3 Parenting Philosophies Perfected by Rural America
My folks grew up in rural America. Together they raised six kids and promptly booted them into independent adulthood upon graduation from high school. They parented us with an effortless...
Why I Keep Saying No
“Mommy, you’re mean.” This has been a regular phrase in my household lately, and to be honest, it makes me want to do whatever the kid saying it wants so...
Finding Joy in Our Children’s Obnoxious Stages
by Maureen Zhao
I love my son. I know I don’t need to start off by saying that, but obviously I have some lingering guilt in regards to the subject I’m writing about,...
Texted Tips Help Families Turn Everyday Moments into Early Learning Opportunities
In the middle of that chaotic wonderland known as parenting, advice and expectations are thrown at you from all corners of the ring. Knowing who to listen to is one...
Cabin Fever Remedies
Dear Cabin Fever – I admit, you are real. You are not like Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, unicorns…or other mythical concepts like multiple kids napping at...
When Mom Gets Benched
I really don’t want to come off as a bragger, but I’m kind of a pro at this whole parenting thing. For almost half a decade I’ve been with my...
Diary of a Plus Size Mom
by Erin Statz
I sometimes struggle with my body image. In my 33 years of life, I have seen bodies constantly judged near and far including my own. In my case, always being...
A Mother’s Valentine
I don’t want a fancy gift for Valentine’s Day. I don’t need a dinner out or a night at a hotel. Diamonds and jewelry just don’t speak to my heart....
Family Fun at Mont du Lac Resort
by Karri Larson
The older my kids get, the more I look for opportunities to keep them off of their phones and social media. Its seems the lure of the phone is almost...
Finding Love in the Chaos
Do you ever marvel at all the time you and your partner had before you were parents? There was time to focus on each other. To go on spontaneous dates,...
Date Your Kids
With three kids under four, my days tend to blur together. Mornings into afternoons, tantrums into snuggles. I frequently float through my days feeling I haven’t done much beyond prepare...
Dialing Ethiopia: The Day I Called My Daughter’s Birth Mother
by Amber Harder
I suppose the journey to be in contact with our child’s birth mother started even before we were matched with our daughter. It was in the early days when whispers...
New Year, New Habits: Making College Savings Easy
by Liz Murray
It’s that time of year. Time to build better habits — including, perhaps, healthier financial habits. Time to reassess your priorities for the coming year. And time to finally knock...
Thoughts While Doing Laundry
My husband and I have worked out a wonderful system of household chore distribution that works well for us. We each know who is responsible for what, and mostly, it...