Month: April 2023

Positive parenting: Harmful parenting tools we need to unlearn

We recently stumbled upon the Instagram feed @BigLifeJournal and what a treasure trove of fantastic insights and advice for parents. We especially liked this post on the Four Pillars of positive parenting:  Harmful parenting tools we need to unlearn: Unlearn punishing emotions: “Why are you crying over such a small thing? Go to your room.” Instead, relearn setting boundaries on behavior: “I know you are so angry at your brother but hitting is not OK.” Unlearn Shame-based strategies: “You’re so ungrateful. Why didn’t you say thnk you?” Relearn skill-building approaches: “How can you show your gratitude for that gift? Do you want to write a note?” Unlearn making kids feel bad to encourage positive behavior: “Don’t b...

New moms: hold the mother, not just the baby

Hold the mother, not the baby.⁣   Because the baby’s being taken care of—⁣ fed, snuggled, and given all the love in the world—⁣ by not only the mother,⁣ but her partner, grandparents, siblings, cousins, and friends.⁣ ⁣ But the mother,⁣ may have gaps in her mind from lack of sleep,⁣ may be mechanical in her motions as she’s healing,⁣ may feel more like a mess than a mother,⁣ may be sitting in bed, crying, feeling overwhelmed in her body and life,⁣ may be full of mom guilt because in her mind, “she’s not good enough,”⁣ and she’s bleeding, wincing in pain, swollen and emotional.⁣ ⁣ And the mother’s that baby’s whole world and needs to be seen, so she doesn’t disappear into that postpartum fog.⁣ ⁣ So, hold the mother, not the baby.⁣ ⁣ A mother agrees that her...

Fort Collins, Colorado: 20+ Activities Families Will Love

If you’re in Colorado spring staycation mode, there is no better (or closer) place to explore than Fort Collins! Make a day or weekend out of enjoying these adventures from our selection of themed happenings and activities that you can enjoy in Fort Collins. Family Fun in Fort Collins, Colorado Explorations in Fort Collins The well-preserved downtown Fort Collins district includes over twenty restored historical buildings that are part of both national and local designated historic districts. While wandering about downtown you’re likely to notice a strong resemblance to Disneyland’s Main Street USA: we’re proud to say that it is modeled after our own Downtown Fort Collins!  The alleys have been upgraded into European-style walkways with potted flowers, beautiful murals...

Boulder’s Junkyard Social Club: Win tickets to Adventure Playground for Kids and Adults

Win 3 months membership for a family of 4, a $120 value below.  It’s “easy like Sunday morning” at Junkyard Social Club in Boulder. Parents and kids sip coffee and cocoas in the cafe while a local musician strums a guitar and sings family favorites. Some parents are sitting solo, reading the newspaper or working on laptops, while kids bounce back and forth between the cafe and the outdoor “Junkyard,” where there is climbing, creating, digging and dancing. As the kids burn off energy in the Boulder sunshine, a Junkyard employee sits in a lifeguard chair, keeping watch, whistling at the ready.  It’s just another day at Junkyard Social Club.  Boulder’s Junkyard Social Club bills itself as an “adventure playground and rebel museum” – and the name fits. With an emphasis on ...

Boulder Creek Festival: Not-to-be missed family fun

Believe it or not, Memorial Day is right around the corner which kicks off the official start to summer. A favorite activity is now in its 34th year: The Boulder Creek Festival. The festival welcomed over 100,000 attendees last year and is returning to downtown Boulder over Memorial Day weekend, May 26-29, 2023. The epic four-day festival includes a free Friday night concert with headliner Dead Phish Orchestra and opener The Zimmermans at the Glen Huntington Bandshell on May 26, followed by three days of live music from 30+ bands across three different stages, a beer fest, artisans, local eats from 20+ vendors, a skate park activation, family-friendly activities, and more to be announced. Guests near and far can enjoy the following activities at Boulder Creek Festival: Creekside for Kids: ...

The Curiosity Cruiser is Denver’s Museum on the Move

If you love pop-ups, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science’s new Curiosity Cruiser is now available for booking!  This new family-friendly friendly neighborhood museum on wheels is hitting ht road in a pop-up vehicle, stocked inside and out with activities for some on-the-go wonder for all ages. Keep your eyes peeled for the Curiosity Cruiser as it rolls into a neighborhood, festival, or spot near you. You can also bring the Curiosity Cruiser to your community…for a price. They’ll come to your block party, library, business organization, birthday, you name it. The Cruiser is staffed by professional Museum educators who know how to feed minds and imaginations. They’ll setup the vehicle to facilitate the activities while you enjoy the day. Current Offerings Won...

Family-friendly Memorial Day events in Denver 2023

Memorial Day (May 26-29, 2023) is the long-awaited start to summer and Denver has an excellent lineup of family-friendly fun! From memorials to live music to family events to outdoor activities to blockbuster museum exhibits, don’t miss some of our favorite finds!  If you want to instill the true meaning of Memorial Day, check out Don’t Forget, God Bless Our Troops by First Lady Jill Biden and A Day for Rememberin’: Inspired by the True Events of the First Memorial Day. Memorial Day Family Fun in Denver 2023 Denver Festivals and Events Boulder Creek Festival  WHEN: May 26–29, 2023 WHERE: Boulder Central Park and Civic Center, Boulder Enjoy live music at the bandshell, a marketplace full of local vendors, delicious food trucks, refreshing bar stands and the Cr...

Denver’s Newest Playgrounds (plus 800 metro Denver playgrounds!)

Spring may have come a bit late in 2023 but playground season is officially open! I’ve combed through what’s brand new in Denver’s parks, so come with me and discover these 5 freshly constructed playgrounds. The parks showcased below are part of my iPhone app “Denver Playgrounds & Parks,” which reviews over 800 metro Denver playgrounds. You will find photos, descriptions, and features of each play area, with updates released frequently. Come locate a playground near you, no matter what part of town you’re in. Visit the App Store or get details at the project’s website playgroundsdenver.com. I-70 Cover Park Denver Pictured above, this new park is situated on the covered portion of the recently completed I-70 Central Project. Although not a huge playgr...

Parenting through our kids’ mistakes (and our own)

The other day our family sat down to eat dinner out on our patio and my daughter left the door open so our dog got out. It was no big deal. He ran right back in after being called. But when my daughter sat down with us, she asked, “Was that my fault? Did I leave the door open?” In a soft voice, I said, “It doesn’t need to be anyone’s fault. It can just be something that happened–a mistake or an accident.” “Well, I’m sorry,” she said. “It’s OK, honey,” I said. “I just don’t want this to be a house where we blame all the time…where accidents turn into shame. There’s no reason for that.” The family kind of looked at me like, “Man, why’s Mom always gotta be so deep.” Bu...

How Comcast, local organizations are bridging the digital divide in Colorado

Access to high-speed internet and digital skills training is no longer a luxury, but a necessity, making  connectivity more important than ever. PBS12 recently took a closer look at how internet access is vital  to participating in an increasingly digital world in “Bridging the Digital Divide,” a program presented by  Comcast NBCUniversal. The program features interviews with several Denver-based organizations,  leaders, teachers, and parents about the importance of technology access and digital skills trainings.  Watch the full program below:  The 30-minute program shines a spotlight on the power of connectivity in Colorado, the importance of  digital equity, and what’s being done to close the digital divide in our communities.  “Digital equity is a...

Denver Deals: Tax Day Deals, Earth Day in Denver and More!

Have you done your taxes already? They are due next week. While doing taxes may not be fun – getting a deal on tax day (or any day for that matter) is fun.    Free Days. We have posted the list of all the free days again this year. Mark this page and make a New Year’s Resolution to go to a few of these! This week the free days includes the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave on April 5. https://www.milehighmamas.com/blog/2022/12/19/denver-free-days-for-2023/   Tax Day Deals. Tax Day is April 18, 2023. We did find a few deals for you.    • Cheesecake Factory. On April 17-21, when you order $50 or more online and use promo code TAXDAY1040. You save $10.40. • Hooters. April 18, you can get one of four deals for just $10.40 (four tenders and fries; eight boneless wings and f...

Top 20 books for middle schoolers (from an English teacher)

A friend recently put out a query regarding what books his middle schooler would love…and a local English teacher responded with her favorites. And since we rather have our kids reading than the many other mischiefs they can get into with their phones, here are her top picks. Best Books for Middle School Kids Fablehaven. For centuries, mystical creatures of all descriptions were gathered in a hidden refuge called Fablehaven to prevent their extinction. The sanctuary survives today as one of the last strongholds of true magic in a cynical world. Enchanting? Absolutely! Exciting? You bet. Safe? Well, actually, quite the opposite. Series by Brandon Mull.  Harry Potter. is a series of seven fantasy novels written by British author J. K. Rowling. The novels chronicle the lives of a y...

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