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Parenthood

On Loving and Losing My Stepdaughter

It was not my place to build the bridge between my husband and his daughter. But as the years have passed, I realize I can build my own.

Milk This: Our Ludicrous Adventures in Breastfeeding

If we followed every experts' recommendations about breastfeeding, my wife would need four boobs, eight arms, and twelve more hours in the day.

Why I Stopped Explaining So Much to My Kids

The old adage of "do as I say, and not as I do," doesn't really work. If we want our kids to really listen we need to "do" as well.

Parenthood Parenting as an Introvert: What You Need to Know

Parenting as an Introvert: What You Need to Know

The way an introvert’s brain works best goes directly against "good" parenting and culture. But it doesn't mean you can't do an amazing job.

Beyond Hugs: How to Incorporate More Loving Touch Into Your Kids' Day

Our kids bloom when we hold, hug, kiss and love on them.

Don't Poke the Mama Bear (That's Me, I'm the Mama Bear)

Mess with me and my cubs at your own risk.

When It's Time to Tell Your Pacifist Toddler About Aggression

It's difficult to explain that not everyone is always nice or keeps their hands to themselves. But unfortunately, there's no shielding them from it forever.

8 Ways Being an Introvert Has Helped Me Raise Thoughtful Kids

Introverted parents sometimes have extroverted kids. But that doesn't mean a parent's tendency toward quiet time can't have benefits.

Wise Words About Marriage and Kids From Your 40-Something Friend

As far as marriage is concerned, she's a babe in the nuptial wood and I am a tween. Born long after "Thriller," she can use my words of wisdom.

To My Child: Reflections on Your No Good, Awful Day

Some days pile one disappointment on top of another. But there's always a silver lining if you wait long enough.

The Magic of the One-Day Grounding: Better for Kids, Better for You

Extended punishments often punish the entire family and lose effectiveness over time. Here's another method that disciplines with empowerment.

5 Strategies to Help Your Preschooler Handle Separation Anxiety

Most kids will experience varying levels of separation anxiety at some point in their life. Here are a few strategies for helping your preschooler navigate.

Here's What Happened When My 4-Year-Old Started Co-Sleeping

Sleeping arrangements change along with everything else as your children grow older. So for now, I'm a co-sleeping mom who just wants to get some sleep.

Parenthood middle eastern mother and daughter

How to Break the Cycle and Raise a Self-Assured Daughter

What’s more important than preparing your daughter to be a good digital citizen is preparing your daughter to be a woman in this world.

6 Reasons Having Breakfast With My Teenagers Is the Highlight of My Day

Sure, they're hectic, moody, and occasionally dramatic, but mornings with my teenage daughters before they shuffle off to school are the best.

What If...? A Recovering Alcoholic Mother’s Lifelong Trial

He was about an hour old when the ugly thought hit me: "I’m a mom! I have no idea how to do this! What if…” Oh, I filled in those "what-ifs." What if I couldn’t feed him enough? What if I dropped h...

Parenthood  indian mother having fun with her daughter outdoor

5 Reasons Why Your Kids Need You to Say "Yes" More Often

By slightly changing the way we communicate with our children, we can create opportunities for dialogue, learning, and self reflection.

Parenthood group of young boys

Boys Will Be the Boys We Teach Them to Be

Our culture consistently fails to give boys the credit they deserve when it comes to love, sex, and relationships.

How An All-Girls Education Made Me a Clueless Mom

With no real point of reference, it's hard to know what's appropriate teenage behavior.

The 6 Stages of Getting Your Kids to Like Led Zeppelin

It's not going to be easy to get them to appreciate Led Zeppelin, but I'm damn sure going to try.

Odd Jobs: My Life as a Tattoo Artist and Single Dad

Co-owning a tattoo shop and single-parenting a teenage daughter makes for an interesting take on fatherhood.

How to Change Your Toddler's 9 Most Annoying Behaviors

When redirection and telling your toddler "no" just isn't working, there are still ways to change the behaviors that irritate most.

9 Thoughtful Ways to Raise an Entrepreneur

April Cornell, founder of the clothing and textiles company of the same name, on how to encourage your future worker to blaze her own trail as an entrepreneur.

Why Your Kids Need You in the Age of Sexting, Porn, and Cyberbullying

Compassionate parents are a counterweight to the pressures of adolescence - including those around sex, porn, and social media.