I had disappeared, and I didn’t know where I might be found. "I just want to feel like me again," I said, tearfully, two weeks into motherhood.
Cars, Confessions, and a College Kid Who Lives at Home
My son bought a new car. Well, that’s almost true. My husband co-signed the documents with the understanding that my son would be responsible for gas, maintenance, insurance, and monthly payments. ...
If Two Pink Lines Instill Panic Before Joy, Just Hold On
I wept in fear and surprise when I saw those two pink lines on a pregnancy test three years ago. So, too, did I think mournfully of my independence.
Could My Kids Actually Be Benefitting From My Divorce?
I feel compelled to focus not on the disastrous, negative effects my divorce may be having on my children, but rather on how it might be serving them well.
There Are No French Fries at the Masada Visitor Center
When our family takes trips now, no matter how packed our touring schedule might be, I make sure to bring a few familiar items from home.
Am I Raising My Kid to Be Too Sensitive?
In my attempt to raise an empathetic child, have I trained her to scan for trauma where there is none?
Fun Things to Do With Your Newborn Who Doesn't Care, Obviously
What are you supposed to do when you’re in charge of someone who has no neck strength and can’t even figure out where/what their limbs are?
Beyond "Because I Said So" – 16 Phrases You'll Actually Want Your Kids to Remember
The words we speak to our kids root deeply within them and become part of who they are.
Don’t Mind Me, I’m Just About to Light Myself on Fire Inside This Walmart
When you are evaluating store trips, you have to grade the experience on a huge curve when you have small children with you.
The No-Matter-What Parenting Habit I'm Most Proud Of
I know that one of my most important jobs as a parent has been to make a place for reading (and writing) in our home.
I'm Staking Claims on the "Fun Parent" Status
Why can’t I be the fun parent? At the risk of sounding like my 7-year-old, it just isn’t fair. So I'm changing the game.
Butt Wipes and Seaweed Gripes: Adventures With the Poison Control Hotline
Spoiler alert: she's fine.
8 Parenting Habits That May Undermine Your Good Intentions
Big wins often require small steps. “Overnight success” is a myth that too often hides the pain, hard work, and failure associated with each and every success. Much like Hemingway’s description of ...
Choosing Between Art and Family: A Mother’s Dilemma
Who do you think you are? What kind of mother picks her pie-in-the-sky hobby over her children? A good one who considers her needs, that's who.
The Magical Powers of Validation
Validation is an important part of raising children. It opens up the lines of communication between parents and their children.
Staying at Home Versus The Virtue of Busyness
I might work hard, but I’m simply not as busy as I would be if I worked outside the home. Admitting I'd prefer not to be busy comes with a dose of humility.
Tried and True Bedtime Strategies for Every Type of Sleeper
Five kids and 16 years after first becoming parents, my husband and I have a trick or two up our sleeves for getting kids to stay in their beds.
6 Ways to Raise a Kid Who Looks on the Bright Side
Raise that half full glass.
Learning the Hard Way That "Suck it Up" is Terrible Advice
“I told you! You didn't listen. You told me to suck it up and ignore it,” my oldest son stated with tears in his eyes.
Teach Your Kids the Satisfaction of Wanting
Technology these days is incredible, isn’t it? We have access to just about anything right at our fingertips and can possess it the next day if we’re willing to pay a few extra dollars. Instant (al...
5 Reasons You Don't Need to Worry About Kids and Social Media
New research is shedding light on the good things that can happen when kids connect, share, and learn online.
Working From Home With a Toddler: An Hour-By-Hour Case Study in Futility
I just need to get one thing done. Shouldn't take long.
It's the Little Things That Can Break a Mother
Mothers often feel obligated to turn their homes over to their kids, but I am tired of pretending that I’m invisible, that I don’t live in my own house.
Son: You Can Disobey Me but Don’t You Dare Lie to Me
There will be times when you’re going to disobey me. But there is one thing that I hope and pray that you never ever do and that is to lie to me.