January 2012

Yes, it’s about two hours from Richmond to Portsmouth, Virginia. Yes, road-tripping to the beach with the kids in the dead of winter seems a little crazy. But the good news is once you arrive at the Children’s Museum of Virginia, you’ll be glad you made the trip. The better…

Since I started blogging at Parenting by the Book for Richmond Family Magazine, I have read twenty-four titles from experts on everything from our kids’ disconnect with nature to the importance of putting your marriage first. While trying to stay current on the latest and greatest, I’ve run into some…

She may be the author of two books and the past host of the PBS television series “Hannah, Help Me!” but those noteworthy accomplishments take a backseat to Hannah Keeley’s family. The mother of seven made a definitive choice years ago to honor her role as matriarch of the Keeley…

From the growing up file, I have two vivid memories of corporal punishment on the home front. Not to bore you with details, but there was a smack! from my mother and a swat! from my dad. Both were delivered impulsively; both were deserved – if a 5-year-old can make…

If you are reading this column, there is a good chance that you are a dad. Or, maybe you are pondering fatherhood and have landed here hoping for insight. Maybe you are wondering: Do I even belong in the DadZone? Upon initial consideration, the answer seems to be straightforward. But,…

Of course, what New Year’s greeting would be complete without a quick recap of the year that was? Everyone at Richmond Family Magazine agrees that 2011 rocked for one very important reason – okay, more like tens of thousands of reasons – readers like you! Month after month, you picked…

I’m part of a growing demographic: the stay-at-home dad. That’s right. I’m male, educated, and my job description includes grocery shopping, potty training, diaper changing, and meal making. Technically, I’ve got that label other males of the species aren’t exactly fighting over – homemaker. I have done this willingly –…

David Williams of Richmond, founder and executive director of DLW Veterans Outreach & Training Center, believes in veterans, and wants to share as many of their success stories as he can. “One of our best outcomes involves a homeless female veteran who was on the streets for three years. We…

A friend of mine did an amazing thing. At the age of 42, she agreed to be a surrogate for her sister, who was unable to get pregnant. The sister had her eggs harvested, fertilized by her husband’s sperm, and then implanted into my friend, the surrogate. Nine months later,…

Q: My son is a sophomore. While his grades are fair, mostly Cs and Bs, he seems to lack motivation. I still need to monitor his homework and we seem to argue all the time about electronics. I think he would be on the computer all day if we let him.…

The average American gains six pounds in the six weeks that span the holiday season. Whether or not you consider yourself a resolution person, now is a good time to read a few simple but practical suggestions for getting rid of these unwanted pounds. Exercise does not cause weight loss. You…

While away a snow day creating a light and lovely lantern inspired by Japanese art. Just like snowflakes, no two lanterns are alike. Artists can elaborate, adding their own fancy designs.   What you need: Sheet of 8 1/2 x 11 white paper Duct tape Hole punch 2-ft. length of…

Not many college students would allow their fathers to tag along on spring break, let alone lobby for it. But that’s exactly how things played out last year for Carrie Wortham and her dad. Carrie, a 22-year-old biology major at Virginia Military Institute, had long admired her father, Edwin Wortham…

Diabetes is sneaky. For most, it starts with seemingly simple and harmless symptoms. Unusual thirst or hunger. Frequent urination. Slightly blurry vision. None of us would be particularly frightened by these common signs, but together or alone, they can be red flags of a frightening disease. A growing epidemic in…

When Liz and her husband decided to start a family, every month without a pregnancy brought new disappointment and more doubt. “Why is this happening to us? I know we would be good parents. Why is it so easy for our friends and other family members to get pregnant?” says…

As an orthopedic specialist and avid golfer all-too familiar with elbow and shoulder pain, I have to admit I added rotator cuff tendonitis to my own chart a number of years ago. But the truth is, whether you’re in all-pro shape to begin with, or somewhat off your game from…

Working alongside doctors, medical experts, and other nurses for nearly thirty years, the insight I’ve gleaned into health and wellness could fill a book. A really big one. Instead, I’m passing along some of that useful info right here to help folks safely navigate through another cold and flu season.…

Perhaps winter is a good time to take our ears a little more seriously. They’re complex structures, after all, that manage hearing, balance, and pressure in our faces and heads. The moving parts in the middle ear transmit sound; the circulating fluid in the inner ear helps you maintain balance;…

Imagine your back is like a fine watch with many moving parts. Your spine has 24 vertebrae attached to the pelvis at the bottom and the skull at the top. There are spongy discs between every two vertebrae, working as cushions. There are twelve sets of ribs, your breastbone (sternum),…