May 2019

Whether it’s rock-and-roll, hip-hop, country, or classical, everyone has their favorite tastes in music, with certain songs evoking memories of special times with family and friends. A shared appreciation for music can create a lasting bond for moms and dads and their children in particular. Music is an integral part…

My family has been enjoying one of Virginia’s gorgeous parks  for years – hiking the trails of York River State Park and canoeing its river. When my children were young, they attended summer camps there to study native plants and animals. Located eleven miles west of Williamsburg, it allows visitors…

A special item stands out among the work-related papers on Hoda Kotb’s desk at NBC – a Virginia Tech onesie. The co-host of NBC TODAY is not only the proud mom of toddler Haley Joy and newly adopted infant Hope Catherine, but also a proud Hokie. “Virginia Tech was such…

“The funniest thing happened today!” She said it with a nervous giggle. I had just started using full-time childcare for my firstborn, who I was picking up after a day at the office. A lovely and enthusiastic twenty-ish woman plucked my Sam from a hill of blocks and delivered her…

Our families are pulled in so many directions – jobs, school, activities, and day-to-day responsibilities. In the middle of it all, we want to build meaningful relationships with our children and spend quality time together. Setting family goals can help enhance that together time. My kids are nine and thirteen,…

I suppose if it weren’t for the toilet that wouldn’t flush all those years ago, I wouldn’t be the married man I am today or living the life I’m living today.  But thank you, God, for that commode. The raven-haired beauty who lived in the apartment just down the way…

This is one of those pinch me issues, and after ten years of doing this, I still often don’t believe this is my life, and that the amazing RFM team and I get to bring this magazine to the masses each month – for a living! And this month, we’re…

Though tobacco is widely credited as Richmond’s founding industry, a second and lesser-known industry proved to be just as important to the city’s development and success. The first flour milling operation – belonging to William Byrd – was established here as early as 1732.  The falls of the James River…

Teaching your kids the value of sunscreen from day one and make sun safety part of your family wellness ritual. Now that spring is morphing into summer and the weather is consistently warmer, you’ll want to take your family outside to places like Maymont, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, City Stadium…

Every day, Americans are inundated with approximately 4,000 media messages. Many of the messages target our kids with distorted ideas about how they should look and act. Kids of all ages and adults often perceive messages and images on social media as authentic, rather than taking into account that many…

Join Conversations with CKG for a special Zoom chat about mental wellness and mindfulness. Thursday evening at 5:00 p.m., chat about the perspective mindfulness can bring, especially as we navigate the challenges of the pandemic. Zoom link Zoom Meeting ID: 932 934 7001   _______________________________________________________________ Highlighting Progress for Families in…

There are many ways you can express your opinions and values in 2019. Did you know you can express your values in the way you invest your money as well? Perhaps you’ve heard of socially responsible investing, or ESG investing (environmental social governance), and thought it was only for people…

While the kitchen was once considered a workspace, hidden in the rear of a house, it’s now become a gathering place – a central area where friends and family congregate for cooking, eating, and often, craft time and family game night. With everyone now spending a lot more time in…

  Here’s a fun collaborative project for families with kids of different ages and abilities. Brainstorm on different animals and zoo components, then create a play set out of materials found around the house and in the recycling bin. Visit the Metro Richmond Zoo or the National Zoo in Washington,…

Electronic cigarettes – known as e-cigarettes – are the most commonly used tobacco product among youth. Why are e-cigarettes so popular with young people? There are two main reasons: the taste of flavored e-cigarettes (menthol, candy, fruit, chocolate, alcohol, etc.) and the misconception that this product is less harmful than…

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America just released its list of the most challenging cities in America for spring allergy sufferers, and Richmond came in tenth. Chances are, you’re not surprised by that. I know I’m not.  For millions of Americans, allergies negatively affect quality of life. Spring allergies…

When our kids are little, sleeping and eating are usually the main things with which parents concern themselves. As they grow into curious and mobile toddlers, discipline inches up to the top of that list. It can be confusing if you do not have a plan for discipline – or…