Rachel Sokol

“Daddy’s little girl” — it’s an expression, of course, reflecting the special bond some fathers have with their daughters. As witnessed by actor Steve Martin’s freakouts in the classic 90s remake movie Father of the Bride, no dad want...

You never think it can happen to your child. You hear the horror stories, see the Law & Order episodes about it, and simply shudder at the thought...your child, your baby, sexting someone—be it another teenager, an adult ‘mentor’...or a tot...

It’s a new year; a fresh start, a new generation, and that means...adorable millennium babies will be born in 2020. Let’s explore some baby name trends we’ll see this upcoming year. More: Why Emma Has Been The Top Baby Girl Name For Five Y...

Ok, no one said labor was glamorous—and if they did, I’d sure love to meet that person because I adore my kids, but NO, my labors were not glamorous. Speaking of ‘unglamorous’...when you hear the term “mucus plug” associated with lab...

I love collecting quotes—since high school, I have jotted down motivational quotes I love in a pretty notebook. I’m a big believer in positive affirmations and think giving yourself (and others) pep talks can be a mood booster for kids and ad...

Halloween is just around the corner and it’s such a fun holiday for many kids, especially those who love dressing up! When getting your kid’s costume in order, the perfect makeup is a must. But watch out—not all Halloween makeup is skin-saf...

If you are currently pregnant, or planning to become pregnant, you might know the term “genetic testing,” in which you undergo some medical tests to better understand your genetic health history that may or may not impact your child’s healt...

My daughters are five and (almost) two, and they both love watching Sesame Street—and not just because of Elmo, everyone’s favorite furry monster! My mom swears I loved Sesame Street as a kid, too. It was whimsical, fun, and taught you number...

As a mother of two young girls with pierced ears, I figured there’s no time like the present to outline what ear piercing entails when it comes to babies, toddlers, and older kids. Thinking about piercing your child’s ears? Here’s an A-Z gu...

Have you ever wondered if twins really do run in families or not? Or ponder what your chances are of birthing twins? I have twin friends and twin cousins, and even though I do NOT have twin kids, I have always been fascinated by multiple births a...

Disciplining children is never fun for you, or your child. There’s so many questions surrounding the topic of discipline, such as: At what age should you start taking away technology? Or at what age is time-out no longer effective? Experts chim...

It’s not something you consciously think about, but according to a major scientific study, most adults cradle babies on the left side of their bodies vs. their right. And no, it doesn’t always have to do with an adult being right-handed or le...

From goldfish to guinea pigs to every pet in between (yes, including dogs and cats, of course), pets are part of the family. Heck, my first pet, the most wonderful Golden Retriever ever (I am NOT biased!) died 17 years ago and I still miss her! ...

Just before your teenager heads off to college, you should have “the talk” with them. Nope, not the SEX talk. There’s a pretty good chance they already know about that 3-letter word. We mean the consent talk; meaning ways to tell the opposi...

Have kids, will travel. Just like backpacks, kids can be transported from one place to another. (Although chances are, unlike your kids, your backpack doesn’t whine, “I’m bored!” or “I’m hungry!”) Family vacations can be more than j...

High school feels like it was SO long ago, right? Well, for many parents, this is true. However, when it comes to ‘Mom cliques’ it may also feel like high school never ended. As much as we teach our children about bullying and respect, we too...

New Yorker Victoria Kann is a  staunch literacy advocate, and with good reason. She’s the writer and illustrator of the best-selling children’s book series, Pinkalicious, which spent over 100 days on the New York Times Bestseller list and ha...

When a soon-to-be-parent learns they’re expecting a child, their brains go into overdrive—including wondering what—or who!—their child will look like. Brown hair? Blonde hair? Red hair? No hair? Which may trickle into pondering about heig...

The summer before your teen heads off to college for the first time seems to fly by faster than any previous summers! Once your teen has committed to the school of their choice—and continues to deny they have “Senioritis”—it’s time for ...

I am one of three sisters; my mom has three sisters, and my dad has three sisters. My husband and I have two girls. Most of my first cousins are female—in fact, it’s a long-running joke that women dominate both sides of my family and that if...