Challenges

Take Me Out To The Ball Game... Two years, countless diapers, and nearly 365 games of regular season baseball has elapsed since Spring Training 2014. That’s two full seasons of warm summer nights, Cracker Jacks, and hot dogs for those...

Talking to Your Teen about Underage Drinking Guest Post by Halley McIntyre - Program Manager at Mothers Against Drunk Driving Arizona An ounce of preparation, as Ben Franklin so wisely noted, truly is worth a pound of cure. This fundamental idea...

Our little girl turned one a couple months ago and I’m having a hard time figuring out where that year went! I must have blinked. It took us a few years to have our daughter, so the fact that she’s...

When my son entered preschool at the age of three, my husband and I had already started hearing reasons why we should consider delaying his entry into kindergarten ... "His birthday is in May. You don't want him to be...

Surprise!  Here comes another baby! Let me take you back to this past November... we had a newly 2 year-old and a newly 5 year-old.  We could see that light at the end of diapers and were preparing our oldest...

  I delivered my five children at four different locations. Three hospitals and then at home for my fifth. It took me awhile to come around to the idea of a home birth. But after fighting the medicalized "norms" of hospital delivery...

It is no mystery that breastfeeding in public is a topic that sparks much controversy.  The word "shaming" is thrown back and forth between the liberals and the conservatives, the introverts and the extroverts.   I love seeing celebrities...

When I was younger and thought about having kids, I always imagined I'd stay home with them, and after my first daughter was born, I did mostly that ... a few odd jobs as well as working from home.  This...

Dear Love Bug (ironic considering the topic of this letter...), Just a few day ago I had the good fortune of being one of the parents in attendance at your 1st grade Valentine's Day party! During those 90 minutes or...

I know people generally mean well, I do. But sometimes, when it comes to our kids, even those with the best of intentions inadvertently do things that can make parents cringe. Most of them involve someone – many times...

Today we are partnering with Childhelp to share a post written by Deborah Pshebniski, Char Hubble and Erika Monroe-Williams.  These women are moms themselves and spend time working on various events in Arizona to raise funding for great causes.  Today,...

I love New Years. Just like a little kid looking forward to her first day back at school! (or was that just me? anyway,)  I always get excited about the fresh start. I love looking at the year like...

"The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new."  Socrates Well here it is.  2016.  A new year.  Full of hopes and dreams and lists of all the...

When I told people I was pregnant, they started calling me mom, mama, mommy right away. I didn’t know how to respond, we had been trying for a long time and I still didn’t think it was real, even...

What do you think of when I say the word "Thanksgiving?"  The turkey that's never done yet. Grandma's pumpkin pie. Yoga pants after dinner.  The emergency room.  I know what you're thinking- the emergency room?!  It's true.  And I'm...

  It's November and you know what that means? Thankfulness I've seen so many posts on Facebook or other social media platforms about 30 day challenges to speak, write or say what you are thankful for everyday in the month of November....

I have an illness. I am not sure what it is called or if it is clinically recognized by the American Medical Association, but it seems to be a chronic condition that I just can't seem to shake. I...

Hi folks, Lori here, with another volunteer/do-good opportunity for families of all ages! We've all seen the  increase in alcohol-related crashes around the Valley.  It is said that on average, 2 out of every 3 people will be involved in...

Anyone who has survived a Phoenix summer knows that in addition to the heat,  we have to contend with the rain, thunderstorms and dust storms associated with monsoon season. But while WE can quickly Google what to do during a...

As I sit here writing this, my little guy is walking around the house eating his lunch on his LAST DAY HOME before school starts. Ahhh... school. He's looking forward to it and truthfully, so am I. Don't get...

I love volunteering! There are so many worthy organizations in need of our time and talent, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by it all. And then there’s the age-old question of “What do I do with the kids while...

Can you even image a child NOT having fun on the playground?! I sure can't. Well this is exactly my current issue to solve. With a new school, new schedule, new teacher and new environment, my daughter who normally adjusts...

Happy World Breastfeeding Week! I love this week long celebration focused on protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding moms throughout the world. I realize that breastfeeding is not for everyone, whether by choice or by circumstance, but for me,  personally,...

Always tell the truth. That is what we tell our kiddos isn't it? Be honest and open and don't lie. Lies hurt people....sometimes lies hurt ourselves.  So why is it that so often a double standard exists? We hide...

Just a few weeks ago, my almost 6 year old finally hit the magical 40 pound mark. In her beautiful little mind, this was the equivalent of being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Tears of joy literally brimmed on...