Conversations

Times I Refrained From Telling My Tween Tough Sh*t

Being a tween is more about the attitude – the attitude your child cops when they think they are a teenager but their birth certificate says otherwise.

To the Introverted Mom at Kindergarten Orientation

I saw you staring into space and looking like a lost puppy. I am guessing this is your first time?

Growing Up Happens While You're Watching, Almost in Disbelief

All parents can hope for is to have the opportunity to watch their kids sprout strong legs of independence that will lead them on their own journey.

Lessons on Living Right I Hope to Teach My Daughters

I've learned some lessons and had experiences growing up that I want to share with you when you are able to understand.

I Wore My Wedding Dress to Make Mac and Cheese

Today I was sad. So to cheer myself up, I did what any other sane person would do: I dug my wedding dress out of the attic and wore it while I made dinner.

No, Dads of Daughters Don't Need Shotguns

You've heard it a billion times in reference to our girls. "Oh, better get the shotgun ready!" It's time to think about what we're actually saying.

5 Supernanny Inspired Techniques to Improve Your Family Dynamic

If Supernanny can’t come to your house, try these techniques to help improve your family atmosphere through the use of humor and fun activities.

How to Prevent a Parental Disaster During Your Afternoon Witching Hour

We have all suffered through our children’s witching hour around dinner time (typically between the hours of 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.)...the tantrums, the whining, the arguing. But have you ever stepped b...

My Lifelong Social Anxiety Doesn’t Have to Belong to My Daughter

My lifelong anxiety that hovers like a ghost at the edges of my parenting, always tempting me to manage my overwhelming feelings by overcompensating.

Helping Your Empath Make Their Way in the World Without Putting Them In a Bubble

We don't want to teach kids to be unempathetic, but how do we equip empaths to live in an imperfect world without staying exhausted, stressed, and sad?

Honoring the Sacredness of Your Daughter's First Period

We don’t have to have a party to honor our daughter's first period, but treating it as nonchalantly as a nosebleed misses an opportunity.

Dealing With Your Own Anger: Why Parents Get Angry and How to Cope

Anger is a normal human emotion and actually a very useful one sometimes. The problem is the way we deal with it, especially in front of our kids.

How to Approach Your Kid's Teacher When They Feel Disliked

There’s nothing worse than having your kid come home and say, “My teacher hates me,” but going to the parent-teacher conference afterward is a close second.

Coming to Terms With My Empty Nest

Now I go home and the house is clean, lights aren’t on all over the house, and there are no dirty dishes stacked up in the sick. I miss it all.

Make the Most Out of a Boring Commute By Incorporating Family Time

If you’re a suburban parent, you probably spend a lot of time in the car. If family time is hard to come by, consider incorporating the two.

The Number One Reason for Disconnect in Your Family

Getting through the day often puts the needs of adults at odds with the needs of kids. That can make for a disconnected uphill battle.

My Baby, My Breast: a Parent Knows When Nursing Is No Longer Best

As a new mom who did not successfully breastfeed, I have so often felt like a lesser mother over the past year whenever someone asked me, “Are you still breastfeeding?” Which is usually followed by...

Getting Grounded

“You are grounded.” I delivered this proclamation to my 13-year-old daughter with sternness and grace. I was measured but emphatic. Cool and unruffled. Controlled. Unemotional. Later that day, I se...

When Parents Undermine Teachers Everyone Loses

Culture has shifted from an accepted truth that teacher knows best to the opposite end of the spectrum. That often puts teachers in a difficult position.

Parenting Your Way Through a Zombie Apocalypse With Twitter Star XplodingUnicorn

If you keep up with the online parenting community, you've probably come across the work of James Breakwell. After all, he is "the funniest dad on Twitter."

How the Enneagram Can Make Us Better Parents

Not the typical personality typing system, the Enneagram test can help parents gain insight about themselves and their kids.

Parenting in the Space Between Power and Powerlessness

To transform relationships with our kids, the paradox we must understand is that we are less powerful than we want to be but more powerful than we realize.

How to Handle Your Kid's Tall Tales

If you’re worried that your kid is unusual, sit back, breathe, and realize lying is totally normal. What you do with it is key.