Parenting Advice
I feel like my whole day at home with my 2-year-old revolves around food. What’s a good snacking strategy? Should I wait until he acts hungry, or schedule a time for a healthy snack? For a 2-year-old, food is a…
Raising Readers?
Summer reading. Two words that virtually guarantee eye-rolling from my two stubborn boys. When that final bell rings on the last day of school this month, all Brady and Eli want to think about is pool time, hanging out with…
Multichannel Tocodynomometer
Over the years, a lot of people have asked me how I came up with the strange and wonderful things I’ve said. Colorful, connective images, jokes, and metaphors that usually bring an equal fraction of laughter and furrowed brows.…
The Big Apple and Your Family
Bad parent confession: We have never visited New York City as a family. Full disclosure: This bothers me more than it does my husband. With three children separated in age by six years, top to bottom, taking a bite out…
Celebrate Good Times!
Don’t you just love a big family wedding? “Absolutely!” says my nephew, when the minister asks if he takes this woman to be his lawfully wedded wife. His answer is loud and clear, and the entire assembly chuckles softly and…
Parenting Toddlers and Teens
Things disappear when my 13-year-old son’s friend visits our house, and I don’t know how to handle it. I am convinced this boy is stealing things from our home. I’m talking about little things, but it only happens when he…
Meet Youth Advocate Sophia
Late one Tuesday afternoon, in a stuffy committee room filled with lobbyists and legislators on the ninth floor of the General Assembly building, an enthusiastic voice rang out: “Woo-hoo for the bill!” Needless to say, this is not the type…
Lawmaking Update for RVA
If you got a little lost in all the media coverage about the General Assembly dealing with hospitals, guns, and judge appointments during the session that wrapped up mid-March, that’s certainly understandable. It happens every year. The hot-button issues take…
