From braces and bad hair to long forgotten fashion mistakes, we all have photos from our past that we'd just as soon leave packed away in the attic gathering dust.
But thanks to Doug Chernack and Mike Bender, those gawky and goofy pictures can be immortalized on the Internet, providing enjoyment to millions around the world.
These two longtime friends are the brains behind Awkward Family Photos, a super popular blog based on reader submissions of... you guessed it: Awkward family photos.
We had a chance to chat with Chernack about the website, their brand-new best-selling book and why the...continue reading
How much does motherhood change us? Can we even remember those carefree days before children, waking up at noon on a Saturday, still a little tipsy from the night before, not having to rush our kids to school, soccer practice or ballet?
For reality star Kendra Wilkinson, life changed dramatically after the birth of her first child, almost exactly two years ago (Happy Birthday, baby Hank!). We know her as the crazy, fun, tomboy from Girls Next Door, but the new Kendra is a modern day mom dealing with the same stuff we all do - trying to juggle work, marriage and being a fun, loving mom for...continue reading
Do your kids have self-control? There's a great way to find out and you can do it right at your kitchen table. It's called "The Marshmallow Test" and it's creative way to teach your children about the value of self-discipline.
Here's how it started:
In the 1970's, a psychology professor at Stanford University named Walter Mischel ran a series of experiments involving four-year olds and marshmallows. He would offer each child a marshmallow and tell them that if they did not eat it for 20 minutes, he would give them another. Almost every kid agreed to the terms and said they wanted two...continue reading
"I’m embarrassed to ask this…what will they think of me?"
This is what many parents told us when we talked about the importance of asking “safety questions” of another parent or friend before sending kids off to a play date, sleep over or sports practice.
With all of the stories in the media about “trusted adults” in childrens' lives who have broken that trust by abusing them, it's important to ask yourself whether your discomfort with asking safety questions are more important than your child's safety. Is the chance of offending someone worth the risk?
Perhaps a year ago you might not have...continue reading
Julie Cole is the co-founding VP of Mabel’s Labels, the leading provider of labels for the stuff kids lose!
Like her on Facebook - Mabel's Labels or follow on Twitter @juliecole and @mabelhood
I’m all about dads playing hard with the kiddos, but around here I’ve noticed that “playing with” the kids has a tendency to transform into “showing off” for the kids.
Unfortunately, when the showing off starts, the risk of Daddy-o injuries increases. That famous quote from Top Gun often comes to mind: “Your ego is writing cheques your body can’t cash.”
I must admit that when such adult injuries...continue reading
Trimming the tree, hanging the lights, sucking down candy canes… traditions like these certainly make it the most wonderful time of the year, but do you know what makes this season even more special?
If you’re a parent, you should be able to answer this question within three seconds.
Still perplexed? Well, for all of us stuck in the “my kids just don’t listen to me” rut, December is the month when we get to take a break from flexing our lackluster parenting skills and let good 'Ole Saint Nick do it for us.
It's why I love December! As soon as the last bite of Thanksgiving...continue reading
When I was a young child, around my oldest daughter’s age, we didn’t have much. Moving into a small rental house with my newly separated mother we made do with just the essentials - if that.
Let’s put it this way, I’ve drunk juice out of empty jelly jars and worn hand-me-down panties. For Christmas, I didn’t get many new things but it was okay because I really didn’t know any better.
I can still remember the thrill of finding an old, dusty white porcelain statue of a hand (with a broken pinky) left behind by the last tenant of our house in a kitchen drawer. I screamed with glee when I...continue reading
Is it the tryptophan in turkey that leads to holiday exhaustion?
It certainly couldn’t be the reason I tend to feel tired until New Year's. Stay awake until midnight on purpose? You’ve got to be kidding.
Maybe it’s estrogen-related because most women I know experience the same seasonal symptoms.
Do you?
At 8:01 AM, my home phone rings. It’s usually my cell or an email demanding my attention. Who even knows my home number, I wonder as I answer, hoping that I don’t have to pick up a sick kid from school. Today I was planning to stare into space for as long as possible.
"Something is wrong...continue reading
