Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Fort Worth, TX

Everyone has their favorite parenting books - the one that actually got their baby to sleep; the one that helped them keep their sanity in the 2's and 3's; the one that helped answer the tough questions; and, last but not least, the one that helped them diagnose which rashes and fevers meant what.  However, while listing my favorite books, I got sidetracked into other tools that have made my life easier and less stressful.  Since my oldest is 3, I don't have any ideas on books or tools for older kids - check back in a few years!!  Until then, hope these help you:

By far (and as an older mom who had read every book available, you can trust me on this one) the best book for a new mom is Secrets of the Baby Whisperer.  The author was a nanny for many years and has an incredible sense of humor and realism in her writing. I've used her tools and suggestions and have been very impressed with her insightfulness.  Her bottom line message (along with TONS of helpful ideas) is to really listen to your baby so that you can communicate at his/her level. It truly lessens the frustration on both sides and encourages self-esteem. My kids are polar opposites about everything, so her techniques help me to parent both the perfect child and the *ahem* challenging one!

If you read blogs, then you are probably more internet-comfortable than lots of people.  Therefore, you probably subscribe to a lot of internet parenting sites.  My absolute favorite is www.mamasource.com.  This is a community of moms in a question and answer format. It is diligently monitored, so very little spam gets put out. You enter your zip code and it puts you into a "community". The help that these moms give each other is invaluable and has been a huge help to me in a lot of situations, from medical questions to help with potty training.