneumonia, they will have to take medicine and may have to go to the hospital. Similarly, feelings of sadness, anxiety, worry, irritability, or sleep problems are common for most people. However, when these feelings get very intense, last for a long period of time and begin to interfere with school, work, and relationships, it may be a sign of a mental illness that requires treatment."

More: The Burden of the High-Functioning Depressive

We reached out to parents to see how some have handled this very sticky issue — and the responses were bracingly honest and insightful.

"First off, acknowledge the illness. This comes from someone who has seen the damage it can do when a parent refuses to acknowledge something like this to the kids." — Dave A.

"Age, individual child's disposition and where you are in your own mental illness are all factors. It's got to be individualized to the situation and people. As the mentally ill child of an undiagnosed mentally ill parent, I'd say at some point [your illness] is probably obvious to your child; don't kid yourself. If your child is in therapy/on psych meds, then it seems supportive to admit your own illness. Also, talk to your child when you are feeling relatively well. Show that you are taking care of yourself." — Kathleen K.

"I have never explained my anxiety to my son — in fact, I've hidden it. I'm afraid somehow that he will find it in his own DNA if he knows I have it. Having said that, I know my son has anxiety issues and I monitor it very quietly and carefully. When I know we need to deal with his own issues, I'll tell him about mine." — Elizabeth L.

"When my child was very little, Daddy's bipolar disorder was addressed starting with talks about characters from Winnie the Pooh. Tigger = manic, Eeyore = depressed, Christopher Robin = stable. It's oversimplification, but there is much to be mined from those stories. Rabbit, Owl, Piglet, Pooh... everyone has issues. Piglet is great for addressing anxiety. He absolutely embodies it. But when he works through it, he always manages to Do The Thing — but it doesn't mean he isn't scared or worried." — Belinda H.

"I actually don't remember very clearly how I explained my mental illness to my daughter because I did it in the deep fog of having been psychotic. I seem to remember we were in a car, and I tried to explain to her that I was disabled, I couldn't do the things that ordinary people do. I remember she was upset, and I remember not knowing what to do about it. The issue still kind of plagues us today. It was pretty hard, and in general I have not done a great job of explaining and giving reassurance about my mental illness, but if I did and could, I would be less mentally ill. My own confusions and ambivalences got and still get in my way." — Savannah J.

"My husband spent 10 days in a psychiatric hospital a few years ago. Our kids were 12, 9 and 6. We explained it differently to each age. My oldest, we had a pretty frank discussion with, but my younger two, I explained by saying that sometimes bodies get sick. If you break your leg, you go to the doctor. You don't try to walk around on a broken leg because it hurts and it would never heal. Sometimes, a body will break, and it will get stuck on one emotion. It might get stuck on sad or scared or angry. We call this depression. When our bodies break like that, it is smart to go to the doctor and have her help make us better. She might put us in the hospital for a bit or give us medicines that help our bodies remember how to feel all the feelings, not just the unhappy ones." — Leah K.

More: Like Kristen Bell, you don't have to stay silent about your mental illness

"I've been thinking about it this way: Why to explain it to your kid. My therapist has been having me think of why my mom might act the way she does and how her anxiety influences it. It's really been helping me understand her better — and understand what I learned from her. This might not be as important for younger children, but if you approach [the mental illness] from why, you could discuss the benefits to mutual understanding between parent and child." — Ana O.
"My son is in therapy and takes ADHD meds. My son knows I've been to therapy and take meds as well. I've explained some of my anxiety to him as worry, but I've never told him about the depressive episodes (and I haven't had a severe enough one since he was old enough to remember). I don't know if he sees my anxiety — I think he'd try to take care of me if he knew and I'd hate that." — Elizabeth L.
"I kept it simple. When he wondered why we didn't visit my parents, I'd just tell him they were mean. I didn't tell him about the physical, sexual and psychological abuse and the horrible PTSD [caused by my parents]. He was seeing a therapist himself because of his dad's behavior towards him, so he got it. Sometimes he'd asked why I parented or disciplined in a certain way, and I'd explain that I got it from a book because my parents weren't a good role model — but if he had a better idea, we could renegotiate or ask his therapist what he thought. As he got older and asked more, I'd answer frankly without a lot of drama.... He also knows I have good coping mechanisms and when he was little, we made him a list of coping skills, so we both have a pretty pragmatic approach to living with it." — S.M.
"My 12-year-old is dealing with paralyzing anxiety/OCD right now. He's left the house fewer than 10 times since the end of January.... Am trying to help him understand that this isn't a death sentence. I've started to reveal more about my own anxiety issues. So, it's more of a shared experience. What's been hard is the sense that he knows how horrible he feels and it seems to be increasing his own anxiety that mom could feel this awful or not in control." — N.A.
"My son has a lot of anxiety and I have a history of anxiety, so I am able to share a lot of what I have learned about anxiety. I talk a lot about anxiety being a lying monster that tries to take over his brain and body. We have talked about depression and how it is like a robber. It is not particularly hard for me because of my experiences. He is responsive — but if he is in the throes of anxiety or depression himself, it doesn't always help in the moment." — Patti S.
There's obviously no one right way to talk to your kid about mental illness in the family — whether it's yours, theirs or another loved one's. Thankfully, there are some incredibly useful books that can help ease a difficult discussion. And take heart. If your family is dealing with mental illness, you're not alone — not even close.

Why do I have painful urination after giving birth?

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Question: Is it okay to have a burning while urinating after 4 weeks after giving birth and having a second degree tear?

Dr. Sherry Ross: First congratulations on the birth of you new baby!

It is not unusual to have burning while urinating after giving birth to your baby. Typically, the pain that happens with urination is during the first six weeks after delivery, especially if you had a vaginal birth. Pain, tears and swelling of the lips of the vagina (vulva), the area between the vaginal opening and anus (perineum) affects 90% of women after having a vaginal delivery.

More: There's A New Game-Changing Option for Treating Incontinence in Women

Pain with urination can occur as a result of:

  • Swelling of the vaginal area as a result of a vaginal delivery
  • Tears near or around the hole (urethra) where urine comes out
  • Trauma to the urethra if you had a Foley catheter placed into the bladder
  • Episiotomy or vaginal tears
  • Urinary tract infection

Most women who have recently had a vaginal delivery are not too excited mentally or physically to get a mirror to look down there to see the aftermath! Tears and swelling in the vagina are the most common cause of pain with urination. It is always best to see your obstetrician to make sure that is the cause and not a UTI, which can have serious complications. A simple urine analysis will rule out that diagnosis.

More: Taking micronutrient supplements during pregnancy may lead to smarter kids

What can be done if you have tears or swelling?

If you have vaginal tears, the best and easiest treatment is topical lidocaine (to numb the affected areas). Sitz baths and ibuprofen will help with the vaginal swelling. Another soothing and helpful tip is to use a squirt water bottle filled with warm water and pour it over the vagina while urinating, which will clean the area and be a bit more gentle on a bruised and swollen vagina.

MoreUnderstanding Urinary Incontinence in Women

The best news of all is the vagina is very resilient. The vagina will be close to “as good as new” within six to 10 weeks. Until then, keep the vagina clean, know your treatment options, and sit down slowly to avoid disrupting the healing process.

Have a question for one of our experts? Email support@helloflo.com.

By Dr. Sherry Ross

Originally published on HelloFlo.

Your Everything Guide to Dyeing Easter Eggs the Old-School Cool Way

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It's the day before Easter, and you totally flaked. You hurry to the store, make a beeline for the Easter aisle and find a wasteland of broken-eared chocolate bunnies, malformed Peeps and picked-over egg-dyeing kits. Womp, womp. Well, we have good news: This is the year you take Easter back, Mamasita, because you're going to make your own damn egg-dyeing kit. You got this.

Not only can you find most of these supplies at common stores, but it's possible you even have some already laying around the house. So hold your head high knowing you have the game plan to end all game plans.

You're going to kick it old school with a little modern crafting know-how, and it's going to be better than any mass-produced Easter egg kit you could buy. It will be glorious, and you'll be mom of the year.

More: How to Host an Easter Egg Hunt for Adults

Your everything guide to old-school Easter egg-dyeing

* Items marked with an asterisk are required. All others are as needed.

  • Eggs *
  • Food coloring* (both regular and neon if possible)
  • Vinegar*
  • Coffee mugs, rocks glasses or the like*
  • Cheapo wire whisks large enough to fit an egg inside (or spoons if you must)*
  • White crayons (nibs from old sets are fine)
  • Shaving foam (not gel)
  • Washi tape
  • Glitter and school glue (and a paint brush, though if you're careful, you can use your fingers)
  • Paint pens (regular of puffy)
  • Rubber cement
  • Temporary tattoos or stickers
  • Gold-leafing kit

Of course, just telling you what supplies you can get doesn't help much if you don't know what to do with them. Here are some fun tips, though you can find many more online (maybe skip Pinterest — you can barely pull that stuff off; do you really expect your 6-year-old to nail it?).

Eggs

If you're doing this for decoration, you can blow the eggs out. Otherwise, you'll want to boil them. I recommend using Betty Crocker's foolproof method, but you can use your own.

Food coloring

Yep. Just regular old OTC food coloring. You'll want the normal RBG(Y) colors, but you can also get neon colors, which gives you extra flexibility in your mixes. Don't worry — these will last for years, only needing to be replaced when you run out.

This extended egg-coloring chart from McCormick is really handy when you want specific colors. Just make sure you follow their directions for the water to vinegar to drops ratios. And (spoiler alert) you do need the vinegar. More on that below the graphic.

easter egg dyeing guide
Image: McCormick

Vinegar

Why vinegar? Because science. Essentially, vinegar makes the color adhere better, meaning you get better saturation (and therefore the brightest color).

More: No One Will Believe You DIY'd These Fancy Hollow Chocolate Easter Eggs

Coffee mugs or rocks glasses

You obvs need something to dye the eggs in, but coffee mugs (preferably ceramic and not white to prevent staining) and rocks glasses are the perfect size. You just want the egg to fit in so it's not too snug (or it will dye unevenly) and you don't want to ruin any dishes by dyeing them by accident.

Whisks (or spoons if you must)

Cheap wire whisks are flexible, so you can open them wide enough to put the egg in and they snap back to keep it in place. Spoons are OK, but you have to be careful not to let dye build up or you'll have a weird spot on your egg.

White crayons

White crayons can be used to draw designs before you dunk your egg. The wax will prevent the dye from taking wherever you draw with it. It's a great way to use those broken discarded ones your kids seemingly never use but somehow always destroy.

Shaving foam

Shaving foam lets you make fun swirled eggs. Just make sure you get the foam kind and not the gel kind.

Washi tape

Dye your eggs then use washi tape to create fun designs. They can be as simple or complex as you're comfortable with.

Glitter and school glue

After dyed eggs are dry, paint them lightly with school glue, then roll them in a matching or complementary glitter color. The glue will dry clear and your eggs will sparkle. Wash the eggs carefully after peeling.

Paint pens

After dyeing, you can add flourishes with regular or puffy paint pens. Just make sure to choose nontoxic and food-safe pens to be sure it's OK to eat them.

More: Easter Egg Hunt Ideas You Haven't Tried Before

Rubber cement

You can drizzle or paint rubber cement on eggs before dyeing to control where dye goes, then gently rub it off and create some pretty epic designs.

Temporary tattoos or stickers

Let your kiddos ink their eggs (or themselves... or you for that matter) with temporary tattoos or use their fave sticker to show their true colors.

Gold-leafing kit

Older kids might have fun stepping it up a notch with gold leafing.

Bill O'Reilly Is Officially the Most Hated News Figure on TV

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You know that old saying, all publicity is good publicity? Well, it looks like Bill O'Reilly has made himself a pretty good career off of bad publicity, proving that this is one saying that might actually hold true.

More: This Fox News CEO Lawsuit Is Exposing a Whole Lot More Than Sexual Harassment

A new survey from the National Research Group found that O'Reilly is viewed the most negatively by the public. In fact, 24 percent of people surveyed said they felt "very unfavorable" about O'Reilly.

Honestly, I'm actually surprised that percentage wasn't a bit higher, especially considering that this survey was conducted over the weekend that news broke about O'Reilly being accused of sexually harassing and/or verbally abusing five women.

But in a world where our president has been accused of the same thing, I guess you can't exactly expect sexual harassment allegations to ruin a man's career.

More: All the Times Megyn Kelly's Made Headlines

National Research Group CEO Jon Penn explained, "In a different time, O'Reilly's situation should have destroyed his career. But in today's polarized climate, it amplifies his appeal among Trump voters. To his supporters, the O'Reilly brand personifies aggression, controversy, independence and fearlessness, [and] his talking points are 'real' — it's the rest of the media news that is fake."

In fact, the scandal has only helped O'Reilly's ratings, according to The Hollywood Reporter. I'm really hoping this is because people were simply hoping he would comment on the charges and not because they actually took O'Reilly's show seriously.

Excuse me while I go pour myself a shot or two.

More: Fox News' Chinatown Segment Is the Most Racist P.O.S. We've Ever Seen

While ratings may have seen a boost, advertisers are quickly pulling out of The O'Reilly Factor, which means that, viewers or not, O'Reilly could soon be out of a show. Justice could prevail after all.

Do you think Fox News should pull the plug on The O'Reilly Factor, or will it weather this scandal?

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

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