Birdie
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May 2, 2025

May 2, 2025

May 02, 2025

While you were squeezing in your 32 minutes of "me time," career pauses got rebranded as power moves and farmstand chic took over home décor. 🍎

In today's Birdie: strategic work breaks, beating end-of-year school burnout, and why scheduling self-care actually works. Plus, quick summer recipes, budget fashion finds, and blue porch ceiling secrets. 🏠

QUICK NOTE: Starting next week, we're shifting to Wednesdays-only for summer.

TRAVEL TIP FROM DENISE: "For kids' ear pressure during flights—bottles for babies, lollipops for older ones. Teaching them early prevents pain!" (Thanks, Denise!)

YOUR WEEKLY FIX OF FUN FINDS

🌽 This 25-minute Grilled Corn Salad with honey-lime dressing might just be your new summer dinner MVP. Get the recipe →

👯‍♀️ These hilariously accurate sibling comics will have you texting "THIS IS US" to your brother or sister immediately. See the LOL-worthy truth →

👗 These 60 surprisingly chic Amazon outfits are all under $35 (and honestly, they look way more expensive). Shop the steals →

🏠 That pretty blue porch ceiling in Southern homes isn't just for aesthetics—it has a fascinating history you never expected. Discover why →

🍿 Summer 2025's movie lineup has something for every mom's night out (or in)—here's what's coming to theaters and streaming. Plan your viewing →

CAREER

The power of pause.

Forget the outdated "stay-at-home mom" label — there's a strategic rebrand happening among career-minded parents. With entrepreneur Neha Ruch leading the charge, taking time away from work for family is getting framed as a power move, not a career sacrifice.

WHY "POWER PAUSE" IS CATCHING ON:

For the strategists: It's an intentional break with a built-in comeback plan — not a permanent exit from professional life.
For the rebrand-savvy: It acknowledges that stepping back to raise tiny humans requires serious skills and deserves respect.

WHAT MOMS SHOULD KNOW: A power pause offers genuine benefits — like witnessing your child's milestones and reducing household stress — but comes with career considerations too.

BEYOND CHILDCARE: Taking this intentional break can become a period of self-discovery. Without the daily work grind, you gain space to identify what truly energizes and inspires you.

MAKING IT WORK: Before diving in, assess your options. Could your current employer offer flexibility? Would a sabbatical provide the reset you need? Have you calculated the financial implications?

PRO TIP: Frame this time as an investment phase where you're building new skills rather than "giving up" your professional identity.

REMEMBER: A power pause isn't just about raising children — it's about raising yourself, too. The goal is to emerge "more yourself" when you decide to return to the workforce, whatever that looks like for you.

Want the full playbook? Check out Ruch's book The Power Pause for all the details.

PARENTING

Finish line fatigue.

Your child's sudden "I hate school" declarations and homework amnesia aren't just attitude problems — they're classic symptoms of end-of-year burnout. With summer tantalizingly close, even dedicated students are running on academic fumes.

THE EMOTIONAL EQUATION: What looks like laziness might actually be "defensive detachment," says Christine Carrig of Carrig Montessori School. Kids are subconsciously pulling away from teachers and classmates they'll soon leave behind.

MOTIVATION RESURRECTION: Create visual countdown calendars mixing responsibilities with rewards. Expert Laurie Kopp Weingarten suggests, "Remind them the end is in sight, but don't just focus on getting it over with."

AGE-SPECIFIC STRATEGIES: For elementary schoolers: Take homework outside with sidewalk-chalk spelling practice For middle schoolers: Build in small, specific rewards for completing dreaded assignments For high schoolers: Encourage study location switches and scheduled breaks between focused sessions

THE BASICS STILL MATTER: Despite end-of-year chaos, maintain consistent bedtimes, healthy meals, and outdoor time. As psychotherapist Janet Generales puts it: "Focus on sleep, food, connection, and basic structure."

SET REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS: This isn't the season for parenting perfection. The occasional repeated outfit or basic lunch won't derail your child's education—but might preserve your sanity.

THE FINISH STRONG FORMULA: Specific praise + achievable goals + meaningful rewards = motivated kids who see the value in powering through.

Want age-tailored strategies? Check our complete guide to crossing that June finish line.

Lettuce, tomatoes, and strawberries aren't just for your farmer's market haul anymore — they're taking over home décor in the hottest "farmstand chic" trend. Country Living's editor says this produce-inspired movement connects our obsession with wellness, gardening, and grandmillennial style (hello, viral Target cabbageware that racked up 15M TikTok posts!). See how to freshen up your space →

SNIPPETS

A teen stunned her entire prom in her mother's perfectly preserved 22-year-old bridesmaid gown — while most vintage clothes remain forgotten in attics or donated to thrift stores.

Scientists are racing to recreate your favorite food colors using insects and vegetables before the 2026 synthetic dye ban — while most consumers have no idea their Fruit Loops are about to get a complete ingredient makeover.

The "Take It Down Act" just passed the House, making AI-generated explicit content a federal crime — while most Americans remain unaware of how easily their likeness can be weaponized online.

DID YOU KNOW? The average mom gets just 32 minutes of "me time" daily, but research shows those who actually schedule self-care on their calendar are 3x more likely to follow through. This Mental Health Awareness Month, try treating your wellbeing as non-negotiable as your kids' doctor appointments — even if it's just 10 minutes with a book or a weekly workout class. Click here for 8 realistic self-care strategies that actually fit into your chaotic mom-life →

When her doorbell unexpectedly rang last Mother's Day, this single mom discovered how a thoughtful village can transform the most isolating holiday of the year — while most solo parents quietly push through the day unacknowledged. Her emotional account of what genuine community support looks like might just inspire you to check on the single mom in your life this Sunday.

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