Pet adoption is no small consideration, but for many, it’s a rite of childhood. Whether it is a hermit crab or goldfish, a dog, cat or horse, children enjoy the love and companionship offered by animals. Pets can offer several developmental…
Read ArticleWhen take-out takes out your diet and the rising cost of food results in more rice and beans variations than your family can stomach, take heart! Parents in Kansas City are serving up home-cooked meals and saving time and money in heaping m…
Read ArticleEnjoy Gaelic Games, Green Recipes, Irish Classics, and more creative ideas for St. Patricks’ Day traditions.
Read ArticleAs we come uncluttered, inspiration dawns, and to the delight of our ingenious children (who mistake the meticulously organized cleaning piles for islands of misfit toys), old things destined for the trash bin take on new life.
Read ArticleIf your kids have a bad case of FOMO this summer, here are a few strategies to help.
Read ArticleHere are a few strategies to help you navigate these uncharted waters, bringing some calm into these seas.
Read ArticleBeing a mom responsible for raising human beings in these perilous times ups the ante of these scary unknowns and frightening what-ifs.
Read ArticleEvery Easter, our family celebrates a Holy Week-inspired Seder (modified from Heather Craw at PowerofMoms.com ) to remember Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Read ArticleIf you, like I, crave an infusion of “serenity now,” try adopting one of these ideas for a week and see if it takes. Even a few mindful minutes-morning, noon or night, the choice is yours-can be a rejuvenating rest in an otherwise topsy-turvy day.
Read ArticleHere are three simple ways to remind our growing children every day how very much we adore them.
Read ArticleWe need to become aware of the thieves that undermine our confidence and take back who we are: noble, life-shaping, world-changing moms.
Read ArticleIf you’re looking for some meaningful and fun ones, here are a few tried-and-true favorites, from our home to yours.
Read ArticleTraditions nurture the culture of our homes and create a strong family identity, which research suggests plays a large role in children’s mental health and resilience.
Read ArticleWhen we’re barely getting by and at the tattered edges of sanity, unable to conjure a coherent thought in the fog of fretting and fatigue, it’s helpful to have some threads of wisdom to cling to. And so, fellow Mamas, I offer you these simple mantras
Read ArticleFear can be thrilling in this season of Halloween tricks and haunts, but this common “negative emotion” can also catch us and our kids in its grip and become hard to shake.
Read ArticleThe back-to-school season is a time of transitions, leaving behind the free-wheeling rhythm of summer and taking up the commitments, obligations and structured rhythms of the school year.
Read ArticleHere are some common toxic thoughts and their tonic counterparts that you can help your kids try on instead.
Read ArticleI lay my claim on this summer with our family’s first ever Summer Bucket List, a collection of fun-in-the-sun things to do to lasso these long days and live them to the full. Yes, we will capture this summer and bask in its treasures. Will …
Read ArticleGod gave us Sabbath as a gift: “And Jesus said to them, The Sabbath was made for (wo)man, not (wo)man for the Sabbath.'” (Mark 2:27)
I ask, then, who are we to refuse God’s rest?
If your family struggles with holiday overload, here are some strategies I’ve learned to streamline traditions, free more snowy white space in your holiday calendar and pile on less stuff for more of what truly matters.
Read ArticleUgly parenting moments when we stir the pot reminding our kids of their past mistakes, or turn green in the face over some minor annoyance, or flip a lid and shriek at the littles like a witch. Looking back at our behavior, we easily can br…
Read ArticleFor several years now, friends and I have chosen thematic words to define our lives at this turn of the calendar year. Some of our words have been “YES” and “COMMIT.” My word for 2013 was “BOLD,” and almost had a prophetic effect as circums…
Read ArticleTraditions. They’re meant to usher us into a season of comfort and joy, peace and goodwill, but often leave us feeling more harried than merry. Take, for instance, the daily ritual of an Elf-on-the-Shelf’s soaking in marshmallow bubble bath…
Read ArticleThe simplest things cast a glow on my children’s faces as we explore the world around us. There are frequent moments when they are stupefied with curiosity and wonder, as if their vision is cast in colors I can’t see. It’s a pity my senses …
Read ArticleHow do we approach the Halloween holiday with our kids? Many parents view Halloween as light-hearted, impish fun, harking back to their own childhood trick-or-treating as ninja turtles (and wishing they’d saved their costumes for the cartoo…
Read ArticleMy 8-year-old once had a violent rash dotting her legs and arms. People stared, kids made fun, and my daughter became horribly self-conscious. She wanted to hide and cover up, because it’s much easier looking normal and unblemished than spo…
Read ArticleYou’d think we were in Pamplona, Spain, at the annual running of the bulls, but no. This, folks, is the back-to-school ice cream social. At an appointed time, and not a moment too soon, an elementary staff member plasters the glass doors wi…
Read ArticleEach generation is charged with the essential task of transmitting its truths to the next, and one generation’s failure to do so can break the link that binds the future to the past. We remind our children of the remarkable story of our nat…
Read ArticleChildren love Bible stories. Not only are these tales chock-full of adventure, they also convey deep and timeless truths that resonate at the level of the soul. Sacred stories are not designed for a shallow reading, but rather are to be slo…
Read ArticleBring on the bonfire tunes and shaving cream wars, the zip lines, kayaks and blobbing and you’ve got summer camp! Throw in some friendship-making fellowship and faith-shaping communion, and it’s a whole new adventure. If you want to equip y…
Read ArticleThe waters flow green in our City of Fountains, the ides of March upon us. Oddly, the saint we celebrate in this “season of luck” was pock-marked with tragedy. At 16, Patrick was torn from his family and sold into slavery in Ireland.
Read ArticleWhat I’m learning from my children is that these love-bonds are nothing short of the very presence of God.
“God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him,” writes John the Apostle.
Children possess insatiable curiosity. Their questions about God often plumb the very depths of truth and leave us, their parents, scratching our heads.
Read ArticleAs parents, it’s easy to obsess over issues of health and safety when it comes to our kids, but we often overlook a preventable danger that kills more than 4,000 Americans each year: fire. According to the National Fire Protection Associati…
Read ArticleSummer’s end brings big changes, and traditions are a fun way to ease the transition back to school. Here are a few of our favorites.
Read ArticleThe school year is coming to a close and summer fun is about to begin! Grab your planner and start brainstorming for a successful end to the school year and summer kick off.
Read ArticleCleaning up while kids are growing is like shoveling snow while it’s still snowing. I wonder if these words ring as true for your household as they did for mine.
Read ArticleIt’s the question that causes as many sleepless nights as a newborn’s feeding schedule: When is the right time to send our “baby” off to preschool?
Read ArticleConsider for a moment what it is about the holidays that make them so brilliantly magical. Perhaps it’s the huddle of loved ones reunited, ancient carols angelically resurrected in children’s voices, the warm glow of a menorah illuminating …
Read ArticleOctober, November and December can feel like a hectic holiday hullabaloo, especially in the classroom. This overstuffed three-month stretch is daunting for room parents and classroom volunteers, all expected to be nothing short of the life …
Read ArticleAfter prayers are said, thanks are given and bellies are bulging over their belts, you could settle in to a tryptophan-induced Turkey Day stupor. Or, you could indulge guests in some post-dinner festivities. Here are some fun tricks to pull…
Read ArticleLocal teen Spencer Arrowood volunteers on behalf of Forest Avenue Family Shelter. This year, you can help the cause! Simply participate in the Christmas Toy Drive…
Read ArticleWhat’s behind a grandparent’s title, and how does one decide on this noble name? Kansas City parents have a lot to say about this age-old subject.
Read ArticleTeachers. Few people have such an enduring impact on the lives of our children or sacrifice so much for their benefit. They deserve our heartfelt thanks, and so we offer some thoughtful ideas to help you put a smile on a teacher’s face.
Read ArticleSmart parents know that getting kids excited about learning begins with play. Children soak in knowledge best by exploring their surroundings, and in Kansas City, opportunities abound for bridging learning with serious fun.
Read ArticleBreak with tradition. This Easter, hatch some fun with these fresh and festive ideas.
Read ArticleCupcakeries are sprinkled all over the Kansas City Metro, their frost-swirled window displays putting a sugarplum sparkle in the eyes of children and grownups alike.
Read ArticleYou’ve cracked the windows to tempt in the autumn breeze, but instead, the crisp air is tempting you out. For the five weekends of October, KC Parent is challenging your family with five outdoor assignments. Pick one each week for piles of …
Read ArticleNothing throws a wrench into the family routine as much as the end of summer vacation. KC Parent has the tools and strategies proactive parents need to set their kids on the road to their back-to-school best.
Read ArticleThe earth travels around the sun once every 365 and ¼ days which, in bygone times, gave calendar makers a real headache. Julius Caesar solved this problem by creating a 365 day year, adding one extra day every fourth year, Leap Day, which m…
Read Article“You do it like this, Buddy,” I overheard a tiny voice say. When I looked over, I found Lorelei, then 3, fully engaged in helping Gryffin, 1, maneuver shapes into a shape sorter, guiding his small fingers with her barely bigger hand. I hadn…
Read ArticleFourth of July picnics and parades are rounding the corner, but does the approaching holiday have you seeing stars and stripes? From serving up the tastiest fare to dressing up the kids with flair, consider this your go-to guide for star-sp…
Read ArticleNow that warmer weather is here, we must switch first-aid gears from frostbite to tick bites. Insect stings and bites are not only a pain (or an itch), but if not treated correctly, can be dangerous.
Read ArticlePregnancy can be tiring. Pair this 9-month stretch with raising children, and motherhood can feel like a marathon (with kids clinging to your heels and a watermelon in tow). Consider the tips and tricks of resident Kansas City mothers-of-ma…
Read ArticleJack-o-lanterns may have hollow heads, but pumpkins are chock-full of learning fun. Carve out time to plant these seeds of knowledge with your kids, inspired by pumpkins.
Read ArticleFew things conjure up autumn’s enticing colors and scents like the season’s favorite fruit, the apple. Head outside to one of Kansas City’s fall gems—a local orchard or cider mill—and take home fresh-picked apples for bushels of homemade fa…
Read Article“History is the core of knowledge,” says Sonia Warshawski, holocaust survivor and speaker from Prairie Village. But after a recent study showed that 77 percent of high school students in a neighboring state cannot name our country’s first p…
Read ArticleFive o’clock is a magical hour at our house. The kids, settled from their naps, begin to linger near the garage entry. With the sudden grinding jolt of the garage door, the children stir in a mad rush of anticipation that could shame Pavlov…
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