Conversations

Saying Goodbye to My Dad’s House

Even when it's the most practical option, taking over a parent's space once they're gone isn't always an easy decision.

The Pregnancy Symptom That Rattled Me Most

I’m plagued by another pregnancy symptom that I never experienced before, but that I’ve learned is quite common: nightmares.

How Service Jobs Can Make Better People

Few teens will go on to a career in the service industry, these jobs have tremendous value in that they teach important life skills.

Dear Daughter: I Love You, but I May Not Always Like You

I'll love you forever, daughter, but I can't promise to always like you.... Now, before you go put your "kids are a blessing" pants on, stick with me.

All Grown Up, and How Motherhood Got Me There

Motherhood has changed me in countless ways. Today, I want to focus on the good ways.

Kid Made Recipe: Pizza Dough Pretzels

Fresh, hot, soft pretzels at home? Easy peasy! And with ready made dough, you can make these for an afternoon snack!

Embrace the Stink: Lessons From a Decade of Motherhood

Ten years and four babies and two houses and one marriage and so many small gains and a new job and always, like a constant backdrop – everything changing.

6 Ridiculously Awesome Science Experiments to Do With Your Kids This Weekend

Here are six really fun experiments you can do with your kids, no matter their age.

Beware the Little Healers

A word of warning to anyone tempted to raise kids: Beware the little healers; their powers are subtle but strong.

Do You Use a Cart Cover? It’s Full of Bacteria

How much health risk is actually posed by a shopping cart? And can a cart cover minimize that risk?

The Parenting Superpower You Didn’t Know You Had

Relationships matter. That being case, the relationship between a parent and child matters more.

The 10 Crappiest Parents in Literature

Put down that copy of “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” and take a look at these reads for tips on what NOT to do when it comes to parenting.

How to Respond to Children in a Way That Helps Them Feel Heard

We all like to live in a democracy, yet at times, we expose our children to a tyranny of sorts. The other day, my nine-year-old son threw a tantrum, demanding to know why I didn’t allow him to go s...

Boredom: the Best Gift I Ever Gave My Children

The benefits of boredom for kids (and adults, for that matter) are numerous: creativity, emotional attunement, and overall mental health.

How to Make a Mom Friend in Nine Easy Steps

Being a mom can be lonely. Which is weird, because you’re often literally covered in children.

Five Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me About Weaning

Weaning isn’t merely the cessation of breastfeeding, it’s a major shift in a complicated parent-child relationship.

The Honest Truth About Food Costs in This Country

If we just planned our food budgets better, we could all allegedly spend less money and get better quality food at the same time. But is that really true?

People Sure Do Love A Good Placenta

My mind is blown over some of the things that people make out of their placenta.

Things Will Feel Wrong, but You're Doing it Right

When the house is a mess and you haven't had time to collect all the toys and their missing pieces, but you decide to just say screw it and watch LMN because the kid is finally asleep, you're doing...

What Betsy DeVos (and Education Policymakers) Should Know About How Kids Learn

Our current system of educating our youngest kids is not working, and it absolutely does need a serious shakeup.

How to Get a Compliment, Fast!

You know getting compliments is good for your kids, so why not for you, too?

Unleash the Hidden Power of Laughing With Your Kids

Whether we are feeling anxious about current affairs or dealing with a health issue, laughter, believe it or not, can help us persevere.

The Unflinching Mother vs. the Unblinking Sentinel

I did crafts, made cupcakes, helped with homework, ran baths and read bedtime stories all those times they couldn’t.