Reading is a struggle for many kids, and our job as parents is to help them learn to enjoy books. Being comfortable with words and books is an important aspect of life, and these tips will help your reluctant reader learn to enjoy it!
Recently my family went out to dinner. It was a “no one wants to cook” kind of night, and we ended up at Wood and Tap, a chain-type place with…
My friend Tara can plan a celebration like no one else, and her very own 40th birthday was no exception, so I’m thrilled that she agreed to share her day…
My kids love to read. They bring books everywhere, and they frequently get busted for sneaking books late at night, hours after they should be asleep. My fifth grade son’s…
Have your kids recently become obsessed with blind bags? Me too. Have you considered just dumping the cash you’ve spent on these mystery toy items directly into the toilet while…
I’ve said the phrase “Fucking cancer” too many times to count. Just this month I screamed it when my friend Matt lost both parents within a year, I whisper it…
Some people may say I’m lazy, and some people would be right about that. I’ve always been this way, which is great for my blood pressure and my temperament,…
Father’s Day is complicated for those who don’t have dads, for those who have fathers who have repeatedly disappointed them, and for people like me, whose fathers have died. Despite…
I like to think I’m levelheaded, so it always takes me by surprise when my emotions take over my better judgement. From commercials that make me cry to seemingly normal…
Today’s political climate makes my heart hurt. It’s frustrating, and polarizing, and is damaged enough that a good number of Americans have a “Fuck it. Burn it to the ground…
I’m not sure how I got here, wide awake at four am on Mother’s Day morning. Both of my kids have always been great sleepers. While my husband wishes he…
I don’t need a calendar or the weather to know what time of year it is, experiencing mornings in our house tells me everything I need to know. Summer is…
What is it about this time of year that makes me want to spring clean? Is it the sun trying to shine through the grimy windows? Is it the increased…
It isn’t much to look at, but I love it nonetheless. I reach for it in the morning when the house is quiet and the day is new. It is…
I have friends who marvel at how powerful they felt after giving birth. They say the experience of making and growing a whole human helped them realize what incredible feats…
Once, I gave my husband a great gift, and by that I mean only once ever. I’m not talking about the gift of my love, although that really should be…
Today I spent 15 minutes making dinner, and that included the time it took me to wash my Crock Pot insert from dinner last night. I can’t tell you how…
Every time I shave my legs, I brush my hand over the scar that runs several inches along my right shin. It has been almost thirty years since I sliced…
I’m one of those moms who like summer. I can’t help it. It’s always been my favorite. From the time I was a child, summer held the promise of hot…
When my husband and I decided to have children, we had a large group of people we called friends. Some were friends from childhood, others college, and still others were…
My friend Elaine is super crafty. She plans amazing themed parties for her twin grandkids’ birthdays, and when her son and daughter-in-law flew here from Colorado to celebrate their recent…
I have some news to share, and it’s not about the newest book in the Pee Alone series. Back in the fall I got a new job, which was perfect…
“I’ll go to church when the kids are older.” “I’m too busy keeping them quiet to get anything out of it anyway.” “People give us looks when we bring the…
We are halfway through February, and my kids have had it up to here with the weather. “Is winter almost over?” they ask hopefully. Every morning they come downstairs, rubbing…
Happy Valentine’s Day! If you’re like me, you spent some time this week searching for the perfect card for those you love. You opened and closed countless cards that declared…
Yesterday, both of my kids came downstairs dressed in white – a white tee for Graham, and all white for Lily. They looked like they were ready for a day…
I think New Year’s resolutions get a bad rap. Sure most people don’t follow through with their plans, and sure I’m one of those people, but there is something wonderful…
Do you like making people jealous? Of course you do! What if I told you that for just a few dollars you could make both friends and strangers green with…
The rain that was still falling had turned the roads dark and shiny, and the rush hour traffic was hitting the brake lights pretty hard. But that’s not how I…
Back in the spring, one of the preschool mothers compiled a cookbook of my daughter and her classmates’ favorite recipes. It was an adorable mix of real recipes and the…