Why I'm Teaching My Kids to Be Judgmental
The practice of judgement does not necessitate a lack of tolerance or being mean. Judgement is forming opinions after careful thought. And that's always a good thing.
What would you do if your kid refused to stop licking family members? Could the answer ever be to – gasp! – lick back?
I Know People Do It, But Should I? Wrestling With the Decision to Have Another Kid
Clearly, it's possible to have more than one kid. But it can't be easy to manage. How is a mother of one supposed to know if she can hack it?
What I Tell My Kids About Working Moms
My husband, kids, and I were driving home from the park a few weeks ago when my son pointed at his friend’s house. “Is Jack’s daddy staying home today, too?” he asked. I said he probably was since ...
Every Time I Try to Be June Cleaver, I End Up Like Joan Crawford
The housewife/homemaker gig doesn't come naturally to everyone.
Proposed Family Leave Policy for Friends and Co-Workers Who Don’t Have Children
Not everyone plans on having kids. But like family leave policies for birth, there should be policies in place for other family needs.
Soul Crushing Kid-Favorite Foods From the Dark Side
I don't want to hate on them because they really do save my life most days. But have you ever tried to clean up three hundred grains of cooked rice?
Last Minute Christmas Magic Tips From One Hot Mess to Another
The key to a truly memorable Christmas isn’t being a Super Parent. There are simple ways to infuse the season with magical sights, sounds, and traditions.
What I Learned That Time My Son Watched Me Not Pick Up Trash
As a parent, it's totally possible to screw up, panic, and try again. With absolutely no lasting damage.
The Challenges of “Popping” to the Shop With a Toddler
In my younger years of my early 30s, it was perfectly possible to ‘pop’ to the shops to buy something I needed. Perhaps a loaf of bread. Maybe some fruit. More likely some chocolate and alcohol. In...
Please Stop Telling Me the Dishes Can Wait
No, I'm not losing sleep over a single knife in the sink. I'm up to my eyeballs in obligations and the dishes have been piled for days.
Parenting in a More Accepting Era
The doorbell rings, and I run down the steps to answer. Today is the day our condo association is sending someone to take care of the dangerously old porch steps. I greet the carpenter with a smile...
What Caddying For My Son Taught Me About Being a Mother
As parents, we offer our kids countless unsolicited opinions and advice. But when the parent is also the golf caddy, restraint is the key to success.
How to Drive Parents Insane: A Toy Manufacturer's Viewpoint
Clearly toy companies are lead by evil geniuses who conspire to drive parents to the brink of madness while emptying their wallets completely.
12 Gifts That Will Help Your Family Stay Crap and Craft-Free
The best holiday memories often have little to do with the actual presents. The excitement is in the build-up- full of togetherness, fun, and tradition.
Your Upbringing Can Hurt Your Children More Than You Know
We can choose to parent from a place of what we learned by example or what we learned by example not to do.
How to Raise Respectful Digital Citizens
The best way to help our children navigate social media and technology is through explicit instruction of our expectations for their behavior in this realm.
A Letter to My Parents From Your College-Bound Teenager
Eloquent words from the front lines of college application and high school pressures.
We Can't End Bullying, But We Can Teach Our Kids How to Handle It
Like adults, kids are people who disagree, argue, and get their feelings hurt. Instead of expecting to prevent it, we can give them tools for handling it.
How to Help Our Kids Get Unstuck
Arming ourselves with alternative perspectives on the uncomfortable, frustrating, or disappointing situations that arise can turn outcomes around.
The Science of Childhood Lying in an Age of Post-Truth
Children experiment with the truth through all developmental stages. Here's what it all means.
8 Highly Effective Hacks for the Distracted Mom
There's a lot to keep track of in the throes of parenting- meetings, sports gear, birthday parties, and stuffed animals. These shortcuts can help save some sanity.
To the Woman Who Shamed Me For Not Breastfeeding My Baby
Breast or bottle, what we choose, and why we choose it, is nobody's business.
9 Reasons My Kids Think I Grew Up In Prehistoric Times
I recently ran through the list of all of the things that didn't exist while I was growing up. And as far as my son is concerned, he can't believe I made it.