• Family

    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…

  • Family

    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…

  • Family

    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…

  • Family

    Merry Christmas!

    Putting up our familyโ€™s 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 watchingย Itโ€™s a Wonderful Life, which is our yearly tradition. We also…

  • Family

    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-auntโ€™s house in Batesville, MS. I didnโ€™t know Aunt Molly and Uncle June all that well,…

  • Family

    Birthday Party Wins and Fails

    Since this issue of Parents & Kids Magazine has a lot to do with birthday parties, I thought Iโ€™d revisit some of my own childrenโ€™s birthday party โ€œwinsโ€ and โ€œfailsโ€ from over the years. Win: My first childโ€™s first birthday party included pretty…

  • Faith,  Family

    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…