Conversations

What Happened When I Had the Kind of Birth I Thought I Wanted

I wanted to believe – don’t we all – that there was a perfect birth for me and, if I played my cards right, such an experience was mine for the taking.

Master Your Habits in Four Easy Steps

There are good habits and bad habits. How can we more easily break the ones that need breaking and form the ones that are actually beneficial?

How the F-Word Brought My Daughter from the Bottom to the Top

When we began our competitive gymnastics journey with my younger daughter, I had no idea what we were in for. That first year was a giant rollercoaster of big ups (she placed third on her team at h...

Proven Tips to Help Reduce Your Kid's Emotional Vulnerability

What if you could reduce your kid’s emotional vulnerability? Here are a few tips you can borrow from the ABC PLEASE method.

I Guess We'll Survive the Teenage Years

I don’t think I’m going to survive the teenage years. I know this is the same thought that millions of parents have had throughout the ages.

Cinderella Was Wrong About Stepmoms

She was nervous, sensitive, and a perfectionist, and she was a sudden mother to three. Nothing prepares you for that.

When Sass Is the New Tantrum

I have bad news: The tween years are basically the toddler years on steroids.

Giving up Is Not an Option

The truth is, “what someone is capable of” is not fixed or finite; it changes and shifts as we learn and grow.

Don't Feel Guilty If You Don't Have Time for Family Dinner

How can your busy family carve out 15-30 minutes a day to check in and spend quality time together? Here are five alternatives to the revered family dinner.

Why a Simple Walk is the Brain and Body Boost You Need

A walk might take a little longer than a run, but the boost to your health will be the same.

Practice for Discipline and Enrichment, Not Perfection

Practice is only one of many other personal factors that predict how much kids learn.

What You Can Do When Your Kid Prefers One Parent Over the Other

Though it's not uncommon for children to prefer one parent over the other, it totally stings. Here's what you can do to make it through.

Kids Try Harder When They See You Make Mistakes, Research Finds

A new study reveals that it is actually helpful for children’s development if they see their parents make mistakes and struggle to reach their goals.

I Don’t Want to Binge Watch My Son’s Childhood

I’m not going to trot out the tired “enjoy this time because it’ll be gone too soon” trope you get from older women in the grocery store.

7 Kid Requests You Should Agree To in the Name of Autonomy and Independence

What are the costs and benefits of saying "yes" to these 7 common kid requests?

How to Get Gift-Givers on Board With Giving Experiences Over Things

Win people over to the experience-giving side by offering them the benefits of this approach, along with some easy ways for them to make the transition.

Inspiring Imaginative Play in the Logical, Literal Kid

Play is a critical component in optimal development for kids. Yet, for some, imaginative play may not come naturally.

Playing the Parenting Game for Keeps

My sons often remind me that the parenting game is not necessarily about winning or losing. It’s about the effort that goes into playing the game.

10 Inspiring Books for Kids Struggling to Fit in at School

These 10 books help them see how normal those feelings are while showing how to increase self-esteem, be themselves, and show kindness to others.

A Simple Solution to (Eventually) Getting Your Kid to Eat

This trick is pretty simple. Invite your kid’s nose to dinner.

6 Simplicity Hacks for Parents Who Would Rather Spend Time Doing Than Planning

Here are some strategies you can use to minimize decision-making and maximize time and energy for the pursuits that bring you joy.

Moms, Even if You Have to Fake it, Rock Body Confidence in Front of Your Girls

Having a good body image and exercising a healthy lifestyle are important to model for your daughter, but your actual relationship is more vital.

Finding Time to Create the Lives We Want

How are we filling up our lives and what's the why behind it?