5 Reasons Why the Mother-Son Relationship is Important

Love

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  1. Secure attachment to the mother is VERY important. Studies reveal that boys who do not bond securely with their mothers in the infant years act much more hostile, destructive and aggressive later in life.
  1. Boys who are close to their mothers perform better in school. Yep, nurture is good and “babying” isn’t such a bad thing overall!
  1. A close mother-son relationship is good for a boy’s mental health. A study presented at the American Psychological Association showed that boys who are close to their mothers tend not to buy into hyper-masculine stereotypes.
  1. Teenage boys who are close to their moms engage in less risky behavior. It has long been known that good parent-teen communication can help lessen the influence of negative peer pressure.
  1. Moms who keep their sons close are setting them up for success later in life, both in personal relationships and at work.

Kate Stone Lombardi is the author of THE MAMA’S BOY MYTH: Why Keeping Our Sons Close Makes Them Stronger. (Avery/Penguin Group USA). A journalist, Ms. Lombardi is the mother of two adult children, a son and a daughter. She lives in New York with her husband, Michael.

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xo,

Kingston

12 Amazing Capsules Farm Animals

Just place in warm water & watch!

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Yesterday my dad surprised me with 12 Amazing Capsules Farm Animals (which he got for just $1 at Jewel Osco)! By now you probably know how obsessed I am with animals –  so, this present was spot on!

How it works

You drop the capsules in warm water (adult supervision with warm/hot water) and watch as the capsule ‘creatures’ begin to grow and take shape! In just a few minutes my animals already started to appear!

It’s a lot of fun and the perfect surprise for your children!

To purchase click here.

xo,

Kingston

Book Review: ‘Beach Day’ By Karen Roosa

Book Review

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Today I would like to share one of my favorite books with you! It’s called Beach Day by Karen Roosa (Author) & Maggie Smith (Illustrator).

I simply love this book because it reminds me of our recent trip to Aruba, and because it features two dogs in the book that remind me of my own puppies, Cali and Mylo.

But more importantly the language and pictures are OH-SO charming! It’s portrays a happy family ready to have some fun in the sun! Further, the verses are buoyant enough for reading and/or singing it aloud, as well!

Hence if you’re looking for a captivating introduction to the beach for young children – this book would be the ultimate gift for lovers of any age!

To purchase click here.

xo,

Kingston

Making The Most of Chicago’s Arctic Winter

Honey, it’s cold outside!

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It seems that us, Chicagoans, won’t get rid of winter any time soon! Our temperatures have dropped again (our high is 3 degrees Fahrenheit today!) and more snow is in our forecast!

So, if you’re having similar problems…please, read on because I’m giving you tips & tricks on “How to Make the Most of Winter”.

Take Your Kids Sledding.

Snow days don’t have to be boring! Take your kids sledding – I bet they’ll have tons of fun!

Build A Snowman.

The easiest way to kick boredom in the butt! Get bundled up and build a snowman together!

Visit An Indoor Swim Park.

Freezing outside? Miss the summer?! Take your family to an indoor swim park! We have one close to our house called Keylime Cove Resort. It’s the place to pretend we’re somewhere warm and have water fun!

Visit Your Local Children’s Museum.

Nothing beats a visit to a Children’s Museum. I always have lots of fun because it’s educational and it gives me a chance to interact with other children too! My favorite is Kohl’s Children Museum in Glenview. Check out their website here.

How do you beat the winter?

xo,

Kingston

Chiberia Returns Once More

Happy Thursday, friends!

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The weekend is almost here and guess what?!

We’re enjoying 40 (+) degree weather right now – yet it won’t last long, though! It looks like ‘Chiberia’ returns once more with 20 degree weather by the end of this week. So, we’ll have limited options (again!) of what we can do during these extreme cold temps! We don’t like to spend all day inside the house, so we usually look of fun ways to make dull home moments exciting by visiting our local library, for instance, to enjoy indoor fun somewhere else besides home!

What are your tips and tricks to tackle cold weather with your toddler(s)?

Let me know by commenting below!

xo,

Kingston

Role Playing Games

Choo Choo!

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I’ve been watching mommy and daddy for my whole life now and I’m OH-SO ready to start my own imagination games that either mirror our home life and/or outside life. My latest obsession?

Choo choo trains!

I turned my room into a train station with me being the ticket conductor! Come visit me and watch the magic happen! My parents are happy to play the “role play” game with me and I must admit: It’s fun to boss them around every once in a while!

What are your favorite games?

xo,

Kingston

Toddler Boys’ Kitchen

It’s not just a girl thing!

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My daddy is a fantastic cook and I’m following his footsteps!

Today I decided to make him a special breakfast: A plate consisting of corn, a slice of bagel and one strawberry. I know it seems a bit odd for grown-ups, but not so much for tots like me! I love being creative and that includes experiencing with food!

I’m well aware that I have lots to learn to be just as great of a cook as daddy, but don’t you agree that I’m at least on the right track?!

PS: I love you, daddy (or as I pronounce it: I lah you, daddy)!

xo,

Kingston