Ask the Parenting Expert
My kids are eleven and thirteen, and they get along pretty well. I think they can stay home alone this summer while I work, but friends and family members have been making me question this decision. What do you think…
7 Tips for Summer Co-Parenting
As June days peel off, we all look forward to summertime when life can be more relaxing and enjoyable. For parents who are separated or divorced, making summer plans for kids can make or break whether everyone has a good…
Speaking Up on Capitol Hill
Often, families who become passionate advocates for a particular cause find their way to action through hardship and suffering. That is definitely the case for Henrico mom Cindy Maynard and her son, Jake. Jake, a 19-year-old freshman at the University…
Let’s Talk About Dads
Do you remember the Huggies Dad Test commercial? People complained, and it was yanked after a few weeks because it portrayed fathers as unable to care for their own babies. This spot I’m thinking about showed a group of dads…
To Beach or Not to Beach
My family is going to the beach this summer. I’m writing it here so it absolutely, definitely happens … maybe. Sharing it here increases the likelihood that we will go to the beach to at least greater than 50 percent. For…
Food Allergy Family Update!
When I was growing up, I had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich nearly every day in my school lunch. Now I teach in a nut-free classroom and meticulously read ingredient labels in the grocery store before putting anything into…
Ask a Parenting Professional
I have a 3-year-old son and a 2-month-old baby. My son was completely potty trained until about a month ago when he insisted on going back to wearing diapers. We gave in, and now wonder if we did the right…
College is Free
I know it’s out here somewhere. The college our daughter has been looking for. And as we make our way down endless highways and byways in search of it, my odometer might as well be racking up dollar signs instead…
What is Mindfulness?
Four years ago, my spiritual journey began when I made the decision to stop drinking and start meditating. Examining what I call my inner landscape led to a compassionate understanding of my authentic self. This soulful encounter transformed my relationship…
The Truth About Turning Eighteen
Being the parent of an 18-year-old is exciting. There’s the planning, helping with school and job applications, and the excitement about college, going to work, or whatever the next stage of life brings. So much changes when kids turn eighteen.…
