Middle School

Road Trip “Reads” :: Audiobooks for the Whole Family Hitting the road for that summer beach vacation, Thanksgiving trip to Grandma’s or Mardi Gras break to Disney World and looking for something to entertain the whole family? Try audiobooks.  Audiobooks are quickly becoming my favorite way to consume books. I’ve always dabbled in audiobooks, but recently I’ve been getting the audiobook and ebook for every title I read. I think audiobooks are a great tool to engage the whole family in a story.  I think we’re all looking for ways to connect with our kids in new and healthy ways. Reading is a great way to do so, but it’s not always easy to do. Summer reading or vacation assignments aren’t necessarily...

Five Strategies for Raising Strong, Successful Children As parents, we hope to raise our children to become strong, successful, contributing members of society. How is success measured? Some would say it is graduating from college, being an entrepreneur, having healthy relationships with others, having an excellent work ethic, having a strong sense of self, or a combination of things. Below are five strategies for raising outstanding adults :: Promote their interests. Even when you do not understand their interests, showing your support is instrumental. Show your interest by asking questions or going to their performances. This will encourage them to develop their talents to their fullest potential. Open Lines of Communication. Ensuring your children know your door is always open is key to raising...

Disclosure :: this post contains affiliate links. Watch for Exploding Kittens and Flying Burritos :: Family Game Night Ideas Gone are the days of Candyland and Chutes and Ladders in my house, and I couldn’t be happier about it. Now that my kids are older, family game night has become much more exciting. If your family hasn’t made this a tradition yet or if you’re looking to take things up a notch, here are some games to consider: Exploding Kittens (ages 7 and up): This one is a fan favorite in my house, and despite the name, no kittens are actually harmed. Exploding Kittens is all about strategy, and unless you want to lose, your strategy needs to be to annihilate the competition. To...

9 Ways To Save On School Supplies School supply shopping was once my absolute favorite time of year... and then I became the person footing the bill for school supplies. Suddenly the joy and excitement of walking down an aisle of notebooks, folders, and colorful pens turned into dread. With inflation what it is today, money saving tips are always appreciated, but especially so when you're shopping for multiple kids while also trying to budget for uniforms, shoes, and all the other things that come with the start of a new school year. To save a few bucks this year (and hopefully some anxiety as well), I put together a list of tips when you tackle school supplies this summer! 1. Set...

Inside Out 2 - Why Every Tween (and Parent) Needs to See It When my now twelve-year-old son was a toddler, Inside Out came out in theaters. My "honesty island" would be firing on all cylinders by saying I probably enjoyed the original movie more than my own child. So, when it was announced that Inside Out 2 would be released the same weekend as my toddler's 3rd birthday, taking him to see the sequel for his birthday weekend was a no brainer. I arrived to the theatre expecting a fun, humorous, somewhat light plot line, but I left with a new perspective on my own preteen's complex, new emotions. The Emotions are New (and Complex) to Your Kids Early into the movie,...