However you nourish your baby — breast, bottle, or both — fed is best. If you opt for formula though, perhaps you’ve been scanning the grocery store shelves for a whole milk option. Well, do I have good news for you. Bobbie, the mom-founded formula company, has spent the last three years developing a whole milk recipe that’s inspired by breastmilk and it’s finally here. It’s a formula that you, your baby, and your budget will love. 

“There is no simple whole milk infant formula made here in the US — until now — and we’re excited to offer this to parents who want whole milk, want to support a US company, and want it at an affordable price,” says Mallory Whitmore, Bobbie’s Education Lead. 

Our mission at SheKnows is to empower and inspire women, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Bobbie is a SheKnows sponsor, however, all products in this article were independently selected by our editors. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

Bobbie Whole Milk Infant Formula

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Their brand new Bobbie Whole Milk Infant Formula uses a variety of organic ingredients that are gentle on your baby’s tummy all while encouraging healthy growth and development. Bobbie’s protein blend, with grass-fed whole milk as the base, features a 60:40 whey-to-casein ratio, just like mature breast milk. The result? A creamier taste your baby will love, with easy digestion that leads to soft poops. 

What Bobbie’s Whole Milk Infant Formula doesn’t include is just as important. You won’t find any synthetic ingredients that can disrupt national gut growth — no GMOs, no corn syrup or maltodextrin, no fillers, no hexane-extracted plant-based oils, no persistent pesticide residues, and, as Whitmore says, “No junk!” 

“Our new whole milk formula meets the gold standard of our Bobbie Product Promise just like the rest of our product suite, with high-quality ingredients and a simple, trusted recipe, containing everything a baby needs and nothing they don’t,” Whitmore says. 

There’s no going wrong with any of Bobbie’s formulas, but if you’re comparison shopping, Whitmore recommends evaluating your priorities to narrow down the best fit for you and your baby. 

Whitmore breaks down the options this way: “Is USDA/EU organic most important to the parent? Our Bobbie Organic formula is a great choice. Is whole milk (which contains MFGM) most important? Bobbie Whole Milk formula may be the right choice. Does the parent want a formula they can subscribe to online and pick up in retail if needed? Bobbie Organic is the way to go. Does the parent want a formula with a more accessible cost per ounce? Bobbie Whole Milk formula is the ticket. And, of course, we have Bobbie Gentle, which is made with a partially hydrolyzed protein and is for fussy feeders who need a tolerance formula.” 

At $23 per can, Bobbie Whole Milk Infant Formula is an affordable option that’s appropriate for most healthy, term infants. (Of course, check with your pediatrician if you have any questions.) Plus, for a limited time you can purchase one can and receive another one free!

The new formula is sold exclusively on hibobbie.com for now, but watch for it to be on Amazon soon and Target shelves in March. Another perk: if you choose to subscribe, not only will you receive free shipping and 10 percent, but you’re also locked into that price — no inflation! — for your baby’s entire feeding journey. 

Raise a baby bottle to that! 

Before you go, check out our slideshow below: 

Is this so wrong? When I polled a bunch of parents with newly minted college kids to see if they ever check their kids’ location, the responses were mixed. About one-third of the respondents shared that they “never” check (transparently, one of them was my husband, which I think is hilarious since he has no problem with me giving him updates) but most said they definitely still do — although less frequently than they may have at home.

“I track my kids with Find My iPhone,” said one mom. “They know it and I have no problem with it. If they end up in a ditch on the side of the road I need to find them. The end.” Another mom said, “My daughter (college sophomore) not only shares her location on Life360 with me, but her friend groups share locations with each other!”

So clearly, I’m not alone. In fact, a cross-sectional study of over 700 college and university students published in the Journal of Adolescence found that “digital location tracking is a fairly common practice among college students, with nearly half of the sample endorsing currently or previously being digitally location tracked by their parent/caregiver.” 

But is it healthy? Yes and no, says Debbie Ferraro, LCSW, PMH-C, and a women’s therapist in private practice in New York City who works closely with moms of college kids. Parents are certainly used to checking up on their kids in this way, and it’s a hard habit to break. The important change as kids head off to college, she says, is to talk it through.

“Typically, as late adolescents transition into college, I recommend having a conversation around how to navigate this together in order to come to a shared understanding and clear boundaries for all,” Ferraro tells SheKnows. “Even if your young person doesn’t seem to have a strong boundary around this, it is important to acknowledge to them that there may be some checking happening, as this is an opportunity to keep the lines of communication open. Again, this is a way of maintaining and building trust in the relationship, which is what you want to preserve through this life phase and beyond.”

A “conversation” can be as informal as a dinner table mention: “I’m planning to keep Life360 going while you’re away — is that OK? I just want to be able to make myself feel better that you’re home safe now and again.” (Or whatever your personal reasoning might be.)

But be prepared for objections. Ferraro says that kids heading to college are smack dab in the middle of an important growth period called “separation and individuation.” This involves pushing back on parental involvement in a variety of ways, she says. It’s completely normal, and if your kid objects to your checking their whereabouts, that’s a developmentally appropriate response.

It’s also one you should heed, Ferraro adds. Even though according to Life360’s own study, 94 percent of Gen Zs polled say they benefit from location sharing, your kid may bristle at this notion and ask you not to. If this happens — abide. It doesn’t mean you can’t raise the subject again later, but for now, resist the urge to remind your kid the only reason they’re going to college in the first place is because you’re paying for it, their phone, and their food … and instead see how you feel when you delete the app.

There’s also such a thing as too much parent checking, cautions Ferraro. If it starts to interfere with your life — say, if you can’t fall asleep until you see that your kid is safely back in their dorm every night — that’s an issue. If this is the case, here’s your gentle reminder that this is a “you” problem, and you should seek out a trained therapist who can work with you on fixing it.

That being said, it’s important to acknowledge that this transition is a huge adjustment for us as parents, too, says Ferraro. And if we haven’t quite gotten into the groove of how much checking is too much checking, it will come. (I mean, our parents didn’t have Life360 when we left the house, and we turned out fine … for the most part.) Most of the parents with older college kids I spoke to don’t location-track much at all these days.

As for my own newbie college kid? Luckily for me, she has zero issues being occasionally tracked. In fact, over the first few weeks, she also made sure I had her email login, her school registration password, and her ATM pin — none of which I asked for — presumably so I could help her stay on top of things. However your kid feels about it, give yourself grace, and focus on the important things: like making sure they’re actually coming home for Thanksgiving!

Before you go, check out where your favorite celeb parents are sending their kids to college.

Real talk: I’m a shopping editor who just welcomed my first child this summer. ALL I had on the brain during my pregnancy was “what will *I* actually want as someone who is just became a new mom.” The answer? Honestly, a lot of things! Gifts that make my life easier. Gifts that make me feel special (it’s likely her first holiday season as a mother, and she’s maybe been looking forward to this for a long time). Gifts that pamper and feel indulgent. Gifts that aren’t just baby-themed (although, I do have some baby-related gifts I’m adding to this list).

10 Top Gifts for New Moms, at a Glance

Best Overall: Knix Light Leakproof No-Show High Rise, $26
Best Jewelry Gift: GLDN Rhone Band, $68
Best Dessert Gift: 1-800 Flowers, Cheryl’s Best of Buttercream Cookie Box, $35
Best No-Brainer Gift: Bath & Body Works Tree Farm 3-Wick Candle, $27
Best Postpartum Supplement: Ritual Postpartum Vitamin, $39
Best Nursing-Friendly Sleepwear: Petite Plume Pima Maternity Nightgown, $88
Most Universally-Appreciated Gift: Doordash Gift Card, prices vary
For the Ultra Sleep-Deprived Mom: Nespresso Vertuo Next Coffee and Espresso Machine, $145
Best Diaper Bag: Dagne Dover, Wade Neoprene Diaper Tote, $215
Most Practical Gift: Nutrafol, Postpartum Hair Growth Supplement, $82
Best Self-Care Gift: Ancient Minerals Magnesium Lotion, $23
Best Loungewear Gift: Cozy Earth, Bamboo Jogger Pant, $132

New moms — at least the lucky ones — are often drowning in baby gifts: onesies, pacifiers, swaddles, those blankets for posing the baby on and circling how many months old they are, you name it. These presents arrive in droves in the weeks before and after the baby does. And yes, all those gifts are wonderful and thoughtful and generous. But they’re also all for… the baby. What are we moms, anyway? Chopped liver?

If you really want to make a new mom smile, give her something for herself.

Especially around holidays centered around mom, and even the holidays later on, a gift that acknowledges just how dang tough it is to have a new baby will mean so much. And that holds true (possibly especially) even if the baby isn’t newborn-new; those second three months are just as tough as the first! (This goes double if it’s her second or third kid. Yes, she has all the baby gear, but now, she’s twice as wiped out.) From new mom gifts, gifts for first time moms, the presents ahead are all about mom — and making her life easier at a time when she definitely needs all the help she can get. 

Our mission at SheKnows is to empower and inspire women, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Knix, GLDN, FreshDirect, 1-800 Flowers, and Bath & Body Works are SheKnows sponsors, however, all products in this article were independently selected by our editors. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale. 

Bathtime can be some of the most precious times of parenting little ones. To create ideal, calming conditions, take stock of your bathtime essentials: a non-slip bath mat, gentle baby shampoo, plenty of bath toys, and a hooded towel. Are you lacking that last item? Let’s change that. 

Maybe you’ve had your eye on a kids’ hooded towel from Pottery Barn. It’s easy to see why. They’re adorable and available in a wide variety of animals designs and kids’ favorite characters. Plus, you can personalize them with the child’s name. They’re also upwards of $59. Yeesh! 

If your budget would sigh in relief at a much lower price tag, the best Pottery Barn kids’ hooded towel dupe is from (where else?) Target. Leave it to Target to design a wallet-friendly towel that doesn’t skimp on adorableness. Not all parents want to spend $59 on a towel for a constantly growing kiddo with monthly rotating interests—Paw Patrol today, dinosaurs tomorrow, unicorns next week. 

Little Planet by Carter's Hooded Character Towel, Pink Bunny

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Target currently offers four buttery soft hooded towel designs, each one sweeter than the next. Choose between a bunny, a shark, a lion, or a panda. Say it with me: cuuuuute. Wrapping up your kiddo in one of these makes them running around your home wet and wild post-bath a little less exasperating.  

Little Planet by Carter's Hooded Character Towel, Shark

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Best of all? They only cost $16—a fraction of the price of a Pottery Barn towel. 

Target’s hooded towels are made from 100 percent organically grown cotton terry, which is super absorbent and (of course!) machine washable. Who has time to be precious with towels? Not me, and here’s betting not you either. They’re also an easy, affordable gift if you have a baby shower or a baby’s first birthday on your calendar. Consider this your sign to stock up.

Little Planet by Carter's Hooded Character Towel, Lion

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Little Planet by Carter's Hooded Character Towel, Panda

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Before you go, check out our slideshow below: 

SheKnows: How did you two decide to join forces and partner up on “The Cost of Not Caring?” Because you’re both magical on your own, together, I can’t even imagine what’s going to happen. You’re going to fix care in America.

Sarah Jones: Actually, I think it’s fair to say the show in Chicago was an outgrowth of Ai-jen’s vision and my shared vision after we did #Carefest, which was this huge, amazing event that Ai-jen did almost a year ago here in LA, and it sparked a conversation, but I’ll let her say more.

Ai-jen Poo: Well, like you, I have been a fan of Sarah’s work literally for a long time. We won’t say how many decades, but every time I hear different care stories from caregivers around the country, I often think about Sarah because she’s able to bring forward the beauty of the different experiences that exist across this country through the threads of what we share from a value standpoint, and just bring both to life in such a powerful way. We invited her to #Carefest, because I believed that sparks would fly and she would be inspired by the care stories she heard, but then also really inspire the room with the care stories that she could tell.

And so we put her on stage, and magic started to happen, as always. After that, we kind of both reconnected around there’s something here, and it feels incredibly powerful. We thought, “well, let’s just start taking it on the road and talking to caregivers, and so Sarah has been you can say more about the process, the artistic process, but I think it’s been such a joy for us to connect Sarah with real caregivers who are doing the work, showing up for their loved ones and kind of feeding that into Sarah’s creative process has been really amazing.

SK: I think upwards of 80% of caregivers in America are women and they have little support. What brought your attention to this matter and how did you decide to dedicate your time to advocating for caregiving support? Sarah, how are you using comedy to get people to care about this?

SJ: So if we go back, when I did my a play called Sell/Buy/Date about, what women go through, and the difficulties of this economy. One of the inspirations for one of my characters is, Ai-jen’s work. [Morphs into character]. She was a woman who was talking about, you know, dealing with… “I was a domestic worker. They don’t pay you. You have to flip them over.” You know, she had a real, beautiful story about these intersections that Ai-jen’s work, you know, makes so clear, right? She’s an immigrant, she’s a woman of color, she’s dealing with economic issues, and her own kids, you know, trying to kind of flourish. And from there, I knew there was something I wanted to do.

What are the most powerful stories right now that need to be told? I have this podcast called, “America, who hurt you?” and Ai-jen was my first guest, talking about the intersections of where do we need to go as a country and care? PS, there’s no separating those things. If you don’t have care, you don’t have America, and you have to come to the show to see what that means. But you know, always, when I hear Ai-jen, there’s inspiration there, because of the way she understands care is threaded through every aspect of our lives. There is no one who’s not touched by this issue, even if it’s just the lack of care in their lives, right?

SK: Ai-jen, your career has kind of been oriented to caregiving support. How has that led to where you are today in terms trying to improve the caregiving system?

AJP: I started out following nannies around New York City, because I was just so I think moved by the fact that there was this invisible army of mostly immigrant women who are caring for these young children, these older people, people with disabilities, and they’re sort of the quiet, invisible army that makes it possible for everyone else to go to work in this bustling city. I was just fascinated by and really deeply moved by their stories. A lot of them had left their own families in other countries in order to earn a living, to be able to support them and send money back home and they care for other people’s families in order to do that. That kind of chain of care was something, coming from an immigrant family, that I could really connect to.

I very quickly realized that being a being a domestic worker is a profession that requires skill, expertise, experience, enormous capacity for adaptation, creativity, generosity, patience, all these things, and it’s often treated as less than a real job. There’s an informality of the treatment. And I remember thinking like, why is it so difficult for people to understand that this is a job deserving of the kind of respect and protections at other jobs? And then I realized the whole way that care workers, domestic workers, are treated, is just a symptom of this deeper issue, which is that our society has never really valued care, whether it’s done by family members or friends, community or professionals we’ve never accounted for this enormous part of our lives and this enormous amount of energy and work that goes into making sure that our children have the support they need, making sure that our aging loved ones have the care that they need, that we can all live with an amount of dignity and support at every stage of life.

We just have kind of taken for granted that women will handle it, either women in our families will handle it, or underpaid women, oftentimes, women of color, immigrant women will handle it as professionals.

SK: I think you need to write The Nanny Diaries, the real Nanny Diaries.

SJ: Yes!!

SK: When it comes to caring for your parents, affordable childcare, access, often, jobs don’t really support that. How do you think the cost of care can be lowered? Ai-jen, I believe JD Vance suggested you get your aunts, uncles, grandparents, cats to help babysit. But I don’t have a cat. Seriously, and I know that Trump had also not answered the question when he was asked.

SJ: No, he didn’t.

AJP: No, they won’t come out and say it, but the implication of their approach to care is that women should essentially stay home and care for kids, and that’s just not ever been the reality for so many millions of women in our country, working class women, have never had the option of not actually bringing in an income to help pay the bills, and frankly, when we talk about freedom, we should have an economy where women and people of all genders have the freedom to pursue work or not and have it be a real choice. And what they’re proposing is not a real choice. But what Vice President Harris and President Biden and others have proposed is that in the United States, we don’t spend more than 7% of our income on child care. Right now, it’s closer to 25 or 30% that families with working parents with young children spend on child care, and that is way above what any economic indicator would classify as affordable.

We’re trying to make child care affordable by making sure that no one has to spend more than 7% which means that it would be subsidized. This is an investment in our future. It’s not a giveaway, it’s not welfare. This is like education, like infrastructure. This is an investment in a healthy society and a strong workforce. And so that’s kind of, I think, the approach that Vice President Harris and President Biden have taken. In Canada, for example, no one spends more than $10 per day on child care. This is possible.

SK: So, what does success look like for this vision you both have? Sarah, you’re using humor, you’re telling all the jokes to try and get people to connect to this. You have 27 characters in your head right now. Ai-jen, what does the future look like?

AJP: The long-term vision here is that every single person who is touched by the need for care, whether it’s childcare, aging, disability care or paid family medical leave, but everyone who is caring for someone else or relies on care in some way, which is basically all of us, sees themselves in a vision for the future where care is fully supported and valued in our country, and they feel like they are.

I think the goal is for as many people, through Sarah’s incredible mosaic of humans, is able to find pieces of their own experience in their own story, and connect to them in a way that helps them see that, one, they’re not alone, and two, that there are solutions that they can be a part of achieving for our country. That’s the vision and goal.

SJ: When Ai-jen talked about chasing nannies around New York, it was the same for me. It’s about the connection to people. If you don’t truly feel empathy, you don’t have that mirror for yourself, right? As an artist, I need to see the change now in the theater, when people come up and say, “My God, I haven’t even thought about that!” As Ai-jen says, I’m in the sandwich generation. They’re caring for their kids. They’re caring for their aging parents. They (may) have a child with disabilities, like people don’t see themselves until you hold up that mirror in the theater or screen.

Ai-jen, I believe, is poised to create a revolution in the care, a true care, economy. Maybe it will be a department of care before we know it.

SK: Tell me what you both care most about right now, for yourselves. You are doing so much work for others, but I often feel, women never get to care about themselves. What is one thing that you care about for yourself, and what is one thing that you do not care about and you’re just letting it go.

Ai-jen: What I care about for myself is sleep, because I’m perimenopausal and it is not to be taken for granted. It is like a rough out here. I care a lot about sleep and honestly, I feel the Vice President has brought the joy back to politics in a way that feels so welcome. And what I don’t care at all about is wearing cute shoes anymore. I’m done with cute shoes, because it’s not worth it.

SK: It’s not worth it, comfort is cute. Let’s just take a nap and be comfortable. Sarah how about you?

SJ: What I care most about is healing our trauma. I really do. And it starts with me. I didn’t get the care I needed as a kid. I’m actually healing through having Ai-jen to talk about care on America, Who Hurt You? You know, it’s fun, it’s silly to be like, “America, girl, who hurt you.” But it’s also I get to hear her, you know, it  washes over me and heals me. I get to come home to myself through storytelling. It’s where I feel the most love. So, I’m doing some inner child work right now. That feels really good. If it sounds crazy to people… Inner child work all day. And then what I don’t care about people who think inner child work is cringe.

SK: Thank you so much for this. This work is so important. The next show stop on the tour will be in Detroit on September 19. Ai-jen, enjoy the airport, and take a nap on the plane. Sarah, please say hello to your inner child for us.

This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.

Before you go, check out the all-time best ‘Outlander’ episodes you need to watch.

Walt Disney World_® Resort is the ultimate destination for thrills and joy, no matter your age or interests. Whether you’re embracing your favorite Characters with a warm hug, flaunting your perfect pair of Mickey or Minnie Ears, enjoying electrifying concerts or sharing laughter on exhilarating attractions, there’s something here for everyone. Families and friends alike can create lasting memories while exploring the endless adventures that each Park offers. At Walt Disney World_® Resort, you’ll find adventure through music, food, art and stories that allow you to tap into your inner child and play. From the moment you step into any of the four iconic Parks –  Magic Kingdom^® Park, Disney’s Animal Kingdom^® Theme Park, Disney’s Hollywood Studios^®, and EPCOT^®—you’ll be immersed in a world of wonder and excitement.

Ways to “Play” and Experience Culture at Walt Disney World_® Resort

As a Black mother, taking my toddler to Walt Disney World_® Resort was a dream come true. It was more than just a vacation; it was an experience filled with fun, learning and memorable experiences where the whole family was able to let loose and be authentically ourselves. After taking our own adventure, here’s a list of some highlights for each Park to embed into your own magical adventure at Walt Disney World_® Resort. 

Magic Kingdom Park

Magic Kingdom Park is undoubtedly the top spot for those visiting Walt Disney World_® Resort. It’s where Disney’s magic truly comes to life, with an array of rides and experiences tailored not only for little ones but for anyone who just wants to experience all that Disney is. From the moment we walked in and saw the iconic statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse, I knew this was the place where dreams come true.

We planned for multiple days at Magic Kingdom Park to soak in all it had to offer. I highly recommend getting a Lightning Lane pass to make the most of your time. Walking down Main Street, U.S.A.^® toward Cinderella Castle was a nostalgic moment and truly transported us back in time, and dining inside the castle was an enchanting experience that my toddler will cherish forever.

Attractions:

•Tiana’s Bayou Adventure: A delightful attraction that celebrates the beloved Character Princess Tiana and the culture of the southern bayou.

•The Magic Carpets of Aladdin: A fun and whimsical attraction that let us soar above a colorful bazaar.

•Under the Sea~Journey of the Little Mermaid: An underwater adventure that brought Ariel’s world to life.

Experiences:

•Meet Mickey & Minnie at Town Square Theater: Watching my toddler’s face light up when meeting Mickey Mouse was priceless.

•Princess Fairytale Hall: A magical place where we met various Disney princesses who come from various places around the world.

•Disney Enchantment at Disney After Hours: The enriching nighttime fireworks show with music blended with visuals was a spectacular end to our day.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park is perfect for visitors who are curious about animals and different cultures. This Park offers educational interactions that teach about the foods, dances and customs of various regions—including Asia and Africa— as well as the imaginative world of Pandora.

Attractions:

•Kilimanjaro Safaris®: An exciting, guided safari adventure that introduced us to a variety of animals.

•Na’vi River Journey: A serene boat ride through Pandora’s bioluminescent rainforest.

•TriceraTop Spin: A playful ride that my toddler couldn’t get enough of.

Experiences:

•Disney Character Meet & Greet We met some of our favorite Disney Characters, adding to the joy.

•It’s Tough to Be a Bug!^®: An amusing show that brings the bug world to life.

•Festival of the Lion King: A vibrant and colorful show celebrating The Lion King and the culture of Africa.

•The Boneyard Dig Site^®: A fun area where kids can dig and explore like real archaeologists.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios^®

Disney’s Hollywood Studios^® brought us closer to our favorite Disney movies. The Park is divided into various worlds, offering attractions and shows that toddlers will adore. Interactive experiences such as exploring dinosaur bones and learning about marine life made it even more engaging.

Attractions:

•Alien Swirling Saucers: A galactic attraction that made us feel like we were in Toy Story.

•Toy Story Mania! ^®: A fun, interactive attraction that my toddler and I both enjoyed.

•Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway: A whimsical attraction featuring the beloved duo.

Experiences:

•For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration: A fun sing-along experience with Characters from Frozen.

•Disney Jr. Play & Dance! A dance and sing-along with your child’s favorite Disney Junior Characters.

EPCOT^®

While EPCOT^® is often seen as the adult-focused Park with its emphasis on food and drink, it also offers attractions for younger visitors. They can be transported from land to land, learning about different cultures and cuisines. The park also houses Disney Junior interactions where toddlers can meet their favorite Characters from TV shows.

Attractions:

•Frozen Ever After: A magical boat ride through the world of Frozen.

•Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure: A delightful attraction that shrinks you to the size of Remy and takes you through the bustling kitchen found in the France pavilion.

•The Seas with Nemo and Friends^®: An underwater adventure with Nemo and his friends.

Experiences:

•Fantasmic!: A nighttime show filled with Disney magic and storytelling.

•Turtle Talk With Crush: An interactive show where Crush from Finding Nemo talks to the kids and provides answers to some of the most interesting questions.

Our trip to Walt Disney World_® Resort was a vibrant celebration of culture, fun and family bonding. From experiencing the soulful celebrations of Black heritage to enjoying thrilling attractions and magical encounters, every moment was a treasure. If you’re planning a visit, immerse yourself in the magic, let loose and create beautiful memories with your loved ones. Don’t miss out on the enchantment—book your adventure to Walt Disney World_® Resort today and make your own unforgettable memories!

Family is traditionally thought of as relations with those you share a biological connection with, but family can mean much more than being tied together through genetic lineage — and the following celebrities know that better than most.

Adoption has been warmly embraced by each of these celebrity parents for a robust variety of reasons. For some, like Rosario Dawson, adoption was the obvious path to parenthood from a young age. As Charlize Theron put it, it was never a secondary option.

Others, like Sia, struggled with infertility; some, including Hoda Kotb, were unable to conceive after battling cancer; and for those like Ewan McGregor, Lionel Richie, and Thomas Rhett, adoption felt like a matter of divine intervention.

Many of these famous figures, including Mariska Hargitay and Julie Andrews, have beautiful blended families comprised of biological and adopted children. Regardless of how their children came into their lives, these celebrities have all opened up about the joy of being adoptive parents and how their journey with adoption has profoundly changed their lives.

Read on to learn about the touching stories of how these celebrities met their children through adoption.

A new school year is upon us, and it’s natural for both parents and kids to feel a little bit of apprehension. We’re going from a more relaxed summer schedule to one that likely starts (much) earlier in the day and is soon to include homework and extracurriculars. Kids are adjusting to a new classroom, a new bus route, or maybe even an entirely new school. As parents who hate to see our kids uncomfortable, we question whether we’ve done enough to prepare them — to make their transition into the new academic year as smooth as possible.

As parents ourselves, we’re seeking those answers too, so we turned to clinical psychologist Dr. Becky Kennedy (better known as simply “Dr. Becky”) for advice on getting kids ready, and off on the right foot, for back-to-school season. TIME Magazine hailed her “the millennial parenting whisperer”. Her podcast, Good Inside, was listed as one of Apple’s best podcasts of 2021. Her parenting guide was an instant #1 New York Times bestseller. Suffice it to say, she knows a thing or two (or tons!) — she even created a back to school bundle on her website to help parents navigate through this very topic. Here, she gives us a hand too, with her sage advice on the biggest issues families face when it comes to going back to school.

Establishing a New Routine

“Name what will stay the same and what will be different when your child transitions back to school,” Dr. Becky suggests. “For example, you might say: ‘Mommy will wake you up in the morning and make you breakfast — that’s the same. You will eat lunch with your friends at school — that’s different!’ Helping kids identify ‘same and different’ helps them feel secure in the transition.”

Managing Separation Anxiety

For younger kids that might be a little hesitant to leave a parent’s side, Dr. Becky advises coming up with a simple separation routine — a goodbye that you can repeat each day. “This allows a child to be able to count on something familiar in the separation process — and that is huge for separation success.

Managing General Anxiety About Going Back to School

Dr. Becky tells SheKnows that there are two important components to alleviating kids’ fears: validation and confidence. In other words, she says, “Validate your kid’s feelings and name your confidence in them. Most of us do one component without the other, and this is an incomplete strategy that leaves kids feeling frustrated.”

An example of validation without confidence: “I know, back to school is hard! It’s so hard.”

An example of confidence without validation: “You’re going to figure it out, I know it.”

To help kids build resilience, she explains, we need a combination of those two things: “Back to school is hard, and I know you’re going to figure it out.”

Dr. Becky’s Top Tip for Parents

We asked Dr. Becky for the single most crucial piece of advice she would give parents about handling back-to-school season — or, really, any season at all.

“I come back to my ultimate parenting mantra:  ‘This feels hard because it is hard,'” she tells us. If you’re like most parents, your first instinct when things get difficult is to blame yourself. It’s that nagging, guilty little voice every parent knows that says, “Why am I such a bad parent?” or “What is wrong with me?”

“Self-blame freezes us, spirals us into anxiety, and gets in our way of seeing what we need — and what our kid needs,” Dr. Becky says. “The mantra, ‘This feels hard because it is hard’ or even ‘this feels hard because it is hard … not because I’m doing something wrong’ helps us validate the struggle in front of us without adding that layer of self-blame. This is everything.”

Going from summer to fall — and all that it brings — can mean a lot of changes, and a lot of concerns to accompany them. But luckily, we can ease anxieties and instill confidence with just a few tweaks to the way we talk to our kids … and, of course, to ourselves!

Kilimanjaro Safari

One of our favorite rides at Walt Disney World^® Resort is Disney’s Animal Kingdom^® Theme Park’s Kilimanjaro Safari. As soon as our safari truck burst through the gates of the Harambe Wildlife Reserve, we knew things were about to get wild. My biggest tip is to keep your camera and binoculars ready for a glimpse of African wildlife in their habitat. The adults and kids in our group were thrilled to see the wide variety of animals roaming free with each turn of the vehicle.

Tree of Life

While in Disney’s Animal Kingdom^® Theme Park, take advantage of the amazing experience and photo op in front of the Tree of Life. It serves as the centerpiece of the park and features over 300 animal carvings, symbolizing the interconnected nature, or circle of life. There’s also a theater tucked away where you can catch It’s Tough to be a Bug! Starring Flik and Hopper from Disney and Pixar’s A Bug’s Life.

Rhythm and Beats of Harambe: Live African Performances

Also at Disney’s Animal Kingdom^® Theme Park, you can enjoy and dance to performances by the Tam Tam Drummers of Harambe. The Tam Tam Drummers of Harambe and Harambe Village Acrobats transport you deep into the Congo with the rhythm of the drums and impressive acrobatics that even your littlest ones will want to join in on. Plan your visit with the My Disney Experience app so you don’t miss the show!

As we walked through Disney’s Animal Kingdom^® Theme Park, it was fun to discover references to Africa and elements of the movie, Lion King throughout the park.

Enchanted Evenings:  Unwinding After a Day of Disney Magic

We discovered several spots at Walt Disney World^® Resort parks where parents can relax while the children play. Dumbo The Flying Elephant is one of our favorite rides at Magic Kingdom^® Park. This classic ride sparked nostalgic memories for the adults, while the playground nestled inside the big top tent was a delightful discovery for the children. It offered a perfect place for us to sit and for the kids to play, all while keeping them within our sight.

Another favorite attraction was Turtle Talk With Crush^® at EPCOT^®. This interactive experience, inspired by the Disney-Pixar movie “Finding Nemo,” is one of the park’s best-kept secrets for parents. The line for this attraction was not long, and you get to sit in an air-conditioned room while Crush, the coolest sea turtle dude in the East Australian Current, interacts with your child live from the big screen. He engaged our kids by asking them several questions while keeping the adults in the audience laughing the entire time. Don’t miss these opportunities to recharge before ending the night with the fireworks, which take place every evening at Walt Disney World^® Resort.

Character Connections

One of the highlights of going to Walt Disney World® Resort is for children to connect with the characters they know and love. Seeing their favorite characters in real life, whether through meet-and-greets, parades, or live shows, creates magical and unforgettable experiences and great photos for lasting memories.

Fairytale Hall

The best place to have a royal rendezvous is by appointment. Use the My Disney Experience app to make appointment times for character meet-and-greets in Magic Kingdom® Park’s Princess Fairytale Hall. This is your best bet for getting photos with Princess Tiana and conversing with her. Be sure your child comes dressed in their favorite green sparkly gown or Princess and the Frog gear. If you forget to dress up, head on over to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique shop to pick up a princess gown. Also, bring your autograph book and a pen to collect the characters’ signatures. Meeting the princesses is truly a magical experience.

Festival of Fantasy Parade

The Festival of Fantasy Parade usually happens twice a day at Magic Kingdom^® Park but check the My Disney Experience app for the exact times. This parade is the one place where you can see just about all of Disney’s beloved characters in the same place including classic characters, royalty, and villains. The parade celebrates the stories of Fantasyland with elaborate floats and lively music. We donned huge smiles while watching the parade, waving to the characters, and dancing to the lively music.

Tusker House Restaurant

At the Tusker House Restaurant in Disney’s Animal Kingdom^® Theme Park, you can always find Donald Duck and his friends greeting guests as they eat. It is a popular dining location that offers a buffet with African-inspired cuisine. We enjoyed Peri-Peri Marinated Baked Salmon but there is a cornucopia of African foods on the menu including, Moroccan-Spiced Beef, Berbere-Marinated Pork, and Cape Malay Green Curry Shrimp, among others. It is highly recommended that you make reservations way in advance to eat at this restaurant.

At Walt Disney World^® Resort, magic is in the air for everyone, and the joy of discovery is boundless; Disney has created a space where every family can feel celebrated for who they are. From the excitement of Harambe Village at Disney’s Animal Kingdom^® Theme Park to the world of adventure awaiting at EPCOT^®, Walt Disney World^® Resort opens its doors wide to all families, inviting them to explore, connect, and create unforgettable moments. Every corner of the park reflects a place where joy, culture, and togetherness come to life. Now that I’ve shared my experience, it’s time to make memories of your own by booking your own trip! Start planning your magical Walt Disney World^® Resort vacation today and step into a world where the magic truly belongs to everyone. Visit the Walt Disney World^® Resort website to begin your journey.

One thing is certain — teenage boys are dead serious about fragrance. Whether it’s the surge of new hormones making them suddenly want to be attractive to others or the artful masking of unfortunate new body odor, if you query a teen about cologne, they will have THOUGHTS. 

So we did! We polled a local crew — all boys between the ages of 12 and 17 — to better understand what they liked and didn’t, and why they ultimately spritzed what they did. Here are 12 scents guaranteed to amp up any teen’s rizz. Whether you’re looking for a fragrance gift for your teen dude this year, or helping him find a new fragrance for the school year, this is a pretty good place to start.

Best Colognes for Teen Boys at a Glance

Most Popular Among Our Teen Testers: Nautica, Voyage, $19
Best Nostalgic (and Classic): Ralph Lauren, Polo Black, $105
Best Budget: Axe, Phoenix, $12 for 2-pack
Best Classic Teen Scent: Hollister, Wave, $21
Best Splurge: Tom Ford, Eau d’Ombré Leather, $160
Best Clean Fragrance: Calvin Klein, CK One, $83
Best Bold Scent: Versace, Eros, $59
Best Daily: Adidas, Dynamic Pulse, $15
Best Preppy: Lacoste, L12.L12 Blanc, $99
Most Polarizing: Abercrombie, Fierce, $88
Best for Warm Weather: Dolce & Gabbana, Light Blue Pour Homme, $31
Best for Fall: Paco Rabanne, 1 Million Lucky, $71
Longest-Lasting: Tommy Hilfiger, Tommy, $17

Our mission at SheKnows is to empower and inspire women, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Ralph Lauren is a SheKnows sponsor, however, all products in this article were independently selected by our editors. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

BEST NOSTALGIC

Ralph Lauren, Polo Black

Buy Now $105

What it Smells Like: A blend of sandalwood and mandarin
Why We Love It: Woodsy and fresh at the same time, this is a sophisticated update to the Polo Green bottle that your high school boyfriend wore back in the ’90s. “I got this in a tester set and as soon as I smelled it, I knew this was the one.” – Lucca, 15.
Sizes: 2.5oz, 4.2oz

Aside from this scent reminding us of our youth (sigh), you generally can’t go wrong with Ralph Lauren fragrances—they’re a classic for a reason, and one of the best luxury brands to start with when your teen is looking for something more adult, but isn’t too musky or over-the-top.

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BEST BUDGET

Axe, Phoenix (2-Pack)

$12

Buy Now

What it Smells Like: A fresh blend of lavender, geranium and citrus.
Why We Love It: Yes, this is technically a “body spray” but if the OG commercials are any indicator, that doesn’t matter much when it comes to attracting the ladies. It’s affordable, accessible and a great starter scent.
Sizes: 5.1oz

We’d recommend Axe for everyday wear—like if your teen needs a quick and easy spritz after gym class. That way, you can really stock up and not worry about wasting it.

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BEST CLEAN FRAGRANCE

Calvin Klein, CK One

$83

Buy Now at amazon

Buy Now at macy's $105

What it Smells Like: A clean and crisp mix of pineapple, green tea and musk.
Why We Love It: Truly anyone can wear this. We don’t blame you if you sneak into their room for a spritz now and then. This unisex classic is light and refreshing making it perfect for both school and weekend plans. “This is a unique scent – I like not smelling like everyone else” – Lucca, 15.
Sizes: 50ml, 100ml, 200ml, travel size

While CK One is unique, it’s also effortless. Truly anyone would like this fragrance—and yet, it also does stand out from the crowd because it’s so clean and crisp. Not too fruity, not too musky, just perfect.

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Tom Ford, Ombré Leather

Buy Now $160

What it Smells Like: Woods, Black Leather, Violet and Jasmine Flower
Why We Love It: Tom Ford does it again: Creating a unique, bold fragrance that’s simultaneously of-its-time and timeless, that is. Our parenting editor Rita Templeton’s 19-year-old son Colin tested this new fragrance, and is a big fan. “It’s a sweeter take on the original Ombre Leather — I think it has notes of vanilla. It’s warm and spicy and is a really good scent for fall and winter.”  – Colin, 19
Sizes: 10ML, 50ML, 100ML

This is a really great fall-winter scent. It’s smokey, pretty masculine, and has a lot of dimension. If Wolverine (the mutant from the X-Men comics, yes) were to wear a cologne, this would be it.

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MOST POPULAR WITH OUR TESTERS

Nautica, Voyage

$18 $65 72% off

Buy Now at amazon

Buy Now at nautica $63

What it Smells Like: Notes of apple, lotus and cedarwood.
Why We Love It: Make like you spend summers on the shore, without actually buying the beach house. Think fresh and preppy. The price is right and so is the scent. “Everyone likes this one because it smells good and is inexpensive. It smells like ‘blue’ if thats a thing.” – Lucca, 15
Sizes: 3.4oz

What Lucca said. It smells like a luxurious day on a yacht: Nautica Voyage isn’t pricey, and it smells really elegant.

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MOST POLARIZING

Abercrombie & Fitch, Fierce

Buy Now at Abercrombie $58

What it Smells Like: A combo of woods, flowers and moss
Why We Love It: This scent disappeared from stores in 2005 and then re-emerged five years later to serious fanfare. A great summer scent with a heaping nostalgia factor (for you).
Sizes: 3.4oz, 10oz

Granted, people have opinions about this scent—the same one that wafted in all A&F stores across the U.S. in the early 2000s and either made us need a Tylenol, or made us need 10 polo shirts and tiny shorts in our carts ASAP. Some teen boys really like how in-your-face this fragrance is, so we’re keeping it on the list.

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BEST FOR WARM WEATHER

Dolce & Gabbana, Light Blue Pour Homme

Buy Now at sephora $114

Buy Now at nordstrom $73-$154

What it Smells Like: A mix of Sicilian citrus, juniper and musk.
Why We Love It: Deliberately evoking sun-drenched Sicilian summers — there is something sophisticated here, perfect for your teen trying out his new swagger. “It’s light and fresh,” says 15-year-old Coby. “Very good for summer.” But, he notes, its scent doesn’t last as long as some of the others he’s tried.
Sizes: 10ml, 75ml

This is another spritz-and-go cologne that everyone loves, and has been around forever. But Coby is right—it’s a good scent for warmer months (spring or summer).

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BEST BOLD

Versace, Eros

Buy Now at sephora $115

Buy Now at ulta $79-$140

What it Smells Like: An intense blend of mint, green apple and lemon zest.
Why We Love It: Like all things Versace, this is over the top in the best way. This is not a shy scent — perfect for special occasions when your teen is looking to make an impression. “Lots of my friends wear and love this one.” – Gabe, 15
Sizes: 50ml, 100ml, 200ml

We do think it takes a certain person to embrace Versace scents: They’re intense, to say the least. But if your teen wants to stand out from the crowd, it’s one we highly recommend, thanks to its fruity and zesty notes.

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BEST FOR COLD WEATHER

Paco Rabanne, 1 Million Lucky

$71 $78 9% off

Buy Now at amazon

Buy Now at sephora $94-$120

What it Smells Like: Spicy with notes of leather and tangerine
Why We Love It: Warm woods? Is that a thing? That’s what it makes us think of. “My friend bought it first and I just think it smells good” – Jackson, 17
Sizes: 1.7oz, 3.4oz, 6.8oz

Need a good fragrance for fall and winter? This cozy scent has just the right amount of spicy kick to it, with elevated notes of leather and a fresh hint of citrus.

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CLASSIC TEEN

Hollister, Wave

$20 $25 20% off

Buy Now

What it Smells Like: A mix of bamboo leaf, yuzu, and driftwood.
Why We Love It: Hollister Wave will remind you of its namesake on a laid-back beach day. Its light, airy scent is ideal for teens as its affordable price tag.
Sizes: 3.4oz

This scent is very “surfer” cool—something that reminds Sr. Commerce Director, Gina Vaynshteyn, of her teenhood spent on the beach in Encinitas, California. “I feel like all the boys wore Hollister in 7th, 8th, and 9th grade. It’s where we shopped, and all the surfers or skaters where I grew up wore this beachy scent (or something very similar).” It’s a good tween or early teen scent, if your guy isn’t ready to make the leap to “grown-up” cologne yet.

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LONGEST-LASTING

Tommy Hilfiger, Tommy

$17

Buy Now at amazon

Buy Now at tommy hilfiger $55

What it Smells Like: Lavender, amber with notes of apple and citrus
Why We Love It: A great everyday cologne, with a fresh, fruity vibe.  
Sizes: 1.7oz, 3.4 oz

“Tommy” is a nice blend of feminine and masculine—a tiny bit floral, but lots of fruit and freshness that overtakes it. It’s pretty timeless, so your teen can wear it whenever throughout the year, and it stays put, too.

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BEST DAILY

Adidas Dynamic, Pulse

$15

Buy Now

What it Smells Like: A blend of citrus, mint and wood.
Why We Love It: Affordable and sporty, this has a place in his soccer bag for a quick after practice (after shower) spritz.
Sizes: 3.4oz

We consider this an elevated Axe: It’s affordable, so he can spray it on after gym class or soccer practice with reckless abandon. We’d say it’s nice enough to wear to special occasions too, though.

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BEST PREPPY

Lacoste, L.12.12 Blanc

Buy Now at lacoste $91

Price: $99
What it Smells Like: A crisp mix of grapefruit, rosemary and suede.
Why We Love It: This perfectly preppy scent comes in a refined, posh white bottle with the eponymous alligator. Since it’s a highly concentrated cologne it means the scent should last 6-8 hours.
Sizes: 50ml, 100ml

Want something that feels preppy, classic, but isn’t boring? You can’t go with with Lacoste, especially L.12.12 Blanc.

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Before you go, check out our slideshow below: