Summer 2020

“Hey! I remember you!” a freshman at the high school where I teach called out to me earlier this year. “Don’t you have a daughter who acts like a cat?” I laughed and nodded. “Yep. That’s Delaney,” I said. “Your daughter and I were both at St. Joseph School last…

It was a gorgeous sunny day for families at Sunset Beach, North Carolina. Last July, Melissa Chase and her two daughters, London and Ruby, ten and seven at the time, were playing in the ocean when Melissa felt something rubbery slide between her legs and knock into her. That knock,…

During a pandemic or a public health crisis, families look to healthcare experts and scientists for guidance. Leaders rise up because of their courage, intelligence, and calm demeanor. Leaders like Danny Avula, the Richmond and Henrico Health Department director. Since early March, Avula has quickly become a household name and…

No one knows this about me. No one in my family, none of my friends, not even my husband. No one knows that I had an accident in a vehicle related to texting. Because I have always been committed to not texting and driving – to the point of being…

Most of us have been stuck at home since March due to the COVID-19 stay-at-home guidelines. And for many, it has been stressful and challenging. Working from home and rarely leaving the house can be difficult for many families who are accustomed to the routine of everyone leaving for their…

For our original spring break, we headed north to show our boys the Big Apple. Unlike other pre-kid trips, we sculpted a precise itinerary. We waited in the Times Square line for Beetlejuice tickets and scooted around the city in cabs. There was the morning spent atop the Empire State…

I am writing this note during a particularly challenging time in our city and our nation’s history. For a while, I was afraid the whole idea of putting out a magazine right now seemed frivolous and out of place. But after reading it from cover to cover, our amazing editorial…

Richmond used to be a city absolutely full of springs. There were springs on Capitol Square, springs at Chimborazo, Forest Hill, and Byrd Parks.  In 1872, a man named W.G. Taylor bought a 40-acre Southside estate named Fonticello. Like a lot of land in the area, this estate had many natural springs,…

Congratulations! You’re pregnant. It’s exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. What can you do to ensure your pregnancy is a healthy one? How will your obstetrician make sure your pregnancy is proceeding normally? There are all kinds of tests we do for exactly those reasons. These include physical exams,…

The COVID-19 pandemic has shed light on the meaning of the word “essential” as it relates to our workforce. From grocery store clerks to delivery workers to healthcare workers, each essential worker is now wearing his or her badge as essential with honor. Virginia went so far as to assign…

Looking for a few silver linings to the COVID-19 pandemic? The health and economic crisis has created some unusual financial planning opportunities you need to know about. Here is a quick round-up of some of the money moves you may only be able to make in 2020.  First, many parents…

With the increased time people are spending on social media and shopping online during the COVID-19 pandemic, scammers have been jumping on their chance to rip off the public.  Father’s Day, graduations, and weddings are also upon us, so it’s not surprising to see more coupons offered for extremely good…

I have always counted on my older kids to take care of my toddler, and because I’m working from home now, that has become even more important. My 13-year-old son is saying he shouldn’t have to take care of his little sister because he’s a boy. I know this is…

Many of us enjoy the soothing rumble of a summer thunderstorm, but for our canine companions, a crack of thunder can elicit an instant state of panic.  The most common examples of noise phobias are thunder and fireworks; nearly half of dogs show a significant fear response to firework noise.…

As the saying goes, It takes a village to raise a child. Darshee Clarke knows this better than most. Born into generational poverty, she has been working her entire life to navigate the complex path out. Her determination is clear: “I have four kids. Failing is not an option for…

When imagining our later years, many envision family by our side. But, with more Americans choosing an independent lifestyle and a growing number of adults living without a spouse or partner, the trend of aging solo is on the rise. In fact, more than 20 percent of adults sixty-five and…

Hurricanes used to sneak up on us. Although some sailors and weather watchers could tell when storms were getting close, for the most part, they were a surprise. Because of that, hurricanes (with maximum sustained surface winds of 74 mph or greater) and tropical storms (with sustained winds ranging from…

Along with the sounds of birds chirping, the clicking of bicycle gears could go down in history as the natural soundtrack of the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether it meant blowing the dust off the old bike in the garage or making an online purchase and a curbside pickup, many families embraced…

Few things have come more sharply into focus for the family than cooking and eating during these last months spent at home. Food comforts us, brings us together, and reminds us of our primal needs. As parents, we have to source food, cook it, and clean up after we eat…