Month: March 2017
Featured
Relationships
School
Make New Friends
The song Make New Friendswas woven into the fabric of my youth by its ubiquity in Girl Scouts. I have always loved the sentiment, which I have always taken to mean older friends are more valuable. As adults, this is so much more important. It’s easy to focus all your time and energy on your […]
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Caregiving
Extended Family
Family
Featured
Grandparents
Do Your Parents Need Help?
It’s a tough subject and one we all struggle with, but unless your parents die young, at some point they will need your help with day-to-day tasks. You probably won’t want to admit it when it first happens, and they almost certainly won’t, but waiting just makes it worse. Age is clearly a factor, but […]
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Featured
Fun and Games
Vehicles
Trains, Trains, and More Trains
When we took our son on his first steam train ride when he was a few months old – to visit the Grand Canyon National Park – we had no idea what we were starting. Naturally, Thomas the Tank Engine was the true gateway to his addiction. For those who don’t know yet, there are many trains on […]
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Architecture
Culture
Featured
Fun and Games
Movies
Second Run Theaters: Oft-Forgotten Gems
Stop paying $15-$20 or more per person to see the newest stereotype-reinforcing pile of poo from the big studios, especially while it’s still new in the theater! You do have other movie choices. Buying, streaming or borrowing DVDs come to mind, but that isn’t the same as seeing something on the big screen. And no, that doesn’t mean […]
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Culture
Featured
Fun and Games
Growing Up
Movies
Social Issues
Make Movie Choices That Don’t Reinforce Racism and Misogyny
Read this article for more complete details, but the simple reality is that when Hattie McDaniels won an Oscar in 1939 for her role in Gone With the Wind, racism was so deeply ingrained in American life, and in every aspect of Hollywood, that the first black winner of an Oscar wasn’t even able to attend the premiere […]
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Ages and Stages
Featured
Little Kids
Preschool
Quick Tips
Short Reads
Travel & Vacation
Stranger Danger: Who to Ask For Help
We all know to teach kids about “stranger danger” when they are little, but do they really know what to do if they need help and they can’t find someone they know and trust? Telling them to “find help” is really easy, but actually talking to an adult and asking them for help is not […]
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Featured
Health and Wellness
Quick Tips
Short Reads
Building Good Dental Habits
Just lay the foundation. That’s all you can do. Do our kids have great technique with brushing and flossing? Honestly, do any kids? My goal has been to make sure they at least brush morning and night and floss every now and then, maybe use some mouth wash. Since they don’t have a lot of cavities, […]
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Ages and Stages
Featured
Fun and Games
Little Kids
Preschool
Travel
Travel & Vacation
Flying with a Toddler
Flying with a toddler is hard! There are no two ways about it, but it doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Other passengers will always run the gamut from understanding, even helpful, to complete jerks. No one thinks it’s fun to fly with a cranky or crying little person, whether it’s your own or someone […]
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Cooking
Cooking and Diet
Featured
Health and Wellness
Travel & Vacation
When was the last time you ate something new?
Kids aren’t the most experimental eaters, generally speaking. Sure, if it’s sugar-coated they’ll go for it, but they tend to stick to their favorites and it’s hard to get them to experiment. But when was the last time you tried something really different? I make a point of eating different foods just to push myself, and […]
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Featured
Health and Wellness
Mental Health
Misplaced Anger
It’s easy to get angry, even very angry, especially when your kids are stepping on your very last nerve. But consider this, especially if you are getting unusually angry: Is that really why you are mad? A lot of times, our anger isn’t about what has happened or even the way other people are reacting, although […]
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