Life
The crappy side of fatherhood — literally
Fathers matter all the time, and especially in the middle of the night when the baby monitor wails.
Life
Some problems are too big for kids to solve on their own
Sometimes I struggle with knowing when to intervene in my children’s lives, and when to step away and…
Life
Riding the bus: A summer to learn, a lifetime of ride skills
I got my first job when I was 16 years old, as an intern at the San Diego…
Life
One day a week, order pizza for dinner or let the laundry go
Keeping my kids on track has always been one of my top goals as a parent.
Life
7 Mother’s Day gifts guaranteed to take up space in the garage
This Mother’s Day, give Mom what she really wants, a fancy kitchen gadget she will probably only use…
Life
Old china: It holds memories, but not yours
If a woman dies and nobody wants to inherit her china, is it still worth $100 a place…
Life
Parents and kids can solve (predictable) problems together
Have you heard of the educator and psychologist Dr. Ross W. Greene? He has written a bunch of…
Life
Put that spring back in your step
Spring in the Pacific Northwest is dramatic. April doesn’t know if she should dress up in flowers or…
Life
In spring it really is the season to clean
Spring is the time of renewal. Birds chirp, daffodils bloom and sunshine (when it chooses to grace us…
Life
With Mom, there’s no such thing a quick trip to the store
“This isn’t going to be an epic shopping trip,” I tell my kids as we climb out of…
Life
Worries involving vet bills that all pet owners share
If my son’s bedroom smells a bit doggy, it’s because our poodle sleeps there, too.
Life
Thoughts on the messy struggles with teens over social media
When I was 12, my biggest issue with phones was whether the cord was long enough to reach…
Life
The olden days to our kids? TVs without remotes
Every night before she falls asleep, my daughter asks me to tell her a story about what my…
Life
When illness strikes, we all deserve peace of mind
Last week, Blue Cross/Blue Shield called my house. When I saw the caller ID, my stomach lurched.
Life
Girl Scout cookie sales spread the love around the neighborhood
This week when you go grocery shopping you will probably walk past a tiny table laden with cookies,…
Life
Local guitar hero is a music teacher
I grew up in a world where learning to bang out “Fur Elise” on the piano meant you…
Life
Kitchen dreams are not made of granite counter tops
When’s the last time you hated something about your kitchen? Unless you just had it remodeled, there’s probably…
Life
For some, the simple act of grocery shopping can traumatize
Simple acts of heroism often go unnoticed, and that is particularly the case when it comes to shopping…
Life
Pain-in-the-butts deserve a getaway too
Every time I looked on Facebook last summer, I saw friends post pictures of romantic getaways. New York…