This is a submission in our monthly contest. December’s theme is Growth. Change can be hard, especially for parents. A former neighbor (and at the time, soon-to-be mother of five) once explained th...
This is a submission in our monthly contest. December’s theme is Growth. When daughter A was a little I used to read her a book titled "Leo the Late Bloomer" by Robert Kraus. In the book, there is ...
Why I'm Teaching My Kids That "I'm Sorry" Is Not Enough
I now put it upon them to demonstrate, through actions rather than words, that they are regretful.
When Raising Kids Collides With the U-Curve
Knowing about the U-curve can help us let go of the shame and guilt we have for experiencing this dive in contentedness.
Take Back the Night: a Sleep Training Guide for Parents Who Failed the First Time Around
It’s moving day around here, and these kids are moving out of my bed come hell or high water. Here is how I plan to take back the night.
6 Unexpected Skills I Gained Because of Motherhood
This is a submission in our monthly contest. December’s theme is Growth. Some people think that when parents choose to stay at home with their kids, they automatically sacrifice their careers and t...
I want to give her the information she needs. Even if it is painful. Even if it is scary.
Money: There's No Magic Number When Kids Enter the Picture
Before my children came along, money wasn't a major source of stress. But things are different now.
Could Eye Contact With Your Baby Increase Communication Later On?
According to a new study gazing into our infant’s eyes can have a powerful effect on synchronizing our brain activity with theirs.
I Want My Children to Be Selfish
I believe in order for children to become truly unselfish and empathize with healthy boundaries, they have to do the work of tending to their own needs.
Watching My Toddler Grow Is Joyful and Painful
He’ll be three in a few months, and it seems like every day he’s older than the day before. That’s how growing works, obviously, but it’s more than that.
I filled two Hefty bags with the leftover makeup from my mother’s bathroom. Part of me was grateful she no longer needed it.
What It's Like to Parent From Behind Bars
It’s not every day you get to enter a prison and leave an hour later with an inmate’s story imprinted on your heart.
We're Santa-Agnostic, But the Season Still Has Plenty of Magic
There can only be so many years of innocent acceptance before your children have some tricky questions about the big man in red.
When Parenting Gets Tough, Find Someone to Channel
Putting things into perspective is, I have found, the best way to cope when parenting gets rough.
A Piece of My Heart, a Piece of Your Tendon
I told my daughter I loved her, and that the reason I cautioned her to gather the reins of her anger was that her anger would slingshot back and hurt her.
I keep having this vision in my head of my little girl walking away, toward the building where she now lives.
The Ages and Stages of a Lifetime of Awe
I must parent for the long term, for his emotional health, for his full potential. I must parent for our relationship, to ensure it lasts a lifetime.
How Two Under Two at Age 40 Transformed My Life
I was frightened. I had no family close. I was over 40. The list went on.
What is the Perfect Age to Start Overnight Camp?
With a starting point and frame of reference, you can figure out where your kid fits on the camp readiness spectrum.
As I’m showering today, though, I realize that there will come a time when the kids will no longer linger.
I'm a Statistic, and That's Okay
There were warning signs that we were headed for the end, but I held onto a lifeless marriage so our son would grow up with both of his parents in the home.
I Disagree! 7 Civil Conversation Skills Every Family Should Practice
In this age of divisiveness, disturbing headlines, and excessive devices, strong communication skills are more important than ever.
One in Three Still Gets You in the Parenting Hall of Fame
What if I looked at family dinners according to baseball standards? What if I stopped striving for perfection, and tried for one out of three instead?