2025 UPDATE: Cancer, COVID, Coping, Coming Back to FTMAD

Now that we are back, I suppose I should explain where we went!

In August of 2019, FTD was diagnosed with Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC). Needless to say, our world was turned upside down. He immediately underwent a 12.5-hour surgery (Yes, TWELVE HOURS!) to remove the tumor. Once the tumor was removed, the biopsy moved him up to Stage IVb cancer with perineural invasion. 

Long story short, we had to grow up and get our sh!t together and face some horrific scenarios while trying to protect and be present for Ollie.

And then, COVID-19 hit. In some ways, we were already living an isolated, sterile life. And we were damn sure already living in a scary world where we didn’t take a minute or loved one for granted. 

(Of course, FTD had to make a Darth Vader Mask to wear through COVID. It was actually super cool and effective with N95 inserts. He even kind of sounded like a muffled Darth Vader.)

Due to the extreme financial toll cancer took on us, I had to get a real job with benefits while still working my full-time contract job. (Yes, I was truly working two full-time jobs.) One as a Senior Content Strategist at a SaaS company and another as a Senior Health Editor at a media house. 

I was so far beyond maxed out, but in some ways, it helped take my mind off of obsessing over cancer, COVID, and whether FTD would survive it all. Bottom line: I just couldn’t keep up with the blog anymore. I so wanted to, but I was literally working day and night and didn’t have any extra time.

Over the past five years, I’ve been fully immersed in health journalism, working full-time as a Senior Health Editor. I am proud to say that I’ve become deeply committed to reporting breaking health news, wellness trends, and sharing the most promising health and wellness products on the market today—and yes, I’ll definitely be sharing all of it with you! 

I am so thankful to say that as of today, FTD is CANCER-FREE!!! He is amazing and never gave up, no matter how sick he was. In fact, every day he would walk into the cancer center and make people smile and laugh. Everyone loved him. He was so positive through it all. Which I was not; I was a hot ass mess at best.

My hope in reigniting the blog is to give all of us a place to laugh at parenting, teenagers, and life in general as we embark on surviving these insane teenage years.

I'm so happy to be back writing here again. It is strangely freeing and empowering. I've been writing for someone else for so long while adhering to style guides and the constantly changing world of journalism. Here, I can be me and say whatever the hell I want!! WHOOO HOOOO!!

I also want to share that I am beyond thankful for the outpouring of support and comments I received when I posted about reigniting the blog on the First Time Mom and Dad Facebook Page! Not only was it such a warm welcome back moment for me, it was reaffirming that it’s time to get back to blogging! (And a little Vlogging too on our First Time Mom and Dad YouTube Channel!)

I will try to keep the posts going forward short, funny, and informative since I know how limited our time is as parents. Also, if you would like me to talk about anything or have questions about our cancer journey or anything else, please reach out via our social media channels or our FTMAD email: FirstTimeMomandDad @ Gmail .com 

I’ll see you Friday with my first “Friday Funny” post in more years than I care to admit!!! 

We're BAAACCCCKKKKK!!!! It's Time For: First Time Mom And Dad the TEENAGE YEARS!!

Helllllllooooo!!!  We’re BAAACCCCKKKK!!!

There is so much to say and tell you about!!

First and foremost, what took us out of retirement?

The teenage years. I. AM. NOT. OK!

Like, at all.

Ollie is 13 years old, 5’9”, has a size 13 shoe and farts that are beyond lethal. 

Yes, I threw farts in there becuse that is my damn life!  If I’m not dodging his boy farts, I’m suffacating from them.

What’s even more exciting: TODAY, First Time Dad (FTD) took his citizenship test and PASSED!!!

That’s right, FTD is now on his way to becoming a citizen of the USA! 

We were def a little worried with everything going on with immigration in the US, but after nearly 15 years in the US, FTD hasn’t even had one speeding ticket, and he’s dedicated his life to working with children with learning differences, so if he couldn’t pull it off… 

Get ready for future posts on surviving the teenage years, this horrific job market, mental health, what we’ve been up to, FTD surviving Stage IV cancer, and everything in between! 

We are also working on getting the First Time Mom and Dad YouTube channel back in action to show you all the shenanigans UNCUT!

For now… a photo recap of a few highlights over the past five years!

I wish I could say we got our Sh!t together... but... nope. Not even close.

Are you ready for it....

5 Tips For Back-To-School Sports Heat Relief #BackToSchool

 

I'm dedicating this post to the families sweating buckets during back-to-school sports practices and games. My heart goes out to little ones and their families enduring heatstroke and sunburns for 'the love of the game.' If 100 degree August afternoons on the football field are wearing down your family, below are five things I used to keep my family cool the weekend we braved 107-degree temps to win a cake and ride the rides at a church picnic. 

Prior to the picnic, I scoured the Internet, novelty stores, Target, and The Dollar Tree for anything that would promise to keep my family cool and protected from the sun's rays and stupid-hot summer temps. I bought many things, but most were a gimmick or complete crap, or both. Below are the top five things that kept us cool, hydrated, and protected from the sun's rays. 

The Hydro Flask ($30): First and foremost, if nothing else, hydrate your child. That being said, I wholly recommend the Hydro Flask for the job! A bestie sent it to me for my birthday and it's the water bottle I depend on to keep my water cold ALLLLLL DAAAAY!!!!!! It is the most indestructible, amazing liquid-holding contraption ever. It keeps ice water icy cold and hot soup super hot. You can seriously put a few ice cubes in this thing in the morning and fill it full of water, and by the end, the ice cubes will be intact. I've had my Hydro Flask for about five years now and it looks as good as the day I got it. How many water bottles can you say that about?

The Ultra Soft Cooling Towel ($9): If you bought one of the first cooling towels to hit the market, then you know while they worked like magic, once the towel dries, it's a stiff cardboard sheet. Thankfully, cooling towels have had an upgrade. The new ones stay soft, wet or dry.  Now, you can throw it in your handbag, and all you've got to do is just find a little bit of water, soak it, snap it a few times, and you instantly have a cold towel. This is a mom emergency heat stroke lifesaver. 

Every parent should have one handy. Seriously, they're so cheap, why not?

The Necklace Fan ($16 for Two or $10 for One): This thing is hysterical!!! But so friggin' great. All you do is pop in some batteries, slip the fan over your head and tighten it up around your neck, and BOOM, instant, hands-free air conditioning. Definitely not the most fashionable thing, but it works. Well. And it's totally worth the money! I gifted one to a girlfriend who runs her family's YUMMY ice cream food truck. She LOVED it! 

The handheld 5-speed fan ($15). This fan was a wild-card winner! I was floored when it arrived... There are 5-speeds, and it turns into a USB charger for your phone! We now own three. This fan is a Grandstand winner! 

UPF 50+ Bucket Sun Hat UV Sun Protection with Mesh Rim ($10-$15): 

I'm so in love with the hats. I bought a hat for all of us. All three were inexpensive and have been LIFESAVERS since day one. The mesh rim lets the air blow through. Most of all, the UPF material actually blocks some of those seriously harmful sun rays.  

What's your Summer Heat Lifesaver?

      

The Three Most Common Harmful Oral Health Habits for Kids

Today, Dr. Peter Markov, a pediatric dentist and owner of VK Pediatric Dentistry in Arlington, VA, shares common harmful oral health habits many parents are guilty of and his best advice for proper pediatric oral care.

#1 Wrong toothpaste

An often-easy mistake to make is using the wrong toothpaste. Although this can take a while to show effects, it will definitely take its toll on teeth in the long run. The toothpaste aisle can be overwhelming with so many options but the main two things you want to look for include the ADA (American Dental Association) stamp of approval and to make sure the toothpaste contains fluoride.

#2 No Mouthguard?!

There’s no excuse for your child not to wear a mouthguard while playing sports. Even though mouthguards may not be the coolest fashion accessory, it does prevent teeth from being knocked out, chipped or damaged. When a child is in mixed dentition (Usually from age 7-12), they are undergoing quite a bit of change in their mouth. While custom mouthguards are thinner and more comfortable, they are also much more costly.

We usually recommend getting a less expensive moldable mouthguard and changing it every season or every other sport (otherwise you will be getting custom guards every 6 months) while a child is at this age to protect their teeth without breaking the budget.

#3 Chewing On Everything In Sight. Teeth Are Not Scissors!

While kids are bored, they tend to chew on anything in site including nails, pencils and paper clips. This might satisfy your child’s tactile sensations, but it’s a fast way to cause damage to teeth. An easy alternative that you can give your child is a gum that’s sugar-free and contains xylitol. This can help satisfy their attention and prevent nasty habits from developing. For more information, please read this article on tips for teething.



Never let your children open packages with their teeth - it will break down their tooth enamel and can lead to chipping or fractures. Although this sounds like common sense, you’d be surprised how many children use their teeth to open packages, wrappers, or cans. Although it may not cause damage every time, there is the potential it chips a tooth.

About the Author: Dr. Peter Markov is passionate about children and children’s oral health. He firmly believes that prevention is best when it comes to kids' dentistry and hopes this post helps you make educated and healthy oral health decisions. His practice, VK Pediatric Dentistry, provides comfortable, convenient, and quality kids dentistry for infants, toddlers, children, and teens in Arlington, Mclean, Falls Church, Alexandria, and the surrounding cities of Northern Virginia.

Tips To Save Buku Bucks On Spring Beauty Purchases

Yesterday. I covered spring money-saving hacks for kids' stuff, so now it's time to talk about mama's stuff! 

Spring is in full bloom, so I thought I would share a few of my top tips for buying champagne-style beauty products on a beer-budget. (Aveda, Trish McEvoy, Lancome, Clinique, Bobbi Brown, Sephora, OPI...) Or, how I rarely buy high-end beauty products at full price and get a lot of awesome free stuff in the process, and not because I'm a blogger. Let's just say, I'm a product whore with a laughable budget and years of buying experience. 

1. First and foremost, sign up for email alerts from your favorite brands. This alone makes it easy to get the most bang for your buck from your go-to brands. FACT: Department/Beauty store brands (Clinique, Bobbi Brown, Trish, Laura...) promote 'gift with purchase' specials YEAR-ROUND. TIP: Check your favorite brand websites for the weekly gift with purchase specials and free shipping... add a coupon code and SCORE BIG!! 

2. NEVER Buy anything without getting something free! I'm not kidding. I have yet to buy any products without getting free samples. If the brand website is not offering 'gift with purchase' specials, stores like Sephora, Ulta, Nordstroms, and Macy's may offer in-store/on-line promotions for the multiple brand's products. Do you see where I am going with this? Research your brand-loyal beauty products online before heading to the store. Always.

3. Print Monthly In-store Coupons. Love your Cover Girl Mascara or Almay Tinted Moisturizer? Before you shop for shadow and gloss, spend some time downloading + printing coupons. If you play your coupons right, you might score big by combining it with an in-store promotion. 

4. Reap the Rewards, Reviews + Ratings. Thanks to stores like Sephora, Ulta, and Amazon, getting the 411 on products is easier than ever. Amazon is a gold mine for finding reviews, photos, and deals on beauty products. Sephora is the spot for finding new products and scoring a loot bag of sample-size products. Ulta sends coupons for discounts on a single item or entire purchase via snail mail and email, so signing up for the email list is worth it for that alone. I use this for self-tanner and nail polish purchases!

5. Google What Gets You. The next time you want to splurge on a new miracle cream, Google it before buying it. But try googling the specific need, "dark circles," "deep wrinkles," then look for best sellers, then read the reviews. There is no reason to spend a month's salary on an eye serum with so many great options available for a fraction of the cost. Did you know Amazon's best-selling serum costs $15? It does. It also has 4300 reviews and 4.5 stars. 
                                                               

6. GET CASH BACK! Last, and my biggest and best shopping tip, RAKUTEN. I promise I am not getting paid to say that. I cannot recommend enough signing up, then downloading the browser plug-in. Then, every time you shop online, you're automatically notified of the percentage of cash back you get for purchases, and then at checkout, coupon codes are auto-loaded. IT'S AWESOME! I've been a member since 11/19/16 and have a lifetime cash back balance of $695.11 CASH!!!

Seriously... sign up. Download Rakuten then install the plug-in to your browser, 

and that's it! 

Spring Means Fun In The Sun, Which Also Means...

SUNBURNS SEASON!

Photo Credit: The Aussie's handy work with Oliver's and Professor's heads. 

'I know what you’re thinking: “Sunburns? It’s not even summer yet!” This is true, but as long as the sun is out, and so are kiddos, you need to protect that sensitive skin. Plus, before you know it, the Easter holidays will be here, after which the beautiful Spring and summer months will be at your door kicking your life outside and into high-gear covered in blazing rays of Sun. Keep reading. You'll wanna know these facts and tips...

Now is as good a time as any to make sure you and your child are well prepared for the sun. Whether you’re hopping on a plane to distant shores for spring break or staying closer to home for a family-style staycation, sun safety is equally important.

Here are a few pointers on how to protect your child from the sun.

Cover up

One of the most basic steps you can take is to ensure your kid is covered up. Long-sleeved t-shirts and trousers are effective at shielding the skin from ultraviolet (UV) rays, which damage the skin. Bear in mind that light colors may not be as effective; in fact, when wet, they absorb as much sunlight as bare skin. Also, make sure your child wears a proper sunhat with a wide brim as opposed to a baseball cap. Unfortunately, caps offer no protection for the ears and the back of the neck.

You could always go all out like I did. It kept Ollie cool and safe from the sun's rays during afternoon walks or trips to the zoo.

Sunscreen and sunblock

When it’s too hot for long sleeves and trousers, applying sunscreen, is of course, essential. Start with a sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and apply liberally 30 minutes prior to sun exposure. Don’t forget those hard-to-reach areas like ears, back of the neck, and feet. If you’re going swimming with your little one, remember to reapply their sunscreen afterward, as well as your own! Even if you’re planning to stay dry, sun cream should be reapplied once every couple of hours to ensure the best UV protection. You can find more information on proper sunscreen application here.

FUN FACT: When it comes to choosing the right sunscreen, The American Academy of Dermatology recommends everyone use sunscreen that offers the following:

• Broad-spectrum protection (protects against UVA and UVB rays).
• Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 30 or greater.
• Water resistance.

Sunglasses

Although protecting your child’s skin is quite rightly a priority, it’s important not to forget the eyes – over-exposure to UV rays can lead to cataracts in later life. Therefore, make sure your little one has a pair of sunglasses to wear along with their hat. Not all sunglasses have adequate protection from harmful rays, however, so it’s vital to check the product details before committing. If they are not labeled with “100% UV protection” or “UV 400 protection”, assume the glasses don’t have it. Fortunately, there are plenty of stylish options out there with this level of protection, including this collection of Ray-Ban Juniors.

Keep an eye out

If you have older kids, there will come a time when they will naturally want to go off with their friends and play in the park or on the beach. When this happens, the first thing to do is ensure they have a fresh application of sunscreen before they go outside – either by supervising them or doing it yourself. During the early afternoon, when the sun’s at its strongest, it’s also worth remembering that harmful UV rays can still be strong even on a cloudy day. Try to stay nearby and set a limit on how long they can stay in the midday heat.

Set a good example

As for any other part of parenting, setting a good example for your children to follow is key. Sun safety should never be a “do as I say, not as I do” topic! Many of us will admit to forgetting to apply sunscreen or staying out in the sun a little too long from time to time. These bad habits can be difficult to shake off at times, but if you’re not careful, your children may also develop a casual attitude towards sun protection.

Bottom Line: Teaching the importance of sun safety early is critical for a life-long understanding of the whys and hows for protecting your largest organ.