Having long term parenting goals is a must for any parent. Discover 8 examples of goals for kids to be able to do throughout childhood and beyond. My husband saw me in the hallway with tears in my eyes. "What's wrong?" he asked in alarm. "I'm sad that they're going to kindergarten," I sobbed back. Emotional, I know. But as my twins wound down their last few weeks at preschool, I was reminded of how quickly childhood flashes by. As much as we wish for certain stages to end already (ahem: tantrums), once you hit a milestone, you realize there's no going back. It's moments like these … [Read more...]

Do you feel bad for not capturing milestones or family pictures? Here's why you shouldn't feel guilty for not taking photos of your kids. I don't post pictures of my kids on this blog. But how's this for a (not-so) surprise: You won't find me taking many photos of them in general. Of course, in these modern times, this is all relative. My computer houses thousands of pictures, from the everyday to special outings. You'll see me whip out my phone and snap a picture during our outings. And compared to the handful of my own baby photos, any number of photos I take these days is plenty … [Read more...]

Are you a helicopter mom doing too much for your children? Learn how to stop hovering over your child and focus on these benefits instead. Do you ever feel like you can't take your eyes off your child? Maybe it's because she's causing mischief, or you worry she'll hurt herself without you nearby. You might even assume a good parenting style means being hands-on. And so, you micromanage everything. You resolve social conflict, inspect her chores (even redoing them if she didn't do it well), direct her play, and take over her crafts. It's easy to think you have no other … [Read more...]

Parenting can make us spend every minute taking care of our kids. Learn how to balance parenthood with other parts of your life. Some time ago, I could drive to the gym at eight in the evening and still make it home in time to shower and read a book. I could also run errands (plural!) and feel accomplished for having done so much, all before noon. I would even cook home-made pasta, spending hours in the kitchen with my husband. These days, with the kids consuming so many hours of the day, my schedule has changed quite a bit. As it should. Taking care of kids is one of the most difficult … [Read more...]

What exactly is authoritative parenting? And how can it help you raise a healthy and well-behaved child? Learn more about it right here. You'd think being a parent—such an important and difficult role—would come with a user manual reassuring us we know what we're doing. Instead, we base our decisions on how we grew up, what we've read or heard, or from our circle of friends and families. No wonder we feel lost at times, or second guess our decisions. But there is an effective parenting style that many experts say is the best way to go. One that balances rules and high standards with … [Read more...]

Parenthood can feel like overwhelming and exhausting. Learn how to handle parent burnout and enjoy spending time with your kids once again. Seriously, some days I'm too tired to even be tired. In the evenings, I survive yet another day of giving my attention to three little people who want it all at the same time. I wash dish after dish, cook dinner, clean anything that looks disgusting, and pick up a never-ending supply of toys on the floor. I've even ended the day sweating, as if I had come from an exercise session, when all I had done was bathe, dress, and read to them. One … [Read more...]

Do you find yourself disciplining your kids non-stop? Here are 4 things to remember before you get mad at your kids that will keep you calm. In one afternoon, I managed to discipline my son four times before realizing my mistake. First, he moved a toy truck that his brother had been leaning on, and in another, spilled a cup of milk all over the dining table. Later, he pushed a swing without realizing that his brother was a mere few inches away from getting hit. And finally, he moved the handle to a bassinet back and forth without realizing that doing so might break it. So, what did … [Read more...]