Children need love and attention from their parents, but having two or more children can pose a challenge for moms and dads to spread the warmth evenly. My four year old and seven year old are completely different little people. I love them both immensely, but my relationship ...read more
Fred Rogers’ words on the many ways one can be a good neighbor continue to resonate today – social emotional lessons remain at the core of his original mission. National Neighbor Day is Saturday, Sept. 28, and it's a great opportunity to talk to kids about kindness, empathy, and ...read more
The second a sibling arrives home, the family dynamics are forever changed. How these developing humans get along with each other significantly depends on several factors including genetics, the environment they are raised in, role modeling of parents, and the general ...read more
If April flowers bring May showers, we should be reaping the rewards any day now. And dryer, sunnier, warmer weather can't come soon enough. I don't know about you, but I'm desperate for some Vitamin D and Vitamin Sea! I had a baby six weeks ago--so I'm finally emerging from my ...read more
About 10 percent (6.1 million) of women in the United States between the ages of 15 and 44 have difficulty getting or staying pregnant, and the psychological toll can be great. Infertility can be a lonely and challenging journey. Women struggling to get pregnant may consider ...read more
Spring is right around the corner. Just like a thorough home spring cleaning can get the household set up for success, your budget can also benefit from an annual refresh and update. Use this time to evaluate and plan to ensure that you are on track for the year ahead. Here are a ...read more
I get it, mama. The day-to-day jobs of mommyhood aren't glamorous or even particularly fun. It's easy to get swept up in the monotony of routine and ritual and frustration and exhaustion. And, the truth is, despite your potential lack of patience (because, yes, we have all been ...read more
Having a pet is a big responsibility. I begged and begged my parents to get me a puppy when I was a kid, and it took years to finally convince them. They waited until I was older and more mature; ready to help with the day-to-day tasks of caring for a furry friend. February is ...read more
Sometimes you need to get out of your house, out of your head, and out of the norm of your everyday life. It's a break, a breather, and a much-needed respite for moms, . For a few weeks, I had been feeling stuck in the humdrum. I was getting frustrated with the routine of ...read more
The ASPCA estimates that 78 million dogs are owned in the United States and that about 44 percent of all households have a dog. We've got to imagine that many of those pet-owners will want to go on vacation this summer--maybe even a road trip! Instead of leaving your furry friend ...read more
I grew up going to Disney World and Disneyland on family vacations. Seeing the castle light up, watching the fireworks, and soaking up all the magic. Now, it's time to experience the wonder of Disney through the eyes of my children. Planning a trip to Disney may seem impossible ...read more
1. Foster an “Outside” Connection to Learning Summer is the perfect time to show kids that learning doesn’t just happen at school. And one of the best ways to make at-home learning fun during the summer is to take it outside! You can conduct simple experiments that may be too ...read more
I’m pretty sure no one loves a hotel stay as much as my two little ones. It doesn’t matter where we are or why we’re there—if it has a pool or an arcade, they’re pumped. Heck, if it has an on-floor ice machine, they ’re happy campers. The change of scenery and the novelty of ...read more
We're talking motherhood mantras this week and mine is, and forever will be, it takes a village. And now is as good a time as any to thank your village! We all have a village right? You know what I'm talking about. Your village is made up of the people you can turn to when you ...read more
I went to a birthday party for a one year old at a friend's house a few years back, and was greeted at the door by a passive-aggressive sign that read "No Shoes in the House. Please Wear Socks or Hospital Slippers." (There was a big box of disposable surgical socks free for the ...read more
Shopping for a car as a couple is no easy task. You have to work together, share ideas, mke budgets and plans, give and take, and negotiate to boot. With President's Week (one of the most popular car-buying weeks) approaching, we reached out to Jim Manelis from Chase Auto for his ...read more
A weekend away means a workweek’s worth of preparation. Indeed, packing for a family of four takes time. It takes planning and patience and checklists and perhaps of a glass of wine or two. So when we booked our family’s first ski trip to Vermont (more on Mount Snow coming your ...read more
When the flu hits you or your little one (or both!) it can be daunting to assess which symptoms to address first. When most of us think of flu symptoms we immediately think of a low grade fever, aches and pains and nausea, which may lead to dehydration. Essentially a loss of body ...read more
Tis the season to curl up and cuddle with your cuties and enjoy some seriously deserved down time. The holidays are hectic, and y'all deserve a quiet break, a sweet snuggle, and some holly-jolly magical family moments. This weekend will inevitably be stressful leading up to the ...read more
Tis the season to curl up on the couch with a holiday movie or two. Invite the girls over (or gather your kiddos), pour some wine (or hot chocolate), and nibble on Santa's cookie stash. (We won't tell.) In the spirit of the season, we've rounded up our favorite chick flicks to ...read more
Giving Hugs at the Holidays I admit it, I'm feeling all the feelings of the season. The overwhelming sense to DO IT ALL and the sense that I am doing too much and missing out on the magic. One way to slow it all down and focus on the REAL meaning of the season is to give back. ...read more
Decorating a gingerbread house is one of my children's favorite holiday traditions. I, on the other hand, have never been a huge fan. First, there's all the sugar and candy and frosting and dye. Then there's the fact that the traditional kits are nearly impossible to complete. ...read more
Tis the season to be shopping and spending and stuffing and gifting…. Alas, Mama (AKA Mrs. Claus) doesn’t have the time to run here, there, and everywhere on a crazy Christmas quest to find all the perfect pint-size presents for her crew of impish elves. Indeed, this lady ...read more
My family just got our first real Christmas tree. Now that we're in our own humble home, we wanted to start a new holiday tradition and ditch the faux fir for a pretty pine-scented piece of nature. It was so fun going to the Christmas tree farm and picking out "the one." We've ...read more
