When Motherhood Means Sitting in the Dark With My Child
And that’s parenting really – you do all you can do, but sometimes you still find yourself sitting in the dark.
How to Delegate Chores and Actually Get Your Kids to Do Them
Getting kids to help around the house can prove to be a Herculean task. But by giving them age-appropriate tasks, they can easily participate.
Mommy-and-Me, Destroying the Me in Mommy
I am their mom. I am the crucial part of our Mommy-and-Me, but I’m losing the Me.
My 7th Grader Was Not "A Pleasure to Have in Class" and Turned Out Just Fine
If you have a child who isn’t always “a pleasure to have in class,” don’t be discouraged. Be consistent, but don’t give up or lose faith.
Buying and Selling a House…With a Toddler, a Pregnant Wife, and a Tight Deadline
My wife's reaction to finding out she was pregnant eight months after giving birth to our first child encapsulated the major difference between us.
April Showers Bring Spring Scented Kids
There is a unique smell that is my young children at the end of a spring day.
Carl Jung on Parenting: There Are No Coincidences
Synchronicity is all about coincidence, about things happening at similar times or in a particular pattern so that the things take on meaning.
Are There Child Traffickers in Ikea? The Fine Balance of Parenting, Paranoia, and Preparedness
We are parenting in a time of paranoia. What are the statistics about abductions and sex trafficking in our current culture? It's not as dire as you'd think.
Charting a New Course for My Sensitive Girl
It is not my job to tell my daughter who to be. She already feels the world speaking to her, telling her that her sensitivity is undesirable.
All-Embracing Ways to Parent a Shy Kid
Researchers have found that shyness is part of a child’s temperament and can be quite persistent. So how do you support your shy child?
How to Help Your Kid Conquer Feelings of Disappointment
The line between setting a child up for success and protecting him from disappointment is hazy. Yet the alternative is not only impossible, it backfires.
These Are the Years of Looking Down
The early days of motherhood pull your gaze away from the stars and downward onto chores, and babies, and messes to manage.
My Best-Laid Plans to Raise the Revolution
Recent events have me thinking about my daughters, wondering about all those proclamations I've made over these past ten years that I've been raising girls.
Acknowledging The Unknowns Of Raising Kids With A Smartphone In Your Hand
With the average adult spending four hours a day on their phone, our own use of technology – and concessions about overuse – are also slowly coming to light.
The Savings Conscious Parent's Primer on 529 Plans
By starting college savings before your child is out of diapers, you can turn relatively small savings into a tuition check.
This House is Not a Democracy: Parenting With Love and Ultimatums
For our kids, it’s about trusting us, the parents, to make the decision that is in their best interest, even when they can’t see it.
I'd Rather Bathe a Feral Cat Than Plan This IEP Meeting
Do not get me wrong, I would walk through fire for my son. That would be easier, actually, because at least then I would know the outcome.
If I Put Off Cleaning Because "They're Only Young Once" I'm Going to Die Under This Pile of Laundry
We are constantly reminded that no one has ever said they wish they had spent more time doing housework, and less time with the kids. But that's crap.
Parents Who Tragically Lose Their Kid Need Love and Support, Not Criticism
When a child dies in a manner that theoretically could have been prevented, people need someone to blame. But the parents need love and support, not judgement.
To The Mom In The Bathroom Stall Next To Me: Thank You
There are many difficult experiences parents go through with their children, but the horrors of potty training can be truly traumatizing.
Why You Should Take a Maternity Leave as a Stay-At-Home Mom
The first few weeks of having a newborn should be full of rest, quiet, and bonding. That's hard to achieve if you have other kids and a house to care for.
Five Things Guaranteed to Happen At Your Kid’s School Performance
It’s the big day. It’s time for your budding ballerina, actor, or singer to take center stage. This is how it's going to go.
Dropping Everything to Read Since Ramona Said it Was Cool
When my three-year-old brings me a book, or two, or lately, a canvas bin full of books, I drop everything and read.
5 Things People Will Say If You Decide to Hyphenate Your Kids Last Name
If you’re a fellow hyphenating parent or are considering becoming one, you’ll definitely hear some, if not all, of these gems.