Group texts are a defining form of communication for plenty of families nowadays, and the This Is Us cast (which is basically a family at this point) is no exception. Susan Kelechi Watson, who plays Beth Pearson on the show, recently revealed to Us Weekly that the cast has an active group chat that she described as "bananas" — and we can only imagine the kinds of antics they get up to considering how much time the Pearson family spend together off-screen.

More: Mandy Moore's Bachelorette Party Road Trip Was So Mandy Moore

Watson told Us, “Mostly it’s catching up with people. We see someone’s doing something fabulous like with [Chrissy Metz’s] book or Mandy [Moore] climbing Kilimanjaro or somebody’s birthday or Sterling [K. Brown] on SNL.”

Some of our favorite instances of the cast staying in touch and supporting one another even when they're not on set include the following: when Mandy Moore lost a fight with her shower door in September, her on-screen hubby, Milo Ventimiglia, had makeup artist Zoe Hay give him a black eye to match — then sent Moore a photo of himself, Hay and hair stylist Michael Preitz all sporting them just to make her feel better; when Watson went on Moore's bachelorette road trip to Big Sur in April; and when Watson attended the Time 100 Gala on April 25 with honoree and costar Sterling K. Brown.

More: Chrissy Metz Opens Up About Her Real-Life Family Heartbreak

Watson later added, "Sometimes we see something funny, and we throw it up on there [and] like say, ‘Hey, this is your cousin.’ Like something stupid. We just like to have fun and keep in touch.”

Watson in particular is photographed supporting her costars pretty frequently — which is awesome since it points to them supporting each other as a family off-screen as much as on-screen. This Is Us Season 3 doesn't premiere until the fall, and the cast hasn't begun filming yet, and we're sure they're busy. The fact that they have a group chat to keep up with each other is super-relatable.

What's a better summer vacay than hitting up one (or all!) of the best amusements parks? And if you're heading to California, there are tons worth visiting. Seriously, hop in your car — either with a group of your friends or with your family — and get ready to fork up some serious dough for a magical, adrenaline-pumping experience you won't soon forget. It's totally worth it.

From the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios to Southern California's first water coaster, California has it all.

Here are the best amusement parks in The Golden State.

More: Our Editors Share Their Most Memorable Vacation Spots

1. Best amusement park roller coaster

Six Flags Magic Mountain
26101 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia

Whether it's looping 160 feet in the sky or the 70 mph speeds, Six Flags Magic Mountain's Full Throttle is the No. 1 tallest and fastest looping roller coaster in the world.

2. Best theme park thrill ride

Knott's Berry Farm
8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park

Be warned — the Knott’s Berry Farm Supreme Scream ride, located on the park's boardwalk, is a 45-second ride that hits a top speed of 50 mph as it propels riders 252 feet straight up into the air, where you will experience three seconds of weightlessness before being plummeted back to Earth. We recommend riding this thriller before lunch.

3. Best theme park for families

Disneyland & Disney's California Adventure
1313 Disneyland Drive, Anaheim

The "happiest place on Earth" offers two great amusement parks for every member of your family. With baby centers that include facilities for diaper changing, nursing and bottle feeding throughout Disneyland, Disney's California Adventure and the Downtown Disney District (1580 Disneyland Drive, Anaheim), visitors young and old can have fun with the comforts of home while hanging with the Disney family of characters.

More: How to Make Your Family Road Trip Actually Enjoyable

4. Best amusement park for adults

Universal Studios Hollywood
100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City

Hollywood magic is brought to life when you get a VIP pass to Universal Studios' movie-based theme park. While there are attractions and shows for every age, this amusement park is best suited for teens and adults due to loud noises, high action and lifelike special effects. Plus, Universal Studios has the Wizarding World of Harry Potter! Can't go wrong with HP.

Next: Best water park

A version of this article was originally published in June 2011.

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5. Best water park

Raging Waters
111 Raging Waters Drive, San Dimas

Nestled inside the Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park's boundaries, Southern California's largest water park is packed with seasonal water park fun. With a lazy river, rafting slides and body slides at every thrill level and water play areas and gentle water fun designed especially for babies and preschoolers, you can cool off while having a sizzling good time.

6. Best theme park for kids

Legoland California
1 Legoland Drive, Carlsbad

This Lego-themed amusement park uses its famous plastic building blocks everywhere they can, including their rides. Legoland offers fun for older and younger visitors, but is best for families with kids ages 4 to 9 years old.

More: The Ultimate Summer Camp Packing Checklist

7. Best amusement park for teens

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
1001 Fairgrounds Drive, Vallejo

Take thrilling roller coasters, wild animals and marine life, and you're guaranteed a day of fun. With thrill rides for the adventure seeker and family-friendly fun, you'll feel safe letting your teens spend time exploring the park on their own. Plus, the Harley Quinn Crazy Coaster — the world's first dual-looping coaster — arrives at the park this spring!

Quick tip: To save some dough while having some amusement park fun, pack your own picnic lunch. Many theme parks, such as Disneyland's Downtown Disney, have a picnic area just outside the park to allow visitors to eat their own fare. Just check out the websites of the seven best theme parks in California before you go and be prepared for some big-time fun!

Finding a good, reliable babysitter can feel like a Herculean task, but keeping one will be even more difficult if you fail to treat them well. Besides being paid to play with tiny humans, one of the major benefits of working as a sitter is the amount of flexibility and control we have over both whom we work for and when we work. Barring a major move or career change, a family that treats their sitter with respect and courtesy can likely count on that sitter to work with them as long as humanly possible.

Of course, there are some no-nos that are pretty obvious (i.e., failing to pay on time) but there are also a few other things that, if you’ve never been a sitter yourself, you might not even realize you’re doing wrong. Here are nine surefire ways to lose good childcare. Consider this your "what not to do" guide to a long and happy babysitting relationship.

More:  Babysitters Deserve More Than Minimum Wage — Even for "Just Watching TV"

You’re rude

Being polite should be a given, but unfortunately, that is not always the case. It can be easy to forget the role of power you have in the parent-babysitter relationship. You are the employer, and it is up to you to create a welcoming work environment. A boss who's impatient, passive-aggressive or downright abusive? That's the person you quit on — quickly, and probably without notice. But an empathetic boss who treats you with respect? That’s the person who can get you to work a last-minute job on Halloween night.

You don’t know how to be a boss

This one is tough. After all, hiring a babysitter might be the first time you’ve ever been someone’s employer. You have to get comfortable with making requests and setting standards. Don’t just hint at what you want done. Spell it out. If you’re still stumped, just try to emulate the best boss you’ve ever had.

You don’t communicate effectively

State your expectations and explain your house rules up front. Discuss things like bedtimes, screen time, treats and discipline. And never be afraid to write things down. My favorite families are the ones who supply me with checklists (especially when there are two kids with different bedtimes/bedtime routines) and communication logs (particularly when I’m caring for a baby and need to record how much they’ve eaten). It makes my job so much easier.

You don’t pay well (& you expect a lot)

The vast majority of us are living on a budget, but if your rates are too low, don’t expect to be able to secure a quality sitter for long. If you’re not sure what the going rate is in your area, Care.com has an excellent calculator to help you.

If you have no choice but to offer less than that, it’s in your best interest to make working for you a stress-free job. You would be surprised how many times I’ve been offered a job that required exhaustive amounts of housework or had inconvenient start/end times, but offered less than $10 per hour.

You undermine your sitter’s authority with your kid(s)

Your sitter has to be able to get your children to follow directions when you aren’t there. It doesn’t matter if you overhear your child being disrespectful or not following directions. Give your sitter the opportunity to handle it. Chances are, they have plenty of experience earning respect from other people’s kids. Also, if your child has access to a cell phone/tablet and calls you to tattle on the sitter while you’re out, shut that down immediately (unless it sounds serious, in which case, you can feel free to investigate once you get home).

More:  Mom Leaves Babysitter Hilarious Note & Twitter Loves It

You stay at home during sitter hours & constantly interfere

This is a major pet peeve of mine for a few key reasons:

1. It makes it difficult for your child to adjust to being with someone new.

2. Many children tend to act out more when they know their parents are nearby.

3. It’s awkward, leaves me with nothing to do but wait out the clock and makes me wonder, “Why did they even hire me?” 

It can be difficult at times, but allow your kids to forget that you’re there. Otherwise, your sitter can’t effectively do their job.

You never come home at the agreed-upon time

We’re all late from time to time, but if I can never bank on you being back when you said you’d be, I’m going to start turning down your jobs. Your sitter has to be able to plan their life too, and it’s impossible to do that if they’re never sure exactly when they are going to get off of work.

You cancel gigs at the last minute

Things happen, but chances are, if I accepted a gig, I’m counting on that extra cash. It also means I probably turned down other opportunities because I committed to working for you. I’m pretty sure you hate it when sitters flake on you, so in the spirit of fairness, be a reliable boss. And if you absolutely have to cancel, please — please — pay your sitter anyway. We love kids, but we are definitely in this game for the money. People have bills.

You don't show your appreciation

You enjoy having your good work acknowledged, right? So do your sitters. Tipping is always encouraged, but it’s not the only way you can show your appreciation. Thank your sitter after each job. If they use a site to find new work, leave them a positive review. Offer to buy them dinner if you’re planning to order takeout for the kids. Have your kids make them a birthday card. It’s a fun job, but not always an easy job, and it’s nice to feel seen.

More:  I Tell My Babysitters What to Post About My Kids Online

Above all else, just be fair, reward good work and work on effective communication. You’ll be surprised how long your sitters will stick around.

On the heels of Tarana Burke's #MeToo movement going viral in October 2017, the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund was born. In January, the women-led organization held its first men's meeting, where gender studies sociologist Michael Kimmel and activist Ted Bunch led a discussion with 200 men in Hollywood, per The Hollywood Reporter. In an essay for InStyle on Wednesday, Scandal actor Tony Goldwyn wrote about that meeting and what he took away from it.

More: How Men Can Continue to Support the Time's Up Movement

Although Kimmel and Bunch began that meeting by explaining that 85 percent of men are not predators, the implied fact was that the other 15 percent are. To Goldwyn, this statistic was startling — and that day, he began to dismantle his understanding of consent. He wrote, "In other words, of the 200 guys in that room, statistical probability said that 30 of us were assholes. I was not comforted." Goldwyn added that although he entered the meeting feeling pretty good about his stance as an outspoken feminist, since then, he's begun to doubt himself.

According to his essay, Goldwyn has had several conversations with people in his life about physical intimacy since that January meeting. He wrote that it is not OK to assume consent — even in familiar relationships. Goldwyn shared an anecdote concerning an episode of The L Word he directed wherein he demonstrated on one female actor how he wanted another actor to touch her for a scene. He was taken aside by the assistant director and told unequivocally that he couldn't do that.

"It had never occurred to me that my actions might be perceived as inappropriate or even predatory," Goldwyn wrote. "I believed that a profound level of trust had been established between the actresses and me. But how could I be certain? Well, I could have asked."

Later, he added, "The simple truth is that men are better bosses, colleagues, parents, friends, allies, and lovers when we ask instead of assume."

More:  #MeToo Founder Tarana Burke on What's Next for the Movement

Goldwyn's essay is a brief but impactful read — it explores how men should and should not approach conversations about sexual harassment and abuse, especially with women. It also makes explicit one of the most important tenets of any interpersonal communication: Consent is key, and the only way to truly get consent is to ask and to listen and to respect a person's wishes rather than making assumptions about what is comfortable for them.

We're definitely here for this kind of writing, especially from men who've taken the time to question their own power dynamics and begin the difficult work of dismantling them.

Eva Longoria is living her best pregnant life. The actor, who is expecting her first child with husband José "Pepe" Antonio Bastón, threw a gorgeous gender-neutral baby shower that proved it is entirely possible to throw a baby-related event that's not saturated in pink or blue.

Longoria instead accentuated the outdoor shower, held at the iconic Lombardi House in Los Angeles, with pops of yellow and white and included fun features like an Instagram-worthy balloon wall and a massive floral structure that spelled out "Baby Bastón."

More: Eva Longoria Shows Off Her Sweet Baby Bump for Easter

Oh, and if it weren't already cute enough, Longoria also asked her guests — including Elizabeth Banks, Sophia Bush, Melanie Griffith, Marisa Tomei and Ana Navarro — to wear pajamas so they could sip their summery drinks in style and comfort.

"What a beautiful day with all my girls," she captioned one photo. "Thank you for your constant guidance and support! I love y'all so much!"

But Longoria's family and friends weren't the only ones who offered their support. In another post, Longoria praised Amazon for helping her set up both the event and her baby gift registry, which includes gender-neutral onesies, a three-pack of baby swaddle blankets, an organic cotton changing table and a bottle sanitizer. I mean, for a celebrity, she sure seems practical, no?

More: Five Minutes With Eva Longoria

If you were hoping her registry would hint at the sex of her baby, you're out of luck. Though some outlets have reported she's having a boy, Longoria has expertly kept that information from the public, which is likely difficult to do while she makes the rounds on talk shows as she busily promotes her 2018 films, Overboard and Dog Days. As much as we'd love all the details, we can totally respect Longoria's desire to keep some things to herself. After all, having your life and belly continuously in the public eye seems exhausting (not that we'd know).

Though the baby, who is due in June, is Longoria's first child, she has already had some valuable experience raising her three stepchildren, Tali, Jose and Mariana. We can't wait to see some of those baby gifts get put to good use (hint: pics, please, Eva).

Hello, summertime. Sunblock is out, shorts are on, and nothing sounds quite as good as a nice cold cocktail. Memorial Day weekend is a great time to experiment with new recipes. Whether you're looking for a drink that's red, white and blue or just something that feels like pure summertime, we've got some seriously delicious boozy drinks that you'll be excited to try.

Break out your bar cabinet. It's time to get sipping.

True-blue cocktail recipe

Recipe from Celebrations at Home

Serves 1

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces blue curaçao
• 1/2 ounce coconut rum
• 3 ounces ginger ale
• Maraschino cherry or sliced fruit star (for garnish)

Directions:

1. Combine the blue curaçao, coconut rum and ginger ale and pour it over ice.
2. Garnish with a maraschino cherry or sliced star fruit

Raspberry-peach prosecco recipe

Recipe from Table for Two

Serves 10

Ingredients:

• 12 ounces frozen raspberries
• 2 cups peach nectar, chilled
• 1 bottle prosecco, chilled

Directions:

1. Put the frozen raspberries in a large glass pitcher or dispenser. Top them with the peach nectar and prosecco.

2. Fill the rest of the pitcher or dispenser with ice cubes. Stir and serve cold.

Grilled pineapple-jalapeño margarita
 recipe

Recipe from Platings and Pairings

Serves 2

Ingredients:

For the jalapeño-infused tequila

• 1 cup silver tequila
• 1 jalapeño, sliced into rings

For the cocktail:

• 4 (1-inch thick) slices grilled pineapple, chilled (instructions provided in recipe)
• 1-1/2 ounces jalapeño-infused tequila
• 1/2 ounce triple sec
• 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 1 lime's juice)
• 2 tablespoons agave nectar (or to taste)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup water
• Crushed ice
• Citrus salt or kosher salt (for rimming your glass)
• Lime wedges (for garnish)

Directions:

For jalapeño-infused tequila

1. In a clean container with a lid, put the tequila and jalapeño slices. Shake to combine, and allow the flavors to meld for 12 to 24 hours, depending on how spicy you'd like it. Once the flavor has developed to your liking, strain the jalapeños and discard them.

2. The tequila will keep for up to 1 year. Store it in the freezer for best results.

For the cocktail

1. To get your grilled pineapple, cut 4 (1-inch-thick) rings, discarding the rind and removing the core. Preheat your grill to medium-high and oil it lightly. Grill your pineapple for 4 to 5 minutes on each side until you get nice grill marks and it begins to soften slightly.
 Place the grilled pieces in a bowl and allow them to cool completely in the refrigerator.

2. In a blender, add the jalapeño-infused tequila, triple sec, 2 slices of the grilled and chilled pineapple (and any juices that have accumulated in the bowl), lime juice, agave nectar, vanilla extract and water. Blend until smooth, then strain through a fine-mesh sieve to remove the pulp from the pineapple.

3. To salt the rim of a glass, run a lime slice or pineapple wedge around the lip of your glass and dip it into salt to cover.

4. Add crushed ice to your glass, pour in your margarita mixture, and garnish it with extra grilled pineapple and/or lime wedges.


Boozy Arnold Palmer recipe

Recipe from Waiting on Martha

Serves 1

Ingredients:

• Lemonade
• 2 ounces vodka (Citron or regular)
• Ice tea
• Mint, rosemary, basil or thyme (for garnish)

Directions:

1. The night before, pour the lemonade into ice cube trays and freeze.
2. Fill each glass with lemonade ice cubes, and add the vodka, filling it up with ice tea.
3. Stir, garnish with your herb of choice and enjoy.

Peach-basil Moscow mule recipe

Recipes from Whitney Bond

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces peach vodka
• 24 ounces ginger beer
• 1 large lemon (quartered)
• 1/3 cup fresh basil

Directions:

1. Fill four glasses (preferably copper cups, but any cocktail glass will work) with ice.
2. Add 2 ounces of vodka and 6 ounces of ginger beer to each glass.
3. Squeeze one quarter of a lemon into each glass, then add a couple of pieces of fresh basil.
4. Stir all the ingredients together.

Cucumber-melon sangria recipe

Recipe from Garnish with Lemon

Serves 6

Ingredients:

• 1 (750-milliliter) bottle dry white wine
• 3/4 cup gin
• 2 tablespoons superfine sugar
• 1/2 honeydew melon, cubed
• 1/2 seedless cucumber, sliced
• 1/2 cup packed fresh mint leaves
• 1 cup sparkling water or club soda

Directions:

1. In a large pitcher, combine the white wine, gin, sugar, honeydew melon, cucumber and mint leaves and still well. Refrigerate at least 3 hours (more if possible).
2. Just before serving, pour in the sparkling water and gently stir to combine. Serve over ice.

Recipe from Recipe Girl

Serves 8-10

Ingredients:

• 2 bottles dry white wine (sauvignon blanc is good)
• 1 cup triple sec
• 1/2 cup berry-flavored vodka
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 cup simple syrup
• 1 cup blueberries
• 1-1/2 cups hulled and sliced strawberries
• 1 cup raspberries
• 1-1/2 cups pineapple chunks

Directions:

1. In a large punch bowl or pitcher, combine the white wine, triple sec, berry vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and pineapple chunks and stir well. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours.
2. Serve well chilled with a good scoop of fruit floating in each drink or serve over ice.

Thank goodness for Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman's playful, witty faux-feud that has become a running theme in their nearly decade-long friendship. It's such a ray of sunshine in these weird times and somehow, these two have sustained it for so long that it's now just an odd honor. We are amazed. We are in awe. We see you two out here, being all silly.

More: 9 Times Ryan Reynolds Trolled Blake Lively

Take, for instance, the potshot that Jackman took at Reynolds on Thursday while promoting his new line of coffee, Laughing Man Coffee, on Good Morning America. Entertainment Tonight reported that after chatting with GMA cohost Michael Strahan about the coffee, Strahan asked Jackman about Reynolds' feverish attempt to reunite his antihero character Deadpool with Jackman's iconic Wolverine on the big screen. The pair and their respective characters originally starred in X:Men Origins: Wolverine together in 2009, so it makes sense that Reynolds would be clamoring to get Jackman back on board. Jackman, however, saw the opportunity to make a playful dig at Reynolds' earnest request.

"Yeah, actually I might just have a little message for Ryan," Jackman said, then turning to look directly into the camera to address Reynolds personally. "Ryan? Hey buddy, how are you, mate? Ryan, I love you, man. I love Deadpool, I can't wait to see the movie. You're one of my best friends — Blake, the fam, the whole thing. But, back it up a little, just play, play a little hard to get. It's too much, it's not sexy."

Jackman's public poke at Reynolds comes just weeks after the actor posted a video on his Twitter that featured Reynolds, in full Deadpool attire, lounging on a bed while Jackman attempted to record a happy birthday message. It's not clear what brought the two besties together, but who cares? The video is nothing short of delightful as Jackman gamely attempts to send a happy birthday message, only to be constantly interrupted by Reynolds singing "Tomorrow" from the musical Annie so delightfully off-key you can't help but chuckle.

Seriously, take a look for yourself:

More: Hugh Jackman Is Still So in Love After 22 Years of Marriage, & It's Perfection

It feels like this round of playful banter is only just beginning, so you may want to stay tuned to see who fires the next shot. We can't make a safe guess as to who it will be, but does it really matter? No way, because it'll be hilarious no matter what.

It's a good Friday indeed because we have some adorable new photos of Christina El Moussa and her British beau, Ant Anstead, from their vacation in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. El Moussa and Anstead's relationship hit the six-month mark in April and it looks like there will be plenty more months to come if the very lovey-dovey vibes coming off of these vacation photos are anything to go by. They just look so comfortable and happy together; what's better than that?

More: Christina El Moussa & Her British Boyfriend Reveal Just How In Love They Really Are

Judging by El Moussa's Instagram, she and Anstead have only been in Cabo for a few days, but they're already having so much fun together. In fact, El Moussa commemorated the trip on Instagram on Thursday when she posted a photo of the couple in a sweet embrace on the beach.

"Salty hair and toes in the sand with my man," she captioned the photo. Her followers jumped into the comments section to show them love, too, with comments like, "Such a beautiful couple" and "So beautiful, love it. The perfect couple. Enjoy the love for each other."

The fun wasn't limited to getting all cute and cuddly on the beach. In fact, El Moussa posted a shot in her Instagram story of the couple whale-watching (or is it paparazzi-watching, as she quipped in the caption?) — a solid vacation activity, if you ask us, especially when you're a celebrity couple everyone wants to know more about. The jury's still out on whether they spotted a paparazzo whale, but we're sure they'll let us know if they do.

But maybe the cutest post from the couple's time thus far in Cabo came courtesy of Anstead. He chose to post a video of the couple going through a couple of rounds of rock, paper, scissors. There was a good reason for the game, as he explained in the caption: "When you argue with the missus for who gets up to go get drinks! Obviously, you settle it with a scissor paper stone game!!"

Anstead also joked about the outcome of the game, writing, "Although I’m pretty sure @christinaelmoussa cheated!! She’s in my head!! And guess what..... I’m the one getting the margaritas."

More: Ant Anstead Whisks Christina El Moussa Away on an English Vacation

It's not every day we get a video of Anstead and El Moussa just hanging out and enjoying one another's company. These two are always chill about letting us see photos from their travels together, but watching their banter in the video Anstead posted serves as evidence these two are really enjoying one another's company. It's just too cute, honestly.

Baby making isn’t what it used to be. Now, in addition to doing it the old-fashioned way, hopeful parents have a wide range of options to help deal with fertility challenges. For some, this doesn’t necessarily mean there is difficulty achieving pregnancy, but rather, concern over passing on any of their genetic or chromosomal conditions to their future children.

Now, thanks to a procedure called preimplantation genetic diagnosis, we are able to test the genes and chromosomes of an embryo for nearly 400 different conditions — including muscular dystrophy, sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis and Tay-Sachs — that may be carried by one or both genetic parents.

Before we go any further, it’s important to note that in order for PGD to take place, the embryo has to be created via in-vitro fertilization. In other words, the testing is done on embryos in a lab before any are implanted into a uterus. Even if someone is able to get pregnant without using IVF, if they would like to do PGD, the embryo must be created outside the body in order for the testing and diagnosis to occur. This means that the process is likely to be costly and financially out of reach for many. But if you are someone in a position to access PGD and are considering the procedure, here’s what you need to know to help make your decision.

More: 2 & Done? Having Boy-Girl Twins Doesn't Mean You've Hit the Reproductive Jackpot

How does PGD work?

First, an embryo is created via IVF. After five to six days growing in the lab, any embryos that reach the blastocyst stage are biopsied and frozen, Dr. Eric Forman, medical and laboratory director at Columbia University Fertility Center, tells SheKnows. A strategy to test for specific genetic conditions is developed in advance, and the DNA in the biopsy is analyzed, he explains.

The DNA is extracted at a time when removal does not affect the ability of the embryo to progress in its normal development, Dr. Gerardo Bustillo, an OB-GYN at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California, tells SheKnows. The embryo is then frozen until results of the genetic analysis are available, he adds, noting that only the healthy embryos are selected for transfer into the uterus.

Who is a good candidate for PGD?

According to Dr. Mandy Katz-Jaffe, scientific director and reproductive geneticist at CCRM, anyone who has a known inherited gene defect in their family that causes a genetic disease would be a good candidate for getting PGD on IVF embryos.

“As long as we know the genetic cause, we can almost always devise a strategy to test embryos,” Forman explains. “These patients are often fertile and have an excellent prognosis when a single normal embryo is transferred to the uterus. It can be done for a variety of genetic conditions, including dominant, recessive, X-linked, translocation, hereditary cancer syndromes, etc.” 

Is this the same technology used to create "designer babies"?

In short, no. PGD is not the same process used to make so-called “designer babies” (where parents can select physical traits like eye or hair color).

“PGD doesn’t change genes or create anything; we are only identifying embryos that do not have a disease-causing mutation,” Katz-Jaffe explains.

More: Everything You've Ever Wanted to Know About Egg Freezing

However, Bustillo says that in theory, the PGD technology may make it possible to select some physical characteristics if a certain trait can be localized to a specific gene on a particular chromosome. But at present, when someone opts for PGD, they are doing so to prevent genetic conditions — not implant embryos that will result in babies with a particular eye color.

Are there any downsides to PGD?

As with any new reproductive technology, people may be skeptical about the procedure and any potential downsides. But Katz-Jaffe says that there are none.

Bustillo, on the other hand, emphasizes that PGD is not possible without doing IVF first, which can be expensive, inconvenient and carries certain risks, such as ovarian hyperstimulation and multiple gestation, including twins, triplets and beyond. In addition, he says that the technical process of PGD can result in the loss of some embryos, and misdiagnoses are possible from problems with the technology.

Forman adds that though insurance does not always cover IVF and PGD, the costs of the procedures are “much less than caring for a child with a serious genetic disorder,” so that’s something else to keep in mind.

What should someone considering PGD know?

Given the extra expenses associated with PGD — not to mention the other aspects of the IVF procedure — it’s important for anyone considering using this diagnostic test to understand their options. For instance, Bustillo says that conventional prenatal diagnostic techniques (like amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling and fetal blood sampling) are more widely available, have a longer track record and are significantly less expensive than PGD.

“With the conventional techniques, however, the couple faces the decision of whether or not to terminate the pregnancy if a genetic disorder is diagnosed,” he explains. “PGD offers the option of selecting normal embryos before the pregnancy is established in the womb.”

And despite the weeks of injections and office visits, Forman says, “The benefit of knowing you’re pregnant with a normal embryo that’s much less likely to miscarry or have an inherited genetic condition is worth it.”

More: Meet the Future of Egg Freezing

Similarly, others may appreciate knowing that by selecting to implant an embryo without a genetic condition, they are not only impacting the life of their future child, but their descendants as well.

“This incredible option gives couples the ability to eliminate the disease-causing mutation from their family tree for generations to come,” Katz-Jaffe says.

Whether you know it or not, someone in your life probably has ADHD. And whether you'd like to admit it or not, you've probably judged that person at least once or twice. Maybe you think he/she's too spontaneous or lacks focus every now and then. Or maybe he/she's just not the best at returning texts or following through with things. It's OK to admit, because believe it or not, your friend with ADHD is totally judging you, too.

We reached out to some adults living with ADHD and asked them for their thoughts on the rest of the population. Their answers might surprise you — and they'll definitely make you see their world from a different point of view.

More: 7 Women Get Real About the Hilarious Parts of Everyday Life With ADHD

1. You don't even know

"We think you absolutely do not get it. If you don't have ADHD, you cannot get how hard it is to sit still for extended periods of time without moving." — Amy S.

2. You're amazing

"Sometimes I just don't understand how things don't get lost in other people's minds. To be able to randomly be given a topic and be able to pull up all related information in your mind on that on cue is amazing to me." — Emily W.

3. You're also boring

"I often think how nice it would be to lead a balanced life like most everyone else in the world. On the other hand, I think what boring lives 'normal' people lead. I just can't fathom being satisfied with that." — Kimberly B.

More: Here's What It's Really Like to Be a Mom With ADHD

4. You might be a little fastidious

"How do you handle planning out everything in your life? How do you know what you're going to want to do? Don't you get bored? Seriously, you've already started thinking about that?" — Elaine T.

5. Or have you ever heard of ASD?

"As far as I'm concerned, most people have attention surplus disorder. I mean, life being what it is, who can pay attention to anything for very long? Is it really a sign of mental health to be able to balance your checkbook, sit still in your chair and never speak out of turn?" — Edward H.

6. You couldn't handle it

"People with ADHD often assume that everyone is moving as fast as them; however, it's literally impossible to move as fast as a person with ADHD... Over the years, many people have said to me, 'I would love to be in your brain for a day.' I think it would overwhelm the average person." — Emily H.

More: 8 Tips to Help People With ADHD Make It Through the Workday

7. You should lighten up

"ADHD folks tend to be fun and vivacious, but we can also be seen as loud, taking up too much of the conversation, self-centered and the rest. We can be a handful. When I see non-ADHD people, I see them as more methodical, together and seemingly hav[ing] better control, but sometimes I can also think that they are rigid and inflexible." — Whitney H.

8. You're kinda slow

"I wish people understood that I'm not being rude; I just literally cannot stand to wait for them to get out their words." — Shelly I.

This post is part of a sponsored advertising collaboration. A version of this article was originally published in September 2017.

For those of us who follow the lives of celebrities quite closely, we might be prone to forgetting that Amal Clooney isn't just the wife of George Clooney to be paraded around at premieres and special events; she's way more badass than that. A human rights lawyer, humanitarian, philanthropist and busy mother of two, Clooney continues to pursue her own career, even when we're not looking.

More: How George Clooney Celebrated Amal's 40th Birthday

Now, she's putting the lessons she's learned to good use, channeling them into a rousing commencement speech for the Vanderbilt University Class of 2018. She delivered the speech on May 10, and it was a politically-charged but empowering speech, occasionally making veiled criticisms of President Trump but mostly passing along sage advice to a younger generation about to go out into the world to carve their own path.

A video of the speech, posted onto the Associated Press' YouTube channel and further reported on by Entertainment Tonight, captures all of Clooney's words and passion beautifully; it's really something to see her channel her inner orator.

Centered on the theme of courage and why it's necessary to be courageous at this moment in time, Clooney listed out the various civil injustices we currently face.

"At a time when women all over the world face physical abuse, restrictions on their ability to work, own property, travel and even have custody over their children, we need courage," she declared to the graduating students. "At a time when the LGBT community and every continent struggles for equal rights, freedom from imprisonment and even death, we need courage."

More: George & Amal Clooney Are Planning Their Most Lavish Wedding Anniversary Yet

She continued, and as she did, Clooney let loose some of those aforementioned veiled Trump criticisms.

"At a time when more journalists are in prison around the world than in any time in the last three decades -- and even here at home, [where] the media is under attack from the White House — we need courage. And at a time when our politicians try to conflate the terms refugee and terrorist and make us fear one another, we need courage," she stated."

Clooney's speech, already a deeply moving, powerful one, ended on this call to action that could (and should) really be adopted by all of us: "Be courageous. Challenge orthodoxy. Stand up for what you believe in. When you are in your rocking chair talking to your grandchildren many years from now, be sure you have a good story to tell."

More: George Clooney's 57th Birthday Itinerary Was More Glamorous Than Usual

It's not every day that we get to see Clooney in this light — singularly powerful, outspoken, invigorating us and encouraging us to do better — but we sure could get used to it.

Now that the temperatures are (finally) starting to feel like spring, it has a lot of us thinking about summer and all the outdoor activities we can do after being cooped up inside for several months. Sure, we remember to slather on the sunscreen when we go to the beach, but given what we know about skin cancer, it's best to put it on whenever you're going to be outside (even if it's just for a short period of time).

But alas, all sunscreens are not created equal. Aside from differences like SPF and being waterproof, they also range from working well to, well, not doing much. Not only that, but of the numerous claims made on the sunscreen bottles, only three are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration: SPF and being "broad-spectrum" and "water-resistant," Consumer Reports reported. Others, like "sport," "dermatologist-recommended," "natural," "reef safe" and "mineral" are not — so sunscreen manufacturers can basically put whatever they want there without being regulated by the FDA.

More: Could a Smartphone App Diagnose Skin Cancer?

Luckily, our friends over at Consumer Reports came out with a new list of the best sunscreens available this year to help you make an informed choice at the drugstore (or online retailer of choice). Here are their top four picks:

1. La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 Melt-In Sunscreen Milk, $35.99 at La Roche-Posay
2. Equate Sport Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50, $4.98 at Walmart
3. BullFrog Land Sport Quik Gel SPF 50, $12.49 at Walgreens
4. Coppertone WaterBabies SPF 50 Lotion, $6.38 at Amazon

Yes, a $5 bottle from Walmart beat out every other sunscreen tested (aside from the $36 one), so no excuses not to buy one that works. And if sprays are more your thing, Consumer Reports says Trader Joe's SPF 50+ ($5.99 at Trader Joe's) is the best in that category.

More: 7 Sunscreen Myths You Need to Stop Believing Now

Given how preventable skin cancer is, it makes sense to invest in a fresh new bottle of sunscreen this season to protect yourself and your family — and now you know which ones to buy.

By Annamarie Houlis

Leaders at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation pushed for a policy that took the their employees' parental leave from 12 weeks to up to 52 weeks of paid time off — and it was approved in a matter of weeks. Anyone currently on leave when the announcement was made was eligible for the extended benefit. And it's a rarity; with the exception of Netflix, not many other companies offer workers (of any gender) a chance to take a full year off to be with their new babies.

That's largely because the United States is the only industrialized country that does not offer all citizens federally mandated paid family leave. Just 14 percent of civilian workers had access to paid leave last year, and for those, it was mostly thanks to state laws and progressive employers according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Among 41 developed countries, the United States is the only one that does not have a federal law requiring paid leave for new parents, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development reports. The law does allow workers to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave without risking losing their jobs after having a baby, but most developed countries offer an average of about one year of paid leave according to Business Insider.

More:  2015 Top Fairygodboss Employer Moments

In the absence of a federally mandated paid leave policy, some states and cities have implemented their own, while private and public companies have also created their own policies. In fact, Fast Company has covered the rat race for organizations to one-up each other with extended parental leave benefits ranging from 12 weeks to six months in an effort to attract and retain talent. But the Gates Foundation has raised the bar with a full paid year off for new parents.

And with more than two years of experience with the 52-week parental leave (and 222 new parents, 66 percent of whom are women and 34 percent of whom are men, participating out of a staff of 1,546), the foundation’s chief human resources officer Steven Rice has said the policy change was a wise move. He also explained how the foundation is pulling it off.

Quantifying work

"Managers are now learning how to quantify the work that needs to get done, how to reset goals and expectations across the team, how to train a backfill individual that’s going to be there for 12 to 18 months" since leadership has had to figure out how to get work done with key contributors out of the game for so long, Rice told Fast Company. "We have toolkits. We do learning sessions and focus groups for the management team."

More: 5 Key Components to a Great Parental Leave Program

Maintaining connectivity

"We’ve had to be extremely prescriptive that the individual going on leave is the person who actually describes what connectivity looks like. Before someone goes out, we spend a lot of time with them, asking what good and bad connectivity looks like. We don’t want to prescribe that it has [to] be zero offline. We have a lot of type A personality folks here who want to stay connected. Through that conversation, we’re pushing a lot of their strongly held beliefs that they need to call in every month, or they need to be reviewing email, or still want to be in staff meetings. I’ve had three individuals on my team say, 'I would like it if I can get a phone call with you for 30 minutes every three to four months,' and I say, 'It needs to be what you view as being a positive connection back into the organization.'"

Managing backfills

"I never anticipated how we were going to manage backfills [to replace employees on leave] when we launched this program. We now have a website that shows all the opportunities popping up through the organization, and we now have people applying for these backfill positions as stretch opportunities for them to grow in their career and experiment and experience new parts of the organization that they wouldn’t have experienced previously."

Supporting fathers to take leave too

"Men who are in leadership roles feel a different type of stress or pressure on needing to want to take some time off but get back into the job. They probably hang onto the work much more strongly than a man in an individual contributor role. So we’re working on how can they actually delegate work and responsibilities, still feel supported, and feel that their re-entry would be managed."

More: What Is Statutory Maternity Pay?

Reintroducing those who've taken leave

"Like any dynamic organization, a year is a long time in terms of how many changes or shifts happen. So we’ve actually had managers do a new hire orientation to bring the individual back in. We weren’t anticipating the depth of how much that work was going to be for the manager. So those are the two areas that we underestimated, and probably where we still continue to do a lot of our work."

Originally published on Fairygodboss.

There’s no feeling quite like the one you get when watching a pair of fictional characters on a beloved TV series fall in love — and get married. It's the ultimate payoff seeing two characters you’ve invested time, laughter and tears into take that next step. Sure, they’re not real people, but there’s still nothing quite so special — and romantic — as an iconic TV wedding.

More: How These 15 Hollywood Couples Fell in Love

From the cheesy (but perfect) nostalgic TV weddings of the '80s and '90s to the progressive and beautifully written fictional ceremonies of today, we’ve put together a list of the best TV weddings of all time.

Sheldon & Amy — The Big Bang Theory

There were a lot of things that made Sheldon and Amy's wedding on The Big Bang Theory perfect for them and heartwarming for the fans: Stars Wars all-star Mark Hamill played a fictional version of himself and officiated the wedding; Sheldon and Amy's families showed up; we got to meet Amy's parents (played by Kathy Bates and silent showman Teller); and there were just some generally beautiful friendship moments between the TBBT gang. This wedding was a long time coming, but when it happened, it was truly delightful.

Zack & Kelly — Saved By the Bell

OK, so this one was technically a TV movie, but it's still totally iconic. The two-hour finale to this classic series was beautiful and wasn’t lacking any of the classic hijinks that made Saved By the Bell such a great show.

Jim & Pam — The Office

After four seasons of fans asking, "Will they?" (almost) everyone's favorite TV couple, Jim Halpert and Pam Beesly finally got married in a touching and typically quirky ceremony at Niagara Falls.

More: John Krasinski & Emily Blunt Have a 'Secret Love Language,' Because of Course They Do

Leslie & Ben — Parks & Recreation

While Jim and Pam’s wedding on The Office may be one of the most memorable in recent TV history, Leslie and Ben’s may have been even better. Between Leslie’s perfect dress (Ann Perkins really made it work) and the couple’s tear-inducing vows, this TV wedding is right up there with the best of them.

Izzie & Alex — Grey’s Anatomy

Someone pass the tissues, ASAP. There have been a lot of super-emotional moments on Grey’s, but Izzie and Alex’s wedding has to be in the top five at the very least. And honestly, Meredith and Derek’s decision to give their elaborate ceremony up for a cancer-stricken Izzie was a truly beautiful gesture.

Cory & Topanga — Boy Meets World

Raise your hand if you cried when one of the most well-known and loved couples of the '90s got married. Is everyone's hand raised? Good. But really, Cory and Topanga’s wedding was incredibly touching, made even more so by Cory’s absolutely gorgeous vows.

Monica & Chandler — Friends

Let’s be honest. These two are probably one of the most notable and beloved TV couples of all time. After watching an elaborate and sweet proposal and a few classic sitcom mishaps, lovers of Friends were finally able to watch power couple Monica and Chandler tie the knot, and it was so worth it.

Liz & Criss — 30 Rock

Liz Lemon really could have it all! After six seasons of looking for love in the big city, Tina Fey’s alter ego finally met her perfect match in Criss Chros, played by James Marsden. And of course, their wedding was just about as 30 Rock as viewers could hope, complete with a Princess Leia costume and Tony Bennett.

Turk & Carla — Scrubs

Basically everything that could go wrong at Turk and Carla’s wedding may have totally happened, but it all (thankfully) worked out in the end. Turk may have missed the big church ceremony, but let's be real — their vow exchange at a priest's bedside was way more on-brand for them, anyway.

Marshall & Lily — How I Met Your Mother

In typical sitcom fashion, these long-awaited nuptials almost didn't happen (see: Marshall’s hair mishap and Lily’s ex), but thank goodness they did. The wedding of How I Met Your Mother's most stable couple was simple and sweet.

Jesse & Becky — Full House

Uncle Jesse singing "Forever" to Becky on their wedding day is something one never, ever forgets. (And great, now this song is stuck in our heads all over again. You're welcome.)

More: All the Celebrity Couples Who Recently Said 'I Do'

At the end of the day...

While all of these weddings may have been fictional, that doesn't change how impactful or how beautiful all of them were. These weddings definitely left an impression and surely there will be plenty more TV weddings to come that will stick with us in the coming years.

A version of this article was originally published in October 2017.

Pizza Hut knows exactly what you want: to never leave your house for a slice of 'za and an ice-cold beer ever again. And they're finally expanding their beer delivery to nearly 100 stores.

Starting this month, Pizza Hut will offer delivery to stores across Arizona and California as part of its commitment to providing "unique and seamless delivery experiences to its customers," a press release states. This is nothing new to Arizona, as the Phoenix area was the very first market to test its beer delivery back in December 2017. Since then, delivery expanded to restaurants in Phoenix, Tucson, Glendale, Prescott, Winslow and more.

More: Chipotle Threw a Denver Couple a Surprise Baby Shower

And clearly, Pizza Hut continues to favor the state: When customers in Arizona purchase a six-pack of beer (Coors Light, Blue Moon or Miller High Life), they'll receive free delivery. The order must not only meet minimum delivery requirements, but must also be placed through Pizza Hut's website or its mobile app.

"Offering beer delivery has enabled us to provide a service to our customers that others cannot, which has proven to be successful during the first few months of the pilot," said Mark Peterson, owner of Hot Pizza, a Pizza Hut franchisee in Arizona. "As a Pizza Hut franchisee I'm always looking for ways to innovate my business, and beer delivery is a great way for us to deliver an even better experience for our customers."

If you're worried your beer will arrive warm, rest easy. Pizza Hut will deliver the beer in a custom cooler design to ensure the six-pack stay cold en route.

More: The Rosé Treats We Are Loving for Summer

"Pizza Hut has and always will be focused on serving customers a great pizza experience. And nothing complements an oven-hot pizza like an ice-cold beer," said Zipporah Allen, CMO of Pizza Hut, in a release. "In addition to our extensive delivery network, many Pizza Hut restaurants are already licensed to serve and distribute beer, without third party services, additional fees or extended wait times. Expanding the pilot program is a natural way for Pizza Hut to get our customers the perfect pizza and beer combo they're craving, delivered right to their doors."

In California, beer delivery is currently available in restaurants in Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Riverside, Sacramento, Santa Barbara and Santa Clara, among others. Later this month, Pizza Hut plans to add Anaheim, Fresno, Huntington Beach and Redding to its delivery roster.

In the meantime, we're counting down the minutes until we can place an order...

Actor Sarah Drew's time on Grey's Anatomy is nearly done and now she's posting photos from her finals days of filming and folks, we are so not okay. Drew confirmed she would be leaving at the end of Season 14, so considering the Season 14 finale with air on May 17, we know our time with Drew and the character she originated, Dr. April Kepner, is very limited. This gut-wrenching reminder has only made watching the final episodes of this current season that much more intense because any scene with April in it feels like an especially meaningful, important moment.

More: This Grey's Anatomy Actor Is Defending a Costar From Internet Bullies

What's more meaningful, though, are the very emotional, behind-the-scenes photos that Drew posted on her Instagram after the Thursday, May 10 episode, "Cold As Ice" aired. The penultimate Season 14 episode was a bit nerve-wracking for April fans because the beloved doctor was truly put through the ringer. Coming close to death after being involved in a horrendous car accident, April was brought back to life by her Grey Sloan colleagues through the magic of science and some silent prayers.

And as if that wasn't emotional enough, Drew then proceeded to flood that aforementioned Instagram of hers with tons of behind-the-scenes photos, beginning with this adorable selfie of her and Dr. Jackson Avery Jesse Williams, just hanging out on one of the show's hospital beds.

Then came the one-two gut-punch of Drew posing for commemorative photos with costar Caterina Scorsone and fellow departing actor Jessica Capshaw. She captioned their group shot thusly: "Magic hour by the trailers... There were so many “lasts” during this episode. This was my last episode shooting on the Grey’s Anatomy stages. So many conversations have happened by these trailers in the past 9 years. It was sweet to finish out my night with these two beautiful souls."

Can somebody please hand us some tissues? This is already way too much to handle!

But Drew kept posting. A selfie with Capshaw and Chandra Wilson (pictured above) was taken moments after she shot her last-ever Grey's scene. In another photo with Williams, Drew wrote a lengthy caption about her favorite moments over the years specifically acting opposite Williams, noting, "For me, this photo speaks volumes about our partnership. Jesse and I had some very trying stories to tell over the years and there were many moments when we really needed to lean on each other to get through them. And we did."

More: These Grey's Anatomy Fan Favorites Are Officially Done

Seeing all of these behind-the-scenes photos of Drew with her Grey's castmates feels like the emotional preamble we needed to help us get through her upcoming, last-ever episode, the Season 14 finale. These photos — while much appreciated — highlight just how strong a bond she had formed with her costars over the years and just how dearly she'll be missed when she's officially gone.

You spend about one-third of your life either sleeping or attempting to do so according to a 2011 study published in the Handbook of Clinical Neurology. And if you struggle with any kind of chronic pain, this can prove to be a difficult task — especially if sleeping is doing anything but reducing your pain.

More than 50 percent of U.S. adults had a musculoskeletal pain disorder in 2012 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Health Statistics Reports published in 2016. This includes lower back pain, sciatica, neck pain, joint pain or related conditions and arthritic conditions. Of the disorders, it's lower back pain that's the most common: The Global Burden of Disease study named lower-back pain the leading cause of disability across the globe, with 31 million Americans experiencing lower-back pain at any given time.

More: It's Time to Start Talking About Vulvar Pain

In a survey conducted in 2006 for the American Pain Foundation, more than half (51 percent) of 303 chronic pain sufferers felt they had little to no control over the pain — with 60 percent experiencing breakthrough pain (pain that occurs suddenly despite already being on medication) one or more times daily, severely impacting their quality of life and overall well-being.

Further, 86 percent (from the same APF study) reported an inability to sleep well — all the more reason to choose your sleeping positions wisely.

Yes, there are certain positions that'll help alleviate chronic pain — and others that'll worsen it. Below, you'll find the best and worst sleeping positions for neck pain, shoulder pain, lower-back pain, jaw pain, temporomandibular joint dysfunction/headaches and hip pain.

More: I Decided Not to Have Kids Because of My Chronic Illness

Sources: Harvard Medical School, Pain Physicians, Med Center TMJ, BetterSleep.org

A version of this article was originally published in June 2015.

Mother's Day is right around the corner, and it only seems appropriate to finally give Rebecca Pearson the recognition she deserves. This Is Us' Jack Pearson typically receives most of the praise on the NBC drama, and understandably so. He's one of the best TV dads around, and the love he had for his children knew no bounds. But we're here to shine a light on Rebecca.

More: This Is Us Is Helping Me Grieve My Deceased Brother

Parenting is hard (or so I've been told), so of course Rebecca was going to make mistakes along the way. But even though Rebecca faced two serious, unexpected tragedies that affected her deeply, she found a way to stay strong for her kids and ensure they had a good upbringing.

What makes Rebecca such a great mom is how she didn't let those tough times or the grief that followed consume her to the point that she forgot about everyone else in her life, least of all Kate, Kevin and Randall.

I grew up with grieving parents. When I was 13, my 16-year-old brother died in a car accident, similar to the unexpected loss the Pearsons faced. Right after burying their child, my parents had a choice: They could either fully succumb to their grief and forget about me and my sister, or they could do their absolute best to remain parents by ensuring that my sister and I weren't forgotten. They chose the latter. They made sure to take care of each other and took time for themselves to grieve, but somehow, they always found a way to put their children first.

More: This Is Us Isn't the Groundbreaking Show You Think It Is

That's exactly what Rebecca did both times her heart was ripped out and stomped on — she didn't just lose Jack; she also lost a child, which is one of the most difficult things a parent can face. I saw it in my parents' experience. The pain Rebecca felt after losing her baby is unimaginable, but she found a way to cope with it in order to do right by the Big Three.

"You know, Mom, you were really strong for us when it happened," Kevin told Rebecca during the Season 2 "Super Bowl Sunday" episode. "I can't even imagine what that must've been like for you."

As children, Kate, Kevin and Randall couldn't really relate to Rebecca losing both a child and a husband. They only knew their loss and what they saw their mother facing. Even though my parents and I both lost someone special to us at the same time, I lost a brother, not a child. The experience is different.

The Pearson kids couldn't fully grasp what their mother was dealing with. In the past and even in the present, it's probably easier for them to point out Rebecca's flaws and the mistakes she made as a parent that shaped who they became. However, when Rebecca became a single parent, she had to learn how to be a mother all over again. That isn't easy. Not only did she have three kids to take care of, but she also had to take care of herself.

More: Toby Is Actually a Great This Is Us Character — Here's Why

Now, as adults, husbands, wives and parents, the Pearson kids can see Rebecca in a different light. They can relate to her on an entirely new level and realize that she was actually a pretty great mom who survived a horrific ordeal. She did her best.

"I did what I could, you know," Rebecca told Kevin during the "Super Bowl Sunday" episode. "I tried to wrap myself around you guys and protect you, but you were all so big already. I tried. Your dad never had to try."

After Jack's death, Rebecca had the same choice to make: She could either succumb to her grief, or she could put her kids first and also take care of herself in the process. She chose the latter — again.

Rebecca definitely had her doubts at Jack's funeral, but Dr. K gave her the pep talk she absolutely needed. "I can't do this without him," she told the doctor who delivered her babies. "I just can't. He knew how to do all of this. He was fearless. I'm not fearless. I'm not."

But Dr. K didn't buy that and told her, "You are the same woman who lost a child and rolled out of my hospital with three babies just the same. You're as tough as they come, Rebecca Pearson."

Rebecca couldn't convince herself to take the sourest lemon life gave her and make something resembling lemonade, but Dr. K told her it was possible. "You didn't just make something resembling lemonade, dear," he told her at Jack's funeral. "You made one of the sweetest damn pitchers of lemonade I ever saw. So, don't you try to sell me on what you can't do, because I'm too old, I'm too smart and I'm not buying it."

Rebecca took what Dr. K told her to heart. When spreading part of Jack's ashes at his favorite tree, Rebecca made a powerful speech to each of her kids. First, she spoke to Kevin and Randall: "You know, neither of you has to be the man of the house now, all right? You're two 17-year-olds, OK? Your only job, from now on, your only job is to go on dates and hang out with your friends and your sister. I wouldn't protest if you wanted to do a load of laundry every now and then, but that's it, OK?"

More: Kevin Needs to Be Written Off This Is Us — Sorry, Not Sorry

"And, Kate, sweetheart, I know no matter what I say, no matter what anybody else says, you're gonna blame yourself for your father going back in the house to get Louie," Rebecca said. "Listen to me, because it was not your fault. Do you hear me? He was a grown man, Kate, who made a choice. And if I have to spend the rest of my life making sure that you know that I will. OK?"

This was a defining moment for Rebecca. She could've easily made the choice to continue believing she couldn't parent on her own or that she was weak in comparison to Jack, but she didn't. She made the choice to be a mom and to make sure she would do her absolute best in helping her children grieve, growing up and making futures for themselves.

And look at the Big Three now. They have pretty great lives. Yes, they all have their issues, but who doesn't? It's not fair to blame Rebecca completely for what her children are dealing with. With unexpected loss comes heartache, and a lot of people don't know how to cope with that. Grief is hard. There isn't a cure-all for it. As hard as Rebecca tried to help her kids through their dad's death, she could only do so much. Like she said, she did what she could.

More: Is Everyone Watching This Is Us Without Me?

Where the Big Three are at today speaks volumes — and it's thanks to Rebecca. Jack had a lot do with it, too, but Rebecca was the one who was there during the hardest time of her kids' lives. The way she chose to handle it proves just how amazing of a mother she is.

The wedding of the season finally happened and it happened on The Big Bang Theory. Thursday night's episode, "The Bow Tie Asymmetry," was dedicated to Sheldon and Amy's wedding. It was nothing short of an emotional roller coaster, full of sentimental moments and supremely good celebrity cameos. But, before we revisit all of the wedding magic that actually made it into the episode, we need to talk about the one moment viewers didn't see — it might just be the most touching scene TBBT has ever made.

More: The 11 Best TV Weddings of All Time

On Friday morning (aka the morning immediately after the episode aired), the Big Bang Theory Twitter account posted a deleted scene from "The Bow Tie Asymmetry." The scene featured Sheldon, Amy, Leonard and Penny, but was mainly devoted to the newlyweds opening gifts from their wedding guests. One present, it was soon revealed, was from the late Dr. Stephen Hawking. Prepare yourself; this is about to get really emotional.

In the scene, Amy picks up a present from the gift pile and sees its from Hawking. Leonard comments, "He must have sent it before he died," referencing Hawking's death in March 2018. As Sheldon pulls the gift from the box, Amy remarks that Hawking gifted the couple a pocket watch and wrote an inscription on the watch face's cover.

"Sheldon, I'm so glad you finally married Amy. It's about time," Sheldon reads aloud, continuing, "Ha, ha, ha. Love, Stephen." Cue all the waterworks from us!

Fans commented similarly, noting how great the scene is and wondering why TBBT hadn't left the scene it because it was actually so good and beautiful.

Hawking was once a guest star on the massively successful CBS sitcom, appearing in a handful of episodes between 2012 and 2017. While the cast of TBBT paid tribute in the immediate wake of Hawking's passing, this tribute is a truly touching cherry on top of an already sentimental, beautiful episode (even if it didn't make it into the final cut).

More: 2 Huge Stars Are Joining The Big Bang Theory for the Season Finale

While the Hawking tribute scene didn't make it into the actual episode, the scenes that did were nothing short of perfect. It was revealed that Mark Hamill (playing a fictional version of himself) was actually Sheldon and Amy's wedding officiant, while previously announced guest actors Kathy Bates and silent showman Teller appeared as Amy's parents. Sheldon had a loving heart-to-heart with his mom, played by a returning Laurie Metcalfe. And, best of all, Sheldon and Amy were surrounded by the entire TBBT gang.

More: The 15 Best Amy & Sheldon Moments on The Big Bang Theory

This event had been a long time coming in Amy and Sheldon's TBBT storyline, so to see it all play out felt like a great way to close one chapter for the characters and begin another, as newlyweds. It really was about time.

We have been smitten with Bachelor Nation's quirkiest couple — Carly Waddell and Evan Bass — ever since they didn't, then did, feel sparks on Bachelor in Paradise. The hilarious fan favorites met in 2016, got hitched in 2017 and welcomed baby Isabella 'Bella' Evelyn in 2018. (Whew, nice hat trick, Chris Harrison! You got something right, though we're still mad at you for Arie Luyendyk Jr.).

More: Carly Waddell & Evan Bass Are Dealing With an "Uncooperative" Fetus

Bella was born on Feb. 15, and breastfeeding hasn't been too bad according to Waddell, who spoke exclusively with PeopleTV along with Bass. “She nursed within 30 minutes to an hour [after her birth], which is crazy,” Waddell said. “Evan helped me with the nursing. He would take my boob and stick it in her mouth.”

“I was a fantastic lactation consultant,” Bass quipped. “I may be changing careers.” Bass also has three sons from a previous relationship, so this papa definitely has some street cred.

Baby Bella makes frequent appearances on the couple's social media. Um, and they'd better keep that up, because OMG look at this divine creature:

Waddell also spoke of bonding with Bella for the first time. “While they’re putting her on me, [she] looks over at me and stops crying,” Waddell said. “And then just lays on me and doesn’t cry.”

She continued, “My mom said she had the same moment with me — that she was like, ‘Hi, Carly,’ and I just looked at her and she was like, ‘I’ll never forget that moment.’ I was like, ‘Mom, I had the exact same moment with Bella.’ It’s like she knew my voice and she knew I was her mom, and [we] had this instant connection. And then she totally calmed down.”

More: The Biggest Problem of The Bachelor Finale

Seriously, we could live without all the Bachelor helicopter rides and roses and fantasy suites and mascara-streaked hysterics. The series has (unintentionally) birthed fantastic friendships (like the BFF bond between Carly Waddell and Jade Liz Roper) and some ridiculously cute babies — who needs romance after all?