Outdoor Fun

I was recently watching one of my Friday guilty pleasures, "What Would You Do?" when John Quinones presented a conundrum that was near to my heart: should parents decide what sports their children play? Here was the scenario: a kid would plead with his parent, begging to play football. The parent wouldn't allow it, citing safety reasons. The social scenario, then, was whether strangers would intervene, and, if so, whose side they would support. Although the show presents its scenes somewhat objectively, there is usually a response they're hoping to solicit. The shocker for me, though, was that they seemed to be in support of the pleading child, no matter how scientific or well-founded the parent's logic was. I was frustrated...

Before you wag your finger, pause for a second. Try to open your heart and mind up to the possibility of experiencing Disney WITHOUT your children. This was my first time ever going to the “happiest place on earth.” My children go every summer with their grandma. Walking in the gates I felt an immediate sense of joy and endless possibility. People were smiling, and there was this feeling  of unity ... like we were all in this together. I honestly felt like someone was pumping happiness juice in the air.  As I walked around taking in the sights and sounds of this magical kingdom, I couldn’t help but notice the parents there with their children. Some of them seemed...

     Mindfulness. I admit, at first hearing, it can sound an awful lot like a therapy buzzword. You might have read about it or maybe seen something pinned, complete with the picture of a woman sitting cross-legged on the beach, perfectly fit, beautiful and at peace. Don’t feel bad. I’ve been tempted to roll my eyes, too. And as much as you know you need some peace and calming in your world, you keep on scrolling because well, ain’t nobody got time for voodoo. But hear me out on this. Even though you are busy and even if you aren’t always good at taking care of yourself first, there’s one thing I would bet about you if you’re reading this. And...

We all have them. Those toys we thought were fantastic ideas at the time, but ones we've grown to despise once they are in our house. Most of these toys provide an excellent opportunity to develop physical or cognitive skills, or simply provide hours of entertainment. For that we love them. But for all those times we've stepped on a Lego piece or found a puzzle piece in our purse, we loathe them. Here's our top toys we love and hate: 1. Puzzles When the kids are quietly occupied putting together a puzzle it's bliss. After their masterpiece sits on the coffee table for a few days, getting all of those pieces back into the box is like herding cats. 2. Stickers They are...

Fearless parenting. I know it isn't really a thing. When I'm panicking on the inside every time my daughter climbs on the back of the couch that sits on very hard concrete floors, I'm anything but fearless. Fearing for the health and welfare of our children is just biology. But at some point, that fear is no longer productive. We are forced to decide, consciously or otherwise, exactly where that point is. We are constantly bombarded by reasons to be afraid. From the news, from social media, from politicians. Some days, when we hear about another tragedy or a freak accident, it takes all we have to keep from holding our babies tightly and never letting go. I've spent too...