A parent instinctively knows how important it is to celebrate a child's birthday--how much they look forward to it, how loved and appreciated it makes them feel. Back in the days of wine and wooing, I would spend a considerable amount of time coming up with an assortment of serious and silly gifts for my wife on her birthday, an eventful approach that we both enjoyed. That hasn't happened in a while, however, as we've let out our birthdays slip way down on the priority list, and this year I was particularly delinquent...[more here]

*St. Patrick's Day is a holiday for which you don't need to be Irish to celebrate! See how much fun your brood can have at the Brooklyn Children's Museum with leprechauns, traditions, food and arts & crafts, or take in NYC's annual St. Patrick's Day Parade. If you're looking for a kid-friendly and Irish-inspired meal, check out Mini Munchers-recommended restaurants for a St. Pat's family feast. And, perhaps best of all, here's a blog post from a local mom, reflecting on how celebrating is a good way to add countless smiles to her family's day.

*As the Go-To Mom, Kimberley Clayton Blaine has popularized "emotion coaching," which favors empathy and relationship-building to address classic childhood challenges like tantrums and going to sleep. Learn how you can better help your child manage their emotions and take advantage of some local guidance in our interview with Blaine: "Peaceful Parenting." Also, you have a chance to win Blaine's book as part of this special giveaway!

*Theatergoers, rejoice! Broadway is expected to score big with adults and kids alike this spring. Whether your child is athletic (check out Magic/Bird) or a fairytale fanatic (try Peter and the Starcatcher), here's a taste of what's about to hit the stage, plus tips on where to buy discount tix.

*We have teamed up with the world famous Plaza Hotel for an amazing giveaway! For expectant and new parents with children up to two years old, the Plaza Hotel is granting one lucky couple a fabulous 2-night Babymoon! To enter, simply email us and put "Babymoon" in the subject line, including your name, address and phone number and whether you're pregnant or already have an infant or toddler. The deadline to register is Friday, April 6. 

*Celeb moms love Pink Chicken, and now Manhattan mamas can have a piece of the bird, too. Stacey Fraser of Pink Chicken recently opened her first NYC store on the Upper East Side--to complement her location in Amagansett. For little ladies (newborn through tween) and mommies, Pink Chicken has a bohemian look with fun prints and summery silhouettes. pinkchicken.com

*Never get caught (again!) wearing old tennis shoes while running errands. Yosi Samra shoes are so comfortable, chic and classy, you'll want to wear them everywhere. These foldable flats come in an array of leathers, satins, patents and suedes, and are great for travel. $66-88; yosisamra.com 

*Shamrock-topped sweetness is available through Sunday at Sprinkles' Upper East Side cupcake shop. Baileys Irish cream cheese frosting, anyone?

Best of (The Rest Of) The Web 

For more of our favorite articles from the web this week, click here. 

*With fantastic music, sassy choreography and great themes for children (ages 4-8) to soak up, the New Victory Theater's Lucky Duck is sure to wow. We snagged some time with the dynamic trio behind this quirky production to dig deep into their creative process, how vegetarianism takes center stage and why Lucky Duck, showing March 16-25, is a boon for kids and parents alike. Plus, we are offering 2 family four-packs of tickets to lucky readers! For details on how to enter, read the story to the very end! 

New Victory Theater    

Pediatric Dentistry   

Eastside Westside Music Together