Being a mom is a challenging job. And if you are like me, finding someone to take care of my child when I went back to work was even more challenging. While daycare is a popular option, many moms look at hiring a nanny to stay home with their kids. Finding a nanny in a big city like Houston is not a simple task, and there are many things to consider when looking for the right candidate who will work so closely with your family. For the second year in a row, we surveyed 240 local moms to find out what to ask and what to consider when hiring a nanny. Below are some tips and facts based on the 2016 survey results.

Come autumn even urbanites seem to crave seasonal harvest displays more often found at the pick-your-own farms just outside NYC's borders. Lucky for us, there are amazing fall fests right here in the city and even a corn maze for those who really want that farm experience. Now we can add the just-opened fall and Halloween-themed outdoor displays at New York Botanical Garden to our list of the best seasonal happening around NYC. 

My family always heads to the Botanical Garden in the Bronx for its annual exhibit of pumpkins and gourds, so we were excited to see this year's brand-new programming. Titled Pumpkins: Playful & Plentiful, there are gourds galore, plus seasonal activities and events for kids in the Everett Children's Adventure Garden, a guaranteed hit for families with small children. And though my now-teenage(!) son has outgrown the Children's Garden, he did perk up a bit when I mentioned NYBG's other new exhibit, Scarecrows: From the Heartland to Horror, a trail of spooky and original sculptures that is not recommended for young kids.

We just visited and have the scoop on what to expect at this year's fall festivities at the New York Botanical Garden, so read on for more details.

After four years of running classes, birthday parties, and summer camps out of a variety of locations in New York City, SciTech Kids finally has opened permanent maker space for kids and grown-ups.

SciTech's new home on East 81st Street celebrated its grand opening on September 17, 2016. With City Council member Ben Kallos on hand to help cut the ribbon, founder Kim Magloire—a biologist, epidemiologist, science coordinator for NYU Polytechnic's Science Summer Research Program, and a mom—welcomed families to its assortment of tech stations.

It's true that homeschooling creates a really unique and wonderful bond with your kids, but, sometimes, it's really hard. When you consider the fact that you're responsible for teaching your child everything, getting some socialization time in with other kids, and making sure they're healthy and physically active- well, it's just too much. That's why we started this monthly series of articles, to help homeschool parents, new and vets alike, find all the resources you need to make it a completely enjoyable experience. Which means, taking some responsibilities off of your plate. There are a lot of great classes out there, specifically for homeschool kids. Maybe there's a subject you don't feel comfortable teaching your child, or maybe you just don't know how to keep them active, or (real talk), maybe you need a break. We've found a lot of great phys ed, gym, and sport options to enroll the kids in to keep them healthy and strong. 

Fall brings with it a lot of fun traditions like pumpkin carving and apple picking. It also means it’s time for the annual fall fair, a really fun way for families to spend the day together. New England is home to dozens of quaint agricultural fairs that feature farm animals, midways with rides, and fair food like fried dough. We’ve rounded up one of the best fall fairs from each New England state so you can experience this classic seasonal tradition with your kids while enjoying fall foliage day trips all over the region.

Autumn marks the start of a new theater season, but you don't need to shell out big bucks on Broadway shows to give your kids a memorable live entertainment experience in NYC. This fall, preschoolers will go gaga for engaging, page-to-stage adaptations of some of their favorite picture books and TV shows like The Ugly Duckling, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, and Mr. Popper's Penguins. Meanwhile, school-age children can catch a pair of steampunk-styled spectacles—Cirque du Soleil's Kurios and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea—plus avant-garde offerings at Lincoln Center and La MaMa. Best of all, 10 of our picks are $20 or less per ticket.

This post is being updated for 2017.

The Hudson Valley is the setting for many a scary Halloween happening—parents be warned! There's traditional fall fun like pumpkin picking, fall festivals, and corn mazes, but the area celebrates Halloween in a big way with attractions for all ages (and all levels of bravery). Even if you don't live in the Hudson Valley, these are totally worth the schlep and blowing the kids' bedtimes—at least once.

While the Great Jack O' Lantern Blaze is perhaps the top Halloween event in the area, there are other cool happenings just next door: the haunted attraction Horseman’s Hollow, a live retelling of Irving's Legend, and the little-kid-friendly Legend Behind the Legend. Head a little further north to Somers to check out the Halloween Train Show at Lasdon Park, and put the Wappingers Falls and Nyack parades on your calendar. 

Our best advice: Start planning now. Nearly all require advance tickets and most sell out. 

Don't forget to sign up for our newsletters to stay updated on all things Halloween-related.

As a yoga teacher, I love that Houston has tons of yoga studios and varieties of yoga to choose from. From hot yoga, live music, partner yoga or practicing in a brewery - if there is a way to practice yoga, you can find it in Houston! Yoga offers a multitude of benefits, from increasing strength and flexibility to decreasing stress and tension. I credit yoga with decreasing my anxiety, improving my posture and helping me to become more mindful in my daily life.

When I was pregnant, prenatal yoga helped me to embrace my changing body while allowing my busy mind to quiet down. Once my baby arrived, I was no longer sure how to incorporate yoga into my life. I felt intimidated by the idea of attending a traditional yoga class as my body was still recovering. I also had to contend with the new challenge of finding somewhere for my baby to be. Fortunately, Houston’s yoga community did not disappoint, and I found two great mommy and baby yoga classes that offer two very different approaches.