Have you ever been told a story about lucky animals or superstitions and symbolism of animals? Or maybe you have an animal as a good luck charms. We've rounded up a list of 12 animals that bring good luck and their meanings. We have have a few on the list that bring good luck and fortune so keep an eye out.

The post 12 Animals That Bring Good Luck appeared first on Mom.com.

Ever wondered what the oldest creatures on earth are or maybe did a search on prehistoric animals? If you have an interest in extinct ancient animals and some of the oldest living animals, then we have an awesome list for you. We've rounded up some of the longest, living animals and some ancient animals that will leave you shocked. Keep reading to see what are some of the most oldest living animal on earth.

The post 12 Oldest Animal Species on Earth appeared first on Mom.com.

It’s not always easy to love thy neighbor, and it might be hard for them to love you, too. But neighbors who look out for each other make communities safer and life generally better. There are a few things you might do, however, that drive your neighbors crazy.

The post 20 Things You’re Doing That Your Neighborhood Might Hate appeared first on Mom.com.

The post Earth Day Facts: Animals That the Earth Needs to Survive appeared first on Mom.com.

Kindergarten, elementary school, high school – every phase of your child’s schooling has its unique circumstances and interactions. One thing is certain: It’s vital to have a good relationship with your child’s teacher, no matter what grade your kid is in, so that you can form a partnership in guiding your child’s education. As you enter these important phases, here is some advice that teachers would give to parents of students transitioning through these grades.

KINDERGARTEN

1. Learn to let go. There’s a difference between walking your kindergartner to class and sitting by the window and waving to your kid until class ends. (Don’t laugh — we’ve seen it with our own eyes.) Even though it’s difficult, now’s the time to set the stage for your child’s independence, and learning to pull back is essential in helping them gain some autonomy. You can always wait for them at the door at the end of the day.

2. Volunteer. Parents, don’t hesitate to let yourself be seen. Teachers welcome parents who show an interest in their child’s progress, and volunteering in the classroom or on campus can give teachers and/or administrators a much-needed hand with their charges. However, make sure you take your cues from your child’s teacher on how much – and how often – they need assistance.

3. Don’t overburden them. It’s often been said that kindergarten is the new first grade, and children are being bombarded with testing and instruction that seems excessive for 5-year-olds. “They hate school … there are kindergarten children that are getting up every morning saying, 'I don't want to go,'” says Lynn Gatto, director of elementary education at the University of Rochester's Warner School of Education. School fatigue is setting in at a young age, so don’t forget to set aside the academics and college aspirations for your kindergartner, and just let them play.

4. Read to – and with – your child. We all know that reading to your child is important, but do you know how much reading is recommended? Scholastic says you should try to read with your child at least three times a day, and to make sure you also talk about the book, discuss characters and settings with them, too.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

5. Check in frequently, and keep the lines of communication open. Sure, it’s cliche, but asking, “How was school today?” is still a good way to get your kids talking about their day. (You can always try alternatives, too.) Just make sure that when you ask the question, you actually listen to their answers and pick up on clues as to what is really happening in their classroom and with their classmates.

6. Pay attention to their social skills. Speaking of classmates, become familiar with and get to know your child’s classmates and friends. When talking to your child’s teacher, remember to ask about how your child is doing socially, not just academically, since their peer relationships can have a huge effect on their overall school experience.

7. Expose them to experiences outside of school. Make sure your child has a rich and interesting life outside of school. Make books available and expose them to music and art. Take them to the park, encourage them to participate in sports if they’re interested. Help them discover a hobby. Studies have shown that students who consistently participate in high-quality after-school programs show improvement in academic performance and social competence, and have better grades and improved behavior.

8. Stop making excuses for them. No one believes when a kid says, “The dog ate my homework,” but how about some of the excuses parents come up with? Ron Clark, a teacher from Atlanta, says that parents who constantly interfere on behalf of their kids are only hindering their growth. “Some parents will make excuses regardless of the situation, and they are raising children who will grow into adults who turn toward excuses and do not create a strong work ethic,” he said. So, parents, let your kids own up to their own mistakes – and make them responsible for keeping their math worksheets away from the dog.

View this post on Instagram

#ziggypurrdust #catsofinstagram

A post shared by Tiger (@dj_ceviche) on Jan 14, 2019 at 10:43am PST

HIGH SCHOOL

9. They still need you. Parents often make the mistake of thinking that their job is done once kids enter high school. But this is a critical time for kids; they’re making important decisions about their future, and they can still use their parents’ input and guidance. Social interactions are at their trickiest, and pressures about college and finding a job will intensify during the four years of high school. Knowing that you are there to offer support – when needed – will help make this time less stressful.

10. Listen to them. Yes, they still need you, but sometimes they don’t want anything to do with you, either. It’s important to listen to them and be ready for them to push back. “Truly listen and heed their point of view, even if you disagree vehemently,” says John Duffy, clinical psychologist and author of “The Available Parent: Radical Optimism for Raising Teens and Tweens.” “We all want our point of view respected, and your teen is no different.”

11. Come to campus. It’s no secret that parent volunteering drops way off the older that kids get. Gone are the days of bringing cupcakes to the class party, but that doesn’t mean that teachers – and often your kids – wouldn’t like to see you on campus. Although it seems as if high schoolers are embarrassed at the thought of seeing their mom in the school hallway, you’d be surprised at how many kids say that seeing their parents at school once in a while makes them feel supported. They might even appreciate those cupcakes.

12. Don’t put too much pressure on testing and college. Pressure to perform well on tests and gain entrance to a “good” college is at an all-time high (as the recent cheating scandals prove). But experts say all of this stress is robbing our kids of finding out what they truly want to do in life. Robert Clagett, a former senior admissions officer at Harvard who is now the director of college counseling at a college prep school, suggests students take a gap year so that they can be less concerned with “how will this look on my college application,” and instead explore ways “to just do something for the pure love of doing it.”

The post Arie Luyendyk Jr.Proposes to Lauren Burnham Again & Gives Her New Bling 6 appeared first on Mom.com.

You know those annoying people who refer to their pets as their children and consider themselves mothers even though they have no actual human babies in their care? Hi, it’s me — at least, that’s who I was before my daughter was born. My dog and two cats were my whole world, and when I got pregnant, I was even more emotionally attached to all three of them than I had ever been (thanks, hormones). But immediately, people began to warn me: “You just won’t love them the same way after your baby is here.”

I knew that I would love my baby when she arrived — that was a given. But would having an actual human child diminish the love I had for my furry kids, too?

The post Don’t Worry, You Won’t Hate Your Pets After You Have a Baby appeared first on Mom.com.

Some of the most frequent questions we’re asked have to do with dogs and what’s safe for them to eat. Fortunately, dogs are able to consume a fairly wide variety of food, and in many cases, what’s healthy for us is also healthy for them — but not always. Here are 10 foods you may not expect to be OK for dogs to eat, that actually are perfectly safe … and even healthy!

The post 10 Surprising People Foods Dogs Can Eat appeared first on Mom.com.

The post 20 Human Foods Dogs Can Eat appeared first on Mom.com.

The post 10 Non-Fish Aquarium Pets appeared first on Mom.com.

Get a puppy? Don't get a puppy? I should've predicted how my life would unfold back in March — when we were all first sheltered in our homes and scared to venture out. When April came, I started considering the dog mom thing seriously. By the time May hit, I was actively researching types of breeds and to-dos online.

This mom was officially suckerpup-punched by my own family.

The post We Got a Quarantine Puppy and My Only Regret Is Not Getting One Sooner appeared first on Mom.com.