2020-11-01 Parents

SPECIAL HOLIDAY ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

RESCUE TAILS ADOPTABLE PETS, 3+ Each soft, RICKY’S HOUSE ADVENTURE PLAYSET, 3+ Drive RYAN’S WORLD COMBO PANDA MYSTERY VEHICLE
huggable, interactive dog wags its tail, nods its head, and the included Ricky Zoom through his house, which also PLAY SET, 3+ Inspired by the Ryan’s World YouTube
makes realistic puppy sounds. Choose from Dalmatian, doubles as the Wheelford Rescue Headquarters. Features channel, kids can join Ryan and his friends as they unbox
Golden Retriever, Rottweiler, or German Shepherd. Each ramps throughout, a tire-check station, an elevator, and different mystery boxes. The compartments contain more
pet includes a wipe-away tear, customizable doghouse, more. The rotating lookout station comes with a telescope than 20 surprises, such as vehicles and accessories.
collar, and adoption papers. LITTLE TIKES, littletikes.com to assist rescues. TOMY, us.tomy.com JADA TOYS, jadatoys.com

For more selections, go to thetoyinsider.com | @TheToyInsider RYAN’S WORLD MYSTERY SPY VAULT, 3+ SENSORY FIDGET TUBES, 3+ Help children manage SMARTY PAD, 3+ This interactive LED tablet features
Use the key to unlock the vault and discover Ryan’s their emotions, focus their attention, and practice quiet, 12 games and an age-appropriate, educator-vetted
World surprises, including articulated figures, buildable calm engagement with four colorful Sensory Fidget curriculum. Its motion sensors encourage sensory play,
vehicles, and spy gear. Use the bonus key to unbox a Tubes. These securely sealed, easy-to-grip bottles feature small motor skill development, and critical thinking. Kids
working spy watch inside a hidden compartment. a variety of shapes, interactive elements, special effects, can play and learn in English and Spanish.
JUST PLAY, justplayproducts.com and colors. HAND2MIND, hand2mind.com FLYCATCHER INC., flycatcher.toys



SPECIAL HOLIDAY ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

STORY MAGIC TEA PARTY
PLAYSET, 4+
This carry case includes a
play scene, saucers, teacups,
and plates for kids to host a
pretend tea party. Fill in the
mini-story maker to make up a
new story each time.
HORIZON GROUP USA,
horizongroupusa.com

For more selections, go to thetoyinsider.com | @TheToyInsider TONIES, 3+ TRINITY & BEYOND —
Pair the soft, 5-inch cube with MYSTERY HEART JEWELRY
the hand-painted characters BOX, 3+ This jewelry box
for a screen-free digital is inspired by the Trinity &
listening experience with Beyond YouTube channel,
stories, songs, and more. The and features secret storage
starter kit includes a Toniebox compartments and a fashion
and a Creative Tonie, which mirror. Reveal three buildable
stores up to 90 minutes of mystery figures, jewelry, hair
recorded content. accessories, charms, and more.
TONIES, tonies.us BONKERS TOYS,
TROLLS WORLD TOUR DJ bonkerstoys.com
TROLLEX PARTY MIXER, 3+ UP IN & OVER ENERGETIC
Sing along or record your voice ELEPHANT BOUNCER, 3+
using the microphone, then This indoor/outdoor bouncer
choose from several rhythms, easily inflates in 3 minutes
musical loops, sound effects, thanks to the built-in pump.
and character phrases to mix It features mesh sidewalls for
your own creations with the added safety, fun graphics,
volume and tempo sliders, and elephant ears that move
interactive lights, and “drop as kids bounce.
the beat” button. BESTWAY, bestwaycorp.us
EKIDS, ekids.com
VIP PETS, 3+
Unbox nine surprises and
reveal one of 12 fashionistas.
The VIP Pets have 12 inches
of long hair to style. Wash the
pet’s hair to discover its unique
look, then dress it up with
personalized accessories.
IMC TOYS, imctoys.com

For more selections, go to thetoyinsider.com | @TheToyInsider

SPECIAL HOLIDAY ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

SPECIAL HOLIDAY ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

5-7AGES ANIME HEROES, 5+ ATOMIC POWER POPPER WITH STICKY TARGET, 5+
Grade School These 6.5-inch figures are based on characters from Send foam popper balls flying up to 20 feet with the easy-
For more selections, go to thetoyinsider.com | @TheToyInsider Naruto and Saint Seiya. They feature more than 16 to-use, pump-to-shoot popper. Place the movable sticky
Grade-schoolers are expanding their points of articulation and come with accessories and two targets anywhere to create a customized target range.
worlds into broad communities of additional sets of switchable hands. HOG WILD TOYS, hogwildtoys.com
schoolmates and teammates. They BANDAI AMERICA, bandai.com BREYER MANE BEAUTY, 5+
are enjoying new experiences as they BREAK THE BOARD, 6+ The 10-inch horse styling head comes with a styling
explore their choices and enhance Chop, swipe, and strike through 10 increasingly difficult booklet, a comb, clips, and other hair accessories that
their abilities. Encourage them to challenges. Practice moves in Trainer mode or compete kids can use to style the horse’s mane. Available in three
seek out and pursue their passions. with up to nine players to see who has the best karate mane colors: blonde, brunette, and white.
Toys and games can help develop moves. Mix sounds and moves in Freestyle mode. REEVES INTERNATIONAL, breyerhorses.com
an appreciation for science, the YULU, yulutoys.com
arts, strategic and mind-stimulating
activities, and spending time with
family and friends. Discovery begins
to play a much larger role for this age
group, and building sets and creative
activity toys come into play. These
kids are ready to explore and create
with their hands and minds.







SPECIAL HOLIDAY ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

CUTE GIRLS HAIRSTYLES
STYLING HEADS, 6+
Learn to create numerous
hairstyles at various difficulties
with the styling head based
on the YouTube channel Cute
Girls Hairstyles. Creating
unique looks is easy with the
high-quality nylon hair and
multiple accessories.
JAKKS PACIFIC, jakks.com

For more selections, go to thetoyinsider.com | @TheToyInsider DISCOVERY ART TRACING FGTEEV RAPTAIN HOOK’S
PROJECTOR, 6+ SEA WAGON, 6+
Use the 12 markers, 32 Based on FGTeeV’s “Raptain
traceable slides, and 20 blank Hook” YouTube music video,
sheets of paper to learn about the Sea Wagon features
the fundamentals of art and figures, noise putty, a DJ booth
composition. The set includes with light up dance floor, and
a hidden storage caddy for all a built-in microphone and
of the art supplies. speakers to sing along with
DISCOVERY INC., Raptain Hook.
discovery.com BONKERS TOYS,
GEOMAG 100% RECYCLED bonkerstoys.com
PANELS 114 PIECE, 5+
This set includes magnetic
rods, panels, and bases made
using 100% recycled plastic.
It also features a practical,
durable, pocket-sized storage
box, also made from 100%
recycled plastic.
GEOMAGWORLD USA,
geomagworld.com/en

HATCHIMALS PIXIES
CRYSTAL FLYERS, 5+
Each crystal egg houses a
grown-up pixie that can really
fly indoors as kids guide the
flight with their hands. An
auto-stop feature stops flight
if kids accidentally touch the
spinning wings.
SPIN MASTER,
spinmaster.com

HOT WHEELS ULTIMATE
GARAGE, 5+
This is the tallest Ultimate
Garage ever, featuring
parking for up to 100 vehicles
and a Robo T. rex nemesis.
Take vehicles to the top in the
kid-powered, two-car elevator
and race them down the
multilevel garage.
MATTEL, mattel.com
38



SPECIAL HOLIDAY ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

HOW TO BE A PEDIATRICIAN KIT, 6+ This kit includes INSTA STUDIO HANDS-FREE VIDEO STATION, 5+ ITTY BITTY PRETTYS, 5+
props to complete five hands-on activities, such as learning Shoot hands-free videos with the help of the adjustable Reveal one of 13 fashionable Itty Bitty Prettys dolls or
about diaper rash, measuring the circumference of a arm that attaches to your phone. Includes trendy a super-rare Royal Tea doll. Various-sized sets feature
baby’s head, and performing an exam. When complete, backgrounds, useful tools, four compounds, and sparkly everything kids need for surprise tea parties, including
kids can graduate and earn the included diploma. mix-ins to create Insta-worthy slime videos. fizzing sugar cubes that reveal accessories and stylish
LITTLE MEDICAL SCHOOL, littlemedicalschool.com WECOOL TOYS, wecooltoys.com collectibles. ZURU, zuru.com

For more selections, go to thetoyinsider.com | @TheToyInsider JIXELZ CREATOR, 6+ JUST MY STYLE ALL-IN-ONE JEWELRY CARRY CASE, 6+ LASER X REVOLUTION, 6+
Kids can use the included book of 40 design templates to Packed with a variety of cording and beads, kids can Turn the backyard into a laser tag arena and blast
make animals, objects, and more with 3,000 precision- create colorful bracelets that are uniquely detailed with opponents up to 300 feet away — inside or outside, in
cut micro jigsaw pieces in 20 colors. Plus, kids can draw patterns, monograms, and fun textures. Comes with darkness or sunlight — with quick-slide reload. Choose
their own designs with the pre-jixelated graph paper. directions to learn different bracelet-making techniques. from more than 20 different colors to light up your blaster.
FAT BRAIN TOY CO., fatbraintoys.com HORIZON GROUP USA, horizongroupusa.com NSI INTERNATIONAL, getlaserx.com



For more selections, go to thetoyinsider.com | @TheToyInsider SPECIAL HOLIDAY ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

LEGO CITY OCEAN
EXPLORATION BASE, 7+
Build this undersea
exploration base, which
includes interchangeable
living, sleeping, and
research modules and a
detachable submarine.
Includes five explorer figures,
shark and stingray figures,
and accessories.
THE LEGO GROUP, lego.com

LEGO DOTS MEGA
BRACELET PACK, 6+
Kids can customize friendship
bracelets using the five
adjustable bands and 295
assorted tiles. Includes a
sorting tray with dividers.
Make, wear, and share with
this easy, creative craft project.
THE LEGO GROUP, lego.com

L.O.L. SURPRISE! LITTLE LIVE PETS GOTTA
CLUBHOUSE PLAYSET, 6+ GO FLAMINGO, 5+
Unbox more than 40 surprises Feed Gotta Go Flamingo his
in the ultimate hangout for special food and watch his
L.O.L. Surprise! Dolls and neck jiggle and wiggle as he
Boys. The three-story modular swallows. When he proclaims,
playset includes multiple play “uh oh, gotta go!” grab the
zones, furniture, accessories, included toilet to catch his
and two dolls. squishy, neon poop.
MGA ENTERTAINMENT, MOOSE TOYS,
lolsurprise.com moosetoys.com
MICRO MACHINES SUPER MAKE IT MINE MAKE YOUR
VAN CITY, 5+ This updated OWN COMIC BOOK, 5+
take on a classic transforms Design three custom comic
from Super Van to Super books with this set, which
City and includes a working comes with double-point
bridge, a construction site, markers, stamps, stickers,
a high-rise building, a drag and more. Practice reading
strip, and ramps. It connects and writing skills, and follow
to other playsets and includes along with the how-to-draw
three Micro Machines vehicles. guide for inspiration.
JAZWARES, jazwares.com HORIZON GROUP USA,
horizongroupusa.com

For more selections, go to thetoyinsider.com | @TheToyInsider

SPECIAL HOLIDAY ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

SPECIAL HOLIDAY ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

MIX AND MASH DELUXE SLIME KIT, 5+ MY FAIRY GARDEN LIGHT GARDEN, 5+ NA! NA! NA! ULTIMATE SURPRISE, 5+
Create sparkly, bead-filled slime in a variety of colors. Kids can grow real plants around a fairy house that lights Each 11-inch Na! Na! Na! teen fashion doll features an
Combine stretchy, bouncy slime with confetti, foam beads, up like magic when kids blow on it. The lighted house even bigger confetti balloon unboxing experience. Kids
and more for unique creations. Includes seven types of sits atop a rocky base within the garden area. Includes a can pop the balloons to reveal fashions and accessories
slime, four foam mix-ins, and four confetti mix-ins. Saffron fairy and a unicorn figure. they can mix and match to create more than 120 looks.
WECOOL TOYS, wecooltoys.com PLAYMONSTER, playmonster.com MGA ENTERTAINMENT, nananasurprise.com

For more selections, go to thetoyinsider.com | @TheToyInsider NASCAR CRASH CIRCUIT ROAD COURSE WITH NIGHTHAWK NEXGEN, 6+ NINJA BOTS, 6+
WINNER’S CIRCLE, 5+ Race the two included motorized The next-generation Nighthawk ride-on features a new Arm these bots with silly weapons and train them using
race cars that break apart upon impact around the one-of- quick-release folding system for storage, with the same hand gestures. The bots can face off in 14 battle styles.
a-kind “Roval” track. The set features a Winner’s Circle that foot throttle and lean-to-steer control as before. It can Set includes two bots, each with more than 100 sounds
really spins, two flash chargers, pit crew figures, and more. safely hold up to 110 pounds and travels up to 7 mph. and movements.
FAR OUT TOYS, farouttoys.com ROLLPLAY, rollplay.com SPIN MASTER, spinmaster.com

For more selections, go to thetoyinsider.com | @TheToyInsider

SPECIAL HOLIDAY ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

For more selections, go to thetoyinsider.com | @TheToyInsider SPECIAL HOLIDAY ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

PIZZA PARTY
THROWDOWN, 6+
Players have 30 seconds to toss
their color-coded ingredients
onto the rotating pizza
gameboard using the pizza
chef launcher game piece.
Three different challenges offer
various levels of difficulty for
up to four players.
HOG WILD TOYS,
hogwildtoys.com
PLAYMOBIL RC CRANE WITH
BUILDING SECTION, 5+
This functioning crane can
hoist building materials up
and down and rotate 360
degrees. The crane comes with
two figures, a remote control,
accessories, and a building
section that kids can combine
with other sets.
PLAYMOBIL, playmobil.us
PLUS-PLUS GO! STREET
RACING SUPER SET, 7+
This building set comes with
more than 900 colorful, same-
shape Plus-Plus pieces, along
with wheels, baseplates, and
instructions to build two street
racer hot rods and a police
cruiser. Build, customize, and
race the finished cars.
PLUS-PLUS, plus-plus.us

POWER TREADS, 5+
Easily build the all-surface
vehicle, then create a custom
course using the modular
track set. Track pieces are
interchangeable and can
be placed far apart or close
together. Add obstacles using
any household items.
WOWWEE, wowwee.com

ROBLOX ADOPT ME: PET
STORE, 6+
Take over the counter of
this pet store inspired by
DreamCraft’s Adopt Me! game
in Roblox. The set comes with
three figures, accessories,
various animal figures, and a
redeemable code to unlock an
exclusive, in-game item.
JAZWARES, jazwares.com

SOLARBOTS: 8-IN-1 SOLAR
ROBOT KIT, 6+
This kit includes materials to
build eight robots powered by
the sun. A compact solar panel
harvests energy from the sun
and powers an electric motor
to move a drummer robot, an
armadillo robot, and more.
THAMES & KOSMOS,
thamesandkosmos.com

For more selections, go to thetoyinsider.com | @TheToyInsider

SPECIAL HOLIDAY ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

SPECIAL HOLIDAY ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

SWINGIN’ SHOES, 6+
Take turns tossing the
rubbery horseshoes and try to
ring them onto the suspended
pole and platforms while they
swing. Land a Sitter, a Ringer,
or score extra points by
getting one to hang from one
of the platforms.
FAT BRAIN TOY CO.,
fatbraintoys.com

For more selections, go to thetoyinsider.com | @TheToyInsider TAMAGOTCHI ON WONDER TREASURE X SUNKEN GOLD
GARDEN, 6+ Tamagotchi SHARK’S TREASURE, 5+
On expands with a Wonder Break open the bottle
Garden theme. The newest packaging to release a giant
version features an updated shark, then dissect its belly
home screen and room, plus to rescue the treasure hunter
millions of characters. Kids can trapped inside. Kids will also
play games, explore new virtual uncover a hidden treasure
lands, and connect with friends. chest with a chance to find
Perfect for on-the-go fun. real gold.
BANDAI AMERICA, MOOSE TOYS,
tamagotchi.com moosetoys.com
ZURU SMASHERS DINO ICE
WREKKIN’ SLAMBULANCE, AGE SURPRISE, 5+ Follow
6+ This vehicle features the map through compounds
more than eight breakaway to piece together one of three
pieces for bumper-to-bumper exclusive creatures — Ice Raptor,
destruction. Push the license Blizzard-dactyl, or Frozen
plate on the bumper to make Mammoth — after smashing
the spring-loaded stretcher the giant blue egg. Features
launch out of the back. Has collectible Smashers and more
room for WWE action figures than 25 icy surprises.
(not included). ZURU, zuru.com
MATTEL, mattel.com

WUBBLE RUMBLERS, 6+
Kids can bop and chop with
these inflatable, oversized
play fighting accessories, sold
separately. Slip on Furious Fist
and Karate Chop for punches
and high fives, and battle it
out with Full Nelson and Air
Ninja. Includes an air pump.
NSI INTERNATIONAL,
wubbleball.com

SPECIAL HOLIDAY ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

8+AGES BIG BOGGLE, 8+ BYE, FELICIA!, 12+ Players must list as many answers
Tweens The family-favorite for more than 30 years is back and in a category as they can in 30 seconds. The topics are
bigger than ever. For the first time, a “Double Letter” cube random, such as “Foods You Eat with Ketchup.” When
Whether online or in person, makes it easier to form valuable words. Features more someone has an answer that doesn’t match another
socializing is a key activity for kids cubes and letters than the original game. player, they’ll hear “Bye, Felicia!”
in this age group. While tweens are WINNING MOVES, winning-moves.com BIG G CREATIVE, biggcreative.com
comfortable with technology and
the digital world, they also enjoy COOL MAKER HOLLYWOOD HAIR STUDIO, 8+ CRAFT-TASTIC ALL ABOUT ME QUIZ BRACELETS, 8+ For more selections, go to thetoyinsider.com | @TheToyInsider
playing games, being creative, and Decorate a hair ribbon using the included markers Kids’ answers to the seven quizzes in the 14-page quiz
being active. Provide opportunities or printed designs, then run it through the studio to book will guide their selection of thread, beads, and
for them to try new things both on transform it into a wearable hair extension. Style the charms to create individualized bracelets. Includes 177
their own and with their peers. Toys extension with the included no-heat curling iron and pieces to make seven unique bracelets.
that teach a new skill — whether it’s spray bottle. SPIN MASTER, spinmaster.com ANN WILLIAMS GROUP, annwilliamsgroup.com
DIY crafting or programming —
get kids thinking in different ways,
helping to expand their minds and
abilities. Parents and caregivers
are still key role models for this
age group, so remain present and
involved in their passions.

SPECIAL HOLIDAY ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

DEER PONG, 8+
Teams race to be the first to
land three balls in Bucky the
Stag’s antler cups. The wise-
cracking deer’s mouth moves
as he trash talks players, tells
jokes, and plays music.
HASBRO, hasbro.com

For more selections, go to thetoyinsider.com | @TheToyInsider DRONE HOME, 8+ GEMEX GEL CREATION
In this game that includes STUDIO, 8+
a real drone, players launch Kids can use this kit to make
aliens down the ramps, racing crystal creations and sparkling
to land inside the drone so gel jewelry, including
they can fly home. Opponents bracelets, necklaces, and
try to knock each other out rings. Place the gel in a special
before the drone launches. container with a magic light
PLAYMONSTER, to make hardened, sparkling
playmonster.com jewelry in minutes.
GO GO BIRD, 8+ CRA-Z-ART, cra-z-art.com
This realistic R/C bird can fly up HANDS FULL, 8+
to 100 feet in the air, perform Grab, twist, and tangle with
aerial tricks, and more. the Hands Full game, featuring
Features a six-axis sensor, three different play modes.
obstacle-avoiding technology, Master moves solo, play
a lightweight design, and a together with friends, or get
wireless remote control. competitive and see who can
ZING, zing.toys be the last one holding on.
INCOHEARENT FAMILY WOWWEE, wowwee.com
EDITION, 12+
OH WEM SHE (OMG)! In this
family-friendly version of
Incohearent, players compete
to guess the gibberish. The
first player to decode 10
Incohearent phrases wins
the game.
WHAT DO YOU MEME?,
whatdoyoumeme.com

For more selections, go to thetoyinsider.com | @TheToyInsider

SPECIAL HOLIDAY ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

SPECIAL HOLIDAY ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
SEMI-PRECIOUS DIG KIT, 8+
Discover 15 genuine gemstones,
including opal, garnet, peridot,
aquamarine, and more. Use
the included excavation tool
and brush to excavate the
gems, then discover details
of each specimen with the
included magnifying glass.
BLUE MARBLE,
thinkbluemarble.com

For more selections, go to thetoyinsider.com | @TheToyInsider NEW BRIGHT RC 1:8-SCALE
APP DRIVER RADIO
CONTROL FORD BRONCO, 8+
Drive this rugged, 22-inch,
2.4GHz R/C truck using
the included joystick-style
transmitter or the free New
Bright App Driver app, which
unlocks additional features like
speed, light and sound controls,
and music options. NEW BRIGHT
INDUSTRIAL, newbright.com

PAPER MARIO: THE
ORIGAMI KING, 8+
Players help Mario and his
new partner Olivia battle evil
Folded Soldiers, repair the
damaged landscape, and try
to free Princess Peach’s castle
from the clutches of King
Olly in this new adventure for
Nintendo Switch.
NINTENDO, papermario.
nintendo.com

PLINKO, 8+
Play The Price Is Right’s most
popular game at home.
Earn Plinko chips by playing
pricing games, then take turns
stepping up to the 26-inch
Plinko board and dropping
your chips to score.
BUFFALO GAMES,
buffalogames.com

SNAP CIRCUITS MYHOME,
8+
Build a house or tower with
working, 3D circuits to find
out how power gets to your
house, travels in your walls,
and more. Explore security
systems, automatic lights,
alarms, generators, motors,
and more.
ELENCO, elenco.com

STAR WARS THE
MANDALORIAN THE CHILD
BLUETOOTH SPEAKER,
8+ This Bluetooth speaker
features the adorable character
from The Mandalorian series
and has powerful speaker
volume and bass. It also has
a rechargeable battery and is
compatible with all Bluetooth
devices. EKIDS, ekids.com





TEND TO _____LOW-LIFT MANICURES
YOURSELF, BODY SPLIT THE LABOR AT HOME_ _ _ _
AND SOUL
WHEN KIDS PLAY FAVES

ANNA WOLF. Relax, It’s
“Me Time”
1 2 3P A R E N T S NOVEMBER 2020
Self-care has
become not just a
catchphrase but
a cultural cure-all.
And yet finding
time to unwind can
feel like one more
task on an absurd
to-do list. One mom
test-drove spalike
products to find
out: Can a sheet
mask change your
state of mind?

by LE S LI E G O LD M A N

YOU— Sel f-Ca re

I KNEW I’D HIT my parenting rock Patchology
bottom when I threatened to hurl our Poshpeel Pedi
8-year-old daughter’s beloved bear, Cure, $20;
Teddy, into the path of our neighbor’s ulta.com
active lawn mower (he was mowing at
night) after she got out of bed for the
fifth time in as many minutes.1 Clearly,
my pandemic stress was catching up
with me. The truth is, I was spending
more time doing dishes than I was
practicing any semblance of self-care.
Since the country started its lockdown,
the closest I’d gotten to achieving any
quarantine zen involved one of those
foot peels where you soak your feet in
fruit acids for an hour and then watch
them molt like snakes over the next
two weeks.2 The luxurious brand of
“me time” splashed all over social media
(rose-petal-strewn bubble baths, a
steaming latte paired with a good book,
dancing like no one is watching) was
absurdly out of reach.

In a stroke of luck, my Parents editor
sent over some beauty goodies and a
self-care subscription box that promised
to help harried people like me “enjoy
this brutiful (brutal yet beautiful) journey
called life without having to wait
for the next promotion/relationship/
accomplishment or even the next
week/month/year,” 3 according to the
packaging. My mission: Discover
whether any of them could help me
reclaim a slice of my sanity.

1. In my defense (if such a thing exists), this AMNH Birthday
happened after yet another Groundhog-esque Cake Lip Scrub, $15;
Day for me as I fire juggled homeschooling, aminnah.com
career, and emotional stability.

2. The fact that picking layer upon layer of dead
skin from my heels—and texting blow-by-blow
pics to my friends—felt like self-care should give
you adequate insight into my frazzled state.

3. Good news for me, considering that the
Teddy incident took me out of the running for
Mom of the Year.

1 2 4P A R E N T S NOVEMBER 2020

FEET: ERICKA McCONNELL. FLOWER MILL: COURTESY OF THE BRAND. ALL OTHER PRODUCTS: JEFFREY WESTBROOK. GOLDMAN: COURTESY OF THE SUBJECT. First up in my self-care experiment: The Honest The mask below
birthday-cake lip scrub. Massaging in lip Company Me and the lip scrub on the
scrub is the sort of purely self-indulgent Moment Soaking
ritual I used to partake in before having Salts, $15; opposite page came
kids, like sleeping past 7:30 a.m. or target.com in a TheraBox Self Care
having sex without barricading the door
with the laundry hamper, because our I STARE D LO N G IN G LY Subscription Box.
kids taught themselves how to pick AT THE BOOK $35/month; mytherabox
locks while sheltering in place.4 This one
smelled delish and was fun to rub in, I’D O P TIMI STICALLY .com (not shown)
thanks to the chunky sugar, essential BROUGHT WITH
oils, and pink and yellow sprinkles. I also Flower Mill
appreciated that it took very little ME, REALIZING THAT Calming Chamomile
time—I could sneak it in between rounds “ME TIME” WAS Mask, $24;
of reading Curious George and still feel flowermillbeauty.com
I’d done something that checked off a box SWIF TLY TU RNIN G
on my self-care bingo card. INTO “WE TIME.” Sheet masks aren’t going to fix the
general hellscape that has been 2020.
The next night I tried a vitamin- care. “Time for me to take my bath.” But perhaps by carving out tiny
infused sheet mask that made me look She didn’t move. “Honey, I need to be pockets of time to treat ourselves in any
just enough like Lord Voldemort that way, shape, or form, we can help release
our 6-year-old nearly burst into tears, alone for this,” I reiterated, as soothing a bit of steam from our emotional
prompting me to peel it off and stuff it water washed over me for the first time pressure cookers so when that steam
back in its packaging until after bedtime. in a decade. “Can you go play?” She inevitably starts to build again, we
After I’d reapplied it, I attempted to dipped her feet in and moaned, “Oooh, don’t immediately explode. The hot bath
relax on the couch and watch Dead to it feels so gooood.” was lovely, but a meditation or workout
Me, but my husband refused to even would have left me feeling equally
look my way,5 let alone fetch me the I stared longingly at the book I’d restored. The lip scrub took only two
straw I now realized I needed for my optimistically brought with me, realizing minutes, but it was two minutes of me
wine. Verdict: Self not cared for. that “me time” was swiftly turning doing me. It wasn’t so much about
into “we time.” But honestly, I could be the products as it was the mini escape
A cream chamomile face mask was soaking in mop water, and as long as they offered. Now if you’ll excuse me,
better received by all. I mixed a little of nobody is asking me for a snack, I’m I’m going to try to sneak in a pedicure
the powdered kaolin clay with water, ecstatic. The Bath Squatter and I before Teddy and I start our Zoom
applied it to my T-zone, and lay down in chatted and took some deep breaths family-therapy session.
bed, announcing I needed ten minutes of together, and I felt pleasantly loosey-
“alone time.” I felt a pleasant tightening goosey afterward. 4. Yes, this actually happened.
and tingling as it dried and an even more 5. This was the first time I’d ever used a sheet
pleasant sense of nobody bothering me. Did my stress soon bubble back up mask, and my family was clearly ill prepared.
as I began prepping dinner in a kitchen 6. Never google “dirty + mom + knees.”
The box also included a lemon-scented that’s been appropriately cleaned
moisturizing body butter with five types just once in the past half year? It did. Leslie Goldman is a
of oil. I immediately started working it Parents contributor and
into what I affectionately refer to as my mom of two in Chicago.
Dirty Mom Knees,6 which have been
Sahara dry since our tummy-time days
and have lingered thanks to countless
hours of shoelace tying, under-the-bed
toy searching, and spill cleaning. No
product has worked on these knees. This
balm was no exception.

I attempted to lay the groundwork for
the most decadent self-care act, a bath,
by reminding every member of my family
about it every day leading up to it. Our
younger daughter was eager to play the
role of bath sommelier, creating just
the right temp and pouring in the salts.

“Okay, lovey,” I said as I lowered
myself into the warm tub full of self-

YOUÑ Sel f-Ca re

EDITOR PICKS

Indulgences for Real Life

Parents staffers and their mom friends put the latest self-care offerings
to the test. Here are the ones that actually delivered some zen.

1 1

More purposeful than a splash-and- Try on too.
go cleanser, the Dermalogica Hydro hands

Masque Exfoliant ($60; sephora Mist, 2
.com) sloughs off dead cells sniff, aah.
5 3
and hydrates chapped areas as you Wash
massage it onto your face. One 4
the day
editor found that closing her eyes away.
and taking a few slow breaths
JEFFREY WESTBROOK.
deepened the relaxation effects.

2

If a nightly bath feels inconceivable,
the Floramye Bath Bliss Set

($70; floramye.com) with dissolving
epsom-salt balls might be just the

incentive you need to push aside
the bath toys and claim the tub for

yourself. Decompress amid
scents like sandalwood-jasmine and

vetiver-lavender (and there are
crystals hidden in each bath bomb,

if that’s your jam).

3

A 30-second dose of calm
comes courtesy of Beekman 1802

Buttermilk Makeup Melting
Cleansing Balm ($38; ulta.com).

Our tester mom said the balm’s
texture and transformation—it goes

from solid oil to milky wash—felt
like a mini treatment and left her

feeling refreshed.

4

One CBD skeptic was pleasantly
surprised that the Lord Jones

High CBD Formula Body Lotion in
Grapefruit ($40; lordjones.com)

managed to soothe her sore
shoulder after a bad night’s sleep.

She added bonus points
for the energetic citrus scent.

5

Get the fancy steam-room treatment
with J.R. Watkins Aromatherapy
In-Shower Mist in Awaken ($15;

ulta.com). Infused with rosemary,
bergamot, and rosewood,

it’s like pixie dust for your shower
stall. Testers said it made their

mornings feel like an escape from
toddlerland, and the scent helped

them feel alert.

1 2 6P A R E N T S NOVEMBER 2020

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YO UÑB e aut y

BEAUTY
WHILE
MOMMING

Matching My No-Skills-
nails are on my Required Manicure

to-do list! I’d set the bar for 2020 nail care at
the rung just above dirt covered. But now

I want to love my hands again.
Here, six tricks that have helped me finally

achieve nails I want to show off.

by K ATE SA N D OVA L B OX / photographs by J E F F R E Y W E S TB RO O K

I CAN MAKE coffee one-handed. I can Love these to soften them. I can go right back SANDOVAL BOX: COURTESY OF THE SUBJECT. SALLY HANSEN: COURTESY OF THE BRAND.
keep a family of four’s schedule in f lattering to typing without leaving one messy
my head. I can set up an epic toy train nudes. oil smudge.
track. What I cannot do? Tons of
things, but this is a beauty column, so Prevents chips Longest-Lasting Polish
I’ll focus on one: I cannot keep my nails for days I painted a different base coat and
presentable. Manicures fell to the polish combo on each of my
bottom of my list the day I had my fingernails and then went about mom
first baby and a nurse suggested that life, washing hands umpteen times,
I clip my nails short so I wouldn’t picking at slime stuck to the table,
accidentally scratch him. I did go to a being elbow-deep in the kids’ baths.
nail salon once—and then my mom Verdict: The color that chipped
called to say the baby had woken up and the least had Orly Bonder Rubberized
I hadn’t left enough milk, so I dashed Base Coat ($11; orlybeauty.com)
home midpolish. underneath it. That stuff is strong!

These days, rather than deal, I’ve Easiest Nail Polish Remover
been balling up my hands to hide a set I’ve sported chipped polish for days
of ten unshaped, maybe-chipped, before finding a cotton ball, remover,
possibly-housing-bits-of-Play-Doh and—most crucial—time to use them.
digits whenever they come into But Olive & June Nail Polish Remover
view during video calls. I know many Pot ($8; oliveandjune.com) makes the
moms who maintain impeccable process painless: Dip and swirl each
nail-art masterpieces—I bow down! finger inside and the remover-soaked
But for years, I’ve been the mom who foam lifts off color thoroughly.
is just hoping for nails that won’t
make dinner guests recoil. My new Most Impactful Top Coat
goal is a happy medium between the I adore glitter. It’s festive and joy
two: quick, low-maintenance, and inducing (when it’s not the kind kids
pretty. These products have made it spill). It’s also long-lasting and it
surprisingly easy to level up my mitts requires no skill to apply. In fact, it’s
once and for all. supposed to look randomly scattered.
The trick is to choose a polish that
Dripless Cuticle Smoother has a clear base, like Essie Glitter Nail
I’ve stationed a Sally Hansen Cuticle Polish in A Cut Above ($9; drugstores).
Rehab Oil Balm ($9; drugstores) and a That way, any chips blend right in.
wooden manicure stick next to my
laptop. In moments of procrastination, Inclusive and Chic Nudes
I swipe away gunk with the stick and A shade that closely matches your
slide the solid balm across my cuticles skin tone is always stylish and makes
your fingers look longer. I love that
Nails.INC London offers a range
of nude hues to increase your chance
of finding the one for you ($9 each;
nailsinc.com).

Stick-On Nail Art
If you can play with stickers with your
kids, you can use Color Street Nail
Polish Strips ($11; colorstreet.com).
Match the shape to your nail size, then
file off excess. Done.

1 2 8P A R E N T S NOVEMBER 2020



YO UÑR e l at i on s h ip s

REBALANCE

THE

LOAD

You had grand plans to be equal partners
and set an impressive example for your kids. But now

reality —and resentment—has set in amid a
world turned upside down. Here’s how you
and your spouse can begin to revamp your routine.

by VI C K I G LE M B O C K I / illustration by A N N E B E NTLE Y

MY HUS BAND, Thad, and I had another It’s not just me. All of my married mom spent less time doing their job than
argument about the same topic we argue friends, the employed and unemployed, dads—and moms who had the largest
about every other day: who does what complain about the unequal division of work-time reduction had kids ages
around the house. This time, the household labor. But no matter how many 6 to 12, who needed the most help with
subtopic was “Putting Three Daughters fifty-fifty agreements we’ve made with remote school. No wonder we’re
to Bed,” and it went something like this. our DHs, how many charts and time- complaining. And arguing. And krakening.
management apps we’ve tried, we still
Me: Where have you been? end up doing the lioness’s share. I’m tired of it, both the uneven division
Him: I fell asleep reading to Drew. of labor and the personas I’ve taken
Me: For an hour and a half? [During In many families, COVID-19 has made on to handle it (The Nagger, The Score-
which time I shepherded our two other the situation worse. Since the outbreak Keeper, The Passive-Aggressive-Not-
daughters, 7 and 14, to bed, cleaned up locked us down, all parents have nearly Sex-Haver). Plus, I just read a Harvard
the kitchen from dinner, set the coffeepot doubled the time they spend on household study finding that 25 percent of
up for the morning, took ground beef tasks and supervising distance learning, divorced couples blamed their breakup
out of the freezer for dinner tomorrow, but mothers are still averaging 15 hours on “disagreements about housework.”
and folded a load of whites, which was more a week than dads, according to a I definitely don’t want to go down that
basically a clown car of his undershirts.] report in May from the Boston Consulting road. So to preserve my marriage—and
Him: Wow. I slept that long? Group. Another study of dual-income my mental health—I sought advice
Me: [Release the kraken …] heterosexual couples found that moms from experts, and here’s what I learned.

1 3 0P A R E N T S NOVEMBER 2020



YO UÑR e l at i on s h ip s

Channel business partners. It may not seem romantic, but married either member of the couple consciously
No matter how “feminist” we claim to be, couples need to think of themselves as endorsing the idea that child rearing is
old-fashioned, deeply rooted gender roles business partners, running the business women’s work, they both behave as if this
are alive and well in movies, on social of a family. Instead of anticipating that is so,” says psychologist Darcy Lockman,
media, and in offhanded remarks from each spouse will have equal responsibility author of All the Rage: Mothers, Fathers,
our spouse. True, husbands today are at all times, expect it to be uneven but and the Myth of Equal Partnership.
helping out way more than Ward Cleaver constantly shifting. The goal should be Research from Columbia University
did. But while 66 percent of millennial dads fairness. Sometimes, for example, one of shows that same-sex parents generally
want to be fifty-fifty caregivers, a you will do more work than the other to don’t have as much conflict negotiating
Boston College study found that less keep things afloat. The next hour/day/ shared responsibilities. And single
than 30 percent of them achieve it. week/month/year, the situation will flip. parents, of course, trade the conflict for
So when a friend posts about her WAH the stress of doing it all. Hetero couples
For some reason, we still have it in our husband, who cooks dinners from scratch “need to make the unconscious conscious
head that, someday, a fairy godmother every other night, you might not compare by talking about it,” Lockman says.
will appear, wave her Equal Opportunity this with your situation in the moment
Wand over our house and … Hey girl! ... our but instead look at how your household’s That said, pronouncements like “I
husband will suddenly start doing half. division of labor shifts on any given want you to do more” or “I want you to
Yet even an incremental change in load week or day. Paying attention to gradual respect me more” are too vague. Instead,
sharing can make it easier for you changes can not only make you less express your feelings without assigning
to feel better about your situation. “No dissatisfied, but “it helps remove ‘keeping blame: “I am feeling overwhelmed
marriage can be fifty-fifty all the time,” score’ from the equation,” Neuman says. because I’m planning seven dinners a
says Gary Neuman, psychotherapist, week” or “I feel stressed about always
rabbi, and author of Connect to Love: The Say what you feel out loud. having to keep track of the kids’ school
Keys to Transforming Your Relationship. The resentment many moms feel often forms.” Then offer some solutions: “I
“You’re not going to make a fifty-fifty comes from everything just defaulting to need you to be the keeper of their medical
decision over whether or not your child them without a discussion. “Without paperwork.” Being specific gives you
can have a playdate tomorrow.” something to discuss, says

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E. Michele Ramsey, associate professor tack on the invisible “mental load” tasks doing a task to your standard, you can
of communication arts and sciences and that keep the family functioning, such as revisit the plan, let it go, or outsource.
women’s studies at Penn State Berks. remembering clothing sizes and crafting Real economics might prevent it, but
“You can compromise on a concrete goal.” strategic emails to teachers. “You’re not paying someone to do your dirty work
just business partners,” Anderson explains. might be worth the trade-off in hours and
Make a master to-do list. “You’re trading partners, exchanging arguments. Ramsey makes a solid point:
Hold on—isn’t a list of who does what services, often in the form of household “A lawn service is cheaper than a divorce.”
basically a scorecard? And isn’t keeping chores. But you first must know exactly
score bad? “Think of it more as a what all those services are.” Schedule a weekly meeting.
budget,” says Jenny Anderson, who On Sundays, set aside 30 minutes to look
applies behavior economics to marriage Do what you’re good at. at what’s coming up that might require
squabbles in It’s Not You, It’s the Dishes: To divvy up the list, Neuman suggests an adjustment to your master list, like
How to Minimize Conflict and Maximize ranking tasks: One means “I like doing an appointment or a holiday (when, say,
Happiness in Your Relationship. “It’s this,” two means “I can do this but need “cooking dinner” might shift from “I
keeping track of what it takes to run your help,” and three means “I hate doing like to do this” to “I can do this but need
family business. Each person thinks they this.” And if you both rate a task a three? help”). Set up a reminder on both of your
are doing more than the other person Anderson thinks it should land on the phones to keep “remembering the weekly
realizes.” Just as a financial budget plate of the one who does it quickest, meeting” off either of your to-do lists.
prevents overspending, itemizing tasks because that preserves the finite resource For Thad and me, this weekly powwow
prevents over- or underparticipating. you’re working together to save—time. has been a total game changer.
Of course, one person shouldn’t be stuck
Besides obvious tasks (think cooking with all the terrible chores. Beyond the practical, the meeting
and paying bills), Anderson wants you should address deeper emotions that rise
to add behind-the-scenes stuff, such as With a plan like this, no one should up during the week. “Instead of airing
managing screen time, making the feel put-upon. “Both parties have chosen grievances as they enter your head,”
Costco list up-to-date, and researching what they can do best,” Neuman says. If Anderson says, “discuss them when
prices of online piano teachers. Then you feel that your partner doesn’t end up you’re calm and out of the moment.”

YO UÑB e h av i or

“No Mama! Just Dad!” E ARLY IN OU R son Ben’s life,
my husband, Kevin, often
When a child clings to one parent and shuns the other, said something I realize now
feelings get hurt, workloads get imbalanced, was only half in jest: “I’m just
the butler-janitor.” As in, “All
and the ignored party is forced to wonder, “Is it me?” I do here is empty the diaper
pail.” As in, “You’re his parent,
by K ATI E A R N O LD - R ATLI F F / photographs by SAS H A G U LI S H I’m just the help.” Ben was
permanently suctioned to my
breast; his dad, milk-less, was
useless to him. So I was the
one Ben reached for post-
needle at the pediatrician’s,
the one who coaxed out his
first chuckles, the one whose
cheek he lived to stroke. And
I was ignorant and arrogant
enough to think that this
arrangement was permanent.

But soon—surprise!—it
all flipped. From Ben’s 11th
month to his 23rd (who’s
counting?), he abandoned me
for Dada. The shift was swift
and total. He longed to be
as close to Kevin as physics
would allow—a bone-deep
desperation, like the urge
to breathe. If Kevin left the
room to make a sandwich,
Ben sobbed as though Dad
were heading off to war. My
husband didn’t pee without his
kid’s moral support for almost
a year. And as they ran laps
around the kitchen island or
clung to each other on the sofa,
I’d park myself on the love seat
(the unloved seat?), paying
bills and folding laundry like
a spectator in my own life.
My, how the butler-janitor
tables had turned.

Kevin assured me that
having a 20-pound barnacle
was no fun. He felt alternately
like a prisoner or a monster

1 3 4P A R E N T S NOVEMBER 2020

Cheese. Tacos.
No dinner drama.

© 2019 Kraft Foods

YO UÑB e h av i or

for wanting a break from all that love. HADN’T I BEEN AN father, or Ben and Kevin wiggled on
He swore I was the lucky one. “Sure, I get AT TA C H M E N T-T H E O RY wedding dance floors and I drank at an
that,” I’d lie. Freedom is nice; a clammy empty table, I felt not just sorrow but
toddler hand in yours is nicer. ZEALOT WHEN BEN embarrassment. “Wow, Ben really favors
WAS BORN, KANGAROOING his dad,” a tactless relative once said.
I asked mom friends for advice Everyone in the room suddenly became
and soon realized, horrified, that none HIM IN VARIOUS fascinated by their shoes; they wouldn’t
had any. Each had experienced this CARRIERS, LEAPING AT have said it, but they were clearly
dynamic—but from the other side, as the thinking it. I was so ashamed I felt faint.
favorite. “Oh,” said one, “I’ve only ever EVERY CRY, KEEN Moms are supposed to be loving and
heard of the dad getting ditched.” This ON TEACHING HIM I’D BE beloved and I was a failure at both, and
leveled me. I went from “Kids and their here was proof for all to see.
phases, right?!” to “I am human garbage.” A SAFE HOME
I knew I wasn’t a mean, scary mom, but BASE FOR THE REST I see a therapist once a week (aren’t
maybe I was cold in a way I couldn’t see, you surprised?), and naturally I laid all
sending Ben cues that if he came to me OF HIS LIFE? of this trauma at Dr. S.’s feet. Her advice
for tenderness, I’d stiff him. was pragmatic and unconcerned: Don’t
show Ben you’re hurt. Don’t pull back
And this wasn’t just some private when he rejects you. Keep trying. The
demon I had to wrestle. People noticed. age-old advice to the lovelorn: Put
When Ben fell at the zoo and pushed yourself out there! So I began joining in
me out of the way to be hugged by his Ben and Kevin’s play wherever I could.
While Ben would still occasionally snub
me—“Hey, should we go outside while
Dada takes a shower?” I said once, and he
looked like I’d asked if he wanted to go
out back and saw his arm off—he mostly
just scooted over and made room. “Run
around the kitchen with Dada” turned
into “Get chased around the kitchen
by Mama and Dada.” Movie night was
soon a three-person snuggle instead of
separate but unequal couches. Make no
mistake: Ben still orbited Kevin like
a frantic moon. But I was realizing that
deep in my child’s burgeoning psyche, he
loved me, and the more I inserted myself,
the more he was reminded of that love.

I reported back to Dr. S. that it was
working; I thought Ben might maybe
potentially like me! Then she asked,
“Which one of you does Ben see more?”
Oh, definitely me. Before the pandemic, I
did both drop-off and pickup at day care,
and by the time he awoke each morning,
Kevin was usually gone. Back then, Ben
reliably got his dad for only an hour each
evening and then on weekends. “Right,”
Dr. S. said. “So every day, your presence
is certain but Kevin’s is a question.”
Kaboom. No wonder Ben clutched Dada
so tightly. Who knew when he’d vanish
again, only to return on a timetable Ben’s
toddler brain could make no sense of?

Then Dr. S. made another point. Hadn’t
I been an attachment-theory zealot when
Ben was born, kangarooing him in various
complicated carriers, leaping at every

1 3 6P A R E N T S NOVEMBER 2020

What to Do When Kids
Play Favorites

by Juno DeMelo

While favoritism begins and peaks in toddlerhood,
it can crop up repeatedly—and flip-flop just

as frequently. Here’s how to get through it no matter
which side of the divide you’re on.

DON’T DRIVE YOURSELF DON’T PLAY GATEKEEPER. cry, keen on teaching him I’d be a safe
NUTS ABOUT THE “WHY.” “When one parent doesn’t allow the home base for the rest of his life? Hadn’t
“Choosing between two people other to handle tasks like bath, I said during therapy that a good thing,
makes toddlers feel powerful,” bedtime, or the child’s dinner, it can maybe the best thing, a parent can be
says Ellen Braaten, Ph.D., worsen favoritism,” Dr. Doan says. So is a benign presence who can be taken
codirector of the Clay Center let your partner take on some tasks. for granted? Well, I had succeeded.
for Young Healthy Minds, in It may slow your routine at first but Ben knew I had his back, and now he
Boston. But what makes them can help your child realize that Dad was preoccupied with making sure Dad’s
opt for one over the other is really can cut up their sandwich. devotion was as ironclad as Mama’s.
often a mystery. Some kids will They had their own road to travel. Ben
cling to the parent who’s DO DIVIDE AND CONQUER. and I had already made the trip.
around less, while others do Your child may request that the
the opposite. And their preferred parent do everything: Even if I (okay, Dr. S.) hadn’t cracked the
preferences can change with feeding, bathtime, bedtime, case, it all would have turned out okay.
their emotional state. “When and so on. As you might guess, First of all, phases end. (But try believing
my daughter is hurt, she comes that gets to be a lot. To achieve that while in the throes of one.) Second,
to me, and when she’s scared, something closer to equality, quarantining as a trio some months later
she goes to her dad,” says decide in advance how you’ll solved a lot of this: Dad was always
Stacey N. Doan, Ph.D., associate split up tasks and activities, and around, and the novelty wore off. (Sorry,
professor of psychology at stick to that despite your child’s Kevin.) Third, around Ben’s second
Claremont McKenna College, protests. When you encounter birthday, we moved to a new house, and
in Claremont, California. resistance, it can help if the something about this sent him back
favored parent flees the scene. to a primal place of maternal need. For
DO TALK UP YOUR IGNORED The rejected parent, meanwhile, months, he curled against me, making
PARTNER, AND MEAN IT. should be “empathic but calm his goofy declarations—“Sock! Duck!
Make sure you keep the praise and clear about the limit being Hat!”—before demanding that we watch
sincere. “Kids can spot fakeness a set,” says early-childhood Ratatouille while sitting cheek to cheek.
mile away, so think about what you psychologist Rebecca Schrag Now he’s 3, and he likes both parents
really love about your partner,” says Hershberg, Ph.D., author of The the same. Some days he likes me more. I
Dr. Hershberg. “Maybe you say, Tantrum Survival Guide. “You try not to gloat, but boy does it feel good.
‘Mommy works so hard to be here could say something like, ‘I know
before bedtime every night.’ ” Daddy gives amazing baths, but Who knows where the great rock
I’m doing bath tonight.’ ” tumbler of time will hurl us next? But
I know now that Ben will never ditch
DON’T SHOW THAT YOU’RE HURT OR FRUSTRATED. me fully. He can’t. I’m plastered onto his
Sulking just “deepens the divide,” says Dr. Braaten, so process feelings subconscious like a billion billboards.
of rejection (and irritation, if you’re parent #1) solo. And remember, In all the chaos of diapering and snot
spurning is a sign of secure attachment. “ ‘Go away’ isn’t something a sucking, you sort of forget that you are
child says if they think the parent will actually leave,” Dr. Hershberg says. the universe to your kid. I’m his mother.
Whatever happens in the next four or
five decades, however often he and his
dad—and friends and partners—traipse
off without me, ours will remain the
most durable bond there is.



ENJOY GIFTS KIDS CAN MAKE
THE JOURNEY YEAR-END BUDGETING______
TOGETHER
FOSTER-PET LOVE

FOOD STYLING BY RISHON HANNERS. PROP STYLING BY AUDREY DAVIS. A Laid-Back
Thanksgiving

If a simple dinner at
home is on the menu
this year, why not
make dishes you
know your kids will
get excited about?
We’re talking giant
turkey legs and
cheesecake brownies.
And while you’re at
it, have them help in
the kitchen too.
That’s bound to keep
everyone satisfied.

recipes by
SARAH WALDMAN

photographs by
CAITLIN BENSEL

1 3 9P A R E N T S NOVEMBER 2020

LIFEÑ Celebrate

CHOP AHEAD
Up to two days before, you

can chop the sweet
potato, onion, and celery,

then toss them all
into an airtight container

and refrigerate.

Sweet Potato– 1/2 cup finely chopped onion cooking spray or line with paper until just combined. Remove
Stuffing Muffins 1/2 cup finely chopped celery liners. Set aside. Spread bread from heat.
1 cup lower-sodium chicken pieces in an even layer on a
Active time 40 minutes large rimmed baking sheet. Toast 3. Place toasted bread in a
Total time 1 hour broth, divided until pale golden brown, about large mixing bowl; stir in sweet-
Makes 6 servings 1/2 cup chopped walnuts 10 minutes. Remove from oven potato mixture. Whisk egg, salt,
1/2 cup sweetened dried (do not turn oven off). pepper, and remaining 1/2 cup
Thanksgiving’s greatest broth in a small bowl; add
hits—sweet potatoes, stuffing, cranberries 2. While bread toasts, melt butter to bread mixture, and stir until
and cranberries—are served up 1/2 cup chopped fresh in a large skillet over medium- combined. Divide mixture evenly
in one adorable little package. high heat. Add sweet potato, among prepared muffin cups
As you prep, kids can have fun flat-leaf parsley onion, and celery; cook, stirring (about 1/3 cup each). Bake until
tearing the bread into pieces. 11/2 tsp. minced fresh sage occasionally, until onion is soft, crisp around edges, about
11/2 tsp. minced fresh rosemary about 10 minutes. Add 1/2 cup 25 minutes.
INGREDIENTS 11/2 tsp. minced fresh thyme broth; reduce heat to medium,
Nonstick cooking spray and cook, stirring occasionally, NUTRITION PER SERVING
1 large egg until sweet potato is tender, (2 muffins) 314 calories; 8g protein;
1 baguette, torn into 1-in. pieces 1/2 tsp. kosher salt about 10 minutes. Add walnuts, 16g fat (6g sat. fat); 38g carbs;
(about 6 cups) 1/4 tsp. black pepper cranberries, parsley, sage, 3g fiber; 12g sugar; 2mg iron;
rosemary, and thyme; stir 42mg calcium; 390mg sodium
1/4 cup unsalted butter (4 Tbs.) MAKE IT
1 sweet potato, peeled and cut 1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly
coat a 12-cup muffin tin with
into 1/4-in. cubes (about 1 cup)

14 0P A R E N T S NOVEMBER 2020



LIFEÑ Celebrate

This seasonal dish is so easy your kids could make
it—seriously! If they are over 5 and comfortable
using child-safe knives, have them prep the fruit

and herbs and also whisk the dressing. (You’ll have
extra pomegranate seeds on hand to offer

up as a juicy snack to keep your workers happy.)

14 2P A R E N T S NOVEMBER 2020

UNTIL NOW,
YOUR ONLY JOB
ON THANKSGIVING
WAS EATING
ALL THE SIDES.

IT’S GONNA
BE GREAT™

You’re in charge of sides? Scan the code
for this Sausage Stuf ng Muf ns recipe
and other great sides.

LIFEÑ Celebrate

Downsize the bird to its most prized,
kid-adored parts. If your children

want to help cook, ask them to measure and
mix the spices for the dry rub.

Older kids can paint the drumsticks with
melted butter.

14 4P A R E N T S NOVEMBER 2020

© 2020 Reynolds Consumer Products, LLC.

GIVE THANKS NO MATTER
HOW YOU SHARE IT.

LIFEÑ Celebrate

J U M P - S TA R T
DESSERT

These brownies
are even better the next

day. Do yourself a
solid and bake them the

night before.

14 6P A R E N T S NOVEMBER 2020

Whoever said “easy as pie”
never made cheesecake.

It’s a Piece of (Cheese)cake

Visit creamcheese.com for simple cheesecake recipes. ©2020 Kraft Foods