Storytelling: The Punk Rock of Parenting
Free, authentic, real parenting can be found in the punk rock of our time: storytelling. So get wild and tell your child a story.
The juniper plant is impossibly resilient, just like my impossible baby.
My Son Put a Sheep’s Eye in His Lunchbox
There are moments in motherhood we simply never forget: the first time our child smiles, the first time he takes a step, her very first day of school, the first time he brings home a sheep’s eye in...
Daddy’s the Best and You’re Not
Parenting can both inflate the ego and then, often seconds later, squash it like a blueberry underfoot.
Five things dysfunctional parents teach their kids (by omission)
Being raised by neglectful parents has its upsides, I guess. I had to learn these things on my own and it made me who I am.
The Day My Kid-holding Arm Failed: A Lesson in Cradling
My left side, for about six years, has been busy holding – hearing, soothing, processing – a child.
You Don’t Need to Clean the Family Room Tonight – Promise!
You might not know this, but if you don’t clean up your family room tonight, guess what? Nothing will happen.
5 Ways Acting Like a Dad Will Make You a Rock Star Mom
At some point in our parenting journey, I stopped bitching at my husband to be more like me as a parent and started learning from him instead.
What You Need to Know About Giving Your Children Allowance
70 percent of kids get some kind of allowance nowadays. If you’re considering giving an allowance to your kids, here are some basic things to consider:
10 Ways to Raise Extraordinary Human Beings
Here are 10 things we can do to raise extraordinary human beings, who recognize their own strengths and know how to use them.
How Parents Can Challenge Their Children with Stretch Goals
I love challenging my kids to do better and be better. I do it all the time. I think part of me has developed it into a little mental game, a satisfying mom challenge.
How to Raise an Open-Minded Child
Open-mindedness is hard, especially in this era of intense political polarization. But raising our kids to think that way benefits everyone.
What Children Overhear Matters Now More Than Ever
Things are happening in the world right now, and we can get so caught up in it that we may not notice how it’s affecting our children.
How to Build a Solid Framework For Raising a Responsible Kid
Parents can take a positive, supportive approach by fostering these three major components of responsibility.
How to Strengthen A Child’s Character Through Empathy
Empathy rarely requires rules be changed, expectations be lowered, or concessions be made for a child.
That Time My Birth Plan Went Flying out the Window
Like many moms, I had a birth plan, but that plan went flying out the second story hospital window
How to Teach Your Kids About Civic Responsibility
Sometimes we need a shake up to wake up. How can we use this time to teach our children the importance of civic engagement?
How to Be A Kid With Your Kid (and Not Have to Steal Their Coloring Books)
Childhood is the coolest. That’s why we want ours back. But we also want to protect our kids’ childhood.
Perhaps I should feel badly about lying to those I love so dearly, but the truth is, I don't feel badly at all. In fact, they get me through most days.
The Best Way to “Go Green?” Go Outside.
Even with the “greening” of parenthood, helping children form an actual connection to nature is often overlooked.
Teaching Children to Appreciate Quiet in A Noisy World
In a world where being loud is lauded, let’s teach our children the beauty of quiet and stillness.
Can Teaching Kids Mindfulness Replace Discipline?
Traditional punishments like detention and suspension are often ineffective. Some schools are turning to meditation and mindfulness and seeing real results.
3 Strategies for Being Genuinely Present with Your Family Even on the Busiest Days
Rather than relying on inner zen to slow down and connect with my kids, I rely on a few strategies that seem to always work for us.
How to Help Your Kids Understand the Ugly Truth About Photoshop
We're all bombarded with images of men and women – famous or not – who look perfect. It's important to teach kids about the reality behind the images that surround them.