Naughty or nice?
Listen to The Motherly Podcast
Motherly Motherly
  • Pregnancy
    • Getting Pregnant
      • Infertility
      • Surrogacy
      • Adoption
      • Miscarriage & Loss
      • Pre-Pregnancy Shopping Guides
    • Registry Guide
      • Feeding
      • Toys & Books
      • Diapering Essentials
      • Bedtime & Bathtime
      • Baby Clothing
      • Baby Gear
      • For Mama
      • Health & Safety
    • Pregnancy
      • First Trimester
      • Second Trimester
      • Third Trimester
      • Pregnancy Products
    • Baby Names
      • Baby Names By Month
      • Popular Baby Names
      • Unique Baby Names
    • Birth
      • C-Section
      • Labor & Delivery
      • Birth Stories
    • Postpartum
      • Fourth Trimester
      • Parental Leave
      • Postpartum Products
  • Parenting
    • Baby
      • Sleep Guides & Schedules
      • Feeding Guides & Schedules
      • Milestone Guides
      • Health
      • Learn & Play
      • Products
    • Toddler
      • Memorable Moments
      • Milestones
      • Sleep
      • Nutrition
      • Health
      • Learn & Play
      • Products
    • Child
      • Health
      • Milestones
      • Sleep
      • Nutrition
      • Learn & Play
      • Products
    • Teen
      • Tween
      • Issues
      • Nutrition
      • Health
      • Activities
  • Life
    • Beauty & Style
      • Style
      • Beauty
      • Beauty & Style Shopping Guides
    • Food
    • Motherly Stories
      • Personal Essays
    • Home
      • Home Decor
      • Home Shopping Guides
    • Motherly Money Project
      • Work & Motherhood
      • Family Finances & Budgeting
      • Taxes
    • State of Motherhood
    • News
      • Viral & Trending
      • Celebrity News
    • Health & Wellness
      • Covid
      • Women’s Health
      • Children’s Health
      • It’s Science
      • Mental Health
      • Self Care
      • Fitness
      • Health & Wellness Shopping Guide
    • Travel
    • Entertainment
      • What To Read
      • What To Watch
    • Holidays
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
      • Rosh Hashanah
      • Christmas
      • Kwanzaa
      • Hanukkah
    • Relationships
      • Single Parenting
      • Blended Families
      • Community & Friendship
      • Marriage & Partnerships
      • Grandparents & Extended Families
  • Shop
    • Pregnancy
      • Stretch Mark Cream
      • Pregnancy Pillows
      • Maternity Pajamas
      • Maternity Workout Clothes
      • Compression Socks
      • All Pregnancy Products
    • Toddler Products
      • Pikler Triangles
      • Toddler Sleep Sacks
      • Toddler Scooters
      • Water Tables
      • Sippy Cups
      • All Toddler Products
    • Postpartum
      • Breastmilk Coolers
      • Postpartum Pajamas
      • Postpartum Underwear
      • Postpartum Shapewear
      • All Postpartum Products
    • Child Products
      • Kid Pajamas
      • Play Couches
      • Kids’ Backpacks
      • Kids’ Bikes
      • Kids’ Travel Gear
      • All Child Products
    • Baby Products
      • Baby Wraps
      • Baby Swaddles
      • Eco-Friendly Diapers
      • Baby Bathtubs
      • Splat Mats
      • All Baby Products
    • Beauty & Style Products
      • Pregnancy-safe Skincare
      • Diaper Bags
      • Maternity Jeans
      • Matching Family Swimwear
      • Mama Necklaces
      • All Beauty and Style Products
  • Podcasts
  • Join the list!
  • Please wait..
×
Clear

Home / Motherly

Naughty or nice?

By Motherly Updated Nov. 23, 2018

  • Rectangle

In some families, Santa gets all the credit, but we all know who the magic makers are during the holidays and it’s you, mama. If you’re making a list and checking it twice, here’s our guide to the best deals for kids, babies and adults for Cyber Monday. Plus, one mama shares the truth behind what goes into a successful holiday season for the family (spoiler alert: a whole lotta work.) We see you and everything that you do.

XO,

#TeamMotherly

PS: Here are 50 things to sell, donate or toss now as you prep for the holidays. Plus, a lot of people are about to get pregnant. Here’s why.

Categories:
Motherly

Related articles

women's healthcare
Podcast
How Kate Ryder is reinventing women’s healthcare—starting with moms
News
Keke Palmer’s message to moms: stop feeling guilty for working—‘especially in this economy’
News
Mom goes into labor dressed as the Grinch—and finds joy in the chaos
ivf
Baby
A 30-year-old embryo just became a newborn—and his big sister is already a mom
Birthday - a woman and children sitting on a blue couch
News
A birthday they’ll never forget: Mom gives birth to all 4 kids on the same day

More articles like this

Cassie Ventura with husband Alex Fine
News
Cassie Ventura gives birth to baby boy weeks after testifying: “Her life is now surrounded by love”

In February, the couple announced the pregnancy with a tender black-and-white photo shoot.

News, Celebrity News
Viral TikTok mom crying over daughter's graduation
News
Why this mom’s college graduation breakdown went viral

"There I was, bawling, and he was laughing, and it actually was pretty funny."

News, Viral & Trending
grandma twins
News
Mom surprises her grandparents with twin pregnancy—50 years after they had twins of their own

A recent pregnancy announcement wasn't just personal news – it was a beautiful echo of her grandparents' past.

News, Grandparents & Extended Families, Relationships, Viral & Trending
WOMB TRANSPLANT
Baby
A womb transplant between sisters led to this history-making birth—and new hope for families everywhere

After a decade of waiting, Grace and her husband Angus welcomed their miracle baby, Amy Isabel — the first child in the UK born following a womb transplant.

Baby, Baby Health, Birth, Birth Stories, Health & Wellness, News, Women's Health
Baby looks like dad
Viral & Trending
When your baby is a mini-me of dad, but you did all the heavy lifting

We put in the work, but Dad gets the genetic credit.

Viral & Trending, Parenting
Kylie kelce baby
Celebrity News
Kylie Kelce welcomes baby girl No. 4—‘Whoop, there she is!’

Kylie Kelce and her husband, retired Philadelphia Eagles legend Jason Kelce, have officially welcomed their fourth child

Celebrity News, News
Michele Obama
Postpartum
Michelle Obama’s hilarious one-word response when Barack suggested a third baby

Though the “third baby” moment was brief, it came during a larger, deeply honest conversation about early motherhood.

Postpartum, Celebrity News, News, Podcast, Pregnancy
Tim Tebow and Demi-Leigh Tebow announcing their pregnancy
News
Tim Tebow and Demi-Leigh expecting their first baby: ‘Over the moon’ with joy”

The former NFL quarterback and University of Florida legend is expecting his first child with wife Demi-Leigh Tebow.

News, Celebrity News

Featured Posts

Reduce Financial Stress Moms
Money Lessons
How 9 small money shifts can reduce financial stress for moms

You already make intelligent choices all day. These quick, low-lift money moves help you feel more in control, lower financial stress and keep family goals on track.

Money Lessons, Finances, Health & Wellness, Mental Health, Motherhood Understood, Motherly, Pregnancy, Second Trimester
Baby Milestone Mother Milestone
Baby
Why every baby milestone is also a mother milestone

Your baby is learning to smile, roll, walk and talk. You are learning to trust yourself, set boundaries, ask for help and let go. Baby milestone is mothers milestone, too, they happen together.

Baby, Baby Milestones
Grandparents New Parenthood
Relationships
The quiet work of grandparents in new parenthood

Grandparents are the invisible scaffolding in many new families. Here is what research shows about their impact, the pressures they carry, and how parents can partner with them in safe, loving, clear ways.

Relationships, Grandparents & Extended Families
Teen Begins To Pull Away
Teen
When your teen begins to pull away: what it feels like and how to stay close

That closed bedroom door can sting. Here is why distance is part of healthy adolescence and how to keep connection steady while you give them room.

Teen, Teen Health, Teen Issues
Sibling Rivalry
Parenting
Why sibling rivalry is really about love in disguise

The bickering you hear is often a sign of connection. Here is what research says about sibling conflict, why it can build empathy, and how to coach it into closeness without letting anyone get hurt.

Parenting, sibling bonding
Identity Shift Working Mom
Career & Money
The quiet identity shift of becoming a working mom

Returning to work after baby is more than a schedule change. It is a shift in who you are, what you value and how you move through your day. Here is language for what you are feeling, plus a plan to make the transition kinder.

Career & Money, Work & Motherhood
Food Becomes Love
Postpartum
The way food becomes love after birth

After delivery, meals do more than fill a plate. They steady hormones, fuel milk, lower stress and remind a new parent they are held. Food quietly becomes a love language in the fourth trimester; what your body needs and how to ask for help.

Postpartum, Fourth Trimester
Postpartum Rest
Health & Wellness
Why postpartum rest is medical care, not a luxury

Your body completed a complex, whole-body event. Treating rest like a prescription, not an afterthought, protects healing, mental health and long-term well-being for you and your baby.

Health & Wellness, Fourth Trimester, Mental Health, Postpartum, Self Care, Women's Health
Motherhood Relationship With Time
Motherhood Understood
Before kids and after: how motherhood reshapes our sense of time

Time bends in early parenthood. Days can feel endless, then years flash by. Here is why that happens, plus gentle ways to reclaim pockets of ease.

Motherhood Understood, Health & Wellness, Women's Health
What Surrogates Wish Parents Knew
Parenting
What surrogates wish intended parents knew

Surrogates say the best journeys are built on clarity, respect and real support. Here is what they want you to know before you match, so everyone feels seen and protected.

Parenting, Adopt & Foster & Surrogacy, Surrogacy
Adoption Anniversaries Matter
Adoption
Why adoption anniversaries matter more than you think

Marking the day your family legally or practically came together can be more than a sweet tradition. Done thoughtfully, an adoption anniversary can build identity, strengthen attachment and honor every person in your child’s story.

Adoption, Adopt & Foster & Surrogacy, Parenting
Motherhood Tax
Career & Money
The motherhood tax: why women still pay more

The motherhood tax is real, and it shows up in three places at once: lower earnings, higher prices, and more unpaid time. Here is what is driving it in 2025, plus practical steps to reclaim money, time, and power.

Career & Money, Work & Motherhood
Labor Teaches Strength
Birth
What labor teaches women about their own strength

Birth has a way of stripping life down to the essentials. Between contractions and choices, labor can reveal a kind of courage that is quieter than grit and steadier than hype, the kind you carry into motherhood long after delivery day.

Birth, Labor & Delivery
Being Family Safety Net
Career & Money
The invisible weight of being the family safety net

When you are the one everyone calls for rides, rent and reassurance, it can feel like love and pressure at the same time. Here is what the data says about the growing squeeze on families and a practical plan to protect your well-being while you care for the people you love.

Career & Money, Family Finances & Budgeting, Work & Motherhood
Money Stress Emotional Load
Health & Wellness
Why moms can’t separate money stress from emotional load

When the budget stretches thin, the to-do list gets heavier. Here is why financial strain and the mental load show up together for moms, and what actually helps.

Health & Wellness, government financial aid, Mental Health
Pregnancy Changes Friendships
Pregnancy
How pregnancy changes friendships—and how to nurture them

Your inner circle often shifts when you are expecting. Here is why it happens, what it means for your well-being, and simple ways to keep the people you love close.

Pregnancy, First Trimester
First Trimester Endless And Fleeting
Pregnancy
Why the first trimester feels both endless and fleeting

Nausea, secrecy, and milestone waiting can stretch early pregnancy into slow motion. Then one ultrasound, a small bump, and suddenly it is gone. Here is the science behind the time warp, plus gentle ways to steady yourself.

Pregnancy, First Trimester
Body Moving Forward
For Mama
A mother’s body is never “back,” it is moving forward

Your body did something extraordinary. You do not need to rewind it. Here is a gentler, truer way to measure progress after birth, with real talk and research that respects every path.

For Mama, deal-alerts-sales-shopping-guides, Postpartum, Shop
Grief Weaning
For Mama
The slow grief of weaning—and why it’s okay to feel it

Weaning is a real goodbye, not just a feeding change. Here’s what’s happening in your body and heart, how to tell if you need extra support, and gentle ways to mark this transition.

For Mama, Breastfeeding
What Moms Wish Employers Understood Parental Leave
Parental Leave
What moms wish employers understood about parental leave

Parental leave is not a perk. It is protective health time that safeguards recovery, bonding, feeding, and mental well-being. Here is what new parents wish every manager and HR team knew, plus practical steps to design leave that actually works.

Parental Leave, Fourth Trimester, Postpartum
Surrogacy Needs Village of Support
Adopt & Foster & Surrogacy
Why surrogacy requires a village of support

Gestational surrogacy is never a solo act. The medical, legal, and emotional layers are real, which is exactly why building your village early protects the gestational carrier, the baby, and you.

Adopt & Foster & Surrogacy, Parenting, Surrogacy
How Adoption Reshapes Family Life
Motherly
How adoption reshapes every part of family life

Adoption does not just add a child to your home, it rebuilds your family’s story, routines, and relationships. Here is what changes, why it is normal, and how to navigate it with care, clarity, and support.

Motherly, Adopt & Foster & Surrogacy, Adoption, Parenting
Truth About Bonding After C-Section
Motherly
The truth about bonding after a C-section

Bonding is not a single golden hour, and a C-section does not put you behind. With the right support, connection grows skin-to-skin, eye-to-eye, and day by day—no matter how your baby was born.

Motherly, Birth, C-Section
Seasoned Moms Fourth Trimester
Motherly
Why seasoned moms call the fourth trimester “the hardest love”

Those first 12 weeks after birth bring tidal waves of physical recovery, round-the-clock care and identity shifts. Here is why it feels so hard, and how to make the hardest love gentler on you and your baby.

Motherly, Fourth Trimester, Postpartum
Postpartum is an Identity Rebirth
Postpartum
Postpartum is not just physical. It is an identity rebirth

Your body heals after birth, yes. Your sense of self shifts too. Here is how to understand the identity changes of new parenthood and what to do when it feels like you do not recognize yourself.

Postpartum, Fourth Trimester
Activities Strengthen Child's Resilience
Child
7 activities that strengthen your child’s resilience

Resilience grows in ordinary moments. These seven playful, low-lift activities help kids practice coping, confidence and problem-solving with you as their safety net.

Child, Child Milestones, Motherly
Postpartum Needs
Postpartum
How to spot the 5 most overlooked postpartum needs

The fourth trimester is real, and many important needs fall through the cracks after that first newborn check. Here is how to recognize what your body and mind might be asking for, and what to do next.

Postpartum, Fourth Trimester, Health & Wellness, Motherly
Transition Solid Foods
Baby
12 gentle ways to help your baby transition to solid foods

Starting solids does not have to be stressful. These parent-tested, expert-backed ideas make the shift calm, safe, and joyful for both of you.

Baby, Baby Feeding Guides & Schedules
Things Teens Wish Moms Would Ask
Teen
7 surprising things teens wish their moms would ask

Sometimes the best way to connect with a teenager is to ask a better question. Use thoughtful prompts and open real conversation without putting your teen on the defensive.

Teen, Teen Issues
Body Ready for Labor
Birth
6 signs your body is ready for labor

Your body often whispers before it roars. Here are the most reliable, evidence-backed signs that labor is near, so you can recognize what’s normal, trust your instincts and feel prepared.

Birth, Labor & Delivery
Career Growth Family Life
Career & Money
Habits moms use to balance career growth and family life: 6 that matter

You do not need a 5 a.m. club or a color-coded command center to grow at work and feel present at home. 6 habits that are realistic, repeatable, and proven to reduce stress while moving your career forward.

Career & Money, Work & Motherhood
Make Adoption Celebrated
Parenting
9 supportive rituals that make adoption feel celebrated

Your family’s story deserves to be honored. Simple, repeatable rituals help you mark milestones, nurture connection and keep your child’s identity at the center.

Parenting, Adopt & Foster & Surrogacy, Adoption
Sibling Bonding Activities
Child Learn & Play
7 sibling bonding activities to try before baby arrives

A new baby changes everything, including your firstborn’s world. Simple activities help older kids feel included and connected to the tiny person they have yet to meet.

Child Learn & Play, sibling bonding
Postpartum Habits Mental Health
Health & Wellness
10 postpartum habits that protect your mental health

Postpartum life is full and your mental health matters as much as your newborn’s feeding schedule. These small, doable habits support your well-being while you find your rhythm again.

Health & Wellness, Fourth Trimester, Mental Health, Motherly, Postpartum
Phrases for Struggling With Milestones
Children's Health
Phrases to try when your child is struggling with milestones (8 that connect)

When progress feels slow, words can increase a child’s stress or their courage. 8 phrases lower pressure, build trust, and keep learning on track.

Children's Health, Mental Health
Financial Truths Before Maternity Leave
Pregnancy
5 financial truths every mom should know before maternity leave

Maternity leave math is confusing, even when you have benefits. Here's facts that matter most and simple steps to take so your paycheck, premiums, and plans stay on track.

Pregnancy, Second Trimester
How Grandparents Can Help
Grandparents & Extended Families
How grandparents can help (6 ways without overstepping)

Grandparents are the village personified, and a steady presence matters. Here are six simple, research-backed ways to support your grandkids and their parents without stepping on toes.

Grandparents & Extended Families, Relationships
Money Practices Fourth Trimester
Postpartum
10 mindful money practices for families in the fourth trimester

The first 12 weeks after birth are tender, tiring and expensive. Simple, compassionate practices help you protect finances without sacrificing your well-being.

Postpartum, Fourth Trimester
Tween Independence
Motherly
7 signs your tween is asking for independence and how to honor it

Tweens crave room to try, stumble and grow. Here are clear signs your tween is asking for some independence, they are ready for more say in their life.

Motherly, Children's Health, Teen, Teen Issues, Tweens
Toddler Snacks Nutrition
Toddler
15 tasty toddler snacks that actually meet nutrition goals

You want snacks to fuel growth, not just fill minutes until dinner. These 15 options check the big boxes for protein, fiber, iron, and healthy fats without piling on added sugar or salt.

Toddler
Pack Go Bag
Shop
Tuck in your go bag: 10 things veteran moms swear by

Ensure your go bag is working for you. A solid go bag buys you time, calm, and fewer meltdowns in the moments that matter.

Shop, Postpartum
Postpartum Meals Nourish
Postpartum
5 simple postpartum meals that nourish healing

You deserve food that is soothing, nutrient-dense, and ridiculously easy to get on the table. These five meals support tissue repair, steady energy, and milk-making if you are breastfeeding.

Postpartum, Fourth Trimester
Grounding Practices for TTC Moms
Getting Pregnant
Your patience isn’t broken: 7 grounding practices for TTC moms

These simple, evidence-based grounding practices can help you feel more rooted. Remember your patience isn't broken, you just need some information to steady you.

Getting Pregnant
Supportive Phrases Surrogacy
Getting Pregnant
12 supportive phrases moms navigating surrogacy deserve to hear

In some families, Santa gets all the credit, but we all know…

Getting Pregnant, Surrogacy
Soon To Be Dads
Motherly
8 ways dads-to-be can truly show up during the third trimester

Eight concrete ways dads-to-be can show up in the third trimester. Learn warning signs, practice labor support and prep the fourth trimester. Practical, calm and evidence-based.

Motherly, Pregnancy, Third Trimester
Reset Child Sleep Patterns
Child Sleep
Signs your child’s sleep patterns need a gentle reset (6 to watch for)

Six clear signs your child’s sleep routine needs a gentle reset, plus small, doable tweaks to bring nights and mornings back into balance.

Child Sleep, Baby Sleep Guides & Schedules
Things To Know About C-Sections
Pregnancy
10 things seasoned moms want you to know about C-sections

Ten mom-tested truths about C-sections, backed by leading medical guidance, to help you plan your birth, advocate in the OR and recover with confidence.

Pregnancy, Second Trimester
New Moms Work Life
Postpartum
5 effective habits to help new moms ease back into work

Easing back to work after baby is a big shift. These 5 expert-backed habits protect your energy, feeding plan and mental health so you can find your new rhythm.

Postpartum, Fourth Trimester
Mom baking with her two kids
Adoption
Adoption: Love in your adopted family is not fragile

Adoption is not a lesser kind of love. It is deliberate, hard-won, and deeply resilient. Here is a grounded, hope-filled reflection for any parent building family through adoption.

Adoption, Adopt & Foster & Surrogacy, Motherly, Parenting
Mom spoon-feeding her baby in highchair
Motherly
Mom, you’re doing better than you think

A gentle reset for the days you feel behind. Here’s how to spot the quiet wins, lower the pressure, and move your family forward with more calm and confidence.

Motherly, Health & Wellness, Mental Health, Women's Health
Mom organizing entry-way coat and shoe rack
Motherly
8 organization tips every mom needs to reset her home

You do not need a giant overhaul to feel on top of your home again. These simple, doable resets fit real family life and help you reclaim calm this week.

Motherly, Mom Energy, Mom Hacks, Mom Rest
Parent sitting next to kid and reviewing an allowance plan together
Motherly
5 questions to ask before deciding whether to give your kids an allowance

Deciding if allowance is right for your family starts with a few thoughtful questions. These will help you teach money skills with clarity, confidence, and kindness.

Motherly, Kids, Kids Learning, Kids Resilience, Kids Teaching
Kid laying on couch and scrolling on his smartphone
Motherly
10 tech-safety tips every family should follow this winter

Cozy season is peak season for scams, sneaky settings and stressed devices. Here are smart, doable moves that keep your home, your kids and your data safer.

Motherly, Family Issues, Family Life, Family Schedule

Most Popular Posts in Motherly

Moms and friends hanging out having a fireside chat and laughing
Motherly
5 activities with friends that actually recharge your mom spirit

Real connection is the point. These simple, low-lift friend dates help you breathe easier, feel seen and return home refueled.

Motherly, Community & Friendship, Relationships
Moms having a brunch together and smiling
Motherly
9 realistic ways moms can prioritize time with friends this year

Friendship is essential to your well-being, not a luxury. These simple, low-lift ideas help you protect friend time in a busy season, without extra mental load.

Motherly, Community & Friendship, Relationships
Grandparents visiting grandkids
Motherly
8 ways to plan a grandparent visit that feels joyful, not stressful

A little foresight turns “Are they staying how long?” into “That was so good for everyone.” Use these eight mom-tested strategies to protect routines, honor boundaries and make space for real connection.

Motherly, Grandparents & Extended Families
Couple talking and smiling
Motherly
10 conversation starters that help couples feel close again

Small, open-ended prompts can lower defenses, spark curiosity, and make space for warmth again. Try one tonight. No pressure, just connection.

Motherly, Family Issues, Family Life, Health & Wellness
Dad and kid washing dishes together
Motherly
6 tips for dividing family chores fairly (and finally ending the resentment)

You deserve a home system that does not rest on your shoulders. These six practical shifts help couples share the mental load, reduce resentment, and keep daily life humming.

Motherly, Family Life
Couple taking a walk while pushing baby stroller in front of them
Motherly
7 simple ways to check in with your partner during the winter season

Winter can shrink our daylight and our bandwidth. These quick, caring check-ins help you and your partner stay connected through cold nights, busy calendars and sniffle season.

Motherly, Health & Wellness, Relationships
Brother and sister sitting next to each other reading books and talking about it
Motherly
10 ways to help your child grow into a kind, respectful human

Raising a considerate kid is not a personality lottery. It is a series of everyday choices, modeled moments, and small skills you can teach on repeat.

Motherly, Child, Child Milestones
Little girl showing her mom her artwork
Motherly
8 parenting tips that teach kids to be independent without losing connection

You can invite independence without going cold. These small shifts help kids do more on their own while keeping your bond strong and steady.

Motherly, Kids

The Latest Posts

Reduce Financial Stress Moms
Money Lessons
How 9 small money shifts can reduce financial stress for moms

You already make intelligent choices all day. These quick, low-lift money moves help you feel more in control, lower financial stress and keep family goals on track.

Money Lessons, Finances, Health & Wellness, Mental Health, Motherhood Understood, Motherly, Pregnancy, Second Trimester
Baby Milestone Mother Milestone
Baby
Why every baby milestone is also a mother milestone

Your baby is learning to smile, roll, walk and talk. You are learning to trust yourself, set boundaries, ask for help and let go. Baby milestone is mothers milestone, too, they happen together.

Baby, Baby Milestones
Grandparents New Parenthood
Relationships
The quiet work of grandparents in new parenthood

Grandparents are the invisible scaffolding in many new families. Here is what research shows about their impact, the pressures they carry, and how parents can partner with them in safe, loving, clear ways.

Relationships, Grandparents & Extended Families
Teen Begins To Pull Away
Teen
When your teen begins to pull away: what it feels like and how to stay close

That closed bedroom door can sting. Here is why distance is part of healthy adolescence and how to keep connection steady while you give them room.

Teen, Teen Health, Teen Issues
Sibling Rivalry
Parenting
Why sibling rivalry is really about love in disguise

The bickering you hear is often a sign of connection. Here is what research says about sibling conflict, why it can build empathy, and how to coach it into closeness without letting anyone get hurt.

Parenting, sibling bonding
Identity Shift Working Mom
Career & Money
The quiet identity shift of becoming a working mom

Returning to work after baby is more than a schedule change. It is a shift in who you are, what you value and how you move through your day. Here is language for what you are feeling, plus a plan to make the transition kinder.

Career & Money, Work & Motherhood
Food Becomes Love
Postpartum
The way food becomes love after birth

After delivery, meals do more than fill a plate. They steady hormones, fuel milk, lower stress and remind a new parent they are held. Food quietly becomes a love language in the fourth trimester; what your body needs and how to ask for help.

Postpartum, Fourth Trimester
Postpartum Rest
Health & Wellness
Why postpartum rest is medical care, not a luxury

Your body completed a complex, whole-body event. Treating rest like a prescription, not an afterthought, protects healing, mental health and long-term well-being for you and your baby.

Health & Wellness, Fourth Trimester, Mental Health, Postpartum, Self Care, Women's Health
Motherhood Relationship With Time
Motherhood Understood
Before kids and after: how motherhood reshapes our sense of time

Time bends in early parenthood. Days can feel endless, then years flash by. Here is why that happens, plus gentle ways to reclaim pockets of ease.

Motherhood Understood, Health & Wellness, Women's Health
What Surrogates Wish Parents Knew
Parenting
What surrogates wish intended parents knew

Surrogates say the best journeys are built on clarity, respect and real support. Here is what they want you to know before you match, so everyone feels seen and protected.

Parenting, Adopt & Foster & Surrogacy, Surrogacy
Adoption Anniversaries Matter
Adoption
Why adoption anniversaries matter more than you think

Marking the day your family legally or practically came together can be more than a sweet tradition. Done thoughtfully, an adoption anniversary can build identity, strengthen attachment and honor every person in your child’s story.

Adoption, Adopt & Foster & Surrogacy, Parenting
Motherhood Tax
Career & Money
The motherhood tax: why women still pay more

The motherhood tax is real, and it shows up in three places at once: lower earnings, higher prices, and more unpaid time. Here is what is driving it in 2025, plus practical steps to reclaim money, time, and power.

Career & Money, Work & Motherhood
Labor Teaches Strength
Birth
What labor teaches women about their own strength

Birth has a way of stripping life down to the essentials. Between contractions and choices, labor can reveal a kind of courage that is quieter than grit and steadier than hype, the kind you carry into motherhood long after delivery day.

Birth, Labor & Delivery
Being Family Safety Net
Career & Money
The invisible weight of being the family safety net

When you are the one everyone calls for rides, rent and reassurance, it can feel like love and pressure at the same time. Here is what the data says about the growing squeeze on families and a practical plan to protect your well-being while you care for the people you love.

Career & Money, Family Finances & Budgeting, Work & Motherhood
Money Stress Emotional Load
Health & Wellness
Why moms can’t separate money stress from emotional load

When the budget stretches thin, the to-do list gets heavier. Here is why financial strain and the mental load show up together for moms, and what actually helps.

Health & Wellness, government financial aid, Mental Health
Pregnancy Changes Friendships
Pregnancy
How pregnancy changes friendships—and how to nurture them

Your inner circle often shifts when you are expecting. Here is why it happens, what it means for your well-being, and simple ways to keep the people you love close.

Pregnancy, First Trimester
First Trimester Endless And Fleeting
Pregnancy
Why the first trimester feels both endless and fleeting

Nausea, secrecy, and milestone waiting can stretch early pregnancy into slow motion. Then one ultrasound, a small bump, and suddenly it is gone. Here is the science behind the time warp, plus gentle ways to steady yourself.

Pregnancy, First Trimester
Body Moving Forward
For Mama
A mother’s body is never “back,” it is moving forward

Your body did something extraordinary. You do not need to rewind it. Here is a gentler, truer way to measure progress after birth, with real talk and research that respects every path.

For Mama, deal-alerts-sales-shopping-guides, Postpartum, Shop
Grief Weaning
For Mama
The slow grief of weaning—and why it’s okay to feel it

Weaning is a real goodbye, not just a feeding change. Here’s what’s happening in your body and heart, how to tell if you need extra support, and gentle ways to mark this transition.

For Mama, Breastfeeding
What Moms Wish Employers Understood Parental Leave
Parental Leave
What moms wish employers understood about parental leave

Parental leave is not a perk. It is protective health time that safeguards recovery, bonding, feeding, and mental well-being. Here is what new parents wish every manager and HR team knew, plus practical steps to design leave that actually works.

Parental Leave, Fourth Trimester, Postpartum
Surrogacy Needs Village of Support
Adopt & Foster & Surrogacy
Why surrogacy requires a village of support

Gestational surrogacy is never a solo act. The medical, legal, and emotional layers are real, which is exactly why building your village early protects the gestational carrier, the baby, and you.

Adopt & Foster & Surrogacy, Parenting, Surrogacy
How Adoption Reshapes Family Life
Motherly
How adoption reshapes every part of family life

Adoption does not just add a child to your home, it rebuilds your family’s story, routines, and relationships. Here is what changes, why it is normal, and how to navigate it with care, clarity, and support.

Motherly, Adopt & Foster & Surrogacy, Adoption, Parenting
Truth About Bonding After C-Section
Motherly
The truth about bonding after a C-section

Bonding is not a single golden hour, and a C-section does not put you behind. With the right support, connection grows skin-to-skin, eye-to-eye, and day by day—no matter how your baby was born.

Motherly, Birth, C-Section
Seasoned Moms Fourth Trimester
Motherly
Why seasoned moms call the fourth trimester “the hardest love”

Those first 12 weeks after birth bring tidal waves of physical recovery, round-the-clock care and identity shifts. Here is why it feels so hard, and how to make the hardest love gentler on you and your baby.

Motherly, Fourth Trimester, Postpartum
Postpartum is an Identity Rebirth
Postpartum
Postpartum is not just physical. It is an identity rebirth

Your body heals after birth, yes. Your sense of self shifts too. Here is how to understand the identity changes of new parenthood and what to do when it feels like you do not recognize yourself.

Postpartum, Fourth Trimester
Activities Strengthen Child's Resilience
Child
7 activities that strengthen your child’s resilience

Resilience grows in ordinary moments. These seven playful, low-lift activities help kids practice coping, confidence and problem-solving with you as their safety net.

Child, Child Milestones, Motherly
Postpartum Needs
Postpartum
How to spot the 5 most overlooked postpartum needs

The fourth trimester is real, and many important needs fall through the cracks after that first newborn check. Here is how to recognize what your body and mind might be asking for, and what to do next.

Postpartum, Fourth Trimester, Health & Wellness, Motherly
Transition Solid Foods
Baby
12 gentle ways to help your baby transition to solid foods

Starting solids does not have to be stressful. These parent-tested, expert-backed ideas make the shift calm, safe, and joyful for both of you.

Baby, Baby Feeding Guides & Schedules
Things Teens Wish Moms Would Ask
Teen
7 surprising things teens wish their moms would ask

Sometimes the best way to connect with a teenager is to ask a better question. Use thoughtful prompts and open real conversation without putting your teen on the defensive.

Teen, Teen Issues
Body Ready for Labor
Birth
6 signs your body is ready for labor

Your body often whispers before it roars. Here are the most reliable, evidence-backed signs that labor is near, so you can recognize what’s normal, trust your instincts and feel prepared.

Birth, Labor & Delivery
Career Growth Family Life
Career & Money
Habits moms use to balance career growth and family life: 6 that matter

You do not need a 5 a.m. club or a color-coded command center to grow at work and feel present at home. 6 habits that are realistic, repeatable, and proven to reduce stress while moving your career forward.

Career & Money, Work & Motherhood
Make Adoption Celebrated
Parenting
9 supportive rituals that make adoption feel celebrated

Your family’s story deserves to be honored. Simple, repeatable rituals help you mark milestones, nurture connection and keep your child’s identity at the center.

Parenting, Adopt & Foster & Surrogacy, Adoption
Sibling Bonding Activities
Child Learn & Play
7 sibling bonding activities to try before baby arrives

A new baby changes everything, including your firstborn’s world. Simple activities help older kids feel included and connected to the tiny person they have yet to meet.

Child Learn & Play, sibling bonding
Postpartum Habits Mental Health
Health & Wellness
10 postpartum habits that protect your mental health

Postpartum life is full and your mental health matters as much as your newborn’s feeding schedule. These small, doable habits support your well-being while you find your rhythm again.

Health & Wellness, Fourth Trimester, Mental Health, Motherly, Postpartum
Phrases for Struggling With Milestones
Children's Health
Phrases to try when your child is struggling with milestones (8 that connect)

When progress feels slow, words can increase a child’s stress or their courage. 8 phrases lower pressure, build trust, and keep learning on track.

Children's Health, Mental Health
Financial Truths Before Maternity Leave
Pregnancy
5 financial truths every mom should know before maternity leave

Maternity leave math is confusing, even when you have benefits. Here's facts that matter most and simple steps to take so your paycheck, premiums, and plans stay on track.

Pregnancy, Second Trimester
How Grandparents Can Help
Grandparents & Extended Families
How grandparents can help (6 ways without overstepping)

Grandparents are the village personified, and a steady presence matters. Here are six simple, research-backed ways to support your grandkids and their parents without stepping on toes.

Grandparents & Extended Families, Relationships
Money Practices Fourth Trimester
Postpartum
10 mindful money practices for families in the fourth trimester

The first 12 weeks after birth are tender, tiring and expensive. Simple, compassionate practices help you protect finances without sacrificing your well-being.

Postpartum, Fourth Trimester
Tween Independence
Motherly
7 signs your tween is asking for independence and how to honor it

Tweens crave room to try, stumble and grow. Here are clear signs your tween is asking for some independence, they are ready for more say in their life.

Motherly, Children's Health, Teen, Teen Issues, Tweens
Toddler Snacks Nutrition
Toddler
15 tasty toddler snacks that actually meet nutrition goals

You want snacks to fuel growth, not just fill minutes until dinner. These 15 options check the big boxes for protein, fiber, iron, and healthy fats without piling on added sugar or salt.

Toddler
Pack Go Bag
Shop
Tuck in your go bag: 10 things veteran moms swear by

Ensure your go bag is working for you. A solid go bag buys you time, calm, and fewer meltdowns in the moments that matter.

Shop, Postpartum
Postpartum Meals Nourish
Postpartum
5 simple postpartum meals that nourish healing

You deserve food that is soothing, nutrient-dense, and ridiculously easy to get on the table. These five meals support tissue repair, steady energy, and milk-making if you are breastfeeding.

Postpartum, Fourth Trimester
Grounding Practices for TTC Moms
Getting Pregnant
Your patience isn’t broken: 7 grounding practices for TTC moms

These simple, evidence-based grounding practices can help you feel more rooted. Remember your patience isn't broken, you just need some information to steady you.

Getting Pregnant
Supportive Phrases Surrogacy
Getting Pregnant
12 supportive phrases moms navigating surrogacy deserve to hear

In some families, Santa gets all the credit, but we all know…

Getting Pregnant, Surrogacy
Soon To Be Dads
Motherly
8 ways dads-to-be can truly show up during the third trimester

Eight concrete ways dads-to-be can show up in the third trimester. Learn warning signs, practice labor support and prep the fourth trimester. Practical, calm and evidence-based.

Motherly, Pregnancy, Third Trimester
Reset Child Sleep Patterns
Child Sleep
Signs your child’s sleep patterns need a gentle reset (6 to watch for)

Six clear signs your child’s sleep routine needs a gentle reset, plus small, doable tweaks to bring nights and mornings back into balance.

Child Sleep, Baby Sleep Guides & Schedules
Things To Know About C-Sections
Pregnancy
10 things seasoned moms want you to know about C-sections

Ten mom-tested truths about C-sections, backed by leading medical guidance, to help you plan your birth, advocate in the OR and recover with confidence.

Pregnancy, Second Trimester
New Moms Work Life
Postpartum
5 effective habits to help new moms ease back into work

Easing back to work after baby is a big shift. These 5 expert-backed habits protect your energy, feeding plan and mental health so you can find your new rhythm.

Postpartum, Fourth Trimester
Our Partners
The summer camp experience kids love and parents feel good about

In some families, Santa gets all the credit, but we all know…

Our Partners, Kids Learning
Parenting
Raising kids in the age of AI doesn’t have to feel like doom. Here’s why.

Civil rights attorney, Google alum, and mom of four Michele Jawando makes the case that parents are the most powerful force in shaping what AI becomes for the next generation.

Parenting
Our Partners
If you’re formula feeding, this is the kind of peace of mind you’ve been looking for

In some families, Santa gets all the credit, but we all know…

Our Partners, Baby, Baby Feeding Guides & Schedules
Pregnancy
Science says morning sickness could mean you’re having a girl

The old wives' tale turns out to have some real data behind it.

Pregnancy
Women's Health
A neuroscientist explains how to finally quiet mom guilt

A leading neuroscientist explains why that relentless voice isn't your fault—and what you can actually do about it.

Women's Health, Mental Health
The Motherly Podcast
Marisa Renee Lee on choosing hope, finding humility, and turning life’s darkest seasons into sources of strength

Lee sits down with Liz Tenety to talk about her struggles with chronic illness, becoming a mother through adoption, and her decision to hold onto hope and joy.

The Motherly Podcast
Pregnancy
732K people watched this weird pregnancy cravings Thread go viral. Here’s the science behind why it hit so hard.

The line between "my body is speaking" and "I might need a blood test" is thinner than you think.

Pregnancy
Mother's Day
The first Mother’s Day nobody talks about

70% of mothers say their first Mother's Day wasn't special. New Mom School founder Alex Spitz on the unmet need nobody wants to admit — and what actually needs to change.

Mother's Day, Motherly Stories

We believe in creating a world in which all mothers are thriving

Connect

  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Podcast Inquiries

About Us

  • Our Story
  • Privacy & Security
  • Accessibility
  • Terms & Conditions
  • About Our Ads
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • Glossary

© 2026 Motherly. All Rights Reserved.

×