My husband and I learned early on how to protect our marriage: we avoid politics. As two opinionated people on opposite sides of the spectrum, we became frustrated with each other during our first presidential election as a dating couple. Had we been on Facebook at… read more
Olivia Pitkenthly
How Do You Talk to Your Teen About Depression?
Warning: The following content talks about depression, suicidal thoughts, teenage suicide and the importance of talking to your teen about depression. Imagine getting a phone call from the high school guidance counselor, informing you that your son or daughter was… read more
Top 10 Must-Have Instructions for Your Babysitter
Every parent knows a good babysitter is hard to find. We’ve compiled a list of must-have instructions for your babysitter to ensure a good experience for everyone. Top 10 Babysitter Instructions 1. Give the babysitter your cell phone numbers and… read more
Do You Have a Favorite Child?
Ross and Monica Gellar are the rival siblings of our generation. The TV sitcom “Friends” depicted Ross as the favorite child, a “medical miracle,” who could do no wrong in his parents’ eyes. Monica was often criticized for her appearance,… read more
Dear Diary: Balancing Your Tween’s Privacy and Safety
Somewhere between elementary and middle school, your tween will stop talking to you. One day she might have been giving you every last detail of the latest gossip at school, and the next day she completely shut down, giving only… read more
How to Keep Safe Around Fire Pits
With cooler temperatures comes the desire to toast a few marshmallows and relax by a warm fire. However, make sure your safety measures aren’t too relaxed. Fire pits have caused nearly 3,700 grass and brush fires in the U.S. Keep… read more
3 Ways to Sleep Train Your Baby
New parents receive so much unsolicited advice regarding sleep and their newborns. From “never wake a sleeping baby” to “wake the baby every two hours to eat” it can get pretty confusing. Add to that your exhaustion, and who has… read more
Helping Your Tween Conquer Video Game Addiction
Pac-Man, Mario Bros., Tetris. Video games have changed since we were kids. Now, there are first-person games, multi-player online role playing games and multi-user domain games. Kids today can play online with people across the world or watch others playing… read more
5 Tips for Making Homework Feel Less Like Work
According to “Homework In America,” a 2014 Brown Center Report on American Education, homework for students in third grade through twelve takes an average of one hour per night and rarely exceeds two hours per night. I doubt they factored… read more
Help Your Child Cope With Nighttime Fears
Monsters, darkness and ghosts are among the top 10 fears of children, according to “Fears Stress and Trauma: Helping Children Cope” by Edward Robinson. In his book, Robinson reports that these nighttime fears are a normal part of a child’s… read more