Charting a New Course for My Sensitive Girl
It is not my job to tell my daughter who to be. She already feels the world speaking to her, telling her that her sensitivity is undesirable.
Sharing Our Boobs: The Case for Communal Breastfeeding
The idea of another woman putting her nipple in your baby’s mouth might give you the creeps, but remember, only a few generations back breastfeeding itself was taboo.
All-Embracing Ways to Parent a Shy Kid
Researchers have found that shyness is part of a child’s temperament and can be quite persistent. So how do you support your shy child?
How to Help Your Kid Conquer Feelings of Disappointment
The line between setting a child up for success and protecting him from disappointment is hazy. Yet the alternative is not only impossible, it backfires.
Roughhousing With Your Kids May be Just the Sort of Play They Need
I was surprised when I ran across research that touts all of these other benefits of “roughhousing” outside of the pure joy factor.
These Are the Years of Looking Down
The early days of motherhood pull your gaze away from the stars and downward onto chores, and babies, and messes to manage.
My Best-Laid Plans to Raise the Revolution
Recent events have me thinking about my daughters, wondering about all those proclamations I've made over these past ten years that I've been raising girls.
Acknowledging The Unknowns Of Raising Kids With A Smartphone In Your Hand
With the average adult spending four hours a day on their phone, our own use of technology – and concessions about overuse – are also slowly coming to light.
The Savings Conscious Parent's Primer on 529 Plans
By starting college savings before your child is out of diapers, you can turn relatively small savings into a tuition check.
This House is Not a Democracy: Parenting With Love and Ultimatums
For our kids, it’s about trusting us, the parents, to make the decision that is in their best interest, even when they can’t see it.
Embracing the Positivity of Boy Power
It's common to think of boys as more physical and rambunctious than their female counterparts. But are we sending the wrong message when we reign it in?
I'd Rather Bathe a Feral Cat Than Plan This IEP Meeting
Do not get me wrong, I would walk through fire for my son. That would be easier, actually, because at least then I would know the outcome.
Summer Arrives on the Wings of the Cicada
Their sound, that rhythmic cicada crooning, danced in my head, proving far more intoxicating than the empty bottle of wine at my feet.
The Best Lessons of Summer Aren't Found in a Workbook
There’s a whole lot of learning going on in the summer, more than math facts and vocabulary and spelling.
What We Recall Through Scents of Our Past
By searching out the scents of our past, we may recapture connections to places and people who have been lost to time.
Why the Best Shoes for Kids Might Be No Shoes at All
If you’re not ready to home school or move to a tropical, shoe-optional locale, there are plenty of opportunities to foster kids’ healthy foot development.
Extend the Life of Your Wardrobe With The Right Camisole
It’s been my personal mission to find the absolute best camisoles for layering under everything from work to workout clothes.
If I Put Off Cleaning Because "They're Only Young Once" I'm Going to Die Under This Pile of Laundry
We are constantly reminded that no one has ever said they wish they had spent more time doing housework, and less time with the kids. But that's crap.
Making Your Life a Masterpiece – an Adoption Story
For the past 20 years, I have been fielding questions and comments regarding my son’s adoption. The first time it happened, I was grocery shopping with my baby when a man standing in front of me sa...
Parents Who Tragically Lose Their Kid Need Love and Support, Not Criticism
When a child dies in a manner that theoretically could have been prevented, people need someone to blame. But the parents need love and support, not judgement.
The Importance of "Me" Time in the Land of Mom
These days, I am everyone's everything.
To The Mom In The Bathroom Stall Next To Me: Thank You
There are many difficult experiences parents go through with their children, but the horrors of potty training can be truly traumatizing.
Why You Should Take a Maternity Leave as a Stay-At-Home Mom
The first few weeks of having a newborn should be full of rest, quiet, and bonding. That's hard to achieve if you have other kids and a house to care for.
Five Things Guaranteed to Happen At Your Kid’s School Performance
It’s the big day. It’s time for your budding ballerina, actor, or singer to take center stage. This is how it's going to go.