Until recently, I never understood the appeal of escaping to the desert for a summer vacation. Why swap a mild L.A. summer for a dry and brown furnace intent on sucking every drop of moisture out of your hair, skin and throat?

In the middle of L.A.’s “June gloom,” I left behind our 70-degree weather for a scorching high of 109 in Palm Desert, which averages about 300 days of sunshine per year.

On the drive, I consoled myself with imaginings of sparkling lagoons and spa tubs, crystal bowls and chimes and the feel of cool hotel-room air on my skin. This was, after all, a solo retreat to one of Palm Desert’s oases: JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa. 

I wanted to see how Spa Desert Springs incorporates treatments, wellness tech and practices inspired by those who live in the world’s blue zones — five regions across the globe where researchers have found people live exceptionally long, active lives.

Who doesn’t want to live to 100, especially if they can do so in reasonably good health? I hope to still be dancing, writing up a storm, making new friends of all ages and seeing new-to-me parts of the world well into my 10^th decade. 

A girl can dream. Especially when she’s on a solo retreat.

Best Desert Advice: Hydrate, Eat Light, Embrace the Night

I didn’t need to run the A/C for the first part of my drive, but I switched it on as my car floated into an invisible cave of heat that had me reaching for my water bottle. It was already warm. Luckily, I had stopped in Rowland Heights for two throat soothers: a jelly-lychee drink and coconut-pineapple juice, so I sipped on those until I pulled into the resort’s self-parking garage. 

I decided to leave my bags in the car and relax in my room with no agenda until the sun said its final goodbye. On the way to the checkout desk, I saw a table holding two large containers of ice water — one with orange slices and one with cucumbers. I drank a glass of each. 

The lobby was buzzing with activity. Folks were seated around the bar at Aquifer65 (which serves California cuisine, bar bites and sushi), watching the FIFA World Cup. A few families with children were waiting in line to board boats for the sunset cruise around the resort’s lakes. The boat rides are $5-$10, depending on the day and time. 

Set on 450 acres of desert gardens, lakes and mountain views, the hotel is Palm Desert’s largest resort, with 884 guest rooms.

From my 7^th-floor room balcony, the sun was casting a pink light across the jagged edges of the San Jacinto Mountains. I could see couples and families dining on Rockwood Grill’s patio to my left, lit-up boats sailing across the wide lake in front of me and people soaking in the cool waters of the three Oasis pools tucked in the center of the lake. 

The sound of water runs throughout the resort, a soundtrack that seems to cool things off. A little.

Once the sun was nowhere to be found, I slipped out of my room and descended to the walking path surrounding the lake, familiarizing myself with the location of the restaurants and my main reason for being here: the spa. Before I left, I stashed my water bottle and the hotel’s courtesy waters in my room’s fridge — treats to look forward to after my daring venture into the hot, hot night. 

I took at peek inside Mikado Japanese Steakhouse, which offers a classic teppanyaki experience where the entertainment is as much a part of the main course as the food. Guests sat around a sizzling grill while chefs put on a lively, family-friendly show. The menu features steak, chicken and seafood cooked right in front of you, along with sushi options if you want something lighter. I backed out, deciding to save this bit of theater for a return visit with family. 

After locating the spa, I circled back to the hotel to check out a popular family venue: JW Entertainment Zone, a 12,000-square-foot space that just so happens to be California’s largest resort arcade. You’ll find Pac-Man, Skee-Ball, duckpin bowling, simulators, racing games and many more machines lighting up the space. There’s also a movie lounge with beanbags to stretch out on. The film of the night was “A Goofy Movie.” I smiled at a little girl tugging on her father’s hand. “Let’s watch the movie,” she said, and he followed her lead without protest. 

Like most of us parents when we get to treat ourselves to some me-time, I thought of my own son. Even at 19, he’d love it here, heading straight for what he considered “vintage” games.  

By the time I retrieved my bags and returned to my room, the temperature had tiptoed to 86 degrees. I ran my bubble bath in the deep oval tub flanked by shutters exposing it to the room. Under this additional sound of water, I sipped my refrigerated H20 and nibbled on a yellowtail roll I picked up from Aquifer65. 

It was a perfect bath and dinner. In fact, Japanese cuisine, seafood and salad turned out to my only nutritional sources during my entire stay. Light, tasty, satisfying and, most importantly, cool.

It’s Spa Time

Like many people around the world, I was mesmerized by Netflix’s “Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones.” In the early 2000s, National Geographic explorer Dan Buettner set out to decode the secrets of longevity. His expeditions unveiled the world’s five “blue zones” — Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Ikaria, Greece; Nicoya, Costa Rica and Loma Linda, Calif. — areas with the highest rates of living centenarians.

Buettner dubbed the habits and characteristics these regions share as the “Power 9” — from natural movement to having a strong purpose to being part of the “right tribe” for you.

After bingeing the docuseries, I was determined to increase my practice of these habits. First, I scoured grocery stores looking for the “magic” purple Japanese yam featured in the series. And while I’m a bonafide gym rat, I push myself to walk in nature, including a weekly walk with a big, all-ages neighborhood group. We stop to point at flowers, coo over a gaggle of front-yard roosters, eat mulberries from Dan’s wild “sidewalk farm” in our dense urban neighborhood.

Still, I’m always on the hunt to find additional ways to effectively reduce my stress levels, and lying face-down for a treatment at Spa Desert Springs is an activity I would gladly do daily. Each experience blends local tradition, natural elements and longevity-focused practices inspired by the blue zones, Spa Director Dawn Ferraro told me during our tour.

Palm Desert’s largest spa, it spans 38,000 square feet and includes a shop and Spa Bistro, which serves light and refreshing meals representing the culinary culture of each blue zone.

 “Live to 100” highlighted how Okinawa has long been nicknamed “Land of the Immortals.” Feeling inspired, I signed up for the Okinawa treatment, a nourishing body wrap that blends hand-harvested rice, clay, seaweed and botanicals to hydrate, brighten and smooth skin while reducing dullness and signs of aging. 

My appointment was set for late afternoon. Early that morning, I ate a salad for breakfast on Rockwood Grill’s patio, watching the black swans glide across the lake. My son FaceTimed me, and I was not annoyed in the least to share my time with him. I pointed the phone toward the lake. “That’s beautiful, Mom,” he said. “I’m so happy for you.”

At lunchtime, I sauntered over to Spa Bistro, choosing the Okinawa Bowl (sweet potato glass noodles, shaved carrots, cilantro, miso-honey vinaigrette and chili crunch topped with a hot-smoked salmon fillet) and a blackberry cocktail, remembering not to overeat. My taste buds were tingly and satiated, a foreshadowing of my treatment.

In the candlelit, calm music-filled Couple’s Spa Suite featuring two plush massage tables and a massive tub, Miranda worked miracles on my sore body, gently wrapping it in the rice mixture that included uplifting scents of peppermint, lime and eucalyptus. “Any problem areas I should know about?” she asked, and I told her I’d recently been to the doctor for foot pain. My podiatrist, in fact, was suggesting the impossible: That I take at least a monthlong break from my beloved Zumba classes. 

As Miranda massaged away the hurt, the prospect of cutting back my seven-day-a-week workout schedule seemed a little less anxiety producing. Why have I so doggedly worked out past these chronic pains? I thought. And why don’t I reward my muscles, joints and bones more with recovery? 

The 90-minute treatment included a cooling rice bath and, to my delight, a rubber ducky! Who knew a childhood toy could be a meditative device? As I pushed the ducky towards my feet and watched it float back toward me, I was entranced. Deep in a zone that maybe, just maybe, was blue.

The spa also has gender-separate and co-ed relaxation lounges, a spa wardrobe, an aromatic hammam, Finnish sauna and a Turkish steam room. After my treatment, I had about an hour until closing time. I chose to spend it in the spa’s first interactive co-ed wellness lounge, which integrates wellness with technology and features 15 state-of-the-art lounge chairs designed for relaxation and rejuvenation. 

While I’ll never submit to a robot giving me a body treatment, I sank happily into the MindSync Chair, reclined and donned headphones. Ferraro chose the “emotional reset” option on the screen. The music, designed to synchronize brainwaves, made me feel as though I was simultaneously flying and grounded. After the first session stopped, I hit “soul soak” and had no idea I’d fallen asleep until an employee woke me. 

The spa was closing. It was time to go.

“Oh my goodness! So sorry,” I yelped.

 “Don’t be embarrassed,” Ferraro said. “It just means you needed the rest, and Miranda did a great job.” 

I asked her what I should check out in town, and she launched into how beautiful the Shops at El Paseo are at night. Mid-sentence, though, she changed her recommendation. “You know, the best thing might be for you to go to your room, order room service and rest for the rest of the night.”

She was right. I don’t even remember how I got into bed. 

Rising with the Desert Sun

I rose just before dawn the next day and went to sit out on the balcony. It was only 83 degrees, and the breeze did not yet feel like invisible fire. I sat down on the chair, then gasped when I looked across the table to discover that I was not alone. 

A mourning dove was perched on the chair opposite me, her head bowed, her chest inflated like a balloon. She side-eyed me. I left her alone. We watched the sun begin to wake up the mountains.

As the light grew stronger, the dove began to move. Fluffing her feathers to wake them up, to get herself ready for the day. Your tai chi, I thought. 

When she finally flew away, I stood and did a few stretches of my own, then went down to visit the Chilean flamingos, a delightful draw for early risers like me and the families with children who would make their way down later, perhaps after a breakfast of pancakes and sausage.

While my purpose in the desert was to find respite through the resort’s innovative wellness offerings, I appreciated that the property also creates meaningful ways for people of all ages to connect.

The promise of blue zones, Buettner says in “Live to 100,” is “to get every good year we can get out of this body of ours.” And that includes purposeful time alone and with our right tribes.

 Family Fun on the Resort 

• Families can enjoy 5 pools at JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa. 
• Play golf on 2 Ted Robinson-designed championship golf courses.
• The Desert Springs Tennis Club has 8 pickleball courts. 
• Guests have complimentary access to the 18-hole mini championship putting course, with clubs available for all ages.
• Take electric boat rides across the resort’s lakes and waterways. These set sail from the lobby. The resort’s lakes are home to swans, flamingos and other aquatic wildlife cared for by the on-site conservation team. 
• The 12,000-square-foot JW Entertainment Zone is California’s largest resort arcade, featuring Pac-Man, Skee-Ball, duckpin bowling, simulators, racing games and more. 
• The JW Family Passport program offers activities for all ages, including nature walks, family yoga, flamingo feedings, scavenger hunts, trivia nights and ice cream socials, with prizes for participation.
• The resort’s Hot Shoppe serves nostalgic treats including root beer floats and ice cream.
• The hotel’s “Paws & Pamper” program for VIPs (Very Important Pets) offers dog-friendly in-room amenities and pet spa items such as lavender blankets and CBD treats for four-legged guests.
• Access to bike rentals, fish feeding and group fitness (18 and up).
• To view and book resort activities, visit JW Marriott Desert Springs activities calendar.

Cassandra Lane is a mom, author and editor-in-chief of L.A. Parent. 

The post Why JW Marriott Desert Springs Is the Perfect Palm Desert Getaway appeared first on L.A. Parent.

The other day, I sat with a new mom while she fed her baby and cried at the same time. She wasn’t crying because something terrible had happened — she was just exhausted. Overstimulated. Trying so hard to do everything “right.”

At one point she looked at me and said, “I don’t even know what I’m supposed to listen to anymore.”

And honestly, I understood exactly what she meant.

As a birth worker serving families throughout Los Angeles and Ventura counties, I see this all the time. Parents today have access to more information than ever before, but many feel more anxious, isolated and unsure of themselves than ever.

Everywhere you look, someone is offering advice. One video says your baby should be sleeping independently by a certain age. Another says the opposite. One expert says to follow a strict routine. Another says routines are stressful for children.

Even during pregnancy and postpartum, moms are constantly being told what they should be eating, buying, tracking or preparing for.

It’s a lot.

Too much information; not enough support

I think social media has created this feeling that there’s a “correct” way to parent and that if you just research enough, buy the right products or follow the right routines, you can somehow avoid mistakes.

But parenting doesn’t really work like that.

Babies are different. Families are different. Parents are different. And sometimes, all the information online just leaves people feeling more disconnected from themselves.

I’ve worked with mothers who spend hours reading parenting advice at 2 a.m. while questioning every decision they make. I’ve also seen parents feel guilty for not enjoying every second of early motherhood because online it can seem like everyone else is handling things perfectly.

Meanwhile, many new parents are deeply overwhelmed and barely getting enough sleep.

Parenting was never meant to be this lonely

One thing I hear from families over and over again is how alone they feel.

A lot of parents are raising babies far away from family or without the kind of community support people used to have naturally. Many are trying to balance work, household responsibilities, recovery and childcare all at once. And even though we’re more digitally connected than ever, many parents still feel like they have nobody to really lean on.

Sometimes what helps most isn’t another parenting podcast or a new routine chart. Sometimes, it’s simply having someone sit with you and remind you that you’re doing OK.

That support matters more than people realize.

Learning to trust yourself again

One of the most important things I try to remind parents is that they do not need to perform parenthood perfectly. Children don’t need parents who have all the answers every moment of the day. They need parents who are present, loving and supported themselves.

Some of the moments children remember most are usually the simple ones anyway. Eating popsicles outside. Being rocked to sleep. Listening to stories before bed. Sitting together after a hard day. Those moments don’t usually make it onto social media, but they matter.

I think many parents are craving permission to slow down a little and stop feeling like every decision carries enormous weight. At the end of the day, parenting is not about perfection. It’s about connection.

And most parents are doing far better than they think.

Rachael Jerahian is the founder of Nature & Nourish Birthing Co., where she supports women through pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood with holistic care from bump through baby. Find her on social media @natureandnourishbirthingco and at natureandnourishbirthingco.com.

The post Parental Burnout: Why Parents Feel Overwhelmed and What Helps appeared first on L.A. Parent.

Clinical psychologist Sanam Shamtobi, Ph.D., PMH-C, founder of The Mother Hood based in L.A. is on a mission to help moms know that it’s normal to deeply love your baby and struggle with the transition.

The Mother Hood offers therapy for women in various stages of their motherhood journey. They focus on postpartum depression, anxiety and OCD, identity shifts and career transitions, parenting stress and overwhelm, lack of connection with partner, fertility challenges and pregnancy loss, mom guilt and many other issues that affect moms.

Please share with us what led you to launch The Mother Hood.

The Mother Hood was born out a genuine passion to hear every detail about a parent’s life and know how they are processing being responsible for raising children.

I have always been deeply curious about the human experience, but once I got pregnant with my first child, I was shocked at how profoundly unknown the entire process was. From understanding my body (i.e. what is a fertile window?!) To the nuance of the birth plan, to all the decision fatigue that follows once your baby is born… I just didn’t know this world existed until I was part of it, and then it became all I wanted to talk about.

It was also during this time that I began to experience postpartum anxiety, rage, and what I would deem subclinical OCD. I struggled to drive with my son in the car, would cry every time I had to pump (sidetone: Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex is an actual diagnosis more people need to be aware of), and I felt a deep chasm in marriage even though my husband could not have been more loving and involved.

I was in love with my child, but I was not in love with the loss of my autonomy, and the claustrophobia of early postpartum had a real grip on me. When the clouds parted, I made a vow to help other women experiencing these symptoms and opened The Mother Hood while I was pregnant with my second child.

What led you to pursue clinical psychology and perinatal mental health in particular?

I’ve always been that person who wants to sit in the deep end of the pool and talk about the things most people avoid. Clinical psychology felt like a natural home for my curiosity about the human experience, but it wasn’t until my own transition into motherhood that my “why” became crystal clear. I realized that the perinatal period is this incredibly vulnerable window where you are quite literally being dismantled and put back together. I chose this specialty because I saw how little space there was for the “both/and” of motherhood—the idea that you can deeply love your baby and also deeply struggle with the transition.

I wanted to be the person who holds that space for women, helping them navigate the messy, unpolished parts of mental health that don’t make it into the highlight reels.

Our motto is “Permission to feel it all” to create a space where nothing is taboo to say out loud and you are held by a professional who will help you navigate it.

What are some of the challenges you see in your practice that moms in L.A. are facing?

Being a mom in L.A. comes with a very specific brand of pressure. We live in a city that is obsessed with high performance and looking like you have it all together, which makes the “comparison trap” feel almost inescapable.

There’s also a real tension between wanting to be a “present” parent and the grueling pace of professional life here. It leads to a lot of what I call “hurried heart syndrome,” where moms feel like they are constantly rushing from one thing to the next without ever actually feeling grounded in any of it.

Lastly, and this shows up the most in my consultation calls before the therapy even begins, is the challenge of mothers allowing themselves the time and space to actually prioritize their mental well-being. We are so used to enduring and caring for others, it almost feels like a natural reflex to neglect ourselves, so just getting women in the door feels like a hurdle we need to reduce friction around from the jump.

I love the idea of providing “emotional care” before and after pregnancy. What does this look like?

Emotional care is really about moving from a reactive model to a proactive one. We spend so much time planning for the nursery or the stroller, but we rarely plan for the emotional tectonic shifts.

Before pregnancy, it looks like having those honest, sometimes uncomfortable conversations about how your relationship might shift and what your individual needs are.

Afterward, it’s about having a dedicated space where the focus is entirely on you—not just how the baby is sleeping or eating, but how you are processing the loss of your old life and the birth of your new self.

It’s about clinical support that feels like a warm hug where your therapist can also hold the “WTF” of parenthood. It also looks like current, best practices informing the interventions that guide you through anxiety and depression while a real human also validates the sheer exhaustion of it all.

How can partners and other family members and friends better support the new moms in their lives?

The most helpful thing anyone can do is to stop asking “how can I help?” When you’re in those early weeks, even making a grocery list feels like an insurmountable task.

Support needs to be unprompted and logistical. Don’t ask to hold the baby while the mom cleans; instead, tell her to go nap or take a long shower while you do the dishes, fold the mountain of laundry, or bring over a hot meal.

For partners, it’s about taking ownership of the “mental load.” If the diapers are low, buy them. If the pediatrician appointment is coming up, put it in the calendar. True support is when a mom doesn’t have to be the CEO of the household for a few hours.

You are a mom as well. How are you juggling work and family?

To be honest, “juggling” usually implies that everything is moving smoothly, and that’s rarely the case! I’ve had to let go of the idea of a perfect 50/50 balance. Some weeks, my practice needs more of my heart, and other weeks, my kids need my full attention. I’ve learned to be okay with the “messy middle.”

I’m very intentional about my boundaries, but I also try to be kind to myself when those boundaries get blurred. I’ve realized that being a “good” mom doesn’t mean being a “perfect” mom, and showing my kids that I have a career I love is actually a gift I’m giving to them.

The one hard rule I have is that I am very intentional about not answering emails or texts when I am with them. I would rather excuse myself for five minutes to do that than have them think I am prioritizing my phone. Otherwise, I give myself a lot of grace and ask for help when I need it… there is no ego in mothering these days.

What actions or words have given you the most support as a new mom?

The words that resonate with me often are “this is pain with purpose.” They were spoken to me by my mom in regards to childbirth, but it has applied to most things in my journey so far. When I was deep in the throes of postpartum anxiety or feeling that intense claustrophobia of being “on” 24/7, reminding myself that the struggle wasn’t just empty suffering—that it was actually the labor of becoming a new version of myself—helped me catch my breath. It allowed me to see the “pain” of losing my autonomy not as a tragedy, but as a necessary, albeit grueling, expansion of my heart.

Action-wise, the most profound support came from those who recognized that I was essentially a “patient” too, not just a milk source or a caregiver. It was my husband noticing the invisible wall I was hitting and quietly taking the baby so I could walk outside and remember what the air felt like. It was the friends who didn’t ask “how is the baby?” but instead asked “how is my friend doing today?” and sat with me in the middle of my messy living room without expecting me to host them.

Having people acknowledge the harder side of motherhood—the rage, the exhaustion, the grief for my old life—without judgment, that was the main thing that truly made the clouds start to part and what I hope to provide for my clients at The Mother Hood.

Becoming a mom is a journey. What are some key steps we can take to support women who are in the planning phase, in the pregnancy phase and in the new mom phase?

We need to meet women exactly where they are at each stage. In the planning phase, it’s about normalizing the “unknowns” and encouraging them to build an emotional foundation before the baby arrives.

During pregnancy, we should be helping them set radical boundaries and giving them permission to rest instead of “prepping” every second.

Once they hit the new mom phase, the goal is total cognitive load reduction and providing resources to help maintain the health of their relationship. We should be circling the wagons around them, so their only job is to heal and bond. It’s about shifting the focus from “what can the mom do for the baby” to “what can the community do for the mom.”

How can women better advocate for themselves?

It starts with acknowledging that your well-being is the foundation for your child’s well-being. If you are struggling, it’s not a personal failure; it’s a sign that you need more support. I always tell women to remember they have needs, and those needs are real. Instead of saying “Is it okay if I take a break?” try saying “I’m going to step away for 30 minutes to recharge.”

In medical settings, don’t be afraid to be “difficult.” If something feels off in your body or your mind, keep speaking up until you get an answer that feels right. Your intuition is your most powerful tool—trust it.

And let’s not forget about the self-talk. What is the typical self-talk many working moms engage in? And what are some healthier narratives?

The inner critic for working moms is usually incredibly loud, constantly whispering that you’re failing at everything.

I live in the real world with my clients and deal with many of the same thoughts they come into session with. It’s that “not enough” narrative—not enough at work, not enough at home. The guilt… the never ending guilt!

First off, normalizing how absolutely HARD it is to be a working mom needs to be yelled from the rooftops. Women need to be reassured that no one has it all figured out, no matter what it looks like from the outside. We are all trying our very best, and sometimes we take the win, and other days, we go to bed with a heavy heart and mind… this rollercoaster needs to be addressed and brought into the room before any attempt to throw yourself off it can be made.

Eventually, I like to help moms identify where their beliefs about being “a good mom” come from, what narratives are they comparing themself against. And then we can begin altering the self-talk in gentle but purposeful ways to make it feel less “sticky.”

Our goal doesn’t need to be positivity- sometimes neutrality is really liberating. Instead of “I should be able to do this alone,” try “I am a human being who was never meant to raise a child in a vacuum.” Is their grief and anger in that? Sure… but it’s better to grieve the reality of what modern parenthood can sometimes feel like than label yourself as a failure of a parent.

For more information on The Mother Hood, visit themotherhoodla.com

The post Navigating Modern Motherhood: Expert Advice for Every Stage appeared first on L.A. Parent.

Becoming a dad changes everything, especially your social life. As father of two sons, I absolutely love being a dad, yet having a kid or two flips your life upside down. Your friendships change, plans fall through, conversation topics shift and your community diminishes. But here’s the good news: It doesn’t have to.

When my older son was born in 2023, my wife joined a mommy-and-me group and loved the opportunity to chat with other moms going through the trenches just like she was. It made a huge difference for her. Naturally, I looked for something similar; however, there was nothing like it out there for dads.

This is crazy in a time where new dads are more involved than ever before. Something needed to be done, so I launched Dad’s Little Sidekick — a relaxed monthly hangout where dads and their kids under 4 can just show up, spend time together and meet other dads in the same stage of life. 

There is no pressure and no over-planning. Kids run around and play, snacks are shared and dads get a chance to actually talk about parenting, life, music — or whatever comes up.

I originally modeled the program after weekly meetings with an agenda, but soon realized that while dads want to meet other dads, a little less structure is OK. Bonding for dads is showing up, being silly, playing around and just making sure that they get some quality time with their kid. This generation of men wants to partake in the day-to-day activity of our kids growing up and want to be present to build strong relationships with our mini-me’s. 

As a full-time working dad who wants to divide the housework and parental responsibilities, taking time to spend with friends can be difficult and produces a constant underlying dad guilt.  Dad life is constantly busy, but making friends shouldn’t be hard. That’s what makes having a built-in community so valuable. 

When my friends had kids before me, they stopped reaching out and seemed too busy with their lives to maintain friendships. When it was my turn to have a little one, I made every effort to not let this happen. Kids come with different schedules and varied routines, but when you’re surrounded by dads with kids in similar stages, there’s an instant understanding. No need to explain why you’re late, distracted or tired — it’s just part of the deal. This group is priceless and offers the opportunity to make new friends feel possible!

Between work, naps, meals and potty training, hanging out shouldn’t feel like another chore.  We meet in a safe enclosed space, because when you get together in the park, kids are running around all over the place and connection never happens. What is better than having a fun, easy environment for the kids to play and a laid-back atmosphere for the guys to talk and swap stories?  

Dad’s Little Sidekick is something to look forward to, and while we meet monthly, the conversations continue in between. We are all willing to help each other, offer different services or just ask a quick question to the group. Real friendships are forming between the kids and the dads. 

This is also dedicated time for a dad to hang with their kid and for their spouse to have some self-care time. When dads have strong community support, everyone benefits. Your kids see you prioritizing relationships, your partner sees you as more fulfilled and less stressed and you become a better version of yourself in every role you play.

It is time for dads to also be taken care of. It takes a village to raise a kid and to raise a happy, competent dad. Being a dad is one of the best jobs in the world, and it can be even greater with Dad’s Little Sidekick. 

We’re all about feeling less isolated and more connected. Dads show up for their kids every day, and it’s time we show up for each other, too. Follow us @dadslittlesidekick for more info and to join our next hangout! 

Jared Podos is a father and founder of Dad’s Little Sidekick. 

Editor’s note: For great family-friendly events you can share with fellow dads, visit our events roundup. If your kids are a bit older, you’ll enjoy this father-daugther story on how they explore L.A. like tourists.

The post How Dad’s Little Sidekick Is Building Community for Los Angeles Fathers appeared first on L.A. Parent.

For the last few years, I’ve had a Mother’s Day solo staycation ritual. I find some sweet, local hotel and “clock out” of my mothering duties for 24 hours. But this year, life has been so busy much because I am a mother, that the thought of leaving home for a day itself felt incredibly stressful. When Momcozy invited me to a Mother’s Day Mini Wellness Retreat, I thought this is the perfect way to get a little “me” time without missing anyone’s bedtime.

Christina, a professional sound healer, welcomed us moms and moms-to-be into a cozy room where we were invited to lay down and rest, a word she repeated often throughout our hour sound bath and meditation. We were greeted by “The Art of Rest Gift Box” designed by local artist—and new mom—Amber Vittoria at the top of our mats. The gifts, a cozy blanket, sleep mask, etc. were lovely, but I was more in awe of how this new mom managed to make art during this demanding time of motherhood.

You could feel the buzzy energy in the room, partly because we were excited to steal a moment to ourselves and to connect with fellow moms, without our attention divided by small children, and party because it’s hard to let go of responsibility.

“I couldn’t turn off my to-do list for the first 20 minutes!” a mom behind me exclaimed. “Oh my god, me too,” another mom replied. This is why Christina had to echo “rest” until, like an earworm, we couldn’t ignore it. Through various crystal sound bowls and other instruments, she calmed our buzzing bodies and minds to settle into the deep rest us parents so desperately need.

After the sound bath, we had our personal aura photography portraits taken, and then a reading by professional aura photographer Danielle. I learned my dominant aura is orange, linked to the sacral chakra, which is connected to creative energy and adventure. When Danielle interpreted my aura, she asked me, “Why are you so hard on yourself?” I could feel the tears well up. Granted, self-criticism is not reserved to those with orange auras. She probably could’ve asked any mom in that room, and they would’ve felt seen just the same.

We are too hard on ourselves, maintaining unrealistic expectations of what it means to be a mom. I know I can’t “do it all” and yet I still expect that I can: be a good parent and a good partner, have a social life, make art. I asked Amber, the artist, how does she do it. I love asking all artists who mother this question. And their answers are similar: I don’t know.

Somehow, between cleaning bottles or chaperoning field trips, pick-ups and drop offs, they pick up the paint brush or the pen, they open the lap top and try to pick up where they left off. It’s the opposite of creative flow. It’s akward, perhaps not ideal, but they do it anyway. And so do I.

The post A Mother’s Day Wellness Retreat and the Art of Rest appeared first on L.A. Parent.

Flying while pregnant is considered safe (unless there are pregnancy complications), yet it can be uncomfortable, especially in the first trimester, which is when many people experience morning sickness. Increasing your comfort during the flight starts long before you board the plane, but what you pack in your carry-on bag can make your time in the air much more bearable.

As a journalist who takes more than 100 flights a year, I continued flying frequently during my pregnancy. With the right prep, you, too, can jet set around the world … within reason. After 28 weeks of gestation, airlines may require a doctor’s note to confirm a pregnant person has been cleared to fly, and after 36 weeks (or 32 for pregnancies with multiples), it is not advised to fly. 

Increasing physical comfort 

​The one thing my doctor told me was non-negotiable was to wear compression socks while flying to avoid blood clots, improve circulation and reduce leg swelling. Doctors also recommend frequent movement during the flight: ankle rotations, standing every hour and walking the aisles. Choosing the aisle seat is ideal. 

In addition, I swear by a foot swing to reduce swelling. If you don’t already own one, a sturdy scarf works just fine. Open the tray table, tie the scarf into a tight loop, lock the tray table in place, and — voilà! — you’ve made a DIY foot swing.

If you get chilly easily on flights, make sure you bring a backup scarf to wrap around your shoulders. Or if you overheat, a small, portable electric fan will be your new best friend.

Navigating fatigue

If the thought of even going to the airport makes you feel exhausted, you are not alone. Exhaustion can hit hard, especially during the first trimester, so to help you navigate a large airport, consider requesting wheelchair assistance, which you can reserve through the airline.

To ensure you can fall asleep more easily once you’re on board, pack your favorite neck support travel pillow. I also wore noise-canceling headphones to block out the plane’s white noise and the chatter of fellow passengers.

Managing nausea

My sense of smell was extremely high while pregnant, so I stashed an herbal inhaler in my fanny pack for easy access to sniff during any unpleasant, stinky moments. Alternatively, you can also bring your favorite essential oils.​

Morning sickness can also make flying challenging. Packing anti-nausea and heartburn medication can help, and some travelers find relief by smelling a cotton ball lightly dipped in alcohol and stored in a small zip-top bag. Frequent snacking may also help keep nausea at bay.

 In addition, some pregnant people find that frequently snacking can help curb morning sickness. I’m gluten-free and vegan due to allergies, so I can’t rely on airline snacks; I bring my own, including rice crackers, fruits and nuts. I also suggest bringing plenty of ginger chews to help fight nausea and electrolyte packets to add to your water to keep you satiated and hydrated.

Since the immune system can be weaker during pregnancy, I wore an N95 mask to do my best to keep myself healthy while flying. I brought cleaning wipes with alcohol to clean my space and hand sanitizer that I used as needed.  

Keeping these essentials in my carry-on gave me peace of mind and made flying during pregnancy far more manageable.

Pregnancy Carry-On Essentials

• Compression socks
• Neck pillow
• Electrolyte packets
• Ginger chews
• Anti-nausea medication
• Healthy snacks

• Hand sanitizer + wipes
• Essential oil or inhaler
• N95 masks
• Portable fan
• Foot sling or scarf
• Warm throw

​ Lola Méndez is a Uruguayan-American journalist with more than a decade of experience in print and digital media, covering travel, sustainability, culture and wellness for major publications, including the L.A. Times, CNN and National Geographic.

​

The post Flying While Pregnant: Travel Tips and Carry-On Essentials appeared first on L.A. Parent.

The Comfort Cub started from a mother’s loss and grieving and has grown into a company focused on therapeutic healing and hope. Each weighted therapeutic teddy bear comes with a personal handwritten letter from Encinitas resident Marcella Johnson, whose baby boy George died peacefully in her arms the day he was born.

Each teddy bear is designed to provide healing both for the heart and body. The company, which was recently honored with a NAPPA Award, now extends beyond navigating grief, to supporting mental wellness for those experiencing anxiety, trauma, illness and other challenging life events.

We recently chatted with Marcella, who is the mother of five and grandmother of three.

While I have read your bio on your website, tell us more about the time of your grieving, the potted plant your father handed you and what happened at that moment and the days that followed?

Along with the obvious emotional pain of losing a child, I also experienced unusual physical pain that I had never felt before. My heart hurt, and my arms ached. Nothing would make it go away. I even went to the doctor, and he couldn’t determine what was wrong.

Shortly after my son’s passing, my dad and I went to visit his gravesite. When we arrived, we saw a beautiful terra-cotta pot filled with flowers that someone had left there. My dad suggested I take it home, but I was in such a deep state of depression that I wasn’t interested in anything. He gently insisted it might lift my spirits, and just to appease him, I reluctantly picked it up.

That’s when something incredible happened. The moment I held that cold, heavy pot in my arms, the aching in my heart and arms immediately went away. It was so surprising—and honestly, a little strange—that I didn’t even mention it to my dad. But I quickly realized that every time I put the pot down, the pain returned. So I found myself carrying it everywhere, thinking I must have lost my mind.

Later, I learned that this is actually quite common. When women lose a child, they often instinctively seek out weighted objects—sometimes carrying things like a sack of flour, a lamp, or even a pineapple—because the weight mimics the feeling of holding their baby.

When I realized this, I felt strongly that there needed to be something more dignified and intentional to support grieving mothers. That’s when I was inspired to create a weighted teddy bear designed to mimic the weight and shape of a newborn baby. At the time, nothing like it existed.

I made the first prototype by hand and brought it to the social workers who had supported me at San Diego Hospice and Mary Birch Hospital. They immediately saw its value and asked me to make more for their patients. In the beginning, I made each one by hand with the help of friends, and I personally wrote every letter that accompanied each Comfort Cub.

At first, it was difficult to get the medical community to fully understand its importance. But the mothers and families who received them did. Their response made it clear this was something meaningful.

Years later, I learned that the pain I had experienced is called Takotsubo syndrome, or “broken heart syndrome,” a condition brought on by acute grief. The aching in my arms is often referred to as “empty arm syndrome”—a very real sensation of longing to hold your child.

Holding a Comfort Cub helps alleviate both.

Tell us a little about the people and families you have met since starting Comfort Cub?

I’ve met so many incredible families along the way. In the beginning, my focus was on mothers and families who had lost a child. But very quickly and organically, The Comfort Cub expanded into many other areas.

Early on, I spoke at a hospital to a group of social workers from various organizations. One woman shared that she worked with mothers placing their babies for adoption. That moment was eye-opening—while their children had not died, they were still experiencing a profound loss. They no longer had their child to hold.

From there, we began working with families whose babies were in the NICU. Parents often have to leave the hospital without their newborns, which can be incredibly traumatic. The Comfort Cub helps fill that physical and emotional space while they wait to bring their babies home.

We’ve also seen it help mothers struggling with breastfeeding. Holding the Comfort Cub has helped some women relax enough to allow milk letdown.

Over time, requests expanded beyond child loss to include anyone grieving a loved one—a parent, sibling, or friend—and really any situation involving trauma or loss.

I understand you work with various hospitals and organizations throughout Southern California. Please tell us more about these collaborations.

We’re honored to work with hospitals and organizations throughout Southern California. In San Diego, we partner with virtually every hospital. In Los Angeles, we work with major institutions including UCLA, Cedars-Sinai, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Loma Linda and CHOC.

We also collaborate with organizations like The Dream Center, the Los Angeles Department of Education, and the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. Through these partnerships, we’ve been able to support children and families impacted by traumatic events, including the recent devastating Los Angeles wildfires.

These collaborations allow us to place Comfort Cubs directly into the hands of people when they need them most.

How has the mission of Comfort Cub evolved since you began?

We originally created The Comfort Cub for women and families who had lost a child. Over time, we realized that holding our weighted, therapeutic teddy bear is a form of deep touch therapy.

Once we understood that it could help calm the body, we saw that it could support people in many different types of trauma. We began working with the San Diego Police Department through their trauma intervention programs, where Comfort Cubs were used on emergency calls and found to be very effective in bringing calm to highly stressful situations.

From there, we began receiving requests from across the country in response to large-scale tragedies—mass shootings, natural disasters like floods, and devastating wildfires.

While our reach has expanded, our mission remains the same: to provide comfort in moments of deep need.

What makes you most proud about your company?

I’m most proud that we’re still here after 27 years. We started with no roadmap—I simply wanted to make the path a little easier for the next mother walking through the kind of loss I experienced.

To now know we’ve impacted more than 150,000 people is truly humbling.

I’m also incredibly proud of our small but mighty team. Everyone involved has their own personal story of loss or trauma. This isn’t just work for us—it’s deeply personal. We care about this mission because we’ve lived it.

What are some projects you’re currently working on and looking forward to?

We are really looking forward to helping to support the families of those who perished during 9/11. We have recently been asked to join Voices Center for Resilience (formerly Voices of September 11th) for its 25th anniversary this year in New York City. We will be distributing Comfort Cubs to those families who are still dealing with the trauma of losing their loved ones. It will be our honor to participate in this important event, which has deeply affected our nation. We also look forward to finding new people and organizations to help.  So if your readers think their group could benefit from having Comfort Cubs we’d love to hear from them. They can reach us at our website by clicking on the “For Organizations” tab.

How have you personally changed/evolved since starting this company?
When I started, my focus was solely on the loss of a child. Over time, I’ve learned that grief comes in many forms, and there is no comparison in loss. What matters is what that loss means to the person experiencing it.

A broken heart can come from losing a loved one, a pet, a marriage, a sense of identity, or even a dream.

This work has made me much more compassionate. I’ve come to understand that life is hard, and we all carry things others cannot see. Because of that, I believe deeply in the importance of kindness. You never know what someone else is going through, and even the smallest act of compassion can make a difference.

The post Meet Marcella Johnson: The Mom Behind The Comfort Cub and a Mission to Heal appeared first on L.A. Parent.

Los Angeles families can soon shop fresh, local and Black-owned — right from a farmer’s market on wheels. Prosperity Market is launching its new fleet of solar-powered mobile trailers on April 4, bringing farm-fresh produce, pantry staples and chef-driven meals directly to neighborhoods across the city. Part food truck, part farmers market, these 48-foot trailers spotlight Black farmers, food producers and chefs while expanding access to healthy food in communities that need it most.

Black-owned businesses include Ghost Town Oats, The Farmer Ken and Gloria’s Shito, plus a rotating roster of L.A.’s best chefs taking over the trailers’ kitchens. Co-founders Kara Still and Carmen Dianne envisioned the trailers as farmer’s-markets-on-wheels, and unveiled their design of the first solar-powered and electric trailer at the 2023 LA Auto Show. Since then, Prosperity Market has popped up at iconic L.A. venues such as The Original Farmers Market and the Melrose Trading Post. Prosperity Market will announce the trailer’s upcoming schedule following the launch event, which will include weekly stops across Los Angeles. Follow @prosperity.market on social media for the most updated information.

On Saturday, April 4 (11 a.m.-3 p.m.), Prosperity Market will celebrate the official kickoff of the regular trailer schedule with a pop-up market at Earle’s on Crenshaw (3864 Crenshaw Blvd. in Los Angeles). The trailer will be stocked with products and produce from Prosperity Market’s vendors and farmers, and the kitchen will feature Chef John Cleveland of Post & Beam, bringing back the beloved restaurant’s menu for a limited time. Hosted by Tammi Mac of KJLH, the event will also feature a wine bar by 1010 Wine & Events, coffee by Ora Cafe, a STEAM kids area by Teach to Reach, games by Love, Peace, Spades, music by DJ Myah Moves and cooking demos by Chef Sharon Graves of BLVD Kitchen. 

The first trailer was made possible in 2022 by a  $100k+ crowdfund (with additional support from Jrue and Lauren Holiday’s JLH Social Impact Fund), with two additional trailers funded by a generous contribution from music industry legend Dr. Dre. Through Dr. Dre’s donation, Prosperity Market’s fiscal sponsor SIMA is also able to provide nearly 6,000 young African women with professional training in health, education and entrepreneurship across 48 countries in Africa, through a collaboration with Nigeria-based leadership institute, LEAP Africa.  

The post Mobile Farmers Market Launches in Los Angeles with Fresh Local Food appeared first on L.A. Parent.

During a recent self-care retreat in a West Athens garden in Los Angeles, the evening sun slipped through an umbrella of trees, lighting up a corner of the garden where guests had been instructed to choose plants that spoke to them.

Once the women returned to their tables, Barbara Lawson, owner of Redondo Beach-based Meet Me in the Dirt, guided them through a plant meditation that included ripping their beautiful plants from their pots and using their fingers to rake away clinging dirt. “Hold your plant up high and examine the roots,” Lawson told them. After gazing at the vulnerable roots, they sunk their hands into mounds of loose, loamy black soil, using it to replant their greenery into brand-new pots.

 Throughout the meditation, Lawson encouraged the women to reflect on what in their lives they were ready to release and where they were willing to start anew. This intentional approach of engaging with plants, nature and gardening to promote stress relief and encourage healing falls under the realm of horticultural therapy. As spring approaches, rediscovering the healing power of tending to plants feels especially resonant. 

This year’s spring equinox falls on March 20, and if the new year didn’t provide the fresh start you’d hoped for, do not fret. Some cultures celebrate spring as the beginning of the year (Nowruz is the Persian New Year, for example) — and many uphold it as a symbol of rebirth and triumph over struggle, a fitting metaphor for plant life and what we learn from it.

The mental health benefits of nature

In his book “With People in Mind: Design and Management for Everyday Nature,” psychology professor Stephen Kaplan discusses how nature can counteract prolonged directed attention fatigue, a temporary mental exhaustion from overusing your brain’s ability to focus and filter distractions, which leads to increased irritability, impulsivity, difficulty concentrating and poor decision-making. 

There are inherent healing properties in the soil beneath our feet, research shows. Mycobacterium vaccae is a soil-borne microorganism that, when inhaled or in contact with our skin, stimulates serotonin production in the brain, contributing to mood and cognitive regulation. 

Sometimes, we don’t even need to touch nature to benefit from it.

Roger S. Ulrich studied the impact on patients whose hospital room windows overlooked the outdoors. Ulrich discovered that patients who were able to view nature from their hospital rooms experienced fewer post-surgery complications and required less pain medication than those with no nature exposure. 

How horticultural therapy works

For Lawson, the practice of blending gardening with stress relief and emotional processing began in her home garden. She was overcome with grief after the loss of her mother. She turned to therapy, and then nature, for help. One seed at a time, her garden became a place of healing. And it is a symbiotic relationship: As she excavates old weeds and hydrates new roots with a sprinkling of water, she soaks in the vitamin D and begins to shift her emotional state.

Feeling compelled to share the power of her healing practice with others, Lawson created Meet Me in the Dirt, a dedicated green space in Redondo Beach. 

As she did that evening in the West Athens garden, Lawson guides her guests through their vulnerabilities and hardships through plant care. When supporting children through their experiences with change, uncertainty or a blend of different emotions, Lawson encourages parents to have open conversations. It’s understandably difficult to see those we love in pain, but it is far more painful to bury it beneath the surface. Encouraging families to meet each other, and themselves, in the dirt, Lawson says, “You don’t need a yard. You need a pot, and you need a seed. You need what the plant needs, too.” 

From the backyard to the schoolyard

While Lawson’s work reflects the deeply personal side of horticultural therapy, across Los Angeles, similar principles are being woven into schoolyards, where gardening programs are nurturing both learning and emotional well-being.

In an effort to challenge negative perceptions of public middle schools, Tomas O’Grady, a dad of four, pitched an idea to his eldest child’s middle school principal: A community garden connected to an environmental-science curriculum. With the collaboration of his wife Justine and a determined team, EnrichLA was born — and more than 200 school gardens have taken root. 

Through its Garden Ranger Program, children craft and taste organically grown vegetables from the solar-powered kitchens and learn about ecosystem interactions. Beyond academic enrichment, the program supports the emotional well-being of students through mental health awareness training and by providing a safe space for students to retreat to in the middle of busy, stimulating school days. Fueled by EnrichLA’s mission to make growth in harmony with nature a possibility for every student in L.A., O’Grady never turns down a new opportunity to create the next school garden. If you are interested in bringing an organic, regenerative garden to a school, visit enrichla.org/contact.  

Serving K-5^th grade students at Title 1 schools across L.A., the Garden School Foundation connects its curriculum to Next Generation Science Standards. Through its Seed to Table program, students create culturally inspired dishes with fresh ingredients in accordance with the seasonal patterns of Southern California. Teachers and parents rejoice in witnessing their students’ heightened interest in trying unique herbs and vegetables says Ann Dang, the community partnerships manager and master gardener.

Students also experience the power of tending to the soil through the Cafeteria to Compost program, which has redistributed more than 23,000 pounds of lunchtime food waste from the landfills. 

Whether it’s a school program, backyard garden, windowsill herb or even an idea, take some time this spring to plant something new with your children, reminding them that it takes time for the seeds we plant — in the soil and in our lives — to blossom. Consider keeping a plant journal to capture the unexpected lessons you and your family discover as your seeds grow.

From Their Gardens to Yours

If you are inspired by the therapeutic benefits and mission behind Meet Me in the Dirt, EnrichLA, and the Garden School Foundation, here are a few simple ways you can incorporate horticultural therapy into your family’s daily lives. Each of these ideas is adaptable for varying ranges of accessibility, from your own home and garden to public parks and outdoor spaces.

1. Start an herb garden. This can be as simple as purchasing a few pots of herbs you enjoy cooking with, placing them on your windowsill and showering them with care and a little water each evening.
2. Go for an outdoor scavenger hunt. Forage and run around while embracing your child’s curiosity for the little things we often overlook, such as ladybugs and flower buds.
3. Practice composting. Encourage the habit of sorting food scraps and compostable materials into the green bin to enrich the soil that surrounds us.
4. Embrace your child’s natural interests. If they don’t enjoy digging their hands into dirt, try some nature-based art activities, or change up your scenery and pack a picnic.

Emily Ip, a former editorial intern for L.A. Parent, is now a third-year student at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. 

The post How Gardening Helps Kids Build Confidence, Reduce Stress and Grow appeared first on L.A. Parent.

Parenting in these times reminds me of how it feels when the whole house is sick with the flu. Coughing, sneezing, burning with fever and body aches. I know you can relate.

The kids are crying for you. Your partner — buried under the blankets, ears plugged with his own misery — can’t seem to hear them. Inside the fog that is your brain, you’re in two places simultaneously. There you are in the kids’ room, wiping their foreheads with cool cloths and hugging them for reassurance. And there you are in the kitchen, holding onto the counter for dear life as you concoct some herbal tea blend your grandmother (or a TikTok influencer) once made. 

You open the cupboard and pull down old cans of chicken soup, chiding yourself for not being up to making a pot of fragrant, nourishing soup from scratch. You’re all out of chicken, carrots, celery and pasta because you haven’t been to the store in a week.

And you’re too sick to drag yourself there. Too sick to stand over anybody’s stove. And yet mothering never — ever — gets a sick day. Somehow, you must get everyone (yourself included) through to the other side. To noses that can smell again. Tongues that can taste again. And lips that widen in smiles again. 

No wonder we call the force that governs our planet’s seasonal shifts Mother Nature. Only a “mother” can coax life forward out of bleakness and pain, whether winter or the flu, whispering messages of hope while tending to still-tender shoots. 

Certainly, this kind of nurturing is not exclusive to women who have given birth. Anyone who has carried others through illness, uncertainty and fear is a nurturer. For every piece of devastating news I read, I turn around to stories where people of all genders and ages are acting as nurturers, neighbors and protectors working to get to the other side of at least some of what ails us. 

In this issue, and in celebration of spring as a time of taking an honest look at what’s broken and working to make repairs, we include stories that help you understand immigration rights, rediscover the power of old-school play (hopscotch on the sidewalk, anyone?), seek healing in gardens and soil, encourage the kids to make a mess in camp this summer and look for the beauty growing all around us.

Beauty that is as determined as an immune system renewing itself.   

Cassandra Lane is Editor-in-Chief of L.A. Parent.

The post Editor’s Note: Parenting Through Hard Times and Finding Strength appeared first on L.A. Parent.