It’s a Wonderful Life
“He didn’t want to miss out.” About this time last year, Adam Oakes, a student at VCU, died of alcohol poisoning after drinking a 40-ounce bottle of whiskey at an off-campus party. On the local news, I heard one of…
5 Signs You’re Trying to Be a Good Parent
Am I a good parent? Maybe not perfect. But at least good? Every parent asks this question at least once, more likely every day. Your child’s answer may vary widely depending on when you last let her have dessert. Your best friend…
Open Heart and Open Home!
My family’s caregiving journey for an older adult began some thirty years ago when my father died unexpectedly. In her sixties, my mom was thrust into a dynamic situation of caring for a home, cars, and a yard, and it…
Celebrating the Holidays with Kids
If you’re anything like me, you’ve barely managed to put your Halloween decorations back in the attic (or perhaps they are still on the porch – shhh, I won’t tell anyone), and you are already feeling the pressures associated with…
Sibling Rivalry and Acknowledging Pronouns
My six- and eight-year-old daughters fight constantly. Do you have any strategies to help me help them get along better? Unfortunately, constant sibling quarrels are extremely common. The good news is that children in the six-to-eight age range can start…
Un-Stuffing the Holiday Season
As weird as the holiday season was last year – no meals out, no shows or movie theaters, no big family gatherings, no church service on Christmas Eve – I have to admit, paring back the shopping was kind of…
Here’s to the Holiday You Have
We did it! We made it to another holiday season. We survived Halloween and another election, and we are pointed squarely in the direction of Thanksgiving. The days have now grown shorter. It’s time for the extroverts to connect with…
5 Ways to Support Young Athletes
Watching your child’s athletic aspirations evolve from a distant dream to an attainable reality is a goal many parents have for their young athlete. The intensity of sports at the middle and high school level has increased exponentially over the…
The Truth About Kids and Phones
My 11-year-old is starting middle school and many of his friends have smartphones. I have heard some schools have policies about keeping phones out of the classroom, but I’m not sure about ours. Should we get him the phone? Are…
Why We All Need Halloween
“Butterfingers are my life.” Our middle daughter, the child who teachers often described as an old soul in elementary school and who in young adulthood still has a somewhat tenuous relationship with smiling, made this statement one Halloween. My husband…
