BIG THINGS are coming August 1st! Check back then to see what's new.
BIG THINGS are coming August 1st! Check back then to see what's new.
BIG THINGS are coming August 1st! Check back in then to see what's new 👀
BIG THINGS are coming August 1st! Check back in then to see what's new 👀
BIG THINGS coming on August 1st! Check back with us then to see what's new 👀
BIG THINGS coming on August 1st! Check back with us then to see what's new 👀
The Impact of Parents Arguing in Front of Kids
My husband and I had a little argument last week. It wasn’t a big deal, just one of those everyday disagreements. But you know what? Our four-year-old reacted in a surprising way. He saw us arguing and got upset. So upset, in fact, that he pretended to punch my husband. When we asked him what…
Screen Time, Childhood, and Our Future
As my oldest child approaches his fifth birthday, I find myself reflecting on the challenges of raising kids in today’s world. From the moment he was born, I’ve been mindful of how much time he spends in front of screens. It’s not easy in a world where screens are everywhere – TVs at grandma’s, FaceTime…
Parents Should Have Hard Conversations With Young Children
“Momma, when you die and I don’t have a Momma anymore, can I go live with Nana and Poppy?” my four-year-old asked nonchalantly last Saturday. “Well, if anything happens to me and your dad, you can certainly live with Nana and Poppy. What made you ask that question, bug?” I said blindsided. “People die. And,…
Beyond Reading: A New Way to Increase a Toddler’s Vocabulary
A recent study is changing the game for parents of young children. Reading has long been hailed as the number one way to increase a toddler and preschooler’s vocabulary and language skills and set the stage for academic success, social interactions, and life in general. But, there’s a new tactic rising to the top of…
Quality Time with Grandparents Matters Most
My grandmother passed away last week. She was 85, and her health had been slowly declining for a few years. But it didn’t make the news any easier to hear when she passed. When I was growing up, I spent a lot of time with my grandma. Sometimes it was because my parents were working…
What to Do About Perfectionism in Parenting
The first time my four-year-old son wrote his name at pre-school, I faced a parenting moment I didn’t expect. When I arrived for pick-up, he ran down the hall yelling, “Mom! I wrote my name! Mom! I wrote my name! You’re going to love it!” I scooped him up as he shared his most treasured…
How Parenting Style Predicts Teen Mental Health
Parenting is a complex reality where influence meets responsibility. Parents shape a child’s present and future. After recent surges in adolescent mental health problems and suicide, the nation’s leading public health authorities have declared an emergency. Gallup, a global analytics and advisory firm, launched a study in the summer of 2023 to better understand the…
From Two-Parent Households to Two-Household Children
The well-known statistic still rings true: about half of all first-time marriages in the United States end in divorce. This stat increases in likelihood of subsequent marriages, reaching 70% for third-time marriages, according to a research-based article released by Forbes earlier this year. 61% of dissolved marriages involve children under the age of 18 living…
What are Generational Cycles, and Why Do They Matter?
The phrases “generational cycle” and “cycle breaker” have recently become large parts of the conversation about family health. Searches for “generational cycle breaker” have increased by 180% in the past year on platforms like Google and YouTube. What is a “generational cycle?” We’ve all recognized this dynamic with physical qualities and attributes. “She has her…
Parenting is Different Today, and That’s Okay
A couple of years ago, my two-year-old son and I spent a day swimming at my Mom and Dad’s house. We went inside to eat lunch. Within seconds, I turned around to see my toddler standing on a chair, reaching down into a fish tank with one of his stuffed animals. “Fishies need friends,” he…
What You Need To Know About Teens and Screen Time
You’ve probably heard some alarming numbers about how much time teens spend in front of screens. (Anywhere from 7 to 12 hours a day, according to various studies.) More than that, you’ve witnessed it firsthand. How do you talk to your teen about screen time limits, and what should those limits look like? Let’s lay…
How to Nurture Your Child’s Mental Health
“Mom, I don’t want to go to school today. I’m not good at writing letters. Some of my friends are better than me,” my almost 4-year-old told me with tears in his eyes. This was the first time he ever told me he didn’t want to go to preschool. It was certainly the first time…
When it Comes to Parenting, Quality Matters More than Quantity
My son was born four years ago. I took a three month maternity leave and eased my way back into work, a luxury many parents do not have. I remember calling my sister-in-law one night (who is also a working mom) and sobbing to her about my life. I’m a horrible mom. My son is…
TIPS FOR STAYING MOTIVATED AS A PARENT
Four Reasons Dad is Crucial to a Child’s Life
My husband bathes our son and gets him ready for bed almost every night. He also feeds him breakfast and gets him prepared for school most mornings. While I cook dinner or finish some last-minute work tasks, my husband will take our son to the park to kick the soccer ball or engage in his…
10 Tips for Managing Screen Time During The School Year
We live in a digital world, so screens are a huge part of our everyday lives. And with school back in session, kids use screens more frequently during the day. Managing screen time during the school year is a big deal for all of us. And since we all spend a lot of time with…
7 Ways To Deal With Adult Children Who Make Poor Decisions
As you were raising your children you emphasized the importance of treating each other with respect, making wise choices and doing the right thing. So, why do your adult children make poor decisions? Seriously, let’s be honest. As a parent, it’s sometimes hard not to experience anger, perhaps some guilt and even resentment toward your…
What Is Love-Bombing? (And How To Tell If It’s Happening To Your Teen)
There’s been a lot of social media buzz lately about a practice that is impacting teens and young adults. It’s called “love-bombing.” This term may be new to you, but the concept will sound familiar. A 2017 University of Arkansas study described love-bombing as “excessive communication during the early stages of a relationship to gain…
What To Do When Your Spouse Is A Bad Parent
Parenting has evolved since I was a kid. But not necessarily because of cultural shifts as much as access to information. Research, blogs, and social media have made it easy to access information about how our parenting impacts kids. This information can help us to better understand the long-term impact of our parenting. It also…
10 Tips for Surviving Summer Break
After a long 10 months, many parents (and kids) are ready to walk away from the usual school-year routines. Who wouldn’t want a break from alarm clocks, the morning sprint, evenings filled with homework, school projects and a set bedtime?While this break from the school routine sounds great, most people are creatures of habit who like to have order in their world – even children. Though they may complain about structure, children are used to routines and rituals.