new year
New Year, Same Chaos: Routines That Actually Reset in January
Every January 1st I make a beautiful new family routine, and every January 4th it's in the trash
Everyday Family
Parenting, routines and family life told with realism and a bit of humor.
new years eve
New Year's Eve With Kids Who Can't Make It to Midnight
The year we tried to keep our kids up until midnight, we ended up with two overtired children sobbing on
toy clutter
The Toy Clutter Reset Between Christmas and New Year
The week between Christmas and New Year's is a strange, formless stretch where nobody knows what day it
holidays
A Low-Key Family Holiday Tradition Worth Keeping
Our best holiday tradition cost almost nothing and started by accident. One December a snowstorm canceled everything we'd
holidays
Cousins, Grandparents, and a 4-Year-Old's Big Feelings at Holiday Gatherings
The first time my son melted down at his grandparents' house on Christmas Eve, I was mortified. He'
bedtime
The Bedtime Routine That Finally Ends the Stalling
Every parent knows the stall. The water request. The second water request. The sudden urgent need to discuss whether sharks
winter break
Winter Break Boredom: A Loose Rhythm Beats a Rigid Schedule
By day three of winter break, my living room looked like a Target seasonal aisle exploded, and my seven-year-old had
holidays
Holiday Gift Overwhelm: Fewer Toys, Calmer Kids
One Christmas morning I watched my daughter open her eighth gift, glance at it for under three seconds, and immediately
organization
The Family Calendar System That Finally Stuck
I have tried, no exaggeration, six different family calendar systems, and five of them collapsed within a month. The beautiful
thanksgiving
Hosting Thanksgiving With a Toddler Underfoot
The first year I hosted Thanksgiving with a toddler in the house, I tried to run the day like I
gratitude
Teaching Gratitude to Kids Without the Forced 'Say Thank You'
I used to be the mom hissing "what do you say?" at my kid over a birthday gift
potty training
Potty Training a Stubborn Toddler: The Week That Finally Worked
We tried to potty train my second kid three separate times before it took, and the first two attempts were