13 Safe Halloween Ideas for 2020

We’ve hit another coronavirus holiday – Halloween. For parents, Halloween is a tricky one because it tends to be one of the holidays kids look forward to the most. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, we have to play it safe. Fortunately, playing it safe doesn’t mean missing out on the Halloween fun. I’ve put together this list of 13 safe Halloween ideas for 2020.

1. Stay Home and Be Festive

If your city or neighborhood has asked you not to trick or treat, you can still enjoy Halloween at home. Make it a night to remember. Bake Halloween-themed treats and have a Halloween movie marathon. Streaming channels, like Netflix and Disney Plus, both have Halloween collections.

2. Set Up a Trick or Treat Table

If you do want to have some traditional trick or treat fun, consider setting up a trick or treat table on your driveway. On the table, spread treats apart so children can grab them without touching other treats, digging in a candy bowl, or sharing germs with you. Just make sure you stand on the other side of the table 6 feet away.

3. Go on a Costume Parade

For many kids, the best part of Halloween is dressing up. If you are worried about trick or treating, take your kids on a costume parade through your neighborhood in the afternoon where they can wave at neighbors from a safe distance without getting treats.

4. Do Reverse Trick or Treating

Instead of going house to house to get treats, go reverse trick or treating. For example, “boo your neighborhoods” by taking them treats instead. Fill up goody bags and drop them off on doorsteps the morning of Halloween for a fun surprise.

5. Hunt for Candy

If you don’t want your kids to get candy from strangers, buy a big bag of candy for your family and set up a backyard scavenger hunt or play candy hide and seek.

6. Host a Small Outdoor Halloween Party

If you feel comfortable or have a pod you interact with, host a small outdoor Halloween party. Just skip bobbing for apples this year.

7. Participate in a Virtual Halloween Gathering

If someone in your family is high-risk or has been exposed, stay home and participate in a virtual Halloween gathering. Ask friends and family to join you for a Zoom Thriller Dance Party.

8. Carve a Pumpkin

A totally safe COVID-19 Halloween thing to do is carve or decorate a pumpkin. No matter your kid’s ages, they will enjoy this fun activity.

9. Enjoy Drive-Thru Events

Many local venues are hosting drive-thru trick or treat events, where families drive through to see people dressed up and receive candy.

10. Ride Along in a Halloween Car Parade

Remember at the start of quarantine how we celebrated birthdays with car parades? Ask your family and friends to do a Halloween car parade for your kids. Have your kids stand in the yard in their costumes while family and friends throw candy from their cars.

11. Hide Some Eggs

Use leftover plastic Easter eggs for a glow in the dark candy hunt. All you need are plastic eggs, finger lights, and candy.

12. Visit a Drive-Thru Haunted House

If you are feeling brave, visit a drive-thru haunted house or car wash. I think this would terrify my girls though!

13. Celebrate with Chuck E Cheese

Pick up a Chuck E Cheese Boo-tacular Family Party Package to celebrate all over again at home. The package includes:

Two large one-topping pizzas, a Boo-tacular Oreo® Brownie, two treat bags each including $5 in games to use on your next visit, as well as a free KIDZ BOP® Halloween activity sheet and glow in the dark temporary tattoos to enjoy at home for just $39.99.

Tips for Amazon Prime Day and Other Online Sales Events

You need to start Christmas shopping this week. Yes, it is only the middle of October. But, trust me, you are not going to want to miss out on the major deals. Experts are anticipating this year to be a digital shopping first holiday season. And they expect consumers to shop earlier.

According to a recent survey by Convey, “Shoppers are planning to shop earlier and mostly online, and they’re conscious of COVID’s impact on retailers […]

• Nearly 4 in 10 consumers (39%) will start holiday shopping earlier this year, while 44% say COVID will have no impact on when they begin their gift-buying.

• 8 in 10 shoppers (82%) will do most of their holiday shopping online – and nearly 1 in 3 (30%) will do ALL of it online.”

The bad news is that they are expecting popular items to run out earlier than ever and major delays with shipping.

The good news is that they are starting holiday sales NOW. Specifically, this week.

Amazon Prime Days will take place October 13th – 14th (Tuesday-Wednesday). If you are an Amazon Prime member, you can take advantage of huge savings that are as good or better than what you would typically get on Black Friday or Cyber Monday.

Plus, other retailers are running major sales to compete with Amazon. Good Morning America explains, “From Walmart kicking things off with its Big Save event on Oct. 11 to Amazon Prime Day and Target Deal Days on Oct. 13 and Oct. 14, everyone will have an opportunity to get a head start on holiday shopping with deals galore.”

For those smart moms wanting to get a jump on their Christmas shopping and save money, here are 5 tips to get the best deals during Amazon Prime Day.

Make a List. Check It Twice.

Amazon Prime Day is exciting, but don’t let your excitement cause you to buy stuff you don’t need. It kinda defeats the purpose of saving money if you blow it all. Instead, make a list and check it twice. Expect to find great deals on appliances, smart devices, home goods, and toys.

Use Price Comparison Tools

With some many other retailers competing for sales on Amazon Prime Day, you absolutely need to do some price checks before purchasing anything. If you are using your phone, use a price comparison app. If you are shopping from your computer, use a web browser extension from Rakuten or Retail Me Not, to see instant price comparisons of products on various sites.

Download Retail Apps

Download the Amazon app. This is one of the best ways to find the best deals on Amazon Prime Day. On the app, you can see sneak peeks of upcoming deals and sign up for alerts when items you are interested in go on sale. You’ll receive a push notification when the price drops.

Additionally, download the apps for your other favorite online retailers. Walmart and Target will also offer special app-only deals and notifications.

Talk to Your Amazon Alexa

If you have any Amazon Alexa enabled devices, you can save even more money. Simply say, “Alexa, what are my Prime Day deals?” to see what special sales are available just for using this feature.

Buy Online, Pick Up In-Store

If you shop for Christmas gifts during Amazon Prime Day, shipping shouldn’t be an issue. There will be plenty of time for gifts to arrive and shipping is included for Prime members. However, if you shop the sales at other retailers, choose the buy online, pick up in-store option to save money on shipping, and ensure you get the items sooner rather than later.

Happy shopping! Let us know about the best deals you find!

Have Some Safe Halloween Fun at Chuck E. Cheese

Halloween 2020 is looking like it is going to be a little bit different than Halloweens of the past. But if you are anything like me, you are doing everything you can to make the 2020 holiday seem as normal as you can. While many events have been canceled and trick or treating is up in the air, there is one event that has saved Halloween for my family – the Chuck E. Cheese Halloween Boo-Tacular.

I am happy to tell Halloween-loving families that you can safely celebrate all things spooky and fun at Chuck E. Cheese this year! They have made it possible for families to dress up in costume, play, dance, trick or treat, and eat without being afraid. The scariest thing about it is that the fun ends after October.

Read on to see why this is a must-do for families this October!

All the Chuck E. Cheese Fun You Love, Plus Spooky Entertainment

The reason Chuck E. Cheese is still just as popular as when you were a kid is because it is still just as fun! Chuck E. Cheese has everything kids love – arcade games, pizza, characters, and music. And, they have amped up the fun for Halloween! For example, there is un-spooky Halloween décor, photo spots, and free treat bags filled with candy, stickers, and other fun surprises for every kid in a costume.

My family had a blast! I already know it will be the most memorable thing we do this Halloween and an event we will never forget. Here’s why.

At the Boo-Tacular, all of your kid’s favorite characters join in a new show: Mr. Munch's Monster Mash-Up featuring Chuck E.'s Boo-tastic Dance. In addition to being Halloween-themed, they have also included special social distancing content for this year. Your kids will be able to safely dance along while spaced six feet apart (or more).

The fun doesn’t stop there! For Boo-Tacular, evening weekend guests get to enjoy DJ Munch’s Glow Party. Starting at 6 PM on Fridays and Saturdays in October, the lights are dimmed, and the glow party begins! The $14.99 entrance fee includes special glow gear in their treat bag – glow bracelets and glow tattoos. Guests attending the Glow Party also get to visit three touchless trick or treat stations.

Pumpkin Pizzas and More on a Special Halloween Menu

Kids love pizza, but you know what they love even more? Pumpkin-shaped pepperoni pizza with a Jack-O-Lantern smile! While we thought the pumpkin pizza was super fun, my family really loved the Halloween-themed desserts on the menu, like the Dippin' Dots® Eye Scream, Boo-tacular Oreo® Brownie, and the candy corn cotton candy. The special menu made it feel like a festive party.

Chuck E. Cheese Halloween Boo-Tacular: Safe Not Scary

2020 has been scary, but I am happy to say the Chuck E. Cheese Halloween Boo-Tacular is safe and not at all scary. During our visit, I was so impressed with how they are managing the safety of their guests. We really felt they went above and beyond. Here is a list of the ways they are keeping guests safe during this strange time:

• Temperature checks taken upon entrance

• All guests asked to wear their masks

• Hand sanitizing stations throughout

• All games are spaced out

• Team members sanitize all play and dining areas as well as restrooms continuously

• In-store contactless payments

Plus, Chuck E. Cheese has also installed upgraded hospital-grade air-filters at each of their open locations and is limiting capacity.

Safety is a top priority when it comes to deciding which Halloween events my family will attend, and Chuck E. Cheese did a fantastic job of making this mom feel safe and worry less.

Staying In? Party at Home with Chuck E. Cheese and KIDZ BOP

We had so much fun that my girls are already asking to go back. I think it is time to let some other families enjoy the in-store fun, but I have big plans to get a Boo-tacular Family Party Package to celebrate all over again at home. The package includes:

• Two large one-topping pizzas, a Boo-tacular Oreo® Brownie, two treat bags each including $5 in games to use on your next visit, as well as a free KIDZ BOP® Halloween activity sheet and glow in the dark temporary tattoos to enjoy at home for just $39.99.

Chuck E. Cheese is going out of their way to make sure families can enjoy the same level of fun while at home, even offering interactive activities, videos, crafts, and more through their website. Plus, they are pairing up with another favorite for my kids – KIDZ BOP! With this combo, you get all the pizza party fun + Halloween + KIDZ BOP entertainment.

Like I said, Chuck E. Cheese saved Halloween!

End Video Game Battles with Your Kids Once and For All

Ask a parent what one of the biggest battles they have with their kids is about and I can guarantee video games will be a frequent answer. Kids are drawn to video games (mobile apps, computer apps, all of the above) like moths to a flame. And many of them have a really hard time stopping once they start playing.

According to the Center on Media and Child Health:

• 66% of tweens aged 8 to 12 play video games for an average of 2 hours per day.

• 56% of teens ages 13 to 17 play video games for an average of 2.5 hours per day.

• Over 80% of both tweens and teens have a gaming console.

If you are tired of video game battles with your kids, use these 8 tips to change your kid’s video game habit.

1. Make Clear Rules

Start by making clear rules about when and where your child is allowed to play video games. For example, no video games until all homework and chores are done for the day. You should also establish rules about where video games are allowed. Some families don’t allow kids to have video games in their bedrooms and others don’t like their kids bring their handheld devices to the dinner table.

2. Set App Limits

Most devices, such as iPads and Kindles, allow you to set limits for app usage. With the Kindle Fire, parents can set specific times when apps may be used, as well as time limits for apps.  

3. Enable Parental Controls

Likewise, parents should enable parental controls across all the devices their child uses. This means establishing what games your child is allowed to access and play based on ratings, blocking chat features, and setting time limits. Fortunately, there are ways to enable parental controls on the major game consoles. Check out PC Mag’s How to Enable Parental Controls on Every Video Game Platform for instructions.

4. Enforce Time Limits

Your kids need to limit their video game usage, and the best way to do so is to enforce time limits. According to the Child Mind Institute, “The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests time allotted should be under 30 to 60 minutes per day on school days and 2 hours or less on non- school days. The group recommends even lower limits of under 1 hour of total screentime per day for children under 6 years old […].

5. Do Your Research

Sadly, there are a lot of video games and game-style apps that aren’t safe or appropriate for kids. That’s why parents need to do their research. I recommend looking up video games on Common Sense Media to get descriptions, ratings, age ranges, and reviews from fellow parents.

6. Ask to See What They are Playing

Have an “open doors” policy with video games – as in, you can ask to see what they are playing at any time. Since so many of today’s video games include chat options, this is one way to make sure your kids are staying safe online.

7. Give Clear Consequences

Talk to your kids about your family’s video game rules and the possible consequences. If kids know the possible consequences ahead of time, they will be less likely to break the rules or fight you when they have earned a consequence.

8. Encourage Balance

It is also important to encourage your kid to find a healthy balance between playing video games and playing in the real world. Encourage social activities and extracurriculars. Invest in other toys and games.

12 Tips to Help You Go to Sleep Faster

If you are like many moms, going to sleep isn’t always easy. As tired as we are, we lay in bed tossing and turning before we fall asleep. And we need all the sleep we can get! Sleep is important for our overall physical and mental health. So, if you struggle with falling asleep, implement these 12 tips to help you go to sleep faster.

1. Make Your Bedroom Relaxing

Your bedroom should be designed to be a place of rest. You should feel soothed as soon as you enter it. Opt for soft colors and subtle patterns rather than anything bold or flashy. And, keep it clean. A cluttered and messy bedroom will only increase your anxiety, making it more difficult to fall asleep.

2. Wind Down

Every evening before you head to bed, do something relaxing. Take time to wind down. Whether you choose to take a nice bath, read a book, or listen to quiet music, do something that makes you feel a bit sleepier.

3. Disconnect and Say No to Blue Light

If you are anything like the rest of America, then the last thing you look at before you go to bed is your phone. This is the exact wrong thing to do if you want to go to sleep faster! Not only will the scrolling keep you alert, but our cell phones use blue light which messes with our body’s natural sleep rhythms.

My advice – Put your phone in a different room out of reach, such as your master bathroom. Not only will this prevent you from looking at it before you go to bed and as soon as you wake up, but it will also force you to get up to turn off your phone alarm in the morning.

4. Invest in Quality Bedding

Yes, those high thread count sheets are worth it. So is the fancy mattress topper and the expensive pillow.

5. Follow a Sleep Schedule

Teach yourself to fall asleep faster by going to bed around the same time every night and waking up around the same time.

6. Avoid Caffeine in the Afternoon

Most of us need a morning jolt of caffeine, but if we drink it throughout the day (such as stopping at Target for a mid-day latte), we will feel it when we try to go to bed. Experts recommend avoiding caffeine after lunch.

7. Dim the Lights

A little before your regular bedtime start to dim the lights. For example, close the curtains and switch from full lights to dimmer lamps.

8. Block Out the Noise

If you are not already using a white noise app or machine, now is the time to start. These things are amazing with blocking out noise so you can sleep soundly.

9. Keep a Notepad on the Nightstand

One reason many moms have trouble going to sleep is that we have so much on our minds. Our brains are so full of stuff all the time! A fix for this issue is to keep a notepad on your nightstand where you can jot down your thoughts before you go to bed (such as tomorrow’s to-do list).

10. Lower the Temperature

According to Healthline, “If your room is too warm, you might have a hard time falling asleep. Setting your thermostat to a cool temperature between 60–67°F (15.6–19.4°C) could help.”

11. Take Melatonin

The supplement melatonin can help regulate your sleep. Healthline explains, “Doses of 0.5–5 mg taken 2 hours before your desired bedtime, which is usually around 8 to 9 p.m. for most individuals, might improve sleep quality.”

12. Watch What You Eat and Drink

Be careful about what you eat and drink before bed. For example, if you eat something heavy before trying to go to sleep, you’ll struggle. Likewise, if you eat something like chocolate, which has caffeine, you’ll struggle. Also, some people think drinking alcohol will help them sleep. This is false. It may make them fall asleep faster, but they will wake up throughout the night.

How to Use Sunday to Get a Jump Start on the Week

Before Sunday Funday became a thing and everyone was brunching, Sundays were known as the day of rest. Unfortunately, in our busy society, we have a hard time slowing down and resting- even on Sunday. When you work five days a week, you try to cram as much as possible into your weekends. But, if you push yourself too much on the weekend, you are already starting the next week exhausted. Instead, use Sunday to get a jump start on the week.

Really Relax

As much as possible, try to make Sunday a day of rest. I understand that this isn’t always possible – especially for working moms. So, here’s what I do. I try to incorporate a little relaxation time in each Sunday. This may look like a nice, long bath or some time hiking outdoors. Do something that relaxes you, body and spirit.

Reconnect

Use Sunday to reconnect with the ones you love. Do something fun with your family or meet up with your girlfriends for brunch. If you can’t find to go and do, then set aside time to call a long-distance relative. By reconnecting on Sunday, we don’t have feelings of guilt for not spending enough time with others throughout the week.

Review the Week Ahead

Spend time on Sunday reviewing your week ahead. Pull your calendar out and clearly mark all your important dates and appointments. When reviewing your calendar, think about how your schedule will be different this week and what things you need will need to do differently (such as dinner). Then, call a family meeting to discuss the week’s plan, such as who is responsible for which meal and school pickup. Divvy up tasks fairly.

Do Some Meal Prep

I know meal prep feels like such a chore to some people, but it is so worth it! If you do an hour of meal prep on Sunday, you will feel less stressed throughout the week. Plus, you will eat healthier! You won’t have to rush around to find something to cook or eat fast food. You’ll have ingredients ready to go.

Tidy Up

I don’t think you should use your Sunday Funday to do any deep cleaning (unless you are the type of person who really enjoys cleaning). However, I do think it is wise to spend just a few minutes on Sunday to tidy up your focal points, such as clearing the counters or desk of clutter. There is something so nice about starting your week to a clean-looking house.

Plan Out Your Outfits

Did you know that Mark Zuckerberg has a very limited wardrobe? He wears an identical grey shirt all the time because it saves him from having to choose clothes every day, which means he can be even more productive. Now, as a fashion lover, I am not about to tell you to do the same thing. Ha! However, I do see the wisdom in pre-selecting your clothing for the week. You can save so much time, stress, and brain space by having your clothes picked out ahead of time

Go to Bed Early

Lastly, get your week off to a great start by going to bed on time on Sunday. This will help you wake up feeling refreshed and ready to go on Monday. If going to sleep is a struggle for you, try to prepare yourself for bed ahead of time. For example, dim the lights, put on cozy clothes, turn down the noise, and do something calming (such as reading).

What do your Sundays look like?

Fall is Not Canceled. Here’s Some Fall Fun for Families.

Fall officially begins next week, but it feels a little weird. The coronavirus has made distinguishing between seasons a little more difficult. And, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little bummed by the traditional fall activities the pandemic has canceled.

But, I’m trying to see the glass as half full rather than half empty. After spending time thinking about it, I realized that Fall is not canceled. Sure, there are some things that will be paused in 2020, but most of the things I love about fall are still happening. For instance, no one and nothing will get in the way of my fall fashion. Bring on all the cute boots and cozy cardigans!

So, fellow fall-loving moms, here’s some fall fun for families during the pandemic.

Decorate for Fall

Take time this weekend to pull out all your fall décor and get busy decorating. Let fall explode all over your mantle and front porch. This year, the more, the merrier!

Apples Galore

A great social distancing activity for families is apple picking. Apple orchards plenty of space for families to spread out and not get close to others. Not only is apple picking a fun traditional fall activity, but you reap the rewards of your hard work. Bring home your bushel of apples and make apple pies and caramel apples.

Go Outside

The reason why fall is a favorite season for so many people is because of the weather. It is not too hot or too cold, which makes it the best time of year to spend time outside. In addition to apple picking, take the family hiking for some social distancing fun. Take a road trip to see the leaves change color. Check to see if any nearby farms are offering social distanced corn mazes.

Drink It Up

Another reason we love fall is for all the seasonal beverages. Go ahead and drink your fill of Pumpkin Spice Lattes, Oktoberfest fest, and apple ciders.

Cheer on Your Favorite Team

Yes, it is disappointing that you can’t go to a stadium and tailgate before your favorite team plays. But, you can still watch at home from the comfort of your living room! Wear your jersey, paint your face, and yell like you are there with them. (Don’t forget to make your favorite tailgate foods.)

Pumpkin Fun

Fall isn’t fall without pumpkins. Guess what? Pumpkins are still available even during a pandemic! Head to the pumpkin patch and pick out your favorites. Then, have a pumpkin carving party with your family.

Get Spooked

Halloween festivities are still up in the air, but even if your city cancels trick-or-treating, Halloween can’t be canceled! You just may have to celebrate it differently this year. You can still get dressed up in costumes, give your kids way too much candy, and watch scary movies on TV. Plus, many places are getting creative and offering social distanced activities like drive-thru haunted houses and drive-in movie showings of classic horror films.

How to Have the Perfect Picnic

The movies make outdoor picnics look so easy, fun, and romantic. But, if you don’t know how to plan the perfect picnic, you will discover it is much harder than it looks. Unless you are planning to just take a blanket and grab a pizza and some bottled drinks, you need to do some planning to pull it off. (Note – pizza, drinks, and a blanket is one of my family’s favorite types of picnics.) If you want the kind of picnic spread you see in the movies, here’s what you need to do.  

Find the Right Location

During the pandemic, location is more important than ever (if you want to go beyond having a fancy picnic in your backyard). For example, some state parks are restricted and other public parks are overcrowded. Bathrooms may also be closed.

Beyond these pandemic-related issues, there are other things you need to consider about your picnic location, such as distance. Yes, a hike to a beautiful lookout point sounds lovely, but is it realistic? How far will you have to carry your picnic supplies from your car to the picnic spot? Are there tables at the location? Will you need to bring your own or take a blanket?

Invest in the Right Picnic Gear

If you want to have a perfect picnic, then you need to invest in the right picnic gear. It will be much easier if you have separate picnic supplies rather than having to assemble an assortment from your kitchen. For example, a picnic basket or an insulated picnic backpack that includes plastic plates, utensils, and glasses is great to have on hand. If you do not have a picnic basket, a cooler is a good idea since you can keep food insulated and they have handles for carrying or pulling.

Additionally, you need to have multiple storage containers for the food you take on your picnic. If you are taking any food that needs to remain chilled, invest in food containers with attachable ice packs. These also work great for kids’ school lunches or work lunches.

Hydration Tips

In addition to having the right gear to transport your food, you need the right gear for hydration. Insulated water bottles are always a great idea – especially if you plan to hike to your picnic spot. If you plan on enjoying some adult beverages during your picnic, consider purchasing an insulated wine canteen. There are canteens available that will hold an entire bottle and retain the temperature for 24 hours.

Plan the Picnic Menu

When planning a picnic menu, you want to aim for as many finger foods as possible. That’s why sandwiches and charcuterie boards are popular for picnics. However, you want to avoid anything sticky or messy because you are eating with your hands.

You should also plan for how many. If you pack too much food for the picnic, it is going to be harder to carry to the picnic spot (and you will have more wasted food to throw away and carry back home).

Speaking of packing your picnic, this is great advice from Taste of Home: “Pack your basket in reverse order to make it easy to get at the items you need when you arrive at your picnic site. Place nonperishable food on the bottom, then serving items and tableware, and finally the tablecloth on top.”

Also, check out this list of 101 Delightful Picnic Food Ideas.

Must-Haves for Outdoor Picnics

• A large, waterproof blanket

• A basket, cooler, or tote

• Food and drinks

• Hand sanitizer

• Napkins or paper towels

• A trash bag

• Bug spray

• Sunscreen

• Bottle opener or corkscrew

• Extra cutlery (especially a knife for opening stuff and spreading on condiments)

• Wireless Bluetooth speaker

• First aid kit

Back to School Mom Worries

After six months, my girls are heading back to school half day. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t feeling worried about it. In addition to the normal back to school jitters, moms have so much more to feel anxious about this school year. No matter what you have chosen, virtual, hybrid, homeschool, five-days-a-week, I know it was not an easy decision. I know you struggled with the decision and lost sleep over it. I know because I did too.

Even after making that decision, I am still not 100% at peace about it. So, I’ve been doing what I can do. Research and read what those smarter than me suggest for this year’s back to school mom worries.

Validate Your Feelings

First things first, validate your feelings. Here’s a start – if you are feeling anxious and unsure about what to expect this school year, this is totally valid. If there was ever a year to feel worried, it is 2020. Your feelings are valid. Plus, you are not the only mom feeling this way. Moms all over the world are feeling worried for many of the same reasons.

Recognize Your Stress

Next, recognize your stress. It is completely understandable to be stressed about the normal back to school gauntlet, but this year’s new normal can elevate your stress levels. If you find yourself acting unlike yourself, try to decipher if your actions are stress related. By recognizing when your stress level has entered unhealthy territory, you can start to ask for help.

Control the Things You Can

Listen, we’ve learned that quite a bit is out of our control this year. And that can exacerbate our mom fears. That’s why it is so important to control the things you can. For example, you may not be able to control what your kid does in the classroom, but you can control what happens in your home. You may not be able to control how often your kid washes her hands when she is at school, but you can make sure she washes her hands when she is with you.

With that being said, if you start to try to control things to an unhealthy degree, get help.

Consider the Worst

This may not work for every mom, but some moms find it actually calms them down to consider the worst things that could happen. By thinking through worst-case scenarios, you can prepare. For instance, what if there is an outbreak that forces the school to go virtual this year? By mentally preparing for the possibility, you can alleviate some stress.

Practice Self-Care

When you start to feel frazzled, take a few minutes to be still, and breathe. Sometimes that is all it takes to calm yourself down. Additionally, it is so important for moms to take time to practice self-care. This will look different for every mom, so you do whatever you need to do to make yourself feel at peace.

Celebrate Small Victories

Lastly, celebrate small victories. This school year will be challenging, but we can do it. For every accomplishment, give yourself a pat on the back. When the kids make it through a week, celebrate by doing something fun When you survive at-home teaching without losing your patience, reward yourself with a treat.  

The Empire State Building Observatory: A Fun & Safe NYC Family Outing

Has your family ever visited the Empire State Building? Even if you call NYC home, visiting the Empire State Building and taking in the 360° views from the classic viewfinders is a right of passage. Towards the end of 2019, the Empire State Building started showing off the $165 million renovations that took four years to complete.

Unfortunately, like everything else, the pandemic caused tours to shut down. But, the doors have reopened! My family recently had a chance to tour the Empire State Building and visit the 86th floor observatory. Trust me - you are going to want to get tickets ASAP!

At the Empire State Building, Even Waiting is Fun

Let’s be honest. Waiting in lines is generally no fun at all. That’s why I was unsure how a visit to the Empire State Building would go with my kids. 4 million people visit each year, so I felt justified in my waiting worries.

Well, I was wrong. At the Empire State Building, even waiting is fun! A huge part of the renovation was done to the waiting lobby. What this means for families is there is a lot of fun things to keep you occupied if you have to wait to go up to the observation deck. It is really well thought out, with every little section having something fun – even the elevators!

Here’s even more good news – you can purchase an Express Pass to the 86th Floor and skip all the waiting! I only recommend this pass if you have already done the regular 86th floor tour that includes visiting the 2nd floor interactive galleries and exhibits though. The wait time is worth it for all the cool things your family gets to see.

The Empire State Building Takes Your Safety Seriously

During this time, my family is being picky about the places we go to. As a mom, I want to be sure the places we go to are safe. I am happy to report that the Empire State Building is taking safety seriously. I couldn’t help but notice on our tour how clean everything was. In addition to routine cleaning, they have implemented frequent high touch area cleaning and each night the entire observatory space is sprayed with an electrostatic disinfectant.

They have also reduced capacity to less than 50%, so it is very easy to practice social distancing, and they use social distance markers. Plus, all tour hosts are wearing personal protective equipment (masks, face shields, and gloves).

I was also super impressed to learn that part of the renovations included installing a state-of-the-art air purification system which improves air quality and reduces the risk of virus transmission.

The 86th Floor Observatory and Beyond

The reason 4 million people head to the Empire State Building every year is because you get unprecedented views of New York City. Located in the heart of Manhattan, you can view all of New York City from the 86th floor observatory – and up to six other states! There’s a reason that the Empire State Building is both the most photographed building in the world and the most popular destination for Uber riders. And, naturally, the ideal spot to get the perfect Insta pic.

A Social Distancing Tour for Everyone

While the amazing views are enough to make everyone in your family happy, the tour offers fun for all ages. The 2nd floor waiting area has several interesting exhibits that satisfy kids, parents, and grandparents. For example, the new King Kong exhibit was a huge hit with my kids. I loved the theater that bears witness to the Empire State Building in pop culture and all the photos of celebrities visiting the Empire State Building. My husband loved to see the historical photos on display from New York City in the 1920s and 1930s (including photos from the construction of the famous building).

In addition to museum-quality exhibits, they offer a free self-guided tour for guests with tickets. You simply use their free guest Wi-Fi to enjoy this audio tour. Again, it makes waiting to head to the 86th observatory deck a breeze. With so much to check out, my girls didn’t even realize they were waiting!

What You Need to Know Before You Visit the Empire State Building

To keep everyone safe and make sure all families have a wonderful time, here are some things you need to know before you go:

• Admission is by appointment only. Reservations are now required.

• Prices start at $42 for adults and $36 for children. The ticket price includes the 2nd floor exhibits and interactive galleries, and the free audio tour.

• Masks (or facial coverings) are required by law.

• Your temperature will be checked upon arrival. If it is above 100.4°F, you will be denied entry.