Recent Featured Articles

My Archaeology Dig Through a Purse From the Past

Seven years ago I left my full-time corporate marketing career. I didn’t know it was the end at the time. I was too addle-brained to take in any long-term trends, the result of running a weekly magazine, editing Mommy Wars, and frantically caring for my kids, ages 8, 6 and 3. The boss said “Go on a sabbatical,” and I did. This morning I was cleaning out a closet. On a dusty top shelf, I found my big black briefcase/purse/diaper bag from that last day at work. As I fished through what seemed like three trillion pockets, I flashed back 35 years to my teenage discovery of my father’s Navy... continue reading

Eating Disorder Warning Signs in College Freshmen

As college freshmen across the U.S. return home for the holidays, thousands of parents will - for the first time - discover eating disorders that developed during their child’s first semester. Because the transition to college is one of the two most common life stages in which eating disorders develop, Eating Recovery Center (an international center for eating disorders recovery providing comprehensive treatment for anorexia, bulimia, EDNOS and binge eating disorder) encourages parents to be vigilant for symptoms of eating disorders as their teens return home for the mid-year break. “For... continue reading

Would Your Child Pass the Marshmallow Test?

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

Lessons We Can Learn From TV Parents

As 2011 comes to a close, I’ve reviewed the lessons that TV parents taught us over the past 12 months. Some were insightful, some were delightful and others were dreadfully obvious. Come on board into the 2011-in-review machine and catch a glimpse of the child-rearing teachings TV has offered us: Lesson: Don’t try to ban your kid from dating someone without a really, really good reason or else you might as well send your kid an engraved invitation to sneak around behind your back. On NBC’s Parenthood, Adam and Kristina Braverman attempted to forbid their teenage daughter Haddie from... continue reading

Healthy Snacks for Moms With the Munchies!

The pantry can be one of the most dangerous areas of the house - especially when you're in a rush and starving for a snack. How often have you reached into the cabinet and come out with something greasy, high in fat or with a ton of sugar? The first step to leading a healthier lifestyle is to trash these junk foods. By stocking up on tasty, healthy treats, you'll feel better physically (and emotionally) in no time! So to help you out, here are a few healthy alternatives to satisfy some common cravings: If you're craving something salty... Skip the potato chips and opt for kale chips instead... continue reading

Four Games to Keep Your Kids to Stay Active this Winter

Jill Vialet, Founder and CEO of Playworks, has been a recognized leader in the physical activity and play for the past 15 years. She recently addressed TEDxABQ on the moral imperative of building schools where all parents would send their children. Vialet is a proud mother of five. Play supports children’s social, emotional, cognitive and physical development. Research on play concludes that play isn’t just fun; children literally can’t do without it. Playing with your child is great for them, healthy for you, and one of the best ways to ensure that they will come to love being physically... continue reading

Elizabeth Bryan: My Family Survived Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

The following is a guest post by Elizabeth Bryan, co-author of Chicken Soup for the Soul: Count Your Blessings. My name is Elizabeth Bryan and I like to think of myself as a “mom-with-a-mission” - usually that means creating product that improves lives and gives back in some way. I never thought that would also include advocating for carbon monoxide poisoning awareness, but then again, I never thought my family would be victims of something so terrifying. Becoming a mom and learning to parent can be magnificent, miraculous and completely overwhelming, all at once. From feeding and... continue reading

4 of Our Favorite Mom Superheroes

Have you ever daydreamed about having super powers? It would certainly make life a lot easier. Imagine using your super-speed to run across town to the supermarket in less than a minutes, or jumping over pesky SUVs on your way to pick the kids up from school. You could clean the house in way less time than it takes for your little tornados to mess it up. However, with great power comes great responsibility and even superhero moms have problems. It's not surprise their lives aren't exactly simple.. they have to balance saving the world with raising a family! Here are some truly amazing... continue reading