Last Tuesday, I asked my 8-year-old how school was. “Fine,” she said. What did you do today? “Stuff.” Did anything interesting happen? “Nope.” Then five minutes later, she launched into a 20-minute monologue about the exact strategy her friend used to beat the final boss in some video game I’ve never heard of, complete with […]
Questions to Ask Kids (That Actually Get Them Talking) Read More »
The first time my ex told our seven-year-old that I “ruined the family,” I sat in my car outside the grocery store and ugly-cried for twenty minutes. It wasn’t the first manipulative thing he’d said, and it definitely wouldn’t be the last. But that was the moment I realized I wasn’t just dealing with an
Co-Parenting with a Narcissist: Your Survival Guide Read More »
I was changing my daughter’s diaper at 7 weeks old when it happened. She looked directly at me, and her entire face lit up with the biggest, gummiest grin I’d ever seen. Her eyes crinkled. Her whole body wiggled. And I… completely froze because my phone was across the room and I had nothing to
When Do Babies Start Smiling? (I Almost Missed It) Read More »
I used to ask my five-year-old son how his day at school was, and without fail, I’d get “good” or “fine.” That was it. Conversation over. I’d try to dig deeper with “What did you do?” and he’d shrug and say “stuff.” It was like trying to have a conversation with a brick wall. One
Open-Ended Questions to Help Children Think (That Work!) Read More »
I’ll never forget the night I served my “gourmet” ground beef stir-fry. I’d found this recipe online that promised to be healthy, flavorful, and kid-approved. I spent 45 minutes chopping vegetables, browning the beef just right, and perfecting the sauce. I was so proud. This was going to be the meal that turned my picky
Ground Beef Recipes for Kids They’ll Actually Eat Read More »
Last Saturday, I watched my 6-year-old spend three hours glued to her iPad while my 4-year-old threw a tantrum because I suggested going outside. The backyard—our beautiful, sunny backyard—sat completely empty while both kids spiraled into screen-zombie mode. I knew something had to change, but I also knew that just saying “go play outside” wasn’t
Outdoor Scavenger Hunt for Kids (That Actually Works!) Read More »
Three months ago, I was making lunch for my kids every single day, and I was exhausted. Between packing school lunches, making after-school snacks, and prepping dinner, I felt like I lived in the kitchen. Then one Saturday, my 8-year-old asked if she could make her own quesadilla, and something clicked. Why wasn’t I teaching
Recipes for Kids to Make (That They’ll Actually Eat) Read More »
Last July, I stood in my backyard at 10:32 AM, already sweating through my third cup of coffee, while my kids whined about being bored—for the seventeenth time that week. We’d barely made it through the first month of summer break, and I was running out of ideas faster than our popsicle supply. Then my
Water Games for Kids That’ll Save Your Summer Sanity Read More »
It was 7:42 a.m. on a Tuesday, and I was already yelling. My 6-year-old son was lying on the floor, refusing to put on his shoes, and we were going to be late. Again. “We have to leave in THREE MINUTES!” I shouted, my voice getting that shrill edge that I absolutely hated hearing come
Low-demand Parenting: Why I Stopped Fighting My Kid Read More »
I’ll never forget the panic I felt at my daughter’s two-month checkup when the pediatrician asked, “Is she holding her head up during tummy time yet?” I froze. Was she? I mean, kind of? Sometimes? I suddenly felt like I’d failed some crucial parenting test I didn’t even know I was taking. That night, I
When Can Babies Hold Their Heads Up? (Plus What I Learned) Read More »
