Anna Lane

Now that I am encumbered by two small kids, and therefore unable to afford to travel anywhere even if I wanted to (which I don't, because flying with kids sucks ), Spring Break means that I have two weeks during which there is no school The Cube's mission is to educate kids about science and nature, which sounds super boring, but it's done in a way that's brilliant. They have fantastic permanent exhibits - including a real garbage truck, which is the Muffin Man's favorite - but every two months or so they have a new exhibit featuring something that appeals to kids. Bonus points for the fact that cafe is next to the enclosed play area for little kids, so I can actually finish eating my own lunch while my kids are corralled safely.

I know that these can initially seem like a big investment, but we use ours all of the time (read: almost daily) and it's significantly safer than having your kids stand on a regular step stool or a chair. The one we have folds up, so I can easily store it in the pantry when it's not in use (a BIG plus, as our kitchen is pretty small), the height is adjustable so that I'm able to lower it as the kids get bigger, and they can easily climb in and out of it, but don't ever fall off of it. If you follow me on Instagram (as you should), you've definitely seen our learning tower in action; in the last week alone we've made heart-shaped cookies mini banana muffins , and at least three dinners from our One Potato Box. Or, at the very least, mention to your Mother-in-Law that your kid fell off the counter while helping you cook, and follow that up with a link to your preferred learning tower, and one is sure to show up on your doorstep within the week (along with some snarky parenting advice, but hey, it's a price worth paying).

This is primarily because at the end of a long, exhausting day with my kids the last thing I want to do is, but it's also because I figure my kids are going to end up in therapy no matter what, so I may as well save my time and energy for more important things, such as binge watchingLately, however, I've been really struggling with parenting a four year old and a two-and-a-half year old. The tantrums - oh, the tantrums - are really something else, and since Cedars Sinai doesn't seem to have a return policy for the children birthed there, I figured I needed some guidance. If you have kids who are at the age where they're becoming more independent and, as a result, are pushing boundaries, this book is for you. It's an easy read, which is so important when you can barely keep your eyes open after 7PM, and full of really good, practical advice for how to assert your parental authority in a firm, but gentle way.