My Chicklet is 9 years old and a force to be reckoned with. I often tell people that I don’t know what I did to deserve such a wonderful daughter. She’s smart, funny, sassy, loving, independent, sensitive, caring, an awesome friend … I could go on and on. I know as her mother, I lead […]
5 Ways to Instill Girl Power in Your Daughter Read More »
After a year of busy school schedules, endless sports practices, and increased work commitments, I started the summer feeling a little too disconnected from my two boys. I sensed that they were tired of running around and always having to be somewhere, so we pondered the idea of a summer without camp. No early morning
A Dad Reflects on a Fun Summer Read More »
School has started back up for most kids, and the transition to a new classroom with new friends and teachers can be a difficult one for any kid, but it can be especially challenging if your child has special needs. To make the transition as easy—and uneventful—as possible, planning and practice in advance can get
Special Needs – Back to School Transition Read More »
As we race toward the end of summer, school bells are ringing across the country, and that means that summer break is coming to an end. Here in Georgia, our kids started back the first week of August, and we’re in an awkward limbo between summer fun and scholastic success. Before the summer comes to
5 Fun Things to Do Before School Starts Read More »
As parents, we spend much of our time entertaining other people. Usually ones much younger and smaller than ourselves. We also “get” that making sure the small people we’re raising know how to entertain, motivate, and creatively challenge themselves once in awhile. We work hard to provide our kids a lovely cocktail of adult-led, peer-led,
Make Time for Yourself to Play Read More »
I’ll admit. We don’t follow a schedule during the summer months. We spend nine months of the year adhering to a pretty tight and busy schedule with the kids. During our summer off, we all want to relax. I pretty much let the kids go to bed at any time. Sometimes I fall asleep before
Three Back to School Transition Tips for Parents Read More »
For many of us, summer is coming to an end, and the new school year is upon us. As much as I love summer and being able to spend more time with my daughter doing outdoor activities and having fun, I really look forward to the school year. And it helps because my daughter is
Helping Your Child Get Ready for Back to School Read More »
We sat at my kitchen table on a sunny Spring morning. A pair of child developmental professionals contracted by the state sat before me as my 16-month-old zeroed in on their stack of papers with the hopes of crumpling each one by hand. Instead, I offered him a banana, hoping to diffuse the impending toddler
Two Steps Forward & Two Steps Back Read More »
Raising my family in the Northeast, but with strong ties back home to Virginia Beach (almost 400 miles away), we typically find ourselves making a long road trip several times a year. At this point, I like to fancy our family veteran road trippers, including our 5- and 1-year-old. It’s taken a lot of trial
Tips for Road Trips with Small Children Read More »
Summertime is synonymous with big ole family soirees. A season when close friends and relatives travel near and far in honor of beach vacations, campgrounds, backyard barbecues, and family reunions. And with an array of generations trying to connect with one another in a short amount of time, it seems only natural to tap into
Make Family Reunions Fun for Everyone Through Play Read More »
I’ve realized that there is no rhyme or reason to what makes my kids get along with one another on any given day. It doesn’t matter that two of my children are 15 months apart or that the oldest is at least three years older than his siblings. What I’ve noticed, however, is that some
How to Help Siblings to Get Along Read More »
My 9-year-old daughter is getting to the age where she wants to have more bonding time with her girlfriends. Gone are the days of playdates. My daughter and her friends now require more time doing girlie things together, such as dressing up, playing with their American Girl dolls, and of course, talking about things that
Hosting a Fabulous Slumber Party for Girls Read More »
We did it! We survived a road trip with three kids. From Denver to St. Louis, we drove and drove and drove. Fourteen hours in the car with three boys ranging in age from five to fourteen, I thought it was going to prove more difficult than it was. I had a secret weapon, though.
Five Road Trip Toys for Special Needs Kids Read More »
As Phineas and Ferb famously sing: There’s 104 days of summer vacation And school comes along just to end it So the annual problem for our generation is finding a good way to spend it… And though we won’t be building a rocket or fighting a mummy, we have 80+ days to fill with fun.
What’s on Your Summer Bucket List? Read More »
Nothing screams SUMMER quite like a slick plastic water slide in the backyard on a hot and steamy day. And while the store-bought Slip ‘n Slides are great fun, this year my boys and I decided to take just a little extra time, hit the hardware store for some simple supplies, and create a much
How to Make a Simple Homemade Slip ‘n Slide Read More »
I have a tween that is too cool for everything, and I’m starting to think that includes playing. These days it seems all he wants to do is lounge around or sit in front of a computer. Each day we have the same conversation. He’s capped at two hours per day on the computer, a
I know as busy parents it can be hard trying to juggle family and career while also fitting in some “you” time. These days, we are all plugged in 24/7 to technology. Phones, laptops, notebooks, DVRs, and such rule our world. There’s so much going on and so much to do! But recently I was
Fall Back in Love with Playtime Read More »
In the realm of party planning, 1st birthdays can be an overwhelming occasion. For some, the thought of having a party for a baby who won’t remember anything seems pointless. For others, celebrating that one-year milestone is just another happy reason to gather family and friends and make a day of it. Whether it’s big
Planning Baby’s Candy Land 1st Birthday Read More »
Like most parents, I was looking forward to my son’s 1st birthday. My wife and I had gone back and forth about theme, size of party, food, and everything else. About 90 days out we became overwhelmed with the process. We had gone from a mini mogul/Monopoly theme to just a simple cookout in the
Birthday Party-Planning Tips from a First-Time Dad Read More »
May has always been one of my favorite months of the year. I live in Chicago, the home of the long, cold winter. May means a lot to us all. We’re told not to plant flowers until this month, not to even think of putting away winter coats until this month, and to hold tight
Spending Summer Break at Home Read More »
Birthday party planning with three kids—not exactly the easiest task even if the birthdays are spread out throughout the year. For me, my challenges are keeping the birthday party on budget and also coming up with a whole new idea three times each year, every year! My kids have no interest in having the same
Planning a Birthday Party When You Have Multiple Kids Read More »
Okay. So it’s that time of year again to start planning your child’s next birthday party. Of course you want the party to be fun and memorable for everyone who is in attendance. After all, this is an important day to you, your child, and your family. But how do you throw a party that
6 Ways to Throw a Stress-Free Kids’ Birthday Party Read More »
As we endure April showers—and for some, an extended winter—we’ve been getting creative with playtime, quite literally. Boy or girl, baby or big kid, rain or shine, playtime is inherent—especially after a long winter. Beyond the TV and touchscreens, here are some helpful ways to have fun on those rainy days: 1. Be creative Rainy
Time to Play: Entertaining the Kids on Rainy Days Read More »
As a mom of three, there are no shortages of fights, bickering, and finger pointing between my children. My kids mostly enjoy each other’s company, but we have our fair share of not getting along. It’s never the same two fighting against each other, which is somewhat of a relief. And usually, they get along
Time to Play: Tips for Getting Siblings to Play Nice Together Read More »
