Both of my parents died when I was a teenager. Death, since then, has always been a sad familiarity to me. But a few years ago, our children experienced an unexpected loss, as well. Our [...]
It's what we don't see coming that scares us the most. Because suddenly, everything can change. This is the fear that we all stuff down... even when it rears its head. At any given moment, the [...]
Occasionally, you'll notice a police car nearby. (How often that happens may depend on how fast you drive.) It's comforting when an officer routinely drives by to ensure your neighborhood is [...]
Don't. Freak. Out. This has become a little back-to-school-mantra for my family lately because it seems like every day there is something new to be overwhelmed by, especially during the beginning [...]
I don’t know about you, but sometimes with only a few weeks of summer left, I begin to start thinking ahead. This thinking ahead can be a good thing. It helps me get school clothes and [...]
I LOVE summer, but sometimes I think it can be the most selfish season for our family. The hustle and bustle of the school year and all that it entails finally winds down (only to pick back up [...]
It starts like an ordinary day. The morning routine is met with the usual resistance. (We do this Every Morning. Why are the kids always so surprised?) Milk is spilled on the counter. Somebody [...]
"I don't want you to help me." It's hard for a parent to not take that personally. Sometimes our kids will spontaneously snub us in order to intentionally turn to another parent or family member. [...]
Summer break has always been a bit of a struggle for me. I go into it wanting my kids to relax and enjoy their time off, and I usually come out of it wishing I’d done more to keep them busy. By [...]
“You're grounded from all electronics for the entire summer!” This is the punishment I blurted out recently after my child had done something for the umpteenth time that I told him over [...]