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.
The Difficulty in Facing What's Right in Front of Us
It is true that some parents refuse to see what is right in front of them. They gloss over the signs, they deny the truth.
When we think of growth, we often think of the most difficult challenge we have recently overcome. Sometimes, the challenge comes from the family (children, spouse, parents) sometimes the challenge...
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.
As I stand there looking down at four plus years of my hard work scattered among Lego pieces, stuffed animals and dirty underwear, I feel surprisingly calm.
50 Questions to Get Your Kid Thinking Like a Scientist
Careers in science, technology, engineering, and math are in high demand for good reason. STEM professionals offer creative and analytical solutions to many of the world’s biggest problems. But how...
Trouble in Toyland? You Can Relax About These Holiday Toy Warnings
If previous years are any indication, CALPIRG's report will be the next big scary story on your local news broadcast. Here's why it's going to be ok.
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.
Is Family Travel Worth the Investment?
Travel is often viewed as a leisure activity that's difficult to justify spending precious time and money on. But what if it's more than that?
When Grief Comes Home for Christmas
This is the year I learned that elevating one specific holiday to the single most anticipated family event has its down side.
Is It Really Possible to Parent Like Other Cultures?
Is it really possible for us to parent like the French, the Japanese, or the Danish? Not usually.
4 Tips to Help You Master the Power Nap (and Maybe Skip the Afternoon Coffee)
If you’re finding yourself lagging mid-morning or mid-afternoon, here are a few tips to help you master the power nap.
I filled two Hefty bags with the leftover makeup from my mother’s bathroom. Part of me was grateful she no longer needed it.
When Marriage is as Beautiful as it Difficult
This isn’t an excuse for not working on myself or my marriage but a recognition of the challenges of this stage in life.
Kid Made Recipe: Almond Layer Cookies
These tasty cookies are a perfect holiday treat. Mix it up and use any colors you like!
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.
How to Explore STEM Skills With Your Kid When It's Not Your Strong Suit
Many parents are challenged by math and sciences, and therefore shy away from working on those skills with their kids. But there are simple ways to do so.
The Inconvenience of Girls Who Want
We give girls permission to be anything they want, but we still don't want to talk to them about sexual desires and where that fits into their lives.
I Hope My Kids Don't Want to Play Team Sports
What used to be a fun pastime has turned, for many kids, into an exercise in rigor and near-obsession. If we skip team sports altogether, I won't be sad.
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.
A Pony Tale: My Journey Through Chemo
I wanted to attend functions at my son’s school with my hair, and not a head scarf. I wanted no more tests, needles, or doctors. I wanted my ponytail back.