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.
How to Help Your Kids Build a Better BS Detector
BS is all around us. Heres how to prepare your kids to deal with it, without losing their sense of wonder.
Dear Childless Jared: New Dad Answers His Pre-Fatherhood Journal
An excerpt from the journal I kept during my wife's pregnancy, as well as what the current version of me would say to the childless dude who wrote it.
What Happened When I Refused to Let My Son Tell Me How to Wear My Hair
Every time my son tells me he doesn’t like what I’m doing with my hair, it has felt more and more like an opportunity and experiment in resistance.
10 Signs You're an Overprotective Mom
In the last decade, the term “helicopter mom” has risen in popularity. For those not familiar with the moniker, a helicopter mom is one that “hovers.” She is overbearing and way too overprotective....
5 Moms You'll Find at a Fast Food Play Area
Most parents, at one time or another, will be subjected to the horror that is the designated play area of a fast food restaurant. These places always seem to remind me of the zoo, filled with climb...
Be Honest With Your Child About the Tough Stuff
No matter how stable your family is, there will probably come a time when you need to have a tough conversation with your kid.
The Only Way We're Making It Across This Is Together
Someone asked me recently what it’s like to have four kids, and I paused. Answers flew through my head, and none of them felt exactly right.
8 Reasons It’s Okay to Not Work (Even After Your Kids Start School)
If you’re a stay-at-home mom to school-aged children, you may feel like the world is judging you.
I Can't Find Balance, and That's Okay
Our lives are in a constant state of UN-balance. Parenting is not predictable. And that's totally ok.
5 Superpowers That Parents and Teachers Share
After a decade in the classroom, and half a decade mothering, I found these five concepts to hold true on both fronts.
The Time I Had to Break Up With My Daughter’s Best Friend
In my blind willingness to procure a friend for my daughter, I created an odd, unhealthy relationship with a person whom my kid was not particularly fond of
Why I'm Raising My Sons to Be Feminists
As a mother, and as a woman, the idea that my boys might grow up to not care about the challenges another person faces due to their gender pains me deeply.
Should Kids Know the Truth About a Parent's Addiction?
When it comes to addiction, knowledge is power – and hope and healing. Don’t shy away from these conversations.