Positive attitudes in parenting can go a l-o-n-g way. First off is the obvious, if you are happy your children are more than likely happy too. We all feed off of each other, whether it is your children, your spouse or a stranger on the street. We take it all with us. Sometimes we recognize it for what it is, sometimes not. I, personally, find that there is a certain time of the month that because of me…. no one in my house is in a good mood- especially me. That is what has led me to write this particular article.

Thinking about how your mood will be is something that we can try to control. It, of course, doesn’t always work. But if you approach each day as a new day and take a moment in the morning for yourself, you may find that everything goes a bit smoother.

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School’s out for summer, and while that means lots of opportunities for fun, adventures, and most importantly, quality family time, it also means a peak in financial concerns for many families.

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This summer we have decided to implement a summer excursion jar.  While this sounds like a fun way to keep my boys entertained this summer, there is a greater purpose behind the jar…..our summer homework. 

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Summer is here in full force.  Heat and humidity mark the days and, perhaps, boredom is beginning to take root in your child.  I encourage you to quench the boredom by taking advantage of everyday life to fill their time, free you up, and provide added energy and time to create some great free or nearly free fun childhood memories.

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A reader asked about how to handle the delicate situation of parenting on vacation, whether you have visitors or are vacationing with family or friends.

It brings up images of boys gone wild, jumping on the sofa while eating Cheetos with muddy shoes.

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 Keeping your children reading over the summer can be something that we forget to do. Amongst vacations, swimming and camps when are they going to read?  Well you might want to be vigilant in finding time for your child to read.

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The other day I was in a sticky situation, making strawberry jam with berries from our garden.  It’s a messy project, one I don’t like to be interrupted from. While I was in the middle of the mess, one of my kids let me know they needed to talk. Sometimes the best parenting happens in sticky situations!

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Summer is here! Summer, on a budget.  The kids are home and the planning will begin! But what if the money is tight and you can’t afford to send your sweet babes to every camp that they want or take the family vacation that you all would love? We have a money issue- you know, like the lack of it. I know that we are not the only family out there with this “issue” so I am looking at a summer on a budget.

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My little daughter is not so little anymore. She’s turning 6 next week, and while we were planning her birthday, I started to feel this familiar stress that I am feeling every time I need to bake a birthday cake.

Usually this stress ends with my sister-in-law baking an always gorgeous cake…

This year I decided to give a fight!

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Summertime is here and most schools will be releasing kids for the summer this week.  A reader at Life Beyond the Picket Fence recently asked me to write about summer schedules – should parents at home set summer schedules for kids?  It’s a good question. I’ll share my thoughts – personal and professional.

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Recently I wrote about whether parents at home with kids during summer vacation should establish a schedule.  The key to this question lies in finding balance in summer schedules.  Kids need both structured and unstructured activities.

Why the structure of a schedule is helpful:

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