RFM October 2013 Issue

If you're looking for a family getaway that has equals parts entertainment, history, and outdoors activities, look no further than Abingdon, Virginia. This past month, looking over the shoulder of my youngest as she prepared for a fifty states map quiz, it became clear how far we had journeyed for…

From bending down to put the baby into the crib to toting around a carseat, grocery bags, and backpacks, the strain on our backs is a real pain. Last year, when I was teaching an occupational therapy class about ergonomics, a quick show of hands revealed that most of my…

One night during dinner, a family talk about service took an unforeseeable twist. The discussion went like this: “I want to help others, but I don’t want the teacher to see,” my 6-year-old said. I glanced at my husband, realizing our intended topic had headed in a very different direction.…

From bending down to put the baby into the crib to toting around a carseat, grocery bags, and backpacks, the strain on our backs is a real pain. Last year, when I was teaching an occupational therapy class about ergonomics, a quick show of hands revealed that most of my…

Back to school we went, and the shorter, crisp fall days have arrived in Richmond. To wrap up some of the excitement I shared with you from our last few months… yes, as if on cue, my littlest guy’s cast came off the Friday before Labor Day, just in time…

Halloween is the ultimate kids-will-be-kids holiday. It offers no social redemption, except perhaps the remote possibility of teaching your child how to say thank you – like she means it – before she bolts down the steps and across the neighbor’s newly seeded lawn to the next front porch where…

Fall means back-to-school and for many high school juniors and seniors, the anxiety of taking the PSAT and the dreaded SAT. I watched my two sons navigate this minefield before heading off to Wake Forest University. My background as an educator and director of Virginia’s oldest test preparation program made…

I am writing this column from the intersection of Competitiveness and Fair Play. It’s kind of lonely here. It’s always been a tricky intersection to find. Sure, the parenting experts all talk about it, and some even claim to offer a map to help you find it, but far too…

Clementines, cucumbers, mini-carrots, and apples served at after-school activities; kids participating in organized activities during recess; a child riding a stationary bike while reading in class. Lofty goals or reality? “This is the kind of energy we’re trying to bring to Richmond’s kids by increasing physical activity and healthy eating,”…

Q. My 3-year-old is having major temper tantrums when he is told “no.” He yells at us, throws things, and sometimes tells us to shut up. We have tried time-out and have threatened to spank him, but haven’t done this yet. We just can’t seem to control his anger. What…

Acupuncture is an ancient medical therapy that involves the insertion of small, sterile needles into specific points along the body. Now if you are thinking, Sure, my cat will sit still for that considering she hangs off the ceiling just for a vaccine! You are not alone. When I first…

When I was fourteen years old, our neighbor’s cat started doing something that really got under my dad’s skin. Nightly, the crafty little fellow would sneak up on my dad’s beloved Saab convertible to sharpen his claws on one section of the car cover my dad so diligently used. And…

According to data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), teen drivers are the highest risk demographic on the road.Their inexperience means there’s a greater chance that they will be involved in a traffic accident, which means much higher car insurance premiums. So how do you insure your teenage…

Studies show that practicing yoga can help improve flexibility, strength, posture, breathing, and heart health. It can also help control stress, and perhaps the best news of all is this: Yoga can help put you in a better mood. Fitness regulars always stretch at the end of a workout, but…

Many artists work with fabric as a means of creative expression. Use your powers of creativity to make a superhero cape and let your imagination soar!         What you need: • Fabric (bed sheet, tablecloth, extra large t-shirt, apron, etc.) • Fabric shears or good-quality scissors • Ribbon…

Name something we all want more of and can’t seem to find, especially when it comes to making a meal for the family. Time – that’s what! There’s planning, prep, and of course, execution. And wouldn’t it be nice to enjoy a few extra minutes at the table enjoying the…