If we’re being honest, it can be hard at times to stay patient as a parent. It’s not something that we are technically trained to be prepared for, right? There isn’t some magic handbook out there or step-by-step guide…but wouldn’t it be nice if there were? Imagine being able to turn to page 65 in the…
I remember as a kid I had grandiose expectations of what camping would be. Like I didn’t realize just how many bugs would be around me the first time I went or the time I had high hopes to kayak and it didn’t happen. Since a lot of time and effort goes into making family…
Sitting with a group of moms, we started discussing parenting and how involved and uninvolved other moms and dads were in their kids’ lives. We all agreed that we wanted our homes to be where kids would hang out. (On rotation of course). It all stemmed from a discussion about wanting our children and their…
As parents, we aren’t perfect. While we wake up each and every day and want to put our best foot forward, we sometimes end up tripping ourselves in the process even when we try out best to be a positive parent or simply try “better” strategies. Breathe, you aren’t alone in feeling this way. I…
Our family plays games on a regular basis. In fact… almost daily. But when the sun comes out and all the snow thaws, we take those games outside. I have these nostalgic memories of playing croquet in our backyard when I was just 4 and then as a teen literally carrying our pingpong table out…
The first time I heard about cooperative board games, I wasn’t too enthusiastic. You see, both of my parents were physical education teachers… so the competitive spirit is alive and well in my soul. So why would I want to spend my time playing a game where there was no true winner? Or where I had…
Mornings are hectic and stressful, but it’s literally the best time to eat a big meal. It’s also the most important meal of the day because it’s what’s going to give us a kickstart whether headed to school, work, or play. But what about the hectic days when cooking breakfast is just not happening? Check…
Our family had an eye-opening experience this past weekend. We were able to go to the American Museum of Natural History in NYC where they have this new exhibit all about the senses. It was a fascinating display of how we all perceive things differently with our internal senses (cold, hunger, etc) and external senses…
In our house, summertime is a huge deal for gatherings and cookouts. I literally cannot express the excitement that I feel when I think about getting to spend the majority of our time eating in the great outdoors with our family and friends. There’s just something about good food, great conversation, and endless laughs that…
This morning I sat down and mapped out a route and just how long it would take to walk the 2.1 miles to Jenn’s school to pick her up. I thought that maybe since the weather is nicer and because the emotions have been running so high in our home that a quiet walk in…
I still have the blanket that my brother gave me when I graduated high school and the rolling cart for my classroom my mom got me when I finished my undergrad. They were practical graduation gifts that have gotten years of use. Looking at the current needs of kids and young adults, there are some…
I was once told that I would really value my strong willed kids one day, but that it would be hard raising them. But at the time I didn’t realize that strong willed and defiant were not the same thing, even if it was a fine line. I had to come to the conclusion on…