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baby behaviornature learningoutdoorsafe playtoys
A small infant rabbit resting near a patch of grass in a backyard

Note to Self About That Backyard Bunny Incident We Barely Survived

Dear Priya from last April. You're currently standing frozen in the damp Chicago grass, holding a weed whacker in one hand and a half-eaten string cheese in the other. Your toddler is strapped to your back in the ergonomic carrier,...

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baby safetyhealthoutdoorparenting tipssummer baby
A mother sitting on the grass next to a shallow backyard tub

My pediatrician's brutal rules for surviving summer water play

I was standing in my tiny Chicago backyard with a garden hose in one hand and a giant, deflating aesthetic swan in the other. My son was barely four months old, shivering violently in a designer swimsuit that cost more...

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nature learningoutdoorParenting Guidesafety tipsspring
Toddler in an organic cotton bodysuit pointing at a gosling near a park lagoon

Dear Past Priya: What You Got Wrong About Pond Wildlife

Dear April Priya. You're standing at the edge of the Humboldt Park lagoon with a fistful of stale sourdough, a hyperactive toddler balanced on your hip, and a burning desire to create a core memory. The sun is out, the...

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baby crownature learningoutdoorsafety tipstoddler
A fluffy baby crow sitting in the grass looking up at the camera

So Your Toddler Brought a Live Baby Crow Into the Kitchen

Beau was standing in the middle of my kitchen holding what looked like a dusty, highly aggressive potato. Dirt was falling onto my freshly swept linoleum, our golden retriever was losing his absolute mind by the back door, and an...

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baby safetynature learningoutdoorparenting tipstoddler
Small spotted wild kitten hiding in suburban backyard bushes

Found A Baby Bobcat In Your Yard? Read This First

My husband came through the back door holding a dirty garden towel. He looked weirdly proud of himself. Inside the towel was a hissing, spotted furball about the size of a baked potato. He told me he saved a stray...

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90s nostalgiababy gearoutdoorparenting humourproduct guidesurvival
Marcus looking stressed while packing a massive diaper bag by the front door

Why a Real Babys Day Out Requires a Massive Deployment Pipeline

I was standing by the open door of my Honda Civic, sweating through a flannel shirt in 60-degree Portland weather, holding a diaper bag that weighed roughly the same as a car battery. My 11-month-old son was strapped into his...

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early developmentnature learningoutdoorparenting humoursafesafe sleep
A confused toddler pointing at a baby skunk under a wooden backyard deck

That Time My Toddler Tried To Pet A Baby Skunk In The Backyard

I was wearing my husband's college sweatpants with the mysterious bleach stain on the knee, holding my third cup of reheated dark roast, just staring blankly at the azalea bushes when Leo screamed, "MOMMY, SPICY KITTEN!" I froze. It was...

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6-month-oldgearoutdoorparenthoodtravel
A dad pushing a jogging stroller on a paved trail while looking exhausted

Debugging the Jogging Stroller: When Can We Actually Run?

I was exactly 400 meters into my first postpartum run around Mt. Tabor, pushing our everyday walking stroller, when the front wheel hit a stray pinecone and the entire chassis vibrated like a smartphone receiving an emergency alert. Inside the...

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baby gearboundariesmaternal mental healthoutdoorrainbow baby
Tired mom sitting on the floor with a dog and baby gear scattered around

Miss Nikki Baby, Rainbow Babies, and Tuning Out the Internet Noise

I spent the entirety of my second pregnancy locked in the downstairs half-bath, doom-scrolling baby forums until my legs fell asleep and my phone battery hit two percent. I was convinced every tiny twinge was a catastrophe, and I was...

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