4 mins read

Honor Mom on Sunday… and on Mother’s Monday Get Her What She Really Needs: Childcare and Workplace Improvements

The Inaugural Mother’s Monday officially kicks off May 11! Celebrated on the day after the traditional Mother’s Day, Mother’s Monday looks to redefine the relationship between motherhood and work. One of the major storylines emerging from the global pandemic is just how significant the impact has been on women, especially working moms. The group behind…

4 mins read

Just Say NO! Yes, I’m Talking To All The People Pleasers

Repeat after me: Just say no. Just say no. Just say no. I’m not sure when I realized that I was a total people pleaser. It might have been in second grade when I became the teacher’s pet. Or maybe in college when I just couldn’t stand to have anybody be angry with me. Or when, after overextending myself AGAIN recently, my husband informed me that it was time to become friends with the word NO.

5 mins read

10 Terrible Gifts to Give Other People’s Kids

As the gift giving season approaches, you may find yourself searching for the perfect present for your nieces and nephews, godchildren, friends' kids, and grandchildren. As a victim of terrible children's gift giving and on behalf of parents everywhere, I feel compelled to draw attention to the kinds of gifts we parents absolutely don't want…

4 mins read

My Kids Aren’t Normal People When It Comes To Food

I keep waiting for my kids to become normal people when it comes to food. When my daughter was a toddler, everyone told me that is was normal for her to only eat bread and cheese and pasta; that it was one of those annoying, toddler phases that she would grow out of, like delaying bedtime or asking “why?” about everything you said. But shes nine now, and unless I missed the memo that the toddler years have been extended into the double digits, Im guessing its not just a phase.

6 mins read

Help Care For Animals Injured By Fire

Last week the Butte Fire in Amador and Calaveras counties ravaged my hometown communities. Calaveras took the biggest beating, with many of the 75,000 acres burned and 545 residences/356 outbuildings lost, in that county. County lines have all but diminished however, with families and local businesses from both pulling together to help those impacted by…