Give the Gift of Comfort: Join Our Blanket Making Event!

February 7, 2024

Imagine every parent’s worst nightmare–your child is being admitted to the hospital. You may be feeling totally helpless, but you smile and tell your kiddo that everything is going to be just fine. In between the constant nurses coming in and out, and the medical terminology you’re trying to google, a smiling face walks in. They hand your child the gift of comfort. They give you the gift of relief, for one small second.

That smiling stranger is Fleece & Thank You and their army of amazing volunteers bringing comfort to children in hospitals! February is Random Acts of Kindness Month and Detroit Mom is giving you the opportunity to give back. We’re partnering with Fleece & Thank You this month to support kids, and caregivers, in hospitals, by making fleece blankets!

What is Fleece & Thank You?

Fleece & Thank You is a Farmington Hills-based, non-profit organization which specializes in making fleece blankets with personal video messages and then delivering them to children in hospitals all around Michigan and Northern Ohio. Check out their website!

They are also the creators of the Grateful Human brand. Grateful Human is an apparel line born out of one of the core values of Fleece & Thank You: gratitude. The line spreads the message of giving and receiving gratitude. (PS! Check out their collegiate colors collection!)

How does this community event work?

Participate 1 of 3 ways!
Click the link below to buy a special Detroit Mom blanket kit and one-of-a-kind Grateful Human Detroit Mom sweatshirt (sweatshirt must be ordered by February 15th), then:

Come to our blanket making event on February 29th from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., and make your blanket with our Detroit Mom community (bring your kids too!). Be sure to RSVP in the event on FB (linked below) so that we know how many people are coming!
Make your blanket at home and bring it to our event! There will be plenty of moms needing a helping hand to create their blanket, or meet new friends.
Can’t make it?! Order your blanket and make it at home, on your own timeline!

Buy Your Sweatshirt and Kit Here!

RSVP here!

Can I just buy a blanket to donate, or make my own?

Unfortunately, no. Fleece & Thank You blanket kits must be used for this special partnership. Here’s why:

Fleece & Thank You works with their hospital partners to design the exact specifications and process for our kits, and this is critical in delivering consistent comfort to kiddos. They require a specific type of fabric, size, and design.
Each blanket has a logo/patch heat pressed on it, where there is a code that contains a video of the blanket maker offering words of encouragement to children going through their treatment journey. These children can then send a thank you video back with their new piece of colorful comfort.
Most importantly: your order of our blanket kits helps cover the entire process of blanket delivery from raw materials to hospital bed. Instead of purchasing fabric at the fabric store, ordering the kit from Fleece & Thank You is a critical part to keeping their service to hospitals (and children!) sustainable.

Grab a Mom Friend and Join Us!

This is a kid-friendly event, or great for a moms night out! Order your apparel and Fleece & Thank You Blanket Kit today and then come mingle with us while we help create smiles for children!

BLANKET MAKING EVENT DETAILS

When: Thursday, February 29, 2024

Time: 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.

Where: Rochester Hills | Chief Financial Credit Union
20 S. Main
Rochester, MI 48307

This is a kid-friendly event!

We can’t wait to see you there!

Embracing Other Cultures: Celebrating the Lunar New Year

Lindsay Gizicki

February 7, 2024

Celebrating the Lunar New Year, The Year of the Dragon, begins on Saturday, February 10th, and goes until January 28th, 2025. This is the Chinese New Year schedule (or Lunar New Year). It is believed that the dragon zodiac represents good luck, strength, and health to those born in its year.

The last years of the dragon included 1976, 1988, 2000, and 2012. I was born in the year of the snake (1989), so I can’t confirm any of the typical dragon personality traits such as power and being naturally gifted; but, I can wish those traits onto anyone born in the coming calendar year.

Most people know this holiday as Chinese New Year. However, many Asian cultures celebrate it so, collectively, it’s called Lunar New Year.

I have a personal connection to Lunar New Year: In 2002, a cute little baby girl was born in China. That little baby girl would soon become a part of my family–my little sister. It was always important to my dad and my stepmom to keep some of the traditions from her home country, so she always felt a bit connected to her heritage.

What Celebrating the Lunar New Year Looks Like

Celebrating the Lunar New year often includes many food items that are symbolic for good luck, such as fish and oranges. Rice cakes wrapped in banana leaves are traditionally prepared along with dumplings.

Like our own New Year celebrations here in the United States, fireworks and parades are a big staple. In the Chinese culture, bright lights and loud noises are thought to scare away anything negative.

During the Lunar New Year celebrations, family members are expected to be home. This is typically a 15-day celebration. Cleaning the house and sweeping away any ill-fortune is just the beginning of that celebration. However, the family event is of the utmost importance. Getting home for reunion dinners and spending time with immediate and extended family is a must.

How My Family Incorporates Lunar New Year Celebrations

One of these aspects of wanting my sister to have part of her heritage growing up was to celebrate the Lunar New Year. This holiday was very new to my family. I didn’t even realize it didn’t fall on January 1st. To honor my sister’s heritage, every Lunar New Year we would take her out to dinner to eat traditional Chinese foods.

We would also watch the much beloved lion and dragon dances. These dances are performed at all Chinese festivals to bring in prosperity and good luck for the coming year.

My little sister at a traditional Lunar New Year celebration.

One of the biggest Lunar New Year traditions is to gift money to young children in red envelopes. The color red is a symbol of luck in the Chinese culture and giving money in a red envelope is supposed to make the money lucky and allow the children to start saving for their future.

During this time of celebration, my stepmom would go to my sister’s school to talk about the Lunar New Year with her classmates. It was important to us that her friends and teachers understood who she was, and holidays that were important to her. My family would send pencils and coloring pages with her to school as little gifts for her peers to get them excited about the holiday as well.

Embracing Other Cultures

So, do you have a blended family living here in the United States? What does your family do to incorporate other cultures into your own?

Ideas to celebrate and embrace other cultures during their holidays:

Find out what foods they traditionally eat during these times.
Watch some of their festivals, dances, and yearly celebrations.
Learn their customs and traditions.
Read about their history.

It’s so important to teach our children about other cultures, and different ways that people celebrate. I hope this post helped you learn a little but more about the Lunar New Year!

We are a country made up of many special heritages. Vaibhavi shares all about Diwali and its importance!

Giving Back: Tips For National Giving Hearts Day

AntonetteSlobodian

February 6, 2024

Did you know today, February 8th, is National Giving Hearts Day? Yes, It’s exactly what you think! Our nation will give their hearts to one or all of their favorite non-profit organizations in any way they can, and in any way they love to give!

February is a month known for LOVE, hearts, and kindness because of Valentine’s Day. The American Heart Association also declared February as American Heart Month to raise awareness for heart disease and take control of your every day choices towards being healthy. This is just one of many wonderful organizations that push hard to share their mission and change the outcome of our future!

As Detroit Moms, we think about our future often. The future of our children at five, 10, or in 15 years . . . what will our world look like? It is in our nature to nurture and care for our family because one day, they will be caring for us.

The history of National Giving Hearts Day goes back to 2008 when a medical foundation in North Dakota created a simple way to ask people to show their love for charities and people in need during Valentine’s Day–not just showing affection toward your love or your boo.

They did this by asking them to donate to their favorite charities that they feel the most passionate about and it spread across the Midwest. It spread nationally in 2017, so that everyone is able to participate in this movement for a better future!

How do you find out who to give to?

With so many people in need and approximately 23,466 non-profits in the Detroit area according to Cause IQ, let’s break down the areas into which types of categories we, as community members, can give to:

Arts, culture, and humanities
Business and community development organizations
Educational institutions
Foundations
Human service organizations
Mutual assistance organizations
Recreation, sports, and social clubs
Religious organizations
Unions and employment organizations
Youth development organizations

As mothers, some of us have school-aged children. This is where we can start: by contributing to our children’s future! Donate your time to volunteer, donate supplies, or make a gift of your choice for the school to use for a special project they may have in place. For instance, a new playground or a new initiative to replace all old and dilapidated furniture.

As Detroit Moms, we are connected because we have an understanding of how life can be at any stage and at any age. Finding a connection to a non-profit is a great way to start diving into giving!

For example, I have a friend who recently won her battle with breast cancer! But, what her family had gone through–full of worry, fearing the worst that someday her children could be without their mother, all of the doctor’s appointments and emotional stress, not only on her but everyone else (her friends, her family, her community). This connection brought me closer to wanting to dive deep and help Breast Cancer Awareness research and to help other patients get through this hard time. A donation or volunteering time will help!

What is the best way for YOU to give?

According to Dictionary.com, the word “give” means to present voluntarily and without expecting compensation. Growing up in the ’80s, my parents were immigrants from the Philippines. They were making a living here in the United States with four children. Each week my parents were able to give to our church some type of donation, even though we were not rich and just making ends meet. During the time when the collection basket was coming around, I always knew my parents had a little extra for our church!

Think about what the BEST way is to give for family. Get your kids involved with volunteering at an organization of their choice, whether it’s for your church or the many kid-friendly organizations here in Detroit that need YOUR help! Most of the organizations will allow you to start a small fundraiser of your own to help further their mission. Just contact them and let them know you would love to make an impact and help them achieve their fundraising goals!

To give or not to give?

As a family, assess your financial status and share with your children what you are giving and why. They may not understand it now, but they will remember it in the future. Financial literacy for you and your children is important at any age. There are many great resources out there offering free advice.

I hope National Giving Hearts Day will help jump-start your heart to give a little more love to those who may need it the most. Just remember: a smile with a little dose of kindness doesn’t cost a thing, but may help someone who is having a really bad day!

Giving back and volunteering can be a whole-family event. Antonette also shares how to teach your kids the importance of doing so!

The Best Pizza Shops In + Around Detroit

Sofia Konstance Nyland

February 5, 2024

*updated 2/3/2024

Did you know that February 9th is National Pizza Day? It’s time to show some love to our favorite pizza shops in and around Detroit. You know, the ones where the pepperoni is always hot, the breadsticks are always cheesy, and the pizza itself pleases every single family member–even our youngest, pickiest eaters!

We wanted to put together a list of some favorites that you just might not have heard of, in the event you’re celebrating National Pizza Day and wanting to try somewhere new. While sometimes it’s comforting to go with your tried-and-true favorites, it’s also exciting to try out somewhere you’ve never ordered from before. And with pizza, you really can’t go wrong!

Readers in one of our community groups shared their favorite pizza shops in and around Detroit with us. A few of our readers ALSO recommended the perfect pizza to order, which we thought would be helpful if you’re nervous about trying somewhere new. Trust our readers–they know their pizza!

Here are 20 of the best pizza shops in + around Detroit!

Alibi | Troy

Truly a staple restaurant to eat at, if you’re local and grew up here! Alibi is known for their pizza and antipasto salad, and you can usually find something on the menu that your kids will enjoy, too.

Detroit Mom reader recommends ordering: the pizza with pepperonis that curl up, breadsticks, and antipasto salad! The fish and chips are excellent as well.

Bigalora | Multiple Locations

Their wood-fired pizza looks amazing! You can even order curbside and grab some drinks to-go as well. Their menu features pizzas with and without tomato sauce.

Brooklyn Pizza | Birmingham

Whether you just want to pop in for a slice, or take the whole family out for dinner, this place offers options for all! Brooklyn Pizza focuses on the famous New York style pie, but also hosts a full bar with fun, fancy drinks and a gelato counter! Stop by for an entire meal or just a few garlic knots.

Buddy’s | Multiple Locations

Buddy’s is definitely a feel-good, family favorite. My kids love going there for pizza and dessert. Also, how convenient that they’re located at the zoo, too?! Perfect to stop for a bite to eat while out getting your Vitamin Z!

Chubby Charlie’s Pizza | Waterford

With more than 40 different toppings and more than 24 specialty pizzas, you could mix and match as much as you’d like and probably always order something new. And, everything is so fresh. Prepared daily, just for you!

COMO’S Restaurant | Ferndale

Be sure to order their Detroit-style square pizza. It looks so delicious! Based on their reviews, they have gluten-free pizza on their menu, too.

Crispelli’s Bakery & Pizzeria | Multiple Locations

A metro Detroit favorite, you’ve probably passed a Crispelli’s at some point or another! With a fresh and welcoming atmosphere, perfect for kids and families, Crispelli’s serves up tasty, brick-oven pizza. Don’t forget to check out the open kitchen, where you can watch your pizza being made!

Georgio’s Pizza & Pasta | Rochester

Have you ever craved a nice, huge, greasy New York slice? Then head on over to Georgio’s! It’s the quintessential New York pizza and pasta place that also offers a full menu of popular Italian options!

Grandma Bob’s | Detroit (Corktown)

Don’t let the name fool you–Grandma Bob’s is one in-style place! This Detroit pizza spot has a fun, downtown atmosphere and some of the most delicious pizza around so bring your appetite!

Detroit Mom reader recommends ordering: all the vegan things! It’s one of the best vegan pizza options around, and they also offer dressings and desserts for those who aren’t dairy inclined.

Green Lantern | Multiple Locations

Green Lantern calls itself a family-friendly restaurant, which we think is pretty perfect considering most kids love pizza! It started back in 1955 and we love the way they’ve grown with multiple locations.

Detroit Mom reader recommends ordering: the round pizza with the thick crust, and pepperoni

Jolly Pumpkin | Multiple Locations

While better known as a brewery, Jolly Pumpkin puts the phrase “Beer and Pizza” on a pedestal! They have some great creative pies to choose from. Detroit Mom readers have never left disappointed!

Major Tomato | Allen Park

A family-owned place! Major Tomato is proud to choose organic ingredients whenever they can, and they secure their fresh toppings from local businesses. You know we LOVE supporting local here at Detroit Mom!

Detroit Mom reader recommends ordering: the Loaded Major Potato and Backyard BBQ Chicken

Michigan & Trumbull Pizza | Detroit

With both Detroit- and New York-style pizza on their menu, you’re sure to find the perfect pizza to order. Gluten-free crust is available! Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

My Pizza Place | Sterling Heights

Tons of specialty pizzas to choose from, or create your own! They also have a gluten-free cauliflower crust, AND a Chicago-style pizza that sounds amazing.

Pizza Cutter | Northville

Fresh pizza dough and a sauce recipe that is over 40 years old. Sounds good to me! Pizza Cutter also recently moved locations and was able to upgrade the restaurant. You’ll definitely want to check them out and learn about the history of the original founder!

Detroit Mom reader recommends ordering: pepperoni

Pizzawala’s | Canton

There are SO many options for pizza here, and if you don’t see something you had in mind, you can also build your own pizza. Every pizza on their menu looks amazing!

Detroit Mom reader recommends ordering: butter chicken, achari chicken, or paneer tikka pizza. Their vegetarian puffs and cheese chili bread (they are spicy) are great too, and their vegetarian pav bhaji pizza sounds delicious.

Slice of the 80’s | Livonia, Waterford, + Westland

You’ll love their homemade pizza dough and secret pizza sauce. Plus, all the 80’s nostalgia is sure to entertain you while you wait for your pizza to be ready!

Detroit Mom reader recommends ordering: the pickle pizza, and regular pepperoni for the kids

Supino Pizzeria | Detroit (Eastern Market & New Center)

The best thing about Supino is 100% the pizza! They have so many great options and the salads are great too! But what’s better than completing your pizza excursion with a little shopping, too? Both Supino’s locations are conveniently located next to some other great Detroit small businesses, so don’t forget to check them out once your belly is full!

Tomatoes APizza | Birmingham + Farmington

Cheesy goodness in huge pie form! Tomatoes serves a thin crust style pizza in a cute and comfy atmosphere. They are great for takeout too or your kid’s birthday party! Pies are large and slices are cut thin and long, which makes them perfect for large groups!

Two Guys From Italy | Royal Oak

Perfect to pick up on your way home from the zoo or shopping in downtown Royal Oak! They also offer calzones, ribs, salads, and sandwiches.

Plus, some additional favorite pizza shops in + around Detroit:

Amici’s Kitchen + Living Room | Berkley | Detroit Mom reader recommends ordering: the prosciutto flatbread
Cloverleaf Pizza | Multiple Locations | Detroit Mom reader recommends ordering: deep dish pizza
Corsi’s Restaurant | Livonia | Detroit Mom reader recommends ordering: the classic pepperoni because they use the little cup pepperonis, the gluten-free pizza, or the Corsi’s special
Detroit Style Pizza Co | Roseville
Fat Kat’s Pizza | Redford | Detroit Mom reader recommends ordering: the supreme or the bbq chicken
Johnny Z’s Pizzeria | St. Clair Shores | Detroit Mom reader recommends ordering: their square pizza or the vegan pizza options
Licavoli’s Market | Grosse Pointe Woods | Detroit Mom reader recommends ordering: the marghe”Rita” pizza
Livonia Bakery + Café | Livonia
Mama Mias | Livonia + Redford | Detroit Mom reader recommends ordering: the vegetarian pizza, and the breadsticks!
Niki’s Pizza | Detroit | the famous feta pizza
Paisano’s Restaurant | St. Clair Shores |
Pie Sci Pizza | Detroit | Detroit Mom reader recommends ordering: the baby got barbeque pizza
Pizza Nostalgia | Washington
Primo’s Pizza | Plymouth | Detroit Mom reader recommends ordering: the primo’s special or BLT pizza
Shield’s | Multiple Locations | Detroit Mom reader recommends ordering: deep dish pizza
Uncle Andy’s Pizza | Berkley + Farmington | Detroit Mom reader recommends ordering: the bbq chicken pizza, or anything with their spicy pepperoni

No matter where you grab your pizza from, we hope you decide to support one of the small businesses on our list. Enjoy your pizza!

Looking for a tasty dessert for after dinner? Check out Carm’s list of where to find sweet treats in + around Detroit.

St. Clair Shores: Detroit Mom’s Favorite Metro Area Cities

LaurenDalton

February 4, 2024

Twenty years ago, if you would have told me that I would live two miles from my childhood home, I probably would have laughed in your face. But it turns out there is no place like home . . . and for me, St. Clair Shores is just that.

It is an affordable and safe community that is great for young families and has so many events to bring the city together. Between the many great parks, wonderful restaurants and breweries, and community-wide activities, there surely is a little something for everyone to enjoy.

3 Favorite Family Restaurants

Johnny Z’s Pizza | 28210 Harper Ave, (586) 498-8800
Some of the best pizza around. They also offer dairy free, plant based, and vegan pizza, and other options. Their ranch is to die for!

Nautical Deli | 23839 Jefferson, (586) 776-9898
A wonderful lunch option with homemade sandwiches and salads as well as a rotation of daily soups.

Shores Inn Food + Spirits | 23410 Greater Mack, (586) 773-8940
Shores Inn has a large menu to stratify everyone’s liking. My kids also love that the kids meals come in cardboard cars. They have many specials throughout the week, like half off pizza on Tuesdays.

3 Favorite Date Night Spots

Fishbones | 23722 Jefferson, (586) 498-3000
Fishbones is our go-to sushi spot. They have an awesome outdoor patio when it’s warm out, and some amazing New Orleans menu options.

Watermark Bar and Grill | 24420 Jefferson, (586) 777-3677
Easily the best dining view in the shores. Sit inside and take in the view with the floor to ceiling windows, enjoy your food on the patio in the summer, or cozy up in one of the igloos on the dock during the winter months!

Zef’s Dockside | 24026 Jefferson, (586) 879-6279
This is our typical date night spot. Everything we have tried on their menu is wonderful. They have a seasonally rotating customized cocktail menu. During the summer months, they also have a second story patio that offers a smaller menu. Lastly, they offer a Sunday brunch!

3 Favorite Places for Sweet Treats

Cold Cow | 27435 Harper, (586) 498-1149
Cold Cow has been a St. Clair Shores staple for as long as I can remember. They are one of the most cost-effective ice cream places in the Shores!

Modern Cone | 28616 Harper, (586) 879-0722
Modern Cone pushes the boundaries when it comes to ice cream. They are always coming up with tasty customized creations, like ice cream nachos!

Wally’s Frozen Custard | 22501 Harper, (586) 552-5038
If your kids love firetrucks, Wally’s has to be on your list of places to visit! They are located in an old fire station and have two fire trucks that they have converted into custard trucks. My favorite thing about Wally’s is that they offer a baby cup for $1.65–the perfect amount for a sweet treat for my toddlers.

3 Favorite Breakfast + Coffee Shops

Eastside Bagel |21601 Harper, (586) 775-8820
Our FAVORITE breakfast spot. The cherry almond cream cheese is simply THE BEST.

Eos Café | 30625 Jefferson, (586) 217-5211
Freshly brewed coffee in a cozy environment. They also offer specialty coffee flights throughout the year. They have wonderful breakfast and lunch sandwhiches; my favorite is the bacon and brie!

New Order Coffee Roasters | 25107 Jefferson, (586) 944-2121
Cookie butter latte. Need I say more?! They also sell their freshly roasted coffee to brew at home.

3 Favorite Places for an Adult Beverage

Caché Cocktail and Wine Bar | 23218 Greater Mack, (586) 850-5401
A true specialty cocktail establishment! You will find all your classic cocktails here along with a seasonal rotating menu.

Copper Hop Brewing Co. | 23401 Greater Mack, (586) 204-7752
Copper Hop has one of the largest and liveliest patios in the Shores. They also have daily food trucks that come in, along with live music on Wednesdays.

Dragon’s Landing | 24409 Jefferson, (586) 218-8090
Dragon’s Landing is a parent’s dream when it comes to going out to eat with kids. The patio is mostly all fenced in, and they have a corner with kids toys. The kids have a blast playing while the adults can talk and sip on a drink. Their food is amazing as well. My favorite is The Grilled Cheese!

3 Favorite Places for Health + Wellness

The Lash Cabana Facial Bar | 25408 Harper, (586) 533-8912
If I am looking for a fun girl’s day out, The Lash Cabana is always my go-to choice. They offer “open concept” facials which means you sit in lounge chairs right next to your friends while you each get a facial. Catching up while doing self-care–win win!

Shores Yoga | 23517 9 Mile, (586) 275-7648
You are guaranteed an excellent nights sleep after a class at Shores Yoga. They offer hot vinyasa, yin, slow flow, and many other yoga styles. They also offer kids yoga!

Sirona Wellness Spa | 21510 Harper, (586) 872-2694
One of the best massages I have ever received! They also offer float tanks to help further your relaxation.

Favorite City-Wide Events

Downtown Social District
Every second and fourth Saturday of the month from May through October, the streets of downtown St. Clair Shores shut down so everyone can join in for live music, cocktails, food trucks, and games.

Halloween House Tour
Each year the Halloween House Tour committee travels around and votes on the top Halloween houses in the Shores and complies a “top house” list. Then, over several weekends in October, people can take a self-guided driving tour to view all the amazing houses.

Memorial Day Parade
2023 marked the 70th St. Clair Shores Memorial Day parade. The kids love watching the bands and participants march along Jefferson or Harper!

Music on the Lake
This is one of the events where non-residents can visit one of the residents-only parks. Every Wednesday from June through August, different bands take on the bandstand to rock the night away!

Tunnel of Lights
Our holiday season would not be complete without a trip through the tunnel of lights. Blossom Heath Park is transformed into a winter wonderland with thousands of lights. The last few years, the season has been kicked off with the Holiday Lights on Wheels where hundreds of jeeps are decked out in lights and drive around the Shores, ending at the Tunnel of Lights.

Bonus Tips for St. Clair Shores

Hop on the BIRD scooters and tour the city with easy on and off!
The parks are for residents only on normal days, but be sure to check out the many events the city hosts which are open for all and anyone can enjoy the parks.
Get out on the water with one of the tiki or pontoon boat rental companies.
Enjoy a walk on the Blossom Heath pier which is open to the public, and take in the beauty of Lake St. Clair.

What’s your favorite metro area city? Check out our post featuring Grosse Ile!

The Parenting Post: Sleep Tips, Part 2

Detroit Mom

February 3, 2024

Do you have a parenting hurdle you’re working through? If so, “The Parenting Post” is for you! One of our writers, Albiona, has been answering all of YOUR parenting questions over on IG, and we’ve turned her series into blog posts on our website as well. We just can’t get enough of her helpful advice, and we thought you’d appreciate it, too!

Her videos cover a wide variety of parenting questions–honestly, anything and everything! If it’s something you’re wondering, there’s a really good chance that another parent in our community is struggling with it, too. And Albiona is here to help!

This week, she’s focusing on creating an optimal sleep environment for your child. Read on to discover what you can do in your home to promote sleep, and the language to consider using at bedtime!

What tips do you have for creating a sleeping environment that is conducive to better sleep for kids?

There are some things that you can do that do not require ANYTHING of your kids (yay!). They’re things that you can change and do in your own environment that are going to help you achieve better sleep for them–AND for you.

The first thing is to try changing when your child takes their bath or shower.

More often than not, this happens right before bedtime. If your children aren’t bothered by it and they do sleep well, then this doesn’t need to be changed.

If your child is struggling to fall asleep, try giving them their bath or shower earlier in the night. Our body temperature increases when we take a bath or shower. And for some of us, when that happens, our body tells the brain that it’s time to wake up and be active! It doesn’t actually calm and soothe the way that we think it does. It triggers your child’s mind to stay alert, wake up, and have energy. So, moving bath or shower time up is a great way to shift something very small that’s easy and doable!

Change the temperature in your house at bedtime.

We always knock the temperature of our house down at night when it’s time to sleep. So whatever the temperature is in your house, come down a few degrees and make it a little cooler. It’s a better sleep environment when it’s colder, because the warmer your body is, the less quality sleep you get.

Keep in mind though that kids run warm! It’s why they can be barefoot all winter long in the house. They have a higher internal temperature than adults do. When we knock the temperature down a few degrees at night, we help our kids to get more, better quality sleep. And, they might continue to sleep longer through the night and will be experiencing more restful, deeper sleep (which we want!).

Remember to follow through on what you say.

A lot of times parents might say, “You have to go to sleep right now, or you won’t get ______.” The problem here is that you cannot follow through on that, because you cannot make your child sleep. If you can’t follow through on what you’re saying, don’t say it–it just becomes an empty threat.

What should you do instead? Think of what you’re trying to achieve: getting them to lay in their bed, fall asleep, and stay asleep. Just start there. You might say, “Hey, let’s get our pajamas on!” because you can help them get their pajamas on. Or you might say, “Let’s pick a book to read and get in bed,” and then you do just that–help them get into bed, get all snuggly, and settle in to read together.

You can’t make your child sleep. But you can set them up for success within their sleep environment. So use those examples mentioned above rather than telling them to simply go to sleep.

Try using a bonus book.

This is an idea from Joe Newman, the author of Raising Lions. Basically, if your child likes to be read to at night, you can read one book together that the child picks. Then, they can have a bonus book. The only way they get to read the bonus book, though, is if they lay down in their bed with their eyes closed.

Sometimes kids will say they don’t want to close their eyes because they want to see the book, so you have to remind them that it’s the only way the bonus book will work. You might have a little bit of a back-and-forth discussion over it, and/or you might have to leave the room if they do not close their eyes and then tell them they can’t have the bonus book. But you have to stick to it because you want to set them up for success–and laying down, breathing slowly, and closing our eyes are all things that help us to fall asleep.

With the bonus book, you’re setting them up for successful sleep because they aren’t wide awake, asking questions, looking at the pages, etc. while you read. This also gives them the autonomy to decide for themselves if the bonus book is something they want to do–they’ll close their eyes and lay down if they want to make it happen.

So remember, there are a few things you can do to create an optimal sleep environment: move up the bath or shower time, drop the temperature a few degrees, and use a bonus book. All of these will be ways to set your child up for a successful night of sleep!

Do you have more parenting questions for Albiona? Leave them below so she can possibly answer them for you. To learn more, you can follow Albiona on Instagram. Or, subscribe to her weekly newsletter and download her free guide for teaching parents how to get their kids to listen.

Looking for more parenting advice? Our previous Parenting Post blog post covered creating a sleep plan for your child!

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Celebrating Black History Month In + Around Detroit

jennifer stallings dewey

January 31, 2024

“History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.”
-Maya Angelou

This quote perfectly describes one of the most important reasons to celebrate Black History Month: it is crucial that we learn from the past in order to create a better future. Detroit in particular has such a vibrant and rich history of Black culture. We should all take the time to celebrate the triumphs and acknowledge the tragedies of the past.

A picture if the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. — Photo provided by the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History

Celebrating Black History Month can be a great opportunity to support Black-owned businesses, learn about Black history, and celebrate notable Black Americans. Below are some ideas for celebrating Black History Month in and around Detroit.

Ann Arbor District Library

A number of in-person and online events for all ages, including movie screenings and a live theater performance by Black & Brown Theater.

Association for the Study of African American Life and History

Virtual programming celebrating the theme of “African Americans and the Arts”.

Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History

Several events including screenings of films each Sunday on different prominent Black Americans. There is also a book talk with author Ibram X. Kendi on February 1st.

City of Detroit

Their website (linked above) highlights a number of community events and Black-owned business to support.

City of Southfield Parks and Recreation Department

In-person Black History Month events can be found on the calendar on their website.

Detroit Institute of Art

A number of events for all ages including Storytelling with Madelyn Porter on Saturday, February 10. Madelyn is a talented local performer guaranteed to entertain and educate.

Detroit Public Library

A literary contest, oral history collection, book recommendations, and ideas for inspiring our kids.

Henry Ford Museum

In addition to several special exhibits, the museum celebrates this month with a number of dance, drama, and music performances.

Motown Museum

Motown Museum features exhibits focused on Motown music and many of our favorite Black performers from that era.

Pontiac Public Library

Check out a special Black History Month Celebration on February 10 featuring author Hill Harper, along with the annual teen and youth essay contest.

Southfield Public Library

“Black History Mysteries” every week for families to solve together.

Taste the Diaspora

Each week in February will honor a specific cuisine. Shoebox lunches are curated and sold by local chefs, Black farmers, and food makers all partnering together.

If you have other ideas of how to celebrate Black History Month, comment below and share the details! We wish you a joyful, reflective, and educational month!

Check out Carmin’s list of Black-Owned Businesses to Try In + Around Detroit for more ideas of places to visit and things to do this month.

My Kid Didn’t Get a Trophy + We All Survived: Lessons in Losing

stacybrooks

January 31, 2024

We just wrapped up our first season with competitive sports. And by competitive sports, I mean: one competition at the end of the season. My daughter completed her first season as a cheerleader. She is seven. The other girls on her team are in first and second grades. They practiced three days a week and cheered in a football game each week for several months. And they did great.

All the girls worked really hard and improved tremendously each week. They looked adorable and had a great time cheering on the football team. All of these games and practices were really just leading up to the main event, Cheerfest: an all-day competition where the girls compete against other local cities in a Pom routine.

They practiced, and they practiced, and they did an amazing job on their routine. For 25 seven- and eight-year-olds, learning and memorizing a two-and-a-half minute routine was really hard. But they did it!

The Big Day

At the end of the competition, when they were announcing the winners, our team’s name wasn’t called. Losing was devastating–not only to the girls, but to the coaches and parents as well. I was surprised when my own eyes welled up with tears. Trying to console your crying child when you are about to break down is hard! But no one said being a mom was easy. We reassured her they did a great job and told her they would do better next year.

While she was disappointed, she eventually moved on and still talks about all the fun she had this season with her teammates and that she can’t wait to go out and do it again next year. Of course, it would have been great if we could have ended the season on a high note with a W . . . but it doesn’t always work out that way. Even though we didn’t win, I believe my daughter and her squad learned some valuable lessons.

Lessons in Losing

By not placing or winning, kids learn resilience. They learn to get back out there and try again. If they want that win, they need to try again. If they quit, winning next time isn’t even an option. This will serve her well throughout the rest of her school years and into adulthood. You won’t get every job you apply for, so are you going to quit looking? No! You are going to polish up that resume and get back out there

After not placing, it allowed the girls a chance to reflect. What could we have done differently? How could we have been better? Sometimes, there is no answer. Maybe it just wasn’t their day. But by reflecting on their performance, it allows room for change and improvement. No one ever does something perfectly, and there is always a chance to do better.

When they don’t win every game or get a medal at each competition, it makes the times they actually do win so much better. Everything gets old after a while, even winning. When children realize that the reason they won is because they put in the effort, that is when the real victory happens.

Our motto with all sports is, “We won because we had fun.” This isn’t the World Series or the Super Bowl. These are children who have a whole lifetime to worry about winning (and losing). The younger they are when they learn the lesson that not everyone gets a trophy, the easier time they will have when they don’t get the W both on and off the field.

In motherhood, it’s more important to be real than anything else. Stacy also shares why it’s important to stop showing up as inauthentic in motherhood.

Hot Chocolate Charcuterie Boards for Winter Days

Lindsay Gizicki

January 29, 2024

Who said hot chocolate has to be boring? With so many options for adding some extra “yumminess” to your cup, don’t let yourself have something plain! I decided to try to make something that would be perfect for a delicious hot chocolate charcuterie board. It is National Hot Chocolate Day, after all!

Now, fair warning: this is not one of my healthier charcuterie boards. I didn’t even attempt to be good with this one. If you were really looking to get some healthier treats, I would suggest doing sugar-free versions of some of the items I found. You could also search for candies with zero artificial food coloring or even vegan options!

There are plenty of better alternatives depending on your dietary restrictions or preferences. If you’re a free-eater or just looking to treat yourself, use the various items I’ve listed below.

What to Add to Your Hot Chocolate Charcuterie Board

Think marshmallows. Lots and lots of marshmallows. Did you know that marshmallows come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and flavors? I walked down the marshmallow aisle recently at a local store and realized how much I’ve been missing out on. They had vanilla and strawberry flavored marshmallows, decorative marshmallows, chocolate-covered marshmallows . . . the list goes on!

Besides a number of different styles of marshmallows, here’s what else I used on my hot chocolate charcuterie board:

Chocolate-covered pretzel sticks
Cinnamon sticks
Cookies & cream biscuit sticks
Godiva peppermint chocolate bars
Hershey’s chocolate bars
M&Ms
Peppermints: sticks, candy canes, and puffs
Shortbread cookies
White chocolate chips

Putting Your Hot Chocolate Charcuterie Board Together

For my charcuterie boards, I always like to spread food items out. In my opinion, it’s best to not have all the marshmallows together—let them live around the board so people have options on all sides!

I’m also a big fan of zero white space. To fill in any possible holes, I sprinkled extra white chocolate chips and peppermint puffs.

My kids really loved the cookies & cream biscuit sticks and the chocolate-covered pretzel sticks. They were the perfect thing to add to their miniature mugs I gave them.

Other Things to Add to Your Hot Chocolate Charcuterie Board

Caramel or chocolate syrup
Cookies
Rolled wafers
Shredded coconut
Thin mints
Whipped cream

A Hot Chocolate Date No One Will Forget

My kids absolutely love hot chocolate during the cold months. These charcuterie boards are a super cute way of adding some extra excitement to your winter nights.

Some of my close friends saw the board as we were making it and mentioned how cute it would be for a girl’s night or a backyard party (if you have an enclosed patio, that is).

You know that when I make these charcuterie boards, I love asking my kids questions as we’re making them. For this board I asked, “What other shape or color of marshmallow should we have added?”, “What’s your favorite thing to do when it’s cold outside?”, and “Where should we go next time it snows?”

I just love hearing their responses and it becomes a great activity to do together. Finding new ways to engage with my kids will never get old to me. After all, who doesn’t love a good sugar rush and a fun night with family or friends?

For other fun things to do in the winter in Michigan, check out our Winter Activities from A to Z guide.

8 Baby Products That Are Total Lifesavers for New Parents

Laura Herr

January 29, 2024

Being a new parent brings many feelings. They run the gamut from joy and excitement, to fear and overwhelm. New parents may feel lost or unprepared when they return home from the hospital with their sweet little one. The dizzying array of baby products available can add to the confusion.

Aside from the basics, which items do you really need, anyway? I’ve rounded up a list of baby products that are total lifesavers for new parents, according to some of our contributors here at Detroit Mom!

Baby Brezza

Our team loves the Baby Brezza! It is wonderful for formula-fed babies. This little gem will automatically mix, heat, and dispense formula into virtually any type of baby bottle. Features include adjustable 1 ounce increments between 2-10 ounces, three temperature settings, and formula/water or water only settings. It has the makings of an amazing baby product!

Baby Carrier

Our team loves a baby carrier too! There are many types on the market, from the more structured buckle carriers, to the soft and stretchy wraps. A baby carrier will allow you to “wear” your baby, which lets you have both hands free while also keeping baby close. When done safely and correctly, baby wearing can have benefits for both baby and parent.

Baby Shusher

Multiple mammas on our team love the baby shusher. This sound machine meant for newborns produces a soothing “shhhhh” sound. Users found it very helpful in calming fussy infants or helping babies to fall asleep. It is supposed to mimic the sound of being in the womb. The baby shusher also features a timer setting and volume control. A definite must-have baby product!

Burp Cloths

This one is self-explanatory! Babies can make pretty big messes so you’ll want to stock up on burp cloths. When my first was born, we had a handful of the cute burp cloths and figured that would be enough. Once we realized having just a few wasn’t going to cut it, we picked up some cloth diapers to use as burp cloths in a pinch.

They were game-changers! Soft, absorbent, and they often come many to a pack. You can use them as changing pad covers, too. They definitely come in handy!

Doona

Our team loves the Doona, which calls itself “the world’s first complete and fully integrated travel system.” This car seat has wheels that fold out from behind, allowing it to function as both an infant seat and a stroller. The Doona is an investment, but may be worth it if you don’t want to purchase a separate infant seat and caddy, or if carrying around a heavy infant seat is not for you.

Haakaa Breast Pump

A must-have baby product for nursing moms! This manual breast pump uses natural suction to express breastmilk. Mamas love using the Haakaa to catch milk from the opposite side that baby is feeding from, as well as to help relieve engorged breasts.

Oogiebear

Mamas on our team love the Oogiebear–it’s known as the “better booger getter” for a reason! The dual-ended tool has a scoop end for removing dry boogers from your baby’s nose, and a loop end for removing sticky boogers. The clever design is safe, and can’t be inserted too far into the nose. The oogiebear also works for removing earwax. Add this baby product to your little one’s grooming kit!

Owlet Dream Sock

The Owlet Dream Sock is another favorite at Detroit Mom. This baby monitor allows users to track their little one’s heart rate, oxygen level, and wakings. It will also alert with light and sound when your baby may need you. In addition, it will connect to an app called Owlet Dream App to allow users to view everything at once, including sleep and wake windows. The Owlet Dream Sock is designed for healthy babies ages 1-18 months old.

Being a new parent can be overwhelming, but we promise–you’re doing amazing. We hope this list of baby product must-haves is helpful as you prepare for your bundle of joy to arrive. You got this, mama!

When a baby is born, so is a mother. Check out Sofia’s list of the top 10 practical gifts for new and expecting moms!

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