Learning the Value of Money
on
When I was a middle schooler, all the cool kids wore the same brand of insanely expensive jeans. I coveted these jeans. Most of my “cool” clothes came from hand-me-downs or garage sales. I begged my parents for a pair of these highly prized jeans. In... Read full article
Can you be Cool in a Minivan?
on
To my shock and dismay, Suburbans did not have four latch systems. Apparently, there are very few families looking to safely buckle a two-year-old and three newborns. Thus I began my journey into the minivan world.... Read full article
A Playdate-Style Birthday Party
by Mari Walker on
Birthday parties for littles can add up fast. For a few Benjamins, you can take them and a few friends to a bounce place or rent a bounce house for your backyard. We didn’t start big parties like that for my older daughter until she was about five.... Read full article
Long Term Effects of Parental Favoritism
on
Siblings often joke about being Mom’s favorite. But a new study in the Journal of Marriage and Family shows that parents playing favorites is no joking matter. Seventy percent of mothers who participated in the survey admitted to having a favorite ch... Read full article
Rolling with the Good Times: Navigating Baton Rouge’s Mardi Gras with Kids
by Ellen Mecholsky on
When my husband and I moved to Baton Rouge, we had absolutely no idea about Mardi Gras. I mean, sure, we had heard of “Fat Tuesday” and had the vague sense that beads were involved, but the Louisiana Mardi Gras EXPERIENCE was a complete unknown. That... Read full article
It’s Hot, Baby! Keeping Little Ones Safe in the Heat
on
Louisiana summers offer a unique sort of heat. And when it comes to babies, it can be downright dangerous. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), excessive heat poses the greatest danger to infants and children up to four years old.... Read full article
Slowing Down: Reclaiming Sanity
by Cheryl Brodnax on
So, I have a problem with over-commitment. It seems that any time there is white space on my calendar, I find some excuse to fill it. My husband often points out that I never just sit. What? Who doesn’t sit?... Read full article
Life After Suicide Loss
on
First Things First… Grieving is a process. You never “get over it.” You learn to face each day as a new day in your journey of surviving a suicide loss. People grieve in many different ways, but we all grieve in our own way and on our own schedule. ... Read full article
Daniel Tiger, Where Have You Gone?
by Mari Walker on
I don’t mean to alarm you, but have you checked Amazon Prime lately? All but the first two seasons of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood (DT) are no longer available with your membership. Cue the preschool crew sobs!... Read full article
For the Love of the Arts
on
When Jenny Ballard was 11 years old, her parents took her to see a play. It was Shakespeare’s As You Like It–an experience that she’s never forgotten. “I remember the way it transformed the way I thought about the world,” she says. “From the lights g... Read full article