May 2013

When spring finally arrived, my family and I were on the hunt for Richmond’s best parks, places to picnic and play and simply enjoy fresh air and sunshine. Our original goal was to find the best playgrounds for our kids, LT, eight, and Sara, six, but we quickly discovered that…

There’s no doubt about it. Technology is a wonderful thing. Kids can text parents when they are ready to be picked up from school, play and learn on iPads during long waits at the doctor’s office, and extended families can see each other while chatting on Skype. But is it…

I like to think I know from beaches. I grew up in California, spent summers in Tahoe, and racked up several dozen sunburns in Hawaii. I thought I would always live on the West Coast – kind of felt stuck to be honest – and wouldn’t see the rest of…

If I dared look back at the three other May Publisher’s Notes I’ve written (I can’t believe it’s been that long!), I’ll bet they say the same thing – this is my favorite month of the year! The weather is warm, but not hot, the April pollen is mostly gone,…

  I just ordered our third wraparound safety net for the trampoline. Last week, I picked up our fourth fade-resistant, no-mold, never break market umbrella at Lowe’s. If it were in the budget, and if anyone could swear to me that we would eat more than a half-dozen meals on…

In 2007, the world celebrated New Year’s Eve without me. I spent the morning with an oncologist trying to absorb his life-changing diagnosis: “You have breast cancer.” What a surprise, since I eat right, exercise regularly, and follow guidelines for good health. And what a way to start the New…

You would think resourceful children born in our digital age would know how to find a simple phone number. But if my kids are any guide, basic skills that were second nature to my kith and kin back when dinosaurs roamed the land are completely lost on the iPad-wrangling, website-wizened,…

My mom is in her seventies, lives alone in an apartment, and recently mentioned she would love to have a companion dog. In determining what breed, size, exercise, and grooming requirements would be best for her in a dog, we also had to think about the expense of it all,…

Cleo Winters is raising three young boys in the City of Richmond. As a mother and pediatrician, she knows how important it is for her children to experience nature and stay active, and she has found a perfect way to provide those opportunities for her sons near their urban home.…

Q  Our four-year-old daughter has a blankie she absolutely cherishes, especially at bedtime. We have a policy of leaving the blanket on her bed in the morning. Lately she has been begging to take the blanket to childcare with her and has even snuck it into her bag a few…

Why do lots of kids think that money grows on trees? Why do some want everything they see? Why are retailers’ shelves at just the right level to annoy me, while my teenager squeals with delight? One reason is that we are created with a selfish nature. The other part…

It’s prom season and teens have found the perfect dress, the perfect shoes, and they are thinking about getting a base tan just to give themselves what some like to call a little color. As a dermatologist, skin cancer surgeon, and mother, I understand the appeal, but parents should take…

Years ago, my husband and I lived next door to a family of avid motorcycle enthusiasts. They had motorcycle-inspired clothing, toys for the kids, and lots of hogs of their own. On warm evenings, they would park the motorcycles on their driveway, polish them, and welcome neighborly conversation pertaining to…

1. South of the Border Breakfast Burritos Why not try a build-your-own breakfast burrito, only at dinnertime, when everyone’s more awake anyway? Start with whole wheat or flavored (like spinach or sundried tomato) fl our tortillas. Warm them by wrapping a few in foil and putting them in a 250°F…

To establish a nature and art connection, take a walk in search of these fabulous creatures, then visit the VMFA and see if you can spot a butterfly in the exhibits. Finish with a crafting session to create a unique butterfly. What you need: Plastic grocery bags Wooden clothespins Pipe…