“Mom, what’s for dinner?” “Chicken.” Immediate groan. Sound familiar? Last month, I stood in my kitchen staring at a package of chicken breasts, completely stumped. My kids had rejected every chicken recipe I’d tried for the past three weeks. Too dry. Too boring. “It tastes weird, Mom.” I was running out of ideas and patience. […]
Chicken Recipes for Kids They’ll Actually Ask For Again Read More »
Last July, I made the mistake of thinking my kids would be content playing with the same toys in our backyard for the entire summer. By week two, I was dealing with whining, sibling fights, and the dreaded “I’m bored” chorus every single afternoon. That’s when I remembered the bucket of water balloons sitting in
Best Outdoor Water Games Ideas That Keep Kids Happy Read More »
It was 6:47 PM on a Tuesday, and I was lying facedown on the living room carpet, contemplating whether I’d ever have the energy to stand up again. My three-year-old was tugging at my shirt, begging me to play “chase” for the fifteenth time that day. My body screamed “no,” but my mom-guilt screamed louder.
Horizontal Parenting: The Hack That Saved My Sanity Read More »
I’ll never forget the afternoon I sat on my living room floor, watching my friend’s 7-month-old zoom across the carpet like a tiny speed racer. Meanwhile, my 9-month-old daughter just sat there, perfectly content, playing with the same toy she’d had for twenty minutes. I smiled on the outside, but inside? I was spiraling. Why
When Do Babies Start Crawling? (The Answer Surprised Me) Read More »
I’ll never forget the day I realized I was having the same boring conversation with my six-year-old every single afternoon. I’d pick him up from school, eagerly asking, “How was your day?” and he’d mumble “fine” while staring out the window. That was it. No stories, no details, nothing. I’d try to dig deeper with
Questions to Replace “How Was Your Day?” for Real Answers Read More »
I’ll never forget the afternoon I realized I was completely failing at connecting with my daughter. She was sitting at the kitchen table, excitedly telling me about something that happened at school—something about a friend, a game at recess, I honestly can’t remember. I was nodding along, loading the dishwasher, mentally planning dinner, and scrolling
10 Ways to Build Relationships With Kids That Actually Work Read More »
It was a gorgeous Saturday morning—sunny, breezy, perfect weather. And where were my kids? Glued to their tablets, asking for “just five more minutes” of screen time that had already turned into an hour. I looked out the window at our completely empty backyard and felt this wave of guilt wash over me. When did
Outdoor Activities for Kids That Actually Keep Them Busy Read More »
It was 6:47 PM on a Tuesday. Dinner was burning, my toddler was melting down because his crackers broke wrong, and my 7-year-old was whining about homework for the fifteenth time. I snapped. “Because I said so! Just do it and stop asking me why!” The words flew out of my mouth before I could
Bad Parenting Quotes to Avoid (And What to Say Instead) Read More »
My sister called me in a panic at 35 weeks pregnant. “The baby’s coming early,” she said through tears. “We haven’t even had the shower yet. I don’t have anything.” She’d scheduled her baby shower for 37 weeks—just two weeks away—thinking she’d have plenty of time. Her water broke that night. Her daughter arrived healthy
When to Have a Baby Shower: The Perfect Timing Read More »
Last Thursday evening, I found myself scrolling through my phone while my six-year-old daughter tried to show me her LEGO creation for the third time. “Mom, look!” she kept saying, but I was half-listening, nodding absently while mentally planning tomorrow’s lunches and wondering if I’d responded to that work email. When she finally walked away
How to Engage With Kids When You’re Exhausted and Out of Ideas Read More »
