Gratitude for Food
During this week, in particular, we find ourselves grateful for all kinds of delicious foods. We feast on the bounty, and it is a wonderful time to celebrate and express our thankfulness! I’m wondering, though, how grateful we are for…
Caring for Moms of Newborns
Motherhood takes its toll on women’s bodies, minds, and emotions. And that’s even before the child is actually born! Pregnancy itself can be exciting and miraculous while also being difficult and almost disabling. The upside is that during pregnancy, the…
DIY Cake Catastrophes…and the Teachable Moments They Provide
Picture this. My five-year-old son asked for a King Kong-themed birthday party, to which I quickly agreed and began planning my DIY King Kong birthday cake masterpiece. It is worth noting here that I am neither a professional baker nor…
Teachable Moments in the Lenten Season
The season of Lent has already begun. If you and your family are getting a late start on this observance, or if you’ve never actually observed Lent before, it’s not too late to start. For families who profess faith in…
Special Needs Diets: The Art of Living with Dietary Restrictions
When my youngest biological child was just a year old, she was diagnosed with celiac disease. Having never before heard the term–and certainly not knowing what it meant–my husband and I quickly became educated through doctors, dietitians, books, and websites.…
Birthday Party Wins and Fails
Since this issue of Parents & Kids Magazine has a lot to do with birthday parties, I thought I’d revisit some of my own children’s birthday party “wins” and “fails” from over the years. Win: My first child’s first birthday party included pretty…
Veggie Tales
I was so excited! Missy, one of my best friends from college, had come to visit me at my house in Maryland. We had so much to catch up on, and we were going to get started while eating the…