November 2009

It’s over the river and through the woods, to grandmother’s house we go…or not. Traveling with kids in tow can be tricky any time of the year, but over Thanksgiving the stakes are even higher. Let’s face it, travel time and traffic figure significantly into the overall holiday enjoyment quotient. Parents…

While the holiday season is an exciting time for children, it may also be a time of anxiety and uncertainty for them. Interacting with unfamiliar people during shopping excursions, visits to Santa Claus, or trips to see their great Aunt Edna whom they barely know can be exhausting for children. So…

When school’s out for the holidays remember “one giant leap for mankind”– the lunar landing of 1969 and take your family on a virtual space flight adventure that’s closer to home than you imagine. Here in Virginia, you can come face-to-face with the technology that led American astronauts to their…

It’s Thanksgiving time again, and I know I speak for every woman in my immediate family over the age of thirteen when I say this: yippee. And while we’re on the subject of cooking. Not long ago, one of my sisters declared that she blames our mom for her own shortcomings…

I think every parent preparing for the arrival of a new baby knows that a certain amount of sleep deprivation is imminent. It’s just part of the deal. When I was pregnant, I had a vague notion that once the baby was born I would be up sometimes during the…

Growing up, I never really enjoyed Thanksgiving all that much. There, I said it. Maybe it’s because my two boys won’t be able to read for a few more years. Maybe it’s because my parents don’t have the Internet and won’t read this unless I mail it to them. Or…

Launch month, as it will forever be known in my household, is behind us. It was a month of weekend events, parties… …and much excitement as we saw the magazine in public for the first time. My 3-year-old can now spot the cover from a mile away. “Look Mommy, your…

Q: My first husband and I are divorced and we both have recently remarried. So, our two kids, 6 and 10, now have two sets of parents. We have very different parenting styles. Would you suggest setting some ground rules about discipline or should we just see what happens? A: Of course,…

1. Sausage and Apricot Stuffing Brown 2 pounds of original sausage in a skillet. Add 2 cups each: chopped celery, chopped yellow onion. Cook until tender. Remove from heat. Add 24 oz. Can of apricot halves (drained and chopped, reserving juice). Add 6 cups of whole wheat bread cubes, 1 tbsp. Apple…

This Thanksgiving, your kids can craft with purpose — knowing that their artwork will be a special part of the holiday feast. Pilgrim hats and Native American headdresses, fall leaves, pumpkins, and of course, turkeys can mark each diner’s special place at the table. These fun place cards can also…