Editor’s note: our regularly-scheduled Boot Camp updates will resume next Friday.

I just heard some news about my college roommate. Horrible news. Last week, she and her family were involved in a car accident while en route from Colorado to Utah. Her oldest daughter was killed.

How does a person ever recover from the death of a child?

When my son Bode was nine months old, I dreamt he died.

As if the end result was not painful enough, within my dream, I had a dream about how it would all unfold. How he would get sick. How I would have to watch him slowly deteriorate. And I foresaw how and when that exact moment of his passing would occur.

And I painfully waited, heart broken, relishing every last moment with him.

I awoke at 3 a.m. in a flood of tears. My husband Jamie consoled me by suggesting we sneak into Bode’s room. I was touched at his thoughtfulness as we crept in there to hear the comforting cadence of his breathing.

“He’s OK,” I whispered, relieved, and reached down to remove his bottle that he had drunkenly thrown to the wayside.

And then he woke up. Forcefully. And very loudly objected as if to say, “What da freak? Just let me sleep, woman!”

And never before have a baby’s cries provided such peace.

How does a person ever recover from the death of a child? Read on …

Amy (aka Crunchy Domestic Goddess) is a guest blogger, wife and mother of two who lives outside of Denver. Passionate about attachment parenting, informed birth choices, green living and photography, Amy is trying to change the world, one blog post at a time. Her blog is Crunchy Domestic Goddess.

Spring is in the air here in Colorado and now is an excellent time to reevaluate your child’s sun protection for the summer months ahead.

The Centers for Disease Control recently came out with some bad news for nearly all Americans who use sunscreen. A recent study shows one of the commonly used ingredients in most sunscreens (for adults, children as well as babies), a chemical called oxybenzone, has been linked to allergies, hormone disruption, and cell damage. In fact according to the study, 97% of Americans are contaminated with this chemical. Another study has showed oxybenzone is linked to low birth weight in baby girls whose mothers are exposed during pregnancy. Also worth noting is “oxybenzone is also a penetration enhancer, a chemical that helps other chemicals penetrate the skin.”

No FDA regulations
The last time the Food and Drug Administration reviewed the safety of oxybenzone was in the 1970s. It republished its evaluation in 1978, and announced plans to develop comprehensive standards for sunscreen safety and effectiveness. However, it’s been 30 years now and the Agency has yet to issue final regulations. “Instead, it encourages manufacturers Read on …

When I gave birth to my three children, I went from a being free-wheeling, fun-loving, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-capris kind of gal, who could hop in a car and go at a moment’s notice to a diaper bag-hauling, over-protective, sleep deprived, germaphobe with a Super Woman complex. Sound dramatic? Sound familiar?

I remember getting a phone call from a friend for a lunch date and being able to say, “I’ll be there in ten.” Slap on some lip gloss, grab the keys and I was out.

With three small kids that just didn’t happen anymore. You gotta get them ready, brush their hair, match their socks, pack the diaper bag, don’t forget the treats! At one point I had three kids in car seats. The phrase “herding cats” comes to mind when I think about the days of trying to get three little ones out the door.

My kids are now nine, nine and seven. For the most part they are self-reliant. I do more reminding than hands-on getting them ready nowadays. I think I prefer the stage we are at now to the toddler years. Some of the free-wheeling and fun-loving has come back in my life.

When we become mothers we give and give up so much of ourselves for our children. We do it willingly. We do it with love. But, I think there is a point where you have to draw the line, a line in the sand, so to speak, where you, as a mother, decide, “I won’t give up this or I won’t do that for you, my darling child.”

My “line in the sand” is Read on …

Dearest Hurricane Hadley,

It is that time again - when I reflect upon this past year and divulge items that will be used as evidence in your future therapy sessions. It is difficult to believe you are finally four! The Terrible 3s certainly trumped the Terrible 2s but with them came an increased sense of awareness as you realized that you can indeed conquer the world.

This subsequently means Mommy and Daddy are your servants. But as I have been trying to tell you since birth: I do not run a democracy; the Johnson household is a dictatorship through and through.

Without question, you are the ruler.

You have a bright, spirited personality and keep us laughing every single day. You are beloved by your preschool teachers and would have had an incident-free year if you had not tackled your classmate Cooper a few weeks ago, who in defence hit you with bread. This was your first look at how carbs can be dangerous.

You are an intrepid hiker and love spending time in the back-country. You are well-traveled and visited three countries last year. Hands down, your favorite destination was Mexico where you learned to swim underwater and ate ice cream every day. You often remind me to stop spending all my money at Super Target because in your mind, my obsession with the Dollar Spot is the only thing standing in the way of you and Mexico’s endless ice cream. Read on …

As you enjoy your Memorial Day with family and friends….

Just take a moment to remember what it is all about.

Congratulations to Kathy L., winner of our Elitch Gardens family four-pack giveaway!

I remember walking into Babies R Us when I was pregnant and leaving in tears because I was so overwhelmed about what to buy.

And also because I was a hormonal, stressed-out mess.

I wish the BabyTime Expo had been around. This event gives parents the opportunity to discover the newest products on the market for their infant or toddler. Demonstrations of the latest baby gadgets and gear, exciting new fashions and a question and answer session with best-selling author Dr. Harvey Karp are just some of the Expo’s activities that will provide a weekend of education, shopping and fun.

Children can meet Elmo, jump around in the bounce house or compete in the diaper derby. Read on …

Weekends at Mile High Mamas are often dedicated to freebies and we have the ultimate giveaway: a free weekend at play for everyone!

Jungle Quest is opening a new 12,000-square-foot facility in Thornton and their Grand Opening Discovery Weekend (Saturday, May 31 – Sunday, June 1 from 9 am – 6 pm.) is free to the public!

Jungle Quest is an indoor adventure center, featuring ziplines, rock climbing and giant rope swings. Explorers, ages 2 to 12, are invited to join the Jungle Quest Safari Guides for zipline zooming, gravity fighting, carabineer clicking, safari swing riding and rock wall climbing. Toddlers (aged 2-5) may enjoy traipsing through the Mayan temple. Read on …