Spring 2023 Edition

In our overscheduled lives, taking time for a family game night may seem like a luxury. But while we take this bonding time to play with our children we are not only making warm memories with them. We’re also helping their brains develop in surprising ways. A 2008 study from...

Whoever coined the term, “the lazy days of summer” must not have had young children! Certainly it’s great not to have the pressures of the school year, but many working parents still need childcare when school is out. Summer day camps not only fill this gap, but can provide an...

I have never been a fan of rules that don’t make sense to me, and I don’t enjoy being told what to do. As a teenager, I pushed back on unnecessary rules and adults that made rules, yet failed to embody the rules they were preaching. I considered many rules...

In an ideal world, you’ve got a satisfying career with plenty of time and energy to spend time with your family, attend classes and do your homework, get to the gym and catch up with friends. The reality? You’re exhausted from just trying to stay on top of it all...

Talking about your feelings sounds simple, but it is actually a skill that must be developed. Many of us are conditioned to protect ourselves by not revealing vulnerability. For example, previous generations are known for being “tough,” and talking about emotions was not as common. Mantras like “be a man”...

Playing with your baby may not seem like much more than a fun fest, when, say, he coos at his rattle or tries his hand at stacking “donuts.” But make no mistake. What looks like downtime to us is work to little ones–and toys are the tools for getting the...

Wondering how to get your kids to eat more veggies? Grow them. Whether it’s a container on the patio or a raised bed, gardening is easier than most people think, even with limited space. Last year, our family dug up the front lawn and built raised bed garden boxes. We...

According to the American Institute of Stress, 75-90% of all doctor visits in the United States are for stress related illnesses of some sort (Drah, 2021). Stress that is not well managed can cause headaches, digestive issues, sleep disturbances, etc. So, what can we do with this knowledge to create...

“Be an encourager. The world has plenty of critics already.” – Dave Willis When I think back on individuals who have had a profound impact on my life, I linger on those who provided encouragement when I was at my lowest points. Let’s stop and take a moment to think...

While it’s nice not to have to cook for Mother’s Day, the restaurants are crowded and reservations can be hard to get. We wanted to know what moms really want for Mother’s Day. So we asked moms in all stages of parenting from toddler to young adult and they answered...

When Allison Carter, an organization coach, got tired of doing the endless piles of laundry her family generated, she didn’t hire a housekeeper. Instead, she taught her 9 year old son and 12 year old daughter to wash their own clothes, fold and put them away. Not only has this...