O, Christmas Tree
I love Christmas trees. I love the way they smell. I love the way they look. And I love the thoughts and feelings they evoke. I have fond memories of decorating the Christmas tree with my family when I was…
Birthday Party Memories
Can you remember all of your childhood birthday parties? Some of them? How about just a memory or two? Think about which memories stand out to you and consider why they made an impact on you. Many times it has…
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!
For many people, December is the best time of the year! Kids, especially, seem to love this festive season. So I thought Iād ask kids what it is exactly that makes them look forward to this time. Hereās what they…
The Mixed Emotions of Mother’s Day
Since this is the month of Motherās Day, I wanted to write something about the greatness of all of our mothers. But as I sat down to write, I couldnāt stop thinking about the hard truth that the second Sunday…
The Joys of Christmas Past
The Christmas season is upon us, which means that there may be a lot of hurrying and scurrying around your house. Things can get pretty hectic and high-stress this time of year, and there is a felt pressure that demands…
Merry Christmas!
Putting up our familyās Christmas decorations, including decorating the tree, usually only takes a few hours. We could probably get it done even faster, but we get distracted by watchingĀ Itās a Wonderful Life, which is our yearly tradition. We also…
Family Reunions
So many Fourth of July holidays when I was young were spent driving with my family from our home in Memphis, TN to my great-auntās house in Batesville, MS. I didnāt know Aunt Molly and Uncle June all that well,…
Birthday Party Wins and Fails
Since this issue of Parents & Kids Magazine has a lot to do with birthday parties, I thought Iād revisit some of my own childrenās birthday party āwinsā and āfailsā from over the years. Win: My first childās first birthday party included pretty…
These Are a Few of My Favorite Things
It was only 2.5Ć2.5-inches big and made of paper, but it was one of my favorite Christmas presents that year. It was a very simple gift, but it touched the deepest part of my heart. What was it? A small…
A Tribute to Tradition
It’s hard to tell when traditions actually begin or why they begin. I just know my family has them, especially around Christmastime. First of all, we insist on having a live tree. I’d like to say we go to a…