Last October, I decided my 9-year-old was finally old enough for her first “scary” movie. I thought I was being clever by choosing something that seemed age-appropriate. Thirty minutes in, she was hiding behind the couch, and I was making popcorn to bribe her into staying in the room. By the end, she slept in […]
Scary Movies for Kids (That Won’t Give Them Nightmares for a Month) Read More »
I’ll never forget the moment my dentist told me my 5-year-old needed a crown. Not a princess crown—a silver one on her actual tooth. My first thought was panic. “Is she sick? Did I do something wrong? Why does my child need a silver tooth?” I spent the next week googling like a woman possessed,
Why Do Kids Get Silver Teeth: A Parent’s Complete Guide Read More »
I used to repeat myself at least seventeen times before my kids would actually do what I asked. “Put on your shoes.” Nothing. “Put on your shoes.” Still nothing. “PUT ON YOUR SHOES!” Finally, movement. But by then, I was exhausted, frustrated, and honestly? Feeling like a complete failure as a parent. Sound familiar? If
Tips to Get Your Kids to Listen to You: What Finally Worked After 6 Years of Yelling Read More »
“Mom, do babies even have knees?” My six-year-old asked me this completely out of nowhere while we were watching his baby cousin crawl across the living room floor. I laughed and said, “Of course they do,” but then he asked the follow-up that stumped me: “But when do they get the hard part? The kneecap?”
When Do Kids Get Kneecaps: The Question That Blew My Mind Read More »
Last summer, I stood in my driveway for fifteen minutes, hand on the car door handle, completely paralyzed by doubt. My oldest was eleven. I needed to run to the grocery store for twenty minutes. Could I leave them home alone? Would I be a negligent parent? What if something happened? I sat in my
What Age Can You Leave Kids Home Alone: A Parent’s Complete Guide Read More »
Last Saturday, I watched my 5-year-old daughter stare at her iPad for what felt like the hundredth hour that week. My chest tightened with that familiar mom guilt—you know the one. “Go play outside,” I said for the third time. She looked at me like I’d asked her to climb Mount Everest. “But what should
Outdoor Games for Kids That Actually Work Read More »
I’ll never forget the day I realized my stepfamily was falling apart. Not because we didn’t love each other, but because I was trying too hard. I was stepping in to discipline my stepdaughter over everything—her messy room, her eye-rolling, her attitude toward her siblings. Every correction I made was met with silent resistance. Every
Nacho Parenting: The Blended Family Approach That Actually Works Read More »
“Can I take my booster seat out now?” my nine-year-old asked from the back seat as we pulled into the parking lot. She’d just turned nine, and apparently, that meant it was time in her mind. I hesitated because I actually wasn’t 100% sure of the answer, and that moment of uncertainty sent me into
When Can Kids Stop Using a Booster Seat: The Safety Question That Stumped Me Read More »
Last year, my 10-year-old asked me why she couldn’t make a sandwich. Not why she wasn’t allowed to make a sandwich—actually couldn’t. She had no idea where to start, how to use a knife safely, or how to put ingredients together. That moment hit me hard. I’d been so focused on getting her to soccer
Help Your Child Learn Life Skills (That Actually Stick) Read More »
Last spring, I watched my seven-year-old try to tie his shoes for the fifteenth time. His fingers fumbled with the laces, his face scrunched in concentration, and I could see the frustration building. My first instinct? To just tie them for him so we could get out the door on time. But then I stopped
Life Skills for 5-8 Year Olds: The Essential Skills Every Parent Should Teach Read More »
